terry&mike

Hello, we are big hikers/walkers when we travel, and have been to Antarctica (boots on the ground), the Artic region, and have hiked from icy Greenland, to damp Victoria Falls, to jungly Costa Rica, among others. For me, my favorite hikers are hands down the Merrell Women's Moab 3 (I currently have the Moab 2, but the 3 is out now), in the low version (not the higher ankle "mid" version), in Gore Tex (they also come in Regular with no coating, and in Waterproof versions). As you said you like trainers, you will possibly like the look of these, as they have a somewhat trainer appearance but with a hiking traction bottom. I will try to post a link or photo below. They are expensive but last forever and are comfortable right out of the box. 

They come in several colors, so you have options on what you like. My first pair I had for over 10 years, and had bought them in the dark brown. The next pair I bought, the ones I have now for a couple of years, I bought in a pale gray. I like the gray better, as I can wear it with leggings as well and have it look more like a trainer, or with travel material pants, or with shorts; I feel it coordinates with more things. 

I'm a light packer so I generally try to wear one pair of shoes and bring a second pair of shoes, but for certain itineraries I'll wear one pair of shoes and bring 2 other pairs of shoes. For what you mentioned, I'd probably have my Merrell Moabs with me, and then also a simple black (or natural color) flat like those made by Rothy's, and finally a comfortable walking sandal that is cute as well, like the Taos Trophy 2 sandal in pewter. I own all of those shoes and travel with them regularly, and can recommend them. 

https://www.merrell.com/US/en/moab-3-gore-tex/52985W.html?dwvar_52985W_color=J036318#cgid=women-footwear-hiking&start=1

The last time we flew in to BA, it was on a flight from Miami, and was before Covid. I remember the walk to Immigration was a bit of a hike, but more than that I remember the lines at Immigration to take a very long time. This is a difficult decision for you, but honestly, I think you are best to order the chair as this is a large and bustling airport. 

I know the bind you are in, because for many years I traveled with my Mom who also has Parkinson's (she is 83 now and no longer able to travel), and she would become hurt or angry if I suggested a device that may assist her. I still remember the first time, it was on a cruise, and we passed someone in a corridor with a walker device with 4 legs with wheels on them and I suggested that may be something that would help her get around better, and boy did that ever go over poorly. She was very insulted and hurt, and said she did not want to look old, and remained in a dark cloud for the rest of the evening. 

Wishing you the best of luck on this. 

It's post #7 on this thread 

Also, I did a live review post titled "Scenic Mekong Review" if you want more details on the trip. 

We just did this journey in December/January. We used 2 single entry Vietnam eVisas each. I will try to locate my post on this.

Yes, a bit of a bummer. Hubby and I sailed Cunard for the first time last August, we enjoyed it so much that we booked a sailing for 2023 as soon as we got home. When we were in Vietnam last month, hubby had custom tuxedos made, dress shirts, and I had some dresses made, for our upcoming Cunard sailing. We look forward to the elegance and special atmosphere, including the beautiful clothing, of the Gala evenings. 

We just sailed this itinerary with Scenic in January. We were able to use an e-Visa to enter Vietnam from Cambodia when sailing downstream. I believe you are not allowed to use an e-Visa to enter Cambodia from Vietnam by water (when sailing upstream). 

I did a post on our Visa situation on the Asia boards, as few people had sailed this route since the Covid re-start and things had changed. Here is a summary of what we needed:

We needed a Multi-entry Vietnam Visa, which are difficult to obtain, as we began in northern Vietnam, traveling on our own, so we decided to try it with 2 single entry e-Visas for Vietnam. We got a Single entry e-Visa to Vietnam, which we used to enter Vietnam by airport from Thailand. We spent about 9 days in Hanoi, HaLong Bay, and Hoi An. We then flew in to Siem Reap, Cambodia, using an e-Visa to enter Cambodia. Before we left the U.S., we had already obtained the second Single entry e-Visa for Vietnam, which would allow us to enter from the river. When we met our Scenic tour director in Siem Reap, he took copies of our second e-Visa for Vietnam (as well as a copy of our Cambodian e-Visa). 

