FlaMariner

I hear you about higher prices.....It's not just cruising...obviously.....Here is a stat based on when you last cruised:

• Inflation spiked to the highest level in over 40 years. Despite recent moderation, consumer prices are up nearly 18% overall since January 2021. Gasoline is up 29%.

We still find cruising with HAL a much better value than any other type of vacation.  I scrutinize cruise prices and try to scoop up what I think is a good value.....I base a "good deal" on paying ~$100 a night per person (cruise fare).

Good luck searching.....

Just off the Oosterdam.....25 nights cruising the Mediterranean in April.....visited 8 countries (if you count Monaco as a country)....and medical vaccinations were not on anyone's radar........we did vaccinate ourselves along the way with lots of expresso, cappuccinos, olive oil and wine.

4 hours ago, blg said:

I'm sure this has been answered, but I can't find it. Perhaps it's because it doesn't exist. I seem to remember that there was a reception for 4 star Mariners + in the Crowsnet on embarkation afternoon. I may just be remembering something else, but just wanted to know for sure. Thanks all.

 

From our April Oosterdam cruise.....

We were invited to a reception in BillBoard Onboard for 3, 4 and 5 Star Mariners a day or so after the cruise began.  The drinks were plentiful and the Captain and many of the officers attended and were mixing.....It was fun.  One of the officers told us that they have 3 of these receptions scheduled for the cruise as there were so many 3, 4, & 5 stars onboard.

Enjoy the Mariner reception.....

16 hours ago, Kay S said:

HAL discontinued its partnership with Lincoln Center Stage some time ago.  The classical music they replaced it with has been hit or miss.  We have had a couple of cruises lately where there was no classical music at all.

Sorry to hear that.....

We've been on 5 HAL cruises (Japan, Alaska, South America, TA, Mediterranean) over the past two years and we've enjoyed the classical music each time.....whether it is branded Lincoln Center or whatever, we do not know/care....but it was good and it was classical.

2 hours ago, jeh10641 said:

I am happy to hear that Classical music has returned to HAL.

I never knew it left....we've enjoyed classical music onboard forever, it seems. 

2 hours ago, semibeater said:

Looking for feedback from current voyagers.

Disembarked the Oosterdam 4/30 and we enjoyed wines off of Sommelier Package #2 for 25 days.....

The Sommelier package is alive and well....and quite the deal with our 4* (like $25 a bottle, including service charge).  The wine was great and the price was as well. 

The Sommelier list is in the drink menu at your MDR table.  

We never pre-purchase.....Why?  We think the Dining Room waiter gets credit for the sale and he will be doing the heavy lifting while we enjoy. 

Enjoy the wine onboard....we do.

Any intel on touring Kota Kinabalu?

We try to stay clear of the cruise ship excursions and prefer a small, independent tour.....Any intel from those that have gone before?

12 minutes ago, jeh10641 said:

Hi, FlaMarina,

On our several HAL cruises, we never heard a country set at Billboard. Hopefully on Koningsdam in  January 2025, there will be a Billboard musician who can add that dimension.

Jim

Jim

You've been deprived then....or perhaps you were at the casino or the rock room?

Country has always shown up on the Billboard Onboard schedule...at least for our numerous cruises over the past 5 years or so...for as long as Billboard Onboard has been onboard.

28 minutes ago, Petronillus said:

I can't deny that Lincoln Center is a valuable brand, but I don't really understand its marketing value.

No branding needed to play Beethoven.......I think HAL got their money's worth getting folks excited about "Lincoln Center Stage" when they rolled out "Music Walk" and then stopped paying the branding fee when they realized they could still deliver great classical musical.....

Classical music was alive and well on our Oosterdam cruise last month.....There was a group that played in the main stage as well as around the ship....

It's not branded Lincoln Center Stage anymore ($$$) but it was classical music and had a much bigger stage than before....and seemed to play more often around the ship.

Country Music is our genre.....

And yes, HAL delivers......

Billboard Onboard always drops in a few country sets.....And all the standards are played as well as some of the new stuff......We love it when Country Top 100 appears on the Billboard Onboard schedule.....The Billboard Onboard presenter last month on the Oosterdam did a great Patsy Cline....Crazy....and a great Going to "Jackson" Johnny & June Cash

Also, music trivia will have a country theme......

We manage to get our country fix onboard......

Enjoy the country music.....and the journey.

Christmas shopping for others......product in the spa makes for great gifts and it will not take long to spend the $$$.

We just dis-embarked the Oosterdam and we were in 8118 "MM Large or Standard Inside"

Cabin was just perfect for us....If this is similar, what would you like to know?

