toolworker

22 hours ago, Lexus550 said:

We have always been able to make our final payment 6 months out whether we have another cruise booked or not.  If it was further out than that, I doubt we'd book.  With their current promotion of $25 down (although in some cases the penalty is $100 for cancellation) and with payment 6 months out, we think it's a good deal.

Exactly what is the current policy? This blog post, dated April 6, 2022, says in part:

• Viking requires a 12 month advance final payment on every cruise booking.
• If a person is a past guest and has a sailing scheduled already within one year, and makes a request for payment delay, they can have a 6 month advance final payment.

It also says deposit time may be longer on some special cruises, and shorter if a guest has a promo code. And Viking can change the policy at any time.

Holding the booking for $25 or $100 may work if you don't need insurance or are willing to take Viking's. We're older, and always buy a superior TravelGuard policy with included pre-existing condition coverage and reasonably priced CFAR (cancel for any reason). To get either of these, the amount paid needs to be insured within 15 days of initial payment. So we pay about $1000, nonrefundable, to hold a booking.

On 6/21/2023 at 6:45 PM, FlyerTalker said:

Hope you get the Hello Kitty aircraft.

On 6/21/2023 at 6:48 PM, QueSeraSera said:

 

Wow - awesome! Unfortunately, those planes currently fly from Taipei only to Bali, Sapporo and Chicago. But I'll watch their Hello Kitty routes page in case that changes.

BTW if you're interested in EVA Air - which is Star Alliance and rated 5* by Skytrax - booking online is easy, but to cancel or change call their Taipei Hotline during office hours Taipei time. They have excellent agents fluent in English. Don't bother with any U.S. numbers.

Why I Hate Silversea Air (Spoiler alert: Price gouging)

We're saving $2,900pp by booking our own refundable Business air.

On our cruise to Asia, Silversea purports to offer "Business Class upgrade at reduced rates." Their idea of reduced rates is a $7,000pp supplement.

I booked us on EVA Air for about $5,600pp, refundable less about $150pp, saving $2,900pp including the $1,500 Economy air allowance.

We could have saved more if Silversea had offered Port-to-Port on our itinerary. But they don't.

I've had excellent experiences with Travel Guard. They generally pay promptly and I've always gotten what I thought was due.

And sometimes more. For several medical claims, despite telling them to hold off, they sent me a check for 100% of my medical expenses. Then when my primary insurance paid 80% I had to figure out how to pay Travel Guard back. That's the sort of problem I like.

I was quarantined in the cabin one day for flu, and on another cruise five days for covid. In both cases they reimbursed the cruise fare for those days.

As people have said, the devil is in the details. One devil is that all of these policies pay only for a list of events, and some insurers cover more events than others. And sometimes the devil is in the definition.

For example, they all cover trip delay or cancelation because something happens to a Family Member or Traveling Companion. The definitions of "something," Family Member and Traveling Companion differ. Here's Travel Guard Preferred Policy (CA)'s definitions:

• Family Member means the Insured’s, or Traveling Companion’s spouse, child, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, daughter/son-in-law, brother/sister-in-law, step-child/sister/brother/parent, parent-in-law, civil union partner, Domestic Partner, step-grandparent/grandchild, aunt, uncle, step-aunt/uncle, niece, nephew, legal guardian, Caregiver, foster child, ward, or legal ward; and the spouse, civil union partner, or Domestic Partner of any of the above. Family Member also includes these relations to the Insured’s or Traveling Companion’s spouse, civil union partner, or Domestic Partner. If the Name Your Family upgrade is elected and any required cost is paid, Family Member also includes the person listed on the application.
• Traveling Companion means a person or persons with whom the Insured has coordinated travel arrangements and intends to travel with during the Trip. A group or tour leader is not considered a traveling companion unless the Insured is sharing room accommodations with the group or tour leader.

I've never seen another policy with such an extensive definition of Family Member. I've seen some where a Traveling Companion has to be on the same booking or ticket, or travel on the same dates; Travel Guard doesn't require that.

I used to compare coverages and Travel Guard has always had the same or better coverage, definitely compared to the cruise line's insurance and also to other providers. I no longer bother comparing; I just buy Travel Guard.

On 5/22/2023 at 8:18 AM, flygirl8 said:

We have used Tours by Locals (book with a local guide with whom we can correspond ahead of time) in cities and on shore excursions for years-never an issue, always a great experience. They are fanatics about getting you back to the ship on time. You can buy cancel for any reason insurance if needed and if you take the tour, the company refunds your premium as a credit for a future tour. The guides are vetted and they like working with Tours by Locals. Although it is pricey, when we have traveled with other couples and split the cost, it is not that much more than the per person ship offered excursion and we get all the benefits of a private tour-can customize, flex the time, don't have to wait for a large group to use the rest rooms, have the opportunity to eat in local places, etc. I would not recommend booking any tours or shore excursion if you can't book and communicate directly with the guide.

