Poconolady

I’m really enjoying your trip report.We will be on Flora in August, along with our daughter and her husband and two grandkids, age 13 & 16. Is there anything in the evenings for the teens to do? What channels are there on the tv?

I’ll be following, we are on the Flora next Aug., it was the only ship that I could get three cabins together, on our our preferred date.

Trying to make a decision about changing carriers/ new phone, etc Several here were satisfied with Verizon’s $10 international option, does anyone have any comments on the AT&T plan in Asia?

We just booked the Flora for next Aug, three generation trip to celebrate our g’son’s Bar Mitzvah. 2 grandparents, two parents and 2 teens, 16 & 13, my credit card is gasping for air tonight! It should be a great experience, both g’kids are avid snorkelers and obsessed with turtles and wildlife! It was a tossup between an African safari and Galapogas and the lure of the ocean won out!!

Are there any opportunities for fishing on any of the different islands?

Looking for some feedback from cruisers who have sailed the Galapagos with Celebrity. Things like which ship, how were the cabins, food, ease of shore excursions, etc. are the shore excursions included in the fare or are they additional like on standard ships? Would you recommend this as a trip with teenagers? Any advise would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

The ships can not use real greenery because of fire hazards. ( also, the cleaning up of fallen needles would be a continual headache)

Ah, the Grand Hotel. I spent many vacations there when I was a child. First we would go to a rustic fishing camp in the UP for a week for my Dad to unwind and then stop by the Grand for a week to appease my Mom. Fudge shops, long walks, sitting in the rocking chairs on the front porch before dinner, bicycling all over the island- but what I remember most was the freezing cold water in their huge pool!! ,

That strudel looks amazing!

We did the ships “on your own” transportation tour. There might be cheaper options, but I never found a suitable schedule that would guarantee a return to the ship on time. We had a lovely fall day exploring several street markets and just wandering, absorbing the feel of the area.

We stayed at a local Residence Inn while our current home was being built 11 years ago, $45 a night on a long term basis, we were there for three months. What a deal, included daily breakfast and dinner four nights a week. They always had an abundance of snacks set out and a bus to take you where you wanted to go. I “ almost” hated to leave!

Yes, we got to Nagasaki on the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing. Very somber at the memorial and the museum, and then a lively parade not far away.

Jim, was this in 2018? We got on in Yokohama, a day after the cruise was supposed to embark. We got an email from Celebrity in the middle of the night, while we were waiting for the typhoon to hit us in Tokyo, telling us about the change of sailing date. . They told us to stay in place and save all our bills for lodging, food, transportation and submit them onboard. They were refunded to us onboard with refundable obc . The itinerary got changed around a few times, but it was a great cruise! We are going back in for the Best of Southern Japan itinerary in March ‘24.

I’m not sure, we didn’t take it because we already had our day planned out. We took the subway toTokyo to our pre cruise hotel to pick up some kimonos we had ordered, had lunch and then returned. We had time to walk around the China Town in Yokohama and visit the October Fest that was going near the pier.( yes I know, Hofbrau Haus beer garden in the middle of Japan, kind of a mix of cultures!) Then onto the ship in time for sailing.

It should be possible. You will have to stay onboard to be processed and get your new keycard etc, so maybe you will be off the ship by 9:30, then you can walk to the train station and get the train to Tokyo, have some time to walk around, have lunch and then get back for your sailing. You will need to be onboard by probably 6pm. Another note, the ship offered a tour for b2b guests only , but it wasn’t announced until you were onboard.

We are considering a flight out of Haneda back to the US. Is it conceivable that we could make a 1155 Flight, if we carry off our bags ourselves. Ship iss heculed to arrive at 7am.

Jim, if Africa is of interest, you might want to look into Oceana Insignia, half of their 2025 world cruise, Capetown to Singapore segment, 33 days.

I just did it- booked an Oceana Marina Reykjavik to Southampton cruise for next Aug. This will be our fourth attempt at Iceland, hope this one actually happens!! We still have a Millennium, Japan, for cherry blossoms that we booked in ‘21, we will still do that one since the price we booked is so low compared to now. I have a feeling that we will meet a lot of former Celebrity passengers.

Jim_Lain, looking forward to your next Live report. What line will you be sailing?

Being under the gym is not bad, IF you check the deck plans and book the cabins that are under the hair salon, those are very quiet. Also, there are a few cabins under the buffet area, near the entrance, this area is carpeted so the chairs don’t scrape on the floor. There are also AQ cabins that are above the buffet, those are really quiet.

Does anyone have any personal experience with Viking Ocean cruises? I’m about ready to jump ship from Celebrity.

I noticed that the sirloin steak from the classic menu has been downgraded to a flank steak option.

Absolutely not. This is just an option for a quiet, continental style breakfast, without the morning crowds. Not a champaign brunch. The rolls, fruits, etc are the same as what is served in other breakfast locations.

Thank you so much for checking for me! on another front! Have you tried the cinnamon rolls in Eden Cafe? They are the best I’ve ever had!!

Kwokpot, if you happen to wander by the Apple Store, could you ask what generation IPads they have, and how much? Thinking of how I’m going to spend all my obc! Thanks in advance