jsn55

I'll never understand people on CC who feel the need to pick apart the posts of others. Really, guys, this is a forum for expression on the subject of cruising. It exists because we learn from each other and we ENJOY IT. In all its wonderful parts. There is no need to critique the posts of others. We don't need you to do that. If a post doesn't resonate with you, move on.

I'm an experienced cruiser, but I wouldn't even take a post-dry-dock TA cruise if they gave me one. As your first TA, it could be a disaster. You cruise TAs to emerge on the other side relaxed and happy. After the dry dock, you have no idea what will be finished, what will be left undone, what will be completed during your cruise. The chances of infrastructure issues are far greater after a major refurb. With no ports, you have to be self-sufficient with books and your devices. Can't count on the internet to be more than adequate. The weather could be magnificent or horrible, or any combination thereof. I'd not book this TA as your first ... unless you're like me. I'd be happy to read a book all day, take a nice long walk through the ship from top to bottom, inside or out, and enjoy a nice meal. Maybe just go crazy and see a show one night.

Well, you know, it's tough to decide ... if you want to go UP, do you press the DOWN button to bring the elevator DOWN to take you UP? This stuff is confusing to many. Especially to those of us with a drinks package.

In my wildest dreams I cannot imagine what I would possibly do with a butler!! At 630am, I do not want anyone in my cabin, much less pouring my coffee for me. The various priority perks are great tho.

I think people get confused ... a CD on a small ship is a person who you see around all the time, s/he's always putting things together, s/he's easy to find if you have a question or concern; I've become buddies with several of them over the years and enjoyed their company immensely; they're fascinating human beings. On a big ship, they fill more of an executive role, mostly behind the scenes or on a stage somewhere making something happen. Therefore, you may not realize how much they contribute to your experience. Frequent cruisers have seen them all ... those who are always yelling shrilly about some nonsense or the other, those who quietly circulate greeting people and making them feel welcome and supporting their staffers, those you never see at all. There's no question that they are an important part of any cruise.

This is about what I figured. If someone is smoking on a balcony, would they be standing right at the rail doing so? Well, I guess if they're so braindead that they smoke on a balcony, anything is possible. Like texting while driving, throwing cigarette butts off your balcony ranks right up there for stupid.

Awwwww, so sorry you're missing even ten minutes of the cruise. Sounds like it's a quick 'sickness' ... your attitude no doubt helps immensely! Look forward to more info when you're back at it. We appreciate you!

Having dropped my phone after the first photo I took, I found the kind of accessory you describe, and it also comes with a long adjustable lanyard so I can wear it around my neck and park the phone in my shirt pocket. Best investment I ever made ... maybe $15 for two of them on Amazon.

So happy to have found this thread. The Volendam reviews I read yesterday are quite 'dismal', so all these posts are wonderful to read. I really like a couple of her itineraries and now won't hesitate to book Volendam.

Yup, you are right Ruth, even tho I don't know how you type so well with chocolate in both hands. No CPAP, but I travel everywhere with an American 3-way outlet plug, a double USB to electric plug and an extension cord. Out of the country, I throw in the relevant adapters. I don't like to be inconvenienced!

Wow, I remember a Ramada Inn at EWR twenty years ago as being the worst hotel I'd ever experienced. Guess it's good to know they're maintained their standards at the Ramada chain.

Interesting ... since balcony doors are clear glass, this sounds like it might be an invasion of privacy issue. Certainly I've never been informed that my balcony may be observed by a camera. Logistically it seems like an impossible task given the sheer numbers of balconies on a cruiseship. Not trying to start an argument or be critical ... just find this an interesting statement and I'm curious.

I always book air and hotels directly because I don't want a 'middle-man' involved, I want to pick my own flights, I often use points to book hotels. But sometimes booking through the cruiseline is much better price-wise. Only way to tell is to do your research and find the best deals that work for you. Then compare to what the cruiseline can offer you.

What a wonderful 'trip report'. I'm looking at Volendam for the Med next fall ... the reviews are not very positive, but the itinerary is fantastic. Your words straight from your cruise will be very helpful. I know you'll enjoy it all, and so will we.

I so agree about who should deal with the smokers. Cabin stewards are really excellent at taking care of pax and making them happy. To expect them to confront a smoking pax is quite ridiculous. The problem, of course, is catching someone actually smoking on a balcony. Not sure how you'd get a photo from your balcony ... stick your hand out around the partition? But counting on the stewards is very myopic.

Being realistic, not snarky. Since threads are usually clearly labeled, why read those that you don't want to read?

Great story, made my morning. I'm a casual smoker and morons like this make my blood boil. There are almost always places to have a cigarette anywhere you go ... and smokers should be grateful instead of myopic. Very happy to hear that these people were properly 'punished'.

I think I'd read as many reviews as possible for each ship; so many aspects of "best" that you want as much input as you can find.

I've read all the excellent responses, and it seems to boil down to this good advice: with his likes/dislikes in mind, find some itineraries you think meet his standards. Read the reviews of any ship that sails those itineraries. "Rank" them by how much you think they fit your boyfriend's interests. Show him your 'top 3' and let him pick one.

I hear you, but a local should be able to get that info easily ... and they should know that it won't be confirmed until your ship's at the dock. For what it's worth, I just used Viator for the first time (I'm extremely leery of third-party travel providers) in Roma and it was a terrific experience. I hope you can book just the right excursion in Punta Arenas.

This kinda reinforces my opinion that the whole hysteria about smoking is just that ... so many other awful things in life, but everybody just screams about the smokers. People don't realize that they're being brainwashed by the media.

Interesting situation. Makes me think that the tour provider may not be legit. I don't think a pax could possibly know which dock the Oosterdam will use on January 1. The dock might be planned and published ahead of time, but could change at the last minute; it's all governed by the Port Authority. Tour providers are well aware of this fact, and know it's their responsibility to find the exact location of a ship once it's tied up at the dock. I'd look for another tour provider. But perhaps others here are wiser than I.

Beyond the obvious question of how exactly one would take a photo/video of your neighbor's balcony (stick your arm/hand out around the balcony divider???), I think confronting this goon is a pretty bad idea. If someone knocked on his door, he'd just not answer. Doubtful that he has any concern about setting the ship on fire, he'd just scoff that the last incident was in 2006. I'm a smoker, and like CCD, these kind of ignorant dolts make my blood boil. However, confronting strangers who are obviously morons is never a great idea.

I'd create my own 'cruise to nowhere' ... just book a short cruise to Bermuda or someplace and not get off the ship.

This must have been quite annoying. But how else is the ship going to take some action if you don't present proof? The ship isn't going to assign a crew member to 'watch your neighbor's balcony'. How do you know the 'steward was well aware of this'? A cigarette takes about 5 minutes to smoke, so if that's annoying, you'll need to take some action. Your neighbor was obviously not concerned, since he just blatantly denied that he was smoking when your husband talked to him. So no hope that he'd change his ways.