Hlitner

We have no sympathy on this issue....None,,,,Nada! Why? You have a choice and that is the kind of thing that exists with airfares no matter how you book. Airfares often change multiple times a day and there are times when it really makes sense to book your own air and other times when you can save a lot with flightease. Over the years we have found flightease to offer amazing fares for International fares (especially Business and First Class) but their domestic coach fares and generally nothing special. The main reason I have no sympathy is that if the higher flightease price bothers you (obviously it does) than you can simply book direct with the airline at a lower price. No big deal as we do this all the time. Also keep in mind that if you wait, you may well find that both flightease and the airline prices increase! When it comes to booking direct with an airline you get what you get! Hank

When comparing HAL to Seabourn you need to make it Apples to Apples. A Signature Suite (HAL) would be comparable to a normal cabin/suite on SB except that on SB the bathroom would have both a full size tub, separate shower, and double sink. You would also need to price HAL as an all-inclusive product so would need to add a premium drink package (not the normal HAL drink package) and unlimited meals in the Pinnacle/Taramind. Seabourn has no add-ons for alternate dining and there are no add-ons for any dining item. At that point you would need to consider that SB ships have about twice the space ratio of a HAL ship so you do not have queues on SB. I have often posted that the big problem with SB, for many HAL cruisers, is that on SB the MDR does not even open for dinner until 7pm, a time when some HAL cruisers have already returned to their cabins for the night. And SB only has a single production show on most nights which is generally at 9:30. HAL is more suitable for the "dinner at 5, bed at 8:30 crowd." We have never cruised on Viking Ocean, although a close relative loves that line and would not even consider moving back down to a mass market line like Princess or HAL. Hank

The thing is we already get priority tenders, priority check-in, etc. The only advantage of Club Orange, for us, would be the dining venue. In our case we would likely never go to breakfast since we tend to grab a light breakfast around the time the Lido is getting ready to close. So, the only benefit of Club Orange would be at dinner. If HAL had a true dining experience (like Luminae on Celebrity) it would make some sense. But not sure it is worth $50 per person/day for the Club Orange dining venue and we would seek advice here on CC. The reality is that took us a few years (and over 500 days on HAL) to get some of the privileges that go with 5 Star. Now, a first-time cruiser can book the cheapest cabin on the ship, pay an extra $50 a day, and get the same priority. Some would say that when most folks get priority nobody is really advantaged. I used to post about going on a Grand Cruise (Prinsendam) where nearly 80% of the passengers were 4 or 5*. When we checked-in at Port Everglades, the priority line was quite long and the regular line was empty. Although we were also entitled to use the priority line we simply ducked under the rope and got in the normal line and were immediately checked-in and soon on the ship. Meanwhile, at least 150 folks were cooling their heels waiting in the "priority" line. Such is life. Hank

"Loyalty" clubs are a wonderful marketing tool, but they can become problematic in a rapidly expanding company. We are in top tiers (loyalty wise) with several cruise lines and have seen an erosion of benefits with all companies. Some have done it by simply eliminating or reducing certain benefits while others have effectively watered down the benefits through other means. A good example is that one cruise line who used to have generous free booze benefits to the most loyal cruisers, now include drink packages in much of their cruise packages. Those who are entitled to a few free drinks a day will often find it is a worthless benefit because they get that with their booked amenity package. Another line, HAL, watered down some benefits when they started selling similar benefits to anyone (i.e Club Orange). Consider that priority is not really priority when nearly everyone qualifies. Hank

I think MSC is well on the way to achieving their goal of being the World's largest cruise line. Their competitiors are all saddled with huge debt, mostly due to the COVID shutdown, and some other questionable management decisions. Meanwhile, MSC just keeps growing as they take advantage of their large container ship roots and some smart management decisions not hindered by being a public company and having to make short sighted decisions to get immediate results.

Everything about the YC is a class system with the YC being at the high end. It makes perfect sense to extend some additional amenities to those in the most expensive suites just like it makes sense to limit the YC to only those who pay to be in the YC.

