Saga Rose Greenland Voyager August 2007

[Saga Ruby]

A merry twofold Bon Voyage for your upcoming cruises. We will be keen to hear your report on Eurodam - there are so many opinions about this brand-new ship on the HAL boards.

 

I hope you enjoy the beautiful city of Barthelona before boarding Constellation for the crossing. When you return home, do not unpack - get on Cruise Critic and tell us the riveting (get it? rivets?) details of your two voyages.

 

Ruby

[franu]

Ruby, Last October when we cruised the Black Sea, we didn't need any visas. We were in Odessa and Yalta. I have been travelling with a US passport. I will determine which cruise I will be taking on Marco Polo II when the prices are announced. It is possible that we will be there in May too.

Fran

[Saga Ruby]

Ruby, Last October when we cruised the Black Sea, we didn't need any visas. We were in Odessa and Yalta. I have been travelling with a US passport. I will determine which cruise I will be taking on Marco Polo II when the prices are announced. It is possible that we will be there in May too. Fran

 

Fran, thanks for that info about Ukrainian visas. I followed up on your note by going to the Ukraine Consulate General website in NYC and you are correct. A big Whew! for that one. Americans are not necessarily welcomed with open arms nowadays in ex-Russian countries so I wanted to be 100% sure that I can disembark for my one day in Sevastopol without being on an escorted tour.

 

What itinerary are you looking at for MPII? Maybe we could meet for lunch in Istanbul as Prinsendam will be there for two days. What a hoot that would be! But seriously, I'm surprised that MPII will be up and running so quickly. When is her first cruise scheduled and where does she go? I didn't know the cruise line had staff and crew positions filled at this point.

 

How do you feel about two ships using the same name?

 

Ruby

[Host Sharon]

A hearty Bon Voyage as you turn toward your upcoming cruise and your Black Sea adventure.

 

Needless to say, I'll be keen to see your photos and hear about the Black Sea ports. You have me wondering if I would need an individual visa for Ukraine if I don't take the escorted tours.

 

Have a wonderful time!

 

Ruby

 

 

Thank you Ruby. For me, the only country that stipulated an individual visa was Russia (Sochi). Ukraine was fine, at the moment anyway.

[Host Sharon]

Nice whistle (horn) indeed.

 

One reason I particularly enjoy sailing from San Francisco is that the ships tie up at a finger pier, and when backing into the shipping channel, give the required three blasts of the whistle (horn). They often then give another long blast just before sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, in salute to those pedestrians on the Bridge waving "bon voyage" to the ship.

 

Makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and brings a tear to my eye every time.

 

Oh absolutely. I never ever miss a sailaway if only to hear the ships' whistle. Leaving Barcelona in May, QE2 had to pass five other ships. It was midday and the sounds were just magic.

 

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?...63073&hl=en-GB

[franu]

What itinerary are you looking at for MPII? Maybe we could meet for lunch in Istanbul as Prinsendam will be there for two days. What a hoot that would be!

 

I am tentatively looking at Across Three Seas itinerary. It is the maiden cruise but extended to include two others. Is my appetite too large for my pocket? I will have to wait and see.

 

Lunch would have been great as I would really love nothing more than to meet you in person but you will be in Istanbul after I leave for home. Forty plus days is a bit much for me.

 

As I have stated before, I am not enthralled with duplicating the name. I believe that there could be risk management issues. I am, however, glad that it will not be the Maxim Gorkiy either.

 

This is my proposed itinerary.

 

http://www.orientlines.com/destinations/2009/Across_Three_Seas.htm

 

Fran

[Host Sharon]

Wow - that is some cruise Fran! Most of my ports added to a Med cruise as well and three days in Port Said and Istanbul. I can see the temptation.

[Kapricorn]

Bon Voyages to Ships Cat on QE2 and Conte on Eurodam!

 

Donald.

[Host Sharon]

Bon Voyages to Ships Cat on QE2 and Conte on Eurodam!

 

Donald.

 

Thanks Donald, but this one is on Artemis. QE2 again in October though :)

[Druke I]

Artemis, the former Royal Princess, is one of my all time favorite ships.

 

Right size, good "sea boat", and easy deck plan.

[franu]

Bon Voyage to ships cat and Conte. Two very different ships and very different itineraries. Both wonderful. Enjoy, enjoy.

Fran

[Kapricorn]

Thanks Donald, but this one is on Artemis. QE2 again in October though :)

 

Thanks for the correction - Artemis it is. Conte is embarking on August 29, you on September 1 and me on September 7. May each of us enjoy interesting experiences to report here after our returns.

 

Donald.

[Host Sharon]

I hope everyone has a great time. I'd be interested in your review of Eurodam as HAL is on my list of lines to try. Yes Michael, Artemis is my favourite in the P&O fleet - as you say a great size and good in rough seas, as I discovered round Greenland. Arhhh, Alaska - another place on must see before I die list.

 

How sad that the man who wrote all those Places to see Before You Die books died at the age of 47 yesterday.

[Kapricorn]

Ships Cat, are you a solo traveler, or are you cruising with someone? Most of the time I travel solo and enjoy it that way, as I get to do whatever I want, whenever I want to do so. A couple of years ago I cruised twice with a friend, and I didn't care for it too much because it crimped my routine. I don't know if "crimped" is the proper word, but you get the idea. Ruby is another solo traveler. I believe that all the others on this post travel with their spouses?

 

Donald.

[Druke I]

I have only one solo cruise, 7-92, on US Navy's USS Texas, CGN-39, a nuke powered guided missile cruiser, since scrapped.

