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0:09
[Music] Well, hello everybody and welcome to another live here in a sort of uh
0:16
increasingly autumal uh London but dark and gloomy and drizzly today. So hopefully where you
0:22
are is much nicer and sunnier. So, uh, lots of people here already, lots of
0:28
questions already coming in. So, I won't do too much housekeeping stuff before we get stuck in. Um, a few bits and pieces
0:35
that I did want to point out was, as always, uh, if you do have a question,
0:40
write the word question so that I know that it's a question rather than it's part of the chitten chat, which is
0:45
always great to see people discussing and chatting things and answering other people's questions. Um, what else can I
0:51
tell you? I just wanted to remind you of a couple of offers. Um, the reason I'm
0:56
bringing this up here, I seem to, sorry, I realized when I did this, I didn't do a blank background. Um, I just wanted to
1:01
highlight two kind of offers. They're both affiliate offers. One of which is for shore excursions. Um, the reason I'm
1:07
highlighting that one is I put that in a video a while ago. So, it's with Shore Excursions Group where if you put in TFT
1:13
5, you get 5% off. and they sent me a little report the other day and I realized like more than a hundred
1:19
excursions have been booked and people have got savings. That was very exciting. So I thought I'd put that again. So tits travel.com short
1:26
excursions TFT5 you get 5% off. It is affiliate link so I also get some
1:31
benefit from that as well. So uh and the other one of course is as you know I'm a big fan of the cruise maps cruise
1:37
mapaps.com TFT or if you go to the cruise globe which is completely free. if you ever order anything which you
1:42
haven't used that link, use TFT and you get 10% off. So, I thought I would particularly highlight um the short
1:48
excursions one because I saw a lot of people saving making some great savings particularly they've introduced lots of some of the more expensive excursions
1:55
now in Alaska. So, 5% off is quite uh nice. Um the other thing I'll do before
2:01
I get stuck into uh questions is yesterday's video came out um it seems
2:06
quite popular causing lots of comments and discussions. It's around cruising over 55 kind of tips and tricks. So
2:13
that's there on the channel um with lots of tips and tricks and hopefully you'll
2:18
if you haven't watched that you will watch that as well. I'll talk a bit later about the next cruise I'm going on
2:24
because I will do be doing a live next Sunday uh and then I'm heading off to New York um for for the next cruise. But
2:32
I'll talk a little bit more about that later. Right, there's lots and lots and lots of questions. So, let's get um
2:38
let's get stuck into them and I'll try and answer as many of them as I possibly can within the 60 minutes. Michael, good
2:46
to see you here again. Always has some good challenging questions. Are there any cruises you liked so much that you
2:53
would do again? For example, would you do Egypt twice? So, Michael Lugly, I saw this just because you posted just before
2:58
we went live, so I had a little bit of chance to think about it. But yes, there are um uh certain cruises or certainly
3:06
lots of regions I would do again. But um I would would quite like to do the Nile again, although probably higher on the
3:13
list is the Mikong. I would like to do the Mikong again when it comes to river cruises. I did the Mikong sort of in the
3:20
sort of the warmest kind of period, the lowest rainfall. And I came to realize that actually you sort of want to do the
3:25
Mikong when it's more the rainy season because all those those big sharp kind of storms that come it most of the time
3:32
it's not raining but the river expands dramatically and it's when all the rice patties come into uh play. So you see
3:39
much so much more of that site. Also you can sail through the lake to actually
3:45
embark much further down the Mikong to do anchor watch. Um of course transatlantic on the Queen Mary too. Um,
3:51
I've done that quite a few times. I'm doing that again. Japan is another one for me, which I've done several times.
3:57
I'm doing again next year, uh, or the year after. I just booked that recently.
4:04
I'm covering more ports of Japan. Um, I Antarctica is is another one. Panama
4:10
Canal is another one. Um, so, but often when I go to regions, I try to make sure I'm going to many more different ports.
4:16
So, for example, I love going to the Caribbean, uh, you know, to escape the sort of weather that we've got here.
4:22
Now, I'm doing that in November. Um, but try to choose either a line I haven't been on before or a ship I haven't been
4:28
on before so I can cover something differently or a lot of places that I haven't been before. Um, so those are
4:34
kind of top of mind ones. Um, the region that I probably Michael less looking at
4:41
doing is Europe and the Mediterranean. I've done a lot of Mediterranean, a lot of Europe. Partly when I was doing my
4:47
global uh marketing jobs, I've been to lots of Europe and I found those now for me have become a little bit repetitive,
4:53
which is a bit uh telling I guess, but that's probably a region that's not high on my list. Saying that, I am doing one
5:00
next year uh on Winstar, but then I'm doing a sailing ship, so it's going to be a very different experience. Mark
5:07
asking a question I get asked fairly often is any plans to sell ambassador?
5:12
don't have any plans to sell on ambassador. Um I've certainly this year and next year is completely locked in
5:19
and pretty solid. 27 has a couple of gaps in. Um I do keep an eye on some of
5:24
the ambassador stuff. I was looking at one point of doing one of these shorter trips, but um I think to really get a
5:32
feel for a line and to be able to do it justice and also have time to film it, I feel like I need to go on at least a week. So I don't have any plans. I I
5:39
probably should go on it and I keep saying that because so many people ask me about my opinion on Ambassador.
5:46
Uh ton of YouTube. Good to see you here, Tony. Um heading out on a Rome to Tampa,
5:53
Florida transatlantic. Okay. On celebrity constellation soon. Yeah, I guess you must be. What are your
5:59
feelings about celebrity? All the best to you. So Tony, take a look at a video that I put out a couple of weeks ago
6:06
which was comparing and contrasting the different premium lines of which of course celebrity is one. So I talk a
6:12
little bit about some of my up-to-ate uh feelings and what people are saying about Celebrity. Now you probably know
6:17
that Celebrity Constellation is one of their older class of ships. So it's a it's a smaller ship. Um so and I haven't
6:25
been on the smaller ships. I've only been on the Solstice class and the Edgeclass. I certainly think that Celebrity uh have largely upped their
6:31
game. They are putting a lot of emphasis though in the edgeclass ships. They've obviously got Excel coming um and so on.
6:38
And I do feel a little bit like they shift their A team towards that side. So I do get comments from people and even
6:46
if you look the reviews with the oldest uh consolation class, even some of the solstice class, people uh being more
6:52
critical. I was on a solstice class recently. Um, we have a a group cruise.
6:58
I booked another Solstice class, Silhouette, for next year in June. Uh, sort of repositioning from New York to
7:06
uh Iceland. So, I'm pretty pro on Celebrity. I think they they normally have pretty good entertainment.
7:11
Obviously, if you can afford the retreats, I don't know what you're doing it in. That's really great. I on my next one, I'm not doing retreats. Retreats
7:17
very expensive. Their prices are getting pretty pricey, but they nor have good entertainment. The food's pretty good. Good choice of specialy dining options.
