Curt From Canada

Oh no … I have opened a can of worms. Not sure if UWC Pinns are allowed in the Concierge Lounge (it sure looks empty when I pass by) … I will try to find out tonight. However, it is 100% certain that UWC Pinns have their breakfast in CHOPs. Regular everyday Pinns have a section of deck 5 MDR. LET THE GAMES BEGIN … Curt from Canada

Let’s not tell too many people , but: The segments when they came out were very, very low priced. The were a steal. We have stopped talking about prices, as it is a little bit of a sore spot on the ship. Currently, the prices have gone up, but they are still priced “OK”. The key jump is between an Oceanview to a Balcony (it was double for this cruise). We made up this strategy by “mistake”: 1). We booked an Oceanview 3rd deck midship (we were OK with that) 2). We Royal Uped to a balcony with a slightly over minimum bid and had it accepted two days before sailing. We would have been fine with the Oceanview, but we all really are enjoying our Balcony … but don’t tell anyone Happy “hunting” Curt from Canada

Second Drake Crossing was as close to the “Lake” as we could expect. Less than 2 meter waves, and a barely noticeable sway to the ship. Yesterday’s visit to Elephant Island was very restful. Lots of whale and penguin watching. We saw a “double fluke” where two whales dove down side by side at the exact same time. That was a first for us. We found two great places for site seeing. The Viking Crown lounge (that was obvious), and the Schooner Bar (having live piano and guitar music made it even more relaxing … if you turn the chairs around, it is like you are the only people in the world watching Antarctica pass by … we enjoyed that the most. Oh yes, the ice cold martinis helped.) Dinner in the MDR continues to be good (better than most of our past cruises). We were only able to squeeze in one swing dance on the way to the Illusionist’s show. The number was quite fast and, we had lots of room on the dance floor, so it was an “oxygen required” swing number … only one or two of those per night are allowed (I have a doctor’s note ). No sign of the Stowaway Piano Player … We are becoming concerned for his safety. The Illusionist was good, but better still due to how he engaged the audience. The show was late (due to a late departure from Elephant Island), therefore it was straight to bed after the show was done. Tomorrow is the Big Band Penguin Party Day. We will sleep in to make sure we do not miss the orchestra playing dance music. Curt from Canada

JAN 13 Sailing through the calm Antarctica waters was exhausting and serene. The icebergs were the highlight. So many different and stunning ones to photograph and the Antarctica Vistas played more of a “second fiddle” to the floating sculptures. For pictures it is best to check out @Twangster’s blog “Live from the Wind(s) of Antarctica” I am thinking about adopting @Twangster Lots of whales and penguins. This resulted in multiple sprints between the port and starboard side. We spent a lot of time on our balcony (in between sprints). We spent a little bit of time on the helicopter deck … mandatory viewing for Canadians (cold, wet, sometimes snowy and always windy … a stark reminder of home). The Crown Lounge is busy for Happy Hour, but you can still find a seat (especially after first seating starts). It is opened to the Viking Crown Lounge (as it should be), and that is critical. With over 700 Diamond and above cruisers the C&A drink “vouchers” are also critical in controlling the Crown Lounge. The Concierge Lounge is not open to Pinnacles (there are 115 on this segment). The barricades have not gone up and the revolution seems to be on hold. However, I will make sure to keep everyone in the loop. The entertainment is a level or two or three above what you see on normal Radiance Class ships. The orchestra is excellent and is a 9 piece. For one of the production shows they brought in 2 strings players for an 11 piece. It makes a big difference. All 5 principle singers would be the lead on other Radiance class ships. It maybe does not compare to Mama Mia or Hairspray, but it is very close. Certainly the number and quality of the bands around the ship compares favourably to any Royal ship. Due to the number and variety of styles it is probably the best we have seen. To be a little more precise: 1). Classical Guitar Player: A very creative and engaging guitar player. Some of it is danceable, all of it is extremely interesting and fun. This is not your normal classical guitar experience. 2). Strings Trio: Normally in the Centrum (which can have music that starts just after lunch most days). Very relaxing, very “classic cruise”, and very difficult to dance to … still, a great place to have a drink to on decks 4 through 6. 3). Caribbean Duo: South of the equator they transformed into a 50s, 60s and 70s standards group. They might be the best band to dance to on the ship, except for: 4). Big Band Orchestra: All 9 members on the small Centrum stage for the Big Band Penguin Party. They were great and it was a blast. We were having trouble getting room on the dance floor, and one of the principle singers whispered to us … “Get your elbows up and carve out some space” (professional advice executed by total amateurs that actually worked ). 5). 3 Different Piano Players in the Schooner Bar: Tons of talent in the Schooner Bar throughout most of the day. Yes … there is a small dance floor for 2 there. You just have to use your imagination and depend upon the kindness of strangers to deviate from the normal aisle ways. 6). Stowaway Piano Player: He was here for the first few days and took our requests. We have not seen him since … I hope they did not catch him. 7). House Band: We have not seen enough of them, so it is difficult to tell. Given the 6 points above, we have not missed them. High praise for the level and number of entertainers that are all over this ship. Curt from Canada