We did a booking two days ago for $17,400. That same cruise/category today is priced at $20,560 or an 18% increase! Glad we did not wait to book :). Hank

We have been cruising for over 50 years and made some lifelong friends along with many other shorter-term relationships. How? Simply by sharing large tables at the MDR and joining others at cocktail lounges. For folks who still know how to "dine" and socialize, a dinner or lunch table is a perfect environment for making new friends. Of course, this does depend on being able to comfortably converse with strangers and trying to find some common ground (part of socializing). Once upon a time, an important facet of cruising was one's tablemates who were part of the cruise process where everyone was assigned to a seating and table. Two tops were very rare, and folks simply accepted that sharing tables was part of the cruise game. When one got a bad table, they would quietly talk to the Maitre'd and get reassigned. On long HAL cruises, there always was some movement during the first couple of nights as folks tried to find a table of folks that worked! These days, the same thing can be achieved by taking advantage of open dining schemes. Folks will often find new friends during the first few dinners and may form their own little groups (and tables). Others, enjoy dining with different folks, on most nights, and expanding their opportunity to meet many fellow cruisers. This is not an issue of right or wrong but simply personal preference. Folks not interested in socializing or prefer to be alone can also find their niche on a ship. Hank

I do not think a lot is happening at 7am. Spain operates on it's own clock and it is a country that tends to open somewhat later (around 10am) and close later. If you are planning to go anywhere at 7am, just make sure it is open :). Keep in mind you will be in a country where folks might go out for tapas around 6pm, sit down to dinner at 10pm, etc. Most shops will operate from about 10-7 and in some parts of the country you will see smaller shops shut down for 2-4 hours in the early afternoon before reopening around 4 or 5. This is less of an issue in larger cities (such as Malaga) but when traveling around the country it can be very helpful to do some research on the habits of specific towns/cities. Will the port shuttle operate at 7? Likely no but we agree that you might want to check with the port. You can certainly walk out of the port at 7 and stroll into town where you will find some cafes open for breakfast. Hank

I think you are running into a situation where not many tourists actually stay in Bilbao. We like the town as a day trip, but would much prefer to stay in a place like San Sebastian or Biaritz (France). As to the Gugenheim, we have oft posted our opinion that the best part of the that museum is looking at it from the outside (free) or just walking inside and getting a glance of the cavernous atrium (without paying the admission fee). Unless they have some kind of interesting exhibition, we have found their art collection less than inspiring. As to the city itself, we just prefer other places as a base. Hank

As a general rule, you cannot hop off a ship and book decent tours. You can certainly negotiate a deal with a taxi, that is parked at the port, but you are simply getting a car/driver and not a guide. If you are the type of traveler that likes to be on tours than it is best to plan ahead and book online or perhaps join with some others, via the CC Roll Call for your cruise, and book a small group tour. Also keep in mind that much of Western Europe can be done on your own if you spend some time doing pre-trip homework. You will access to public transportation, trains, rental cars, and your legs/feet. How to handle each port really depends on what you want to see/do and how far you want to travel from the port. For example, in Malaga you can walk or take a bus into the heart of the city and explore on your own. But if you want to travel afar to places like Granada (and its amazing Ahlhambra) you will need to do some serious planning or join a tour. Sangria is sold at just about every cafe and restaurant in Spain :). As to Tapas, the best tapas places tend to operate in late afternoon/evening but there is still plenty of cafes that will sell tapas. If you simply walk into the heart of Malaga you will see many cafes/restaurants (indoor and outdoor) and they all post their menus (usually in multiple languages including English). On the other hand, it is pretty easy to make your own Sangria at home :). Hank

It will be "luck of the draw" whether your two ships are docked relatively close to each other (when walking can be a good option if you can roll your luggage). It is also possible that your ships could be separated by 1/2 of a mile (all within the port) which might not be nice for walking :(. Using the free shuttle buses may or may not be convenient. You can ask a bus driver if he/she can drop you at your other ship and, assuming you can make yourself understood, you might get lucky and find a friendly driver. In the past we have, twice, managed to get drivers to deviate and drop us at a "secret" port gate that was closer to our rental car dealers (located outside the port). Otherwise, you may need to take a shuttle bus to the drop location out side the port and than wait for another shuttle bus that is going to your next ship. Hank

I will likely get flamed for saying that during our many visits to the island the best sunset was actually on the deck of the old Star Princess on a perfect evening. I was sitting in one of the hot tubs with a perfect view of the island (looking towards both Fira and Oia, and as the sun set behind me, the changing colors and shadows of the cliffs was simply jaw dropping. That being said, many would say that, on the island, the best place to be at sunset is Oia. But that is not very practical with a 10pm departure since you would need to somehow get back to Fira, down the cable car, and on a tender (last tender is likely 9:30). You ask is it "worth it" and we would say that actually staying on the island (preferably in Oia) for a few days and watching the sunsets is worht it. But doing it with the anxiety of getting back to the ship is probably not worth it to many folks. Hank

