General Cruise Discussion

[p--and--t]

Time has changed our priorities and we now see the ship as more destination and less bus..
We were at the Silversea exit gate after the new owners trashed the brand but a cruise on Nova recovered us enough to book the Dawn in February.
Its all a bit sad that long haul air is now a challenge as we seek comfort and convenience over "experiences"..

We cruise because its a trade off between my preference for land adventures and the +1 preference for cruising . So most holidays combine both.

Ying:Yang

 

[sanne]

Time has changed our priorities and we now see the ship as more destination and less bus..
We were at the Silversea exit gate after the new owners trashed the brand but a cruise on Nova recovered us enough to book the Dawn in February.
Its all a bit sad that long haul air is now a challenge as we seek comfort and convenience over "experiences"..

That’s exactly how we feel now. We used to be so excited to hop on a plane to anywhere and did it many times a year full of anticipation and enthusiasm for the next adventure. Now with advancing age and the huge cost of insurance we’ve adjusted our expectations and found an alternative way to enjoy our travel. And so far we’re really happy with that decision.

 

[RooFlyer]

Maybe we could line up all the cruises we have booked.

Well, since you asked:

Dec '24 - Silver Moon Caribbean Barbados to Cartagena (Colombia)

Cruise from Bridgetown to Cartagena - MO241221S08

Caribbean & Central America luxury cruises from Bridgetown to Cartagena aboard Silversea cruise ships. Discover the itinerary and excursions! Departs Dec 21, 2024

www.silversea.com

Jan '25 - Crown Princess Sydney-Hobart-Sydney with AFF

https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/details/?voyageCode=3503

June '25 - Ponant Arctic/Svalbard (incl charter flights from.to Paris) (Virtuoso)

Cruise Fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen - June 2025 | Ponant

Somewhere in the High Arctic, between 76 and 80 degrees latitude North, Spitsbergen, meaning "pointed mountains”, awaits you for seven days of unforgettable travel looking out for wild life. You will lift the anchor in Longyearbyen, where colourful wooden

au.ponant.com

Dec '25 - Ponant Bali to Cairns (Virtuoso)

Cruise Tropical Odyssey between Indonesia and North East Australia from Benoa, Bali to Cairns - December 2025 | Ponant

With featured guest Christine Ockrent, journalist specialising in French and international news and geopolitical questions, author of some fifteen books. Over 16 days, fall under the spell of the beauty and richness of the Indonesian archipelago and the n

au.ponant.com

July '26 - Ponant Greek islands and Med. (Virtuoso)

Cruise Sweet Mediterranean Escape from Athens to Nice - July 2026 | Ponant

The mildness of summer on the waters of the Mediterranean Sea promises you an unforgettable 13-day journey between Greece, Corsica and Italy. Aboard Le Boréal, fall under the spell of the Mediterranean landscapes and the ancient vestiges that will tell yo

au.ponant.com

Ponant, while not my first choice, is getting my business atm because they offer a huge number of cruises with no Single Supplement AND they are going to where I want to go.

Too big, too small
What's a just right?

All depends what you want to do. My classification
A: 'Expeditions' where you get out in zodiacs and explore on-shore, 1-2 times a day, vessels: <150-300pax. Expensive
B: Non expedition, day trips ashore and you want a bit of style: 200-400pax. Not bad
C: The cruise is part of the destination,1000+pax, cheaper.

In order, the above are B, C, A, A, B. My previous 3 have all been type A.

 

[love_the_life]

I must admit I would cruise at the drop of a hat. It is not Mr LtL's preference though he does accompany me with good grace. He is happier on smaller ships but will accept a suite on Cunard if he must. Did Carnival Splendor with son last year - but made a bit of a fox's paw as they say - it was school holidays and Christmas in July. It was an experience (but really not so bad).
1. I have a short Princess cruise (only 3 days) in March with son again as he needs to make his Platinum level for a cruise later in the year.
2. November he and I are on Princess again from Singapore to Sydney (18 days).
3. December 2025 is Silver Nova with Mr LtL, just NZ again.
There is also a land trip with daughter to South Africa in May.
The main issue with going with son is the double whammy as we need 2 single cabins. Have had a suite with him before but not as easy.

