les37b
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Posts posted by les37b
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Curry also…. But several times we’ve had Beef Wellington prepared for us.
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11 hours ago, ddpe said:
Thank you. I am hopeful because we dock at 7 pm and want to spend the night in Kyoto to get up early for some of the attractions there. But, walking through a warehouse district may not even be allowed.
We arrived a couple of days before and stayed at the Osaka Imperial. On the morning of departure, I got up early and took the metro to shinosaka, then bullet train to Kyoto. It wasn't a sight seeing trip, but simply to tick the box for travelling on a shinkensen (which is highly recommended and cheap.)
Obviously depending on the amount of luggage you have, I'd not be afraid to disembark and use public transport. The Osakako Station is about 150 yards from the berth and a change onto the Osaka Loop should be straight forward and on to Umeda for the Osaka Shinkensen station and bullet. I'd not want to do this by Taxi - it would cost a fortune and easily avoided.
There is no warehouse district. If bot going on a coach or taxi, you would walk through the small shopping Mall. Use google maps to get around. Its superb. It will give visual directions as well as best carriage to board for your next stop on the metro. It was a joy to know we could find our way around such a huge city so easily.
Missing out of touring Kyoto was the only regret on my trip, but I really just didnt have the time to see Osaka AND Kyoto.
You'll have a whale of a time.
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1 hour ago, Critically Cruising said:
Want to say that I was in no way implying that you have disdain for rules. Just wanted to give you a reference. And you seem to be quite responsible in your flying. Well done.
That's quite ok. The info you posted is a good reminder to all. With the exception of my maiden flight back in 2015, which I thought was within the rules and in open parkland. Unfortunately it was a Royal Park and any flying objects are just banned! Ooops! It was a long time ago and the police even watched me fly, so way before it became common. Most of my flights tend to be over water. I rarely go over buildings, even though its completely legal. Just not worth the hassle. Sea and wide rivers are just dandy - and any error is a costly one. I try not to make any. This will be my first Volcano drone adventure, though I have taken up Etna with me, but with 35-40mph winds, not a chance of flying.
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Did the Ghan in March 1984 when it was reopened with the grand name "Alice to Wonderland" with a first class berth travelling from Alice to Sydney to end my grand (land) voyage loop up the East coast by air and car to Cairns, back down to Townsville, unscheduled 3 night stop in Mount Isa due to flash floods, then coach to Alice. Absolutely fantastic way to travel and highly recommended, though the costs will be extensionally higher than the fare I paid, which Australian Railways gave me a BR employee at the time, virtually a free ticket, with only the berth and food to pay for at a discounted rate. Still enough though to put a dampener on getting over to New Zealand before returning home after my 7 months away trip. My over riding memory of the scenery from the train is its very red!
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20 hours ago, ddpe said:
Does anyone know if the dock area for SilverSea in Osaka is a public area, so we can get a cab in the evening, or a port area with warehouses that would be difficult to traverse? Thanks.
Yes, it is a public area, There is a mini shopping area there and a big wheel which will give you super views of your ship directly below. (Yes it really is that close.) There is also a sea aquarium a short stroll away from the berth too. This is of course assuming you are berthing at Osaka and not Kobe-Osaka, which as it sounds, is actually in Kobe.
We visited a day before we sailed using an Osaka pass giving us free transport access and entrance to multiple attractions, including the big wheel and was superb value for money, particularly if you buy a 48 hour pass.
Where that small ship is berthed is where your ship will be and is overlooked by the big wheel at Tempozan.
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On 7/28/2023 at 8:41 PM, Critically Cruising said:
Always advisable to check country restrictions, particularly with tourist areas you are likely to want to use at. Something I always do and governs if I bother to bring my drone with me. I left behind for Alaska and Japan and also ABC Islands. Despite being allowed to fly in Japan, there were too many hoops. Caribbean was mostly too close to the airport, so decided it wasn't worth bringing. Iceland is on the other end of the scale and their rules relatively relaxed outside of the airport areas. Luckily, my drone is also sub 250gms removing most restrictions, though the obvious still need to be complied with. (ie airports and prohibition notices- which were very evident in Japan and verified it was a good choice not to bring.)
At the volcano site, there aren't really any restrictions outside of height, near people, staying clear of the helicopters should there be any and line of sight. (The later in this location does seem to be ignore from how it looks.) Flying over hot rocks and lava is of course entirely at the pilots risk and I have witnessed a "volcano burial", which was a deliberate act after it was damaged by heat in the previous flight. Quite poignant in a strange way hearing the pilot say his farewells.
If all goes well I will post the results.
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Windscribe has always worked for me on all SS ships.
