CurlerRob

I’m not aware of any Airalo eSIMs that support maritime cellular service. Depending on the strength of the shore signal you should be able to use a Global or US eSIM when in range - but I have no personal experience with the coverage for the inside passage. Good luck! 🍺🥌

There are a couple of things that you should know about Airalo. First, as you recognized, a data eSIM will not help with confirmation texts - they need cellular service. If you go to the Airalo site and search their help function, you will find a section that explains how to still use your phone with the data eSIM. See the pic below. The section explains how to restrict data usage to your eSIM while activating your phone and text. If you only need to receive a confirmation text, you should not be charged or trigger a daily plan from your home provider. This is what I do when I need 2-factor authentication. Additionally, even if you have an eSIM that supports text and calls, it usually comes with a number different from your phone - may be useless if the text goes to your home number. Summary - I use the eSIM for data when away, but turn on my normal line for incoming text when I need a text code. 🍺

Is this a function of a newer iPhone? I’m very familiar with creating a wifi hotspot on iPhone using cellular data, but I’m unaware of the ability to do so when “connected to ship wifi”. Thanks. 🍺🥌

I’d be curious to know if there was any info in the shorex brochure in the cabin (it just looks like every other sales brochure you’re ever seen, not an important reference doc). On our first O cruise, there were significant changes made to multiple excursions and the only place they were documented was in that flyer. Nothing from DS, no letter advising a close read of the brochure. Lots of very unhappy pax who were blindsided. 🍺🥌

We regularly travel with 4 devices, all connected simultaneously (2 per person). I frankly don’t know if there is a limit pp, as that’s all we have. 🍺🥌

I second what others have said here - if you really, really want to see a specific destination, don't cruise - just fly to it. The hard facts are that cruising is always subject to weather diversions - and hurricane season just ups the odds. The pic below is from Sept/23 - it was a Regent TA. The large purple blob on the bottom left is Bermuda. Needless to say, we did not make it. Instead, we ran for NYC (our destination) and spent two days at anchor under the Verrazano Bridge without shore access, as there were no berths available when we got there. This was hurricane Hal as described by a previous poster. No master is going to play with a hurricane (they eat ships) - so your odds of really bad weather are not high, but your itinerary may be very different than you expected. As well, it's not always obvious what the storm tracks will be, so the cruise line seldom cancels the entire trip. Hope you manage to work out a visit with your daughter! 🍺🥌

If you're kind enough to take this on, here is a potential model from the RSSC board. You may wish to ask the OP for permission to filch it 🍺🥌

Ref. post #147. 🍺🥌

Jim, your flight story reminded me of a similar one from San Juan to Tortola many years ago. Aircraft was a 'vintage' DC3 (a good thing, as they are indestructible). When a few late arrival pax showed up, they moved a few goats farther back and strapped in additional seats. Critters and pax all landed safely. 🍺🥌

Your extremely charitable interpretation does you great credit! 🍺🥌

It doesn't forgive the lack of foresight, but in looking at the original shoreEx, the buses ran every 15 minutes from 8:30 until departure. Depending on the route time, it might have required up to 8 buses to keep the schedule alive. I'm not sure how many there might be in DH, but I suppose it's possible that a "bus flu" has impacted the fleet ... As well, the dockage looks very commercial, so I suspect there is no option for pax to wander off by themselves due to safety / security concerns. Frustrating, we were looking forward to a unique stop. 🍺🥌

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While not all cruises are required to report to the US CDC VSP, when they do, they must report all GI issues. E. coli is the second-most common, but others also show up. Have a look at the link for prior years and you'll see that it's not only Noro that must be reported through this channel. 🍺🥌 https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm

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E. coli or C. difficile are possibilities. Both are highly transmissible, cause severe bowel issues and generally respond to high-dose antibiotics (not a course of treatment that you want to experience, as it can cause issues down the road). Nothing on the CDC VSP site at present for Sirena ( https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm ), but that may be due to its itinerary, which I don't have at hand. 🍺🥌

No. Rotterdam is over 60km south, with it's own access to the sea. 🍺🥌

Have a look at Google maps. To reach the North Sea from Amsterdam, you must exit through a lock at IJmuiden. Tides, weather and marine traffic can affect the transit times. Until you receive your Boarding Pass Package shortly before embarkation, your departure time may change - so flexibility in your shore plans is important. If you are not doing so, you may want to arrive earlier in Amsterdam and avoid feeling rushed - the city is well worth it. Enjoy your cruise. 🍺🥌

It's about a 20 minute walk from the wharf in Darling Harbour to Circular Quay. A bit more depending on where you're heading in the Rocks. 🍺🥌

The website is shilling the max speeds - i.e. one user. Consider the effect of multiple users at the same time - if you have 40 Mbps and 40 pax are downloading at the same time, that's effectively 1 Mbps for each person. In addition, the bandwidth/speed is shared with other functions on the ship - crew, booking agents, shops, etc. That's why speed gets a lot better when usage is low - as in the middle of the night. 🍺🥌

https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005475473-What-Not-To-Bring-On-Board There are some lines that specifically prohibit curling irons and hair dryers (other than those supplied). Item 21 in the Oceania list could conceivably expand to cover a curling iron, but one would think it would be singled out if that were the case. In the absence of a specific prohibition, you might want to ask O directly - or go with the CC advice. 🍺🥌

Now I have to try this on our April cruise ... I'll blame you 😈. 🍺🍺🥌

Viking has no issue with pax bringing alcohol on board from shoreside. There is no corkage and you are welcome to bring your bottle to a lounge or dinner. They are the most civilized of all the cruise lines in this regard. 🍺🥌

If I can add one thought to @fruitmachine's very insightful advice - however you get to the Castle, save a bit of time to explore the Scottish National War Memorial (no pictures inside). It contains multiple extraordinary tributes to various service branches and famous regiments - each with its own alcove. One of the finest remembrances of military service I've ever seen. As sailors, you may find the maritime (naval and merchant) sections very touching. 🍺🥌

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Svalbard is very special, but a couple of thoughts: It's at a much higher latitude than where you would have been to in Antarctica - if that sort of thing matters. You'll be much closer to the pole than down south. IMO, the scenery will not be close to the spectacular sights in Antarctica - the mountains are somewhat less imposing and sea ice will tend to be flatter - more "bergy bits" than icebergs. If polar bears are a huge draw, you might want to consider a land trip to Churchill, MB, Canada. Likely a lot cheaper and the excursions there will almost certainly provide sightings and/or up close encounters. Svalbard has lots of bears, but seeing them (especially up close) is not common. We loved our first trip there and are returning in 2025 - but you should gather lots of input in order to make your decision. A couple of photos that may help: 🍺🥌