7:25
Um uh and so I think they're pretty good uh for what they do. Chris um Holland
7:32
America has changed itinerary for 2026 Iceland cruise missing inveness in
7:37
Abedine for Loick and Runovvic in the Pharaoh. Is this an improvement? Um
7:43
Chris, my short answer would be probably not. I don't want to be too negative um
7:49
in reality because lower I've been to quite a few times. It's fine. It's an interesting enough
7:56
little town. Um there are um some quite
8:01
interesting excursions which tend to be sort of a little bit more kind of landscape type excursions. It's not
8:07
massively interesting excursions but um it's interesting place to at least been to the Shetlands and experienced it. Um
8:14
there's a very nice kind of church there. Um it's it's fine. It's not the most exciting place. I haven't been to
8:20
Reneovic uh in the Pharaoh Islands. I'm trying to remember the name of the place I've been to in the Pharaoh Islands, but
8:27
the Pharaoh Islands is quite interesting. Um, but you know, I is obviously fantastic. I really like
8:32
Ianess as a city. It's a nice city. Um, beautiful sort of old kind of guess
8:38
Victorian Georgian buildings, something like that. But of course, you know, from Invenesse, you can go, of course, go to
8:44
try and find the Loch Ness monster and that sort of stuff. So, Invenesse is particularly a very nice thing. And Abedine is a fascinating place. It's
8:51
obviously sort of the heart of the oil industry and stuff, but certainly um Loic is fine. So, it's it's not a not a
8:58
complete disaster if you like, but it's it's it's a pity they they're missing those would would be would be my my
9:03
particular uh my my particular view, but it'll be a great trip, I'm sure. So, um
9:11
so if you're heading So, I guess you're heading out. Are you heading out of um Edinburgh? I guess probably possibly. or
9:18
you might be heading all the way down from the from the UK. Um, so let's have a look. Tom, we're back
9:26
from our Lisbon to Barcelona vacation. Have you had a great time? Have you thought about a future group cruise on an ultra luxury cruise line? Um, Tom, at
9:33
this point in time, I don't have after the Panama Group Canal. I have none planned or in planning stage at the
9:40
moment. I'll review that after the group cruise next year. I've tended not to
9:45
include ultral luxury. tended to go with premium lines partly because um it it
9:50
means the greatest uh range of people can join. So for example on the Panama Canal group cruise uh you know there's
9:58
about 70 people coming on that um and almost a third of those 20 yeah almost a
10:05
third heading up for a third it's maybe 20 quarter to a third can't remember exact number are solos. So obviously um
10:11
they and all my previous group cruisers had a lot of solos. So that obviously ultra makes it very challenging because
10:18
you can sometimes find a line that will do sort of deals but it does make it relatively uh tight in terms of who is
10:24
likely to go on that. So I have toyed with that you know maybe finding a midground like Oceanani or something but
10:31
certainly at this stage I don't have any active plans on group cruises. Um uh and
10:36
I will obviously keep all that in mind. Hetti is here. So Hetti, yes, I've been following Hetti's bouncing on Rotterdam.
10:43
It looks like you it's pretty rough. I mean, it's also those who follow, of course, cruising news will know that
10:49
there's been a lot of disruptions uh in in places like New York and stuff with
10:55
the various storms passing through. Um so it's been pretty bumpy and tippy
11:00
choppy. So hopefully by the time by next month, end of next month, it's still sort of part hurricane stormy season, uh
11:08
hopefully I will have uh I will have uh um I'll get actually get to some of the
11:13
islands and not be too stormy. I'm looking at the weather for those islands we're going to. I can see it's still quite stormy, rainy.
11:21
Quinton, how about a video on trans cruisers that avoid the US, for example, UK to Canada.
11:27
Quinton, that would be extremely short video to be honest because the short answer is there aren't really any. Um,
11:33
there are a couple, very few. Um, so you know, in reality, the reason that
11:38
transatlantic cruisers exist is most of those are repositionings and it's uh
11:43
lions reposition their ships from the Mediterranean/ Europe to be able to
11:48
start selling Caribbean cruisers out of the United States. So by definition there are almost none because the whole
11:56
point of them is moving ships across. Um so that's why you you'll find them not
12:01
very many. Now the key exceptions to that would be uh some lines out of the
12:07
UK. So specifically PNO Mela uh do it. Uh and I've got a feeling Ambassador
12:13
might be doing it as well. Uh those lines that move some ships into the Caribbean. So for example uh Pino as I
12:21
mentioned Mela uh around about now I guess or heading up for now will send a
12:26
couple of ships uh and they will normally be based out of Barbados and they will do fly uh cruises uh out of
12:34
Barbados. So they charter flights uh to move people from the UK into Barbados.
12:39
They'll do their two long week two week long Barbados to Barbados and then they'll charter people back. So
12:44
obviously on the repositioning you can get that. So for example, we've once done a reposition when it was heading back from Barbados uh to to the UK. So
12:53
do some Caribbean islands, madiraa, stuff like that. Uh so so that's that's
12:58
your main option. So take a look at Pino, Mela. Um you will there's a small
13:04
chance you know so a couple of lines like Virgin that Scarlet Lady I think you know who look to sell of San Juan
13:11
they they will probably reposition out of Europe and head down directly to San
13:17
Juan. So you could look at a few lines that sell directly of San Juan they may head there directly. Now if you
13:23
specifically wanted to get to Canada uh choices are very limited. So Kunard do
13:28
run a couple of Southampton uh sort of to Canada and back. Now I didn't I
13:34
haven't looked at the itineraries but I think normally they would include a stop into like New York for example. Um but
13:42
certainly take a look at Kunard um they do but it's around you know it's a round trip so you wouldn't it's not a one-way
13:48
trip to Canada. It would be a a 14 or longer night. Saga as well do some trips
13:54
to Canada, but again I'm not 100% sure on it. I feel like they might also call
13:59
into New York. So there's there's a couple of kind of sort of options, but um that that's that's that's about
14:06
that's about it. D and Andrew here calling ports. Good to see you. Setting from Do next May. Is it worth staying
14:13
there overnight or can we get away staying in London and heading there the morning of imbarcation day? So basically
14:19
there aren't any really great hotels or many hotels in Dova. So uh I tend not to
14:28
stay in Dova if I can avoid it when staying out of Dova. So I have stayed I think when I did No, no. When I did
14:34
Disney I didn't I think I was doing a saga trip out of Dova and I was was um I
14:40
might have done a Virgin Yeah. a Virgin teaser thing out of when Virgin first was that out of Dova.
