NancyDrew1953

I’m on the upcoming November cruise on the Encore. Earlier the stop in Israel was cancelled and Rhodes was substituted. Notified yesterday that the stop in Petra and one of the Egypt stops have been cancelled with a second stop in both Oman and UAE substituted. Plus a couple of changes to the dates for other ports. Although fully supportive of the changes, it is still a bit disappointing. Although understandable, this will be a much different agenda than planned. Seabourn has already refunded the excursions booked for the cancelled locations to my credit card. I have been pleased with Seabourn’s responsiveness; however, for the two new ports they have not yet announced any excursions. They indicated that they will have excursions to book once on board.

With respect to your comment on late 2023 cruises, Seabourn has provided their plans. I am on a Seabourn cruise later this month in this area. Right after the attack on Israel, Seabourn cancelled our stop there with a substitute planned in Greece (Rhodes). Other than that, the schedule is unchanged and includes Egypt, Jordan, cruising the Suez Canal and onward. I haven’t been following what Seabourn is doing for the 2024 cruises, but for 2023, they have definitely sone a very good job of keeping the upcoming passengers informed based on my experience.

A couple of comparisons from my perspective based on my experiences (on HAL in Australia/New Zealand earlier this year and on the QM2 late last year - both times standard balcony cabins). As others have stated, activities are generally more plentiful on the QM2. In addition to evening entertainment, the day time Insight lectures are generally very good to great. There is also a real library on all the Cunard ships (QA will have one). QM2 still provides nightly turndown service with chocolates every night, but no towel animals ever (unlike HAL). Quality and variety of food in the main dining room is better on QM2, but the service in HAL main dining room is generally better. The buffet, particularly salads, is better with HAL. Service on QM2 is good, but not as friendly or cheerful compared to HAL. Also, senior officers are somewhat more visible on HAL. In my experience, problem resolution is slightly better on HAL. The one big advantage HAL has is in the area of technology - better Wi-Fi (although hopefully QA will be as good) and a much better app. The number of in room movie and TV choices are also better on HAL. I really envy your World Cruising…..it is my goal (someday).

I agree that several of these points don’t seem to make sense. In the winter - spring of 2022, these ships were doing coastal cruises, and at least, the one I was on was about 85 percent full. Just speculation, but I would be concerned about the overall viability of the American Queen cruise line. The ongoing problems with refunds noted in this Board sounds like the Queen is about to go the way of Vantage Travel (bankruptcy and liquidation). Although I have had many great trips with them in the past, I would be very wary of booking anything, including river cruises with them now.

Last year, they had several trips in January to about April up the East coast with quickie stops in the Bahamas. Then, the ships went further north along the U.S. with stops in the Canadian Maritime provinces before starting the Great Lakes seasons. I thought that the pattern in reverse heading southward was repeated in the late fall in 2022, but it looks like AQV has abandoned this. I haven’t heard any speculation as to the fate of these two vessels. It will be a shame if they are scrapped as I thought they filled a good niche in small ship cruising.

I’ve actually completed a southeast cruise with AQV’s Ocean vessel. It was round trip out of Jacksonville Florida going up the coast through Georgia and to Charleston SC. To make it “legal”, there was a brief (very brief) stop in Freeport, the Bahamas. This trip (Feb. 2022) was delightful. At that time, both Voyager and Navigator were doing cruises along the SE coast, and the cruise I was on was relatively full (maybe 85%?).

I have cruised on both Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator including a round trip on the Great Lakes starting and ending in Chicago. Although definitely not as luxurious as the Viking Great Lakes offering, the pricing was much more attractive. However, the reason I elected AQV and not Viking was the shore offerings. Viking’s offerings were much more geared to active offerings, e.g., hiking, kayaking, biking, etc., while AQV offered a greater range of activities such as a tour of an old copper mine, a museum, etc. I am at that stage of life that most (if not all) of the Viking choices are beyond my physical limitations or interests. Hopefully, some other line will continue to provide competition to Viking on the Great Lakes — maybe Am Cruise Lines. I believe that ACL already has some affiliation with Pearl, which operates one ship on the Great Lakes?

I only hope that I will receive brochures in the mail. I spent over 30 days on the QM2 in 2022 in total, but don’t have anything booked yet for 2023. I really love hard copy brochures - so inspirational for future planning. So far, nothing from Cunard. Meanwhile, Viking, who have never cruised with, sends me something each and every week!

