Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 7 Author #426 Share Posted July 7 16 minutes ago, cabincop said: Go to your roll call here on cruise critic. You’ll meet other people that are on the same cruise as you and you can look into itinerary and excursions. Back when there were active roll calls on CC, they used to be more helpful. Since the active roll calls moved to a social media platform, you will find many more people on that platform for your cruise than on CC. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabincop Posted July 7 #427 Share Posted July 7 54 minutes ago, Seas2mountains said: active roll calls moved to a social media platform, you will find many more people on that platform for your cruise than on CC. My last cruise in May our roll call was really busy. I really haven’t had a slow roll call yet. Thanks for info 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ColdCruise Posted July 7 #428 Share Posted July 7 Great trip review @Seas2mountains - good presentation style and really good quality photos. I popped in based on a comment from @mking8288 in my jump-start trip report. We’re getting ready to take a cruise from Reykjavik to NYC shortly, and I found your Iceland port info interesting. We will be on the Star, first time on her. However, your report has brought back many pleasant memories of our almost-inaugural Prima cruise - love that class of ships! And love the SJs. We’ve been to Iceland 5 times from as short as 2 day layovers to 10 day RV trips, but this cruise will be our first time in Grundafjordur & Isafjordur. Unfortunately both are early and short port stops (6ish to all aboard around 1400), but we’ve rented a car for Isafjordur and will walk out to the waterfalls and viewpoint towards Kirkufell (although it looks like we should have a good view from the ship) both are tender ports, I believe 4 ships will be at Isafjordur the same day 😳 I’m really glad you enjoyed this cruise. We’ve been to Norway (combo land and Svalbard trip) but are thinking about a fjord- focused cruise in fall 25 before some of the cities start limiting cruise ship access. I sympathize with the locals’ feelings but some locations I think are best by cruise ship … and we like traveling often, not expensively so the small boutique luxury lines are probably not where my money is going. So need to get there via a mainstream cruise before I can’t. Hopefully I can find this thread when planning time comes! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 8 Author #429 Share Posted July 8 On 7/6/2024 at 9:15 PM, ColdCruise said: Great trip review @Seas2mountains - good presentation style and really good quality photos. I popped in based on a comment from @mking8288 in my jump-start trip report. We’re getting ready to take a cruise from Reykjavik to NYC shortly, and I found your Iceland port info interesting. We will be on the Star, first time on her. However, your report has brought back many pleasant memories of our almost-inaugural Prima cruise - love that class of ships! And love the SJs. We’ve been to Iceland 5 times from as short as 2 day layovers to 10 day RV trips, but this cruise will be our first time in Grundafjordur & Isafjordur. Unfortunately both are early and short port stops (6ish to all aboard around 1400), but we’ve rented a car for Isafjordur and will walk out to the waterfalls and viewpoint towards Kirkufell (although it looks like we should have a good view from the ship) both are tender ports, I believe 4 ships will be at Isafjordur the same day 😳 I’m really glad you enjoyed this cruise. We’ve been to Norway (combo land and Svalbard trip) but are thinking about a fjord- focused cruise in fall 25 before some of the cities start limiting cruise ship access. I sympathize with the locals’ feelings but some locations I think are best by cruise ship … and we like traveling often, not expensively so the small boutique luxury lines are probably not where my money is going. So need to get there via a mainstream cruise before I can’t. Hopefully I can find this thread when planning time comes! Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, we loved Prima, too and were very happy with the SJ suite. We hope people are annoyed by the slides that are on a part of the balcony and are reluctant to book them. That is great that you rented a car for Isafjordur as there isn't too much to do there in the town. If I were to do this again, I would take a boat to Bird's Island to see the puffins. Regarding the anticipated future ban on cruise ships in the Norwegian fjords, Captain Roger told us the locals want the cruise ships to continue coming as they rely on tourism for their local economies. He explained it had to do with the country and the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. He said the locals were trying to work with those organizations to get an extension or work something out so the cruise ships could keep coming. I look forward to following your live review and your adventures in the ports! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiseny4life Posted July 8 #430 Share Posted July 8 Ok....enough of this traipsing around Europe. I want the verdict! Is Northern Europe more beautiful than Alaska? ........(can't believe I'm saying this - if I had to judge, based on your photos, I'd say........yes).......... But, I'm just kidding. Continue traipsing! I've really loved hearing/seeing your experiences! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcmagnum Posted July 8 #431 Share Posted July 8 14 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said: Ok....enough of this traipsing around Europe. I want the verdict! Is Northern Europe more beautiful than Alaska? ........