js1357

2 hours ago, rollie said:

All right you guys.  We're going on this cruise next year.  My question to you is, can we make an 11:15am flight?  It's the only non stop home.  Thanks for your feed back.

 

Rollie

 

 

I had a 10:30 flight and made it with self disembarkation.  I really had my doubts when I was waiting in the very long customs line, but had time to spare.

24 minutes ago, js1357 said:

Sorry -- meant to reply to the licensing issue...

 

They showed a movie every sea day at 2 pm in the world stage.  They didn't show any of those same movies out at the Lido.  On a tropical cruise, many of us don't want to be stuck inside in the middle afternoon to watch a movie, but would have loved to see some of those movies on the Lido big screen in the evening.  

The movie issue at the Lido has to do with licensing.  We asked during a morning coffee with our CD on one of the Pinnacle class ships - about a year and a half ago - after one evening when the movie that was to replace a football game never showed and they didn’t bother to tell us it wasn’t going to show.  The CD said it was a licensing issue and just because they have licenses to show movies in your stateroom, apparently isn’t the same as showing it on the lido or in the theatre/world stage.  That’s what she said - I think that was Betty.  And licensing means fees — and I think that says it all.

They showed a movie every sea day at 2 pm in the world stage.  They didn't show any of those same movies out at the Lido.  On a tropical cruise, many of us don't want to be stuck inside in the middle afternoon to watch a movie, but would have loved to see some of those movies on the Lido big screen in the evening.  

1 hour ago, ljgordon54 said:

We wanted to watch a movie @ the Lido on a different ship and couldn’t understand it at all so we quit trying. Maybe it is just our old ears.

 

I wonder who/why the cruise director is. Activities should be well planned or that person should answer for it. Anyone would have to know that chocolate is a draw!

Janet

I sat next to a speaker on this cruise and could hear perfectly.  I have no idea why they wouldn't give their customers another option for entertainment in the evenings.  Unlike many ships on other cruise lines, the Lido on Pinnacle Class ships is better suited for movies because of the capability to close the roof.

On 3/26/2024 at 7:04 PM, ajgobucks said:

Was on NS March 17-24 and the entertainment/activity offerings were abysmal.  No welcome aboard presentation, no EXC talks and very limited use of the World Stage. Cruise Director Stephane said that World Stage was closed for new production rehearsals for 3 weeks.  Unfortunately, those new productions "Song & Dance" and "All That" were not good. Besides the 2 musical shows, there was one comedian (did two shows) and another comedian/magician once.  At least 3 of the 7 nights offered no poolside movie.  The Rolling Stone musicians were not charismatic (or good) and the Billboard pianists were so-so.  The BB King All Star band was the exception - they were fantastic and gave us something we looked forward to each night. Holland excels in many areas - their entertainment/activity programming is not one of them.

Just got off 35 days on the Koningsdam.  Although the venue and weather was perfect for an evening movie, it rarely happened.  I completely understand why HAL doesn't want to show afternoon poolside movies like Princess, but there were 20+ sea days on this cruise and evening movies would have been very popular.  In fact, the 5 or so times they showed anything in the evening, it was very popular.  

Re:  Entertainment -- nothing for me.  Very bored in the evening.  They aren't even showing anything on the outdoor movie screen in the evening, although the weather would be perfect for it.  The few times they've shown anything, it's been really old stuff.  I have asked them twice through the Let Us Know why they can't at least show the indoor movies outside too and have received zero response.

Does anyone know why they aren't showing movies by the pool in the evening?  They're showing them in the freezing world stage every day at 2 pm, but nothing at night outside under great weather conditions. I tried to do a let us know and got no response.

12 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

We have a balcony room on deck 8.

We don't dine in dining room by choice.

We use room service for coffee and sometimes lunch.

Comedian last night was great.

Attended a game show that was a lot of laughs.

BB Kings is awesome.

Today we attended How to Wear Your Sarongs...very interesting and audience participation.

Now we are at Travel talk on what to see and do in port.  Very interesting that they are not pushing HAL tours these are in your own things to do.

Again very informative.

 

First cruise for us with the Have It All...easy and for us worth it.

 

Hope you don't mind others sharing on your live.  If you do I apologize and will move on.

Does the daily list movies by the pool in the evening?

6 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Since it's almost dinner, I guess I should fill you in on lunch. It was a dog w/o bun and small portion of naked fries. Poolside while waiting for the 3pm movie to start.

Dessert came from Lido

Roof was open during the football game; they closed it for the movie.

 

 

Are they showing movies outside in the evening?

13 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

For the US, this is from the ADA website:

https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/

 

"When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task"

But would this apply to a foreign-flagged ship?