14:46
Anyway, basically there's like a travel lodge uh place. It's not great that you
14:51
can stay at, but there's no great hotels. Now, you might be able to find perhaps an Airbnb or or something like
14:57
that, but it's not there's not really great hotels near Dova. Now, what you can do though is there is uh quite a lot
15:05
of trains heading to do and they have a fast train and then they have slow trains. And the fast trains probably
15:11
once an hour and they take uh is it about 50 minutes something like
15:16
that. And often what what you'll find a lot of lines will do so I've checked this they often will run a shuttle bus
15:24
between the station and the port. But you need to check that otherwise you can get a taxi. Now the taxis can be a bit
15:32
of a wait for taxis. Um but there are but but if you are looking at doing the
15:37
train make sure you get the fast train not the slow train. Slow train is quite slow but the fast train I guess uses um
15:45
I think it probably uses the tracks that were laid down you know the highspeed lines that were laid down and it's and
15:50
it's quite nice trains pretty efficient. Um but if you are going to stand over I think it's a travel lodge it's travel
15:56
lodge is the best I found a best of found there. Uh other people talking
16:02
about missing out on Abodine. Um uh Hika, good to see you here. Hika, how
16:09
does it work with the status match across cruise lines? For example, I will sell on Royal Caribbean this week but
16:14
have high status on celebrity. Will will Royal Caribbean see that? So, Hiker,
16:20
yes. Um you it should be now if you actually log in to your online account,
16:26
you should see your status that they're giving you uh there. That's only when I
16:32
went on Royal Caribbean and stuff. Normally you can see it there. Um the
16:38
only one that you that I've ever had to specifically apply for within that group is uh Silvery. I had to uh specifically
16:47
ask for a status match with uh my combined sort of Celebrity and Royal
16:53
Caribbean. That wasn't done automatically, but certainly when I've moved between Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, they have done it. But I've
16:58
normally been able to see it on in the online account. It'll show the captain's
17:05
choice, not captain's choice, captain something or other. Uh so you should be able to see that. Now, for those who
17:11
don't who haven't spotted it in the news, um up until now, Royal Caribbean had been the only one that matched
17:17
across their brands. Now, very excitingly, Norwegian Group about two weeks ago have announced they are going
17:23
to status match across uh their three main brands. So the Norwegian, Oceanania
17:28
and Regent. Um but you do have to apply to the cruise line that you're going on
17:34
to status match. So I'm very excited because actually I have varying degrees of status across those three. But I
17:41
actually looked and I actually have after I've done my next trip I will go up to quite a high level a high level
17:48
like silver or something on regent which and I've got a big ocean cruise with Mark in December and I then just have to
17:55
send email you have to email them off and you all you have to do is give them your different account numbers and
18:01
looking following people on Facebook who've done it apparently it's done very very fast. So certainly hik you should
18:06
find between the two it's the same. Second thing I would do though come back to your original question is if not I
18:12
would go what um they have on Royal Caribbean is they have a person who's specifically dedicated to the crown and
18:20
anchor that's what it's called crown and anchor club um uh so they have a person nominated that they have a desk I would
18:27
just go and see them you should find in your room uh a letter when you arrive telling your status so when I got on
18:33
Royal Caribbean it told me I was diamond status um which was because the status match. Um but if not go and see the the
18:41
crown and anchor person. Um in terms of status match the only other key one you
18:46
can do of course is explorer journey not on hug talking about status match um explorer journeys will match most ultra
18:53
luxury lines as well and again you have to apply for that they they will also uh
18:58
and MSC will match uh pretty much anything including certain hotel chains. So if you're high status on Hilton I
19:05
think for example or on certain airlines they will say status match as well. So hopefully hiker match that have a great
19:12
time on Royal Caribbean. Sarah in Brooklyn good to see you here.
19:19
We got cruise stops in September in Zatalan Caba San Lucas and Porto Viata.
19:25
Which is best for beach day. Any other any other idea ideas for portions? I
19:30
like history and thrills. Okay. So, um certainly what I've done in the past, uh
19:37
Sarah, is I've used Caba St. Lucas as my sort of beach day and and certainly on
19:43
that group cruise we've got coming up where we're calling both Caban Lucas and Porto Viata. Um I I've chosen Caband
19:50
Lucas as my um port day. Now, there is a local beach you can actually walk to because
19:56
Capasandukus is a tender port. You can actually walk. It's not a massively long walk, but you can walk to there's a
20:03
local beach which is quite nice. Um, but there are other you can get resort passes. Uh, or the cruise lines will
20:09
offer something. Now, Porto Viata, um, the cruise line will tend to offer more
20:15
resort passes and that's what I'm doing on my next trip. I'm doing like a resort pass through the cruise line. Now, there
20:20
is a site called Resort Pass that that I could use. I haven't used it yet. Lots of people do. Um, so in Mazatalan, I'm
20:28
trying to know what we did in Mazatan. We actually I think because I've been there before I think we were on the hop on hop off past
20:34
now in Caban Lucas and I think was you know is also renowned for whale watching
20:39
and certainly they have a lot of whales. So when in fact in in the past when I've sailed at Caban Lucas we've seen the
20:45
most incredible whales just from the deck. So certainly um you know Cavendicus has that kind of stuff. They
20:52
also have um kind of high-speed um boat kind of stuff um as well.
20:59
Um, hopefully that helps. Hopefully that helps. Anyone got anything better? Let me know. Mark is here. If you've been
21:05
following Mark, uh, also if you follow Paul and Carol, Mark and Nette have been
21:11
on a road trip, um, through which looks quite exhausting to be honest. Mark kind of looked like you got packed a lot in,
21:18
but great to see you back uh, here on board and joining the live. Appreciate that. Um,
21:25
Luis P, this is an interesting one. Is it norm is it the new normal for excursion guides to just take you to the
21:32
building and then leave it up to you to go inside? Louise, I I haven't seen that
21:37
a lot. A lot of it depends in my experience on what rules different uh
21:44
places have. So for example um we have been I've been to some place
21:49
particularly in Europe and some places in Venice for example come to mind um where guys are not allowed to do uh talk
21:57
within a building. So not allowed to give commentary within a building uh even if they're using those quiet box
22:04
things. So certainly that could be one reason where they've literally said you have to go and explore. And I'm trying
22:09
to think when I was on a river cruise recently um we went to one place and I
22:15
can't remember what where it was where they again they were not allowed to go in and they weren't allowed to go in the building and talk you through the
22:21
building and a couple of times in in Japan we had the same thing where um the guides were not allowed to give any
22:28
dialogue. So, I think it's more linked to in my experience to date anyway, Louise, it's been linked to what the
22:35
rules of the place were. But the guide has always explained that. Um, so I
22:40
would that that's all I I've seen. So, I will keep an eye out for that. Um, but
22:45
that's the only time that I that I have have done that. Tom always gives you a
22:51
good brief on where he's watching. So, watching on YouTube to monitor chat. Yes. So for those I I say every week I
22:58
guess but um I this live runs on Facebook. If people leave a question on
23:04
Facebook I can see it but you don't see the the chat. Um the same on LinkedIn I
23:09
will see the question but you don't see the chat and the discussion. Now also what's uh YouTube have just introduced
23:15
and I haven't been able to check how works yet is they now when you go live have the ability to do it uh landscape
23:22
which you've always done but also do portraits. So, they're eventually going to start letting you, I guess, on shorts
23:27
that people watch it on their phone can also watch it that way around. I haven't worked out how to do that yet, but I'll
23:33
start following people who are doing it and and see how that all works. Right. I haven't read this question yet,
23:39
so hopefully I won't be able to answer it, Helen. Normally, I can keep a an eye head on the questions. So, Helen has
23:45
just got off a short cruise on MSE Virtuosa in York Club as a trial. We were very pleasantly surprised and
23:52
considering a longer option. Do you have experience of the yacht club on other MSE ships? And is the new explorer a
23:58
good alternative? Um, so Helen, I have got some experience of yacht club on
24:03
other MSE ships, not the big massive, you know, the ones that are even bigger than Virtuosis. So the new, you know,
24:09
world America, World Asia, uh, World Europa. I haven't been on on the club on
24:14
those, uh, as of yet. But I've been on more on the Preiosa. So this the kind of the class before this and it was very
24:21
similar obviously not as expansive but the experience was pretty similar but actually on Preiosa the actual
24:27
restaurant wasn't so wasn't within the that area. The good thing about the newer bigger ships is everything's
24:33
within that area. Certainly um I have spoken to people who've been who like yacht club uh and have been on that
24:40
virtuosa meavilia class. They've gone on on uh it was world
24:47
America I think it was uh and someone who's been on seashore MC seashore and
24:53
they enjoyed the art club experience. You got to be in mind these ships are even bigger than virtuosis so they're
24:59
even more kind of packed. Um but I think all of them still also have the inside
25:05
cabin option. I always remind people that most or many of these new Sony virtual meavilia and above you can do
25:14
yacht club on quite an attractive budget because they do have inside cabins. Uh
25:19
and on virtual I think it's 12 or 15 and you get the same thing butler you get the dining room etc. So that's that's
25:26
good but good that you had a great time on MSC. Chatty Kathy Chatty Cruz is good to see
25:33
you here. Um, is there an option for waiter service for breakfast on Seaborn, not room
25:41
service? Yes, in the restaurant, uh, which is called the restaurant in the
25:46
main dining room, they do have breakfast in the main dining room. Uh, which I think is every day including sea and
25:53
port days from what I remember. Uh, certainly that's where we would always go. Uh, I always prefer going to the
25:59
main dining room for breakfast and then of course the buffet which you don't want to do. So yes, uh, in the
26:04
restaurant. So that sounds like you're heading off on Seabour hopefully very soon. Have a great a great great time.