It was a smooth process, in someone from the Vietnam Immigration boarded the ship, checked all the documents with the staff, and then we sailed on. 

We bought an Indulgence Package a couple of weeks ago for an Amazon and Brazil 22 night cruise in November. Within 10 minutes of buying the package I was able to see the amount for Shore Excursion credit on my booking online.  Originally, I had $300 OBC; after I bought the package it showed as $1000 OBC. 

My invoice showed that the actual OBC was earmarked as $850 for me, and $150 for hubby, so I asked on this board if we had to spend it that way and was given advice that "no, it could be spent by both of us". The boards were correct, as I was able to book $500 worth of Shore Excursions each, and not spend any cash, the system just backed it away from our OBC amount. Technically, I did end up spending $3.00 usd cash, as I went slightly over, and now my booking shows $0.00 OBC at the top. 

11 hours ago, cruisingaussies said:

Shall try to remember to do so.  If you've not been to Kotor before, the sail in and out is stunning.

Thank you. Yes, we've been, but by land, so it will be new to see it from the sea. 

16 hours ago, cruisingaussies said:

On the Journey 22 April cruise they originally had the Evening as Kotor, then changed it to a Day.  Now they’ve changed it back to an Evening in Kotor. 

I hope you post how your Azamazing Evening in Kotor goes when you return. We are on the September 3 sailing of the Onward, and have an evening event "Mystical Tales at...." in Kotor. 

18 hours ago, SueMo said:

Thanks for the responses.  Our cell phone international plan charges 12 cents per megabyte, which is hard for me to get my head around.  We would only be using data for messaging our kids when we don't have internet access, or to use google maps to walk from point A to point B in the cities.  I found out online that you use less than one megabyte for a 20 minute trip using google maps, so I think that actually would be pretty inexpensive.  Thanks again!

The plan we purchase, gives us free data up to a certain amount. I was also worried about exceeding data as I'm thinking how the heck do I calculate that??? On our January trip in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia (it was 5 weeks, so I bought a 30 day plan, then a plan for a few extra days), hubby found out how to see how much data I was using, and I was way under what I could use. This is with me using it every day to check email, facebook, upload some photos, send and receive a few texts here and there, plus use the map function to get around, and research restaurants and other things.

One tip is this, make sure you close out every app (and web page) that you open when you are done using them, especially maps programs/apps, as it does continue to run in the background if it hasn't been closed and use data. 

1 hour ago, compman9 said:

I hope someone can help with this.

 

We are sailing from Singapore to Malaysia (Penang) and Thailand (Phuket), can anyone tell me if immigration collects passports on board to stamp?

 

The reason I ask is because DW needs two clear pages for the end of our trip (otherwise she won't be allowed in a Schengen country), and she's fast running out.

When we last sailed in Southeast Asia by large cruise ship (Princess, January 2020), our passports were collected and we did get some stamps. In January of this year, we were on a river cruise in Vietnam and Cambodia, and also received passport stamps. I'm not sure if it's the same in England, but in the US you can send your passport in and have pages added - if you have the time, this might be a thought.

And in other interesting news, before we joined the river cruise in Vietnam and Cambodia, we started the trip with 2 weeks in Thailand. When we arrived in Bangkok airport, we were given quite a bit of grief from the Immigration officer for 3 stamps in each of our passports that he did not like. They were not legal country entry stamps, but the souvenier type stamps you can get sometimes (Charles Darwin Research Center in Galapagos, Ecuador with a turtle; Gateway to Antarctica, Ushuaia, Argentina, with a penguin; and Antarctica, with an iceberg). We endured a stern lecture on not having anything put in the passport that was not official as it invalidates the passport, and so on. We apologised, and were let through. He was quite gruff. We chalked it up to him having a bad day, because we've been to more than 110 countries and no one has ever even mentioned this. Also, surprised at how quickly he found all 3 of them, given our passports are each 51 pages and pretty stamped up. Oh well, we got in, but we will not be getting anymore "fun" stamps in the future.