JAN 12 We arrived in Antarctica quite early in the morning. Captain Stig delivered!!! Lots to talk about with his course and itinerary change. He gave a brilliant and funny talk as we were entering the Drake Passage. AND Elon appears to have delivered too. Starlink was 118 Down and 9 Up. Geez … we are at the bottom of the world. The Drake Passage was rough (between 25ft to 30ft waves), but nothing really too bad. If you stayed mid ship, it was “drunken walk” time. The theatre was bad (right at the front of the ship), so I skipped an enrichment lecture, and laid down for a nap. My soulmate felt no ill affects at all. They, obviously, cancelled the production show, and it was held the next night instead. Deck 12 (the walking track) and Deck 5 (outside promenade) were closed for the entire passage Slept like a baby last night (and I do not sleep well typically). The Drake rocked us all night long … (sounds like a song title from the early 70s ). The bars were not as busy yesterday (but it was still difficult to find a seat in the Centrum before the first seating). The dance floor was a little too difficult to manage … so we sat the night out. There was much anticipation for this … and, obviously, everyone is very excited. Curt from Canada

Last one before we enter the “dark zone” (no internet ) The Captain made a quick decision to visit Antarctica first before the Falklands. He has an excellent talk on how and why the decision was made. Short course: We need to race to Antarctica quickly to miss some terrible weather. The theatre was packed for his talk. More importantly two of the questions allowed him to show his humorous side: When asked “Celebrity is slightly ahead of us on the way to Antarctica … are you coordinating the Drake Passage route decisions with them?” Captain Stig replied: “I don’t care what Celebrity is doing. And by the way, Celebrity took two tug boats to get in and out of Buenos Aires” When asked “For those of us who are new to cruising, what is the safest and calmest place on the boat?” Captain Stig replied: “Madame this is not a boat. A boat is what you look for when the ship sinks.” “The safest place is my cabin and the calmest place is deck 4 mid ship.”

JAN 09 Patagonia This ended up being one of our favourite tours in a long time. The Welsh traditions are alive and well in a small enclave about 90 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. This part of Argentina is very dry (it really is very close to a desert … similar to southern France). However, the river that runs through Patagonia has created an “oasis” for agriculture to thrive and the Welsh who settled there created an extensive canal system that turned the valley into a lush green environment that supports a large community. Once the railway came in (late 1800s to early 1900s), the community “blossomed”. The Welsh traditions thrived and are being actively supported to this day. The food is excellent and extremely well priced. The Welsh tea was a highlight (as a Welsh choir helped elevate the experience). We highly recommended the trip to Patagonia if you can. Curt from Canada

Getting ready to lose the internet. I will only have coverage for a day or two more between now and the 23rd. I will get to as many of your questions as I can on those days and on the days after we return. This is a very different experience … Curt from Canada

It was a Thai Shrimp dish that was very spicy (more than we expect in an MDR). We are trying to negotiate with the chef for an encore. Curt from Canada

