Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ships?

[VPS]

Has anyone done a Ponant cruise and in particular one in Antarctica

 

[Pushka]

Has anyone done a Ponant cruise and in particular one in Antarctica

That would be both love_the_life and Flying Mermaid, just about 12 months ago. The former is currently very busy during office hours but she will be here shortly.

 

[VPS]

That would be both love_the_life and Flying Mermaid, just about 12 months ago. The former is currently very busy during office hours but she will be here shortly.

Ah for some reason I read Ponant in LTL as Silverseas - my bad. I've already been in touch with her

 

[VPS]

And just rechecked and FM was on Silverseas

 

[k_sheep]

Though we do get an on board credit by booking through a Virtuoso agent.And if mrsdrron doesn't spend it in the shop I get to enjoy a good bottle of red.
So we have had 20 cruises and I got my red once.

Hmm no mention of an on board credit from the Virtuoso agent you recommended .... will give her a nudge

Yes it was LTL and FMs amazing trip reports which have inspired me to go ahead!

 

[drron]

You usually get notification of the Virtuoso amenity or OBC closer to the cruise date as usually not finalised until then.
but give her a nudge!

 

[OZDUCK]

I think the only thing I’ve bought on a ship has been a watch and shot glasses. And a Cunard bear I think. Oh. And a bracelet that I lost when I left the ship. That was sad.

The only thing I have bought on board a ship to take off was a large tin of German Sausages! (We were on the car ferry between Malmo and Travemunde in the 1970's and all the locals were going mad buying food at, apparently, very cheap duty free prices. We couldn't resist buying the sausages for a laugh to eat at our next camp site in Germany. They were fine.)

 

[love_the_life]

That would be both love_the_life and Flying Mermaid, just about 12 months ago. The former is currently very busy during office hours but she will be here shortly.

That indeed would be me - and FM was on Silver Cloud from memory (Silversea). I've been in contact with VPS. She has a hard choice.

 

[VPS]

Damned Travel agent has now come back with a Seabourn option - anyone have any experience with them.

 

[Pushka]

Damned Travel agent has now come back with a Seabourn option - anyone have any experience with them.

who is running this show?

 

[VPS]

who is running this show?

He said he's trying to help

 

[zig]

I did a couple of cruises with Seabourn before finding Silversea - since then I haven't returned to Seabourn. When are you looking at going? Is it likely to be on their new expedition ship in 2021, or earlier?

 

[get me outta here]

I have done a couple of Seabourn cruises. There’s lots of Americans. Compare the price with vacations to go which charges USD. Their price can be very competitive, especially if the cruise is electively soon.

 

[VPS]

I did a couple of cruises with Seabourn before finding Silversea - since then I haven't returned to Seabourn. When are you looking at going? Is it likely to be on their new expedition ship in 2021, or earlier?

in four weeks to the Antarctic

 

[zig]

in four weeks to the Antarctic

Okay, not too long to make a decision then, and it won’t be on the new ship.
An important consideration as I’m sure you know is passenger numbers. I think Seabourn would be the highest, although I don’t know which SS ship you are considering.

 

[VPS]

Okay, not too long to make a decision then, and it won’t be on the new ship.
An important consideration as I’m sure you know is passenger numbers. I think Seabourn would be the highest, although I don’t know which SS ship you are considering.

Quest

 

[zig]

Quest

That’s the Seabourn ship.
Which SS ship are you considering? Cloud or Explorer?

 

[VPS]

That’s the Seabourn ship.
Which SS ship are you considering? Cloud or Explorer?

Tossing up between HAL Seabourn and Ponant - Silverseas doesn't come into it - someone else has done one but it's not in the mix for me

 

[zig]

Tossing up between HAL Seabourn and Ponant - Silverseas doesn't come into it - someone else has done one but it's not in the mix for me

Oops- sorry, I obviously misread the posts up thread as I thought SS was one of your options. I was on Silver Explorer to the Antarctica. I have sailed Seabourn on the classic (non expedition) cruises. I did compare Seabourn and SS when I was planning Antarctica and opted for SS due to the smaller ship size and positive past experiences. In addition as a solo traveler SS offered a better single supplement.
I haven’t cruised with Ponant so can’t comment on them. We saw them in the Antarctica and the ship (L’Austral I think) was a nice looking ship.

 

[Gingunyah]

I have been on nearly every brand and as long as you are in a suite they are all great

Who do you book through. There are so many discounted voyage offers that come by email it seems like a minefield!!!