Funny, I was on this cruise.....and never noticed.....

The 11 night Barcelona to Athens cruise had 10 port calls.....The Crow's nest was nowhere on our radar from 4pm to 9pm every evening.....We arrived back on the ship worn out, ready for dinner and certainly not a coffee or a view from the Crow's Nest.  We did enjoy a couple of after dinner sail aways from the open bow....which was a nice bonus. 

Her Majesty would visit the crow's nest on some of the mornings (for $$$ coffee) before getting off the ship but closing that venue from 4 to 9 on a cruise that has 10 port calls in 11 days had no negative impact on us......nor did we have any clue this was going on....

I'm sorry some folks are upset about the 5 hours of the Crow's Nest not being available......Glad it  did not impact our journey!

1 hour ago, bigbeergut said:

I wish they would focus on better beef dishes.

When I was not eating dead fish, I was eating dead cow..and other meats....On our April Oosterdam cruise, we enjoyed delicious beef filet tenderloins several nights in the MDR....not just on dressy night.  Also, great rabbit entree, excellent beef short ribs (fall off the bone)....and a nice prime rib......

We enjoyed the meals in the MDR......

The Dutch dinner in the MDR is back!

At least on our recent Oosterdam (April, Mediterranean).

Also, we were on during the real Kings Day and so they moved the Orange party to the World Stage, had Dutch dinner in the MDR (pea soup, orange napkins, an Indonesian entree and one of those great Dutch eclair type desserts among other items)...and the entree I had was beef tenderloin....not necessarily Dutch but delicious. 

The Captain and the Cruise Director were both from the Netherlands.......Love the Dutch heritage on Holland America Line!

Just off 25 days on the Oosterdam and ate a lot of delicious fish....

One of the coffee chats was with the Food & Beverage Manager and he said that they are all about buying local fish....and he told us to look for the word FRESH in front of FISH on the MDR dinner menu...and also look for the fish on display as you enter the MDR when it is FRESH..."Fresh" appeared on the menu for fish several times after Fort Lauderdale, Spain, Italy, Malta and Greece.....And it was delicious....

Even when not "fresh" I always enjoy HAL fish in the MDR.....but the "fresh fish" emphasis kicks it up another notch.

Great pics.  Great cruise....We board the Oosterdam Friday......Smooth sailing into Port Everglades...

Carnival Mardi Gras (the first Carnival ship) in 1989.....4 night trip to Freeport and Nassau from Port Everglades....been hooked ever since.

Thanks for sharing your experience.....

We are hardcore HAL 4* Mariners who graduated from Carnival 25 years ago.....but we have booked a Carnival repositioning cruise from Singapore to LAX this fall.....The price and itinerary sold us and we think the itinerary will keep the perceptions we have of Carnival (loud party ship w/walmart atmosphere) at bay.....

This review helps confirm our Carnival choice....and we are looking forward to the "fun ship" cruise.....

I've found that cruise prices are fluid and they ebb and flow similar to airline fares. Up and down based on supply and demand and the big computer in the basement.

If the fare looks good to you when you see it, book it....as it is is subject to change....at anytime....up or down.

22 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Port Everglades has been quite efficient in recent years.  Hope this continues with the new Noon boarding time, as more people will likely be coming earlier.  We will see this week!

 

Agree.  Very efficient in Port Everglades.....

The boarding folks are friendly, helpful and welcoming.......the process is efficient....you end up continuing to walk.....and not much of a line....at least our most recent experiences.....This area has been much improved from the old days.

Much better than what we have experienced in San Diego, CA.... 

1 minute ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

Ok I think this close enough to be on topic.  The guy sitting next to me in the Crows Nest just answered a FaceTime call and is on the speaker.  It’s annoying to me and others in the area.  What should I do?

choose another cruise line or deal....that's what I would do!

1 minute ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

Going to lunch makes you a chair hog.

I think that is an example of what the chair hog will say...."I was just gone x minutes"....No matter when authorities remove the stuff, the chair hog will come back and not be happy...and therefore, it's a no win for the accused "chair hog" if you remove his stuff.....

29 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

It’s not a no-win situation, it’s a situation where the staff just needs to do the right thing.

What am I missing?  I think the "chair hog" situation is a no-win...because.....

Right Thing:  "Thank you for moving their stuff off the chair because it has been unoccupied for x minutes"

Is someone else's....

Wrong Thing:  "We just went to lunch and the bathroom...where's my stuff and why can't I have my chair back"

Same song and dance for kiddos in the library. Or adults talking loudly in there as well. 

Seems like a "no win" to me....Someone is not going to be happy no matter what is done?  Again, what am I not understanding?