We've used ToursByLocals in the past. There are reviews of the guides, so you get an idea of who you're getting. Then once you book you're in direct touch. And always buy the Cancel for Any Reason so you can back out if you sense a problem. We did, and I just used the credits for our next tour - so you keep using the same CFAR payment over and over until you use it.

But - the prices are through the roof - especially when you're just two people. There are two young guides in Halong Bay still looking for their first review, charging around $400 + $80pp for a half day private boat tour. I priced one guide in Taipei for half a day - $800! If we were a larger group it'd be more reasonable, but this trip's just the two of us.

If you're more than two people the numbers work better, as @flygirl8 said, and otherwise ToursByLocals is a great experience.

But it might not matter. See my post just above:

9 hours ago, toolworker said:

One website (so far) posted today (May 30) that a new policy approved last week provides for a $5 landing slip issued on arrival on cruise ships.

One website (so far) posted today (May 30) that a new policy approved last week provides for a $5 landing slip issued on arrival on cruise ships.

This was posted 7 hours ago on "a commercial website, NOT the official website of Vietnam government or affiliated with Vietnam Government." [Edit:] I don't see other mentions of the $5 landing slip so far, but news stories from last week report other tourist-friendly changes to Vietnam's visa policy. 

The post says that "cruise passengers will pay a US$5 visa fee each, instead of a staggering US$45, when they go ashore for a local tour." "Immigration officers would issue a landing slip for visitors upon arrival at a fee of US$5 if they want to go ashore for sightseeing."

When Northern Lights were visible, did the ship turn off any outdoor lighting to provide dark viewing areas?

We are first-time Seabourn cruisers and would much appreciate a referral. Please email voyager@toolworks.com. Thanks!

On 10/22/2022 at 10:33 AM, roberts2005 said:

On Marina now.   Almost Impossible to send an email with with multiple photos attached

Have you reduced the size of your file before sending it? Photos from my phone can be as large as 3.5 Mb, and from my camera 4.5 Mb. Those will take a while to send, and can time out before finishing.

I right-click (in Windows) and resize the photo to 1920 x 1080. That's plenty of resolution for sharing, and reduces the file size down to a few hundred K, which will go out a lot faster.

If you're sending out more than 5 or 6 photos, even downsized, break the batch into multiple emails.

On 3/4/2022 at 8:20 PM, Hobar said:

With upgraded package, I was able to stream movies (invaluable when I was in quarantine, but not necessary once released), video chat on FB messenger and FaceTime, and stream Peloton classes.  But if you don’t need all that connectivity, then the free/basic Wifi is decent.

On most lines, the "upgrade" doesn't affect bandwidth/speed, just removes the block on streaming sites. Is that the case on Seabourn?

And do they block Zoom on the free service? The other lines I'm aware of do not.

How does the basic/free wifi do with Zoom, assuming no hardware or satellite problems.

14 minutes ago, frantic36 said:

We did a tour in Natal, Brazil that was designated a mindful living tour, it was to see a Capoeira School that is based in one of the poorer districts on the outskirts of Natal. Whether it was designated Mindful Living because it was supporting a school group that got children and adults of all ages involved in learning a dance skill I'm not sure.

So if this had not been labeled a Mindful Living Tour, would you (or anyone who took another Mindful Living Tour) have known there was anything different about it?

Some excursions on our upcoming Encore cruise are designated "Mindful Living Tours." The description includes "As an extension of Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, this Mindful Living tour is designed to deliver an experience that contributes to mind and body wellness."

What is the added experience on these tours?

How does the on-board shorex cancellation policy actually work in reality?

Booking our first Seabourn cruise, I see some unexpected differences from other high-end lines.

For example, most other lines have a fixed on-board cancellation policy such as 48 or 72 hours in advance for a refund. Seabourn says that after three days prior to sailing there may be a cancellation fee, we can't find out the amount until we get on board, but it could be up to 100%. A phone agent said we'd probably lose the whole cost. So we're leery of booking anything before we get on the ship.

How does it actually work? Are there some kinds of excursions that normally don't have cancellation fees, and some that charge 100%?

20 hours ago, seasickphil said:

Can i ask what hotel did Regent use please. 

J.W. Marriott at Copacabana. Good location. (They must be giving cruise lines a good deal. On a recent Viking cruise to Venice, the included post-cruise was supposed to be on a hotel in Giudecca, but got changed to an inconvenient island out in the lagoon which Mariott calls Isola Delle Rose but I renamed Elba. But I digress.)

There were 5 of us, spending two nights there. One couple had one night plus transfers included, and booked the previous night on the hotel website.

The rest of us didn't and booked two nights. The AAA and Senior rates were much cheaper than doing it through Regent, and we got better rooms. And somehow some of our bags wound up with luggage tags from the couple with included transfers, and went on the bus. 😉

On 2/16/2023 at 8:04 PM, toolworker said:

So I am back to endorsing Riviera's wifi for Zoom except for those two kinds of problems. If they reoccur I'll post an update.

 

And from now on when I board a ship and plan to schedule Zooms, I'll ask the Internet Manager if there are days to avoid.

