Lizzie68

The cost is based solely on the price pp for the cruise. It must be purchased before final payment. There is a chart of the price scale somewhere on the website and in the cruise atlas but your TA can enquire for you.

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I tend not to post on the blogs very often until the end, so just wanted to say thank you so much for taking us along on your specific journey. Each of the WC blogs is different in their own way.

Have a safe flight home.

Before we started cruising our favourite vacation spot was Maui and always in April to very early May. The weather was always lovely.

Now I have a cruise to Hawaii coming up in April and these comments make me quite nervous. Think I'd better pack a parka lol.

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Frankly, I'd be happy with simply a little upbeat activity (i.e., live music or something) at sailaway; just to help get everyone excited and in a great mood at the beginning of their cruise. Instead of what they have now... people just milling about having a drink and/or watching the departure port fade into the distance.

That's how it used to be and it was exciting and got the cruise off to a great start. Surely it couldn't have cost that much - we hear it all the time on other ships leaving FLL.

I observed some of that "situational condensation" on the Zuiderdam once.:D:D:D It basically took out several badly needed tables and chairs because the buckets took up the room. We called it leaks. Much less interesting, I know.

Thanks for the laugh.

Whatever. To a person of only "average" understanding such as myself, when someone says they are put off by the "accusatory title", they are not referring to anything other than the title, otherwise they would have clearly said so.

 

You are comparing two unlike things. Being denied is the result. Not qualifying is the reason. You are attempting to replace one with the other in your "new" title. Essentially changing completely what the poster said.

 

And here I thought that on Cruise Critic posters were allowed to express things in their own fashion without "rewrites" from others! Apparently not so.... Perhaps we should send all posts to the arbiters first and let them rewrite each in a way that agrees with their own sensibilities.

 

The HAL board has become a very frustrating place of late, with lots unnecessary claims of "accusatory tone", "wild exaggeration" etc.

 

I think, for the sake of my own blood pressure and sense of fairness, I will take a little break from posting on this board! :eek:

PLEASE don't take a break - your posts are always balanced, informed, and non-confrontational. We need you around here, especially with all the frustrations of late.

I'm not going to get into the scab picking that goes on on these boards, but I want you to know something - if you continue with your booking and Inspiration Cruises is on the ship with you, you'll never have to wait in line at a bar or happy hour. We were on 1 cruise with about 50% of the ship being the IC folks; they never bothered us at any time, as they used the theatre, etc., during the day, and of course, didn't drink (at least in public . . . the mini bar folks said they were kept running at all hours from the IC group), so we were fine. Your mileage may vary.

 

Let us know what you decide.

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

Thanks for reminding us that there is an upside to everything!:D

In the interest of sharing opinions and experiences- which is what this forum is intended for - I can give a good example having done the same 20+ days repositioning cruise 4 times in 5 years. Onboard entertainment and activities steadily declined in that time. Last year there were no game shows and very few sea day activities. They didn't even bother with a gala night in the last 9 days. The first time we did this itinerary we were spoiled for choice. What a let down. As someone famously says - sad!

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This is so sad and I feel for your parents but it serves as a reminder that we have to check and double check all requirements and cannot blame HAL.

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Any "Secrets" for the Nieuw Amsterdam.

Not exactly a secret, but the Silk Den in the daytime is a wonderful, quiet place to hang out and looks out over the Lido pool deck.

Would someone comment on the balcony doors on Nieuw Amsterdam....regular swing door or sliding patio type. Also in v category can connecting cabin dividers be opened and still allow opening of cabin door, (have heard balcony at 42 sq Ft too narrow for opening cabin door if divider opened) thanks

 

 

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They are the usual swing doors. I don't about V category but I believe that the dividers can be opened on all balconies without interfering with the door.

I have always transferred to a TA prior to final payment and my upsell have come through the TA

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Lizzie, wow, great memory!

 

Roz

And it was great to see you again!:)

Glad you cancelled you obviously have issues with how HAL is being run. I find some of the comments on Facebook appalling especially the one women who over and over again keeps pointing out that HALs president is African American. The whole thread over there sounds like it was written by trailer park residents.

