Nemo-
I'd like to hear how you like the repositioning cruises. Service, all the 'at sea' time, entertainment, cost?
Also, if you've not visited Moscow, strongly suggest you stay a couple days to visit, then head on to Rome. It's pretty easy, and a world class city that deserves a visit.
Unfortunately it's too late to extend our flight with a Moscow stopover since the ship departs Civitavecchia a week from today..........perhaps next time....(we have a friend who visits Russia frequently and really enjoys it).
As to the repositioning cruises, last month's was the first I've done, although back in the 1960s I travelled on a number of ocean liners to & from Australia and Europe, (much smaller ships, around 24K tons as opposed to the behemoths afloat these days)..........we took the first cruise both due to the cost reductions, (a relatively cheap way of getting back from Europe), and because my wife had never been aboard a ship and this offered ports of call and a transatlantic crossing.
We found Holland America to be first rate, (discounting the fact that lines such as Silversea, Paul Gaugin and Seabourn, etc, are probably first rate X quadruple plus), and will undoubtedly be evaluating Celebrity using H.A. as a benchmark.
Cost: One has to consider that the base advertised price does not include such things as port/government taxes, (the possibility of fuel surcharges), and 'mandatory gratuity' (a bit of an oxymoron) charges...........however, when you factor in meals/accommodation/ ports of call/time at sea, etc, it beats flying by the proverbial country mile.
Entertainment: Apparently there was lots of it, (or so my wife tells me), but we weren't interested.....(although we attended a couple 'lectures', my wife took in a couple digital photography workshops, and we went to a movie)...........we spent a fair bit of time up in the library, either reading or looking out at the view; took out a couple of the many DVDs available, and walked the promenade deck..........(plus I managed to do stairs, (found the gym too damn hot), at around 4-5 a.m. when there was no-one around).
At sea time: Love it! (Although I was hoping for a little 'inclement' weather just to see how a ship that size (and the passengers) coped with it.
Added: I guess it all depends upon one's priorities.......it was apparent that some/many (but not all) of the passengers enjoyed 'getting dressed up' (we don't, although not knowing what to expect we brought too many clothes.......
none of which came close to the suit & tie/long dresses crowd), 'dining' (the only time we didn't eat at the buffet was to celebrate my wife's 61st birthday), and being entertained...........we were there simply for the trip.
