whogo

A working toilet is non-negotiable. If a toilet can not be fixed in a timely manner, the cruise line should offer a replacement cabin, an acceptable island resort stay, or pay for the cruisers to return home with more than a full refund (Double their money back?). I have stayed in some cheap motels, but they've all had working toilets. It is too late for urqu3 to negotiate.

Mo shu Pomeranian, fricassee of West Highland Terrier, General Tso's toy poodle...

What ship isn't sailing? Barring a few that are in dry dock, all cruise ships are at sea every night of the year.

You asked for a glass of liquor? I never heard booze ordered that way. Were you hoping for a tumbler full?

How many water slides, go-carts and roller-coasters had you ridden by age five? I was a teen before I rode a roller-coaster or go-cart, a parent before I went down a water slide. I wasn't one of those rich kids with a Slip 'N Slide. As a five year old, I was happy with a stick or a cardboard box.

I'm enjoying your live thread, VMax1700. Did the captain say why he changed the route to Liverpool?

The 'Once in a Lifetime' Adventure I listed above was in 2011. We could not have been happier with our Seabourn Quest cruise from San Antonio to Buenos Aires with landings in Antarctica. The January 25th sailing which adds South Georgia Island should be even better, wish we could take it. Get out of your HAL comfort zone, POA1, and try an expedition ship and set foot on Antarctica. I want to read your live thread.

I do not see anything currently listed on the HAL website. A "New, Unique, 'Once in a Lifetime' Adventure!" was listed as an 11.5 hour shore excursion from Punta Arenas, Chile during our Veendam Valparaiso to Rio de Janeiro cruise. Only $3399 for a 2.5 hour flight to Chilean Air Force Eduardo Frei Base. A zodiac tour to a neighboring island (at an additional charge?) was listed. We did not book it. The tour was cancelled for unknown reasons, perhaps because of lack of interest.

Mine, too. There is something special about a circumnavigation of a continent. Cabins are still available for the October 10, 2023 73 night circumnavigation of Africa.

When I grow up I want to travel and write like you, Dr.Dobro.

I have come home from travels with a cough or cold too many times. I wore KN95 face masks on our recent flights and remained healthy. Just one data point, but I plan to continue to mask up in crowded, confined places.

I would have been happy with a ribeye steak replacement, think that adding the mushroom and pastry coating is gilding the lily. I would have been disappointed to miss the oysters, though. What were you eventually served, Hank? Did they provide oysters another night?

shipgeeks nailed it. The only thing I can add is that no-copywrite background music makes any video worse.

All else being equal, choose the clockwise option. What kind of nut would deliberately go anti-clockwise? (I'm looking at you, NASCAR and horse racing.)

I did not realize until after final payment that I had stupidly booked transfers in Fort Lauderdale. Holland America would refund nothing for a cancellation. Let's say it was an outrageous $78 each for what was a $20 taxi fare for two. I told HAL that I might just take the taxi anyway. Shortly before the cruise, HAL wanted to know if I would use the transfers. I told them I would tell them for $78 each. They did not go for it. We did take the taxi.

Businesses have their hands tied, but I know of nothing that stops fellow cruisers from questioning or criticizing "service" dog owners. I witnessed a good old boy's interaction with a yipping, leash tugging little monster of a "service" dog. "What an ill-mannered beast," said the good old boy. "She's a service animal," huffed the owner. "Yeah, I was talking to the dog about its inconsiderate, uncaring owner that hasn't properly trained the poor beast." (I have bowdlerized the quote. You can imagine what he said instead of "beast" in describing the female dog.)

Great photos, thanks. Phoenix Reisen celebrates its 50 anniversary soon, they seem to be successful with smaller, older ships. As I remember they spent €20,000,000 redoing the Prinsendam with new engines and all. The German TV series Verrückt nach Meer followed guests and crew on Phoenix Reisen cruises, I watched every episode, including some filmed on the former Prinsendam. Amera and the other Phoenix Reisen ships sail some great itineraries. Would love to try one, Mrs. whogo is not interested in the least. Amera leaves for a round the world in 143 days cruise, eastbound, on December 21: https://www.phoenixreisen.com/einmal-um-die-ganze-welt-mit-ms-amera-in-143-tagen-36-3077337-1.html?source=overview&searchIdCruiseDate=3077338 Artania does a westbound circumnavigation in 143 days starting December 23: https://www.phoenixreisen.com/die-grosse-weltumrundung-mit-ms-artania-in-143-tagen-36-3077312-1.html?source=overview&searchIdCruiseDate=3077313 Amadea circumnavigates South America and Africa from Europe. With wrap around decks on all their ships, and visiting smaller, less touristy ports, they are the kind of ships Holland America old timers miss, not that the Holland America old timers would sail on another line, much less a German one.

Thanks, Heidi13 and chengkp75 for the fascinating stroll down Memory Lane.

You sure surprised me with that answer, Heidi13. Was the burial at sea requested by survivors? Was burial at sea the only option?

Cruise Critic has posted a world cruise review. 1 Star, Defiantly a cruise I'll remember: https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=702167

I am supposed to say I liked Prinsendam best and we did have a couple of great cruises on her including a 30 day Mediterranean/transatlantic, but was pleasantly surprised how much I liked the Noordam 38 day San Diego to Aukland via Hawaii, Fiji, New Caledonia and Australia cruise in October, 2018. There was more and better entertainment and the larger size was no problem.

That is creepy.

For a real treat, book the cruise before the transatlantic, too. The only thing better than a 14 day transatlantic cruise is a 14 day Mediterranean cruise followed by a transatlantic cruise.

Today's bank tellers have probably never seen a travelers check. Phone your bank, arzz, and find out how they intend to honor the checks they sold you. You may have to talk to the customer service rep's boss's boss. Travelers checks have the same magnetic routing codes as any other check and should be handled about like any other check.

I have cruised between San Antonio Chile and Buenos Aires on Quest and on Holland America's Veendam. We viewed the glaciers and had port stops in Punta Arenas and Ushuaia. Great scenery, great cruises. The cruise from Ushuaia to San Antonio on Pursuit would be something different, no idea what happens in Yendegaia or Garibaldi Fjord, for instance. Sunday, March 10 Buenos Aires, Argentine Monday, March 11 Flight to Ushuaia. Monday, March 11 Cruise begins in Ushuaia, Argentina 5:00pm Monday, March 11 Port Williams, Chile 6:30pm 7:30pm Tuesday, March 12 Yendegaia, Chile 6:00am 3:00pm Wednesday, March 13 Garibaldi Fjord, Chile 6:00am 2:30pm Thursday, March 14 Tierra del Fuego, Chile (Karukinka Park, Chile) 11:00am 4:00pm Thursday, March 14 Punta Arenas, Chile 9:30pm Friday, March 15 Punta Arenas, Chile 8:00pm Saturday, March 16 Strait of Magellan (Cruising) Sunday, March 17 Chilean Fjords (Cruising) Monday, March 18 PIO X Glacier, Chile (Cruising) Tuesday, March 19 Chilean Fjords (Cruising) Tuesday, March 19 Caleta Tortel, Chile 3:30pm 10:30pm Wednesday, March 20 At Sea Thursday, March 21 At Sea Friday, March 22 Castro, Chile 7:00am 9:00pm Saturday, March 23 Puerto Montt, Chile 7:00am 2:30pm Sunday, March 24 At Sea Monday, March 25 San Antonio, Chile 8:00am