Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
Lots of debates today about the appropriateness of children on premium/luxury cruise ships. So do you wish more cruise lines were 18+?
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What was your first cruise?
Today, weâre celebrating the anniversary of our very first cruise! We will admit we were very fortunate to have Regent Seven Seas Mariner (@RegentSevenSeasCruises) be the very first ship we ever stepped foot on. It definitely skewed our view of what cruising is all about.
We took this Alaska cruise back in 2017. It was a family trip, a one-way voyage from Vancouver to Seward. And for this cruise, we definitely checked off most of the must-do excursionsâAlaska Bear Adventure by Floatplane, dog sledding on Mendenhall Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer trip, Eagle Preserve float adventure, Sea Otter and Wildlife Cruise. It was a very packed week and one that we still talk about fondly to this day.
Looking back at the photos, we are amazed at how little weâve changed (haha!), but how much Regent Mariner has. We should probably sail on Mariner again to see the differences in person.
In 2017, we weren't thinking of starting a YouTube channel. But five years later things changed! If you haven't already watched any of our Regent Splendor videos, make sure to check out our playlist đ
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2...
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This Monday, M is for Mediterranean. Last June we cruised from Malta to Venice on Oceania Sirena. It was our first time sailing on Oceania and we had a wonderful time visiting Kusadasi, Santorini, Kefalonia, Berat, Korcula, and Venice. We really need to get back to the Med soon.
Keep your đ peeled and watch this space. We'll have an Oceania Sirena video dropping very soon.
What is your favorite spot in the Mediterranean? Drop a comment below.
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We were just reminded that one year ago today, we arrived in Budapest for our first ever river cruise with Viking (âȘ@VikingCruisesâŹ). We absolutely loved Budapest and need to find time to visit again. Perhaps another river cruise is in our future? đ€
If you are curious about river cruising and want to truly experience how small and cozy Viking river ships are, check out our real time walkthrough. It's a good way to see if the ship is too big, too small, or..... you get the idea.
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Shortly after we made our video, "5 Reasons We Love Holland America - And YOU Should Too!," Holland America implemented some changes to their entertainment lineup, food offerings, and more. Check out our recent blog post to see how HAL ships have changed and our thoughts on the new branding:
www.callingallports.com/blog/holland-america-updatâŠ
And if you haven't already checked out our 5 Reasons video, click on this link, too!
https://youtu.be/YhlqSThBSzQ?si=qD0ih...
We're looking forward to sailing with Holland America in Alaska next month. Have you cruised with them? Are you a fan? Drop us a comment below!
âȘ@HollandAmericaLine⏠#hollandamerica #cruise #travel
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We wanted to love the Cunard Queen Anne, really we did. During our cruise of the Norwegian fjords last week we didnât post much about the ship itself â mostly because we were in awe of the sights and caught up in the joys of exploring.
However, we must be honest and admit we were disappointed with the ship. It felt like a missed opportunity, as well as victim of poor design choices. Itâs a gorgeous ship, no doubt; the retro Art Deco style decor is stunning, albeit a bit over-the-top to the point it can feel like youâre lost in a Disney World ride queue. It was interesting to meet loyal Cunard cruisers who expressed displeasure with the design, calling it âtoo modernâ and detached from the lineâs legacy. The biggest problem was the ship often felt crowded, in large part due to too-small venues (Queens Room comes to mind) and many quirky design choices that carve up decks illogically, creating an awkward flow and bottlenecks. We wonât go into great detail, but as an example try walking around Decks 10 and 11 from bow to stern⊠weâll see you tomorrow, if you even make it back. đ In other places there are narrow walkways and low ceilings, simply things you wouldnât expect in a brand new âluxuryâ ship (and also not accessibility friendly!). There were constant problems with elevators. Walking the promenade felt like dodging NYC sidewalk traffic.
The food was⊠a big letdown. Mundane. A few good meals in the main dining room (Britannia), Golden Lion was ok, yet the buffet (Artisansâ Food Hall) was poor quality and lacked variety. There wasnât anywhere near the range of dishes weâd experienced on QM2 the week prior, and strangely half the buffet stations were shutdown a majority of the time. Amazing cheese and charcuterie station, though â weâll give Cunard credit for that.
Weâre hesitant to knock the service. Individual crew were great⊠when you got a chance to interact with them directly, that is, which was oddly rare. They seemed understaffed, overtaxed and always struggling, and our time onboard was filled with waiting, waiting, more waiting. Yes, itâs a new ship, though after 2 months in service one would expect these issues to be ironed out better.
We'll post videos about our Cunard experiences soon. Our initial reactions were profoundly negative, but we want to reflect on our time onboard a bit more and not rush to any judgements. Please keep your eye on this space.
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Will you be tuning in to Top Chef on @Bravo tonight? We certainly will be! Tonight's episode takes place aboard @HollandAmericaLine Eurodam and features the renowned Chef Masaharu Morimoto.
We recently dined at his pop-up restaurant on HAL Volendam. Curious about our experience? Click to watch our profile and review of Holland America's latest specialty dining venue.
#cruise #hollandamerica #morimoto
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Do you think âȘ@wirecutterâŹ's packing guide works for a cruise? We're getting ready for two weeks on Cunard but have to pack light due to flight luggage restrictions. Will prove to be a fun challenge.
How do you pack for a cruise?
· 5 pairs of socks & 5 pairs of underwear
· 4 tops
· 3 bottoms
· 2 pairs of shoes
· 1 hat & accessory
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We've taken a different route with our newest video, a more immersive journey on the White Pass Railway. It's one of the most popular excursions when cruising to Alaska, so we figured we would give people a sneak peek.
We'll be back in Alaska withâȘ@HollandAmericaLine⏠in August. Can't wait to explore one of our favorite places once again!
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We're getting ready to board âȘ@HollandAmericaLineâŹVolendam next week for a Canada/New England cruise. Is there any thing you would like us to cover? On the ship? Or any of the ports we visit?
Let us know!
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Welcome to Calling All Ports, a destination for cruise travel enthusiasts! Join us on our journey around the world as we explore the most breathtaking ports of call, plus share insider tips for making the most of your cruise experience. Our videos offer detailed explorations of the ships on which we sail... with a focus on the food, accommodations, and fun.
So come aboard and subscribe to Calling All Ports today. Don't miss out on our latest videos, which are packed with inspiring travel ideas and practical advice. We're thrilled to have you as a part of our community of travel lovers!
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Be sea-ing you!