Curt From Canada

Geeeez @twangster ... off the charts (and you adventure is just beginning). I have too many questions, so just a critical one. If a "bot" did not do their homework, I would be shocked. Therefore, did you consider Celebrity's Galapagos similar sailings, or was the SilverSea "expedition style" a deciding factor? We would be very interested in your thought process in booking SilverSea over Celebrity (and others as well). Galapagos is very high on our wish list. Thanks for taking us along ... Curt from Canada

Our first ship and one of our favourites. Hope the future sailings get back to something more "normal". Curt from Canada

Appears to be poor seas conditions (30 ft waves) as the reason. New itinerary: Curt from Canada

Plaid shirts and toques please ... Curt from Canada

This is a very, very special trip. My stop in Nassau in October does not quite measure up. BRAVO … this is one that I will watch with great interest. Curt from Canada.

Has anyone tried (recently) to ask for a side order of steamed vegetables? Curt from Canada

I am certain our gang will have a blast. Some boundary conditions, if it is hidden: on any Dance Floor, it will be found by the end of Day 2 in and around the Flowrider, it will never be found in the Schooner Bar, it will be found by the end of Day 3 in the Bionic Bar, it will never be found in the Cafe 270, it will be found on Day 1 in the North Star, it will never be found in the Music Hall, it will be found by the end of Day 2 in Adventure Ocean, it will never be found in the Windjammer, it will be found by Day 7 in the Fitness Club, it will never be found in the Ripcord, it will be found by Day 5 in the Sky Pad, it will never be found on the running track, it will be found by Day 3 anywhere on the ship AND we max out our drink package, we will never be found Looking forward to looking ... Curt from Canada

Hilarious ... "we're booked on the 11 night 1/5 (he just doesn't know it yet )." My soulmate gets similar treatment. JAN 16 (We love Barbados and The Yoda Guy) ... Looks like another scouting report will be available (tell your better half that you have an assignment now). Curt from Canada

Careful ... you have not seen the list yet. Think 4th year University Deformable Solids Class difficulty. Curt from Canada

Looking forward to an Odyssey Live Blog ... we are on her in JAN 2025. We will send a detailed list of scouting to do. Thanks for taking us along for the ride ... Curt from Canada

Darn … I am afraid you are correct. If the post cruise survey is really a baby soother for adults, I need a new strategy. Plan B will be to have a form letter I can give my server every time they ask how the meal was and I have a negative or improvement suggestion comment (these comments will be in check box form). The most important part will be at the end where it will say: ”I do not want to talk to anyone about this. Please forward to the appropriate person, and recognize my time is too valuable to discuss. The only form of compensation I expect, to make this right, is a complementary dinner for two in a speciality restaurant of my choice. Thank you for taking my request seriously.” And chances of me doing this are very, very good. Curt from Canada

Jealous … on both of our 2 maritime cruises St. John got cancelled. Earliest we can go now is 2025 (probably more like 2026). I hope the Bay of Fundy is still there then. Curt from Canada

I think the cruise line “process” is extremely flawed for getting feedback on their food service. Putting customers in a “vulnerable” position at the table surrounded by family, friends and onlookers is a great way to: 1). Not get Feedback: Our cruising friends now just say “10” as the wait staff approaches on the last two nights in the MDR. They do not even wait for the question. 2). Minimize Feedback: Most people we cruise with think the food is average. When asked even below average food gets a nod that it was “OK”. 3). Encourage “One & Done” Feedback: I might do it once, but the “bad taste” (pun intended) left after a dramatic appearance by the Executive Chef would cause me to save it all for the post cruise survey. Their post cruise survey process is fairly good and we use it every time. In the main dining room or speciality restaurants it has become a waste of my time to give any deep, honest feedback ( the more I give feedback … the more the experience becomes average or mediocre ). The strategy is clear (across the major cruise lines) … drive down the base cost for cruising and make profit on the onboard spending. I am comfortable with this approach because we have changed our cruising strategy over the last 5-10 years. We will eat the average food on the ship and if we want something extra special eat off the ship. There are no Michelin Star meals that we can see on a cruise ship. We did this on our Norway cruise twice … it was wonderful. This allows us to: 1). Get the Cheapest Fares available: We are fortunate that we can cruise during slow periods. 2). Go to places in the world that cruise ships excel: Alaska twice and Norway once Antarctica, Panama Canal and Greenland/Iceland up next. Too many places in the world to see to let average food hold us back. 3). “Drink Up” All the Complimentary Offerings: We will continue to drink our D+ drinks, dance endlessly to the live music on board, watch the shows and “ride the rides”as much as we can, spend time with family and friends (that we rarely have time for this back in the “real world”). 4). Hold Each Other Close and Share the Experience: Life is too short and it is easy to miss the pure joy of shared experience. Back in March we spent over an hour by ourselves overlooking the sea from the Enchantment pool bar that cantilevers over side of the ship. We talked, we laughed and drank up both our drinks and the sun. There was no one else in the world for that hour … just us. A memory we will not forget. These experiences far out way the disappointment of the average food we put up with. Just stop asking me for feedback on your average food. Curt from Canada

