General Cruise Discussion

[drron]

Definitely fly.

 

[Pushka]

I have just paid for our first Crystal cruise. Mumbai to Mombasa.
Want to fly Mombasa to JNB but only ones flying out of MBA basically only Kenya airlines via NBO or ET via ADD but giving 35 minutes connection in ADD. Flying to NBO then flying NBO -JNB Airlink want $US 5700 for J. So not keen on that.

Just paid for our Celebrity Cruise circumnavigating Japan almost. We booked an Aqua suite but Celebrity does move up bids which have now appeared. The ship has been booked out in balcony plus cabins for months.

 

[Flashback]

I have just paid for our first Crystal cruise. Mumbai to Mombasa.
Want to fly Mombasa to JNB but only ones flying out of MBA basically only Kenya airlines via NBO or ET via ADD but giving 35 minutes connection in ADD. Flying to NBO then flying NBO -JNB Airlink want $US 5700 for J. So not keen on that.

I'd take the ADD option. The less time spent there the better and ADD is super easy to transit. Avoid NBO and KQ at all costs IMHO.

 

[jase05]

So after vowing not to ever cruise again, Mrs Jase has had her interest slightly piqued on an Alaskan cruise in July.
Holland America, Celebrity and Cunard are all about the same cost but something just stands out for me in regards to the Cunard on the Queen Elizabeth and that is my preference so far. I’m a cruise novice though so any thoughts or experience on any Alaskan cruises would be appreciated

 

[tgh]

Working our way down the alaskan coast on the Silver Shadow, we were amazed at the chaos when three behemoths all arrived together.
We were wandering on and off as we pleased and the behemoth patrons were queued up by the hundred to re-board.
These pretty little towns are swamped by humanity when the bigs ships arrive.
There may be an argument to cruise on a behemoth but imo Alaska ain't it….

 

[Pushka]

So after vowing not to ever cruise again, Mrs Jase has had her interest slightly piqued on an Alaskan cruise in July.
Holland America, Celebrity and Cunard are all about the same cost but something just stands out for me in regards to the Cunard on the Queen Elizabeth and that is my preference so far. I’m a cruise novice though so any thoughts or experience on any Alaskan cruises would be appreciated

We went to Alaska on Viking ship in 2019. Stunning. Holland America seems very popular. For me, I'd look for a one way Vancouver to Seward as that way it's exploring more of the coast, which is simply wonderful, rather than a return to the same port. And smaller cruise ship the better. Cunard can be formal but you can avoid the dress by eating in the casual areas. Viking is expensive but only 700 people. Likely a much older crowd than you'd like. But their ships are beautiful.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 4:50 PM

We are going so left field for ou next cruise. NCL on Pride of America on a 7 day cruise of the Hawaiian Islands. Going for broke.

 

[p--and--t]

We went from Vancouver in 2009, 11 day cruise/tour to Seward and then Denali nat park coming back on glass top train to Anchorage and thoroughly enjoyed it. With HA on the Ryndam 1200pax.

The smaller ships can enter the bay to see the stunning Hubbard Glacier up close, larger ships can’t. It was a highlight for us. Also visiting the old capital, Sitka, where the purchase of Alaska from the Russians occurred.

 

[Pushka]

We went from Vancouver in 2009, 11 day cruise/tour to Seward and then Denali nat park coming back on glass top train to Anchorage and thoroughly enjoyed it. With HA on the Ryndam 1200pax.

The smaller ships can enter the bay to see the stunning Hubbard Glacier up close, larger ships can’t. It was a highlight for us. Also visiting the old capital, Sitka, where the purchase of Alaska from the Russians occurred.

Sitka was excellent for whale watching as was the Bay in Seward. Saw several different types of Whales and our first pod of Orcas. And yes to the Gold class on Alaskan Railways to Anchorage.

 

[RooFlyer]

@jase05 my only advice would be to go to smaller vessels if possible. <750 pax, better <300. Is your travel agent a cruise specialist? If not, might be worth venturing a few queries to one that is, just to see what might be out there.

Not only a more personalised, better experience, on small boats, but the smaller ships can get into smaller bays and areas where the big ships just can’t go.

 

[jase05]

@jase05 my only advice would be to go to smaller vessels if possible. <750 pax, better <300. Is your travel agent a cruise specialist? If not, might be worth venturing a few queries to one that is, just to see what might be out there.

Not only a more personalised, better experience, on small boats, but the smaller ships can get into smaller bays and areas where the big ships just can’t go.

Thank you. Wi definitely dig a bit deeper

 

[RB]

So after vowing not to ever cruise again, Mrs Jase has had her interest slightly piqued on an Alaskan cruise in July.
Holland America, Celebrity and Cunard are all about the same cost but something just stands out for me in regards to the Cunard on the Queen Elizabeth and that is my preference so far. I’m a cruise novice though so any thoughts or experience on any Alaskan cruises would be appreciated

Maybe a good compromise would be getting around on the marine highway ferries- a different style of holiday but we had a great time.
Friends (experienced cruisers) travelled on the Queen Elizabeth in Jan and were very underwhelmed. Disappointed with many of the staff, didn't rate the food and found the massive number of aged person walkers in use to be a bit overwhelming.

 

[love_the_life]

Maybe a good compromise would be getting around on the marine highway ferries- a different style of holiday but we had a great time.
Friends (experienced cruisers) travelled on the Queen Elizabeth in Jan and were very underwhelmed. Disappointed with many of the staff, didn't rate the food and found the massive number of aged person walkers in use to be a bit overwhelming.

We were on QE a couple of years ago in Queen's Grill (same as a suite). Outside the QG restaurant at meal times it was wall to wall parked scooters and walkers! However, he who casts the first stone.....
Our butler was lovely but there seemed to be a lack of staff in the bars etc and sometimes there could be quite a wait unless you actually went up to the bar to order. QG had a different menu and it was fine overall. The concerts and lectures were good though skewed to more classical at times (which we enjoyed), However, for someone who has not cruised much before personally I would advise a different line - for mainstream maybe Celebrity but for preference something smaller eg Viking, Aramara etc. Ponant has very small cabins - around 18 sq m - compared to other lines. It can be a bit 'squeezy' if you are intending to spend any time there.

 

[tgh]

We are flying to SIN tomorrow to board the Silver Dawn; we3 (the ta and we2 ) have had massive problems dealing with Silversea and we are quite confident that this is our last cruise with the line.

 

[Pushka]

We are flying to SIN tomorrow to board the Silver Dawn; we3 (the ta and we2 ) have had massive problems dealing with Silversea and we are quite confident that this is our last cruise with the line.

Try be positive. Although low expectations might be a good thing and they will be met. Well, hopefully.

 

[tgh]

Sad, but the actual ship will probably be fine, it is just the bloody minded stupidity of the management that is the main problem...

 

[Pushka]

Sad, but the actual ship will probably be fine, it is just the bloody minded stupidity of the management that is the main problem...

Is that onshore versus offshore? That's quite the same with many cruise lines, Viking and Celebrity are the same. That dreaded C thing changed pretty much everything we liked in hospitality.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ponant has very small cabins - around 18 sq m - compared to other lines. It can be a bit 'squeezy' if you are intending to spend any time there.

I like the SilverSea cabins where you have a separately curtained off sofa and desk area between the bed and the balcony.

As you know, Ponant doesn’t have that, but I don’t think I’ve got a problem with it as I don’t really spend that much time in the cabin especially on expedition cruises. But taking the price difference into consideration, it’s certainly okay.