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Live Cruise Q&A from Regent Splendor St Lucia: Sunday 9 November (9am PT/ Noon ET/ 5pm UK)
Nov 9, 2025
Live Cruise Q&A from Regent Splendor St Lucia: Sunday 9 November (9am PT/ Noon ET/ 5pm UK) Repositioning Cruise video: https://youtu.be/0z-rS3HesiU Subject to Wi-Fi join me on board Regent Splendor in St Lucia for a live cruise Q&A where I will answer any questions about the line, ship, Caribbean cruising or anything else cruise related on your mind. Set reminder and watch: https://youtube.com/live/jQrfxcXAXcw Get any cruise questions answered live! Join me for another of my weekly live cruise question and answer session. During the livestream I will answer cruising questions or discuss any cruising topic or news development that people ask me live. You can watch past episodes of the livestreams too (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4qEAiMOHL4&list=PLs3662YkgOgq_nlVQR9WYJRNKuNyeKu7Z). Get bonus videos and dedicated livestreams by becoming a YouTube Channel Member (click "join" under any video to find out more) or become a Patreon Patron: https://www.patreon.com/TipsForTravellers You can also but my exclusive cruise T-shirts you see me wearing in the livestream and videos at these stores: https://tipsfortravellers.myspreadshop.com + http://bit.ly/TFTStore + https://tips-for-travellers.creator-spring.com #CruiseLive #cruiseQ&A #CruiseLivestream #cruisetips 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6193336770101248
View Video Transcript
0:09
[Music] Well, hello everybody and welcome to the live on Region Splender. Now, just as it
0:15
says in the little box up there, I am using ship Wi-Fi. I did a couple of tests uh here in St. Lucia and it was
0:22
okay. Sometimes the visuals would um freeze a bit. The audio was fine. So,
0:28
um, keep going as it were. So, thanks if you are here live. I'm
0:36
currently, uh, the cruise doing
0:47
heading down to St. Lucia. This is day kind of will be night eight and then I've got another seven more nights to
0:53
go. So certainly next Sunday we will be doing the last C day before we get to Miami. So the plan will be to do another
0:59
live stream then assuming that all goes well. But generally speaking Starlink is pretty good. In fact sometimes Starink
1:05
is actually better for these kind of things when you're out at sea. Now a lot of people are out on excursions. So
1:11
that's also the broad the bandwidth is probably better than it normally is maybe. Anyway, so just a reminder if
1:18
you're here live, um, write the word question and I will try and answer as many questions about Regent Splendor or
1:25
the Caribbean cruising or anything you want to talk about in the next 60 minutes. Um, and if you're watching this
1:32
afterwards, uh, the questions should come up as I bring them up. Um, and again, hopefully it won't be too
1:38
freezing kind of thing. So, let me give you a little bit of background, um, on this cabin. So I'm in what's known as a
1:45
serenity cabin on deck 7. Now in other region ships I've been on this has been
1:50
called a superior suite I guess. So I don't know whether that's I need to go and look across all the ships if they've
1:56
renamed them or not. So below me um is you've got a deluxe ver
2:04
and a deluxe verander. They sort of I guess right at the front back they're probably less ideal locations and
2:09
relatively midship and they also have a different layout. So they they're the more traditional the bed this way. So
2:15
the bed on this one faces the window. So I'm in as I said serenity. So then the next level up from this is known as a
2:20
concierge which is pretty much the same cabin as this but you get other things.
2:25
You get pre-stay hotel. You get transfers from the hotel from the airport to the uh hotel the hotel to the
2:33
ship the ship to the airport and so on included. And you get a few other things like a coffee machine and you get to
2:39
book your dining special dining earlier and your excursions earlier which on
2:45
some itineraries does make a big difference. Now I really really really like the cabins on board Regent. They
2:53
are phenomenally well soundproofed and anyone who watches my videos knows I'm slightly obsessed with soundproofing,
2:59
but I have I cannot hear anybody on at all. I do know it's almost like these
3:04
cabins on either side have no one in, but I know they do because I've seen cabin clean them and I've seen the odd,
3:10
you know, do not disturb, make up the room. Now, I've actually booked this ship for next year for repositioning
3:16
cruise. Uh, same grade actually in the cabin right next door. Um, so I'm always tempted to see if I can get this cabin
3:22
back. Although it might be slightly freaking freaky being in the same cabin again. Um, so as I mentioned, you've got
3:28
any questions about it. If you are a patron, I recorded today kind of a mid cruise update a little bit and asking
3:34
some of those questions that will go live hopefully soon. So let's get stuck into the questions. Quite a few people
3:39
here, which is great. Um, so let's have a look. So Tom has a question which I
3:44
think you've posted somewhere else, Tom, and I not sure that I've replied to it. Um, after you build out your luxury and
3:51
ultra luxury comparison videos, any thought to publish a comparison chart as per the Polar Antarctica Expedition
3:57
Cruise Comparisons? For those people who don't know what he's uh Tom's referring to, I've done a review of the premium
4:04
categories such as Honda America Celebrity and so on and Kunard side by side. That's already out. I have done
4:11
one on the sort of resort mainstream lines that's also out which did really badly. hard anyone's watched it which I
4:17
was quite surprised about because that's obviously the biggest category. I have an ultra luxury one done which is coming
4:23
out I think it's next week. Uh it's got out as early release to patrons a couple
4:28
of weeks ago but I think it's out next week and I'm going to work on the one for the small ship luxury ones which
4:33
won't come out till the beginning of next year. Although if the ultra luxury one does as badly as the other one I might not even bother making it but um
4:40
the premium one did well and lots of people watched it so that's good. Anyway, um Tom, I have had started a
4:48
while ago sort of doing that and I will have it on my to-do list. It's quite a massive job to do, but probably I will
4:55
try and do something like that, particularly if people think that is uh that is a good idea. People can't vote
5:01
up um things be good to have almost have that voted up, but maybe but yes, I would try and do that. Um happy hosts
5:08
are talking about lobster nachos. I actually haven't had them on here. I'm assuming they're on here. H is here, which is great. Sarah is here. Ah, so
5:16
SMBR state, can you please talk a little about solo traveling on transatlantic
5:23
repositioning journeys? So for those that's quite a good little prompt is the video this week which came out yesterday
5:30
is about repositioning cruises. And so I've actually put a link if you watch this on YouTube in the description of uh
5:38
this video. Now the the reposition cruise um videos proving very popular,
5:43
lots of people watching it, lots of comments and questions and things. So SMBR said if you haven't watched that
5:49
repositioning video, have a look at that because I do talk about um thereabouts a
5:54
little bit about solos and why they're good or not good for solos. But broadly speaking is what you find on on
6:00
transatlantic repositioning cruises is because there's so many sea days and it's very focused on the ship itself.
6:06
They tend to be quite social because obviously people are spending more time on the ship. They're getting to know each other. They, you know, there's only
6:12
x amount of activities. So a lot of people doing the same activities every day, trivia, deck games, whatever it is.
