sippican

While I agree with many of your points, an additional consideration is safety. Cruising to Antartica can't compare to other destinations for many reasons. The remoteness and unpredictability of weather conditions should influence anyone to consider safety before anything when considering an expedition cruise company. The polar class rating on the vessel, experience of the crew, equipment upgrades, etc. are all of great importance. The recent Quark tragedy is a somber reminder to all (and they are a very experienced company). https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/expedition-cruising/two-die-quark-expeditions-zodiac-incident-antarctica?fbclid=IwAR2ISymuxWfbHFwc8XgcuYCmmZj7DJ2_RY1Fj9YaBbpar65FLzDelosBfuI

Check out Atlas - new ships and very attractive pricing! I am booked on Polaris in two weeks after much research. I think I would have considered Atlas had I known because the submarine on Viking holds little appeal for me. Regarding our Viking booking experience, customer service has been horrible. I work in the travel industry and their customer service is among the worst I've encountered, while their price is one of the highest. We booked Viking business class air and have ended up with one business class ticket, and one in economy. Despite being told otherwise by one Viking Rep., they have refused to refund the cost of the business class upgrade for one passenger. It is over 4K and they have issued a voucher, The voucher must be used prior to sailing.(There is nothing to purchase!) There are BC seats available on the same flight, but strangely, I ws informed their "contract doesn't allow them to book" If we had the refund, we could book it ourselves. I've spoken to supervisors. I asked if calls were recorded and was told yes. I requested they review the call where I was told they would issue a refund and was refused because " It doesn't matter at all. The representative told you wrong." I will never book another cruise with Viking for myself or clients. Read the refund policy very, very, carefully and purchase the best cancel for any reason travel insurance you can find. Hopefully the cruise will be worth every penny!

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/expedition-cruising/two-die-quark-expeditions-zodiac-incident-antarctica?fbclid=IwAR2ISymuxWfbHFwc8XgcuYCmmZj7DJ2_RY1Fj9YaBbpar65FLzDelosBfuI Quark has been in the business of providing expedition cruising for 30 years. So sad for the families of these victims.

It is still puzzling that there has been no effort to reduce visitors from all other sources. Cruise ships mostly call after the peak tourist season of summer. If you've even been there during July and August you know that Bar Harbor is an absolute zoo. Not a parking place to be had, should to shoulder on Main St. How is it that residents are accepting of the impact of motor vehicle tourist traffic, but not cruise ship visits? The CAT ferry is once again running following the multi-year cessation that resulted from a similar resident initiative. This is a tourist town. Saying that only a few profit from cruise ships makes no sense. We visit Acadia/Bar Harbor each year in August. This year I had the opportunity to visit it as a port of call while cruising off-season. The stores and restaurants were full, tour operators bustling and crowds downtown. How is this different from any other high season day? Sure, passengers are not spending their money in hotels. Can that be the driving force? The tourist-driven small businesses will just shut down earlier and the well-to-do residents that have infiltrated the island will enjoy their peace and quiet for a longer season.

I never thought to check the app. We were told our menu/show was new, and being tested on Summit only. The theme was about becoming a great chef - the storyline was enjoyable as was the food (sorry I do not recall the menu specifically).

Most stations are self-serve, but there are some where you are still served by staff. There is drink service in the lounges and around the pool. We found it was sometimes faster to go up to the bar and order.

Onboard now! Although the staff shortage is noticeable, everyone is doing their very best. Food and entertainment has been excellent.

We are currently in Summit. None of the options above were offered (sorry I did not take a photo). We were told the menu we had was brand new. .

My DH and I are both in our 70s, We recently took our 2nd trip to the Galapagos. He has a very bad knee, our companions are both challenged by uneven terrain. Celebrity will do everything in their power to make sure you access the activities to the fullest. We had a 90 year old lady on our first trip and they customized experiences around her ability. It's a shame you believe the Galapagos is not a possibility for you, You are missing out on the trip of a lifetime.

Since the Celebrity trips to the Galapagos and extensions are all-inclusive, I will be eager to see what Silversea offers, that Celebrity does not.

That would be so nice, if it actually happened!

As a New England resident who visits Bar Harbor beach year, I read this with interest. One comment has me laughing, claiming the cruise ships help create a "schlocky" tourist trap atmosphere. As one who has. visited for over 50 years, I can guarantee that Bar Harbor has been filled with tourist traps since I was a girl! The number of signatures on the petition is hardly a representation of the full-time island residents. The claim that Bar Harbor cruise calls can be considered international travel is stretching it a bit - most cruises actually originate in Boston, and yes, do call on Canada. The port calls are mostly in the fall, dumping no more passengers than would be in town on any busy summer day. Saying the ship passengers plan a strain on the town is puzzling, they do not need lodging, they might eat lunch there, and they provide a boost to the economy in an otherwise slower season. To my knowledge, the CAT is once again running from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia. Strange that there has been little said about the daily ferry from NS dumping tourists, vehicles, RVs, tour buses, etc, into the town. Struggling to understand the rationale of it all.

Interesting suggestions. However, we are booked for Antartica and were told they will not inform us of our flights until 75 days prior to sailing.

To be clear, did you never download, or fill in the app? If you did complete the app information, no one would ask to look at it because, as stated by others, it is tied in with your passport information.

As with. any travel abroad, the traveler, YOU, are responsible for finding out what documents are required for travel by your transportation carrier and the countries you will be entering. We visited Canada last fall and no one held our hand and told us to complete the ArriveCAN requirements. But, as regular travelers, we checked the airline and the Canada requirements, just as we do for every other trip, cruise or land.,

Not sure which ship you are considering. We've cruised twice on Xpedition. Once at full capacity of 100, and last fall with 38 on board. We love the ship and never even considered Flora. I have clients who have sailed on all three ships. and all absolutely loved the experience. There is no better time of year - the Galapagos is a year-round destination because you will experience different experiences depending on the season. As far as itineraries, they are all fantastic. In fact, on the same day, one group may see something and the next group, something else. My advice is to read up a bit on the seasons in the Galapagos. If there is something that is an absolute "must see" for you (such as young sea lion pups), aim for that period. Otherwise, book what is comfortable for your timeframe and wallet.