SailorJack Posted October 14, 2022 #1 Share Posted October 14, 2022 We are off the coast of South America with 145 or so other passengers. That’s correct - only about 150 passengers aboard and every one of us are having a great time. We are not as well travelled as most of you, but this is the most elegant ship we have ever salled upon. Those of you who have booked a cruise on the Venture have a great deal to forward to. I know you are not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition, but I have done twice in a row - sorry! Great news - as of today the crew will no longer have to wear masks! I suspect there was a big party down stairs last night. Jack 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLSD Posted October 14, 2022 #2 Share Posted October 14, 2022 What a great report. If you meet our friends Bill and Barb on the ship, please give them our best regards. Bill takes great photos and might be willing to share some of them with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted October 14, 2022 #3 Share Posted October 14, 2022 @SailorJack Glad you're having a great time and enjoying Venture. Tell us more about the excursions if you have time and are in the mood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjs217 Posted October 14, 2022 #4 Share Posted October 14, 2022 My husband and I will be on the Holiday Antarctic Cruise this December. I have two questions: 1) Are there binoculars in the cabins? 2) Do I pack beanies? Some of the Artic cruisers said they got beanies, but in my paperwork it doesn't say they are included. I'm trying to keep luggage to a minimum, and even though beanies don't take up much room, it's still something. Thanks for your help. I will probably have more questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyingScotSailors Posted October 14, 2022 #5 Share Posted October 14, 2022 There were binoculars in our suite in Greenland, a nice 8X Swarovski (with the note that if we wanted the "convenience" of taking those, rather than buying a pair from the shop, the retail would be added to our account). We also received beanies, which were different from those we had received in Antarctica. As they say, YBMV - your beanies may vary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toseaornottosea Posted October 14, 2022 #6 Share Posted October 14, 2022 @SailorJack We too would love to know more about your experience on the Venture as we will be on an Antarctic cruise on her in 2023. So if you have the time please do post more about your experience, zodiac excursions, lectures, expedition team. etc. Hope you continue to have a great time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorJack Posted October 14, 2022 Author #7 Share Posted October 14, 2022 This is our third day on the ship and they have all been sea days. Our first excursion is not till tomorrow. However, we get off in Lima, Peru - way before the cold water adventures begin. S o I really won’t be able to answer all of your question. All of our ports are warm water ones so no beanies. There are binoculars in the cabins. There was some discussion on another thread about smoking and I can attest that after three days aboard the only smoking I have seen is my smoking hot wife!😄 Jack 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saminina Posted October 14, 2022 #8 Share Posted October 14, 2022 2 hours ago, SailorJack said: There are binoculars in the cabins. Swarovski? If so, wonder how many convenience sales have been made. I would not want to be surprised after leaving the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjs217 Posted October 15, 2022 #9 Share Posted October 15, 2022 21 hours ago, FlyingScotSailors said: There were binoculars in our suite in Greenland, a nice 8X Swarovski (with the note that if we wanted the "convenience" of taking those, rather than buying a pair from the shop, the retail would be added to our account). We also received beanies, which were different from those we had received in Antarctica. As they say, YBMV - your beanies may vary! THANKS! For sure - I won't pack binoculars. Since YBMV, I better pack one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted October 18, 2022 #10 Share Posted October 18, 2022 Here’s lookin’ at you, Sailor Jack (and Jill)! Looks like a damp day at Gatun. But hey, if it wasn’t raining, you would be just as wet sweating… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted October 18, 2022 #11 Share Posted October 18, 2022 Better Weather at Pedro Miguel Locks EM 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted October 18, 2022 #12 Share Posted October 18, 2022 Miraflores, things a bit cloudy again 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorJack Posted October 18, 2022 Author #13 Share Posted October 18, 2022 33 minutes ago, Essiesmom said: Miraflores, things a bit cloudy again The rain has been off and on. But it cleared up at noon and we were all able to dine outside behind the Colonade. The ship made the crossing memorable by having staff circulating with trays of assorted refreshments, barbecuing kabobs on the back deck, and providing a running commentary on what we were seeing. We are now through the canal and heading for Our first Pacific port. thanks for the photos.very cool! Jack 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorJack Posted October 19, 2022 Author #14 Share Posted October 19, 2022 The ship was finally able to launch the submarines yesterday and apparently the results were not good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted October 19, 2022 #15 Share Posted October 19, 2022 37 minutes ago, SailorJack said: The ship was finally able to launch the submarines yesterday and apparently the results were not good. Eeeek. Not good? Hope you weren't on it.