Oceanwench

On 3/1/2023 at 5:08 PM, 2ws said:

A family member is an entertainer. She just emailed about it. Was very sad. Her contract ends this week. On a slightly happier note, If you get a chance to hear Rachel in the Rock and Roll room, at the Q and A on Friday, you could ask her if she still plays paintball and roller hockey, and see her reaction. Nothing bad at all, it would likely crack her up and surprise her a little because she was very good at both back in the day and would know immediately who tipped you off. We were on this cruise  in Feb and the captain is a class act. 

Love Rachel! We saw her on the April TA on Rotterdam. Very talented!

17 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Canaletto has come a very LONG away since it started.  I feel it was just the worst when it started.  It was free at that time and I don’t think it was worth even that.  I really love it now (I’m not Italian though 😛).  I’m looking forward to the new menu.  Glad that the ossobuco will be a mainstay.

Do you remember how they ended each meal by bringing out a big plate of pink cotton candy?

I hope the chicken parm will be on the new menu. We really enjoyed it!
We'll be on Rotterdam April 3.

Rotterdam has a dedicated library space on Deck 2 -- the OP is sailing on Rotterdam.
Explorations Cafe is up in the Crow's Nest.

How about a delft tile exchange group?

17 hours ago, MaisonRose said:

 

GO to you tube and search Rotterdam reviews. You will get tons of answers. If I recall correctly, Explorations Cafe is in the library in the front of Rotterdam and the Dutch Cafe is on a lower deck mid-ships. I’m sailing from NYC on the TA to Rotterdam, April 7.

Explorations is in Crow's Nest.
Library is on Deck 2.

Pinnacle Class brought me back to HAL.

Had an aft cabin on Rotterdam for a TA and I loved it!
Booked another for this year, and one on NS for next year.
 

I'd been cruising on NCL for several years with kids and grandkids -- a better fit for all.
But when I am adulting, I'm staying on Pinnacle ships.

21 hours ago, ChinaShrek said:

There are two different Iceland cruises that I am interested in for 2024. The 11-day Iceland and Greenland Passage and a 10-day Iceland and Scottish Mysteries. Sadly, I cannot afford both of them. Would you guys choose Scotland or Greenland to visit? 

Scotland! I'm looking at that one. Has lots of interesting ports.

I wish people would read better!

The Rolling Stone Rock Room has nothing to do with the Rolling Stones!
It's sponsored by Rolling Stone magazine.

That said, it's a venue playing classic rock. Many songs are from the '60s and '70s.
Songs I grew up with -- and I am old! LOL (Do the math!)
On Rotterdam, the Rock Room was always busy -- and we were sailing at half capacity.
The musicians were extremely talented. One of our group was a professional musician, and he appreciated the band's skills.

They played a variety of music from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, etc.

We booked another cruise on Rotterdam, because we enjoyed the Rock Room so much.

The ship has a separate venue for BB King Club, and that was popular as well.

HAL could eliminate the piano duo -- our ears bled at their bleating! 
 

5 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

The break even point is much less than 15, but if you are occasional (typically max at 2 maybe 3 drinks in a day) then not worth it.

 

Even just being beer drinkers (the cheapest drink out there),  the math for out last  7 day trip was simple - 

HIA (Have it all )package was

$45/day =

$315

minus $100 towards a shore excursion

minus  say $30 towards dining and 

minus WIFI (not sure what that costs so I'll say free $0) =

$185 (ignoring WIFI benefit )  or

$26.40/day for drinks.

 

a $7.50 beer costs $8.85 with the 18% gratuity.

So 3 beer is our breakeven point (or 2 beer and a specialty coffee or a 2 beer and a glass of wine....)

 

 

 

 

Thank you for doing this!

We never aim to get to the 15-drink limit. That's not the reason we get the HIA package.
For us, it makes sense because -- as demonstrated above -- it's economical.
We drink specialty coffees every day. 
DH has a beer or two at lunch. 
We have a drink with dinner.
We go to the RS Rock Room (or BB King) until it closes, and have drinks there -- usually the specialty drinks of the venue.
Those add up to much more than the $50/day charge of HIA.
 