26:10
So let's see. Lenir here. Caroline is here. Um, just write the word question
26:16
so I don't uh miss any questions. Um, I
26:21
think everyone's doing that, so it's good. U Beno, Beno, Beno, hopefully I pronounced it correctly. Norwegian
26:28
Cruise Line Spirit February New Zealand and Australia. Good idea. February is a great weather for New Zealand Australia
26:35
time. It's uh you know the weather is norally great. It's sunny. It's still their summer. It's past crazy because
26:41
the school holidays are in sort of December because they're year end the school year end is then. So you often
26:47
find December into January places are very busy. February is very nice weather. I've also been as late as March
26:52
very nice weather. Um, I haven't been on Spirit, so I can't comment on the ship
26:58
specifically, but it's a great time of year to go to New Zealand and Australia. You'll have great sunny weather will be nice and warm. Um, hopefully
27:05
particularly if it's you're heading into things like Milford Sound and stuff. It should still not I've only been to
27:11
Milford Sound later like March time and it's very rainy and stuff. So, I I don't
27:16
know what it's like in February, but um hopefully it's it's nicer. Um, but it's a great time to go. Great time. I I'm
27:23
really keen to do a New Zealand Australia, more New Zealand, Australia. And in fact, we're looking actually at February time because I'm doing uh in 27
27:31
uh a Antarctica trip to south part of Antarctica, which goes out of Deneden
27:37
and I'm looking at some options from New Zealand, Australia in that February, March time. So definitely it's a great
27:43
time. Orin asking me if I have ever been to Screeched Inn in St. John's, Nova
27:50
Scotia. I have not. But if you're recommending it, I will take a look at it because I'm going to
27:56
St. John twice next year, beginning of the year towards sort of beginning no
28:02
Junish time and the end of the year uh on two different cruises. So if you're recommending it, let let me know and let
28:08
me know what it is. Square Bear 11, how did you get your underwater photos and videos whilst in the Galapagus? Two
28:15
ways. One of which was uh using my GoPro, underwater GoPro. So, I have a
28:21
GoPro which is really old. Like really, really old. Um, and because I don't do a
28:26
lot of underwater stuff, I've never upgraded it at all. So, it's like I mean, it's ancient. It's I mean, I've
28:33
probably had it Well, it's only had it way before pandemic. So, that's what five years. I mean, I'm guessing it's
28:38
probably eight or 10 years old. So, it's probably an ancient old one. Um, and and in those probably still do it. the unit
28:46
itself wasn't waterproof. So, it's like a plastic casing and you have a little strap that you can put it on or whatever. So, that's one thing that I
28:52
did. And the second thing was was also um uh on the on the on the trip itself
28:59
they had a now se silverc doesn't do this anymore but they used to have an
29:05
onboard videographer and photographer who would document it and he actually followed my YouTube channel and he did a
29:12
lot of video and photography and he offered me some of his underwater
29:17
footage to use as well. So some of it is his. So, the shots that he got of the um
29:27
the the seal, the massive big seal, that was his shot. But the GoPro was it. Um
29:33
GoPro is really good underwater stuff. Now, you can also use I do have an Insta
29:39
360, which I've seen a lot of people using underwater. I haven't tried that. The unit itself is waterproof. Um but I
29:46
haven't tried that yet. So, I maybe on this cuz on this Caribbean trip, just excuse me. there. I'm starting to plan
29:53
cuz I'm going to do quite a lot of snorkeling stuff and I'm thinking around, you know, getting my GoPro out,
29:58
but I should also probably take my 360 and try that as well. But that's the the actual answer to your question is that
30:04
there uh I've answered that question. Um,
30:11
so I'm going to take a little slug.
30:17
Paul uh has watched the reposition video. Excuse me.
30:23
How did you handle the continual eastbound time change losing an hour almost every other day? Thank you. Okay.
30:30
So, um what I tend to do, Paul, to partly answer your your question is I
30:37
try to go the other way where you get an extra hour. So certainly um when we do
30:43
the transatlantics for example, we tend to go kind of westbound uh other than
30:48
one time. So we get the extra hour. When I did the repositioning uh from Japan to
30:53
Alaska, you gain an hour. Um but still that threw a lot of people
30:59
um because a lot of people within because effectively you're shifting 7 hours and 5 hours. So lots of people were waking up um crazy hours. You'd
31:06
find the the buffet which was opening at 7. of people were there because they've been making up for hours. So I part one
31:12
part of the way I do is try to go that way. That probably doesn't answer your question that well with the eastbound
31:18
what I found quite easy helpful Paul is a lot of the lines will actually do the
31:24
time change in the middle of the day. So for example Kunard used to do the time
31:29
change at night and it paid havoc with particularly the crew. So they started
31:34
doing the time change in the middle of the day and I found that really really helpful because you kind of gets lost
31:40
because you don't have that whole concept every night getting to bed and you're losing an hour and you're kind of losing sleep and it's throwing your body
31:47
clock up completely. So it's worth checking uh if you're doing that um if
31:52
if if that's if that's the case. Um but what I try to do um as well is I try to
31:59
get myself when I'm planning my evening around that time change. So I almost
32:05
mentally think around okay so even when we were gaining an hour I was thinking
32:10
okay my plan is still to go to bed at 10 or 11 or whatever time. I'm not a party animal. Um so I would sort of plan
32:17
around that time. So I would sort of dine. So instead of dining effective where the clock's moving that one way.