Technically it is all one room in Britannia Club), but as I recall and the Cunard deck plan confirms, it is split into four separate areas, with two on each side of the ship. On both sides, there is two separate dining area with the first being more open to the noise of the main dining room (the walls do not extend to the ceiling on two sides), while the second is a true separate room. I am trying to be in the second, quieter area due to hearing issues. I thought maybe being in an A1 cabin might produce this result. Is this true?

Although I have traveled previously in the Britannia Club categories, I don’t recall if there was any difference between A1 and A2 categories, except for deck location. I thought maybe that the A1 category had the better location in the Club dining area? Do the A1s dine in the more private dining room, while the A2s dine in the area that is just a separate area in the main room that you walk through to be in the more private area on the QM2? Any information would be appreciated.

I enjoyed the eastbound crossing on December 3, 2022; it was the Literary Festival, which changed the vibe on the ship a little bit (somewhat younger, more casual) in my view. Of the 2,200 passengers on board,1,600 were British, 400 Americans, with the rest Canadian, etc. This seemed to be a higher number of British due to the Literary Festival. The dates for the Festival in 2023 are, I believe, not in the period you are considering. All of the Holiday decorations were in place, but I was told it was too early for Holiday music or events since it was only the beginning of December. Weather was generally OK for December, but we hit a bit of a storm in Southampton. I would definitely recommend the sheltered balcony cabins, as compared to the glass balconies. The sheltered were usable, but the others not so much.

Although not likely for 2024, a World Cruise on one of the Queens is on my Life List. I would love an update from anyone on board.

Having traveled in the past on the QM2 (in Britannia Club), I have loved most everything except that to plug in my CPAP machine I have to run an electrical cord across the floor of the cabin. I have tripped over the cord in the past. For my next crossing, I am considering booking a Princess Grill cabin, but was wondering if there were any electrical outlets closer to the bed? I haven’t been able to get a definitive answer from Cunard although my TA has contacted them twice. Thank you for any information.

Weather yesterday in Rotorua was only so-so. OK in the morning, off the ship before 8am, but rained most of the afternoon and evening. Not back on board until almost 10 pm. Even with the rain, it was a great outing. Today is scenic cruising - not warm, but no rain. Hyperion Knight conducted a great Music Trivia this morning. If it is repeated on your cruise, don’t miss it as it was the very best. Tomorrow I’d disembarkation😥

We are visiting Tautanga tomorrow. The Noordam is scheduled to arrive at 6:45 am, with all aboard at 10:00 pm, so a very long day in port. Weather is supposed to be in the mid-70’s (F) and very nice. I have a lot of activities scheduled and am really looking forward to a full day. Today was Orange day, and it seemed like more than half the passengers were wearing something bright Orange. By the way, this evening’s main entertainment was Hyperion Knight - absolutely outstanding. I’ve enjoyed all of the shows I’ve attended, but Hyperion Knight is the best. If he is on your cruise, don’t miss him.

On the Noordam. They are still giving out surgical (not the N95s) upon request. There were some of the regular surgical ones in the cabin at embarkation, and you can get more at Guest Services or from cabin attendant. They seem to only provide N or KN 95s in very rare instances. As mentioned above, one of our group has tested positive and moved to a separate cabin. Her spouse has been tested daily and has been provided with the 95 masks by the medical team, but is free to be out and about with the 95 masks.

The first couple of days masks were mandatory, except when eating or drinking. Compliance was generally very good. After day three or four (I have forgotten the specific day), the captain announced that masks were no longer mandatory. At that point, probably only about 10 percent of the passengers and a somewhat higher percentage of crew continued to wear masks. Having said that, one of the group I am traveling with was diagnosed with Covid yesterday. HAL moved her to a separate balcony cabin, while her spouse (not Covid positive) is staying in their original (non-balcony) cabin. So far, I have avoided Covid, but I stay masked most always whether cruising or not. In my opinion, masks may help, but are no guarantee. There is some talk that if Covid gets to a certain level the captain may reintroduce mandatory masking, but it appears that we aren’t there so far.

