Ride-The-Waves

Appreciate everyone's assistance.  So far, no joy!  Even tried the website "chat" function and that didn't work.

Yes.  Have been trying for days to access flight bookings and nada.  Website puts me in a "do loop" or sends me to a page that cannot be accessed.  Simply trying to look at flight options appears to be something HAL is not interested in passengers having access to.  It is horrible, especially for a cruise line/business that prides itself on customer service. Even the website "chat" function is not active.  What gives HAL?

Have been trying to reset my HAL password for 4 days.  No joy.  Not critical - yet, but have an upcoming trans-Atlantic and need to arrange one-way airfare.  "Forgot" password link ends in gibberish.  Called and spoke with a HAL representative and told she would fix it and provide me with a functioning link.  Nope - never happened.  Not sure why.  From my perspective this is simply HAL lying to me to get me off the phone.  Password reset should be one of the easiest things an IT shop can do.  Anyone else have similar experienced with HAL's website?

Flight Ease is a consolidator bring ing together and offering options from multiple airlines.  These cruise line consolidators can provide a excellent options on both round trip and one-way airfares.  We use them frequently especially on one-way flights to Europe to accommodate the reverse leg of a trans-Atlantic cruise.  Their best deals are in the premium categories (Business and Premium Economy classes).

A good place to start looking at airfare is google.com/flights.  That said, flights are usually not available for research/booking until 330 days out.

We have flown to/fm Europe out of Miami, Orlando and Tampa.  Orlando and Miami offer good options for flights and airlines offering non-stop routing with major European cities.  We have also flown TAP (Air Portugal) which has direct flights from Miami (and NYC and Boston) via Lisbon to major European cities and good business class pricing.

Royal is thinking for charging anyone wearing green on St Paddy's day $10!

A third-rate action for a fourth-rate cruise line.  True bottom dwellers.  And we use ti like Royal.  No more.

Today traveling in Egypt is as safe as traveling in Europe or North America.  Because of the time/distance I would opt for a private tour by a reputable tour agency.  Actual drive time Alexandria-to-Giza is just over 2 hours going around Cairo.  Definitely worth it.  And, yes, if claustrophobic I would advice against the inside climb of the Great Pyramid.  For those who can that is another unforgettable trek.  And suggest staying away from the camels...

We receive hard copy solicitations but not emails.  Some of it large glossy brochures for cruise lines we would never consider sailing.  It is not easy to get off their mailing lists.  Must be less expensive to creat and mail a brochure than to delete an address...

13 hours ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

Lets don't oversell O to those who have not experienced an O cruise.  We have cruised for decades and enjoy nice cabins, good food and great itineraries, and not "loyal" to one cruise lines.  Last year we did a TA on Riviera followed several months later by a Panama Canal transit on HAL Zaandam.  Similar sized ships.  We found Zaandam significantly better to include food especially in the specialty restaurants.  "O" has coined the advertising slogan of "best cuisine at sea."  It is not, especially when including ambiance of the restaurants.  "O's" specialties are crowded, table to close together, compared to Zaandam.  And the noise levels in the specialties is nearly unbearable, so bad that we did not return to one for a second meal.  Tables in the buffet are also too close together miming access and forcing diners to walk circuitous routes to tables.  We found the suite cabin adequate but nothing special.  Dining room crew were even a bit "uppity" to guests.  "O" is not a panacea.  Azamara is much better and friendlier.  Even HAL's Zaandam is superior.

Correction: the "O" ship was Marina.

On 8/5/2023 at 3:25 PM, ORV said:

The bigger question is why do people insist on calling in to Oceania when they can get a quicker and more accurate answer here. But if you really want to get bad information try using Mark Z's platform. Wow, wow, wow. Are people stupid or do they give wrong information on purpose?

WOW!  These board offer opinions, not facts.  Facts on a specific cruise question is much better answered by the cruise company, not some random commentary on CC.  Especially on a thread created to praise "O" - you will not find an unbiased answer.

Lets don't oversell O to those who have not experienced an O cruise.  We have cruised for decades and enjoy nice cabins, good food and great itineraries, and not "loyal" to one cruise lines.  Last year we did a TA on Riviera followed several months later by a Panama Canal transit on HAL Zaandam.  Similar sized ships.  We found Zaandam significantly better to include food especially in the specialty restaurants.  "O" has coined the advertising slogan of "best cuisine at sea."  It is not, especially when including ambiance of the restaurants.  "O's" specialties are crowded, table to close together, compared to Zaandam.  And the noise levels in the specialties is nearly unbearable, so bad that we did not return to one for a second meal.  Tables in the buffet are also too close together miming access and forcing diners to walk circuitous routes to tables.  We found the suite cabin adequate but nothing special.  Dining room crew were even a bit "uppity" to guests.  "O" is not a panacea.  Azamara is much better and friendlier.  Even HAL's Zaandam is superior.

In past years before the hiatus we would bring a small container of CoffeeMate to breakfast, usually doing a decent job of killing the taste of the syrup RCI uses for coffee...  Only problem is remembering to take the container back to the cabin...

