goghd

5 hours ago, kazu said:

Correction to Volendam location

5 hours ago, kazu said:

Ship Locations
 

Volendam

Corinto, Nicaragua, Leon City 08:00 - 15:00 
 

Incorrect location:  I'm on Volendam and we are at sea headed to Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera) Costa Rica.  Dock tomorrow then a sea day.  Apr 16 we are in the Panama Canal. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

thanks - not much I can do about it now.  Where ae you tomorrow?  I will check the report tomorrow and with luck will remember to change it if it is incorrect.

 

this is all pre-programmed so unless I am aware of a change I cn’t make it.

Tomorrow Volendam is in port- Puerto Vallarta 8 AM - 3 PM  

7 hours ago, kazu said:

 

Today is D.A.R.E. Day, Draw A Bird Day, and International Roma Day
 

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.--C.S. Lewis

Meal Suggestion for today - Spinach & Artichoke Chicken
Drink of the Day - Cotton Candy
Wine of the Day - Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2020 Heart of the Hill Vineyard Carmenere
Destination of the Day - Darwin, Australia 

Today in History:
1974 Hammerin' Hank Aaron hits 715th HR, off of L.A. Dodger Al Downing, breaking Babe Ruth's record in Atlanta

Ship Locations
 

Eurodam

Grand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos 07:00 - 15:00 
 

Koningsdam

At Sea Destination Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Riviera eta 04-09
 

Nieuw Amsterdam

Grand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos 07:00 - 17:00 
 

Nieuw Statendam

At Sea Destination Kings Wharf, Bermuda eta 04-10
 

Oosterdam

At Sea Destination Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island Azores Portugal eta 04-12
 

Rotterdam

At Sea Destination Belize City eta 04-09
 

Volendam

At Sea Destination Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Riviera eta 04-09
 

Zaandam

At Sea Destination San Diego, California eta 04-13

Eastern Hemisphere
 

Noordam

Noumea, Grande Terre Island New Caledonia 10:00 - 18:00 
 

Westerdam

At Sea Destination Sapporo-Otaru, Japan Shiribeshi eta 04-10
 

Zuiderdam

Zanzibar, Tanzia - 17:00

Correction:  Volendam is in port - Cabo MX today Monday 8 Apr.  I'm on the ship.

I've noticed some cruises are being moved from FLL to MIA.  

Anyone know why.  I prefer the FLL port and don't want to have the added inconvenience of a change to MIA.

OK.  Let's start a specific thread on LOBSTER in the MDR.  

I've been reading that it's over and I shouldn't expect any lobster dinners anymore unless I pay extra.  

Is this true why should I continue cruising with HAL? Another loss of benefits.  

Going on an 11 day cruise to the Caribbean next month.  Should I plan an off ship lunch with lobster?

Thoughts...

7 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

"most of the cruises we book have the past guest price and we get the stock OBC.  Do you know the fare type that disallowed the stock OBC?"

 

GOGHD Response:

They said the past guest price we received is "reduced-rate promotions" and the $100 credit cannot be awarded.  Looks like they speak out bot sides of their mouths since you received the OBC and I didn't.  So goes the double speak of HAL.  . 

 

 

I submitted my stock info to HAL (via email) and in one business day received a reply.  Unfortunately the two cruises I have for the upcoming months do not qualify for the $100 stock credit. 

Just for reference if you have a casino or past cruiser fare category cruise you will not get the on board credit for owing the stock.   So I got cruise bargains (one was free for 14 days and the other was $200 for 11 days).  Guess I have to pay around $600 time 2 to get a $ 100 on board credit. The free one cost me $3K out of pocket (upgrade -350 earch, port fees and HIA for 2 people) and the $200 one cost me $1.2K (port fees and HIA)

So my October cruise which I paid for a 48 day cruise I will get $100 (if they extend the offer per email).

Not a good return on the stock purchase as I expected.  

Still at dock.  Captain said winds are too strong to leave so will remain until they die down.  Sea day tomorrow so I would think it has little impact on overall schedule.

9 hours ago, saddledowndani said:

We never got the backpacks. I wonder if those are only for pre- and post- cruise excursions?

I did a pre cruise excursion and no backpack for me.  Just got off the ship this past Friday.  While I enjoyed the cruise and staff - the rack rate is way too much.  They have to get the price down

  They can cut out the bottle service in the room as I went to the bars for my drinks because no mixers and also no ice.