32:23
So effectively dining at five, sort of dining what would be six if you know what I mean. So I'm trying to keep things as constant as possible to keep
32:29
that rhythm. Uh sorry rather long complicated answer. Hopefully that hopefully that did uh answer you. Uh
32:38
Tara, for a northern lights cruise, which would you recommend? I'm doing the
32:44
Antarctic Explorer cruise on Viking in January, so it's not this year, but definitely on the list also. Thank you.
32:49
Um, so Antarctic Explorer Cruise. Okay, so you're doing Antarctica. Okay, so that's a different point. Sorry. Um, so
32:57
in terms of Northern Lights, one of the the things that I tend to recommend,
33:03
Tara, is you know, you kind of that sort of October, November time is still quite
33:08
cold, but the night's drawn in and that seems to be a very good time for Northern Lights. It's also where you see
33:14
quite a lot of options. So I would take a look at um things like Hooch Grutin
33:20
for example and HX expeditions which because they spun off from two seven companies. A lot of them will do a a
33:27
Northern Lights guarantee which pretty much means you know that you're slap bang in the middle of the season. Um so
33:32
they're quite a good one to to look at. Uh out of the UK you'll find lines like
33:37
Fred Olsen and Sara also run a lot of Northern Lights cruises. Now, it's bear
33:43
in mind though once you get to that time of the year, seas can be pretty choppy uh and pretty stormy. So, some people
33:49
are less keen on it because they find a little bit bumpy as it were. But often, you know, you it's only when you're out
33:55
at the open at the open sea. Um but that's what I I would I would uh re
34:01
recommend. Take a look at some of look take a look at some of those lines. Uh
34:08
oh, great. Of course, uh Carrie and Mike are in Venice. I forgot, of course, that
34:14
you were heading um you were heading there this time. Have a fabulous time. Hope you're having a brilliant brilliant
34:19
time. Um I met up with them in Seattle. They're patrons of mine and they're doing a great Italian kind of trip and
34:27
stuff. So great. Um thanks. Thanks for uh signing in. Warren,
34:33
what do you think of Crystal compared to Regent? Um, so I'm actually working on
34:39
I'll do a little plug. Uh, it's actually just being edited and it won't be out probably for a month or so. Uh,
34:45
comparison of the Ultra Luxury Line. So, I'm comparing Crystal, Regent, Silver Sea, and Seaborn against each other. Um,
34:51
but basically, um, you know, the key thing, Warren, with they are kind of
34:57
similar in so many ways like all the ultra are, but you know, certainly Crystal at the moment has two ships.
35:04
They're relatively old ships. They have been renovated as you know um reduced capacity. Uh I like what they've done
35:10
with the ships. I like the old Starship. They've got some new builds coming from 28 onwards. Three new builds. Uh we
35:16
don't know the names of them yet, but I think by the end of the year they're going to release more uh drawings, renderings, and and stuff like that. Um
35:24
I really enjoyed my time on Crystal. The food was outstanding. I still think it probably is the best food of all of the
35:30
four of them. and service absolutely way you know is again top marks they partly
35:38
because the crew have worked for Crystal you know some of them for 20 years and they all know each other so they know
35:44
how each other works etc etc I think it's going to be they expand how do they manage to keep that after crystal kind
35:51
of went bust and then got reenergized re uh reanimated what the word is by and
35:57
Kent so much of the crew came back now because they have two ships They're obviously very limited. They're much
36:03
more limited on itineraries. So, what they tend to do is they run lots of kind of almost one-way itineraries to try and
36:09
cover as much of the world because people who love crystal love crystal. So, to get new itineraries, they just keep moving uh effectively. They don't
36:16
sort of home base somewhere and do a lot of repeat itineries. So, if you can also do some quite nice combined trips or
36:22
some kind of unusual itineraries. Now, Regent obviously has a much bigger fleet. What I like about Regent, I like
36:28
I'm a big fan of Regent is they are probably now the most all-inclusive of
36:33
not probably they are the most all-inclusive um of all of them because
36:38
you know now the Silver Sea have moved to their new fair structure. Um they you
36:44
know so flights and excursions are all add-ons. Regent still has uh you know
36:49
the most amount of inclusion. So if you want a more all-incclusive fair, more inclusive experience, you've paid for,
36:55
you know, you got your excursions and you know, everything kind of in um then Regent is is a plus for that. Um
37:02
certainly Crystal has a bigger kind of I noticed bigger range of wine included
37:07
wines um drinks except they had massive included drinks. Regent, I really like
37:13
Regent. I think they because of the number of ships they've got, they have quite diverse itineraries. They tend to focus much more on iconic ports and
37:20
places. So they are probably a little bit less innovative or adventurous in some ways than Crystal because they
37:27
really focus on going to kind of must-sea places. Um the ships are all the same now in terms of layout.
37:33
Obviously the Navigator, which they're getting rid of, um but the ships are the same format and I think Prestige coming
37:38
next year will have a slightly different layout. But I also like you got the ships and they they're very familiar
37:44
things in the same place and stuff. I find service very good. I think food is excellent on Regent for me. They're uh
37:51
it's Crystal and Regent. In terms of food, I like the um I like the special dining a lot. Um obviously Crystal has
37:58
no which is outstanding. They have a so for me they are kind of close but region
38:03
is a little bit more all inclusive, a little bit more um old school is probably the wrong word.
38:10
um traditional maybe Crystal is all about family and you do feel like you
38:16
really feel like you're on a family line. Um so now with a changed capacity now
38:22
crystal red juice capacity capacity is about the same but if you you need to like an old class you know old style
38:27
ship it it layout is kind of a little bit quirky and unusual have quirky cabins and stuff like that on crystal I
38:33
like both of them a lot um let's have a look uh mlim I don't know
38:39
if I'm be able to answer this but insurance coming out of Brazil for low is low for airlift thinking to buy
38:46
global rescue as supplement. Do you know anything about them? Okay. So, I think what you're saying is u in your
38:52
insurance package that you're buying, uh, you don't have enough. So, there is a I I'm aware of them. I have never
39:00
added them on because I've never had to. Um, there is another company.
39:06
Um, oh, I'm trying to think because I actually looked I actually bought insurance with them when I went on
39:12
safari in Tanzania because it was recommended. Uh and it's not called it's something like international rescue but
39:18
international rescue of course is Thunderbirds on go but it's something like international rescue if you kind of Google international rescue airlift
39:25
stuff um uh but I have heard of global res rescue I haven't used them though
39:33
okay Elizabeth we are spending two days in Tokyo beginning of an April pre- cruise if you could spend longer I would
39:39
strongly encourage you to try and spend longer what should we definitely not miss is our first time in Japan So,
39:45
Elizabeth, I before my one Japan cruise, I spent four days in Tokyo and then I went back for my last one. I spent five
39:52
days, I think. And even then, I thought I hadn't spent enough. So, if you can spend more time would be my first tip.
