RandB_Toronto

My suggestions are: wash your hands often, and keep them away from your nose and mouth as much as possible.

Also don't touch your eyes. This is actually a very common way to transmit cold viruses since most people unconsciously rub their eyes many times in a day.

http://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/

You may be interested to know that accuweather is now providing forecasts for 90 days out!!! I would take those forecasts with a very large grain of salt (actually lots of grains of salt!) but they do provide historical averages for each day which is useful.

Thinking about doing the first half of the 2017 VoV and flying home from Rotterdam. Does anyone know how the pricing of the partial itinerary works? Is it roughly 1/2 of the full price (20 of the 38 days)? Thanks!

The half voyage is listed as a separate cruise. (On the HAL site, search for transatlantic, July 2017, 17 or more days.) The fare is slightly more than half the full cruise. (18 of 36 days.)

I attempted a search but had difficult finding these web sites. Granted, my computer skills are quite limited. If you could please provide more specifics, thanks.

Gail

I'm not sure whether I can direct you to a specific web site by the rules of CC. If you do a search on "airports taxi transfers" it should be the first result. You have to select the country, city, etc. since they operate in a number of places.

If you still have trouble, email me at yagafrp at gmail dot com. (That's not my normal email, but I will check it for the next few days.)

The issue is getting from central Amsterdam to the remote cruise port.

So I plugged in "Amsterdam City Center" as the pick-up and IJmuiden as the drop off in the same online site, and it came up as 55 euros for a 4-passenger van plus other options.

Google "transfer schiphol ijmuiden".

Hmm, I don't understand the problem. We are arriving at Schiphol on June 15 for the June 16 cruise on Prinsendam. We are staying at the Holiday Inn in Ijmuiden. (We've been to Amsterdam several times and didn't want to spend any pre-cruise time there.) There are airport transfer services that you can book online from Schiphol to IJmuiden - one I just looked at is 56 euros. I have not booked this yet. We do not want to try the train/bus route since we will be tired after the flight and just want to get to the hotel as easily as possible.

Am I missing something???

Has anyone done the hike up Torghatten to the "hole in the mountain"? I am trying to decide if it is something I can do. I used to hike lots, but as I get older (71 now) my feet start to hurt after a while. I still walk a lot on the level with sidewalks, and I think I could still do a moderately difficult one. But I see many different descriptions of this walk -- some say easy, others difficult. Just wonder if anyone has actually done it.

Thanks for any advice!!

It's a small ship so may not be much activity here, but just in case....

Here is a site that gives a number of prices in Norway. Not everything you'd want to know, but maybe some idea. It has been updated this month, so is quite recent. I guess you can ask for other countries also -- I am most interested in Norway.

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Norway

I've never seen smoked salmon for breakfast on our cruises on ms Prinsendam (European initeries).:confused:

If there is no smoked salmon on our Prinsendam cruise June 16 (up the coast of Norway) we will be SERIOUSLY angry!!!!

Wouldn't be just easier to get a legal name change if you are not comfortable with your first name anyway

 

Seems like a simple solution to me ;)

You want me to change my name just because computers (or more accurately programmers) are incompetent??? I can't believe anyone would seriously suggest that. I very firmly believe machines are here to serve people -- not vice versa!! My name is that which my parents gave me. I like it. I don't want to change it. I expect people to design user interfaces that accept it as it is. As I said, I worked in software development for thirty years. I know what is possible. And btw, using one's middle name is only one "different" format amongst many in the world-wide use of names. It is a touchy subject and, for most people, VERY important.

(Having said this, I will admit that the (large) company I worked for also cannot get this right! Well, they got it right for the S/W they developed for sale, just not for that which they used internally!. I argued with them for years and finally gave up. As far as they are concerned "first name" = C. Richard, middle initial = blank, last name = Pond. Stupid, but it works -- sort of.)