Is a visit "worth it?" For those of us who love to travel, explore, and learn, just about all travel is "worth it." Some might say it is what you make it. We have enjoyed two driving trips up to Normandy and at least a half dozen cruise trips. Many Americans (and some non-Americans) would say that just spending a couple of hours at the Omaha Beach area is very educational. Seeing the cliffs of Pointe du Huk is truly eye opening when one imagines Rangers climbing those cliffs under horrendous fire. There are still some remaining *** bunkers and the extend of construction in interesting. The nearby American Cemetary (used in several well known movies) is very special and gives one a real apprecation of the price of freedom. For those who have time, The Memorial de Caen Museum will give you a new perspective on the time leading up to WWII, as well as a lot of history of France during the WWII period. One of our visits was in early June, during a major D-Day celebration and driving over to Sainte Mere Eglise (where a dummy still hangs from the church spire) was a terrific highlight as there were many US Airborne in town who were doing a reenactment of the parachute drop. We were fascinated by the many German reenactment clubs who collected and maintained lots of Allied vehicles. These Germans were driving around Normandy in perfectly maintained US WWII Jeeps while wearing US Army Uniforms. Who knew? Hank

You raise an excellent issue that I think applies to many cruise lines. It is about the overall value of a large suite. On HAL you certainly get the extra space and usually a very nice cabin. On some ships you will even get a dedicated dining venue (along with Club Orange) and also get access to a lounge. On some other lines (such as Celebrity) you would get a lot more amenities included a dedicated outdoor pool area and adult beverages in a private lounge. On other lines you also get superior cuisine (unlike HAL which is essentially a slightly modified MDR menu). But consider that for about the same (or even less) price you could cruise on a luxury line (such as Seabourn). While a regular suite would be smaller than a Neptune, it is quite nice. But you also get the huge advantage of a small ship luxury ship with all the amenities including top shelf booze, pretty good wine on demand, French Champagne, caviar, no crowds, and pretty decent entertainment. Having been on many cruises with HAL (and other mass market lines) and also some luxury lines, it is not even close in terms of service, cuisine, atmosphere, etc. On Seabourn (for example) the crew does not seem to have the word "no" in their vocabulary. You want something? They will generally make it happen and there will be no add-on cost. Want special services in a port and the Guest Relations staff will arrange it (while you are sitting at a comfy desk, not standing at a crowded counter. When we asked Seabourn to arrange for a private car/driver to take us (at debarkation) from Monte Carlo to our Nice hotel, that car/driver was waiting right next to the gangplank (no lines). If I want champagne and caviar at a bar, the platter of caviar (and fixens) will soon arrive along with the champagne (no charge). When I dine in the Thomas Keller Grill (their upscale alternative restaurant) there is no extra charge if I want an extra course, salad, etc! They would not even know how to process an add-on charge! But many HAL cruisers would not be able to handle Seabourn because the MDR does not even open until 7pm for dinner :). 5pm would be considered tea time. And, if you happen to cruise Seabourn in the Caribbean or Greek Islands they will normally lease a private beach facility and have a beach BBQ with steak, lobster, and "caviar in the surf." One could also consider a ship within a ship. A small suite (over 300 sq feet) in MSC's Yacht Club will cost less than $500 per person/day. That will get you the suite, the mini bar (restocked daily), a couple of bottles of liquor (your choice), a dedicated section of the ship (including large lounge with entertainment and a constant snack buffet, a private pool deck with comfy loungers, a lido buffet on that same pool deck, 24 hour concierge, unlimited top shelf drinks, unlimited Internet, terrific butlers that will escort you on and off the ship (by passing the masses), reserved seating for the daily production shows, etc. On MSC's private Caribbean Island, they have a private beach and restaurant for the Yacht Club folks with the usual unlimited drinks and terrific chair-side service. I mention this primarily for those folks who are "loyal to HAL" and seldom to never try other lines. To say that you do not know what you are missing is an understatement.

I was just recalling a past conversation with a senior officer on the Prinsendam. Their galley was somewhat unusual because most (of not all) of the stoves/ovens got their heat from steam that was piped up to the galley. Unlike modern ships, they did not use electric (including induction). At the time I thought that was really fascinating and made a lot of sense in terms of smart energy use. I am not sure if that system was also used in the Lido's galley or if it had been converted to normal electric during the many drydock upgrades over the years.

Princess Internet speed varies from mediocre to non-functioning. The best shipboard Internet we have had has been on MSC (Internet is included for those in the Yacht Club). Apparently RCI (and some others) are beginning to experiment with Starlink Internet (Elon Musk's new satellite system) which should help onboard speed.