And of course I still have work commitments - 4 days per week and contract until July 2025 at this stage.

 

[tgh]

Looking forward is challenging as swmbo requires a major marketing initiative to even consider a holiday..
Maybe the pride of America around Hawaii combined with land holiday with #1 son and grandkids ( you can see my logic at work here…...)
I would also like to book another Dawn cruise but the marketing is struggling to penetrate..
It is a loop Southampton to Lisbon in November via the canaries ( somewhere we haven't been..negating the usual response that we have already been there)

 

[Flashback]

This feels like a good deal?

Greenland - Disko Bay

Join an epic adventure in Greenland onboard Ocean Albatros and experience summer in the Arctic on our classic Disko Bay voyage.

landing.albatros-expeditions.com

 

[RooFlyer]

This feels like a good deal?

Greenland - Disko Bay

Join an epic adventure in Greenland onboard Ocean Albatros and experience summer in the Arctic on our classic Disko Bay voyage.

landing.albatros-expeditions.com

Looks very cheap, especially for the size of vessel. Will get my TA to check it out.

This is the one I was looking at - it includes flights from/to Paris. Edit - I see the Albatross incl flights from/to CPH.

Cruise Disko Bay and Inuit villages from Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq - August 2025 | Ponant

This PONANT itinerary is your chance to embark on an 8-day expedition cruise to Greenland. In Kangerlussuaq, aboard Le Boréal, you will embark for an unforgettable journey in the heart of the most magnificent Arctic landscapes. After a first port of call

au.ponant.com

 

[Flashback]

Looks very cheap, especially for the size of vessel. Will get my TA to check it out.

This is the one I was looking at - it includes flights from/to Paris. Edit - I see the Albatross incl flights from/to CPH.

Cruise Disko Bay and Inuit villages from Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq - August 2025 | Ponant

This PONANT itinerary is your chance to embark on an 8-day expedition cruise to Greenland. In Kangerlussuaq, aboard Le Boréal, you will embark for an unforgettable journey in the heart of the most magnificent Arctic landscapes. After a first port of call

au.ponant.com

I might book it then as my 40th birthday present.

 

[RooFlyer]

I might book it then as my 40th birthday present.

Might see you there to raise a glass! Enquiry to TA sent.

 

[Quickstatus]

includes flights from/to Paris

Why Paris apart from Ponant being a French Compagnie

Ponant appears to cater to the higher end of the market. Apart from the lack of the SingleS, is the value commensurate with the price?.

Do you have an insight into how full the Ponant cruises have been so far

 

[RooFlyer]

Why Paris apart from Ponant being a French Compagnie

Ponant appears to cater to the higher end of the market. Apart from the lack of the SingleS, is the value commensurate with the price?.

Do you have an insight into how full the Ponant cruises have been so far

Just because its a French company.

High-ish end, but my and other's assessment is that its not as high-end as it makes out. My first cruise with them - Kimberley coast - was fantastic due to the locations, but on the soft product was not 'top notch' and the Captain was an d-head. But, as I said, they do a lot of no SS, which appeals to me.

Hundreds of Ponant cruises per year. I think most would get >80% by the time they sail, but that's just a guess. Most cruise lines release unfilled inventory quite 'cheap' close to sailing.

Pricing on cruises is dynamic, like airfares; they start selling ~18 months out and to get the best prices you really need to get in quick (or wait till last moment). I booked a cruise for mid 2026 last month and it wasn't when it just opened. @VPS I think went to Antarctica on a 'last minute' booking.

And comparing cruises you have to look at not only the quality, and vessel size, but what's included - booze, tips, shore excursions, flights.

 

[VPS]

Just because its a French company.