39:57
Um, in terms of must do things, um, I would say, uh, you want to do tick off
40:04
one of the kind of the iconic things, which is go to the Shabua crossing. If you can do it at night, sort of brush
40:11
our time, it's great. That whole Shabou area is very interesting. Um you got these kind of crazy little shops and
40:16
stuff, but Shabu crossing is is quite interesting. Um I would try and go up um
40:22
the Sky Tree Tower uh if you can book another Tokyo Tower, the Sky Tree Tower
40:28
um because you get an incredible perspective of of uh of Tokyo itself.
40:34
The National Museum is also really interesting. uh you can really delve delve into um a lot of the history
40:41
around um you know the samuris etc. That's really that's really great. Um
40:48
I'm just trying to think because what I actually have Elizabeth and I maybe try maybe I'll try and link it. I'm going to make a note for myself here. I actually
40:56
have shorts Tokyo. Um, I did a series of
41:01
shorts um around things to do in Tokyo uh from my first trip and also from my
41:08
second trip. So, if you actually searched if you go to my channel, I'll try and leave some links afterwards in
41:14
the show notes. If you go to the channel, the tips of channel on YouTube, there's a little search button. If you just type in Tokyo there, type in Tokyo
41:22
and then uh it should bring up the shorts that I've done and it's literally because I've got three days. One of them
41:29
is called three days in Tokyo and I did things like I went to the Senojo
41:34
temple which is an absolute mustsee. Uh for example um and then I didn't go the
41:41
sky tree that time sky second time but I've got three days of of things things to do and also a little bit about how to
41:47
get around like using the metro. That is going to be the best way rather than me rambling on. So go to the channel search
41:53
that Tokyo I will try and put links to those in these show notes. maybe 10 minutes or so after this. If you look in
41:59
the in the show notes, they they should they should they should be there.
42:04
Uh just a right right question,
42:09
but I sort of this one uh from 1875 looking at doing a pino reposition
42:15
cruise from Abadus to Southampton possibly in 2027 as a single traveler. What would you consider to be a good and
42:20
fair price including flights? I don't know. Um I don't because I don't
42:26
know pino pricing and a pino is increasingly become quite good value so I don't know off hand. What I would
42:33
encourage you to do though uh is actually work with a travel agent like my travel agent Sarah Bolton for example
42:40
um and get her kind of looking at what the best option is because as a single
42:45
traveler you you're likely to be paying double. So you want to find some fairly sharpish stuff. Obviously not double
42:51
flights but the cabin would be double. So a lot of it hinges around are you going an inside cabin, ocean view cabin,
42:57
a suite, a balcony. There's just so many kind of permutations. So it's hard to give you a direct answer on that. There
43:04
are sites what I would encourage you obviously you can do like dummy bookings on on the pino site as well. Um Peter
43:12
asking if when you're in Palm Springs did you go to any of the closing option resorts? No. We we stayed in Airbnb and
43:17
with my mother-in-law that they would appreciate it if we'd booked into clothing option resorts. clothing optional resorts pass you used to seem
43:25
to be a big thing. They seem much less of a of a big thing these days, but I
43:30
might be wrong. Um there, but no, we didn't. Uh that would have been quite funny telling Sally booking Sally into a
43:37
clothing optional resort that I've never actually stayed in my I've never stayed in a clothing optioning resort anywhere
43:43
in my even in my misspent youth. Um in my in my missspent youth.
43:51
Um, Teresa, returning after 15 year hiatus
43:58
and cruising appears cruise lines are moving away from solo travelers. Agree. Theresa, yes and no. So certainly
44:06
the cruise lines are very um focused on new to travel, sorry, new to cruise and
44:12
extremely focused on families. So you'll even find um lines that didn't used to
44:18
be very family focused like Holland America Celebrity which used to be more couples are definitely uh you know
44:24
advertising and encouraging more families particularly in places like Alaska um and the Caribbean and in uh
44:32
peak seasons you even got Explore Journeys for example which I realiz I didn't answer an earlier question um you
44:38
know they have kids clubs in the luxury space so um it's not so much they're
44:44
moving way. It's not as I I think it probably didn't grow as fast as we had
44:50
hoped it would. So, a lot of the the lines particularly in the premium space like Honda America and so on, they
44:56
introduced a few solar cabins. Kunard put solo cabins on, but not that many lines have introduced a lot of solar
45:02
cabins. The only line that has really lent into solo is Norwegian Cruise Line
45:07
uh in that sort of resort value premium space where they have the the the big solo cabin space. uh you know with a a
45:16
little pass where you get your own all the cell campers in one area and a lounge and so on. They're all quite
45:22
small in the inside. Uh so you you'll find it's kind of mixed if you are patient and plan ahead. You can often
45:29
find solo deals. So I do travel um you know probably eight nine times out of 10 solo and I try to plan ahead with solo
45:38
deals. So you you you keeping an eye out for solo deals. So, I sign up for the the newsletters um to see when solo
45:45
deals are going. So, you're absolutely right. No cruise line is leaning heavily into solos. Um you know, it's a bit hit
45:52
and miss. You know, Saga has solar cabins. Uh but it's not a lot. And if you want to get a solo cabin, you often
45:58
have to book, you know, be ready when they release the the itineraries. Um and
46:03
in some cases, in most cases, you you're going to be paying twice. Now at the
46:09
upper end once you get to Crystal and Silver Sea to less we seaborn they are
46:15
and and Pon for example they are encouraging solo travelers but it's a it's a kind of shoulder period not peak
46:21
time so if you want to go peak times less so um there are a couple of sites like vacations to go that track a lot of
46:27
solo deals and others I actually have a video um Teresa on solo travel if you
46:32
just go to the channel and search solo and I talk a little bit about how to find solo deals but you're right they're
46:37
not leaning into solo. Um they they're actually looking to have three or four people in a cabin rather than one person
46:44
in a cabin. In fact, you'll find and this has happened um on some cruise
46:49
lines particularly in the premium space like Honda America and Pino and so on is
46:54
they sometimes you know will will bump people or move people uh if the ship is
47:00
very full. So, if you've booked a cabin which has um capacity for three people
47:06
and there's only one or two of you, they will look to move you to a cabin that only has two births, doesn't have a
47:11
third birth, you know, a sofa bed or whatever and that's happening. Not a lot, but it's happening every now and again.
