Cruisin' Along ... (including the Arctics)

MSC's SPLENDIDA Trip Report

feeds@yuku.com (Rhea58) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:06:26 GMT

Back Story: Bought a packaged deal of air, 7 days on Splendida which debuted

July 2009, 3 days afterward in

Rome w/3 private transfers in spanking new Mercedes - very nicely done.

Info background: Not much to go on as MSC's website is not user-friendly, few

English speaking folks had contributed CC reviews since her July 2009 debut.

Full Disclosure: a happy HAL...

any thoughts on a trans-Atlantic cruise?

feeds@yuku.com (elainesl) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:44:26 GMT

Hi
My sister and I were looking for a Baltic cruise for early autumn 2010, but there ain't none that late in the year.
We'd want to start in London, have a couple of days there, and then return to New York. I'm thinking without port stops I might go stir-crazy. I've been on one 7-day cruise before (Alaska) but on 5 of the seven days we had port stops with lots of activity and excursion options. This translantic idea seems both luxurious, but wasteful of my...

Miami and cruise - any advices?

feeds@yuku.com (SharrkkAttack) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:15:31 GMT

OK, as I was told it was a huge mistake I didn't ask any questions, I am asking for advices now.

We'll be in Miami in January 4 nights pre-cruise, then off to Honduras, Belize, Mexico, Bahamas I think, back home.

And if somebody is there, we can GTG Friday January 8 or Saturday January 9.

Staying at Clinton, with tax and resort fees $100 a night.

Baltic cruise, 2010, late Sept or early Oct?

feeds@yuku.com (elainesl) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:43:01 GMT

Hi
Does any one know of a short cruise (7-9 days) that covers the Baltic area (St Petersburg is the primary target) and that sails
in the early autumn? Can't be earlier than Sept 22. Haven't found one in my searching so far.

My First Cruise

feeds@yuku.com (endo213) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:01:16 GMT

In case some of you miss, I am posting this same info. that I did on the TGIF thread as an answer to GR.

Well for my first cruise I'm going to try the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas to the Caribbean. The reason for my choice is simple, it's departure and end port is Bayonne, not far from my home. At this point my main interest is to see if I like the cruise ship experience. As usual I will be traveling solo so I'm opting for a balcony.

The ports we visit...

This is not for cruise warriors :)

feeds@yuku.com (SharrkkAttack) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:52:02 GMT

There was an hour-long presentation of Norwegian cruise line on the news channel 59 of San Francisco's Comcast. When asked "who's going on cruises?" the answer was:

mostly newlywed and nearly dead

I think it's funny

Panama Canal

feeds@yuku.com (Gardenridge) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:37:15 GMT

DH is hoping for the all clear to start traveling again. What month would be best to see the Panama Canal, assuming we fly to Florida to pick up the ship, and that it returns to Vancouver.

I'm wondering when the hurricane season is not happening. That's my main criteria. Then I have to think about where we'll put the pooch for almost a month. Darn. I thought he'd come first in all travel plans.

Competition to win free trip to Antarctica

feeds@yuku.com (Kavey F) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:18:27 GMT

Just found out about this:
Am not entering but you might be interested or know people who are:
http://www.blogyourwaytoantarctica.com/blogs

Chile to Seattle on HAL Ms. Amsterdam April 2, 2009, 22 nights

feeds@yuku.com (Jujuju2) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:08:01 GMT

Oopsie, I suppose I should at least make a nominal post in the cruise section.

We were not specifically intending to go to South America right now, but TravelWithAlan sent me his weekly e-mail with a deal we couldn't pass up.

So, Tuesday, we are driving a one way rental car to Seattle, spending the night in a SEATAC motel and departing April 1 at 7:50 a.m. via AA to JFK, four hour layover (which I intend to use wisely by going out to the front desk and begging for...

Cruising the Arctic

feeds@yuku.com (ChinaCat00) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:57:58 GMT

This Boston Globe article is interesting, and has some spectacular arctic photos in the associated gallery.