 

My wife was put out that women were not allowed on that "Tiger Cruise", Alameda (CA) NAS to Seattle WA., 3 nights.

 

The accommodations were sparse, and the food fairly standard GI fare.

 

The rest of the time we do cruise as a couple.

[franu]

I believe that all the others on this post travel with their spouses?

 

I often travel with friends but have my own cabin and make my own choices. Sometimes they are people that I have met on the Marco Polo and we sail together again. It is an opportunity to see people again with feeling obligated to invite them to Toronto.

Fran

[seabourndt]

i travel solo all the time, the trouble is it works out quite expensive. some lines arew ok but cunard it is very pricey. want to go on qm2 or qv but don't want to pay 175%.

going on maxim gorky in 3 weeks and eurodam in october

dave

[Kapricorn]

Seabourndt, it always has been 200% solo rate for me on my cruises. I've heard that the pricey cruise lines do it at 175% but, even at that, it's still too expensive for me on such lines. I'd rather spread my money over several cruises than on just a few.

 

So, you're on Maxim Gorkiy in three weeks and on Eurodam in October - gosh, plenty of us on this thread are really going a-sailin'! :)

 

Donald.

[franu]

I am not yet certain where or when I will go. Someone that I know is going on Oceania and is only paying $175.00 supplement. That is all that I was told. Ia m sure that if it were me, I would have to pay a lot more than that.

Fran

[Kapricorn]

I am not yet certain where or when I will go. Someone that I know is going on Oceania and is only paying $175.00 supplement. That is all that I was told. Ia m sure that if it were me, I would have to pay a lot more than that.

 

Fran

 

I've been told that Oceania charges a 175% solo supplement, so I'm sure that it was that, not $175.00. Nevertheless, even with a slightly lower supplement than mainstream cruise lines (200%), Oceania still is expensive for solo passengers. :(

 

Donald.

[Host Sharon]

Ships Cat, are you a solo traveler, or are you cruising with someone? Most of the time I travel solo and enjoy it that way, as I get to do whatever I want, whenever I want to do so. A couple of years ago I cruised twice with a friend, and I didn't care for it too much because it crimped my routine. I don't know if "crimped" is the proper word, but you get the idea. Ruby is another solo traveler. I believe that all the others on this post travel with their spouses?

 

Donald.

 

I usually travel on my own Donald. I know exactly what you mean about cruising with friends, as I have done it a couple of times. I loved having someone to chat to when getting ready for dinner and so on, but I saw less of the ship and also talked less to other people. It was quite a strange experience the first time I did it. My next two cruises I will will also be travelling solo, but have friends on board too - so that might be the perfect compromise...we'll see.

[Host Sharon]

The Single Suplement is a pain. I am paying 60% on this one but because it was one of the loyalty club cruises I got an extra 5% off, plus on board credit plus free car parking (£10 a day normally) so all in all it was a good deal. I am only going on QM2 next June because I am sharing with two friends. Cunard is very expensive for solos, although they did tell me that they realise with the loss of QE2 and her single cabins, they will have to do something to compensate. Crystal only charge 25% SS but then their cruises are somewhat on the expensive side to start with.

[Saga Ruby]

I usually travel on my own Donald. I know exactly what you mean about cruising with friends, as I have done it a couple of times. I loved having someone to chat to when getting ready for dinner and so on, but I saw less of the ship and also talked less to other people. It was quite a strange experience the first time I did it. My next two cruises I will will also be travelling solo, but have friends on board too - so that might be the perfect compromise...we'll see.

 

Your comment about ". . . saw less of the ship" is spot-on. Obviously I love to travel solo but, once in awhile when some sight is gobsmacking, I wish I could share it with a friend. Otherwise I am happy on my own - I tend to enjoy meals as my social hour and the rest of the time enjoying the cruise on my own.

 

It's fun to have 3-4 friends who might invite me to a specialty restaurant - I enjoy those occasions quite a lot. But I do not seek to broaden my usual small social circle onboard.

 

About the single supplement - I sailed on Oceania, Nautica, solo in Nov/Dec 2006 from Istanbul to Singapore and paid 175% SS. On the Saga Sisters, it is always 200%. It is simple math - these are small ships and the ship lines can sell the cabins as double occupancy. If I want to occupy a cabin as a solo, I recognize that I must pay the high SS for that cruise line. On my HAL cruise next year, the SS is quite low (125%?) which makes me one happy camper.

 

Ruby

[Host Sharon]

I didn't realise the HAL supplements were that low Ruby - I must have another look through their brochures, although I do have a friend who is keen to try them as well so could do a cabin share. As a solo, I always choose club/fixed dining as it is nice to get to know your fellow dining companions (usually!).

[Saga Ruby]

I didn't realise the HAL supplements were that low Ruby - I must have another look through their brochures, although I do have a friend who is keen to try them as well so could do a cabin share. As a solo, I always choose club/fixed dining as it is nice to get to know your fellow dining companions (usually!).

 

My Black Sea HAL cruise is the cheapest cruise I've done in years. Technically, it started out as $11,000 + as a brochure price, now I'm down to $4,300+. Thru Customer Svc at HAL, I was given Mariner discounts, the SS was low and, on our Roll Call we have a wonderful CC member who has given us heads'-ups about price cuts. I can't lose - my airfare and Rome hotel costs are now covered by the price cuts and discounts. Colour me happy.

 

Donald - My only confusion about current-day HAl is the chefs' hats. You have shown us the hats on the tables and adorning pax, but now I've read a post about the Master Chef dinner having a chef's hat dessert along the lines of a huge dessert sculpture. Do you have any thoughts about this angle on a chef's hat celebration onboard their ships?

 

Ruby