6:18
So it does tend to be quite a social environment. So from a solo perspective, it's it's also quite good because you
6:23
get a much more of a chance to meet uh people. Obviously depending on the cruise line you're on, they will or
6:29
won't have solo programs. Um so some of them will have solo meetups. So for example, if you're going more upscale
6:35
like a region, they have a daily hosted solo meetup. Um I know on silvery they
6:41
do the same and then they actually the social hostess um host dinner. I'm not sure if they do that on here. So there
6:46
will also be sort of solo meetups, but they are they are quite good if you're quite a socialable person because
6:52
there's a lot of opportunities to kind of uh meet meet people. But have a look at that video. I talk a little bit about
6:57
it. It's quite good also because uh because they tend to be a lower price. So for example, I booked a couple of
7:04
repositionings next year because they are half the price. You can go on a regent or you can go on an a bigger
7:09
cabin. So as a solo, you don't even though you're still paying for two people, it's dramatically less than if
7:16
you were going on a regular kind of cruise. So for example, I did the silver sea repositioning which cost which was
7:22
18 days but it cost me um they couldn't have if I was anywhere else in the world if I just do 9 days for example. It was
7:29
kind of half that price. I lose here today which is great. Um uh dog dogs
7:35
dogy dad 123 just returned from a region Japan cruise. I'm guessing that's on explorer. I found the special
7:42
restaurants a bit underwhelming in food and service time late in the evening. Your thoughts. Certainly, I haven't had
7:48
that experience. I do tend to go to the specialy restaurants early. Um, partly
7:53
because I like to go early, but also it's quite good when there's less busy. I can sort of video um the setup of the
7:59
restaurant with the ambiance before it gets full of people. I have to think about um how I do that and also I can
8:05
video my food without people think I'm being completely weird as it were. Um so, so you you know, so I haven't
8:12
experienced it. So, I haven't kind of been later in the evening. I think one of the things it's interesting I'm I'm making a video sort of based on this
8:18
around um people's expectations when they sort of go a region or silver sea
8:24
versus some of the reality because I think a lot of people do also often expect there to be quite a massive step
8:29
change in things like food and service and whilst it generally is better it's
8:34
not kind of the 10 times often people think it is because I mean particular when you get into specialtities you know
8:40
a steakhouse is kind of a steakhouse uh an Italian is kind of an Italian. Um, and obviously sometimes it's it's kind
8:46
of better, but but I I haven't found that. Um, I was on Explorer a couple of
8:52
years ago and I'm actually booked on Explorer again for repositioning next year. So, that will be interesting to to
8:58
see. Certainly, I haven't seen that um as of yet, but I will keep I because I
9:03
kind of earwig a lot with people and talk to other people. So, I will find out. People more have been more mixed on
9:09
compass rose um so far. So, I'll keep an eye out for that. So, thank Sarah H in
9:15
Brooklyn. Are there any ocean cruisers that don't require use of an app while on board? I'm longing to lock my phone
9:22
in the stateroom safe on imbulcation and ignore it until disembarkcation day. So,
9:27
Sarah, it's interesting actually because I've been working on a video, mention a couple of videos based on this, and one
9:33
of them is around um some differences between sort of reg more regular cruises
9:38
and more like upscale cruises like this. And one of the things I I talk about, I
9:43
don't know, it'll end up being in the final video, but one of the things I I talk about is if you're going once you
9:49
go if you're going more upscale, you'll find there is no app like there is no region app. They did sort of introduce
9:55
one a while ago that just doesn't work. They don't bother. On SilverC, you could if you wanted to, you could do some
10:00
stuff. It was quite handy because I I could download like daily programs and stuff. So, it was quite handy. I could download the PDFs and then I could have
10:07
them as a link on the video as you will see when the silvery video comes out. Um but generally the sort of more upscale
10:14
they don't bother partly because I guess people don't want them or or or it's just not worth the investment. So
10:20
certainly um they don't I think you know so I'm trying to think I think things like so if you talk about the small ship
10:26
luxury if I remember correctly Winstar didn't have one I don't think really have one. and I'm going to show it's my
10:31
next trip. Certainly Silver Sea, they sort of had one but you didn't really need it. Regent non-existent. Um so so
10:38
it tends to be a little bit more the upscale small ship. Certainly with bigger ships uh including your Holland
10:44
America, your Princess Celebrity, they rely on the app enormously to try and uh obviously you just process the numbers.
10:51
So unfortunately Sarah, if you really want to go without apps, you you kind of need to go more upscale. um saying that
10:59
you can sometimes use a television. A lot of them will let you use the television. So, for example, on Princess, although obviously they've got
11:05
the the medallion, it's very linked to the app. You could do a lot of the stuff on the television. Um and a lot of those
11:11
sites, I think even on America, you could do some of the reservations and things on the television. So you'll find certainly those sort of more premium
11:17
lines, Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, you can get although they're very appd driven, you can get away with
11:24
using your your T TV or the Princess, if I remember correctly, in Holland America, you sort of need it when you
11:30
check in, but that's fine. You can lock it up because they often have a barcode or something there. Ken goes Cruising
11:35
here, which is great. Um Ken goes Cruising um has a YouTube channel. They've just come back uh from a nofly
11:42
trip out of Barcelona, which is quite interesting following there, how they use trains to get from the UK to Barcelona and back. So, that was very
11:48
interesting following that. Um Jonathan
11:54
Jonathan BBBN um Baltic crew stops in Varna Munda, I
12:01
hope I pronounced that correctly. Would you explore the port, go to Rosstock, or venture two and a half hours through
12:06
Berlin? Um, so I've only been there once and from what I remember it wasn't
12:12
particularly interesting as a stop. Um, so if you've never been to Berlin and
12:19
you're prepared to put up with that depending how much time you're getting to Berlin and you don't think you got
12:24
any chance to go Berlin, you know, any other way, I would say going to Berlin is is is fantastic, but it is a really
12:31
long way. I didn't I've been to Berlin, been fortunate enough to go to Berlin several times um you know for weekends
12:37
and and see friends and stuff. So I didn't feel the need to go. I just
12:42
wandered around the port, have sort of a more of a chill out sort of day. Um so I
12:48
I would say I would either just have it as a potound day um or go all in and go
12:53
to Berlin. And if you've never been to Berlin, I would kind of encourage that. I think um
13:01
Tom saying uh feed feedback on your banner headers starting at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time. It's now that so for those
13:08
who don't know I do live stream this normally on Facebook and on LinkedIn and one of the issues Tom could be that I literally only about an hour before uh I
13:16
remembered that I hadn't posted the link. So that could be a little bit why it's a bit screw with with time. Um oh
13:23
Francis uh please wish me luck flying to Papietti from uh North Carolina on
13:28
Tuesday embarking um Paul Gan on Saturday no flight cancelceled so far
13:34
but rain protection daily. So hope it all goes well. Of course, for those who don't know what that's referring to, I'm
13:39
sure most you do, is uh because of the government shutdown in the United States is the FAA, I guess it is, is getting um
13:48
I think it's at 40 airports. They're cancelling getting airlines to cancel various flights to reduce the amount of
13:54
