CleverScubaCruiser

On 1/16/2019 at 4:07 PM, CruiserBruce said:

Been in cabanas on 6 different ships...this is the first time I have heard about overbooking. And we have sailed with a cabana on K-Dam. 

 

Did you have it in writing that the cabana you had the first two days was in fact the cabana assigned to you for the third day, or that you simply had a cabana booked, with no assignment?

Our receipt showed that we had rented cabana 2 for all three sea days.

We've just returned from a 9 night sailing on the Koningsdam. While we enjoyed the cruise and found the Koningsdam to be a comfortable ship there was one thing that we found particularly aggravating - they overbook cabanas (at least on the Koningsdam). Since we only wanted to rent a cabana on the three sea days we had to wait until we were aboard ship to do it. Upon boarding we immediately went to Guest Services and booked cabana 2 for all three days. They took our card, entered the appropriate information, charged our account, and handed us a receipt showing the days and cabana number. Everything was fine for the first and second sea days. The cabana workers showed us to our cabana, made sure we had everything, filled the ice bucket and fruit bowl, and took our orders for lunch. At our selected lunch time, they brought our meals and gave us the option of eating in the cabana or using one of the tables. In the afternoon, they served champagne, frozen grapes, and chocolate covered strawberries. The only downside on these two days was having to partially draw the curtains and block the view of the ocean to prevent overexposure to the sun. 

When we arrived on the third sea day we discovered another couple already in our cabana. We had to wait for some time before finally catching a cabana worker (one who had taken care of us on the earlier two days). We pointed out that our cabana was occupied and he stated that the other couple had indeed rented it. He told us that they often overbook cabanas and implied that we were out of luck. When we pressed him he agreed to call his supervisor. His supervisor's solution was to offer to move us to a different cabana (number 10) overlooking the roof of the pool - one that we had rejected when we made our initial selection. They were at a loss when we said that was unacceptable. Finally another couple who had overheard our discussion, offered to move from their cabana (20) to cabana 10. We agreed even though we knew we would once again be on the sunny side. What we didn't know was that cabana 20 was in disrepair with pieces hanging down exposing parts of the structure in serious need of pressure washing or replacing. We spent our last sea day in that cabana but the overall experience was less than expected (and paid for).

My advice if you choose to book a cabana, is to view it as a maybe and not a definite. Plan to arrive early just in case they give it to someone else before you get there. I view this as a very bad practice for Holland America. It definitely lowered our opinion of the cruise line and it really doesn't make sense. After all, they already have your money for the day in the cabana.

Thank you for your candid reply.

We would be looking at the Canada/Bermuda itinerary for the summer of 2018 and this would be my daughter's 4th cruise by then.

 

I guess we will think some more about this cruise as it sounds wonderful and right up our alley in terms of amenities but I do not want to be shunned for bringing a child on board (that is not a fun way to spend 10 days).

I don't think you will be shunned. A few might raise an eyebrow or shake their head a bit but I don't think many would disapprove of a well-behaved, quiet child cruising with them. We had such a child on our last Caribbean cruise. Since this will be your daughter's 4th cruise you will know how she reacts to various situations - very few if any other children aboard, adult focused menus and food, long mealtimes, etc.

Since you are looking at a Canada/Bermuda itinerary my guess would be that there will be fewer young folks aboard than say a Caribbean itinerary.

I would suggest that you look for threads that discuss water levels - especially look for posts from notamermaid as she lives near the river. My take from reading such posts is that there is never a guarantee. Obviously some seasons/sections of the river are more prone to low water issues while other seasons/sections are prone to high water issues. There can also be lock issues that affect river traffic. Note also that due to docking/scheduling issues your boat may move while you are out on a tour necessitating a bus trip to the new location.

Do your research on water levels (your post here is a great beginning), check out which boats and river cruise lines are more susceptible to issues with water level and how they handle such issues, and after you choose a particular cruise, monitor the river condition so that you are prepared for any issues.

If you can, plan a side trip to Porto and spend some time in the cellars there. That's where we were introduced to and fell in love with Port.

