cruising_Bif

Nope, they are strictly forbidden (I wish!). :D

Another positive for the Deck 11 cabins seems to be that their balcony dividers can be removed/folded back for groups traveling together-- the only cabins on the Summit that can do this.

Does Blu take reservations? It would be nice to reserve X-amount of seats in the same area at the same time every night of the cruise.

It seems that the Blu dining room might deter large groups from booking Aqua Class, as I'm assuming it's less likely to get seated together. Does anybody have any experience with this? I suppose the best option would be to split into tables of 4 or 6, but I'm not sure even how large the tables are in Blu.

Also, what are the benefits of Blu other than (supposedly) better food? Is the service better? What about drink service? We are looking at the Silhouette or Summit, if that makes a difference.

Glad to hear the ship is in "great shape." Other posters have suggested she is worn and tired.

For those who like liquid soap for showering, how is the stuff HAL provides in the shower? Any need to bring our own?

dirt on statues

haha, still giggling about this one

Really? I was just on her in September and kept thinking how incredibly tired and dated she looked.

 

Maybe they just replaced the light bulbs.

What a bummer!

How extensively do they tend to replace carpets during drydocks? I'm sailing on the Noordam in May and understand she underwent a drydock last April.

Cruising on the Noordam in May but now wondering if I should have spent $500 more to take the Nieuw Amsterdam instead. Did I make a mistake? Is the Noordam well maintained? Does the casino have a lively atmosphere at night? Thanks!

Oh yeah ... you reminded me of one more important difference: the Westerdam is much noisier! :D:D:D

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How so?

I used a large, well-known, online TA to book. I hope they convey upgrade offers!

Yes, they have an indoor room on the ship. They are encouraging smokers to smoke in there instead of their balcony. I woulld think that wouldn't be popular.

Did I also read about how the Noordam's casino allows smoking only on certain nights, or is that the case with all HAL ships?

Did I read before that the smoking policy has changed on the Noordam? If so, what is it, and how does it differ from other HAL ships?

We are sailing an Inside Passage itinerary, R/T from Vancouver, on the Noordam in early May. We booked an SY Signature Suite. There seem to be several cabins left unsold- I'm guessing it is because it is so early in the season? Anyway, yesterday was the pay in full date. When can we expect to see upgrade offers, if any are available? Also, are we allowed to create our own upgrade offer- meaning, if we notice the prices of the SA, SB, or SC cabins have dropped, can we offer to pay the difference? I am content with the SY but can be persuaded to move up if the price is right.

Are the thermal loungers unisex or separated? I'll assume either way that nudity is not allowed.

Mobs win: liberty loses.

I'm not sure if the old adage, "Your liberty ends where my nose begins", has ever been more appropriate.

I once was bitten by a mosquito on a cruise ship. It caused an itchy red bump that went away after a couple of days.

I've been perusing the Alaska boards but would love opinions from HAL cruisers. What were your favorite excursions in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Scagway? Please include the name of the business if applicable.

My DW and I are on the Soltice from sept 2-9 from Seattle to Vancover.

Thanks for the information!

The Mediterranean cruise would be in May, and the Australia cruise would be in late November or early January. We like most things, but would probably rate scenery near the top. I wonder how much it costs to fly to Australia or New Zealand from the United States?

I thought I read somewhere that the Solstice would undergo a dry dock in 2016 but can't locate that information now. Am I crazy?

Which itinerary would you choose? Both cost roughly the same.

11-Night cruise (Celebrity Reflection) roundtrip from Rome stopping in Greece, Istanbul, and Naples (among others)

12-Night cruise (Celebrity Solstice) from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, NZ

We are looking into a 2016 Mediterranean Cruise. We would prefer one that focuses on Greece, and so far, the itinerary that appeals to us the most is on the Reflection, with the Constellation in a close second. I'm wondering, is the Reflection too big for a Greek itinerary? I'm imagining that it would bring heavier crowds in the port areas and longer lines to get on/off the ship. However, I absolutely love the S-Class design and am worried about "downgrading" to the Constellation.

Hoping to hear from people who have sailed on both the Magic and Fantasy. Please share which ship you prefer and why. Please do not take itinerary or length of cruise into consideration. Thanks!