uh flights with that probably increasing in size. Size is the wrong word, a
13:59
numbers, percentage of them. And so, a lot of flights have been cancelled. Uh there's lots of pressure from the
14:04
airlines, I guess, to get and so on to get for the politicians to kind of get their act together and and and find a
14:10
way through to reopen. That's not paying um the um the air traffic controllers
14:16
and the security uh people. Um so
14:22
definitely wish you good luck. I'm wondering whether it's going to affect me eventually at the end of this cruise. Hopefully it's sorted by that. Um but
14:28
you're right that whole French Polynesian is rain is pretty common every day. It's almost unusual for it
14:33
not to rain but they're often short sharp kind of stuff. Um have you a great trip now my next trip is actually we're
14:40
selling from Sydney uh through to and we end up in Papieti. So um I'm really
14:46
looking forward to that. Uh very looking forward to that. So have a great time. Francis uh Ken has a question. Is there
14:52
much difference between splendor and grandeur? Now, one of the things, Ken, that I really like um about going on
14:58
Regent is the ships are basically the same. So, the the you know, the layout
15:04
and the format is is is basically the same. So, Grandeur, it's a little bit different, but all the things are where
15:10
they are in the same place um pretty much. And Splender is very
15:16
similar to Gran. Now explorer is a is has more differences little differences
15:22
like the coffee connections is more enclosed here it's a little bit more open as it on grande grande is slightly
15:28
more modern uh design a little bit more lighter so splend is a little bit darker as you can see this cabin's a little bit
15:33
darker it's a little bit lighter sort of more modern things like little spa area at the back again slightly different
15:40
layout and stuff but it's largely the same it's kind of just a more modern interpretation of it I I really like it
15:46
so the Only outlier in the fleet at the moment is Navigator. And Navigator was
15:51
due to leave the fleet uh next year to become part of Crescent Caesar
15:57
Residential. But just this last week when Norwegian announced their results, both them and Crescent announced that um
16:03
the lease that they had on Navigator and on Insignia out of Oceanania has been pulled, cancelled. Uh Crescent have
16:11
decided they're going to focus on new builds. So So Navigator will stay in the region fleet. is is going to have a a
16:18
refit uh and they'll announce new art itineries and insignia is going to stay um within the fleet but no talk of
16:26
upgrades. I I still assuming that Norwegian's strategy is to phase out those old Rclass ships in Oceanana and
16:33
to get rid of Navigator. Um so the so the only will the one so can the big
16:39
difference is Navigator which are completely different. The other ships are kind of the same. Um, so I've been
16:44
now on Explorer, I've been on Grandeur, and I've been on Splendor. Um,
16:52
and one I haven't been on that's actually in a refit at the moment, which Mark and I are doing next Christmas. Um,
16:59
why's my mind gone blank? Uh, Marina is is the next one. Now, um, they've got their new ship coming out um, next year
17:07
and I think it's going to be a little bit more a little bit more different. Matt 100% uh prefer regent uh quite
17:15
significantly. So um uh you know Seabour is is great but if I
17:23
in this category and I'll talk a little bit about in the video that's coming out but for me you know Crystal is phenomenal, Regent's phenomenal, Silver
17:30
Sea is really really good and Seabour is is probably the weakest of all of them.
17:35
Now I think Seabour did lose their way a bit. They've had some more management changes. They got a little bit more focused. Um, obviously they've reduced
17:41
the fleet quite a bit um by selling off a couple of ships. Um, but they do seem
17:46
to sort of be refocusing back uh on Seabor because I think there's acknowledgement that they kind of kind
17:53
of lost their way a little bit, slip behind uh you know, regions got a lot of money uh and focus uh you know, not only
18:01
with new ships but just with management changes as well. Uh Silver Sea again as
18:06
part of Royal Caribbean, a lot of money gone in new ships etc. So I think Seabour's a little bit drift but you know probably the telling thing is I
18:13
have booked uh Silver Sea trips I booked region trips I booked crystal repositioning but I haven't really gone
18:19
back to Seaborn since I did um the expedition Kimbley thing. Um so that
18:25
that would be my my thought there. I just think it's got more choice. Um I
18:30
like the ships. I mean the ships see more ships and I prefer the regent ships the layout. Um there are more dining
18:36
options um and so on. Uh Sean Veronica Joyce enjoyed the time on
18:43
Splendor. Right. Becky M 363650. Do you have a cruise line and
18:50
destination suggestions for a family cruise aged 18 to 55 plus years old with
18:56
various budgets? Thanks so much for all the wonderful information. Becky, I do have a a couple of
19:03
suggestions. One of the things that I would suggest you take a look at is
19:08
u first of all if you want a more adult focused one take a look at Virgin Voyages because you have to be 18 and
19:14
above to go on Virgin Voyages. Now within that you know Virgin Voyages um
19:19
you know have inside cabins they have solo cabins but they're right up to kind of the Rockstar suite level but they
19:27
don't have dedicated you know restaurants for based on suites or something. So, so you know, you can all
19:32
dine uh together if you want to. Um, they they don't have a main dining room. They have lots of these individual uh
19:39
dining restaurants. So, you could even as a group, if some of you want to do one thing one night or you want to do
19:44
stuff together, you have to get your act a little bit together to book them uh in advance. But Virgin Voyages definitely want to look if you want a slightly more
19:50
adult experience. Um, but they do focus, they're relatively limited in in where you can go. They're very much in the
19:56
Caribbean, very much in the Mediterranean, but with Brilliant Lady, they do Alaska. So that could be
20:01
something quite interesting. They do of some of Canada, they sort of go down a bit to Miami, they go up and stuff, but
20:07
they they have Alaska scene. They've just announced, I think, again, for 207. They go back to Alaska. This was their
20:12
first year there. Um so, so you know, Alaska is a great family place, but
20:20
obviously if you just want sun and whatever, Caribbean or or the Med. um as well uh slightly longer cruises in the
20:28
med um some of the cruises are shorter you know five days to seven days they do have some 10day ones so that's one thing
20:34
to think of the other thing to think of would be and and you know people the
20:39
average age on virgin is about 50 so it's not like a young overly party thing
20:45
there's some partying but it's kind of it's it's you know so the 55 plus won't feel out of place at all the 18 year
20:50
olds won't feel out of place the other one to consider uh um is either Norwegian or Royal Caribbean again
20:58
because they have a huge range of cabins from very expensive cabins to very affordable cabins um you know inside
21:05
ocean views and so on. They do have huge amounts of choices especially dining. They have a phenomenal entertainment of
21:11
all types. So they'll have you know if people want to listen to more kind of uh big band music they'll have that. If you
21:17
want to listen to rock music they've got that. if you want to go to water shows, um you want to go to Broadway shows, you
21:23
know, so from that perspective, if you want a really busy kind of entertainment focused thing, Royal Caribbean and
21:29
Norwegian, Norwegian is probably a little bit less family kids, although they're both very family kids. Um again,
21:35
with Royal Caribbean, um you can they do all around the world, but again, sometimes a safe bet is something a med
21:41
or a Caribbean um you is kind of a safe bet when you've got a big mixture
21:46
without knowing a lot about those. So hopefully that helps. Jeff
21:52
CZ 3 O uh I think that's what it is. Or maybe it's three O. I'm looking at traveling Japan October of 27 on either
22:00
Oshani Riviera, that's actually the Shabbama next or Honda American Nordam. Any preference and why or why not? Okay.
