MrsMuir

Thank you for a well-written, detailed review of the ship and the ports in all your posts. We will be taking the same cruise on August 28, and you have made it all the more exciting for us. Will you be booking more cruises to the Old World -- Europe -- now? I can't get enough of it.

 

Mrs M

Does this mean that Volendam will stay with HAL's fleet for a while longer? I hope so. She was our home for 27 days and we hope to sail in her again someday.

 

Mrs M

I have to agree that Constanta is not on my list of ports to re-visit. The ugliness begins at the port itself, with giant cement "jacks" lining the entrance. We took a ship's excursion to a Roman excavation that was mildly interesting but not well cared for as you would expect a mosaic floor to be. I noticed above the excavation that there were Victorian-era buildings in bad shape, and thought that they would have been lovely in an earlier era, before Ceacescu's terrible rule. His reign is still visible in the main part of town, which seems composed of gray concrete buildings. We ended up waiting for the tour bus to return us to the ship, having no desire to explore the area any further than the "mall" and the one souvenir shop. We took photos of one shop with the name "Transylvania" in it -- the only amusing thing we could find.

 

I just remembered that the guide said that Constanta is very proud of its Roman heritage and is different than the rest of Rumania. We visited a museum that was fairly interesting with Roman artefacts, even though the once-lovely building was not maintained well and was stifling on a warm and humid day.

 

This was in 2008, so perhaps the chance of muggings was less then. We had no real fear for our safety but were not eager to just wander around, either. On the bus, the guide pointed out a beach resort with forlorn-looking rides and rundown hotels.

 

I hope that this city can take advantage of the diversion from Ukrainian ports and improve its economy. In 2008 we figured that ms Rotterdam would not have called at Constanta unless it was a refueling stop. We were glad to get back to the ship.

 

Mrs M

I voted for Nieuw Amsterdam because of Venice. As KK says, you can arrive early and enjoy Venice for a few days. That's what we're doing on a later cruise that begins and ends in Venice. With Venice-to-Rome you could also extend your stay in Rome for a few days, if time and budget allow.

Kazu, nice work. Please add to your list:

 

MrsMuir - Nieuw Amsterdam - 28 Aug 14 - 12-Day Mediterranean Empires

 

Thank You! Yes, I'm excited!

I recommend that she ASK that the music be turned down or changed to something less intrusive. There might be a bar open nearby where the bar server in charge can change it or turn it down. Until they get complaints they won't make a change.

 

We have successfully had heavy metal music changed to soothing ambient music in the Crow's Nest during the day when all we wanted to do was watch the waves crash over the bow. All we did was ask politely. Of course, five minutes later the music was switched off so there could be a line dancing lesson. Oh well.

I wish to add my condolences to our "Sail," such a nice and helpful person.

I finally figured out why I'm yearning for another HAL cruise, even with their dining room staffing cutbacks, reports of maintenance issues, etc. My first Princess cruise in 36 years was great: ship was immaculate, crew was eager to please, public areas were gorgeous with something going on most of the time, minisuite was perfect; even the website and pre-cruise service was superior to HAL's. HOWEVER:

 

The shipboard experience is the difference. Princess's gargantuan ships are more like well-kept, fine hotels, with glitz and glamour. Even the floors are works of art, with mosaics and beautiful carpets. Their shops were gorgeous. My mouth was agape for the first few days, I will admit.

 

On board a Holland America ship, I know I'm on a ship, on the sea, and I can tie on my walking shoes and head for the wraparound Promenade Deck. I learn the deck plan easily and can get from Point A to Point B in my evening shoes with no pain. I don't cruise for the entertainment, and frankly don't care if HAL's shows get poor reviews compared to other lines. I like the Dutch touches that still remain, if you look for them.

 

Mrs M

I like to shop but that's not why I travel. On sea days it would be nice to have better shops onboard the HAL ships, which seem to be selling either junk - think cheapo jewelry sets - or items we can never afford, like precious gems. On Princess they sell much the same things, but their shops are larger, elegant and the selection is much greater, especially with cosmetics. I wouldn't mind seeing larger, better-appointed and stocked shops onboard the new HAL ships. That's much better than impeding traffic with tables of sale items in the Lido pool area.

 

And, like some have mentioned, shops produce revenue, and revenue reduces service and amenity cutbacks.

 

Years ago I suggested that HAL sell prints of Captain Card's fabulous ship paintings (assuming he wants to be marketed, of course), books on HAL's history, and REAL ship model kits of HAL ships, old and new. Wish I'd received a survey!