😃 I hope it didn't sink like the drone did when we were on board.🤣 Saw that Joe Cochram is in bird heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toseaornottosea Posted October 19, 2022 #16 Share Posted October 19, 2022 1 hour ago, SailorJack said: The ship was finally able to launch the submarines yesterday and apparently the results were not good. More info please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLSD Posted October 19, 2022 #17 Share Posted October 19, 2022 1 hour ago, SailorJack said: The ship was finally able to launch the submarines yesterday and apparently the results were not good. The ship HAS launced the submarines on earlier itineraries. I think some of the passengers have been disappointed in what they have seen in terms of sea life, but enjoyed the experience of the submarine. Did something different happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorJack Posted October 19, 2022 Author #18 Share Posted October 19, 2022 29 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said: Eeeek. Not good? Hope you weren't on it.😃 I hope it didn't sink like the drone did when we were on board.🤣 Saw that Joe Cochram is in bird heaven. We were not on it. A couple of people who were said they are thinking of asking for a refund. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted October 19, 2022 #19 Share Posted October 19, 2022 The submarine in Greenland was an interesting experience and we are glad we did it. However there was not much to see and we canceled our other excursions. Our friends did go on a few more and said it was better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorJack Posted October 19, 2022 Author #20 Share Posted October 19, 2022 (edited) 18 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said: The submarine in Greenland was an interesting experience and we are glad we did it. However there was not much to see and we canceled our other excursions. Our friends did go on a few more and said it was better. That seemed to be the major complaint- nothing to see. No fish, no coral, just some sand, the other issue according to some was that the sub only went down about 50 or 60 feet and just hovered. Scuba divers gol lower than that said one person, Again, I have no personal knowledge of this - just what some sub passengers are saying. Apparently there were nine dives yesterday and some were a little better with one person saying they did see a little fish off in the distance. Edited October 19, 2022 by SailorJack 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toseaornottosea Posted October 19, 2022 #21 Share Posted October 19, 2022 3 hours ago, SailorJack said: The ship was finally able to launch the submarines yesterday and apparently the results were not good. Glad to learn that the problem was the quality of the experience and not a safety or medical issue for the pax. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Covepointcruiser Posted October 19, 2022 #22 Share Posted October 19, 2022 Interesting, now passengers who can afford to spend almost 1K each are complaining that they didn’t see anything! Guess Seabourn needs to get Disney’s help so sea life can be staged along submarine dives and routes. There has never been a guarantee of seeing wildlife on excursions. The passengers on the submarines can still say they were in a submarine at a depth of 300 meters so they have bragging rights. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted October 19, 2022 #23 Share Posted October 19, 2022 We saw a few things and went pretty deep. Our friends who went on a few more saw some fish and lots of jellyfish. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorJack Posted October 20, 2022 Author #24 Share Posted October 20, 2022 18 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said: Interesting, now passengers who can afford to spend almost 1K each are complaining that they didn’t see anything! Guess Seabourn needs to get Disney’s help so sea life can be staged along submarine dives and routes. There has never been a guarantee of seeing wildlife on excursions. The passengers on the submarines can still say they were in a submarine at a depth of 300 meters so they have bragging rights. They were actually at 15 to 20 meters but point taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted October 20, 2022 #25 Share Posted October 20, 2022 15-20 meters...oh my....why bother unless it's a spectacular coral reef. We went down about 100 meters, so it was interesting in that respect to see what lives in darkness. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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