(can't believe I'm saying this - if I had to judge, based on your photos, I'd say........yes).......... But, I'm just kidding. Continue traipsing! I've really loved hearing/seeing your experiences! I think we all need to go to Alaska and then to Northern Europe to see for ourselves!! I think both will be outstanding!!! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiseny4life Posted July 8 #432 Share Posted July 8 9 minutes ago, tcmagnum said: I think we all need to go to Alaska and then to Northern Europe to see for ourselves!! I think both will be outstanding!!! In all reality, I so completely agree with you!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 8 Author #433 Share Posted July 8 2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said: Ok....enough of this traipsing around Europe. I want the verdict! Is Northern Europe more beautiful than Alaska? ........(can't believe I'm saying this - if I had to judge, based on your photos, I'd say........yes).......... But, I'm just kidding. Continue traipsing! I've really loved hearing/seeing your experiences! Thank you! It was fun to share our experience.😀 We are nearly recovered from all the walking and stair climbing🤣 I do have some thoughts on this and we are making changes to our Summer 2025 bookings based on this experience. I will share more on this soon....... 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 8 Author #434 Share Posted July 8 2 hours ago, tcmagnum said: I think we all need to go to Alaska and then to Northern Europe to see for ourselves!! I think both will be outstanding!!! Yes, I think it helps to see both! Great idea and plan! I have final thoughts I'll share soon but I'm making some cruise reservation changes for next summer and still trying to catch up on a few things after being gone for two weeks. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiseny4life Posted July 8 #435 Share Posted July 8 1 hour ago, Seas2mountains said: I do have some thoughts on this and we are making changes to our Summer 2025 bookings based on this experience. I will share more on this soon....... Oooooooh! The foreshadowing has me twittering with excitement! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renebfl Posted July 8 #436 Share Posted July 8 I just went on Norway-Artic circle on Royal Jewel of the Sea. I’ve been to Alaska cruising twice. Norway surpasses Alaska. Alaska ports remind me of the Carribean with all the standard shops. None of that in Norway. Fjords are magnificent. Such a low key country-only beautiful sights that you can see from your ship, excursions of course add to the experience 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis1138 Posted July 8 #437 Share Posted July 8 On 7/4/2024 at 6:50 AM, Seas2mountains said: After scanning our boarding pass and having our passports checked, we boarded a bus to take us to where the planes are parked. We climbed up stairs to the plane which was more difficult for those with mobility challenges or those with a lot of carryon bags. I wanted to add to this for anyone reading this thread for an upcoming KEF departure: It's easily missed, but those stairs to the plane have a small elevator next to them. In front of me were 3 very elderly folks with canes who painstakingly went up the stairs. I was very confused, but when they got to the top, I said "You guys made it! You didn't need to use the lift." to which they answered 'There was a lift?" It's small and kind of hidden, but if you have mobility issues, there is an elevator. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ColdCruise Posted July 9 #438 Share Posted July 9 4 hours ago, Ellis1138 said: I wanted to add to this for anyone reading this thread for an upcoming KEF departure: It's easily missed, but those stairs to the plane have a small elevator next to them. In front of me were 3 very elderly folks with canes who painstakingly went up the stairs. I was very confused, but when they got to the top, I said "You guys made it! You didn't need to use the lift." to which they answered 'There was a lift?" It's small and kind of hidden, but if you have mobility issues, there is an elevator. I’ve done the climb up or down those plane stairs out on the back 40 several times and never noticed a lift! very observant, I’ll have to see if I can remember to look for them now I know they exist!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ontheweb Posted July 9 #439 Share Posted July 9 7 hours ago, ColdCruise said: I’ve done the climb up or down those plane stairs out on the back 40 several times and never noticed a lift! very observant, I’ll have to see if I can remember to look for them now I know they exist!! We also never saw an elevator. Our plane departing Reykjavik was delayed. When the finally had people lined up, they called those first with priority including an elderly woman in a wheelchair. And when we went through the door, instead of the plane there, there was another line for a bus to the plane. And that elderly woman in a wheelchair with priority departure was not on the plane, but instead was sitting in a corner. 😢 Speaking of hidden elevators, we were in Paris on a land trip (actually landed there on a wedding anniversary), and I was in a walking boot having previously broken my left ankle and having had surgery. DW was climbing up steep stairs at the Palace of Versailles, and I yelled at her that I could not do that and would fall and severely hurt others. An employee came along and said, "Monsieur elevator". There were hidden elevators that they did not really want people to know about. They were so hidden that despite coming up on the elevator, we could not find it again to go down and had to ask. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #440 Share Posted July 9 14 hours ago, Ellis1138 said: I wanted to add to this for anyone reading this thread for an upcoming KEF departure: It's easily missed, but those stairs to the plane have a small elevator next to them. In front of me were 3 very elderly folks with canes who painstakingly went up the stairs. I was very confused, but when they got to the top, I said "You guys made it! You didn't need to use the lift." to which they answered 'There was a lift?" It's small and kind of hidden, but if you have mobility issues, there is an elevator. That is good to know about the hidden elevator for the airplanes. I wondered if they were using a side ramp for those in wheelchairs. 3 hours ago, ontheweb said: Speaking of hidden elevators, we were in Paris on a land trip (actually landed there on a wedding anniversary), and I was in a walking boot having previously broken my left ankle and having had surgery. DW was climbing up steep stairs at the Palace of Versailles, and I yelled at her that I could not do that and would fall and severely hurt others. An employee came along and said, "Monsieur elevator". There were hidden elevators that they did not really want people to know about. They were so hidden that despite coming up on the elevator, we could not find it again to go down and had to ask. Wow, that is good to know, too. That is great that you and your wife have been able to travel during your anniversary. Do you have an upcoming land or cruise vacation planned for the next celebration? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #441 Share Posted July 9 I’ll add some photos taken around the ship before wrapping it up with final thoughts. Here is a hall photo by cabins on deck 12. It took me two days to realize the triangles point forward like the fish used on carpet. There is an automated panel in the cabin to control the AC and heat. This same panel is where you can choose “Do not disturb” or “Make-up room”. Medical center is on deck 12. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #442 Share Posted July 9 Atrium on deck 6. Cruise next is on deck 6. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #443 Share Posted July 9 Exclusive Haven elevators located mid ship with access on all decks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ontheweb Posted July 9 #444 Share Posted July 9 1 hour ago, Seas2mountains said: That is good to know about the hidden elevator for the airplanes. I wondered if they were using a side ramp for those in wheelchairs. Wow, that is good to know, too. That is great that you and your wife have been able to travel during your anniversary. Do you have an upcoming land or cruise vacation planned for the next celebration? Nothing planned as of this moment. We actually had our first cruise, a Western Mediterranean, on our 25th anniversary. Previous to that we went to an all inclusive in Jamaica on our 20th, the first where we could really leave our son alone. We took a Baltic cruise on our 30th anniversary. And on our 35th, I insisted we do the Western Mediterranean again as my terrible sense of direction made us miss Florence on the 25th anniversary cruise. We did a land trip landing in Paris and then going to Amsterdam on our 37th anniversary. We did an escorted land trip with Budapest, Vienna, and Prague on our 40th. (We started the anniversary day in Vienna and ended in Prague. And then our latest anniversary #46 was last summer on the Prima. Kind of interesting, and shows how a marriage works, how we ended up with a Western Mediterranean cruise on our 25th anniversary. In late 2001, I suggested a cruise for our 25th anniversary the next year. DW thought that was a fine idea. I suggested Bermuda, as we would not have to fly to a cruise starting in NYC. And who at that moment really wanted to fly. She said no. (We have since cruised to Bermuda.) She then suggested Alaska, and now it was my turn to say no. (We have since cruised to Alaska.). I then sent away for brochures from a company advertising in the area's newspaper. I found a round trip cruise from Barcelona that included places like Rome and Florence. I knew my art teacher wife would love that idea, and that was our "compromise" between Bermuda and Alaska. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #445 Share Posted July 9 Metropolitan Bar on deck 7 This is next to Hudson’s. People would come here for before or after dinner drinks or would wait here with their pagers for Hudson’s when there was a wait which seemed to be most of the time. Essence Duo and guitarist, Juci played here at times with it being the primary location for Juci. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #446 Share Posted July 9 (edited) Nama which is the Sushi bar between Metropolitan bar and Hudson’s. Edited July 9 by Seas2mountains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #447 Share Posted July 9 (edited) A few photos from Hudson’s Dining room. I wasn’t able to capture how beautiful it is with all the floor to ceiling windows. Edited July 9 by Seas2mountains 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #448 Share Posted July 9 (edited) Le Bistro. It is common for the photographers and staff to recommend photos in front of the unique ceiling to floor chandelier. Edited July 9 by Seas2mountains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #449 Share Posted July 9 Improv at Sea. They had special events and some of the daily cruise director staff games in here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Seas2mountains Posted July 9 Author #450 Share Posted July 9 Syd Norman’s. There was usually a line before the showtime. They did do two shows on some days. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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