22:08
So Jeff, a lot of it is going to be around the kind of experience you want. So obviously the first thing that you want to look at, I'm assuming you've
22:14
looked at the itineraries and you think both itineraries are good. uh and you like the ports it's calling on and that
22:19
sort of stuff. Um so a lot of it then hinges around what sort of experience you want. Now Riviera is a 1,200
22:26
passenger ship. Nordam I can't remember exactly but it is it uh was it 2,000 or was it smaller than
22:33
2,000 but it's you know it's obviously kind of a bigger ship. So Riviera is a little bit more you know Oceanan is a
22:39
little bit more up mark is going to cost you a little bit more. Um you you know it's it's definitely a more up market
22:45
ship. What's quite nice about it's 1,200 passengers. I'm not sure the itinerary
22:50
that's going to help you with any of the itinerary. It's probably going to cover the same key places, but it's going to give you more like especially dining
22:56
included. For example, it's um it's a little bit more it's not as not as busy,
23:01
not as frantic. Um Holland America however do have a huge experience within
23:07
Japan and they do very good Japan itineraries and very good enrichment around it. So, but then of course it
23:13
you're going to have if budget's more of an issue, you can get your, you know, inside ocean view balcony suite. You can
23:20
get, you know, within a budget, you're going to be able to have more to play with. Uh, there um they, you know, you
23:27
can still buy the have it all package um so you can contain cost a little bit a little bit more from there. So, a lot of
23:33
it would hinge around what experience want bigger entertainment. They'll have more activities going on. So I think
23:40
it's really around the kind of experience that that you want assuming that the itineraries are uh are are
23:46
comparable. Ronald lo Warren is a loyal region cruiser which is great. Um Warren
23:52
I don't have any plans to go on prestige which is the new ship coming from region. I haven't got any plans for that
23:59
as yet. um partly because I've I've done quite a coverage of region and I feel
24:05
like I probably need some of the lines although saying that I have got a repositioning on this so I don't have any plans on prestige but I am keeping
24:12
an eye on that. Um Dave asked me if any updates on Ambassador Cruz. No, I
24:17
haven't got any updates on that as yet. Um I do keep looking at that. Um I did
24:25
look at I did look at I I found a I think I might have mentioned this before. I did find a shorter uh cruise,
24:31
but I which I could fit into my schedule next year, but it kind of just I didn't think it made sense because I feel like
24:38
if you really want to judge a cruise line, you need to go at least for a week and I was worried that a four night would end up being more of a party
24:44
cruise. So certainly my schedule is booked through to kind of middle 27th.
24:49
Uh Dave, so even then it will be a while in reality.
24:55
Uh, Detect asked me a question. Do you have weatherproof waterproof shoes for rainy climates? Not really. I don't
25:01
actually. Um, I don't. It's a good point. Um, I've
25:06
never really thought about it. So, I'm just thinking when we me to Japan, it was Chucky Rain and I wore she had
25:12
trainers on that day, which is very sensible. I order just leather. She said, "Don't I don't um have specific
25:17
shoes." No. Um uh Fred's back from Amort's saying not
25:24
great after it after some of the changes there. Um
25:30
so let me just comment on this. It's not a question as such but I just saw it there um but I hadn't mentioned it last
25:37
time. So Patrick um uh Philillip I've heard the virgins changed lot of their
25:42
specifics for the worst. Two YouTubers have even suggested people should not book virgin this time. Have you heard anything about this? So, um I I know
25:49
there was I did see watched a video this week from JJ Cruz who hosted a group cruise on Virgin um and had a very poor
25:57
experience um mostly around ADA um uh friendliness because some of their group
26:03
needed some um uh had some disabilities and needed help and they found Virgin helpful and also some things just not
26:09
kind of tying up from customer service. I haven't seen the other one. Um so but basically yeah what Virgin have done is
26:16
Virgin sort of made a lot of uh about how they were different. They were doing things different. So they sort of spoke
26:22
about how you know all your dining included all your gratuitities included kind of Wi-Fi is included and what
26:27
they're really doing is becoming much more like all the other cruise lines. So they've changed their pricing structure.
26:34
Um so now you can book it uh at different level. I can't exact all the levels but I think there's four levels
26:41
if I remember correctly. Um and they've now sort of pulled out the gratuitity. So you can see the gratuitity. It's
26:47
separate. You prepay it. So what they're effectively doing in my interpretation
26:52
is they know they virtual is a relatively costly line. It's in the
26:57
premium category. So it's real competitors are like Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, Kunard, that
27:03
kind of that sort of category they're in. But because they had more bundles than those lines, their headline fairs
27:10
always looked more expensive. So what they're effectively doing is they all the things they were making a lot of
27:15
song and dance about were included, they're now sort of stripping out. So that effectively their their headline
27:20
price is lower and the stuff that was included you're now paying for separately. So I'm not sure that I would
27:26
go as far to say don't book it. I think it's just they've moved a little bit away from some of the things that made
27:31
them unique. um they they argue that it's to make things more um transparent,
27:36
but in reality uh all they're doing is showing you that you're now paying maturities effectively. Now, they have
27:43
other permutations on on the on the different fairs, but it's not that I would say don't book Virgin. I think
27:49
just be aware that you know they're shifting their model into you know to be more comparable so people can actually
27:56
and they did say that in one of the releases I think they did talk about how it makes it more comparable. Um, and
28:02
there have been some management changes I think in in the in there as well. Uh, or might be getting confused with Virgin
28:08
Atlantic, but um, so they they but I wouldn't go as far as saying you should stop it. Um, going I've actually booked
28:16
Virgin Brilliant Lady for next next year, although I booked it before they made the change. Um, so it's only
28:22
rolling out accordingly the date was about a week or two ago, maybe three weeks ago. I'm getting confused with my
28:28
trip. So all bookings after a certain date um would be under the new system
28:35
but if it's I know the JJ Cruz had separate issues to to that
28:40
um okay I was talking about this recently with people expatri I've seen a handful itineraries that include a sew
28:46
canal transit is it too soon to trust those cruises won't be cancelceled or would they be rrooed personally I would
28:52
not book a any cruise that involves the sewish canal personally because the
28:58
chance of that not of hap of that happening I still think is very low. Um
29:04
now I know there's a ceasefire uh in place with hopefully that holds and things calm down in that area and
29:10
there's a resolution and and so on. However, um I just think it's too risky
29:15
and you're right there's quite a few cruises that have a SES canal. Some of the world cruises being announced have
29:21
sal because that's the most effective way for cruise lines to get through. I am still surprised that cruise lines are being so optimistic. The issue with
29:28
being rerooed is the only rrooting if it's going through the is go all the way around Africa. So it's not really a
29:36
rrooting. It it's ends up being a much more dramatic situation where they have to kind of cancel. So as they did with
29:43
say the world cruise people who booked on the killer world cruise I think it was this year
29:48
um you know originally had that they had they basically went around Africa if I remember correctly they sort of went round Africa twice whatever so the the
29:56
risk of change is enormous so personally I'm not booking any as much as I want to do the s I'm I wouldn't book personally
30:03
any inclusive sewers canal transit or I would book it with the the eye assuming
30:10
that it's kind of optimistically it's a 50/50. Um Fraser at C is here which is
30:18
great. I'm hoping to have Fraser on a live stream just when I get back. Um although I've got some issues with time
30:25
which I which we need to sort out um on that particular day. Boys of Boka, good
30:30
to see you here. Um things to do. We have an overnight before boarding Seabour Pursuit staying at a Palace.