2 hours ago, kazu said:

JMO - I don’t care for the receipts.  It’s like there is an expectation of an additional tip.  While I have used them to tip on occasion, I prefer to give nice one in cash to the person of my choice.  

I might be in the minority it seems but it’s a waste of paper to me.

the paper they print those on is NOT compostable and goes to the landfill.  We get rid of plastic bottles and do this?  

Agree on every point.

2 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Hey @js1357 thought you would appreciate seeing the next scheduled showing on the poolside big screen is a football game. Today...

So maybe it is a sound issue.  If it is, they need to fix it or change the website to exclude movies.

23 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

So glad you came along.

Hawaii 12/21 - 1/6. First time to HI and first solo. Like this cruise, I will not fully be on vacation - will be working most days, so I will give the internet a workout!

Thanks for all the valuable info.  Looking forward to your HI report.

7 hours ago, POA1 said:

There was an article in one of the AV magazines a while back. Modern movie soundtracks don't lend themselves to large, open venues. The sound gets all muddled. Apparently old movies and sports work best.

In this day and age, they should be providing ear buds!  I can understand (and have experienced) sound muddling on Princess, but on the Pinnacle class ships, it shouldn't be an issue.  I just got off a TA on the Celebrity Constellation, where they added the outdoor movie venue as an afterthought, and sound was not a problem.  As a recent widow, I find the outdoor movie to be a nice evening option.

On 12/4/2023 at 12:30 AM, Haljo1935 said:

I've noticed that, too. The movies seem to all be playing in the theater. We have only seen 1 movie playing on the outdoor screen - we didn't watch it, just noticed it when we were getting gelato. With the exception of 1 night, the weather has been great for outdoor movie, so it's curious. 

I just saw recent daily programs for the Rotterdam that did not include outdoor movies either.  I sent an email to HAL asking why the outdoor screens were not being used as advertised.  All I got was a link to the advertisement for outdoor movies on their website.  I responded by saying that at least on 2 of the 3 Pinnacle ships, the daily programs didn't show movies being shown.  I could understand one screen being inoperable, but 2 out of 3??...

On the dallies that you've posted, I've seen few, if any, outdoor movie listing.  Have you been up there?  Are they showing outdoor movies in the evening?

@0106 @kazu I notice in the daily that the movies outside aren't recognizable titles and/or recently removed from the theaters.  Have you been to any or know anyone who has?  

18 hours ago, Sea42 said:

On our last trip to the Netherlands we stayed pre-cruise in Haarlem. It was wonderful. So much more laid back than Amsterdam with plenty to do for a few days.

We have stayed in Rotterdam and Amsterdam previously on land trips and have enjoyed them too.

Where did you stay and do you recommend it?

37 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

No,  Not unless prices go up but they just did so I doubt it will happen again.

@The O Mariners HAL’s laundry service is VERY good - superior to many cruise lines.  Ask for things to be hung.  They will be pressed nicely and your delicates like socks, etc will come back in a wicker basket with tissue paper.

You can request cold water, delicate drying, etc.

 

Just write it in the comments on the sheet.  

 

They do a great job.  

Thanks.  Makes it much more appealing for a long cruise.

1 hour ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

No need to wait until onboard. If already booked, it can be cancelled online up to 3 days prior to cruise. Then just pay for unlimited laundry or by the bag once onboard. No need to stand in line to get it transferred to OBC.

So there is no difference in unlimited price if bought before or during the cruise?

On 4/12/2023 at 11:12 AM, wacko said:

Was there 2 weeks ago and used Honest Ernest open air truck. Went to Brewers bay for the day. Highly recommend him picked us up right on time. Group of eight.

Does Brewers Bay have umbrellas and chair for rent?  We are a party of 13.

On 12/23/2022 at 5:00 PM, hrhdhd said:

Well, after he missed the turn for terminal 1 (or is it A?), we drove all the way back around to get there. I got off at the first stop, but I am pretty sure people remained on for a second stop.

 

And yes, $10 is a great deal. 

Does anyone know whether the driver would drop me off at the long-term parking lot?

13 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Yes.  Very worthwhile, but find someone else.  Try Belle Italia, for example.

Why?  Bad experience with ItalyTours?  They get great reviews on TripAdvisor.

8 hours ago, Anubi said:

On a Transatlantic in 2011, during a visit to Cinque Terre, we had a great wine with lunch and the owner of the restaurant told us where the wine store was.  We headed over there, I think we were a group of 10, and we cleaned that wine store out of that particular wine.  No one blinked an eye when we carried it back onboard!!  😉🥂

Don't want to hijack the thread, but saw this and had to ask...was spending the travel time going to Cinque Terre worthwhile?  I'm on the Regal TA and seriously considering hiring ItalyTours.eu to take us.

Has anyone done the Cinque Terre tour?