mariners

drron29, your report on the Silver Explorer cruise could have been published in any travel journal worth reading. You have a way of capturing your experience(s) both through words and photographs. Thank you!

We currently have two cruises booked with Viking Ocean. For the first cruise, to be taken in late 2023, our final payment was due on the date that was clearly stated when we booked the cruise. Although we have yet to take that cruise, we chose to book a second cruise for late 2024. I misread the date the final payment was due and contacted Viking to ask if it was possible to delay the payment to a later date. Viking agreed to give us a one time exemption and we agreed to the new date. Then, the 2024 cruise was part of a sale. Our Viking representative cancelled our original cruise and rebooked the cruise under the terms of the sale. The sale had an earlier final payment date and, under the terms of the sale, we had to agree to make the final payment by that date. In our case, there was no ambiguity to Viking's terms of sale, and it was my error in misreading the payment date. As yet to be first time Viking cruisers, I was impressed that they permitted us to make final payment at a later date. This, however, became a moot point when we rebooked. So far, we are impressed with all of our interactions with land based Viking, and can't wait to be onboard the ship(s). Because we live in Canada, our insurance is different than those who live in other countries. We are also not eligible for Viking insurance.

For the first time in a decade, a cruise ship has docked in Churchill, Manitoba. Usually tourists visit the community to see the polar bears in the fall/winter or the beluga whales in the spring. For those who are interested, here is an article from the Winnipeg Free Press: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/07/17/this-place-was-buzzing-churchill-welcomes-first-cruise-ship-in-decade Hopefully, Churchill will limit the number of cruises and tourists as accommodations in the community, the infrastructure, medical facilities, etc. require that tourists be adventure travellers who are interested in experiences. For those who decide to stop over in Winnipeg, there are lots of options of things to see and do: the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Rainbow Stage, Assiniboine Park/Zoo, many festivals, and lots more. https://www.travelmanitoba.com I am not a travel agent, newspaper reporter, in the hospitality business, etc.. I love living in Manitoba, and am thrilled that I might have the opportunity to sail either to or from Churchill.

Host Jazzbeau, I can't wait to see your ship floating in the pool. I think that you could use this thread to help you win the contest. 😀

Strenz, my DH and I only sailed on the Wind Surf one time and that was in 2003. It was a TA from Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale. Perhaps, you were onboard? The rest of our cruises on Windstar have been on the smaller sailing ships: Wind Spirit, Wind Song, and Wind Star. Most of these cruises have been TA's. I hope, JM0115 will find that Windstar is a good fit. IMO, I recommend that people sail on these ships now as the large (understatement) ships seem to be increasing in numbers and the smaller ships will become either obsolete, or, for some of us, too expensive to sail. (Of course, that is not for those who want to skate, climb mountains, etc. as Windstar would never be a good fit for those individuals.) Wishing you a fabulous sailing adventure in September. Caroline

vtgumby, thanks for your lighthearted response to my "open" porthole comment. If they had actually opened, I wouldn't be here to tell the tale. JM0115, I'm going to try and attach a photo so that you can see the porthole and the porthole cover. One can have complete darkness in the cabin without closing the cover as the curtains block out the light. The porthole covers are quite heavy and the screws to put them in place are made so that they are not easily opened and closed although it can be done.

Strenz, I think you have been sailing on Windstar for years, as have we, and have seen and experienced different scenarios depending upon the captain and the ocean conditions. What we experienced in the past, is not indicative of current sailings, and/or future sailings. Although I'd love to name the Captain(s) who made each crossing and/or sailing unique, I realize that some of our experiences would no longer be permissible onboard Windstar, and those individuals, captain/staff/crew, might choose not to be named. We were onboard when one was permitted to have fishing lines off the aft of the ship and the ship stopped to allow a wahoo reeled onboard. We sailed with individuals who brought fishing lines for crew. We sailed with individuals who created and/or brought kites for "entertainment", and the doctor helped create the kites (who knew that surgical tape should have been sold in the shop?). We were onboard when the "wahoo" was caught and were thrilled to be part of the experience as well as enjoyed the multiple meals created by the chef.. We were onboard when one could bring unlimited alcohol onboard and passengers would plan an "on deck evening". The music is not a "top 100", but we had a great time. We have sailed through major storms, and also the calmest sea. We have had Captains who make different decisions, such as closing portholes or leaving them open, and each sailing has been unique in many ways. We cannot wait to experience what Windstar will offer in the future.