 

Mrs M

Thank you for posting. This should be required viewing for anyone considering a cruise or working aboard a ship.

 

Mrs M

We saw it while we were watching DWTS. Took me by total surprise, since HAL rarely advertises, even in travel magazines like they used to. I agree the ad is much too short and doesn't show enough of the ship, but what they do show, along with the upbeat music, is great. I did well not to start howling, which would have upset the two kitties on my lap. I did manage a little "sniff" for my husband's benefit and reached for a tissue.

 

Mrs M

Good grief. I've taken my flat iron on nearly all my eight HAL cruises. My new hairstyle, which actually hearkens back to the 70s and my Love Boat days, requires a curling iron, too. They will certainly go in the suitcase and not my carryon. I leave the suitcase open until they cool, and they're the last thing to go in. For disembarkation, when the suitcases have to be in the hallway the night before, I just have to have stupid-looking hair. It's always a bad day, anyway, leaving the ship and then enduring the flight(s) home.

 

I hope Copper 10-8 does chime in, alstublief!

Thanks for an interesting review with the specifics, which are so valuable to the rest of us. One thing puzzles me, though. The title spells the ship "Eurodamn," so I expected a negative review instead of a balanced one as yours was.

I guess I'm an oddball, but I like having our pictures taken by the ship's photographers, especially on embarkation. That photo becomes the first page of our album. We like having our portrait taken on formal nights. Maybe it's because we are so happy on a cruise that we look pretty good in most of the photos. I was upset that no ship photographer took our photos when we visited the Pyramids. Seemed like everyone else had a souvenir photo taken except us.

What wouldn't I do again? Have an oily massage just before the Suite Cocktail Party.

Mrs M

Viking Oceans needs to keep its Early Birds informed. They asked my TA to tell me to fill out my Personal Information Profile, so I expect the same from them regarding the progress of the Viking Star.

 

Mrs M

Sitraveler, I think it worked. Thank you.

 

Mrs M

DH and I are 3-Star Holland America Mariners. We never venture into the casino, even

when it is closed, due to the smoke smell. When the casino is open, the nearby shops are inundated with smoke and the jangling sounds from the slot machines. We were worried about their still allowing smoking on balconies but had no problem with it on our last cruise. Otherwise we love HAL's more traditional style of cruising and their wonderful crew. We were sorry to learn that their new ship will be 99,000 tons.

 

Viking Star attracts us with her small size, no casino, smoking restrictions, included tours, ship layout with the wraparound Promenade Deck, enrichment programs and the brand name. And the intineraries so far.

 

My sister is Elite on Princess and says ship size isn't an issue for her. She prefers port days to sea days and likes anytime dining. We are joining her on a Princess Baltic cruise in August. I cruised with Princess on the Love Boats four times in the mid-1970s and am curious to experience the much larger, whale-bowed Emerald Princess. Anyway, my sister booked Viking Star's Empires of the Mediterranean mostly to travel with us, as she and I are best friends as well as sisters.

You're smarter than I am, Gunga Din. How did you manage it?

At the risk of repeating myself, Frank Buckingham was a highlight of our Baltic cruise on Rotterdam a dozen years ago. I'm glad he's still aboard HAL ships enlightening everyone. His historical knowledge and experience in the ports are invaluable. I hope he's on one of our cruises again.

 

Mrs Muir

Shebba, thanks for posting the photo of Britanis. She was lovely. Learning she was Lurline's sister made me tear up for some reason. What a wealth of beauty and history in these liners and cruise ships!

 

I hope Copper 10-8 is thinking about that ship history book. Or how about a "Guide to Ships" for us shipspotters?

 

Linda

Great thread. I have the swollen-ankle affliction, too, but I know the cause. As soon as I THINK about putting on a dress or skirt or a pair of ankle-length pants, my already-chubby legs and ankles begin to swell.

 

The Statuesque Mrs M (NOT)

John, is there any news about the Pacific Princess since she was laid up at Genoa a year ago? I hate to think of her deteriorating. Her sister, Island Princess, has had a better "old age" as the Discovery, of course.

 

Linda

Great to have you back, John. Your ship histories are like catnip. Utterly fascinating.

 

Mrs M

I love happy endings. I hope CC keeps this thread forever.

 

Mrs. M.

I love happy endings. I hope CC keeps this thread forever.

 

Mrs. M.