18 hours ago, edrussell said:

Yes, but were you on the president's cruise?  You must always state that to ensure you get the proper attention.  

We were on one once - years ago.  Had been complimentary upgraded to the biggest suite and remember that the crew constantly reminded us that the next "guest" was important and not to touch anything...  I'm sure El Presidente will have little or no connection with day-to-day activities or experience anything like a "normal" guest.  His suite will be cleaned 4-times a day!

Hilarious!  Its called "Marketing" and companies, including RCI, lie through their teeth.  RCI caters to "bottom feeders" so they know that no one will sue over "marketing" transgressions.  In thee olden days we started sailing with RCI.  Good ships then, and good crews.  Today RCI doesn't care about legacy passengers.  It all about enticing newbies to make one cruise, and get their money.  Much harder to pull the wool over an experienced cruiser...  Haven't cruised RCI in a decade or so - last time was horrible with dining in the MDR being so loud you could not hear the person next to you. then ad in bad food and service.  Spouse's friends have enticed her back onboard a TA this Fall and, ugh, I'm going.  Intend to spend my time reading in the overpriced cabin.  RCI has definitely destroyed the concept of elegant cruising.

Think about this.  Crew are professionals.  Just as you consider yourself a professional at your place/vocation of work.  Do you want to be paid in "candy?" I sure don't!  Give them the extra gratuity in currency!

We are seniors and when traveling factor in business class in our costs to get to/fm cruises.  There are several good airlines flying across the Pond which offer good options, to include Air Portugal (TAP) and Turkish airlines.  Also check co-share flights.  Several years ago who booked an Antartica cruise and discovered that flying on a US carrier was triple the cost of flying Aerolineas Argentinas code-share on the same airplane/flight between MIA-EZE-USH.  

Just another effort by Royal to nickel and dime passengers.  Soon they will be charging for water to drink and every flush.

Welcome to Florida!  Hotel rates can nearly double during winter months when snowbirds head south for warmer climes.  Has nothing to do with cruising.  Its just greed.

20 hours ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

We've done a Neptune Suite a couple of times (after Viking) mainly because of access to the concierge, but are moving to Oceania, because we consider it an upgrade at a similar price. 

Last 7 months we have sailed Oceania Marina and HAL Zaandam.  Similar sized ships.  We found HAL's offering superior to Oceania: better food, friendlier crew, and more amenities.  Marina's specialty restaurants were terrible, too crowded, far too noisy, poor service and so-so food.  Not what we expected when we booked Oceania.  For us, sailing Oceania is a suite was not an upgrade.

Do it!  Both knees replaced.  Second one was 3.5 months prior to an Antarctica cruise with Zodiac landings on Antarctica south of the Antarctic Circle.  First two weeks after surgery are the most challenging.  The rest is PT and gaining confidence.  Age 73 at the time.

9 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Thank you for taking the time to respond. My cruise will be on one of O's smaller ships, so I'm not sure how it will compare in terms of feeling crowded. This isn't something that bothers me overmuch. Dining in most restaurants now is predicated on having a certain noise level or "buzz" in the place. Do I miss the old days of having well separated tables, padded surfaces, heavy drapes/wall coverings?  Yes -- but things change. 

 

You did not mention much about the main dining room -- did you eat there? I've read reviews saying the tables are "well spaced" compared with other lines. I've not been on Zaandam so it is difficult for me to compare, but I certainly did not think there was a lot of space between tables in the MDR on other HAL ships.

 

I guess you'd say I am a foodie. I enjoy and actively pursue good dining experiences and eat a wide variety of dishes on a regular basis -- I am lucky to live in a city with a very large ethnic population, so Indian and various Asian cuisines are handy and authentic. As is good regional Southern cuisine -- just a few days ago I found out that the restaurant a block from me where I often eat just won a James Beard award for 2023. I also love traditional rich French/Continental cuisine, and have spent a lot of time traveling in Italy too.

 

I have cruised for a long time; started at age 8 or 9. And back then, dinners were quite formal affairs -- we had at least 5 courses every evening and on formal nights there were more. I learned to eat caviar and escargot while kids my age were eating hot dogs and hamburgers.

 

For me, one of the things I always enjoyed about dining on a ship in the past was the fact that (for better or worse) kitchen labor was relatively cheap and plentiful, and so cruise lines could "afford" to create and offer the classic continental dishes that require intensive preparation (e.g., Beef Wellington, duck confit) or sauces that were complex and flavorful. I could eat rich food day after day. I am not a "steak and chop" person -- any fool with a fire can grill a steak, but it takes a level of talent and experience to create a good mother sauce.

 

On Westerdam, as I said, the food wasn't terrible, but with a few exceptions it was fairly basic. A hunk of meat, a few vegetables that were not trimmed to be even close to the same size, a flavorless brown sauce, a non-memorable rice or potato alongside. The cream soups were okay but any broth-based soup tasted terribly bland and watered down, as if they had used water and not broth to make it. I don't know how they are making their Beef Wellington these days but it should be removed from the menu -- it bears no resemblance to the real article. 