That's correct. However, unless my memory is incorrect which is quite possible as we started sailing Windstar in the mid 1990's, we have never had porthole covers locked on deck 2.

When choosing deck 1 or deck 2, there are a variety of factors to take into account. We are happy to be on either deck, but love deck 1 because of how close we are to the sea. If you are on deck 1: You might need to be prepared to take the stairs up and down multiple times a day (sometimes, within an hour if you've forgotten something in the cabin or up on the deck) and, for some passengers who have mobility challenges (knees, hips, etc.) that can be an issue; when the seas are rough, the captain might choose to have the port hole covers latched shut and, depending upon how long the rough seas last, it could be numerous days; the opposite side of that is when the port holes are open, one can sometimes see sea life such as dolphins right beside the cabin; as well, I get more of a sense of being at sea on deck 1 than on deck 2 as the ocean is right there; the watertight doors on deck 1 close when coming into port as a safety feature and one takes a different set of stairs (crew stairs) to go up and down to other decks (note: it's just a different exit route and one is not "trapped"); and, if you are someone who wants to get a drink from the bar and take it to the cabin, you will have an extra deck up and/or down to get the drink (that burns some of the calories you are getting from the drink so to me it's a win-win). As none of the portholes open to let in air, one has to go up on deck. The size of the smaller sailing ships make this a mute point for me as I spend a lot of time on the deck. There are numerous places to sit or stand on the deck depending upon your preference(s): the bow in front of the bridge; the starboard or port outside and/or centre outside where the outdoor dining tables are located; the bar area under the roof; the outdoor deck space close to the bar and around the pool to the aft of the ship; the upper deck; and most areas include some tables and chairs as well as loungers. Regardless of the weather on our crossings, we have always had a fabulous experience. As with any cruise/travel, one sometimes has to be flexible as Mother Nature dictates what happens. I suggest that you choose your deck based on those factors that matter most to you and hope that some of this information helps you to make a choice. Wishing you a fabulous cruise.

Windstar gives the option of booking all-inclusive which is not the same as all-inclusive on Regent but does include a beverage package, wifi, and gratuities. If the sailing is 14 days or longer, laundry is included. Any passenger who has difficulty with mobility will need to determine if the ship chosen will work for them. We have over 100 nights on Windstar and have always found the other passengers who sail on the ships to respect space for those passengers who wish to spend the time alone, and also provide a social experience for those passengers who choose to socialize. Other options that I didn't mention would include SeaDream but, as it's been years since we sailed with them, I'm not able to provide current information. We loved the ship and the experience; however, we wanted longer itineraries and different ports than they offered so chose a different cruise line. I know the OP has sailed on Regent and that was our favourite cruise line for years (starting with our cruise on RSSC Song of Flower). Once Regent made some changes that didn't work for us, we looked at other cruise lines. By trying out a few different lines, we found some that worked well for us and have sailed on them since 2010. We will continue to try different cruise lines as well as sail those we have sailed in the past as every cruise line makes changes that work or don't work for us. I really appreciate how much information has been provided on this thread about different cruise experiences as well as what factors are the most important for people when choosing a cruise. Thanks to the OP for starting this thread.