47:19
Uh Abis Ebis Music, is it true of Celebrity that it's best to book the next trip on board? It depends in
47:26
reality. So, booking on board any cruise line is uh you'll always every single
47:32
cruise line will offer uh deals. So, they will offer uh sometimes, you know,
47:37
an extra 5% off. They'll offer onboard credit. They might offer the ability to
47:42
uh move your cruise around without any penalty. Every single cruise line does
47:47
that. However, uh at they may also be running other promotions that are better than that. So whilst it's it is it's
47:55
good idea if you really want to go on another celebrity trip to look at what the offer is, do bear in mind that you
48:01
might find other offers that they do are better. So for example, Celebrity are running a an offer at the moment um
48:09
which is third person second person at you know 70% off. Now if you're on board
48:15
now you'd get that deal plus on top of the deal. But if you actually uh wanted to go on Celebrity, it would be worth
48:22
booking that deal now because when you go on board, they're going to give you 5% off, but they're not going to give you 70% off. Hopefully, I've explained
48:28
that. So, what I always encourage people to do is if you're really clear, I want to go on that celebrity trip or that
48:34
Norwegian trip or whatever line you're on. Um, and you might it's it's worth
48:39
waiting on board and seeing what deal you can get, but keep an eye on the deals because uh they won't let you
48:45
switch to that deal the better the better deal. So, for example, another thing you can do and I'm not 100% sure
48:52
no celebrity do because I use this. So, for example, when I went on Celebrity uh
48:57
EBIS Music is I I I knew I wanted to go back on Celebrity and I had my I was
49:03
waiting for the new itineraries to come out, but what you could do is you could buy a deposit certificate which gave you
49:09
the extra I think it was 5%. And it might have been some onboard credit, but they whatever the deal they were
49:15
offering on board. So, you could pay the deposit, which I I can't remember what it was. It was maybe Ā£300, $500,
49:22
something like that. and it locked you in the deal. So then when I when they released itineraries and the cruise that
49:28
I wanted came up and it was interestingly running at the 70% off. So I booked it when it was uh it came on
49:36
board. So it was released and they were doing the promotion which was second person 70% off. I booked it and I could
49:43
apply that certificate. So buying the certificate is maybe a better idea and
49:48
then you can play around. But obviously if you know the ship and you and you know and you know you you know exactly
49:54
what you want to do then of course it is worth doing it. And that's true of um of
49:59
every every cruise line. Uh CLT geek is there a dish or food item
50:06
you've got on a ship which you think about and wish you could find on land. There isn't one dish. The one thing I do
50:13
wish is um you know lines that have caviar. I love caviar, but I I'm never going to pay the price of caviar on
50:19
land. I when I was on Crystal, as I was mentioning earlier, they've got a no restaurant which was magnificent, but I
50:24
I'm not sure I would pay well or not sure. I haven't never gone to an restaurant on land because it's so
50:30
expensive. So, sometimes those things that uh I just wouldn't pay, you know,
50:36
so I can enjoy on board. So, like on Silver Sea, you could order a caviar to
50:41
as a little um canope. I would a couple of times um for example or on Kunard you
50:48
can on Queen's grill you can do that. So it's probably more around those I can't think of any dish of hand that I wish I
50:56
could find on land. It's more those that I just don't want to um I just didn't
51:02
want to pay for it afterwards. Um Carl,
51:08
how can you tell if the selling their booked on is sold out? Got a couple of ways. Normally you'll find if you go on
51:14
if you go on to the the the booking sites if you go I don't know if you're going on Norwegian or Silver Sea or
51:21
whatever you're going on Holland America if you go on uh if you go on to the site
51:27
the website um you'll find sometimes certain cruises will shows weight list weight listed which either means they're
51:33
sold out or something's going on like they're about to cancelled or rescheduled or sometimes there's a big
51:40
alert because something goes weight listed suddenly and then they cancel it because they chartered the ship or
51:46
whatever. But normally the big clue is weight listed. Sometimes what you can do on some sites um like I know you can do
51:52
it on Celebrity I think you Holland America a few others is when you put in states it gives you the option of um
52:01
only show only only show uh cruises with availability or it says
52:07
exclude sold out cruises. So you can tick that and and then you can say oh my cruise is not cruise is not there. Um or
52:13
simply you just go to your cruise and you put it you just do start a dummy
52:19
booking and see if any cabins how many cabins show up. So for example I do that often a little bit before a cruise. I
52:25
haven't done for my next cruise, but I will go on often particularly when you start getting all those emails about
52:30
upgrade uh bids. Uh because if you get an email offering an upgrade, but it
52:36
doesn't mean that there's that the ship's not sold out. But I will sometimes go on and say, "Okay, uh let's
52:42
have a look if it's showing any cabins." So, for example, we're doing a crossing next year in June and friends of ours uh
52:51
who never been on Queen went on a little taster cruise. They're like, "We want to do transatlantic." So, I went on and did
52:56
a dummy booking. I literally went on, put in the the cruiser on, and I could see that there was literally only uh one
53:04
grade available. I can't remember what it was. Might have been like uh it was like the most expensive cabin on the
53:10
ship or something like that. I think that's right. I think it was like the Q1. It was like 20,000 or something. But
53:16
I can see that no, there's nothing else available. That that's basically how how I do it. Um so it's a bit of kind of
53:23
plotting away work if if you like. Um
53:29
Demac hopefully someone has answer this question. If not please I have not been on Bliss um so I can't answer that. Um
53:36
but if anyone has please do answer that question. Caroline if all cruising was
53:42
about to end forever and you could choose one last cruise where would you go to with which cruise? I would go to Antarctica without a shadow of a doubt
53:49
and I would go on Silver Sea in on Endeavor probably or I would go on Pon
53:56
uh Common Chakaco. I haven't been on that before but Mark who was here uh earlier has been on that and it's like
54:03
it just looks magnificent. It's very high-end. But that's what I would do. I would go to that most exotic place. If
54:09
Antarctic was out of the mix, I would do a Panama Canal trip. I would go on a cruise line that was small enough to get
54:14
me through uh the old canal. Definitely.