 

Neither Tamarind nor Canaletto was remotely authentic. Canaletto -- okay, some like homey Italian-American, I get it. But being in Asia, with many Asian crew and availability of Asian ingredients makes it hard to understand why Tamarind was so....average. No spice to speak of either time I dined there, other than what was to be found in the three little bowls provided with my shrimp cracker.

 

So, as you can see, I am hoping for something more from Oceania's food. But I also am tempering my expectations as I suspect it will not be as good as I would like for it to be... 😐

 

 

 

 

 

We are Azamara fans - O's smaller ships.  Always good eating, always well presented with great fanfare by the kitchen and wait staffs.  Have not sailed Azamara since the pandemic but hope to return in the future.

7 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Thanks for that. Good bread/bakery items are a BIG plus in my book!

 

Agree.  Thought the bakery items on Zaandam were excellent with good selection.  Have read that HAL's larger ships enjoy expanded bakery items as well as Dutch treats.  

18 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Could you elaborate more on the food comparison between HAL and Oceania? I have recent experience on HAL and I have an upcoming cruise on Oceania (August) with another potential one in the works. I'm not sure I want to commit to it without previous O experience, so I am trying to get a sense of what the real differences are with the cuisine and dining experience. 

 

I realize things are subjective -- for example, noise in a MDR setting doesn't bother me overmuch unless it is a cacophony of banging dishes and serving trays.  But could you share what you meant by "better" food?  I was not impressed with HAL's food offerings on Westerdam in April, but I wasn't unhappy either. I'd rate them a solid 6 to 7 out of 10 on most nights. Celebrity would rate at least a point higher.

 

Edited to add:  Just to be clear, I am rating based on comparisons across various ships, not in comparison to land-based meals.

 

 

Good question.  First, I am not a "foodie."  My observation is based on how the food is cooked, which impacts taste, and presentation.  The locale (restaurant) is also important.  Another note: I am not a "foodie" but have had the opportunity to eat at "state level" events outside the US, events where a senior US official is hosted to an elaborate lunch/dinner by a counterpart.  I understand "good" food.

The specialty restaurants on Marina are designed to serve the maximum number of people as possible (maximize profit).  Tables are crowded together to the point where its is difficult to reach your table and more importantly difficult for servers.  This is true in the buffet as well as the specialty restaurants.  In comparison the specialty restaurants on Zaandam have well spaced tables as does the buffet.  

We found the servers on Marina a bit gruff.  No accommodation of any kind, even by request.  Example: my spouse asked for "pink" sugar substitute (blue and yellow on the table) was rebuffed.  "Pinks" were readily available but the server didn't want to extend himself to retrieve them.

As I mentioned, I am not a foodie so stick with the basics.  And on Marina was very "basic" in taste and presentation.  Food was not prepared to that ordered: steaks (fillet) were undercooked and vegetables over cooked in any cases.  Soups, for me, are usually telling.  Better prepared and tastier to me on Zanndam.

We found the selection in Zaandam much wider that that offered on Marina.  More choices and better prepared.  This especially includes that buffets.

Ambiance plays a large part in restaurant enjoyment.  Marina was lacking with its noisy and too closely arranged tables.  Maybe the worst specially restaurant experience ever on a cruise ship in Marina's Italian restaurant.

My experience on the seas?  First "cruise' I remember was a transatlantic in 1949.  Family made about ten crossings in the early 1950s, First Class, where you were called to dinner by a waiter walking the passageways playing a xylophone.  Elegant settings.  Perfectly cooked and well presented delicacies.  I  also served 30 years in the US Navy.  Always great food on the table even in the "buffets."

On 4/9/2023 at 5:56 PM, MISTER 67 said:

You cant go wrong with any HAL Vista or Signature class ship, unfortunately the rest of the HAL product is lacking when it comes to food and entertainment.

Recently home from a Panama Canal transit on the fine ship.  Comfortable, excellent venues, wonderful food and entertainment.  Previous cruise a Transatlantic on Oceania Marina, a cruise line which advertises itself as having the "finest cruise at sea."  We much enjoyed Zaandam's restaurants over Marina's - more elegant, "better" food and much less noisy.  Tables on Marina were so close together and thus to close to others that one could not carry on a conversation with one's tablemate.  And the crew on Zaandam was always ready to help us anywhere on the ship.  

On 4/9/2023 at 5:56 PM, MISTER 67 said:

You cant go wrong with any HAL Vista or Signature class ship, unfortunately the rest of the HAL product is lacking when it comes to food and entertainment.

Recently home from a Panama Canal transit on the fine ship.  Comfortable, excellent venues, wonderful food and entertainment.  Previous cruise a Transatlantic on Oceania Marina, a cruise line which advertises itself as having the "finest cruise at sea."  We much enjoyed Zaandam's restaurants over Marina's - more elegant, "better" food and much less noisy.  Tables on Marina were so close together and thus to close to others that one could not carry on a conversation with one's tablemate.  And the crew on Zaandam was always ready to help us anywhere on the ship.