I doing a cruise in Sep that goes to various ports in the eastern med area and will compare the two after I come back in Oct.

Problem for Atlas - They promised too much and fell short.  Most of the employees on the ship just defended what happened and said senior management must address the issue - not them.  It is a PR issue that Atlas must get ahead off

20 minutes ago, saddledowndani said:

We are just going with the flow at this point. Not much we can do. It’s an adventure nonetheless. I hope your tour has been amazing!

Thanks for the info.  Tour is great. Light show tonight.  Valley of kings tomorrow.  Looking  forward to meeting everyone.

Joyce,

Thanks for the update.  In Luxor right now on a pre-cruise Atlas package.  Boarding on Friday in Alexandria. Or at least schedule to.

You will love the package to visit luxor.

Any info on if the ship will come to pick us up?

Thanks.

First I want to thank Joyce for posting a daily review of the adventure with the 1st Official Atlas Cruise.  

I will be on the ship in Egypt when you leave for their 2nd cruise  I'm taking a land tour via Atlas for 4 days pre-cruise starting Tuesday next week when I land in Cairo.  

Glad to hear about the great food and service.  Disappointed about the internet.   Expectations are why I book this cruise and Atlas and Atlas has failed in the WIFI area.   

Joyce,  Please keep the daily journal coming as it is beneficial to  document the pros and cons of Atlas for all.  Plus I enjoy reading your journey and it helps in lowering my expectations of what is advertised as a luxury cruise. 

I'm very frustrated with Atlas and their Info flow.  Leaving in less than 3 weeks and no official mailing or emails from the cruise line as promised.  They botched my excursions and are fixing. I'm told they pulled down the my Atlas site because their staff was overwhelmed with phone calls to clarify.  Atlas is just not ready for prime time.

Hope they can get their act together.

12 hours ago, saddledowndani said:

...Cairo at first but booked the pre cruise hotel (Ritz Carlton) through AOY and will take some time to see the Pyramids. 

I also am looking at doing a pre cruise in Cario.  But waiting for Atlas to get their act together and contact me for scheduling flights and inform me of their land tour options.

Atlas is just not keeping their customers informed.  Hope their service is better on the ship.

Any suggestions on a tour in Egypt?  How many days should I program?  Looking at 3 days prior to cruise.

Gary 

23 hours ago, keokukjoe said:

Have they offered you any compensation for this change or a cash refund (not FCC) if you don't want this new itinerary? I assume that you have already made your final payment since it is less than 90 days to sailing.

No compensation provided per TA.  We have paid in full.  Since I booked a 2 for 1 deal don't expect much in the way of compensation but would like a deal on future cruise.   Travel will be inconvenient since they are flying us into Cario with 3 Hr ride to ship.

I wish they would have selected a different port for departure.  Too many hoops to jump thru for Egypt.  

New itinerary:

Alexandria, (Cairo), Egypt 12:00 PM 8:00 PM
Aug-14 At Sea
Aug-15 Paphos, Cyprus 7:00 AM 3:00 PM
Aug-16 Rhodes (Lindos), Greece 8:30 AM 11:59 PM
Aug-17 Kos, Greece 8:00 AM 8:00 PM
Aug-18 Santorini, Greece 8:00 AM 1:30 PM
Aug-18 Mykonos (Delos), Greece 6:00 PM Overnight
Aug-19 Mykonos (Delos), Greece 8:00 PM
Aug-20 Piraeus (Athens), Greece 6:00 AM 

Just received word that the 13 Aug cruise deleted all Turkey stops.  So the Istanbul start is no longer.  The new pickup location is Cario.

So that impacts the cruise that prior to mine.  Don't know the change of ports for that one.

On my next cruise I'm going to try the non time slot dining (Dec on the Z-dam to the canal). My last HAL cruise DW and I were seated at a table for 8 with only 2 showing up most nights besides ourselves. Last year was on the Princess and was in a table for 4 and the other two only showed up once -- the next to last day. So I'm not impressed with assigned diner seating. I did the anytime on NCL and loved it.

Going start with the anytime and then talk with the concierge and see if I can get a great wait staff and wine guy and then stay with them during the 10 days.