cruise surprises

[Pushka]

I will go for a suite if I can. The extra room and amenities are worth it for me though it does depend on the price - there is a point at which I say 'Nah, not worth it' but then I do look longingly at them. It also depends on the ship and whether Mr LtL is coming (or I am travelling with a friend). He loathes main dining rooms which are akin to a barn so we will book a cabin that includes smaller dining room like Aqua cabins on Celebrity (if not a suite). For something like Silversea which is all inclusive and less of the barn for a MDR, we are happy with a balcony.

The main difference with suites on Viking, is the ability to book excursions early than the mortals. Drives me batty. Can only book excursions for the verandah, 67 days out. And they sometimes sell out before you get to book. It's a viking Thing. The specialty restaurants are included in the price. Wine with meals. Suites do get alcohol in their mini bar which is replenished daily. Ours is replenished daily with snacks and soft drinks. Laundries are free and soap is provided. Higher Suites get free laundry.

 

[love_the_life]

Silversea have tightened up and are now fuctioning like a mainstream live with a few frills.
All a bit sad as we just managed our free laundry pass… Oh well….plenty of choice about in the cruise industry and worth scanning the fiel

Silversea does seem to have changed but not sure this is more mainstream - they now include shore excursions for example, something we don't usually partake of. You can of course decide not to go on them (like Drron has said in the past) but you end up paying for them anyway. I don't want economy airfares included (albeit with the option of J at an additional cost), overnight accommodation that they choose, transfers or the shore exc but that is what they are now pushing (though interestingly a TA who has handled some of our cruises told me he thought they would change again and not offer included air as it is too expensive for them). I see they are offering many more Port to Port itineraries now though (except that the deposit on these is non refundable which is a real turn off). If they are not careful they will price themselves out of the market - the cheapest cabin for a 14 day NZ - AU cruise in Dec 23 (not over Christmas) is $12,500 per person Door to Door or $9,800 pp Port to Port Prepaid (which is a new 'offering').

 

[love_the_life]

The main difference with suites on Viking, is the ability to book excursions early than the mortals. Drives me batty. Can only book excursions for the verandah, 67 days out. And they sometimes sell out before you get to book. It's a viking Thing. The specialty restaurants are included in the price. Wine with meals. Suites do get alcohol in their mini bar which is replenished daily. Ours is replenished daily with snacks and soft drinks. Laundries are free and soap is provided. Higher Suites get free laundry.

Oceania has the same - in fact I think Regent does as well. The higher category cabins get first dibs on included excursions and specialty dining bookings. Considering we generally don't do shore excursions on mainstream type cruises, I would much rather not have them included and I could book and pay for the ones that we want.

 

[Pushka]

the cheapest cabin for a 14 day NZ - AU cruise in Dec 23 (not over Christmas) is $12,500 per person

That’s getting rather expensive.

 

[love_the_life]

That’s getting rather expensive.

I know - I don't need or want all the extras they offer as part of this new look!

I did think that as your Viking cruise has places I wouldn't want to be exploring on my own, ships excursions would be the way to go. Though must admit, the Middle East is not a region I want to visit, even on a cruise. The area has never appealed.

 

[Pushka]

I know - I don't need or want all the extras they offer as part of this new look!

I did think that as your Viking cruise has places I wouldn't want to be exploring on my own, ships excursions would be the way to go. Though must admit, the Middle East is not a region I want to visit, even on a cruise. The area has never appealed.

Agree. I’m hanging out for the ships excursion in Luxor for Valley of the Kings. Viking released their excursions yesterday for preview and pricing. And port times were wrong for a couple. . I’ve let them know via chat. They also had us in Israel on Jerusalem Day. A day of riots or celebration. I posted this on the CC roll call and within the week it was moved. That’s when they added in Saudi Arabia. Viking reads CC Viking boards. This is a cruise MrP picked from an advert in The Australian. Pre Covid. Very unlike him. But I’m excited too.

 

[love_the_life]

Agree. I’m hanging out for the ships excursion in Luxor for Valley of the Kings. Viking released their excursions yesterday for preview and pricing. And port times were wrong for a couple. . I’ve let them know via chat. They also had us in Israel on Jerusalem Day. A day of riots or celebration. I posted this on the CC roll call and within the week it was moved. That’s when they added in Saudi Arabia. Viking reads CC Viking boards. This is a cruise MrP picked from an advert in The Australian. Pre Covid. Very unlike him. But I’m excited too.

I have lots of friends who love the ME and can't wait to travel back there, but strangely I have never even had the slightest interest in visiting. Besides Mr LtL would not survive the length of the cruise! Two weeks (as long as there are options to jump in and out of zodiacs) just about does him. He is not looking forward to the 5 day QE sojourn later in January - even though I booked us QG so he doesn't have to enter the MDR. He will survive. Says he only comes along so I have someone to take me by the elbow into dinner.

 

[Pushka]

I have lots of friends who love the ME and can't wait to travel back there, but strangely I have never even had the slightest interest in visiting. Besides Mr LtL would not survive the length of the cruise! Two weeks (as long as there are options to jump in and out of zodiacs) just about does him. He is not looking forward to the 5 day QE sojourn later in January - even though I booked us QG so he doesn't have to enter the MDR. He will survive. Says he only comes along so I have someone to take me by the elbow into dinner.

Son and DIL in the UK are now hooked on Cunard! This was the son who said he'd never go on a cruise while at home. I need to broaden their horizons.

 

[VPS]

Son and DIL in the UK are now hooked on Cunard! This was the son who said he'd never go on a cruise while at home. I need to broaden their horizons.

Interesting. I really didn’t rate the QM2 so maybe their standards are lower than mine

 

[Pushka]

Interesting. I really didn’t rate the QM2 so maybe their standards are lower than mine

They weren’t on QM. Maybe that’s the problem.