High-ish end, but my and other's assessment is that its not as high-end as it makes out. My first cruise with them - Kimberley coast - was fantastic due to the locations, but on the soft product was not 'top notch' and the Captain was an d-head. But, as I said, they do a lot of no SS, which appeals to me.

Hundreds of Ponant cruises per year. I think most would get >80% by the time they sail, but that's just a guess. Most cruise lines release unfilled inventory quite 'cheap' close to sailing.

Pricing on cruises is dynamic, like airfares; they start selling ~18 months out and to get the best prices you really need to get in quick (or wait till last moment). I booked a cruise for mid 2026 last month and it wasn't when it just opened. @VPS I think went to Antarctica on a 'last minute' booking.

And comparing cruises you have to look at not only the quality, and vessel size, but what's included - booze, tips, shore excursions, flights.

I went last minute with Seabourn to Antarctica. I went to a Ponant info session last year and they said the cheapest price is the early price and they don't discount later on but it seems from your experience they do

 

[Flashback]

Might see you there to raise a glass! Enquiry to TA sent.

Cool! I've sent my booking request for Mrs FB and I and my folks decided they would do the same, too. Let's see what availability there is...

 

[VPS]

Just because its a French company.

High-ish end, but my and other's assessment is that its not as high-end as it makes out. My first cruise with them - Kimberley coast - was fantastic due to the locations, but on the soft product was not 'top notch' and the Captain was an d-head. But, as I said, they do a lot of no SS, which appeals to me.

Hundreds of Ponant cruises per year. I think most would get >80% by the time they sail, but that's just a guess. Most cruise lines release unfilled inventory quite 'cheap' close to sailing.

Pricing on cruises is dynamic, like airfares; they start selling ~18 months out and to get the best prices you really need to get in quick (or wait till last moment). I booked a cruise for mid 2026 last month and it wasn't when it just opened. @VPS I think went to Antarctica on a 'last minute' booking.

And comparing cruises you have to look at not only the quality, and vessel size, but what's included - booze, tips, shore excursions, flights.

That’s nearly $2k a day assuming you don’t get a single supplement and my Antarctic one was only a bit over 1K per day.

 

[RooFlyer]

I went to a Ponant info session last year and they said the cheapest price is the early price and they don't discount later on but it seems from your experience they do

Sorry, I generalised. Ponant have quite a structured 'discount' ladder - they start out at a 30% discount (they call it a 'Ponant bonus') to start with and it decreases over time. I was saying generally that cruise lines generally sell unused inventory cheaper near sailing; I've been watching Poseidon do that recently.

They also withdraw no SS offers without notice, as I experienced last week

That’s nearly $2k a day assuming you don’t get a single supplement

Which one you mean?

 

[VPS]

Which one you mean?

This one

Cruise Disko Bay and Inuit villages from Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq - August 2025 | Ponant

This PONANT itinerary is your chance to embark on an 8-day expedition cruise to Greenland. In Kangerlussuaq, aboard Le Boréal, you will embark for an unforgettable journey in the heart of the most magnificent Arctic landscapes. After a first port of call

au.ponant.com

 

[RooFlyer]

This one

Cruise Disko Bay and Inuit villages from Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq - August 2025 | Ponant

This PONANT itinerary is your chance to embark on an 8-day expedition cruise to Greenland. In Kangerlussuaq, aboard Le Boréal, you will embark for an unforgettable journey in the heart of the most magnificent Arctic landscapes. After a first port of call

au.ponant.com

Yes, expensive, which is why I’ve asked my travel agent to look at the one put up by flashback

 

[Flashback]

Yes, expensive, which is why I’ve asked my travel agent to look at the one put up by flashback

Will be interested to see what they come back with.

 

[RooFlyer]

Will be interested to see what they come back with.

No local reps, so TA is e-mailing them.

 

[Flashback]

No local reps, so TA is e-mailing them.

There's a nice review of the ship / company here: Ocean Albatros Cruises To East Greenland — A Detailed Review

Slightly different trip, but a good read.