We will be sailing on our first Viking Ocean cruise this year so I cannot give a comparison to the cruise line. It all depends upon what you like and what's important to you. For us, we have found lots of different options for cruises, but have limited experience on the lines post COVID shutdown. One option would be Windstar where you could choose the sail assisted ships, or the re-imagined old Seabourn ships. The crew, the ability to sail into smaller ports, and the fabulous dining experience keep us interested in the line. You can also choose the all-inclusive option but that does not include shore excursions. The lack of entertainment onboard has not been an issue for us. We are also fine with the small cabins on the sailing ships. Another option is the New Crystal, but it is an unknown experience at this time. It will start sailing soon, and I'm sure there will be lots of reviews from passengers and that could help you make a decision about the line. From everything that I've read, the New Crystal is keeping a lot of the same things that made the Old Crystal a fabulous, IMO, line. However, as others have stated, the cabins might not be to your liking. We know many people who love to sail on Celebrity in the upper suites. It's different experience, according to them, than sailing in the regular cabins. We sail Celebrity, but not in suites, and do not have experience in the suite dining rooms. We have chosen Celebrity if we are sailing with extended family or some of our friends as it's a cruise line that offers a variety of options for different age groups as well as for people who choose to have more options available for days at sea. When we sail on the line, we book almost all shore excursions privately as we prefer not to be in large groups and/or wait for the people who are late back to the bus or who have mistakenly taken an excursion that is way too difficult for them. We do not expect a luxury onboard cruise experience, nor gourmet meals. Our previous experiences sailing on Seabourn were very positive. As I have not had a recent experience onboard, someone else would be better at providing you with more current information. IMO, all of us can give you our opinions, but the only one that matters is your own opinion. For me, I will not sail a ship where I have a set shared dining table. I will not sail a ship where it's a "party cruise" for the majority of cruisers. I will not sail any of the huge new ships that, IMO, are floating hotels. Other than that, I choose the ship based on itinerary, who I am sailing with, and the onboard experience. Of course, I always want to feel as if I'm getting good value for the money spent (somewhat difficult given our Canadian dollar 🙂). Please post whatever cruise lines/cruises you choose and your experience(s). Bon Voyage.

tubeamps, you should have no difficulty with the connection times. I believe that the transit time for a flight from the USA through Montreal to an international destination is around 50 minutes. Montreal is a small airport. Air Canada has the transfer streamlined and it's easy to find your way to your next gate. Because you are connecting flights, you do not have to go through customs, nor, if you had it, would you have to retrieve checked luggage as it would be checked through. We much prefer flying through Montreal rather than Toronto (except for the airport options for a long layover). Wishing you a fabulous cruise!

What a fabulous thread! Although it's been many years since we sailed the Navigator, she remains one of our favourite ships. Your review brought back wonderful memories - including memories of sailing with some of your fellow passengers. Thank you!

forevertravel, it took us over five hours from the time the plane landed to making our way outside the terminal in Lisbon this past June (flying Canada to Portugal direct). We also had delays boarding the plane in Montreal which set us back hours. Our extended family had pre-paid for pick up at the airport and had contacted the company while in Montreal to let them know what time the plane was expected to land. They were reassured that the company would check the time the plane actually landed. However, by the time they, our extended family, made it out of the terminal, the pre-paid transportation had left. The company have a maximum wait time of three hours after the plane arrives. Whatever company you book with, check to see their wait time policy. My DH and I had planned on taking a taxi and had no issues. If you need extra assistance at the airport, this service is offered and worked well for another couple we know who needed the help upon arrival: https://royalairportconcierge.com/Airport/lis/

It will be wonderful to hear about the NC from passengers who sail onboard the ships. Why anyone would choose to post on a board where the individual(s) appear(s) to be a "cheerleader" for a cruise line to fail is something that is beyond my understanding of the human psyche. I'm so thankful that I sailed with, and met, other passengers with whom I spent time on the OC. Hopefully, I will meet up with some of you again on the NC or other cruise line(s). I have no doubt there will be some issues that need to be ironed out on the NC but that has been my experience on other cruise lines before and after the COVID shutdown. IMO, the way for cruise lines to move forward is to be prepared to listen and learn from those passengers who are open to sailing on the cruise line. If someone is choosing to denigrate a cruise line and other passengers who choose to sail on that cruise line, there is little point in listening to those individuals. (It appears that some, or most of them, who are posting on this board have found different cruise lines that better meet their expectations/wants/needs.) For those crew members/staff/officers who read CC, and I can state from my interaction with specific individuals that some did in the past, you have previous passengers who are behind you 100% as you make the choice(s) that are best for you. We don't all have to agree on anything. We should, however, IMO, be respectful and think of the impact of what we write and say to other individuals. Not everyone is lucky enough to have our choices.

