weeislayman

2 hours ago, WriterOnDeck said:

I don't know about the Legendary cruises, as they are fairly new. But the bag has come on all the Grand cruises I've been on, not just the World. I got the same bag on the Grand South America last fall as I just got on the World.

My wife and I are on a ‘Legendary’ cruise just now.  It is a repositioning cruise from Australia to Vancouver.  They just call it ‘Legendary’.  We have done this Repositioning cruise before.  Can’t see any difference.

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Isn't it just as entertaining (if not more so) to have the pianist interact with the AUDIENCE?

 

That's what a good single-piano format is.

I agree.  The most memorable piano entertainment that I recall was Barry.  His interaction with the audience made it more than a bunch of tunes.

1 minute ago, RedIguana said:

Most cruises have a 7 night segment. If he had started "Free Bird" mid-cruise, mot of the passengers would be disembarking before the song was over🤪

Well, he could have skipped the solo at the end.  That would have saved a day or two...:)

On 1/26/2024 at 10:34 AM, JennysUncle said:

Maybe they can get "Barry from Boston" back

Yes, Barry was really good.  While he declined my suggestion that he do 'Free Bird', he did a lot of songs that were suggested,

Thanks 0106....

So, the fares on email are the 'Private' ones?  makes sense.  many thanks...

From time to time, HAL sends us an email, with 'Exclusive' or 'Private' fares.  Email says we need to log on to see them.  When I log on, the fares on the HAL website are same as before - no discount showing.  Is there a way, once logged on, that I can find these fares?

Thanks in advance.

5 minutes ago, Cruise Junky said:

Exactly.  I like my 28 day NS cruise better but flights would be required.  

 

Nice...!  We go home to Scotland most years.  On the way back to Ottawa, we do something on the ground in Europe, followed by a TA to Florida.  Don't mind flying over to Europe, but the boat ride back is quite relaxing.

5 hours ago, Cruise Junky said:

The legendary Med being talked about on the world cruise was longer than this one. And November??  No thank you.  The ports are really disappointing.  No France, no Turkey, Athens the only Greek Stop and only 1 Spanish Port They should be taking advantage of her size not doing the run of the mill ports.  Really disappointed. I was looking forward to this one.  

This is the price they pay by catering to those who don't want to fly to and from the US.  Two Trans Atlantic portions take up a lot of days.  There probably is better value in a Repositioning Trans Atlantic, preceded by a couple of Med cruises. 

19 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Dun Laoghaire  (Dun Leery)

 

 

Arrived off the coast of Dun Laoghaire early, around 7:30 AM.   Dun Laoghaire is pronounced Dun Leery and is a suburb of Dublin - about 8 miles south.   This is a tender port.  

Tender Landing

 

These RIB boats escort every tender to and from the ship.   This is a requirement from the port authority

 

We walked along the streets highlighted in yellow above.

 

The tender landing is a couple of hundred yards from the train station (DART).   A tourist info center is available as you leave the port area, right before the train station.   

Train platform for trains heading to Dublin

 

Many people go to Dublin via train or on HAL tours.   We have been to Dublin several times so we decided to stay in Dun Laoghaire and walk up and down Georges Street.

 

We discovered O’Loughlins, a friendly local pub.  

 

Very crowded inside, but there was a patio in the back with some picnic table seating.   Most people were watching the Scottish Cup semi-finals soccer match between Celtic and the Rangers.  

The patio at O’Loughlins

 

Everyone here was Celtic fans, and we got to pose with their fan club banner.   

 

 

Celtic won the match 1-0 and everyone was happy.    I enjoyed a Guinness beer and the company of several local patrons who were eager to learn more about the Zuiderdam and our cruise.

 

Pouring a Guinness is a two-step process.   They stop with the glass 3/4 and let the foam settle down.  The beer is served cold -- 46 degrees is considered the ideal temperature.

 

Ready to drink after the second step!

 

After we left O’Loughlins,, we stopped by Le Chocolat de Frèd for a very good chocolate crepe.

 

 

We continued down Georges Street to the People's park and browsed the craft market before heading back to the ship.

 

 

Teddy's is a very popular soft serve ice cream place - long lines

 

 

There was a very good local band with dancers on the World Stage this evening.  Great show.

 

Entrance to port area

 

I am glad that you were able to catch the game and some of the fans.  There are Celtic Supporters clubs all over the world.  We watched the game in Ottawa, at the Ottawa Celtic club.  The Celtic v Rangers rivalry is probably bigger than any other sporting event.  Not always safe, but usually good fun.

4 minutes ago, MamSam said:

January 25-June 7 - already booked it

That was quick...

I don't see them on the HAL website.  Did you do it through your TA?

2 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

@The-Inside-Cabin....Pete this is great info....thanks so much for all you do!

I second that.  great stuff, Pete.

One question...any info on the dates of the Pole to Pole?
Ronnie

We got the YF vaccine for the recently completed Volendam Amazon cruise.  This was on our doctor's advice, mostly due to the fact that we were doing an overnight excursion in the jungle.

As is always the case, my (and other folks) experience is of no relevance.  Talk to your doctor and take it from there.

On a westbound transatlantic, the aft cabin was fabulous.  Every morning the pre-sunrise glow woke us.  Fabulous.  Also from the aft cabin, you can see Gibraltar and the lights of North Africa, all at the same time.  Makes the world seem small....

We just completed an Amazon cruise on the Volendam.  Epic...!  Truly amazing...