54:19
Um she's asking about biometric screening in the UK affecting cruise. I haven't
54:25
heard anything I haven't heard anything around that at all affecting that. I
54:30
think it's pe because like whenever I go into the US for example or um oh maybe
54:37
you're talking about the EU. So bring that question back up again. How are the new biometrics? Oh, in the
54:43
UK. So, it's far from when not at all. You know, because if I if I want to cruise out of uh Canada to go to Alaska
54:50
and I'm going to set, you know, fly into Canada or I fly into the US to join a cruise. We have to do uh all that
54:56
anyway. You have to get your e, you know, your esester and whatever. Um although actually in the US now I have
55:02
global entry so it's very quick. But anyway, uh that could be decided. Um
55:09
and I'm just reminded a little plug um a little plug here. Love your latest video and was amused to find as a 47y old I
55:15
could relate to a lot of the points made. So just remind you the video that came out yesterday is cruise tips for people over 55. I heard a lot of people
55:22
saying a lot of it actually applied and then of course sixy olds being very upset saying uh we can beat the
55:29
youngsters which I think I could probably do as well after them. Alistister, good to see you here. Alistister is a uh someone I met years
55:36
and years ago um who's a journalist, travel writer. Um and yes, Alistister,
55:43
the the comments do appear live, but the comments don't appear. So on on
55:49
LinkedIn, you don't see the chat only. You only you only see you don't see the chat unfortunately that people ask. I
55:55
guess that's the question. Um, so Mary, so on on Mary question, that's
56:04
this is just back to the hope I answered that a bit earlier. So when they're when they're heading uh when they're adding
56:10
an hour, they do it at night because actually at night it works better for the crew because the crew get an hour
56:15
extra hour sleep. When they're heading the other way, so they're heading eastbound and have to lose time, they do
56:20
it at midday because it's better for the crew. So it's that's basically what most lines do if that makes sense. So they
56:27
they they they do like uh crew like it when they get the night extra hour at
56:34
night when they heading say if you're going from the UK to the US they like it happening at night and actually it was
56:39
crew pressure that got them to change it to change it at lunchtime because it was kill you finish finishing their shift
56:46
late and losing an hour and getting up up up again. Um,
56:51
Stephen, uh, the Eim that I used, um, in Japan was, uh, Erillo. I should probably
56:58
put a link in that. I didn't actually have it in my the beginning. So, Aerero, I do actually have a, I think I have a
57:04
discount code for Eero. I've used it in Japan because my um, service doesn't
57:10
work. I have quite a good um, roaming plan globally where I can use my included minutes in most countries, but
57:16
not in Japan. So, I used Aerolo uh in Japan specifically on both times I've
57:21
been there. It was really, really good, really inexpensive, and it was fantastic. Now, uh Erillo, you you buy
57:28
specific territories. Now, if you want to use an EIM at C, there's another one called Gig Sky. So, I'll put a link for
57:35
that as well because I do know if you use the code TFT 10, I think it is in your first order,
57:41
you get a discount. So, I'll put that in the notes below. But certainly I used in Japan. I love I it was
57:48
fantastic. It worked great and I used it the second time because it works so well. But what with gigs sky gigs sky um
57:55
if you look at the gigs sky site so it's gigs ky uh they have the ability to use
58:01
your eim on board. So, so particularly if you're not using a lot of internet,
58:07
um they they connects in some to satellite and and connects in some uh
58:12
through um Sky uh Skylink. So, um Starlink, sorry. So, uh and I've used
58:20
Gig Sky. I tested out when we did my group cruise around Canada and stuff. So, if you don't use internet a lot,
58:25
Gigi is way cheaper than buying the Wi-Fi package. Um but is landbased. So,
58:30
I'll leave I'll leave those. Claudia, the Carnival Group has said they will
58:36
not do status matching. I I you're right, it would be fantastic if across the Carnival Group, but actually, is it
58:42
Josh Weinstein? I can't remember the the name of the CEO. He was asked a couple of um earning reports ago if Carnival
58:50
would follow at the time, Shaw Caribbean, and he said, "No, the brands are individual. They do their own thing." And um no, they won't. Um, which
58:59
is a pity. I agree. Um, Rhonda is joining Explorer Journeys,
59:05
which is fantastic. One of my favorite sites in Barcelona. Uh, you know, if you've got a chance to book the Familia
59:12
Sagradada, Sara Familiar, that is uh, you know, that for me is is the must the
59:18
thing. But book ways you can get inside would be would be for me the the key thing. Mark asking me would I prefer
59:26
Silver Sea or Seb? personally Silver Sea um they have a bigger fleet 12 ships in
59:32
all um quite a diverse of ships um Seabour obviously reducing capacity um I
59:40
I I just prefer the the um the wider range of special dining um I like the
59:47
itineraries a little bit more uh overall but they're both they're both they're both absolutely absolutely great Paul
59:56
Paul was saying not keen on shorts but we know the other. Yes. So the shorts I literally did cuz I just find them
1:00:02
really I don't do I experimented with shorts. I didn't really do shorts but that those little one day things are are
1:00:08
pretty pretty good. Um Robert asking the question with Gig Sky so hopefully that was the same question. Um right so we're
1:00:15
rambling out of time. Let's see if I can quickly get a few more questions in. Sizzle HQ.
1:00:21
What line would you recommend for a seasoned solo cruiser but in their 30s? seems like I would try Virgin. Uh they
1:00:28
do have solar cabins. Um they are buzzy. Um they're premium so they are a little
1:00:33
bit pricey. So you're gonna find them a bit more pricier than Norwegian or Caribbean depending what grade you travel on. So they're more like pricing
1:00:40
like celebrity Honda America pricing. But I would definitely definitely try Virgin. Um it's got kind of energy late
1:00:46
night. The average age is kind of older than they expected. But I would absolutely say Virgin Voyages is the one
1:00:52
to go for. Uh absolutely for a question. Oh, Alice has got a question. Would you
1:00:59
consider selling on the new Neolina origin sailpowered cargo ship currently on a maiden voyage on a monthly
1:01:04
translated passages between San Mair Sieren and Baltimore? She has six stylish French. I haven't looked at
1:01:11
that, but yes, I would absolutely be interested in taking a look at that. So, I need to take a look at that one. I
1:01:16
sort of am sort of aware of it. Um uh I had ages ago booked on a freight um
1:01:24
ship because that's you can do freight ships. Um they always have less than 12 passengers because once you get 12
1:01:31
passengers under maritime law they have to have a doctor. So they that's why they will have six cabins I guess. So
1:01:36
they never they'll never have more than 12 passengers on is probably why they do that as well. But yes, I would
1:01:42
definitely look at that. So, I need to I definitely need to I need to take a look at this uh at that. Um I have a
1:01:50
backto-back cruise plan on Celebrity Edge Australia New Zealand. Interestingly, I was talking earlier on if you heard that we were looking at our
1:01:56
February March thing and we're actually looking at Celebrity Edge sort of a backtoback Australian New Zealand. Um
1:02:02
we're looking at it's over 50% C days. What do you think of this? Um Dale, I mean a lot of it depends on whether you
1:02:08
like sea days. I personally um uh you know depends on how well you know the
1:02:14
region uh it depends depends where you're going for me going to Australia and New Zealand I want to see more ports
1:02:20
so certainly some of the itineries I've looked at are much more port intensive um you know but if it's the itinerary
1:02:27
that I looked at calling up part of a up to the the um the barrier reef like Port
1:02:33
Douglas and then it goes round to Oakland the itinerary itself is quite nice uh it does call in very interesting
1:02:39
ports. So, it really hinges a little bit around uh whether you want to do more intensive um look. I mean, the varnish
1:02:46
with Celebrity Edge, it's a great ship. It's not crazy expensive. Uh a lot of those other more intense ones are much
1:02:52
smaller, much more expensive ships. Um although do take a look at Honda America, which is the same category.
1:02:58
It's not as modern as Celebrity Edge, but Honda America has some quite interesting itineraries around uh that
1:03:04
area which are about you'll find them about the same price if you are worried about want more intense things. But in
1:03:10
reality, you know, you've got a couple of C days by definition to get to New Zealand and to get back, which is what
1:03:15
I'm guessing you're doing. Um that that's kind of going to be quite a few quite a few uh quite a few C days uh in
1:03:23
in itself. Um so we have churned through questions. We've kind of run out of
1:03:29
time. Let me do one more quick question. Best month to cruise to Japan? I like going in October, but I've been there
1:03:34
different times of the year. October is really nice and warm. It's great time to go. However, most people want to go kind of March, April, uh time because that's
1:03:40
the cherry blossom season, but it's quite cold. I was there in March. It was pretty cold. I love going in in October.
1:03:47
Anyway, so uh thanks so much for joining me. Thanks for the questions. I will try and take a look at the extra questions I
1:03:53
didn't get a chance to answer in the time. I will be back next Sunday. uh same time, same place. Have a great rest
1:03:59
of the weekend. I'll try and get those bits popped in the notes as I said and take a look at that video if you
1:04:05
haven't. Have a great rest of the weekend. Thanks so much for joining and the fabulous questions as
1:04:18
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