And I certainly don't understand the problem about explaining to customs officials. The main name on the card would still be my exact "passport name", but there would be an additional name there also. Surely that is not so difficult. As someone mentioned, another cruise line (I imagine more than one) has already implemented this so it is obviously doable.

I am not the person who can make a difference, but I do very much agree with you that it is not difficult to do and even in a post 9/11 world there is no reason why your "onboard name" cannot be different from the name on your passport. I have a programming background, too, and it would not be the least bit difficult to add a field for "preferred name onboard".

 

As a matter of fact, Crystal Cruises's pre-cruise documents not only allow it, but ask you specifically "how would you like to be known onboard?" There is a couple who is simply known as "Mr. and Mrs. T" from what I understand and there are others who also choose other names or simply want to be addressed by their first names, i.e. "Miss Anne" or whatever.

 

My passport lists my first name, my middle name and for last name it lists both my maiden name and my married name, as did my Oceania documents; however, I requested that only my first name and husband's last name be used onboard, and that is how I was addressed verbally and on place cards throughout the cruise. I agree with you that it would be easier if the option for choice could actually be a programmed field, though.

Although I completely understand the need for having my legal name the same as on my passport, it is totally simple to have another "nickname" or "preferred name" on the card. As you say, that way I can be addressed properly on the ship.

I am really fed up with the way computers seem to make things difficult when with only a little effort, they can actually make it easy. I remember years ago when I had to apply for Ontario's health insurance plan, I had to fill out a form which had (if I recall correctly) eighteen -- EIGHTEEN!!! -- different formats for the name field. It allowed for almost any possibility. Now every form I fill out has "first name" "middle initial" and "last name". "It's because of the computer" -- ROT. It's because of lazy and incompetent programmers and user interface designers.

There now, I'll get off my soap box - Feel much better!!

In another thread there was a recent comment that FDR reads these comments and takes them seriously, so here is one of my "pet peeves" with Oceania.

I "go by" my middle name - which I think is not at all unusual, even in the U.S. On our first Oceania cruise back in 2007, they had printed my on-board card with my first and last name. I objected and they said all they could do was to re-print it with all three names. Not really satisfactory. Having spent my entire working career in software development, I know very well that it is not very difficult to add another field for a "preferred" name. After the cruise I sent FDR a letter for which I received a stock reply that all comments are considered. Five years later my passport has been changed to have "C. Richard Pond" instead of my full name and, of course, Oceania's records have been updated accordingly. Now I am addressed as "Dear C" in all their letters!

Really, this is not difficult. I would think a simple programming change would make a big hit with a sizable chunk of their customer base.

Hoping this comment is read by someone who can make a difference,

...Rick Pond

We will be in Dubrovnik on April 24 from noon until 11pm. What is there to do in the evening? Assuming the weather is good, is there an interesting sunset? Anything else you would recommend? (Dinner, of course. But we are not gourmets, so will likely search out something good but cheap!)

Send them an e-mail and do it that way.

You mean send a credit card number by email????? That is DEFINITELY not secure!! Think of email as a postcard.

I think Jade is there on the 25th with three small ships. On the 24th Marina is the only ship there. (We'll be on it!)

Just a final bit of information: If my online quotes are correct, it looks like Blue Cross is much mode expensive. ie around $600 vs $120 (for RBC) for my particular case. That's a bit apples vs oranges though, since the Blue Cross includes trip cancellation whereas the RBC one said I had to call them if I wanted that option. Nevertheless, it does loo like BC is rather expensive. I don't make any non-refundable payments until January, so I will do some more rigorous research sometime later.

After a great deal of research I have found the following:

Most travel insurance is "last payor". ie you must claim on whatever other insurance you have first. However, I have found that Blue Cross (Ontario, at least) is a "first payor". It is not on their web site but I called. She said lots of people use them for that reason. (Pacific Blue Cross is also first payor as indicated on their web page. That's why I decided to investigate Ontario Blue Cross.)

