wencel

I was taken back by hotel rates in general and certainly downtown @AKJonesy Will look at airbnb options. Thanks for the tip. I'm looking at Hyatt House which is mid-town but I think offers a shuttle downtown. I don't mind longggg walks so could shuttle to downtown then walk off dinner. I'm using the ACT shuttle to Seward and they will pick up from various hotels. Sailing on Silversea... didn't occur to me to check what hotel they're using and transfer. Another good tip. Thanks @oaktreerb

So helpful, thank you!

Hi, I'm spending one night in Anchorage before catching a cruise departing from Seward. Flight lands at ANC mid afternoon and taking a morning shuttle to Seward the next day. Plan is to check into hotel, stroll around the area a bit, grab some dinner, no other agenda. Trying to figure out if downtown or midtown is better for this. Looking at Google Maps it looks like midtown has more food options (and possibly more window shopping?). Downtown has the museum but is otherwise less 'lively'? I'll be solo and I think both areas are ok safety wise (with the usual female solo traveling caveats)? Would appreciate thoughts on each area's vibe. Thanks

This doesn't capture the size of the shower well. It's decent size, no worries about anyone fitting. I liked having the option of both shower and tub.

Thank you!

Your thoughts reflect mine @drkitkat123 I cruised SS for the first time in November on the new Nova and was disappointed by the food - both the quality/preparation and variety. But after my Seabourn experiences, I also got bored with the food. There's not enough variety and adventure with menus on these ships. I would think a large portion of passengers on these cruise lines are seasoned travelers who would appreciate more creativity and stronger flavors. Did you find your cabin 526 ok for traffic and noise? I'm considering the Muse in the fall for 13 nights and only 528 is available in that category. I worry being right by the elevators, stairs, launderette and with Dolce Vita right there, it can be very busy and I read reviews mentioning Muse's cabins seem not well sound insulated.

In my experience (based on the new SS Nova and New Oceania Vista) it most often (and the worst of it) comes from the ceiling by the veranda. I mentioned it to my cabin attendant yesterday and a ship maintenance tech came by quickly to see if he can do anything. He explained it's the panels rubbing against each other. He fiddle with the ceiling a bit and it seemed to improve but 15 mins after he left the creaking started getting louder. He said to properly fix it would require opening up the ceiling, which they can't do without pulling the ship out of service. We have two sides by side cabins on deck 7 mid ship. One has much louder creaking than the other. On the Nova creaking was also quite intense at times in the hallway and at least one corner of the MDR...and all of it is, of course, based on how much the ocean rocks the ship!

Super interesting explanation @chengkp75 and makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

I should clarify our family of three have 2 side by side cabins (not adjoining) mid ship on deck 7. Creaking in my cabin can get very intense but less so in the other cabin. My SS Nova cabin was also mid ship on deck 6 (I'm motion sensitive so always book low mid cabins). All the creaking noises are disconcerting... Makes you wonder how quickly they rushed through construction!

Wrapping up night 6 of a 19 night cruise on Vista. Twice now I've been woken in the middle of the night by such incredibly loud creaking in my veranda cabin coming from the veranda area, alternating with loud clangs from the ceiling area by the closet/bathroom. I thought at first it was the hangers bumping into each other. I did an 11 night Transatlantic on the new Silversea Nova in November and had similar experience. Not only was the creaking loud in the cabin (also mostly coming from the veranda area), it was so loud in the hallway by my cabin that I recorded a video of the noise... And creaking was also quite loud one night in the MDR. Vista and Nova are my only very new ship experiences. Last December I was on Seabourn's Ovation (their newest at the time but already sailing for a year, I think) and did not have such creaking and groaning. Anyone else have similar experiences with very new ships? Is this typical and to be expected? I think from now on I will avoid any ship less than a year old!