There is a benefit in doing the Amazon in a boat the size of the Zaandam or the Volendam.  They get into places that bigger ships don't.

That said, no matter the ship, I am sure you will have a memorable trip.

We love these aft balconies.  However, fuel smell and soot is real.  It depends on a number of factors, wind speed and direction, etc.

It all depends on what floats your boat.

New, big, glitzy, they are not, that's for sure.  They don't have many balconies, and their short supply pushes up the prices.

That said, having just spent 35 days on the Volendam, I am reminded of how much I enjoy being on that class of ship.  My wife and I enjoy the unique itineraries that HAL offers...and these have often been on the wee boats.

Having a proper walking deck is great, unlike the maze that is on the likes of the K-dam.

The wee community that  grows among the lanai people, and of course, that ability to go to places that don't allow big ships.

When HAL does finally get rid of these 2 ships, I'm not sure that we will hang around.  Maybe look to Azamara or the like...

So, it depends on what your priorities are.......

7 hours ago, CaliforniaAC said:

Before they call, make sure they have in hand how much they paid for their inside cabin, and what the current price of a balcony is with whatever promos HAL is offering. We have been able to jump a category or two by doing this, and on Princess, we were able to go from a balcony to mini-suite for under $100.00 p/p each. Probably would also be good to check their inventory to see which rooms are available, so if they do upgrade, they know which room is going to suit their needs most.

Probably a (very) dumb question, but....how do you check the inventory?
Thanks.

3 hours ago, claudiaYVR said:

To be honest I don't think they know what they're doing. Let's hope they get their act together soon, there really seems to be no rhyme or reason for this, the only tie-in I can find is to the EU Council who happened to remove the same three countries (Canada, Australia and Argentina) from the list of countries subject to easing of restrictions (this had to do with vaccination status, Covid testing, etc., NOT with banning people from entry altogether) about a month ago.

I presume you are booked on a flight from Canada?  If so, did your airline cancel the flight?  If they didn't, you might want to call them and get their take on this.

I hope that you are able to find a solution....

4 hours ago, summer slope said:

We are booked for the Ft Lauderdale to Honolulu segment.  Deposit taken and Verandah guarantee.  No cabin assigned.

We considered that segment, but ended up booking the whole WC.

I may be in the minority here, but WC segments are a fabulous opportunity to get otherwise unheard of itineraries.  We like to do long land and sea trips.  We spent a month in Australia/NZ, then got on the 2019 WC from Sydney to Amsterdam, and spent a month in Scotland with family.  We love these kind of trips.

Sometimes, I read somewhat negative comments about 'segmenters' on CC.  Our experience was very positive.  The full WC folks were fine, no-one said anything negative to us.  We met nice people, enjoyed their stories of the earlier portion of the WC, and we made good friends.

I just don't understand the thinking that a WC on a 1,200 pax ship is somehow to be only for the 800 or so full WC pax.  It's not a private yacht, and if HAL didn't sell as many cabins as they do, prices for the full WC would be higher.

I am certain that HAL would fill the WC with full WC passengers - if the demand was there.  There are no segments (yet) for 2023 WC, probably due to the large number of folk from cancelled WC's.  No doubt that HAL thinks that the demand isn't there to fill 2024.

3 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

This is apparently a change on HAL's part.  The 2024 WC is also being sold in segments or, as one veteran poster has commented, more like a "HO HO" trip.  Also, there have been posts, pointing that they Grand Voyages usually don't sell out.  I don't know how accurate that is.  I thought that the 2023 WC has been sold out.

Actually, I am a fan of Segments.  That's why I was interested an earlier comment that there would be 2 Segments.  I'd plan some road trips in Australia and NZ, then join the ship for the trip back north.  (If the world is in better shape than it is now, obviously).

HAL will likely hold off and offer the unsold cabins as segments.

 

On 2/1/2022 at 9:28 AM, vinonme2 said:

When I looked earlier this morning it was not on Hal's website, nor on several travel agency websites.

Other than R/T, two segments are also being offered. 

 

I totally agree with you, that long flight is miserable. First time I flew to NZ it was 38 hours from my house till I landed in Auckland - backed up airports, missed flights, rerouted, etc. When I flew back home it took me days to adjust to the time.

 

This is what caught my eye.  2 segments.  Does anyone know if this right?  I would think that HAL would try and sell the entire cruise, before offering segments, but if anyone has info, pricing, etc, please point me in the right direction...
Thanks,
Ronnie

10 hours ago, HAL4NOW said:

Try filtering for cruises in 2024. That should get you to the world cruise segments, as well as the Australia/New Zealand Grand Voyage.

Thanks.  I did that, but no sign of segments.

 so far.

Is there pricing for the segments?  If so, could someone point me to them?  I don't see them on HAL's site.
Thanks.

56 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

We also have a Baltics cruise in May 2022 and just hoping it’s a go.  We’ll definitely hang in until final payment and then make a decision.  We have cancel for any reason insurance, so we could wait it out even longer if necessary.

We are on an Oceania cruise that includes the Baltic in August.  Still hopeful.....

3 hours ago, trixiee said:

We are booked for the July 2022 Viking Passage cruise, but prepared to wait until 2023, if things don't clear up.  We'll need a booster too, as we got 1 Pfizer and 1 Moderna shot.  😪

 

As far as I can tell, you will be fine with that mixture.  What is not accepted is a mix of Astra-Zeneca plus one of the MRNA vaccines.

https://globalnews.ca/news/8086370/mixed-vaccines-travel-policy/