cruz chic

Thx for the update. One of my favorite Mexican ports is Hualtulco.

you should get a special embarkation - you should be escorted on to the ship. If others are travelling with you, they can accompany you:)

 

If things are backlogged, not great, but if all is good, it is very nice - you will bypass the lines for pics (unless you want one), meet the Neptune staff if your room isn't ready - otherwise be taken to your room.

 

My biggest suggestion - do dining one night in your room. You need to arrange in advance, but your room will have most of the stuff you need. If you have friends or find them, invite them. The table will be set up as nice (if not nicer) than the dining room.

 

Ask for course by course dining. With a dining room table it' a real joy. And you are still under the old policy so you can use your own special wines.

 

We had a blast last time. Of course we tip for the service - it's not required of course - and I leave that to your good judgement.

 

Also, if you have any issues in the MDR, leave your key card on the table ;)

 

It never hurts.

 

PS is fun. We have never 'milked' it but somehow they knew.

 

I think you are going to have fun. If I can help in any other way, please ask.

 

We haven't had a lot of PS's Just one on the Zuiderdam and one on the Prinsendam. We hesitated with the Prinsendam but once we were on and could host our cc friends and the wine tasting - we never regretted it. (all upsells and all with a TA btw)

 

Enjoy:):)

I'm sorry, but I think flashing your card is sort of bad form to me. It's kinda like hey look at me. I think it would be better to fill out a comment card.

I agree, I really like the No Sugar added Black Forest Cake :)

As much as I have always loved HAL I will be the first to admit the desserts have never been good:( As others have said they are tasteless or they always look really good but taste nothing like they look. One of the reasons the Dessert Extravaganza to me is definitely no big deal. Now the cruise line that the desserts have always been really good has been Norwegian or at least for me. That first night Key Lime Pie is totally amazing :D

Desserts were very good about 10 -15 years ago.

On the second formal night in the MDR on the Westerdam they had a chocolate tartlet with ganache that was to die for. So smooth and rich! Yummy! Other than that, I was pretty disappointed with desserts on the ship. They were pretty bland and the cakes had a weird soggy consistency

I believe they did have that on the Eurodam. It was fine but nothing exception to me.

I asked the question because I don't allow myself to eat deserts except when on vacations. Now I must have the rm. service chocolate cake, and hopefully will be able to enjoy the chocolate purse. I remember a small chocolate souffle' style thing with warm chocolate inside. Was this the volcano by chance? I guess you can tell I'm really a chocolate person....strange since I didn't eat chocolate at all until in my 60's! Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I'll broaden my taste this cruise and branch out a bit!

I did not see the chocolate purse on my Eurodam cruise in October.

OP and Ruth hope you both have a wonderful cruise.

I specifically asked if smoking was allowed in the retreat and was told no. That was last November. Either things changed or the cabana guys just didn't say anything.

There were, in July, ashtrays on the railing in the stair area, and people were smoking there. There is also smoking on the deck above the Retreat.

 

Doesn't mean we liked it. Just the facts.

I'm assuming outside the cabana area then? I don't know why someone would want to smoke in such a small area but maybe I'm not remembering the layout correctly.

Please - no popcorn necessary. Just a quick question for anyone who has rented a Retreat Cabana (Observation Deck) on the Eurodam. I need to know if smoking is allowed in the area of the Cabanas. Thank you.

 

From HAL's website, it sounds like it is allowed: "The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted."

 

• Stateroom verandahs
  
• Casino (Active players only)
  
• Seaview Bar
  
• Outside Decks
  
  • Sports Deck
    
  • Observation Deck (ms Prinsendam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Westerdam, and ms Zuiderdam only)
    

You can't smoke in the cabana area itself and I think it would be pretty hard to smoke around it. I never smelled it once and I have to say I'm pretty smoke intolerant.

Touch the HANDLE of the scoop & the scoop is kept in a 'holder'! ;)

Yeah, that keeps everything clean:rolleyes:.

I am going to be really disappointed if the desserts are not good. I never eat dessert except on vacation.

