haligonian37

My sister and BIL patiently waiting on their aft balcony...

Can't wait to see sailaway!  My sister and BIL are finally cruising for the first time since 2019, and were anxious up until this morning when they saw the NS coming in.  I am overjoyed for them and hope for a wonderful cruise for everyone onboard!

My sister and BIL are booked on the Nieuw Statendam Baltic cruise out of Amsterdam in May 2021, which was re-booked from the cancelled May 2020 cruise. While we are faring quite well here in Atlantic Canada, they are not optimistic that they will be sailing in 7 months, but are hoping for the best.

Loving this positive thread, we all need it!

My sister and her husband have used the FCC from their cancelled May Baltic cruise on the NS for the exact same cruise in 2021, same cabin too! Their obc and perks from the cancelled cruise were honoured, so in addition to the "have it all" promo, they are very pleased. And with the leftover FCC, they plan on booking a holiday 2021 Caribbean cruise when they are available.

5 hours ago, The Beaver said:

We will be on this cruise also  and we have told each other that the only thing we can do is to be very vigilant with disinfecting  as your sister is planning to do , whether on board or on land when we will be on excursions. We came back from the Koning last September with a very bad cold , starting on the eve before disembarcation.  

 

I am more worried of catching something  whilst  on a metal tube for my ~ 7 hour flight from Montreal to Amsterdam with a couple of hundred of passengers. Hence I always carry packs  of disinfecting wipes for the IFE, or anything that I have to touch on board because the carriers don't do a good job of cleaning the passengers' areas in between flights and I don't know who has occupied  my seat during the previous flight.

My sister & BIL are of the same mind, flying isn't exactly enjoyable at the best of times and, well, to put it mildly, humans can be disgusting. Unfortunately, it is a necessary evil for travel to Europe unless you can tack on a TA before your cruise (which they did consider!). They always prefer to fly via YUL instead of Pearson but were unsuccessful for this itinerary.

My sister and her husband are booked on the Nieuw Statendam 14 day Baltic cruise departing in early May, which is her dream trip. They are in their mid to late 60's and have had their share of health issues in the past but went ahead with final payment a couple of weeks ago (and have cancellation/medical insurance up the wazoo). They plan on being hyper vigilant with disinfecting when/where possible and, as my sister (a cancer survivor) said: "we're going and it will be fabulous; what will be, will be".

While it took a bit of convincing from my two friends, my first ever cruise was on the Westerdam on Superbowl Sunday, Feb. 4th of last year. It was a 7 day Eastern Caribbean itinerary with stops in the Turks & Caicos, Tortola, St. Martin and of course, HMC.

Did it get me hooked? I believe that would be the understatement of the year for me :) One reason I had taken that cruise was in memory of my mother, who had passed away less than a year before. She had traveled with her own mother to Hawaii and the Caribbean when I was just a toddler and would still talk about those trips more than 30 years after with as much excitement in her voice as when she had returned. With my next cruise (albeit with one of those other cruise lines....but I'll be back to HAL in Feb & Sept./08) I'll be visiting the birthplace of my grandmother (Fort Ricasoli in Valletta) and I'm beyond excited!

While it took a bit of convincing from my two friends, my first ever cruise was on the Westerdam on Superbowl Sunday, Feb. 4th of last year. It was a 7 day Eastern Caribbean itinerary with stops in the Turks & Caicos, Tortola, St. Martin and of course, HMC.

Did it get me hooked? I believe that would be the understatement of the year for me :) One reason I had taken that cruise was in memory of my mother, who had passed away less than a year before. She had traveled with her own mother to Hawaii and the Caribbean when I was just a toddler and would still talk about those trips more than 30 years after with as much excitement in her voice as when she had returned. With my next cruise (albeit with one of those other cruise lines....but I'll be back to HAL in Feb & Sept./08) I'll be visiting the birthplace of my grandmother (Fort Ricasoli in Valletta) and I'm beyond excited!

I have to agree, this is a great idea for a thread....only two weeks to go!

May 23 - fly from Halifax to Seattle (oh joy!)

May 24 - board the Oosterdam!

May 25 - at sea (zzzzzzzzzz)

May 26 - Juneau: Harv & Marv's whale watching tour/Mendenhall Glacier

viewing/Mt Roberts tram (if time/weather permits)

May 27 - Hubbard Glacier cruising

May 28 - Sitka - Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest

May 29 - Ketchikan - Rain Forest Canopy & Zipline Expedition (I must be

insane!)

May 30 - Victoria - nothing booked as of yet, looking for ideas!

May 31 - Return to Seattle :(

June 1 - remain in Seattle

June 2 - fly home to Halifax

June 3 - start countdown to Mediterranean cruise!

Orient Bay beach in St.Martin.....I knew it was clothing optional, but somehow I wasn't expecting to see this! (and no, I never did see him from the front)

Sign above the toilet on HAL's Westerdam....."Oh great, now what will I do with my empty bottles?"

I have my booking number; the final payment isn't due until August for my Oct. cruise on Westerdam. The excursions are not yet available to book. For last year's Princess cruise, I could book excursions immediately. When is it "normal" for HAL's excusion booking to become available? Hope it will be activated after final payment in August.

From what I've read on the boards, I believe excursions are available about 6 months prior to sailing....I don't think making the final payment is necessary in able to book them. I know myself, I've been counting the days until those cabanas are available.:)

We've had a variety of combinations: NLLLNL that you mentioned, but also NLLLLL, NLNLLL, and NLNLNL. The only thing they all have in common is that the first character has always been 7. I was wondering if that denoted my section of the country or world, maybe. :)

Who knows how they pick those numbers, perhaps out of a hat? :p My booking # for my upcoming cruise has a totally different placement of numbers and letters from my last booking #.

For our upcoming cruise, my friends (from Seattle) and I (from Halifax)have the exact same first 3 numbers/letters combo (7/letter/7) followed by a different combo (letter/#/letter). If anything, it makes them easier for me to remember. :)