JAN 07 A sea day (Day 3), we went to an Enrichment lecture (they have one every day … today they have two), ran to lunch, skipped a dance class on 70s dancing (this upsets us ), explored a little bit, got in our Espresso Nap, dressed for Formal night, “chased” dance music, ate in the MDR and watch the best Broadway review show at sea before crashing into bed. It really was non-stop. We will try to take it easier today. Breakfast has been exactly the same as usual, and lunch has been very disappointing. I would say the MDR is very hit and miss. Which is exactly our experience on other ships. For Formal Night … My soulmate was, by far, the prettiest woman on the ship. The Formal Night really was a formal night. 80% of the passengers are in suits (and 30% of them are in tuxes/ballgowns/cocktail dresses). All of the bands (except the strings) are danceable. The “Caribbean” band is singing 50s, 60s and 70s music. The house band is very good and once early seating is finished the dance floor gets packed. The orchestra is a 9 piece and they are excellent. There are 5 principle singers and each one of them are as good or better than the best on other ships. They set a very high bar for the theatre entertainment. No dancers yet. We may be a dancer free zone for this segment. Watch this space … I had my third Filet Mignon in 3 days (research ). The first night was the best Filet Mignon i have had at se), but it was an aberration … Chops was good, but it was just Chops. Second night MDR filet was good, but not outstanding. We love dancing with the Stowaway Piano Guy … best dances yet (in an odd venue, but we could care less). Dancing is possible in the Schooner Bar … longer story. We danced too much last night and we are really feeling old today. This might be a “maintenance”day. Curt from Canada

Yes … some differences versus the normal and Antarctica. without having to rob a bank. Curt from Canada

JAN 06 Late Seating is the MDR is the better time on this cruise. Dancing before dinner is abundant and the after dinner shows timing works out really well. Early Seating (in the MDR) is a zoo. The R BAR is packed by 5:00 (as dinner is at 5:30). Everyone has the drinks package and they want their pre-dinner drink. No fist fights at the R BAR yet, but they still have 246 days. R BAR is empty by 5:40. Lots of room on the dance floor. The bartenders have lots of time and they are much more relaxed. The classical guitarist is excellent. They are typically difficult to dance to, but not this one. We will strike up a conversation with him to “order up” some foxtrots and rumbas. There is Stowaway Piano Player on board. We have already had one “drive by” Swing dance (to Crocodile Rock), and we will actively seek him out. He takes requests. There is a Strings Trio with relaxing classical music. They are quite good. We are debating if anything is “danceable”. We might have to dust off a very old waltz (we have not waltzed in years). Clear the dance floor … this might get messy. It is still very early, but the theatre entrainment has been top tier so far. 2 shows and 2 . Drawing on local talent will provide lots of options over the 274 days. RCL appears to be doing their homework. We have only had 3 days on board, but the Social Media personalities have been far less annoying than we anticipated. They are not hogging the dance floor nor being too distracting with “staged” recording. However, we have only had 2 days on board. Watch this space … The pace (so far) has been very hectic. Afternoon naps are a must. Even the sea days are busy. Buenos Aires is a little scary. Lots of notifications of being careful about thieves and scams (from RC, locals and passengers). The Argentine economy is in very big trouble and it is very noticeable. We are glad that we paid for the RC excursions (and do not mind paying the premium). We have heard of one stolen phone and one stolen purse from passengers just in Buenos Aires alone. Chops was empty on night 2 (only 4 other tables occupied in Chops over the 2 hours we were there). Very easy to get a window seat AND we got to watch a very tight and interesting sail away. As we left the Schooner Bar (after Chops Dinner) the sun was just setting. The pianist paused, looked out across the water at Buenos Aires skyline and switched to “Someone to Watchout over Me”. After he finished, I asked him if he thought about playing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me”. He said that was his first thought, but it was a little “too cliche”. I think he made a great choice. It was a beautiful, and tender moment (one that is easier, for some reason, to find on a cruise ship). You have to be always looking for these moments, but you typically do not need to wait long. Do not spread this around (or the future segments will get totally booked). I am investigating future segments. D+ and tagging along on the UWC is (so far) a great deal. Curt from Canada

