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Thanks! Admittedly, I'm a hot tub snob - I like having them, more or less, to myself, which is why I usually pay up for the thermal spa pass. That being said, if the community ones byt he Lido pool aren't that crowded, I don't mind giving them a go!

Hi, we are booked on the Volendam later this year, which will be our first cruise on Holland America. We generally love to get the thermal spa pass on NCL ships, due to their hot tubs in their spas. We were wondering if anyone can report whether Volendam's spa has hot tubs that are for the exclusive use of spa guests or thermal spa pass holders? Thanks!

Thanks!

I have, and loved it. We did a 4-night - Athens - Santorini - Mykonos - Hydra - Athens. It was incredible! Be sure to get up and on deck on the sail into the caldera at Santorini.

Hey Don, I've done a short SC Greek Isles 4-night sailing roundtrip from Athens in 2016. The three ports we visited were Santorini, Mykonos, and Hydra. We did not take any Clipper tours, preferring to do our own thing. It helped that we had been to most of the ports of call before. In Santorini, we rented a car and drove around. Mykonos is easily done by foot, plus an early ferry ride to Delos. In Hydra, we booked our own private tour with Harriet's Horses in Hydra and did some walking ourselves independently afterwards. I probably would not try to organize things while onboard. There aren't that many passengers on the ship (fewer than 200, in these COVID times, I think it's likely you'll have fewer than 100 on your ship). In the past, I would generally try to plan my own days taking public transportation - in Greece, it's relatively easy to do, at least pre-COVID, with the help of the Greece CC ports of call boards. Nowadays, if I was going on SC, I would probably still try to do my own thing, but I would be open to taking Clipper tours, for places where I have not been before and where I don't feel taking public transportation. Hope you enjoy you SC sailing! The first time, waking up, being low on the water, entering the caldera below Fira/Santorini, is truly something special! Cheers.

I'm not on this cruise, but I am wondering where you will be embarking, as I know all the major cruise ships cannot board in Venice proper anymore, so most are embarking in Trieste or Ravenna nowadays. I was wondering if the Star Flyer might be small enough to be exempted and allowed to embark in Venice proper? I would strongly consider a Star Clippers sailing over other cruise lines if they are able to embark in Venice proper, as the sail into and out of Venice are spectacular. Let me know? Thanks!