30:38
Seabour suit is a beautiful ship even though I was saying if it's choice in region and and seabboard I wouldn't I
30:44
would choose region but from a expedition side um you know I have a slightly different perspective on that
30:49
and pursuit is a great ship I really like pursuit um so things to do bueries so I um I'm back in Bora series as well
30:57
next year but I what I did um boys of ba is I actually did the hop on hop off bus
31:04
and there's two different types of hop on the bus there's a yellow one and a green one if I remember correctly. Uh
31:10
was it a red one? I can't remember. One of them was like city sight scene, you know, the one that many places in the other. But I I did I did the hop on bus.
31:17
I was actually bought a two-day pass, but you can do one day pass and there's a couple of great things to do. Um uh
31:24
and so one of the things and I can't remember the name of the of the cemetery of Ham but the cemetery uh which is
31:30
quite near one of the stops very well sign posted on the hop on hop bus is obviously where Eva Pon uh remains ended
31:37
up and if you've ever heard the story of her remains it's quite horrific so it's worth brushing up on that what actually
31:43
happened after she passed away. Um but that is the most incredible cemetery to
31:49
see. I mean obviously the big attraction is to go and see where um her remains are but the actual cemetery itself has
31:56
the most ornate elaborate um uh tombs and male and whatever
32:03
they're called and but that whole area is very beautiful. The park etc around there is is really amazing. Also there's
32:09
another stop in town which is near the big opera house um all around that area is is very beautiful. Uh the bus also
32:16
goes a little bit further out is some of the um the uh sort of it's like a beach
32:22
kind of area and stuff. Basically the hop on hop off bus is there's a couple of really great uh great stops um there
32:29
including a couple of museums and stuff but literally I'll do the hop onoff bus um and the you know there's kind of a
32:36
couple of key highlights but go you just if you got the day there you know go to that whole cemetery it's really
32:42
beautiful around there's some across the way you can walk down from the cemetery there's a beautiful park with this these
32:48
really amazing uh sculptures that sort of move in the wind and really
32:53
fascinating and all that area is really beautiful around there. That's what I would kind of do. Um hop on top of bus.
33:00
Um let's have a look. Uh let's have a look. Um
33:09
because our fans of Regent uh definitely uh
33:15
I'm going to generally splendor. Okay. So hopefully you saw the answer around not not a massive difference between the
33:22
two. venues are the same and so on. Um,
33:27
Lee SA considering a 9-day artic cruise on Silver Sea Silver in January 27, is
33:33
it worth it to pay 15% more for a veranda suite over a vista suite for an
33:38
already expensive cobweb cruise? If you possibly can, I would go for a veruite.
33:44
I when I went on um Silver Cloud, I had originally booked a vista suite. This is
33:50
my first time I went to Antarctica. Now, I had some problems in the cabin, really bad noise problems overnight. Um, there
33:57
must be some machinery or something. And they luckily wasn't full and they moved me to a verander suite. And it
34:02
transformed the experience because often if you're sailing or whatever, you literally you can go out on the, you
34:07
know, on the balcony and you've got icebergs, you've got floating ice which would have seals on or penguins would be
34:14
pposing by the side of the ship or sometimes they would say on the announcement, you know, there are whales
34:19
off on I think I was on the I was on the starboard side, but if they were saying
34:25
whales on the starboard side, I could literally go on the balcony. I didn't have to go out onto the deck to see them to see the whales. Um, but it was just
34:32
fantastic, you know, to be able to go out there and I I remember sailing
34:38
through was sailing through the Lemonette towards the Lemonade channel and I I went on a balcony and there was
34:43
ice, there were seals and there was penguins popping right nearby. So, the
34:48
problem when I was in the other one is, you know, you can sort of see it out the window. Um, but if you possibly can, I
34:55
mean, it's it's a plus. it just it it it's much easier. Obviously, one of the things that you sort of need to do with
35:00
that is be out on deck as much as you can or accessible and ready to get out on deck if possible. Um,
35:07
so that that that would be my thought. Uh, Joseph
35:13
Vong S69, which line is best for region versus explorer versus silver sea? So um in I
35:20
think it's the week after next or maybe it's next week. I do have a video coming out exploring the comparisons between
35:25
the two um but I will answer topline. So explorer for me is not in in the same
35:31
category as regent and silver sea. Now they definitely explore journeys and MSE
35:37
sort of position themselves or they see themselves in this category. I think they're much more small ship luxury
35:43
category partly because of the size of the ship. You know it's almost a thousand passengers. So for me it's more
35:48
a Oceanania um Viking kind of experience. Um
35:55
re so region silver sea and crystal are more the same. Now personally uh I mean they're very similar. Regent and silver
36:01
sea you can't go wrong with either of those two. Um you know so some people prefer the food on silver sea some
36:06
people prefer the food on Regent. I personally prefer Regent um uh dining
36:12
over Silver Sea. But it's kind of it's a wash. It's a little bit around kind of uh preference and and and stuff. Um now
36:19
Regent is now a little bit more all-incclusive than Silvery because Silvery have shifted away from including
36:26
excursions. Regent still include excursions in every port. Theoretically you can do as many as you want. I'm sort
36:32
of in the camp. I think it would be nice if they drifted away from that and maybe adjust the fees a bit because I think uh
36:39
pick and mix and buying excursions you can sometimes get better excursions if the line kind of move moved away from
36:45
that but certainly I would see explore is great but I would say if you want the more elevated thing region of you can't
36:52
go wrong with either of those saying that um you know on silver sea I think a
36:57
little bit around which ship you go on because they do have four different classes of ships So they've got the the
37:04
newest which is Nova um and Ray. You know that's where I would probably focus if you're going because it has the most
37:11
amount of choice. It's the most modern. It's very different kind of ship. You then have Spirit which I personally
37:17
like. It's the only one that they have. I like it's much more classic. You've then got kind of whisper
37:24
um category which is kind of smaller. And then you have those sort of the more kind of expeditiony bits bits and
37:30
pieces. Uh sorry. But then you've got before the expedition you've then got uh Muse and Moon and stuff which are also
37:36
really nice. So also you got I think based on Silver you do have kind of different experiences because some of
37:42
the dining is slightly different um between them although you know the salt experience is most embedded in Nova and
37:51
um Ray which is you have the salt restaurant you have the salt uh cooking kitchen now they are retrofitting some
37:57
of the others to incorporate salt. So with silvery I think it's also focusing around what ship you're on. On region
38:03
the ships are kind of more the same as I was saying earlier. Um though we'll see
38:08
when prestige comes out. Personally I I mean regent silverc are great. I really
38:14
like regent. Um but that's kind of more personal uh preference than than anything else. But um that would be that
38:21
would be my thoughts. Um so a couple people talk about Rosto
38:27
really enjoying it. I've been there. So that's great to know. Some waterproof waterproof sneakers questions. Um Sus
38:35
Canal question I've answered. Um so just reminder, write the word
38:42
question so I don't miss any questions. Um Van Strength from Facebook, are
38:48
luxury cruise lines moving away from all-inclusive pricing for tours? Silvery has worn about the other lines. The only
38:53
two lines that had significantly embedded tours were Silver Sea and
38:59
Regent. Um, and Silver Sea, as you say, have stopped. If you book the all-inclusive plus, you get an allowance
39:06
for the excursions. Uh, if you book the other one, you don't. The all-inclusive slightly misleading. Anyway, Regent
39:13
still has included. Now, Viking does have an excursion included in every
39:19
port. They tend to be um normally one some you'll get a slight choice but they are relatively basic tours if you like.