Quick background … we are on Serenade right now (we have done the Drake Crossing twice now). We are “segmenters” so we will be getting off in Santiago (on JAN 23). We have been cruising since 2006, so we are always looking for new parts of the world to visit. We can not envision spending too much time away from friends and family. Still, when the segments came out we jumped on the chance for this once in a lifetime experience. We booked an Oceanview for the Buenos Aires to Santiago leg, used Air2Sea to get a good price on our Toronto to Buenos Aires flight (plus the return from Santiago), AND won our Royal Up bid to a balcony (2 days before sailing). All of the updates will be in no order at all (get ready for a Tetris style information flow). Questions are encouraged, but expect a delay (we may not have coverage every day, and we will not be monitoring this site when we are on the dance floor. ) We went to the Loyalty Celebration on JAN 10 (we normally do not go). The crew appreciation portion of the hour was new to us (back of house and front of house nominees and winners for DEC were introduced and celebrated). It was nice. Top Level Cruiser Numbers: 115 Pinnacles 300 D+ 325 D Only 1,600 passengers for this leg. Cruise Director (Joff) is quite good. He has a nice mix of comedy and fun done in a mostly “relaxed” manner (very appropriate for a World Cruise). The World Cruisers are gravitating to him quickly … he is a stabilizing part of the cruise. Falklands port day was “juggled” to get us to Antarctica and back before some very bad weather sets in. We still experienced a “Drake Shake” on the way down (All most 30 ft waves). The sea sickness bags appeared in the stairwells at 8:00AM on JAN 10. More on the Drake later. Like @twangster said … “It is part of the experience” … so we are going in with a positive mindset and a “boatload” of Gravol The singers are excellent (all 5 of them … no weak links). We will make sure we see all of their shows. I’ll post some thoughts on most of the days, but (to be clear) this is a “not at all live blog” so replies will be very delayed (we do not have the WiFi package). Send questions … but expect delays. Curt from Canada Partial Ultimate World Cruiser

We are on the Ultimate World Cruise right now. Just heading back to Ushuaia (after visiting a Penguin Rookery). I will post something more substantial and detailed later, but the short course is: 1). No drama … the experienced cruisers already figured this out. Actually, the cruise so far has been extremely relaxing. Although we have been a little bit too busy. 2). Thé entertainment overall has been better than “normal” cruises (some of it excellent … rare for a Radiance class ship). The food has been hit and miss (as usual) … however, we did have the best MDR dish in over 30 cruises a few nights ago. 3). The staff is in over perform mode. They are doing a phenomenal job. 4). 1,600 on this segment is well below capacity. 700+ Diamond and above C&A members. 1,600 only should bring up some questions. 5). Tons of dancing opportunities … only once did we have to elbow our way around the dance floor I will start a start a separate thread when we get back on board. Curt from Canada Partial Ultimate World Cruiser

@twangster ... your pictures are always awesome and inspiring. It is official ... we will not be bringing our cameras on our Antarctica cruise in January. Instead, would you be so kind to: 1). Take lots of pictures of: Gerlache Strait Paradise Bay Schollaert Channel & Dalhan Bay Elephant Island Cape Horn 2). I like Icebergs and my soulmate loves wildlife. A good mix will add to the illusion that they are our pictures. 3). To cement the illusion ... Superimpose the likeness of my soulmate and I on the best of the pictures in each location. Use stock photos of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. We are not "exactly" twins, but our friends are not that observant. ... or just keep doing what you are doing, whatever is easiest. Curt from Canada

Our Christmas Wish for you is a couple of "Drake Lakes". However, if you were "naughty", the Drake Shake awaits ... Have a blast ... Curt from Canada

Following with great interest and anticipation. We sail on Serenade on JAN 05 ... our ships will not cross paths. However, we will enjoy every experience you describe and every picture you send. Your posts are always inspiring. Our cruise is not an expedition one (just a cruising one). Please get a couple of autographs from Penguins as you spend time on "The Ice". Curt from Canada

The UWC has only 690 “World Cruisers” and the rest is made up with:1). “Long Haul” ones (doing one or more of the 4 long segments)2). “Short Haul” ones (doing the “small” 18 to 29 night ones)I only checked one of the “Short Haul” segments and it was not sold out. My soulmate and I will be on one of the short segments and we will post some general comments. Curt from Canada

Although this is disappointing, for my next cruise I have devised a strategy for forgetting about most of it: At 7:00AM, I will have Lovely Latte in the Diamond ... er Crown Lounge. At 9:00AM, I will have a Celebratory Caesar on the pool deck. At 12:30PM, I will have a Resplendent Rose with lunch. (I can not believe they have one as good as they do on RC ships these days). At 5:00PM, I will have a Marvellous Martini at my favourite Bar (with a Bartender I have "trained" to make the Martini absolutely perfect ). At 7:30ish PM, I will have a glass of Wonderful Wine (probably as big a red that they can find). At 9:30PM. I will have a Superb Scotch in the Schooner Bar (probably one of their best MacAllan's) AND gladly pay the additional charge. As I roll into bed, none of the changes will matter. I will sleep well. If, and when, I wake up the next day, and I am a little bit down ... I will "rinse & repeat" steps 1 to 6 above. I hope this helps ... Curt from Canada