At the end of our 20 days, we and our traveling companions have done a number of Zooms, mostly without problems except for those discussed above. Bandwidth has rarely been an issue. There have been a few glitches with the ship's wifi.

We're anchored now at Great Stirrup Cay with 4 - 5 bars of BTE, and free 4G data from T-Mobile.

That's the way it was in Rio too.

We're signed up for this excursion. Destination Services wasn't real helpful about details; can anyone here help?

How heavy are the tubes that we have to carry on the hike? One of us is small and concerned about the size and weight.

What provision, if any, is there for leaving valuables? Shoes and other things we want on the walk but not the tubing?

Is there any secure way to take a camera or phone that isn't waterproof?

3 hours ago, rbtan said:

Huh? If the water hits in the face, "turn" the sprayer so it sprays the wall. It's what we did. We love the new shower. The Rainforest head "tilts" slightly. Personally, I will say we liked the old ones. They really drenched you.

I turn the sprayer to the wall too, at least until the water gets hot. Hard to wash oneself that way though, so eventually I have to turn it back.

And yes, the rainforest heads are low flow.

3 hours ago, Mariastreby said:

What about drawer space for shorts, swimsuits, bras, etc? Should I just figure on using packing cubes under our bed?

 

And now we’ll be ready for the new handheld shower heads, rather than surprised at the lack of adjustability. Looking forward to having good space for my toiletries and makeup. Do the “rim” mirror lights really light up your face, or are there overhead lights that put your face in shadow? That’s the way lighting is often set up in both hotel and cruise bathrooms. Those lights that rim the mirrors are never bright enough to really see what you’re doing, and the main light comes from above, casting your face into semi shadow. My husband doesn’t wear makeup, obviously, but he hates this often ghostly effect also. 

In an A1 - A3 or B1 - B3 cabin there's plenty of drawer space with the addition of that cabinet in the bathroom. The hanging closet is a problem.

There's an overhead light a couple of feet back from the mirror, so it doesn't create a shadow. But you're right, the mirror rim lights aren't bright enough; I shave mostly by feel.

Some friends came aboard, providing the opportunity to compare the new Veranda bathroom (left) with the tub and shower configuration (right) in the B4 and A4s.

They are unhappy with their cabin's lack of storage space. We've got lots of space. The only difference is our cabinet where their shower stall is.

And we are happy with our shower, with one exception.

The holder for the telephone sprayer in the B4 shower (top right photo) has height and tilt adjustments. The one in our luxurious shower doesn't. In the cradle, its spray is horizontal. It hits me right in the face, and sails over my wife's head. So it can't be used much with both hands free. But the rainforest head does adjust. Huh?

There are also some issues with the closet.

There's not enough space for all our hanging stuff, even after removing the two fluffy, luxurious space hog bathrobes. Access to the left side is blocked by the night table. And if both occupants are trying to dress for dinner, the narrow space between the bed and closet makes for some interesting interactions.

12 hours ago, toolworker said:

After 6 days on Riviera, I give the internet a fail. I was able to Zoom a couple of times on the first two sea days; the second time disconnected after an hour or so.

 

After a day in port, when everyone's internet time is crammed into the evening, it feels like ten years ago. And that's when it's up, but in the last couple of days the ship's connection to the internet has been unreliable.

Update: Ravi, the Internet Manager, phoned in response to my mid-cruise evaluation complaint about the internet problems.

He said there were two causes. One is that in some Caribbean ports there is local interference with the satellite signal. Two of these ports are St. Kitts and St. Vincent. This is exactly consistent with that second Zoom of mine. I was on with a good connection from 10 am, but around 11 am, as we were docking in St. Kitts, Zoom disconnected and couldn't reconnect.

Another cause, according to Ravi, is that in some spots at sea there is no satellite footprint. In other places the only available satellite is either slow or flaky. Apparently the Lesser Antilles is such an area. That's consistent with my experience over the past days.

Ravi said we can expect none of these problems for the remainder of this cruise back to Miami and our next leg to Quintana Roo and Central America.

So I am back to endorsing Riviera's wifi for Zoom except for those two kinds of problems. If they reoccur I'll post an update.

And from now on when I board a ship and plan to schedule Zooms, I'll ask the Internet Manager if there are days to avoid.

After 6 days on Riviera, I give the internet a fail. I was able to Zoom a couple of times on the first two sea days; the second time disconnected after an hour or so.

After a day in port, when everyone's internet time is crammed into the evening, it feels like ten years ago. And that's when it's up, but in the last couple of days the ship's connection to the internet has been unreliable.

Sigh.

4 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

At least the table is taller than the coffee table they used to have

not fun trying to eat when bent over the table

I was just talking to someone on a luxury cruise ship. Their tables have one support and the height adjusts.

We ordered breakfast in the room today. It was delivered just fine - but there's no place in a Veranda cabin to eat it.

Just this cute little table, and a hassock and small sofa to sit on.

It might not have been any better before the refurb. But I've had shipboard room service where they roll in a cart with a top that serves as a table, and warming drawers.

Amazon has a folding card table for $28. I'm tempted.