Port Power

I guess all land and sea operators are confident Japan will be open for peak “cherry blossom” time. Let’s hope they’re right.

When I was last in Flam, the ship actually docked AT Flam, and we only had to walk across to the train station. That was perfect for independent bookings, plus there were not many travellers in the whole compartment, so we could move around from window to window. The ship's tour had their compartments completely full. This was on Celebrity Eclipse (Solstice Class). I wonder why Quest didn't dock there? (I haven't looked at your itinerary.)

It is so sad that all the air problems (which could easily and quickly be fixed) are causing you and others to sour on the ship experience as well. Hopefully once on board you will all feel much better. SS Air are creating a huge PR problem though. Have you emailed an executive officer about the issues?

Cancellation and refund policies are clear in the T&C, but usually there is a 24 hour deadline. If the ship misses the port, they will refund you.

So glad they did right by you. May you have Q-suites every leg!

If you are describing him wearing the trousers and just the vest/waistcoat, I don’t think that would be sufficient without the jacket component. Trousers and vest/waistcoat is very casual. Men wore them in the office, but always put on the jacket for visitors or when leaving the office. However, trousers and the long jacket wold be great.

This was mentioned on another thread. Air was credited but the airport-to-hotel and/or hotel-to-port transfer remained. That person had to call again to have that transfer refunded too.

I currently have a red miniature dachshund sleeping on my lap. What a wonderful photo. Such a reaction!

SS is swapping ships from Explorer to Endeavour, not changing the itinerary. When further suites are installed, some of the cabins will probably be closed to booking so that passenger numbers are preserved. However, there are so many solo travelers now, that extra suites do not means extra guest numbers on board. As to your earlier questions, SS Explorer's lease expires in November, when it will be handed over to its new owners. There is some conjecture that it might do some more South Pacific and Australian itineraries now that it is not going to Antarctica. Kimberley cruises are extremely popular and all current ships are sold out.

Whatever the rules, I would still home test myself the night prior to boarding. Firstly so as to not board and not put others at risk. Secondly, so not be be confined to my cabin for the first seven days. I strongly believe passengers who have tested positive should absolutely be isolated (along with partner) so that neither one of them moves around the ship infecting others. However, passengers should remain in the cabin they booked. What's the point of moving anyone? I was on a ship where the nurse and the purser visited regularly as well as bringing three meals a day, with wine, plus morning and afternoon tea. The same meals from the dining room that everyone ate. I would expect nothing less from Azamara. Those passengers had no complaints at all. It is so sad to hear passengers were not treated well, especially by the medical team. Those medical staff were probably run off their feet, but being polite is not hard. Being cheerful maybe more difficult, but they need to boost morale of those isolated.

There was a post up-thread about one of the AZ ships waiting for delivery of new hair dryers. Which ship will you be on? I have had a pretty lack lustre one, and then one that did the job all right. But I don't have long, thick hair.

Now that you have posted, I do remember putting the cans of drinks on the desk myself. It was over four years ago, so I don’t always remember little things. I do very well remember the shoe organiser hooked over the bathroom door to hold toiletries as there was no bathroom storage in the accessible cabin.

Silversea has just released its 2025 World Cruise. It does go around the world in one direction, as well as having an interesting itinerary including Iceland. Perhaps more in keeping with your “bucket list”?

All drinks are included with Azamara all day, so just ask for sparkling water at any bar. There is no in room mini bar that I can remember, but am happy to be corrected. I truly never remember having a soft drink in the cabin. Is there a refrigerator at all? An ice bucket would definitely be available though. Yes, breakfast is definitely available on the morning of disembarkation.

Yes, there are benefits. They vary between cruise lines, but the main benefit is usually extra OBC. Quite often, not always, there is a reduced deposit. On some lines you receive a two-level cabin upgrade. (Book on AZ for a Celebrity cruise.)

I think our May cruise in Australia and the subsequent itineraries will continue as planned before Explorer moves to its new owners. I can't see SS Endeavour taking over the Australian itineraries. Apologies. I saw Faux Nom has already answered. But SS Explorer might now be able to expand its Australian season. Kimberley cruises are selling like hotcakes!

My reply no longer relevant

My goodness there are some outrageous prices being quoted here. Last cruise out of Southampton, we stayed at an inexpensive hotel near Heathrow Airport (Hilton, etc. Leonardo is actually very good if you don’t need Intercontinental standard.), reached by taxi. The next day we took a private car transfer to the ship. All of this for way less than one night in a more expensive hotel. Around US$435 today, not including dinner. After all, it is just a bed for the night.

I will be on the 2025 World Cruise, so 2 1/2 years away from boarding. I have several cruises (two of them a month long) and land trips next year, and two extended land journeys in 2024 to go first. Which is why it will be a bit easier to forget about the WC for two years!

Not on your life! (In any case, MM wouldn’t like it here because Australians don’t fawn over so-called “celebrities”.)

This was absolutely the best information, and just what I was looking for. An overall description of life on board. Thank you. Other posts on this thread, and forum generally, have been useful. Lots to think about when leaving the house empty for five months! I am now certain I have made the right decision in booking a Worl Cruise, and definitely I have chosen the right company in Regent. Viking is still very desirable, but I can leave them for a grand journey in the future. The only problem is that I now have to put it out of my mind for two years!

I looked at this WC too, but it overlapped with a 30-day land tour deferred from 2020. One of the first decisions is to choose cruise line and ship size. Princess would definitely not suit me for 150+ days. When I compared Azamara with their generous OBC and extra shore excursions OBC, they were much the same price as Regent Seven Seas with included excursions. Even though my RSS World Cruise isn’t until 2025, I am already investigating Viking’s extended cruises to visit other parts of the world missed in 2025. (Britain, Greenland, Iceland.) I can see that world cruising can become addictive!

I guess it is one’s interpretation. Yes, not circumnavigating the globe, but certainly visiting five continents. Antarctica is a “float by“, but still right up close. The 168 night World Cruise starts and finishes in Miami, so ✅. Like others, the itinerary is still most important. Any WC won’t please all the people all the time, but the 2025 itinerary suits me as it goes to the east coast of South America, Easter Island, South Pacific, New Zealand (although there should definitely be a few more stops on the South Island or at least cruise the astounds), Australia, Komodo, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan. And more! If these places are on your bucket list, don’t rule it out just because it is not a conventional around the globe.

There will be a myriad of suggestions in the Ports thread under Civitavecchia.

Rome2Rio. Or book seats on the shuttle.