You'll likely be disappointed. Years ago they used to be good. Finally tasted the room service chocolate cake when I had lunch in my room one day. Everyone raves about it so I took one for the team. That was good cake.

I do, too. I wonder why it is that the "no sugar added" desserts taste better than the others :confused: At least they do to me!

Maybe they load up on the fat to make it taste good:D:p.

I'm delighted nothing tempts me. When I stopped ordering desserts, it was because though some looked good, most have no taste. If you don't put good ingredients in, you don't get a delicious result when cooking or baking. Ingredients and/or pre-purchased cakes/pies etc are not what they used to be nor is their ice cream IMO

 

Totally agree.

I used to love the Cappuccino Bombe. I hadn't seen it for years but I barely read the dessert menu these days. There are very few that interest me. No where nearly as good as they used to be IMO

 

You're not missing much. I love desserts but I don't eat sugar at home unless it's a major holiday. When I eat it I want it to be really good. Hal had a caramel chocolate dessert on the Eurodam that made me want to lick the plate:D. Can't recall what it was called but it was good. That's rare on Hal.

We'll be on the Veendam:)

Thx. I hope you'll come back and let us know if you liked it or not:D;)

Thank you! We can't wait!! Not sure exactly what to expect:D

We have only done Neptune Suites. Just hope that our luggage doesn't get lost;)

It's the first time I've ever lost anything in a cabin:D. I could have used the PH on my last cruise. I would have a a dinner party in there with some fun peeps that I met. Didn't meet anyone fun on the Oosterdam. What ship is this?

I remember a poster on this board that ripped me a new one because I dared to say HAL employees make a lot of mistakes. How dare I :D. This goes to show how uninformed they are about simple questions.

For most of my cruises I booked insides. My dream was always to have a balcony. I did that for my 50th birthday almost 3 years ago. I never dreamed that I would ever sail in the PS but I did this year. It really is amazing and everyone should experience it at least once. I'm ok if I don't have it again but now I want to sail in Neptune suites. It's addictive. Congrats and have a great cruise.

I see a business opportunity, soon the cruise lines can begin selling ice packages, with concierge ice service. There can be different levels of service, frequency of ice delivery and cost, and possibly a card, at the lowest level. Different bucket sizes and appearances will be marketed as part of the service. A 15% gratuity will be added.

Love it:D:D!!

I wonder why they took the onion soup off the dinner menu but still serve onion soup at lunch in Pinnacle? I missed it as I often ordered that with my dinner.

 

Pinnacle is open some port days but not all. Check the program or as suggested, check with the Pinnacle Manager about which days they will serve lunch.

 

 

 

The soup is more of a blended one at lunch. I'm assuming the one at dinner was French onion? Maybe that is why.

But you do touch the scoop, leaving your germs, and picking up the germs others have left. :rolleyes:

Exactly.

Substandard ship maintenance, a smoking policy from the dark ages, and a declining 'value for money proposition' (based on our preferences and tastes) has reduced our inclination to sail with HAL in favour of other cruise lines, including Celebrity.

 

We still consider HAL, but not to the same degree that we used to. There are a lot of great ships and cruise lines out there. We sometimes wonder if HAL is aware of the competition.

 

For our taste, Celebrity's Solstice class ships are far and away the best ships in their class. Very innovative with well though out public areas and traffic flow.

Celebrity has also had maintenance issue with their ships.

I suspect, but could be very much mistaken, that those who always carry their passports tend to enjoy pursuits ashore that enable them to more easily keep their passports with them and secure at all times.

 

Thoughts? Might there be a correlation?

 

In my case that is true. I almost always have my passport on me and don't leave it lying around anywhere.

Not everyone has the interest, or ability, to take their ice bucket down to a lounge or the Lido. If you do, fine for you, but that doesn't mean others shouldn't ask their stewards for ice when it's needed.

 

Just so long as you don't mean "down" to the stewards' station. Passengers do not belong in there ever.

It grosses me out thinking of pax going into that area. I can imagine how many germy hands go in there. I think it s/b locked because many people are pigs and don't have any idea what soap and water are used for:rolleyes:.

How terrible. My thoughts are with them.