Currently on the Noordam. We started in Sydney, then Melbourne, than Burnie in Tasmania (Hobart was not on our itinerary), them the South Island stops as planned. Weather in the South Island was dry, warm and mostly sunny. We did Port Chalmers. There were only two places on the North Island we are missing - Gisborne and Napier. We did not have Wellington or Christchurch on our itinerary, but Wellington was added as a substitute. We spent today in Wellington, weather was brisk and windy, but no rain. In the morning, I wore a sweater, but not needed in the afternoon. Today we visited Zealandia - highly recommend it. We have seen a lot of New Zealand so far. We’ve are headed north tomorrow for the one added sea day. Then onto Tauranga and Auckland - so far everything seems as planned, e.g. no changes to upcoming planned excursions. So far everything has been wonderful, both with excursions and the ship. My only complaint is that the nightly chocolates only appear on Gala Nights (only two nights) so far.😂

Just back on board from Picton and surrounding areas, including Marlbourgh wineries, the WW I historic aviation center (outstanding), and a chocolate shop. A fabulous day - sunny and hot. Tomorrow is Wellington, the replacement port for Gisborne and Napier. Then, the sea day. Tauranga is still on the agenda.

It has been wonderful. Excellent scenery, particularly the day we visited three sounds of the Fiordland National Park - bright, sunny and incredible views. We just docked in Pictor to another beautiful day. This trip has been near perfect, with great crew and service. This is the first time I have been on a HAL ship since 2018 and I’m loving it.

Currently on the Noordam. We are missing two ports - Gisborne and Napier, but are scheduled into Wellington on the 21st as a replacement with the other day (the 22nd) currently being called a sea day. Yesterday the cruise director indicated that HAL is still working on finding a replacement for this additional sea day, but that they are not having much luck. Our weather so far has been outstanding, and it has been an excellent cruise. You should have a great time.

I am considering a November 2023 cruise with Oceania. Although most cabin categories are fully booked, there is some limited availability. This would be my first time with Oceania, and I have not be able to find answers about availability of ship excursions on either the Oceania website or here on Cruise Critic (maybe my searching skills are poor). How far in advance of the cruise date are ship excursions open for booking? I am particularly concerned that most of the excursions may already be sold out as the ship is almost full. On the Oceania website, there is a listing of possible excursions for the ports. There are several excursions of interest, but are they likely to be sold out by now? Excursions are important to me, and for a variety of reasons (not interested in debating thus), I am only willing to do ship (not private) excursions. Thus, before I commit, I would appreciate any insight on the likelihood of booking ship excursions given it appears to be an almost full ship and that departure is only 10 months away.

I have the GeoBlue coverage for annual medical. I haven’t had any claims with it. Unfortunately, the emergency medical declines to $50,000 now that I am 70. I haven’t found any provider providing a higher coverage for 70 and over. Does anyone have a recommendation for annual medical insurance with more coverage for the 70 and overs?

Although technically not new to HAL (cruised on the Zaandam in 2018), I have a couple of questions that I can't seem to locate answers to on either the HAL website or here. (The answers may be around, but sometimes my search skills seem to be lacking!). Dining in the Main Dining Room: (1) I understand that certain entrees may have an upcharge. Am I correct in thinking that there is an charge if two entrees are requested? I think I read this somewhere but can't find it. How much is the charge? (2) Is there a charge for requesting more than one appetizer? Same question for dessert? If there is a charge for the second, how much is it? Is this indicated on the menu? (3) Do you have to request the Indian menu the night before? Or is it available at the time of dining? (4) Can you order off both the Indian and regular menu? Any other advice about dining choices in the Main Dining Room?

Although I agree that the planetarium definitely needs a refurbishment (broken chairs and others in poor shape), the shows I saw were fantastic and one of the highlights of the trip. During the almost one month on board (October 25 to November 20), there were 6 different programs offered (some only offered twice and others offered more frequently). Unfortunately, due to high demand, I was only able to see two of the 6 programs offered. The reservations went quickly, and even waiting to see if there were any no shows didn’t work. So if the literary festival takes over the venue, it will be very disappointing to me. My other concern with the literary festival is whether all of the Insights lectures will be literary oriented? One of the great aspects of the lectures on my last voyage was the diversity of topics - everything from science (oceanography and astronomy) to history (the Anglo Zulu war) to theater to cooking to British palaces,etc. While not all topics were of interest, there was something for just about everyone. Even though both crossings on my last trip had a theme (Anthony Ingles Eastbound and Greatest Generation Westbound), neither dominated the offerings. Furthermore, it seems that the literary festival will be taking over public spaces strictly for the those that booked through the literary group. That just doesn’t seem right to me.