friendlyfifer, Senegal was one of the reasons we wanted to book this cruise. I have no idea why Viking has chosen to drop the port but it seems that some other cruise lines made the same decision. Perhaps it is because of insurance, difficulty in ensuring docking, health concerns, or something else rather than passenger safety. There seem to be quite a few posters on this board who have an extensive understanding of marine safety and issues and they might be able to give some insight. Cape Verde offers a lot when it comes to culture, landscape, snorkelling, music, and some shopping/fish market experiences. It's definitely nothing similar to what I expected to see or experience in Senegal, but our choice is to cancel the cruise because of this change or try and embrace the change and find out how to make the most of our time in Mindelo. Here is a link to a CC thread that might be worth reading: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2919546-mindelo-cape-verde/ I hope that you will post information about the crossing either while on the cruise or when you get back home.

Heidi13, our yellow fever vaccinations are older, much older, than 10 years, but we carry our vaccination booklet/documents with us. The "old time jabs" are, from our experience, considered effective. In fact, where we live in central Canada, travel clinics will no longer provide any additional yellow fever vaccination for those who have previously been vaccinated. They will, however, if there is an issue, provide an additional letter that you can provide when travelling that states one cannot have another vaccination. We have had to show proof of vaccination twice on cruises because of locations where we had travelled: Richard's Bay, South Africa; and also Barbados. In South Africa, they would not allow passengers off the ship unless they had been vaccinated. As quite a few passengers had safaris planned (others chose not to get off the ship), the ship's doctor was kept very busy and those passengers who had not previously been vaccinated and wanted to leave the ship were quite unhappy.

I loveketo, we, too, made the decision to try and travel/cruise the "world". For us, it was the right decision; and, as you stated, "We are trying to see as much of the world as possible while we are still healthy!" From reading the Viking Ocean board, it appears that most of the posters feel the same way. Unfortunately, it will be 2024 when we will take the South Atlantic crossing on Viking so I won't be able to provide information to you before you leave. This year, we will be on the crossing from Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale on Viking. So far, every contact that I have had with Viking Oceans has impressed me. I cannot wait to be onboard the ship for the Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale crossing this year, and see, and experience all that is offered. Thanks so much for your response and obvious enjoyment of Viking Ocean.

We will be on the October 2024 crossing and received the same e-mail about the change in itinerary. It has been many years since we were in Mindelo (on a previous cruise in 2006), but I am very excited about going back to Cape Verde. I suggest that anyone who will experience this change in itinerary check on different travel sites and blogs to find out more about the port and island. I understand why some people would not choose to go to Mindelo, but then I also wonder why they would choose this itinerary. Many of the negative issues one might experience in Mindelo/Cape Verde are the same issues that might be experienced in Casablanca, Recife, Rio and Buenos Aires. IMO, I am very happy that Viking has already provided the information that Dakar will be changed to Mindelo. We love Recife, Rio, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires. The unknown, to us, is Viking Ocean Cruises, and we can't wait to experience our first cruise with the line this December.

oskidunker, I agree with the posters suggesting that you book a hotel close to the port. That gives you lots of options, and you can choose what is most important for you to make your final decision. We have stayed at the Hilton at Princes Wharf and loved our stay. However, there is little privacy on the balconies during the day because of the ships docking right there, and there can be a lot of noise from ships who are right beside the hotel. The wharf can be very busy which, depending upon what you like, is either a positive or a negative. Depending upon where Viking docks, walking with luggage is easy, and there is lots of night life close by. Prices, because of the location, are much higher than some of the other areas, and you are in the centre of the cruise passenger area. In 2019, we stayed at the Sebel Auckland Viaduct Harbour in a marina deluxe ocean view. This is more of a condo hotel. It worked well for us as the view was fabulous; we sat on the balcony with our drinks and "take out" food from a restaurant close by on the first evening. We bought groceries the next morning and loved the location (check out google maps). We also had all the facilities for dining in, laundry, having separate areas to go to when we were adjusting differently to the time zone changes, and still were close to the cruise wharfs and "tourist attractions". If you choose to spend more time before your cruise, Waiheke Island is fabulous and another option for a place to stay. There are also day tours that go from Auckland to the island. One does have to travel by ferry so this might not be an option you would choose.