39:26
They tend to be kind of a walking tour or a panorama tour and I've been on somewhere where you'll kind of get entrance tickets to the local sea life
39:33
or certain museums or whatever. So Viking um I think are reluctant and will
39:39
be very reluctant to walk away excuse from included excursions because it's a fundamental part of what Viking is you
39:46
know from their background from river cruising. I think culturally they will struggle a bit and the tours are
39:51
probably not that costly because they are generally speaking I'm making a
39:56
fairly sweeping they tend to be kind of more walking tour so they're not necessarily particularly expensive tours
40:03
I guess um once you know silver region we're trying to do more innovative things but so for example on this trip I
40:09
really wanted to do an ebike tour but that was an extra charge because it's quite expensive to do ebike tours there
40:14
is a tour coming up uh which is using more mountain bikes. I think a bonire, which I think was an included one, but
40:21
um some of the some of the you kind of exotic ones are uh that Sorry, I just
40:28
need I didn't switch my phone off and I realiz Mark is trying to call me. Uh so
40:34
uh sorry about that. I probably should just ask I'm being interrupted. Forgot I think he forgot that he I was on my
40:41
live. So let me just um do said that. Um so so um I I I I think that it would be
40:48
I I I quite like the idea of of of taking excursions out and letting people
40:55
decide because it's almost like region excursions are included but like today
41:02
um there was an excursion that particularly spoke to me. Of course I want to run the live so I feel like I paid for something that I'm not using if
41:08
you like. So, but I think I think um it'll be interesting to see where region goes, but region's positioning at the moment is the most all-incclusive. So,
41:15
again, for them to move away would be a kind of a change of strategy. Um dog dogs 123 are there still protest
41:24
from locals in Barcelona and Amsterdam pushing back against cruise ships. So, in Amsterdam there are uh there have
41:30
been a couple still quite recently. Obviously the cruising season has kind of ended sort of now although there's a
41:36
little bit of river cruising still going on but there were some which was by extension rebellion uh Barcelona in
41:44
reality Barcelona's locals protests were less about cruise ships and more just
41:49
about tourism more generally. So they they were the organization was much more focused on particularly Airbnb
41:57
um there's too many Airbnbs um making um uh you know accommodation too expensive
42:04
for locals. So that that was a less focused on cruise ships. Now the the sort of the more um the the pol the
42:11
politicians are in Barcelona are probably more anti- cruise ships. So
42:16
they are talking about restricted they see that as so that the politics politicians are probably more
42:24
focused on that but um Amsterdam yes I mean they are going to be um you know
42:29
cruise ships on have it's already been agreed are not going to be calling into Amsterdam in a couple of years time and
42:35
they're going to be calling only outside and the there was some discussion recently about even river cruise uh
42:42
boats not being allowed into the center part of Amsterdam. Um that's that's sort of a discussion now because that
42:48
Amsterdam is trying to wrestle again with just over tourism. You may know that Amsterdam actually run ads in the
42:54
UK encouraging people not to come to Amsterdam as a way of trying to they're trying to stop um you know hen parties
43:00
and stag and uh people going to Amsterdam to party and so they're trying to actually get less people to go. Um
43:07
but yes um while also you seeing some ships moving to Rotterdam instead of
43:13
Amsterdam uh a more working port. So but it's not it's not like every time you go in for example the same in the Norwegian
43:19
fjords there are pro protests um at various points time as well. Um but the
43:26
Amsterdam ones they've been more active because they've been blocking ships which they can do when it comes to sort of the canal in there. So they they've
43:33
been more actively uh blocking ships. Um Patrick, if you want to see the um
43:40
northern lights, you sort of want to go a very popular time is that sort of October, November time. So the end of
43:46
the season, it gets darker, it's colder. That's uh pretty much a very popular time. Although um I did see some people,
43:54
well actually this time of the year, isn't it? Posting again recently some incredible pictures from uh of the Northern Lights from Norway. sort of
44:00
October time you find some lines like Hoover out of the UK place like Saga Fred Olson they will run northern lights
44:07
guaranteed kind of cruises. Boy is making the good point that international flights uh just come back to that
44:13
shutdown is most um most cruise lines most airlines certainly in the US are tending to cancel uh domestic at the
44:21
moment. So that's a good point as well. Um, let's have a look.
44:29
Uh, Rashika Hal, um, been on Splenda and
44:35
Silver Muse this year. Very nice. Doing a Christmas cruise on Viking in December this year. We booked a penthouse junior
44:40
suite. Any tips for our first cruise on Viking? Well, the one tip which probably won't help you is I hope you've locked
44:47
in your excursions. I hope you've locked in your especially dining because Viking
44:53
uh passengers, you know, they're extremely law and they go in the minute opens and they lock down all of the
44:59
excursions. They lock down all of the um to the include excursions, they lock those down, they lock down the especially dining, uh of which it's not
45:06
a lot of options. And I made the mistake the hard way of the first Viking cruise where I I'm normally really on it and I
45:13
was literally because also they release it now because you're a penthouse, you'll have been earlier on. they release uh um where you can go in and do
45:20
those things based on grade. So I was kind of just in a normal ver balcony cabin. So I was kind of low on the
45:26
pecking order by the time I went in. I literally on the first cruise got no special dining at all once I was on
45:31
board. I managed to kind of um sort of get some sorted. So that would be my first thing is get that absolutely
45:37
locked down. Um the second thing I would do though is is also look beyond those
45:42
included excursions. Um they do tend to be in my view anyway a little bit basic.