We moved up via Club Orange from a verandah cabin (don't remember category) to an aft-facing verandah for our TA next spring.
Very easy to do, and we are thrilled!

45 minutes ago, WaterSky said:

I want to thank those who replied to my our post.   I apologize that I neglected to state the the ship

is the MS Oosterdam.  That makes a big difference.   Given the information everyone provided there are a few SC Neptune Suites on Deck 7 and two handicaped suites on deck 6 that I assume would be reserved for those who need them.  So Dixiejen;  you can always be assigned an SA or SB cabin.   Only time will tell!!!

 After final payment, HAL will put the accessible suites into the general inventory, so they can be assigned to people with guarantees.
There are difference in these cabins, but I cannot remember them. My late husband and I stayed in accessible suites many years ago. 

We ordered a gallon on both of our cruises this year.
We were charged almost $7 each time. No big deal.
Not worth lugging a gallon to the ship!

My sister recently asked me what to do with her tiles. I told her to donate to a thrift shop.
I've seen some in second-hand stores.

I have a big pile of them, many repeats. They just collect dust!

Just upgraded to an aft verandah via CO.
$15 a day for a 16-day cruise next year.
We had to pay at the time we added it.

I'm not sure of what veranda category we had before, but it wasn't the lowest. 
 

23 minutes ago, jodi58 said:

We just booked a 14 day cruise and it was $15.00 a day.  Wish they would be consistent!  

We called the number someone posted above and spoke to someone at HAL.
She said Club Orange was available, $15/pp per day.
She also upgraded us to an aft verandah.
She said she'd notify our TA of the changes.
We did get charged another $30 pp for insurance ... 

21 hours ago, C&K2Cruise said:

That is my understanding.  We paid $15pp/day but it is a 21 day cruise.  It is $25pp/pd for shorter cruises.  

My TA is saying $25 or $35 pp per day on our cruise, which is 16 days in length.
I'd be willing to do it if it were $15 pp, just for the upgrade to a better cabin within the category.

How does one even get the offer?
I've never had one.
Do I not gamble enough?

You could sit at the bar across the way and have it delivered to you, then walk out with it.
I've seen people do that.

58 minutes ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

Doesn't help me on my Transatlantic in April, but at least it's 3 days.  Hopefully things will change by then.

Hoping things will change before then! 
I think they will. 

On 5/17/2022 at 5:13 PM, ktbraun said:

We were on the Rotterdam in February.  We sat on the deck above the forward pool (the one with the retractable roof.)  Nice loungers up there, and I think the sun is filtered by the roof.  You can see the activity by the pool, and still enjoy that.  The New York Deli was up there.   We also found outside deck areas that were in the shade.  Enjoy!

 

We were on Rotterdam for the TA in April. We spent every sea day morning on that deck! It was so enjoyable, comfortable and perfect for a quick lunch!
I would definitely choose that over a cabana.

5 hours ago, Wendy-Europe said:

Yes - THESE! I searched the Internet for these or similar ones - no luck....

Someone could inquire with the Food & Beverage Manager on board, maybe.
Years ago we were seated with a couple who were on their first cruise. They were admiring the dishes used in the MDR.
My husband asked the server about getting a plate for them as a souvenir. I guess it went up the chain of command, and one night the couple was presented with a brand new plate in a box!
I cannot remember if my husband was charged for it. 

On 7/2/2022 at 12:36 PM, MISTER 67 said:

I'm curious, why so many days to cross the Atlantic? 

The PR released by HAL says "eight leisurely days" to cross.
I imagine it's because they want to be in Rotterdam for the anniversary day.

Our TA was not notified of this change, so she called HAL.

They told her they will be issuing new reservation numbers, etc. to those of us booked on the original 14-day cruise.

Also, some people may have different cabin assignments, they told her.
I'm not sure what that is about.

The more I think about it, I'm thinking we are lucky to be aboard this ship for this celebration.

But we're retired, so we are flexible.

We haven't booked flights yet, mainly because we haven't decided where we want to go after disembarking!