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6 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:
CC should not be a problem. BUT, getting a taxi might be. Book in advance. We were told by our driver last year (who happened to be the owner of the company) that there is a 30% increase in cruise ship numbers this year, and not enough taxis and drivers to handle the biz. Last year, after an hour plus wait and no taxi in sight our friends hauled their luggage from ship to hotel. We had a 20 minute wait for a taxi out to the Blue Lagoon from our Reykjavik hotel. Perhaps it's better this year.
Thanks, that wasn’t something we had factored for. The volcano tour I had originally booked was on embarkation day but meant we wouldn’t arrive at the ship until about 7 in the evening, which didn’t seem a good idea. The one we have now, is the previous day not long after we arrive. Obviously we will need to find our way there. Had we stuck with the first booking, they would have dropped us off at the terminal. Hopefully the hotel can assist.-
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On 7/24/2023 at 10:52 AM, jpalbny said:
Usually the larger (and sometimes the smaller) ships are at the far edge of town in Skarfabakki. Last time we embarked at the pier right in Old Town (called Miðbakki) on Silver Cloud. But when we came back a week later another ship had laid claim to that pier so it was off to Skarfabakki for us!
This website https://www.faxafloahafnir.is/cruiseships/ will show you where your ship is scheduled to dock.
I just looked at your link for my sailing and noticed it returns to Korngarðar, though it’s right next to Skarfabakki so odd it has a different name.We are staying close to the Harpa, so too far to walk (with cases). It’s been 9 years since my only other visit and had a car then, so didn’t use any buses or taxis. I saw that you can’t use a CC to pay on a bus (cash and right amount only), but do you know if CC payments are accepted in taxis? I’ve a feeling it’s the same.
Only one week to go now before we fly. Due to get to the hotel by midday and we’ve booked an afternoon / evening trip to trek to the hill top to overlook the active volcano which seems to be in full flow for 2 weeks and no signs of stopping. Hoping to capture some drone footage and get back safely without melting. (Me and the drone! lol) Been to Sicily numerous times hoping to see Etna erupt, but a puff of smoke is the best I managed. I shall also get a port side window seat on the flight which similarly should if not cloudy, give good aerial views of it from the plane.
OP, not sure when July 2024 schedules are published, but at least you have a couple of options to look up the info.
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Post what your cruise is and I’m sure cruise mapper or what’s in port will provide that info.
Likely to be Skarfabakki Cruise Pier, which we sail from with Viking in 2 weeks.
I’ve not sailed from Reykjavik with SS and there is a second alternative I’ve noted that Silver Wind uses. -
Our March sailing on Dawn, we were concerned with the transfers for our 20.00 flight. I was told, it was that or a straight transfer to the airport only. About 5 or 6 days before departure we were given an 8am departure and midday airport arrival. While at GS I overheard a guest complaining about her departure and was told of one which arrived at 16.00 and included lunch. I then inquired and learned there were 3 different options. We managed to get transferred onto the better option for us, but wasn’t impressed we’d been misinformed about options when we got allocated a poor choice for us. (Hanging about at Barbados airport for 8 hours is no fun at all.)
So in answer to your question, yes they can be flexible, but it really isn’t a given and don’t take their first answer on what they can do. Good luck.
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I did see mentioned that Northern lights would be visible in Northern UK last week I think. Most unusual this time of the year! My only visit to Iceland got a glimpse of them for about 5 seconds in really cloudy skies in 2014.
edit - found the link.
Im off to Iceland in 4 weeks. The news that the volcano on the southern tip near Keflavik erupted today, which put me into action to book a refundable excursion on embarkation day. Will be flying the drone over for certain if its still going then.
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7 minutes ago, 1954 said:
Yep, checking there. Interestingly no one has reported only finding out when checking in, so we don't know if that is a possibility or not.
I’ve pretty much always booked a GTY Vista for the Muse class ships (probably 7 in total including several eventual Covid cancellations) and have probably been assigned a few weeks after booking which mostly has been at least 18 months out. My next sailing now, is Jan 2024 on Dawn, which I booked Jan 2022. I knew my assignment (veranda upgrade) in March 2022 and has remained the same number since that date.I’ve no idea why this has been the case each time, but suspect it’s my SS consultant who I’ve used since 2015 giving it a helping hand. He’s now been promoted and I expect my newly assigned one won’t be so forthcoming. It’s not something I’ve “expected” and to be honest, whilst grateful it’s been done, it wouldn’t be a problem if done much later. So the ship may well be left to assign near boarding time, but it certainly isn’t how it must be done or at least not from personal experience.
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1 hour ago, FlyerTalker said:
Anywhere in Australia is a long flight to almost anywhere outside of Oz and NZ. Fact of life. And geography.
So perhaps it's not the three stops you averred before.
