JeffElizabeth

We have never had good luck with room service. Cold, items missing, late. Just prefer to eat in the dining room.

Colorado is getting the Northern Lights lately! The flares seem to be getting more powerful. Good luck.

It took us four cruises before we got to visit Shetland! Glad it finally happened. My wife is a big fan of the TV show, the ponies, and the dogs.

Oceania reminds us most of the HAL we started cruising on in 1997. We have an Arctic Circle HAL cruise next Summer so we are willing to keep giving them a chance if the itinerary interests us enough.

We could care less about the shows but do like learning about our destinations. We are probably in the minority on this since the shows are packed. I am concerned that HAL doesn't get any new ships, but if they are going to be 4,000 passengers, I won't be joining them.

Hotel prices are getting outrageous around America so expect cruising to become even more popular. 500-1000 dollars a night around Yellowstone and $100 to pitch a tent at KOA. Can spend less than that on a cruise with meals included.

If you are flexible, get on a wait list. We did for a pinnacle suite on a voyage to Nome. We had to wait a year but we're approved finally in June 2025. We booked in August of last year.

Our first trip to Alaska was in 1997 and I thought ports were too full back then. Left the ship at Skagway and went into the interior. Much worse in 2019 on the Amsterdam. But couldn't resist the long trip to Nome and the Arctic Circle.

Last year we were on a cruise to Greenland and Iceland in July and that was still too cold for our Texas friends. They were booking the Caribbean next time.. Personally we enjoyed it being twenty degrees cooler than back home. Different strokes?

We have taken cruises to Hawaii twice and already have another one booked. There are lots of sea days but we like those more as we get older. And there are always different excursions to enjoy.

My brother just had it on Royal Caribbean. I was shocked they still offered it.(Lobster Thermidor) I always consider it gambling to order Prime Rib when we go out. Sometimes it is very good, but more often mediocre.

Definitely use your Neptune Lounge concierge! They can do wonders for you. (Some are better than others.)

Great points. Cruising continues to break records so I think overall most people are coming back again and again. We have been Cruising since 1997 and notice a lot of the best perks and luxuries have been cut back, but we talked about and realized we don't really want or need them. Example, used to get a big bottle of champagne 🍾 upon leaving Port. Way too much for us so prefer a little mini bottle instead.

We talked with people who really enjoy socializing outside the Lanai cabins, still can't convince my wife.

Miss the Amsterdam and the Rotterdam too. We were on the last complete cruise of the Rotterdam when Covid-19 struck. Such a beautiful old ship. And we visited Alaska on the Amsterdam the year before. Is Holland becoming Princess?

I have worn nice black jeans in the past and never been challenged. But like others have said, wearing slacks is easy enough.

Wow! Definitely makes this a memorable cruise! Our first cruise in 1997 had us get off the ship in Skagway and then take the motorcoach to White Horse. Luckily no mudslides on that trip.

Exactly. Some of our most memorable cruises were on the Prinsendam visiting small towns in the British Isles, or squeezing through the Kiel Canal. We knew we were paying a premium to do this but it was worth it. The towns eagerly welcomed their one cruise ship of the year. And the Kiel residents had American style BBQ's as we passed their homes.

Always interesting when people disagree on food between the two lines. I prefer the Holland America buffet to Princess. And usually choose the smaller ship, hate being crowded. We do like that Princess has real suites still. Neptune Suites really aren't.

Strange that cruise lines claim finances are driving them to the giant ships because I also see more expedition style ships out there. Split the difference and go back to the 1200 person boats?

We were in Iceland last year in both July and August. Most of the popular destinations were horribly overcrowded. Loved that we had lots of smaller ports on our tour.

Barcelona is one of our favorite European cities to visit but I won't mind going to less crowded ports. Always up to see new sites and I hate overwhelming a city or town like cruise ships do to Alaska.

Well said. We are wait listed on a couple HAL cruises but booked on ones with Princess, Oceania, and Viking. Looking to see who will be our new line. Our first cruise with Holland was 1997 and we are only 58.

The older parts of Mexico are that way too. Restaurants especially. Denver has a lot of Mexican expatriates and so many older family Restaurants have a trash can for toilet paper right in the stalls just because their customers are used to doing it that way.

Sometimes they will have babushka types selling you toilet paper. I always carry those little packs of Kleenex just in case.