However, I have also found that my company health benefits would pay very little for out of country expenses anyway. It would, however, use up my "health care expense account" for the year, whatever was remaining in that. So I would probably go with the Blue Cross unless I find something against them.

I've seen a warning recently that I rarely see discissed. That is the amount that must be paid out of any other insurance before the travel insurance kicks in. ie, if I have insurance through my company that pays some out-of-country medical, some plans will insist that I get all I can from that, then they will pay the rest. The danger in this is that if there is a lifetime maximum for the company plan (which there often is) it may be impacted significantly. I checked RBC travel insurance because that's what I've used in the past, and it indeed says it is the "last payer". (Not sure of the exact terminology.)

It isn't easy to research this because that info is in the confusing fine print. Anyone know more about it?

(Of course, it is normal to first claim whatever is available on the provincial plan. Usually that's not much, but takes weeks to process!)

Do the shuttles run frequently as long as the ship is in port? We're travelling to Civitavecchia on our own to board Marina next April and wonder if we'll have to take a taxi from the train or can we walk to the gate and expect a shuttle to appear fairly quickly?

I've just read through this thread and it is very interesting! We have been on only a few cruises -- two gay charters on smallish ships in Europe and a few regular cruises. Loved them all! One thing I notice in the posts here is the grouping of "gay cruises" as being all one sort of thing. I believe that there is a distinct difference between the small European cruises such as we've been on vs the large "party cruises" (my term) mostly in the Carribean. (Having never been on one of the latter types I probably should not be making assumptions, but from what I read here I don't think I am wrong about them!) The ones we were on were far from one big party. The demographics were definitely towards an older crowd and mainly couples. But at the same time, there was something that was totally different from a straight cruise (other than nearly all the passengers being guys!!) I think it had to do with feeling a bond with everyone else on board. At dinner the noise level in the dining room just felt as if we were one big group. I don't generally like noisy dining, but this was just so much fun!

We choose cruises based mainly on itinerary (but definitely leaning towards small ships and less formality. We love Oceania!) We would definitely consider another gay cruise in the future. On those two cruises we made some wonderful friends!

So choose the cruise that suits you, but just be aware that there are different types of gay cruise.

Rick

Thanks for the replies. I really don't like stepping into and out of a tub, especially in high seas! So the shower will definitely be preferable.

I notice that alternate cabins on decks 5 & 6 of the Prinsendam (maybe others too) have only a shower. However, the only layouts shown are with tub. We never use the tub and a shower would be fine, but I wonder how this affects space. Is there more space somewhere else? Like a bigger bathroom area or bigger closet? I can't find any info on this although I have done a lot of searching!

Thanks!

...Rick

I haven't stayed in that cabin, but I've been in the doctor's office often enough that I have some idea of the possibility of noise there.

 

I wouldn't expect much noise from there at all. The infirmary is open certain hours only, so is quiet at night. The doctor is typically seen by appointment, so there is no build-up of people waiting for him/her. The biggest crowds I've seen are those people waiting for the infirmary to open for the next period.

 

Now, you may hear more noise coming from the waves slapping against the hull of the ship. There also might be some noise from the anchor when it's dropped at a tender port.

 

I haven't taking this cruise in several years, but have done it three times. It's a favorite of mine. Hope you have a grand time on it, too.

This makes me feel better. We have been on previous cruises on low decks with extremely rough seas and have not had a problem with wave sound. (Even though they were going well over our porthole in one case!!) And we have only two tendered ports indicated on our schedule, so I think the anchor should not be a problem. And yes, we are really looking forward to this cruise -- it should be great!!

I probably shouldn't ask this since I don't think there is anything I can do about it now anyway. We are in H710 on "A" deck of the Maasdam for the 35 day "Voyage of the Vikings" cruise. I am getting concerned that the doctor's office just across the hall could be noisy. Has anyone been in this cabin? Is there any problem?

Thanks!

Rick & Bob