 

[Stargazer]

This has been so interesting - so many tips and wonderful insider information. Some of you mentioned that you plan your own excursions which are often more cost effective than the ship’s offerings, and you can craft the trip around your interests. How do you find the reputable operators (driver and car) who offer the best service? Some of you also mentioned that getting off the ship can be time consuming and you lose valuable shore time. How do you get around this problem?

 

[SYD]

Digressing slightly, one pleasant cruise surprise emerging through Covid was Celebrity’s “Power Up” points. Basically ways to earn tier points without direct sail by doing a quiz, watching a webinar or bonus points for booking a cruise.

I‘m currently “Select” Tier (which has reciprocal RCCL “Platinum” tier). Since Covid I’ve accrued a further 70 odd tier points via Power Up. So after another batch land in January, I’m probably one decent cruise in Aqua class away from “Elite” tier - which is not to be sniffed at:



RCCL Tier benefits here:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/crown-and-anchor-society-benefit-grid.pdf

 

[Anna]

getting off the ship can be time consuming and you lose valuable shore time. How do you get around this problem?

Often you can't, especially at tender ports.

Sometimes at a non tender port where a walkway is being used, if you are right there and ready to go as soon as the gangplank is in place they will let you walk off before the organised shore excursions start using the walkway to disembark. Usually this is around six or seven am so not a terribly convenient time to go ashore. Sometimes if you have booked a suite or have high status from cruising a lot, you can get priority disembarkation either using a crew walkway or a priority tender service.

But for the average pleb who isn't in a suite or a top loyalty tier, restrictions on when you can go ashore is another one of the tactics cruiselines use to extract more money from you by making you think booking a ship excursion is a better way to go ashore.

TBH if you have never cruised before and have never been overseas before as your other posts suggest, I wouldn't be messing around with attempting private shore excursions in foreign countries. You're way more likely to be ripped off that way than by sticking to the ship excursions IMO.

 

[auriga]

I just returned from my first ever cruise, a very very short 2N cruise from SIN to Port Klang (KL) and return.
Sadly I don't think I will be going on another cruise.

I am highly prone to motion sickness (even watching movies can make me sick sometimes.)
As soon as the ship left port, there were times when I could sense movement. Started to feel a little odd.
So I took a Stugeron tablet. Gradually the sense of unease improved. I took another tablet the next morning, and evening.

I did end up rather lethargic on the tablets, but was able to eat and not feel sick. But I really hate to think what would happen if we were out in the open seas, in choppy conditions! I am too scared to really contemplate that!

I am so pathetic....

 

[Anna]

Ginger tablets work for me, without the side effects.

 

[Pushka]

This has been so interesting - so many tips and wonderful insider information. Some of you mentioned that you plan your own excursions which are often more cost effective than the ship’s offerings, and you can craft the trip around your interests. How do you find the reputable operators (driver and car) who offer the best service? Some of you also mentioned that getting off the ship can be time consuming and you lose valuable shore time. How do you get around this problem?

Trip advisor and cruise critic references. Sometimes tenders delay the process but generally it's a case of just queuing up. The issue can get tricky when there's an elaborate immigration check, eg face to face before exit. Russia was absolutely the pits. China not much better. Roll with the punches.

Post automatically merged: Dec 31, 2022

I just returned from my first ever cruise, a very very short 2N cruise from SIN to Port Klang (KL) and return.
Sadly I don't think I will be going on another cruise.

I am highly prone to motion sickness (even watching movies can make me sick sometimes.)
As soon as the ship left port, there were times when I could sense movement. Started to feel a little odd.
So I took a Stugeron tablet. Gradually the sense of unease improved. I took another tablet the next morning, and evening.

I did end up rather lethargic on the tablets, but was able to eat and not feel sick. But I really hate to think what would happen if we were out in the open seas, in choppy conditions! I am too scared to really contemplate that!

I am so pathetic....

No you are prone to it, or not. Not your fault. Some swear by wrist pressure bands. We were out on our boat this morning, very choppy. But I love it. Also great for working on balance.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Ginger tablets work for me, without the side effects.

Agree with you, Anna; if you only carry two things on your travels, take Ginger and Activated Charcoal/Carbon.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I am so pathetic....

No, you're not

EVERYONE will get seasick at some stage

 

[RooFlyer]

An anecdote re shore excursions. Some years ago overseas I met a US travel agent and when she found I was from Tasmania asked if she could get in touch about clients she might have there. Sure.

Not long after, I heard from her. Their clients were arriving in Burnie ( a fairly new destination) and she sent me a list of shore excursions offered to ask which I would recommend. The thing that stood out was the cost!!! I forget the details now, but the prices were in the 'stupid, ridiculous expensive' category - for a group tour on a bus. I haven't done/haven't any cruises planned where there are optional paid shore excursions (except 1 destination, 1 day) but I'd try very hard to do my own thing.

 

[SYD]

The thing that stood out was the cost!!! I forget the details now, but the prices were in the 'stupid, ridiculous expensive' category - for a group tour on a bus. I haven't done/haven't any cruises planned where there are optional paid shore excursions (except 1 destination, 1 day) but I'd try very hard to do my own thing.

Yep, they can be. Probably a 100% markup on retail cost… But, as probably mentioned earlier, the ship will wait for you on official shore excursions if the bus is late back. If you do you’re own thing the ship sails and you have to find your own way to the next port (which can be fun if your passport is in your stateroom safe and the next port is in another country…).

What really peeves me is some ports where you have to pay to just get a bus off the port (some can either be very big commercial ports with no pedestrian access or just ugly dumps miles from the actual place you’re supposed to be visiting). La Rochelle in France comes to mind…