45:48
Um so sometimes you if there's I'm not sure where you're going at Christmas I don't know where you where you will be
45:54
going but sometimes they can be a little bit basic. So when I did Alaska uh on Viking I don't think I did any of the
46:02
included excursions because none of them took me to sort of things I wanted to see glacias or wild some wildlife tours
46:08
and stuff. They were more kind of walking tours in the town. So to also make sure you look beyond uh those um
46:15
those. And the other thing is afternoon tea is fantastic on Viking um every day.
46:22
Can't remember if it's at 4:00 or 3, but um in the um in the lounge, that beautiful kind of winter garden lounge
46:30
area. Um it it's fant it's really is just it's fantastic. Um and the menu
46:35
changes every day. Um I think those would be the main things. The other
46:40
thing is you know most of the the entertainment a big part of the entertainment is around the uh
46:45
enrichment. So what I do like about Viking which they do well which they do do less well on uh in my experience on
46:52
silver sea and on regent that I went recently is Viking enrichment will be
46:57
very focused on where you are. So they'll have a a historian who will be very focused and they'll have a person
47:02
talking about the the places you know so they're very very focused. um then they might have another speaker slightly more
47:09
general um and good they generally they are very good they've they've kind of
47:14
sused out who the good speakers are um and they are very high quality but you'll often have a talk at like 7:00 or
47:19
6 o'clock at night kind of dinner time um but you know so build that into assume that that's going to be a key
47:25
part of your of your program um SL 4193
47:31
h have you heard about Norwegian changing raising solo cruiser prices do you have any thoughts so Yes, there's a
47:36
massive massive strategic change uh that Norwegian Cruise Line in announced when
47:42
they did their results last week, this last week um where they announced that they are going to be reducing their
47:49
focus on solar travelers and they're going to be reducing the uh solar cabins across all of their brands. So, across
47:56
uh Norwegian Cruise Line, of course, which is a huge change because they had originally announced they were going to have way more solar cabins uh of all
48:04
types. um they're pulling away from that ocean they've got a couple of cell cabins they also to spoke about on
48:10
region but I I don't know that there are any solar cabins on region but maybe I've missed something there so there are
48:16
they are definitely so it's actually about reducing the amount of solo cabins I haven't seen specifically about
48:22
pricing because they did the CEO did in the results talk about how they still have very attractive pricing for solos
48:29
but I haven't seen that in practice but the big focus I guess the message is they aren't having solar cabins. They
48:36
want to basically have more people in which by definition
48:41
I suggest suggest that uh we shouldn't hold our breath for solar deals. One of the things I always say though with
48:47
Norwegian is often even with the solar cabin. Sometimes the solar cabins were more costly than actually booking a
48:53
non-solar cabin um because demand for solar cabins is high. So the price through direct pricing will go up but
48:59
say an ocean view cabin or something uh might have less demand. actually son as the pricing was was was lower even with
49:06
the full the full supplement. Um let's have let's have a look. Uh boys
49:14
are not not liking the seaborn has definitely lost its way. Hopefully they'll they'll find their way their way
49:20
their way back. Um and also putting out the the reviews on Virgin are very very kind of mixed at
49:27
the moment. Um let's have a look. Um
49:35
Syanvault Mad Chen it seems like Riverside Mozart. So the Riverside I
49:40
haven't been on road Riverside. I would really like to try Riverside. They bought all the crystal ships. Uh a very
49:46
good ship for Daniel but also it seems limited to Passan Budapest. Is it worth the trade-off? So certainly everyone I
49:52
know who's been on Riverside have raved about it. Um both in terms of the cabins, the service, the food, etc. So
49:59
if you've never done that part of the route which pass to Budapest is a very appealing itinary if you've never done
50:05
it before for me that would be a route I would absolutely do in in if I was doing uh Riverside. Um
50:13
so let's have let's have a look. Let's have a look. Let's have a look. Oh thank you. Hi's given us the name of the uh
50:21
the cemetery where Piron is recalleta and it was sort of ringing my bell roar or something. So thanks very much for
50:28
that. Um, let's have a look. Uh,
50:36
good question. How do you clean or sanitize it? Probably you see me slipping on it. I mean, I literally just
50:43
because the water is very hot here. So, I just rinse it out with um with hot
50:48
water every now and again, but I'm just assuming that they're doing something. So I I probably I don't really do it,
50:54
but every now and again I'll just rinse it out with really hot water is is what I really do.
51:01
Um uh Don Betic, have you any interest in Four Seasons branded yachts? Is that a
51:08
tier above regent Simy? So personally I have staying away from Ritz Carlton Four
51:14
Seasons Orient Express are coming. Um, partly because they just are so expensive, crazy amounts of money. And
51:22
um, I just not sure that I really want to spend that amount of money. Also, I'm not sure uh I also look at everything to
51:29
be honest with a slight um, uh, filter of also what I think might people might
51:34
want to watch. Um, now people might want to watch it just to know what it's like. So I have not focused at all on it. Now
51:40
it's very interesting with four seasons because soon they announced they're basically going to run like a hotel. you're going to be paying extra for some
51:46
dining. So, it's being run very much as a hotel. Um, and it's important to bear
51:51
in mind that these are all kind of licensed names. So, the Four Seasons is not being run by the Four Seasons is
51:57
kind of a license um name. So, I haven't now I sort of It's interesting your point about where does it fit. I sort of
52:03
see the yachts as a kind of a separate category, but theoretically they're in that sort of ultra luxury kind of
52:08
category, but I always see them as a a yacht focus, a very small ship yacht, very high-end, very expensive. Many of
52:15
them sort of targeting hotel, you know, the Ritz Carton trying people
52:20
from the Ritz Carton fans, four seasons, the Four Seasons fans rather than kind of the cruising. So, I do see them as
52:26
sort of a little kind of click. I also personally am extremely skeptical about their how successful they'll be. I think
52:32
um Po Booker pointed it out. Um you know, if you look at Ritz Carton, they're way be way way behind where they
52:39
thought they would be even though they've got the second ship coming. Uh occupancy is is not great. So um
52:47
so we will see. We will see. Um oh, the point that boys make is that you know
52:52
what you do get on Silver of course you get a butler and that does make a big difference you So when you're on regent
52:58
uh you have a cabin stewart I guess once you go higher up if you get a penthouse and above I think it starts at penthouse
53:03
you get a butler on silver sea you know if you were going on silver spirit and you've got the you know the effectively
53:10
an ocean view you get a butler and that does does definitely I agree add to definitely definitely adds to to the
53:16
experience you know for example I don't really I haven't seen my my chemist do it I mean my cam is always immaculate
53:22
sorted and the fruit and and stuff like that but Um uh but you don't get sort of
53:27
the mini bar setup and the canopy, you know, so it's kind of it's not it's not quite as uh you're right as elevated in
53:33
in many in many ways. Um and again as it's kind of where people's kind of pre
53:39
you're right having the butler does add a little bit of um specialness to it if that's right. Um
53:47
yeah, so that's where's making the point about how you it's run basically as as a as a hotel. Um,
53:58
I'm not sure I quite understand this. Strong hint to execute a felt book
54:05
excursions for your third group cruise. I read your hint in email. Um,
54:12
I'm not sure I understand, but but certainly um, if you haven't booked for that, for those people who are coming my group cruise, there is still some
54:18
Holland America availability on excursions from what I've seen. And then as you said in the email um there are
54:24
independent ones with ventur shore um in that uh as well which they definitely
54:31
have availability for. Um you're right. So sea doesn't do afternoon tea which I
54:36
was very disappointed they dropped. They used to do. Thanks very much to Roxy Jacobson for the super sticker. Very
54:43
much appreciated. Uh that's very kind of you. Uh Walter's answering some of the
54:49
questions there. I don't want to see this. Uh, let's have a look.