Those of you who live in the USA have many more options for insurance than those of us who live in Canada. Some people in Canada who live in provinces, such as Ontario, also have additional choices and coverage than those of us who live elsewhere in Canada. When we have checked out different insurance plans for family members, and us, when travelling, we have to consider what is the best option for our ages, pre-existing conditions, etc. The only way that my father-in-law could have taken his only cruise, a once in a lifetime experience, was because Regent (RSSC) provided an insurance option that worked for him. No, he would not have been covered if the cruise line went bankrupt. However, it was, according to the company/individual who has been referred to on this thread, the best option for my father-in-law. It was not the best option for the rest of the extended family on the cruise. Every time that my DH and I travel/cruise, we check out our insurance options, listen to experts, read the fine print ..., and then make the choice that works best for us.

Roy, your travels have been most impressive! Your research, information that you provided, and your ability to create itineraries that allowed you to visit many areas of the world without having to take flights, at least most of the time, opened my eyes to train, bus ... options that I would never have considered without your reports. Thank you for providing the unique information that you have given on various cruise line boards on CC.

RachelG, there were hotels at both Haneda and Narita airports that had day rooms available for rent (not the cubby hole rooms) before COVID. I think they could be rented for as short a time as 3 hours or so. All of Japan cruises that we had booked for the past 3 years were cancelled so I don't have any specific recommendation. On one of our trips to Japan, we used Chris Rowthorn Tours for private tours in Tokyo and in Kyoto. You might be able to book something through his company that would give you a tour and then arrive at the airport closer to your departure time. http://www.chrisrowthorn.com I know that this company is back up and running as I have received e-mails from them. Unfortunately, the individuals we used on other trips do not appear to be providing tour services at this time. One of our tour guides had us use a mixture of public transportation (bus/train), and a taxi for the tour. He told us that tour guides do not drive and give a tour at the same time and that is why we used a taxi. You might be able to find a guide who would take you on a tour using a taxi for transportation. Your luggage would be safely stowed in the trunk. I've really enjoyed reading this thread. Thanks so much for taking the time to post.

travelberlin, my apologies if my post appeared to minimize the impact of the "old" Crystal taking money from past passengers. I realize that many of those passengers do not have a way of recouping the money that they placed on "old" Crystal cruises, and, understandably, they would like a better resolution than is being offered from the "new" Crystal. I am following the boards on CC again as I hope to continue to be able to sail on cruise lines that I have loved to sail in the past. Crystal was at the top of my (our) list for years, and was our cruise line of choice. Since the COVID impact on cruising (yes, we did lose money, but it didn't happen to be on Crystal for us), I have found that the CC boards are less informative than in the past. Instead, for me, I find that there are way more posts that appear to be attacking individuals personally. I, too, have a genuine interest in what people have to say about each of the cruise lines that I am following, and am very interested in what happens with the "new" Crystal. I hope that this post will clarify that I had no intention of my post minimizing what people lost when the "old" Crystal ceased to operate, and that the sharing of information about what is currently happening with the "new" Crystal is beneficial. I just wish that "personalities" and "conflicts" could be left behind much like the "old" Crystal owners, and I could focus on what the "new" Crystal has to offer, or not, as the case may be.

IMO, those people who have no intention of sailing on Crystal must keep posting on this board as they are hoping that there will be something that will entice them to sail the "new" Crystal. Otherwise, what reason would they have to post here rather than to move on to the cruise line(s) that meets their needs/wants? At this time, we have chosen not to book another Crystal cruise. I believe that those individuals who have booked a cruise have every right to be positive about the cruise(s) they have booked. We are so grateful that we have had the opportunity to sail on the "old" Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, Celebrity ... We will be trying a new cruise line this year. Will it be a good fit? Who knows? One has to make the best choice for himself/herself. That can only happen if one is willing to take the risk of sailing on a different line. For those of you who have "moved on" from Crystal, fantastic! For those of you who have chosen the "new" Crystal, fantastic! Wishing all of you happy sailings on whatever ship and wherever you choose to sail.