dawntrdr

SS has posted a more detailed deck plan for the Silver Nova. The location of public areas and restaurants is more definite. Does anyone know what "The Shelter" is on Deck 3? Silver-Nova-Deck-Plan.pdf

Just returned from an interesting tour of Oran focused on the early career of local native Yves St Laurent. Lots of waves from the vendors as the bus passed and the children continue to be excited to see us. An older lady passing us in the city Square said "Welcome to Oran!" Our beautiful guide Nelly was wonderful, we hated not being able to show our appreciation with a little something extra. Algeria is just catching on to the tourism industry, it surely has much to offer.

I am currently on this cruise, presently heading into Oran, Algeria. Except for one 95F day in Sicily, the weather has been ideal. Haven't noticed the lack of lobster. The Cloud is the first cruise ship to visit Algeria since covid. Her first visit was last week and we are on the return visit. Everyone is charged for a visa regardless of whether you get off the ship. There is no free roaming; you can only debark if you are on a tour. Tours are accompanied by police before and after the busses and numerous polite security men also walk about with us. The police escort gets us through the traffic! You cannot use any money in Algeria except the local dinar and we have been warned not even to tip the guides. So, no shopping allowed. The Algerian authorities refused even to set up an exchange desk. There is a lot of interest in us - the television station filmed one of the tour groups and the museum asked to take our picture! We are getting lots of thumbs-up and waves from the children.

Who let the dogs out?

I query whether the "waitlisting" of private drivers is actually a security, not availability, issue. When we were in Safaga in 2019, our SS tour to Luxor was on a bus which included an armed security guard. The guard was dressed in an elegant blue suit and carried a large automatic weapon. He did not accompany us when we got off the bus (there are metal detectors to enter every site and hotel), but backed up the driver at the many security checkpoint stops that exist on the way to Luxor.

My impression is that the Spirit has become the go-to vessel for conventions, charters and travel-agent discount promotions, sailing shorter voyages on well-tread itineraries. That said, when I was on it in the spring, Indochine was open and Atlantide was open for lunch.

That would comport with the other rule that the 5% Venetian Society discount does not apply to P2P fares. In other words, P2P fares cannot be discounted further.

Actually, the policy has changed, effective August 24. For new bookings, only Door to Door fare passengers will be assured of free on-board treatment and land-side quarantine arrangements. See "Covid Policy" box on the website. All of this only applies to cruises departing before March 31, 2023, unless the Covid Policy is changed or extended again.

If you booked before August 24, the terms in effect at that time apply - which means the same covid policy benefits whether it was D2D or P2P. Even that policy, however, was only good through March 31, 2023.

Do note that the covid cancelation and refund policy has also changed. It appears that, for cruises booked on or after August 24, only those with Door to Door fares will receive complimentary medical care, costs of quarantine ashore and transportation back home.

Welcome, ccdeton! Can you share with us why you chose Silversea for your first cruise? (I am not in the marketing department, I just think we can all benefit from seeing things fresh through a new perspective).

Regarding your GTY question, if the suite has been assigned there is a fair chance that it will show up on your My Silversea/myvoyages page.

I saw this product in my local supermarket on Friday (true!): Ironically, the food in those packets is cod, not orca. The dinner discussions might be interesting, though: Husband: What's for dinner? Wife: Cod Orcastrations. Husband: I'll have cod.

On the Seabourn boards they are reporting that Seabourn has dropped pre-cruise testing for vaccinated passengers going on cruises of 15 days or less effective 6 Sept 2022. Exceptions apply to departures from Canada, Australia, Greece and certain voyages including transoceanic and Panama Canal.

Thank you for your thorough review. The number of children was surprising, but it is summer vacation time and this was a 7 night cruise. I feel that 7-night cruises are very bad for giving you an authentic experience of the line - they are much more likely to have large charter groups and families travelling with children, especially on school breaks. I hope you find a longer itinerary at a quieter time that allows you to savor a different cruise experience.

Fun trivia fact: John Lennon's middle name was Winston. John was born in October 1940.

And make sure you bring the right plug or converter. They have US and Europe receptacles, but I don't recall others.

Just to be clear, Royal Caribbean is stopping pre-cruise testing for cruises of 5 days or less IF you are vaccinated. It is NOT changing its policy about vaccination. With few exceptions, you still have to be fully vaccinated and up to date. Here is the language from the July 28 press release: "Starting Aug. 8, testing will be required for unvaccinated guests on all voyages and for vaccinated guests only on voyages that are six nights or longer. "

For the record, Lufthansa ground crews announced a one day strike for July 27 so Lufthansa canceled just about every flight for Franfurt and Munich arriving today and tomorrow.

Carnival finished up 7% at 4 pm today and immediately dropped 8.5% in the next 1.5 hours (after hours). At 4:15 pm it announced a $1.0B offering of common stock.

Wise move to come a day early! Yes, if you fly in the day of sailing, and you booked door to door, SS will provide the transfer to the ship. If I were in your situation, though, and coming in one day early, I would arrange for a private transfer or take a cab directly to Southampton. You're going to be very tired when you arrive that you won't be able to enjoy London and you are going to have to pay for a transfer to Southampton anyway the next day. You will also avoid all of the London traffic in and out of London.

I highly recommend the Sofitel on Avenida Liberdade. Close to everything and has a very nice breakfast.

With all respect to RCCL, it's like Liberace and Walt Disney decided to go into the restaurant business.

Coincidentally, I recently came across an article that included a photo of a recent "formal night" on the RCL Wonder of the Seas: Here is the link: https://www.insider.com/first-time-cruise-mistakes-royal-caribbean-wonder-of-the-seas-2022-5. (I think that decor would bring on a migraine for me.)

We were in the equivalent suite on the Spirit three months ago. DH loves the Arts Cafe so I just asked the TA to get us as close as possible! I too was worried that it might be noisy there but it was fine . . .and very convenient. Also, you have only one neighbor on the veranda.