The worst pizza (I ever had) was on the Prinsendam (our favorite ship). The Lido manager once apologized for the awful pizza and explained they had no space to install a decent pizza oven. They did the best they could do, but it fell far short.

We fondly remember those days when HAL had some decent bands. In those days HAL also had "dance hosts" who got free cruises in return for dancing with the ladies. Hank

I think that HAL has long offered the worst suite amenities in the industry. Things have improved, somewhat, on the newer vessels that have a dedicated dining venue for the upper suites (the Signature Suites still get treated like steerage). But even the dedicated dining venue has been watered down by being made available to anyone booking Club Orange. So somebody could be in a the cheapest inside cabin, pay an extra $25 a day (i.e. Club Orange) and get the same dining amenities as those in the expensive Neptune and Pinnacle Suites (somebody please correct me if I am wrong). On many other lines, expensive suites come with dedicated pool decks, private dining venues, all-inclusive drink packages, included cabin mini-bars (restoced daily), Internet, dedicated lounges with adult beverages included, etc. Those lines provide something akin to true first class experience for those paying the big bucks. That is not the case on HAL, even for those in the most expensive suites. Hank

If your excursion returns you to Fira, near the end of your tour, you could certainly tell your guide that you want to leave the tour and go back on your own. Keep in mind that the only way you can get back on your own is to get to Fira and then make your way down to the tender pier via the Cable Car or walking (lots of steps and some donkey poop). You are probably already aware that taking the cable car down can often involve a very long queue at the upper station (especially if there are multiple ships in Santorini). This relatively new trend of having some cruise ship excursions take folks back to Athinios does offer the advantage of those folks not needing to deal with getting down to the tender pier located below Fira. The ferry port of Athinios (this is NOT the same place as the tender pier located below Fira) is the one place where tour buses and other vehicles can access a pier. The norm on Santorini is that everyone uses locally owned shore-based tenders which are actually significantly larger than the ship's own tenders. The Authorities on Santorini have been trying to resolve the issue with Cable Car queues (at Fira) which cause many cruise ships to delay their departure in order to get their folks back to the ship. We have seen the cable car queue delay folks by at least 2 hours as several thousand all want to get down at the same time. It can be a lousy ending to what would normally be a fantastic day on this wonderful island. Hank

Also keep in mind that even when you do pay the specialty restaurant fee there are some additional add-on items, even if you simply want to order a Starter, Salad, and Main in the Pinnacle. And having paid for the cruise, the Pinnacle, an extra fee for a salad, and an 18% add-ons for tips, many would expect to pay more for tipping. So, in a sense you would have paid for the cruise, the Pinnacle, an extra course, 18% grats, and an additional tip. Not sure if there is an extra fee for a cup of tea (this has happeed to DW in the past.

We can certainly agree to disagree. One can argue that a Holiday Inn is the same as a Four Seasons, but most know this is not the case. Hank

To me it is about the whole package. Our days of living in a cubbyhole are past us and we prefer comfort in our cabin (it does not need to be a suite), public spaces, Lido, and other dining venues. We also appreciate being able to go on deck (any time of the day) and easily finding empty loungers. And yes, a spacious cabin bathroom/shower is a good thing. We have spent our time in showers where we were hugged by a plastic curtain and sat on toilets where there was no room for our legs/feet. Having cruises, extensively, for over 50 years, we have seen the good and bad on an awful lot of vessels. I could tell you about cruising on the Regent Spirit where we had to walk down a ladder to get to our cabin on the lowest passenger deck (your feet were right at the water line). The truth is that every cruise has been wonderful and fun, but now being "older than dirt" we expect some luxury. Hank

We have previously posted that one can never have too much documentation for a claim examiner. Cruise ship medical centers are well aware of what is required from insurance companies and should provide sufficient documentation as a matter of course. But, unfortunately, that is not always the case. My advice (after a lifetime in medical insurance industry) is to always ask for a copy of the detailed medical record. When we once did this on Princess, they told us we would need to pay for that documentation (I think it was about $25) which was charged to our onboard account. The medical insurance company (GeoBlue) did reimburse us for that expense although not all insurance companies are that generous. Another hassle can be when travelers are treated in a foreign country and all the documentation is in a foreign language. When DW was treated in a major Osaka hospital, all of her medical records and related documentation was in Kanji and kana. Some insurance companies require the claimant. to get everything translated into English while others (such as Geoblue) will accept just about any language and do their own translations. The cost of translation should be borne by the insurance company, but like many things in life who knows. Hank