I have missed something or something is missing. For APR 2025 to JUL 2025, there are no ships using Amsterdam or Copenhagen as a home port. I know there are issues with Amsterdam (I thought they would just use Rotterdam), but I was unaware of anything “Rotten in Denmark”.Are there some others ships to still come?Curt from Canada

Just got back from Norway in June. It was spectacular. Do not assume all cruise sail ins (and sail aways) will be like the 2-3 hour Fjord "sail ins" you will experience. Some quick thoughts: 1). @JFCruise is 100% right. If you have a balcony you are in for a treat. We had breakfasts, pre-dinner drinks, after dinner drinks on our Balcony ... we spent more time on our Balcony in 1 cruise than on the 25 odd Balcony cruises we took before. If you do not have a Balcony, find a quiet spot close to the water and "soak up" the fjords. If you let us know what ship we could steer you towards some spots. 2). For our 43 wedding anniversary (coming up in January), we booked a speciality restaurant for dinner. If you do get stuck at a table for more than two, at least one night you will be able to focus on each other. 3). Once in port, the sight seeing is phenomenal. It is difficult to go wrong in any port. If you enjoy hiking, the sights are even more "other worldly". If you know the ports, we might have more detailed suggestions. 4). Only for out of the box thinkers: If you want to really focus on each other, take basic dance lessons before the cruise and take advantage of the live music throughout the ship. My soulmate and I spend hours on RCL ships (which have great live music) holding each other close and making every night "date night" on a cruise ship. 5). @JFCruise is 100% wrong about the Love & Marriage show. YOU HAVE TO TRY OUT. It will be the highlight of your cruise (or maybe the highlight for the other 2,000 to 4,000 other cruisers ). @JFCruise ... please say you were just joking . We need a steady stream of new competitors. They need to know it is very calm, sedate and not embarrassing in the least. The prizes are incredible. I set the record for s in one paragraph. I hope people get the humour in that paragraph. As @twangster says ... "Canadian humour is sometimes hard to get". Curt from Canada

We just visited Norway in June. There were only 2 cities on our cruise that overlaps with the World Cruise. A few quick thoughts: Olden: No need to book an excursion through Royal. Olden is very close to Loen (which has a SkyLift that takes you very quickly up the mountains). The views are spectacular (picture below) and there are some very nice hiking trails. We really liked the restaurant where the SkyLift lets you off (Hoven). We spent part of the morning, lunch and the early afternoon before returning to the ship. Warning: Everything in Norway is expensive. The bus to the lift was expensive, the lift was expensive and the lunch was expensive. Still, it was one of the best days on our 12 day cruise. Do your research on how to get to the lift and back. We did the "lazy" way and got off the ship and paid a lot of money for the combined Bus/SkyLift ticket ... there may be cheaper options. Alesund: We went on an RCL Highlights bus ride. It was pretty good. The best part was the Sunnmore Museum which had Viking Boats (if you are cruising, you might like boats ) and Viking houses from different eras. Make sure your tour includes the Sunnmore. Another option is to stay in the town (you can easily walk). There are lots of canals (it is nicknamed Norway's Venice). We tried to go to lunch at a restaurant by a canal, but many of the restaurants were over booked. Go early if you take this approach. Have a blast ... we did. We are going on the Antarctica portion of the World Cruise (January 2024). We will try to post something that describes the experience for a non-World Cruiser being on the World Cruise. Curt from Canada

Be careful what you ask for ... because there will be lots of pictures of gears, engine rooms and bridges and no pictures of wildlife, scenery or cultural activities. Curt from Canada Professional Engineer and extremely poor photographer.

It's time to play the "Blame @twangster Game": Galapagos has been booked for NOV 2025. I told my soulmate that is was all @twangster's fault and she agreed. I cheated (a lot) by showing her all his pictures first. There was very little coaxing required. Everyone feel free to use this not-yet-patented process. Curt from Canada

I KNEW you were a "bot". Everyone ... it is confirmed. @twangster ... thank you for taking us along on your incredible journey. (I think I am going to forward this blog link to a ton of people and buy shares in cruise lines that go to the Galapagos.) Thanks again ... Curt from Canada