Not even close! Did you forget that anyone can check for themselves?

The response to the "O" announcement on HAL's Facebook page is overwhelmingly negative.

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Another successful thread highjack on someone's part.

Good.You're actually doing what some here *can't*/*won't* do.And for that you get my respect.Full stop.Not a bit begrudgingly.

 

Dunno if it's a familiarity thing or what but if the moaners REALLY dislike something SO much why are they continuing to book cruises with HAL? *puts on flameproof suit.*

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He was..but the last thing he wanted was to be verbally assaulted by disgruntled Cruise Critic posters...can't say as I blame him.

Who said they were Cruise Critic posters? You do realise, I assume, that Cruise Critic members make up a very small percentage of cruisers? Like maybe 1 or 2 percent.

Kazu may remember this, because this happened on my first 4-day Coastal, which was the cruise where I met her. :D

 

Kazu and others were on a Panama Canal cruise originating in Ft. Lauderdale that offered the option of debarking in either San Diego or Vancouver. A lot of US folks debark in San Diego unless they live in the Pacific Northwest. The empty cabins are then occupied by those of us getting on in SD for the 4-day Coastal. Several of 4-day cruisers participated in the Panama Canal cruise's roll call, rather than start a separate one.

 

The documents we were sent didn't show a gala night (at that time it was still called formned that they liked the fact they weren't going to have to pack formal clothes. Apparal), so someone casually mentioently the longer cruise still showed a formal night on the segment from SD to Vancouver. One of the Panama Canal cruisers issued an edict and said that if the 4-day Coastal passengers weren't going to bring formal clothes with them, then we were to be either banished to the Lido or order room service. :evilsmile: You would have thought we were the hired help instead of paying passengers. Why not send us to the galley to eat dinner? ;p

 

Anyway, it turns out there wasn't a gala night, and we ate in the dining room, and all was well. I've done 5 Coastals, and none of them have had a gala night. I have a 6th one booked for next year, and it's a 6 day, not 4, so I'll be interested in seeing if they include a dressy night.

 

Roz

Wow, Roz, I definitely don't recall any such comment or "edict". I have that roll call thread saved, will go back and check. This might take time as it was a lot of pages.

It's true the 4 day-ers had no formal night on their docs, whilst we did have one after San Diego. Eventually I think this became the first of `formal optional`nights, and it was very strange.

BTW, I don`t believe that was the cruise where you met Kazu - I recall introducing you on the 4 day portion of the Sailaway Cruise in 2015.

The number of "Gala" nights has sure decreased. We just got our cruise docs, and only 3 in 17 days. Now DH want to know why bother to take the suit... yes I will be packing it along with his sports jacket and dress pants. But he has a valid point.

Interesting. Can you tell us how many times you have paid for an up sell/ended up in a Neptune Suite? I remember when they used to sellout early. Maybe not any more but are you primarily cruising in the Caribbean?

 

 

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Not Caribbean, seldom do those - Alaska, Panama transits etc. Mostly longer cruises. Last year transferred to a Neptune after one week Caribbean for the remaining 3 weeks onboard. Just turned down an upsell offer for my April 17 day cruise - the offers are coming early on that one. I'm not sure why how many times I have gotten an upsell makes an difference to anyone now?

We are currently booked in a SY for our upcoming Alaska cruise. If we should get an upsell, I am not willing to pay much. IMO, the "perks" don't warrant it. I suspect we will be sailing in our booked SY.

Whenever we have booked an SS (similar to an SY, I think) we have gotten a decent upsell to Neptune, so you never know. I've never actually booked a Neptune, but have had one for almost all my cruises. I don't care for the PG breakfast perk, nor the Neptune Lounge, but the king size bed is nice.:)

I’d be happy to see this on the Westerdam! I’m side eying all the Oprah hate here. I wonder why so many of you dislike her? I’ve enjoyed many of her recommendations.

 

 

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I can take her or leave her, but as to your question I'm guessing it's because in life we have choices, and we don't all like the same things.

Oh yuk - been there, done that - but not in the middle of the night:eek:

Loving your blog and photos, Kathi.

We have seen the glaciers a couple of times, but we always cruise later in the season - August/September.