Traveling with only carryon for 19 night cruise so I need to pack very strategically. I've come to realize attire on Oceania (this will be our first) is more relaxed than on Seabourn, Regent & Silversea and have repacked to suit... which means replacing more formal wear with some slacks, LS tops and one casual fluffy zip up just in case! Thanks for the advice everyone!

Can someone tell me what the room temperature is like in the dining, lounges and theatre on Vista? Almost all cruises I've done regardless of ship, line or itinerary tend to be cool onboard with theatres often being like ice boxes. Our cruise is warm weather but I wonder if I should pack a few fall pieces to avoid freezing onboard!

Exactly what 8 wanted to know. Thanks @edgee! And pls forgive the wacky autocorrect. I meant 'virgin mojito or margarita' 🙂

I cant figure out what SM includes re non alcoholic beverages. Can I get cocktails like curtain mojito or margarita and would it only apply at lunch and dinner?

Thanks for the helpful responses everyone! I will pack my own reusable with lid... I seem to have a skill for spilling 😁 I do enjoy a nice cappuccino and hope Oceania's proprietary brand is decent.

Hi, maybe an odd question but am about to embark on my first Oceania experience... Does Oceania offer takeaway cups for hot coffee/tea with lids? By takeaway I mean for drinking while on ship, not to take during excursions. Seabourn Square provides reusable hard plastic ones. Silversea's new Nova provides a ridiculously small white thin paper cup that has to be doubled or tripled to withstand hot beverages and then puts a plastic lid on it (so much for their proudly touted "no single use plastic onboard" claim). I love holding a nice hot cup of tea in hand as I stroll the ship throughout the day and would love to know how Oceania handles that. Are takeaways available and are they a decent size (closer to a Starbucks tall or grande than short)? If necessary, I can pack my own reusable one.

Thank you!

Thanks, @LHT28 and @EJL2023. I couldn't see any T&C in the booking process, hence my question. Will relook again when I book. As a side note, I find O's website not super responsive. We've had to make multiples attempts for many of our excursion and event bookings because it just doesn't seem to work on the first tries. Maybe be a good thing they don't have an app. They should focus on improving the web functioning first!

This is such an informative thread! Thanks to everyone who chimed in. Question: If I book the classes now and then decide to cancel once onboard, is my payment refunded?

I just came off an Alaska cruise where I tested the Emeterm Explore and it did nothing for me 😞 I know it can work really well or not at all from person to person and am so disappointed it didn't work for me. I've previously tried the old school terry cloth with button pressure bands and they didn't do much either. Am considering one of those behind the ear patches now.

It's the Silversea Nova departing Lisbon on 7 Nov. Good to know about Ponta Delgada! Thanks @CGTNORMANDIE

Great education. Thanks @ColdCruise. So I guess it takes me back to... only Mother Nature knows what might be in store for me and she's not giving any hints 😁

Very helpful to know. Thanks @tigervixxxen!

Thanks @ColdCruise I've always liked the idea of days at sea as a way to slow down, enjoy the ship, read and reflect. I'm not concerned about shorts on deck. I make sure to cruise somewhere warm at year end for some vit D...I just don't want to be on a roller coaster on water 😁

Hi All, after years of gleaning excellent knowledge pouring through volumes of posts (including many on this thread) I have questions about a TA that necessitates help from my fellow CC followers. I'm contemplating a Lisbon to NY 11 day TA this November. Ponta Delgada is the only stop. Can someone help me identify if the ship will take the north or south route? In general, how much more does the risk of rough seas increase once it's mid November? I'm sensitive to motion so usually book lower deck, mid ship. A day or two of discomfort is fine but I worry that so many days at sea will mean many days of misery. I'll be traveling solo and would enjoy the quiet time but obviously will be paying a supplement fare so spending half my time nauseated would...really suck! I was planning to fly back to NY from Europe a few days before this sailing and, though the cruise is much more costly than the flight, thought the cruise would be fun... assuming mother nature cooperates somewhat... but she's a tough one to predict. Thanks for any and all perspective on this.