On our Muse cruise last month, Aussie guests had been given by Silver Air, Anchorage > Portland > LA > Singapore > SydneyThey weren’t too happy about that
BTW… you probably remember my concerns re connection times in Seattle. Our flight had a scheduled 2h40m connection and friends we met, had 1h10m …. Both made it with plenty to spare. No bag collection or extra security / passport control to go through…. But no passport stamp either.10 mins from getting off plane to arriving at next gate. Most impressed.
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On 5/23/2023 at 7:52 PM, Daveywavey70 said:
Oh Lola, some of them can be very tastefully done and express the quiet decorum of those inside.
That's assault on my eyes!
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On 5/23/2023 at 8:52 AM, Daveywavey70 said:
Argos are notoriously bad at getting back to you these days. Seriously though, what a ridiculous excuse. How cheap must a company be to leave things like this broken instead of just fixing/replacing them and worry about the warranty later?
Sounds like a lame excuse to me.
I can understand if one of the heaters stops working - but all of them! That's a wiring issue.
Maybe they are wanting the Fincantieri shipbuilders on a call out from Ancona?
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Friends of ours (my wifes partner in crime when she was quarantined last year on the Moon), boarded yesterday. They managed to get the train ride from anchorage to Seward that we missed and said it was excellent.
They also did the Seward Whale waiting boat ride that we did in the harbour and was lucky enough at one point to be surrounded by a pod or Orca. We saw Porpoise on ours, which they didn't. I expect there is a connection!
Hoping they get the good weather we didnt get when we sailed in a couple of weeks ago from Japan.
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4 hours ago, SusieQft said:
That could be (and would make a lot more sense), but he very clear about it not being refunded because I asked twice. They did not make any written announcement of an open deposit option, and he said they did not promote this.
Then that is something that has definitely been changed as it was certainly spelled out (March 2019) that if I didn't transfer the deposit into a booking, my discount option would be lost and I'd receive a refund in full. (ie no penalties)
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On 5/22/2023 at 2:57 AM, turtlemichael said:
The 2026 World Cruise has been announced to guests currently on the 2023 WC. A friend on board wants to make an open deposit as he is unsure yet whether he will do the 2026 cruise at least in part because prices are yet to be advised. There is no problem with making an open booking, but my friend has been advised by Silversea that Amex will not accept a charge which does not have a definite item i.e. you have to book a defined cruise. You can't charge an option to an Amex card. He'll have to use another credit card. This surprises me as I recalI using Amex for this purpose in the past. Is anyone aware of this practice by Amex?
I have only once done an open booking on board, but that was with Amex and there wasn't a problem doing so. All other bookings made have had a cruise attached which also wasn't a problem.
Sounds more like an RCI thing than Amex.
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Enjoy spins…. Hope the weather is kind.
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6 hours ago, zqtchas said:
Wrangell, AK
Great whale photos. Best we got was the tale disappearing!is that a bear I can see in the woods there?
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19 hours ago, lincslady said:
I just love that name, Vicky van Tassel. She is not a drag artiste, by any chance?😉
Lola
When I first heard her surname, I did think at first it was said as a stage name or just for fun.
Such a dry sense of humour and as someone said, she is not someone I'd like to come up against in an argument!
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Have stayed in a GS on the Muse and Wind and as you suggest, it does and will get very windy when at sea. You will also get more motion as you've said. Didnt cause me any problems but its something to consider.
That said that wraparound balcony is huge and comes into its one when berthed. The suite is huge.
The gopro you can see in both photos produced this video, which gives you a good perspective of what you'll see and the angles.
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7 minutes ago, Deckhawk said:
Our bus left from the Anchorage Marriott at 10:45. There were options earlier and later (until 12:30PM I think). Bus ride was roughly 2.5 hours total - I believe we made one other stop on the way down and ran into traffic...
You were lucky. You missed the blasting that took place between 9 and 10 just 10 minutes from Seward. We weren't so lucky and arrived there with 4 vehicles in front of us when the stop sign came up. Yes, we had to sit and wait for over an hour for the all clear. Real good planning! Had we left 5 minutes earlier, we would have got through. This blasting is pre-scheduled so very avoidable with a little effort. Our bus had zero drinks or food for the 4h15m ride. Very Six star!
PS the breakfast they served in the Marriot was gross too! Did you have anything? I just settled on an orange juice.
Return to Cruising but need advice
in Silversea
Posted
Another vote for arriving at least the day before the cruise.
We embarked and disembarked in Barbados 6 months ago. The airport is small and a little chaotic and when the planes arrive at the same time, expect a wait unless you book a speedy exit pass.
Make sure you fill out your arrival paperwork, though if you forget, there are machines there for you to do it on arrival. Ironically I think that actually looked the quicker option as 95% had their paperwork.
Boarding the ship is also a bit of a mare, as you will be registered and then wait for a bus to go inside the small port. They probably will give you a board time of 2pm, but the process will start at 1pm if you were to make your own way.
Enjoy your cruise.