I am guessing Serenade will be the only Royal ship heading down to South America. She leaves from Miami in DEC 2023 and arrives in Los Angeles in FEB 2024. Not many cabins left, and the prices are much higher than when previously released. Cheaper than Silversea though … Curt from Canada

There is very little special about R Bars (on Radiance class ships) with one major exception: They all look out on to the Centrum … in particular the dance floor. There is lots of entertainment and activities in the Centrum, so the R Bar can get busy. Not all Radiance class ships have R Bars …and we barely notice the difference when we are on Jewel (“not R”) or Radiance (R). We actually spend a lot time in the Centrum Bar (R or “not R”). Radiance class ships have a lot of opportunities to dance from happy hour onwards. It is very easy to find us … just look for the couple on the dance floor that are having a blast. Curt from Canada

We have not done this yet. We are only researching for 2025 (I am an Engineer ... this is "normal"). We are looking into Icelandair for trips to Europe (YYZ to AMS). They are quite inexpensive, but the best part is they will allow layovers more than one day. You get two direct flights (YYZ to KEF & KEF to AMS) and get to visit Iceland (1, 2, 3 ... days) on your layover. It may even help break up the jet lag. They fly from YYZ, and to most major European hubs. Again, we have not tried, but we are seriously considering. I hope this helps ... Curt from Canada

AUG 01 -31 (Cubicle of Seas) ... Everyone else ... Have a Blast Curt from Canada

I am sitting in a "bleeping" cost meeting where the consultant/contractor is driving me nuts. This picture just calmed me down (although the jealously reaction is probably only a few moments away). Curt from Canada

If you concentrate on the similarities: Both Canadians, leaving from Toronto Both Connecting in Atlanta Both on Delta ... This is the sun, moon, and stars aligning. AND it is not a good alignment. Curt from Canada

First time travelling with a young child (22 month old granddaughter) and her Mom and Dad. We have been on Oasis class ships many times before (but zero experience on what you do with such a small child). Any hints? I am just a dumb old grandpa (I do what I am told). My guess is this very special small human being will not be toilet trained, but remember I am just a dumb old grandpa (so what do I know).

OK ... now I am nervous. PLAN A: is to fly from Atlanta to Buenos Aires in January 2024 (to link up with Serenade). We are flying on Delta. PLAN B: I looked up how long it would take to drive and got: PLAN C (assuming an 8 hour per day drive): Drive to Colon, Panama = 72 hrs (9 days) Ferry to Cartagena = 48 hrs (2 days) Drive to Buenos Aires = 113 hrs (14 days) 25 days? I might have to leave in August. Curt from Canada

I am definitely on the Hydrogen "Rowboat of Happiness" [pun intended] It is a big part of the "answer". It has the shortest time to implementation and an "OK" fuel density. Still, Hydrogen is probably way off in the future for large scale implementation (even to cover a 1-2 hour sail in through a fjord). Norway introduced 100% short haul electric for a reason (quick, easy to implement [they are in use today] and "fit for use" [rather than the multi-purpose demands of an ocean going vessel]). (Important note ... they were heavily subsidized by the Norwegian Oil Industry. They were not cheap). My sense is that the reason we hear so much about LNG is because the technology is here right now, and the Cruising industry hopes that it will be good enough for most jurisdictions. I am glad my soulmate and I went to Norway when we did ... Curt from Canada

Yes ... the beginning is alway important, and usually in small beta test mode. Not sure how Norway will view partial electric (I think 100kW is enough energy to power 3-5 houses ... 6,000 to 7,000kW does not cover an entire ocean going ship either). Norway's 400 passenger Cruise "ships" are 100% electric (and purpose built for fjords, so they are much smaller and carbon-fibre light). It appears what they are going for zero emissions (This appears to be a long way off for Ocean going Cruise Ships). My guess is ocean going vessels will need Hydrogen, Nuclear, Wind, Solar or a combination of those to be zero emissions vessels. I am certain they are all working on it, but it is a costly and very big Engineering task. Curt from Canada

Norway is way out in front on this. My guess is that Alaska, Panama Canal, South America, Antartica, Asia and Canada (we have fjords too ) will take some time. I hope the Radiance class ships "land" there until newer "connected to the sea" cruise ship options are developed. Curt from Canada

We just spent 12 days in Norway on Jewel and glad that we did. In each fjord, we spent 2-3 hours on our balcony relaxing, eating, drinking and soaking up as much of the fjord as we could. It was different than any other cruising experience we have had. Norway appears to be serious about limiting Cruise Ship traffic in 2025, but the details were not entirely clear when we were there. One sub-optimal solution is already in place. There are 100% electric Cruise "ships" that shuttle back and forth within a fjord. Although I would rather be on my balcony sailing into the fjord, there may be Cruise "ship" shuttles that take you in and back during the day. Not optimal, but the fjords are worth it. I think the link below takes you to a website that shows the "ship", the trip and the technology. My guess is there will be many detailed discussions and modifications between Cruise Lines and Norway to determine how to coordinate between electric Cruise "ship" shuttles and ocean going Cruise Ships. https://www.norwaysbest.com/things-to-do/fjords/fjord-cruise-naeroyfjord/ My sense is hydrogen or electric ocean going cruise ships are a long way off. Norway might make an exception for LNG, but that is unclear currently. Again, glad we went in 2023. I hope this helps ... Curt from Canada