The Agains sailing through Panama

feeds@yuku.com (FainaAgain) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:15:21 GMT

Hey, people, wake up!! Let's get going!!!!

We'll be on Vision of the Seas from Los Angeles to Santo Domingo in January. Well wishes, condolences (is it hot?) and jokes accepted. Advices appreciated.

15 nights on Holland America's new Eurodam this week!

feeds@yuku.com (Jujuju2) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:16:53 GMT

We are leaving Tuesday for a couple weeks. Got in another super offer (last one was 33 days to Africa) we couldn't refuse from TravelWithAlan travel agency out of Lynnwood, WA.

Anyway, TravelWithAlan sucked us in this time with a 17 day trip starting Tuesday, fly non-stop Seattle-Copenhagen, overnight SAS Scandinavia hotel, city tour in morning, board Holland America brand
new ship, Eurodam, go to Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, Norway, then Torshavn, Faroe Islands out in the...

Waters in the Western Caribbean--how rough?

feeds@yuku.com (Jocelyn P) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:51:31 GMT

I'm looking ahead (way ahead, probably March 2010) to a trip to Central America. I want to do some snorkeling, explore jungles, and Mayan ruins. I'm so fed up with the airline industry right now that I'm looking into cruises. There's one on NCL leaving from New Orleans, which is driving distance for us. Ports are Costa Maya, Cozumel, Belize City, and Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala. As of today, it is alarmingly cheaper to take a cruise than to fly into, for example,...

Want to share...

feeds@yuku.com (FainaAgain) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:14:08 GMT

I have 2 tips, not sure if I posted the first one.

1) if you make reservation on-line paying the deposit only, you can later "release" the reservation to a travel agent to get "perks" or lower rate. Get the agency number from the agent. It can be done within short term, maybe up to 14 days, not sure. You can be asked to do it in writing (fax). Why not to do it with an agent the first time? If you see the cabin you like, take it before somebody else did

Tunnel vision on the way to Alaska (Faina’s cruise report: June 6-16, 2008)

feeds@yuku.com (FainaAgain) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:55:30 GMT

THE EMBARKATION was a breeze. To get a taxi in San Francisco was a bit tricky. Don't know why them, I called DeSoto the day before, and confirmed in the morning my 12-noon reservation. 12 - no taxi. 12.10 - no taxi. 12.15 - called them, the guy said he's still trying to get somebody to reply. 12.20 - no taxi. 12.25 the taxi had finally arrived, and from that point on, no problems whatsoever (for us!)

We tried to roll our...

Where will my ship dock?

feeds@yuku.com (FainaAgain) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:54:16 GMT

I think I saw a ling on this website where I can see a map of the area where a cruise ship will dock, Elaine, was it your link? Can't find it now...

Semi-Scoop re the NOORDAM !

feeds@yuku.com (Rhea58) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:48:55 GMT

Now that I have your attention I would like to pass
along some info for those of you who are waffling
about sailing & can get away poste haste.

Hal's Noordam - not yet 2 yrs old & GORGEOUS - is being
pulled from the NYC port in April...

I was pleasantly surprised to see they have upgraded
their food & for the most part I would give heavy points
altho you still have to go the Explorations Cafe (read: Not free) to get coffee that does not taste like...

33 day Grand Africa departing 3-11-08

feeds@yuku.com (Jujuju2) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:47:02 GMT

We are about to start the first leg of a 38 day trip to Africa, 33 days of that on Holland America's Ms Prinsendam.

Here is the itinerary: Grand Africa

We got lucky and got upgraded to an outside cabin.

Mikemo, who is a member of this board, and who we met quite by coincidence on a trip to China two years ago, is also going on the trip. Since he lives in Mexico, I expect he is already...

New rules for US travellers : land and sea- Mexico etc.

feeds@yuku.com (WrongJungle) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:20:29 GMT

Quote:
In a statement issued...last Thursday, DHS said travellers would now be asked to present authorised documents when entering the United States at land or sea ports.

...

These documents include a US passport, traveller cards, state or provincial driver's licence, and US military identification with military travel orders.

Find out more in the

Are we going to come back as dried fruit