We were on a land trip in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia in April/May of 2022. We added an international plan to my cell phone and relied on that for phone and data (using wifi when it was available). It was quite inexpensive. 

We visited Nha Trang in January 2020, just before Covid. When we got off the ship there were lines of taxis waiting, and their drivers were offering to take people on tours, to the beach, etc. We just wanted a ride to the beach area, so that we could go for a scenic walk, wander, seafood lunch, get massages. We walked past the first couple of guys and then took a ride with a guy who offered a more reasonable rate. We spent the day as planned, and it was easy (and cheaper) to get a ride back to the pier when we were ready. It was a very enjoyable day. 

Would love to hear your take on the cabin once you return (if you stick with it). We booked one of these cabins out of curiosity, but on Deck 5, for our September sailing. 

1 hour ago, buchanan101 said:

Most inside cabins are not Atrium view - loads especially on Decks 4, 5, 6. Only 12 cabins (6 on each on decks 5 and 6) are Atrium view (category HB)

Hubby and I have one of these cabins booked on Deck 5 for our September transatlantic. Curious to check it out. 

6 hours ago, gymfreak said:

We have also purchased an indulgence package. When selecting an excursion you then select who is included in that selection and if it’s the two of you for instance then the total cost of the excursion is deleted from the ongoing total of Shore excursion credit. So yes in effect it covers both of you.

 

 

Perfect, that is what I was hoping would happen. 

12 hours ago, crzrr said:

Have you logged in to your AZ account?  I would think that the whole $1000 should show there as available for booking shore excursions.

Yes, $1000 shows as available for booking Shore Excursions online. At this point, I have not purchased any specific excursions so was unsure how it would charge us.

I purchased the Indulgence Package for an upcoming 22 night cruise. This works out to be good value for us as we would have upgraded to the Ultimate Drink Package, and both wanted Wifi. Part of this package includes a $700 Shore Excursion Credit. We already had a $300 OBC, expressed as $150 per person OBC on our invoice. In looking at the new invoice the $700 is credited next to my name; it shows me as having $150 + $700 OBC, and hubby as having $150 OBC.

I am hoping that the Shore Excursions I buy for both of us will come off of this $700 OBC, rather than only Shore Excursions I buy for me being deducted from this amount and us having to pay for hubby's excursions. Basically, even though the $700 is attributed to me, is it usable for both of us in the cabin?

Following, also interested in answer. 

Please report on your findings, and your transfer. I will be doing this in September.

1 hour ago, fruitmachine said:

Tag me after the 22 April and I'll let you know! 

Will do!

3 hours ago, lisiamc said:

One thing we already know: Chioggia is a charming place on its own merit, like Ravenna. It’s a great place to eat seafood, and worth a day or part of a day as a destination in itself. If my cruise finished there, I’d plan to see Chioggia and then if possible spend a few days in Venice in a hotel. The trip back and forth will eat up a useful part of your day.

You posted this in reply to my post above, but I think you intended it for all readers.

It's not applicable to my situation in that my request is to guests disembarking in Chioggia (starting in April) as to what time Self Disembark started. I'm trying to judge making an 11:30a domestic flight from VCE, heading on to the Puglia region, when I disembark there in September. 

I've visited Venice and the areas nearby on land trips in the past, so am not staying over on this trip.

14 hours ago, fruitmachine said:

As far as I'm aware very few (and no Azamara) ships have used Chioggia before.

Yes, but Azamara will begin docking there in April for this season, so I'm hoping some folks will post their experience here when they return. As I don't dock there until mid-September, I've got a bit of time. 

For anyone who disembarks in Chioggia, please let me know at what time were passengers allowed to Self Disembark? And what time were you scheduled to arrive in port?

I understand that each sailing is different, but this will give me a general idea. 

We are scheduled to dock at 7:00am. I am thinking to book a flight from Venice VCE airport that departs at 11:30am. It is a domestic flight (to somewhere else in Italy), and I am willing to arrange a car and driver for the transfer, as well as pay for the airline cabin class that allows me to have Priority Check In and Fast Track at the airport, so I'm thinking this can work. 

As the member who started it, I'm glad you found it!