54:56
Cruing with Sam. Would you recommend Ocean for folks who want a more inclusive experience than mass market
55:01
lines without breaking the bank? So, it's it's one interesting because, you know, there is quite a lot of extras on Ocean. There's not a lot of, you know,
55:08
inclusions. So, you know, especially dining is included. So, that's one inclusion, but, uh, Wi-Fi is not
55:14
included. Uh, because they keep chopping and changing their incl not included. So you do you can get uh if you book the
55:22
right fair you can get beer and wine included with meals but you you have to buy drinks package if you want them
55:27
outside of meals Wi-Fi gratuitities. So it's it's a little bit more inclusive. What you're really getting to be honest
55:33
with you cruising with Sam is you're getting a much smaller ship experience. So it's a little bit about the
55:38
experience um that than because it's a little bit more inclusive and but it
55:43
isn't breaking back. I I I always have a good time in Oceanana and back on Oceanana is my next trip. It does feel
55:49
more elevated. Um there are a little bit more inclusion. So things like your soft drinks and stuff, so you're not paying
55:54
for those. Um so certainly as a non-alcohol drinker, um it does feel
56:00
more inclusive. Uh because I'm I don't buy the drinks package and I'm drinking wine and beer at uh at meals. Well, I do
56:08
like kind of zero. Um, but I've still got to pay for excursions, uh, Wi-Fi, upgrade to the premium package and that
56:15
sort of stuff. But definitely it's a more it is a it's a smaller, more intimate, uh, kind of an elevated
56:22
experience and having the special dining options is does add a lot to it. So definitely something to look at, but
56:27
also you know there are other lines, you know, if you take a look at Azamara for example, you know, they have the the
56:33
ships are oldclass or the oceani has those um, as well has three of those. Uh
56:38
but also do take a look at like a wind star as a mara as as well. But ocean is
56:43
is a good option. You know they focus a lot on food. They see food as their kind of thing. Um and so you there's kind of
56:49
definitely an elevation uh there as as well. Um here we go. So you're doing
56:54
Rome Rome to Athens. Um book the special tours. Excellent.
57:00
Uh look at region 4 for next. Yes it will be it will be very it will be very similar.
57:06
Okay. Okay. So, in terms of choice of hotel in Seattle, um, hotels in Seattle are crazy expensive. So, I'd love to
57:11
know other people's perspectives. I have not made great choices in hotels. So, I
57:17
stayed at the one of the Kimptons, which I didn't really like the first time, last time I stay at the Crown Plaza,
57:23
which was fine. Um, but it was kind of so I don't have great recommendations.
57:29
I'm sure other people do. So, if you've got better recommendations, um I did quite like the look of the Zahayatt down
57:34
by near depending which ship you're setting out of near some of the ports which looked quite nice near the the
57:41
pier front, but everyone's got better um options. So, Walter's made a suggestion they may flour uh there. Um
57:51
let's have a look. Uh JTAX 999 with Celebrity rolling out its river cruise line. Are you interested? And do you
57:56
have highs the line? To be honest with you, I'm not particularly interested. I say why I'm not a massive fan of Europe
58:03
of European river cruising. Um, overall I like river cruising like Mikong Nile,
58:10
that sort of stuff. Um, maybe it's because I know Europe relatively well over the years and stuff. So, I'm not a
58:16
massive fan of European river cruising. Now, I am extremely skeptical. I'm not sure why because um if you look at the
58:24
you know with river cruising the ship's going to be so long so wide so high and
58:29
so they're pretty limited on what you can do. So I think if they can bring something that is genuinely new and
58:35
different about experienced river cruising the problem with river cruising is you you basically constrained with what you've got. You you need to cram as
58:43
a certain amount of people on there so the fairs are not completely crazy. Um, so that the the the economics work, but
58:51
you're very limited on where you can go. So all the cruise lines basically go to the same stops, have the same excursions, and often, you know, you're
58:59
banked side by side by side. Um, so so it's, you know, so they have to re it'll
59:04
be interesting. Have they really rethought the ship? I mean, they've hinted about some things like over the side dining venues, like the magic
59:10
carpet thing, more dining options. I think if if they can find a way to be more flexible with dining, uh, which
59:16
Avalon do now, if they can genuinely find a way to make excursions more varied and interesting, but no one else
59:22
has yet been able to really crack that one because you're very limited. So, I'm I'm more kind of skeptical. I'm not wildly excited about it. I'm excited
59:28
about it just to see what they do. Um, and there's lots of rumors that maybe region's going to go into it as well.
59:34
Um, so um, so so so we will we will see.
59:39
Ken asked me, do I have any opinions on Viva? I don't really. I've I I've seen
59:44
them about um but I haven't really spoken to anyone that's been on I don't know anyone who's been on it. So I don't
59:51
unfortunately if anyone else does have uh that that that would that would be
59:56
that would be great. Um uh someone just travel yes we see I like
1:00:03
that. Yes we see like that. Um uh good about brilliant lady which is great. Um,
1:00:09
I know Walter is a big fan of um of Virgin as well. Warren asked me, uh, how
1:00:16
do I rate Pon for food? I actually quite enjoyed the food in Ponant. Um, it was
1:00:21
it was pretty good. Um, it does have a very strong French influence as you would expect. So, if you like French
1:00:27
food, I I ironically was on uh on Panant. um uh there was not very many
1:00:35
English speakers and there was fairly large American group Americans who
1:00:40
basically found the food complain about the food they found it too French. So just bear in mind if you it's going to
1:00:46
be very strong like French influence. Um so so that that would be um that would
1:00:52
be the thing. Um next I want to put on to the beginning of 27 um as well. Uh so
1:00:59
uh let's have a look at a couple of the suggestions there on place in Seattle. So thanks very much for that. Right, I
1:01:04
think I've more or less managed to get through all the questions and the time is up. So it's 2 o'clock here in St. Lucia. It's where time it is where you
1:01:11
are. Thanks so much for joining me. Thanks for the questions. Um really interesting questions as always. As I
1:01:16
mentioned, I will desperately try and be back here um next Sunday, the sort of
1:01:22
usual time. So safe travels everybody and I'm going to go and try and enjoy a bit more of St. Lucia. going to have a
1:01:28
walk out and about um for the rest of the afternoon and we selling I think about 7 and we're then off to Grenada
1:01:34
next. Take care everybody and thanks so much as always for joining.
1:01:48
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