Be aware that the location of tables for two in the specialty dining rooms may be less than optimal. I don't know whether it's a factor of the time frame that we reserve (usually 7 or 7:30), the time we arrive (we try to be a few minutes early), or just our dumb luck but most of the time we end up with a table directly beside a wait station (ducking to avoid trays or pulling our chairs uncomfortably close to the table to stay out of the traffic pattern) or a table where one of us has to stare at a wall or post.

We booked a day pass at the Melia. I contacted them directly before booking online just to make sure the site was legitimate. I paid the deposit online and the balance at the hotel. The hotel and grounds are very nice. The adult pool was very crowded and noisy once the music at the bar started. The two family pools were actually less noisy and a bit less crowded. The wait staff around the pool were attentive and efficient (Little Mo especially). We enjoyed our day and would like to go back sometime and stay at the resort.

We purchased a day pass to the Melia on Cable Beach - beautiful property and friendly staff.

You might consider a walking and tasting tour through Old San Juan. My husband and I and 4 others recently did the Sunset Walk and Taste Tour with Spoon Food Tours. On the tour we learned a lot about the history, culture, and architecture of the city while enjoying freshly prepared and locally sourced food at five different restaurants. The walk was mainly downhill and the pace was leisurely. Our guide was a native who knows his city well.

I suggest that you consider a walking and tasting tour from Spoon Food Tours. We did the Sunset Walk and Taste Tour. It was a great introduction to the history of San Juan and the unique flavors and cuisine. The tour included a stop at five different restaurants where the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced. We learned so much on this tour plus we were introduced to several restaurants that if we were staying on the island, we would definitely go back to.

We also did a ship excursion to Scape Park but we opted for just the Juanillo Beach Escape. That gave us 5 hours to enjoy the beautiful beach and amenities of Juanillo Beach.

We just returned from a 10 day cruise on the Oceania Riviera. Punta Cana was one of the ports of call. I couldn't find any private tour options prior to our cruise so we took one of the ones offered onboard - Junillo Beach Escape. After tendering in, we boarded a bus for a 15 minute ride to the beach. The beach was gorgeous - clean white sand, beautiful palm trees, turquoise water - with plenty of comfortable padded loungers and day beds under fabric awnings. There was a restaurant and bar area with bar waiters taking drink orders all day. It was a great, relaxing experience.

Robjame - we enjoyed meeting you at the Meet and Greet and walking/tasting with you through San Juan. We wish you safe travels and calm seas on part 2 of your journey.

You might also consider Total Wine (there's one in Miami Beach). You can order online and pick up your order or possibly have it delivered to the cruise ship - not sure about this option but I seem to remember someone mentioning this in an earlier thread.

Hi WahooNKS,

I'll be on the March 16 Oceania cruise. I booked an independent catamaran cruise in Antigua with Tropical Catamaran Sailing http://www.tropicalcatamaransailing.com/#!"cades-reef--beach"-lunch-cruise-6hr. The company gets good reviews and James is really easy to work with. The cost depends on the number of people and includes lunch and taxi fees.

We found our luggage tags in the mail that was held while we were gone. We did not do the pre-cruise extension so there was no reason for the tags to arrive after our departure.

notamermaid - I read about the peach liquor somewhere on this forum. I don't recall which town we were in but one of the wine shops that we passed had a display highlighting the liquor. We went in and asked if we could sample. It's extremely sweet - the wine shop worker suggested mixing it with some sparkling wine.

We too absolutely loved the Moselle - quiet, wonderful scenery, and nice small towns. We sampled some Cremont and peach liquor and ended up bringing a bottle of the peach liquor home. I think we'll save it for Christmas.

We were actually a little disappointed that they had moved the starting point of the cruise from Amsterdam to Arnhem as we would have liked to spend some time in Amsterdam. The pre-cruise option was Brugges which we decided to forgo. We considered flying into AMS early and spending a few days on our own but the timing just didn't work out. However, seeing the John Frost Bridge and visiting the Liberation Museum were enjoyable substitutes.

Day 14

Around 8:00 a.m. the ship arrived in Breisach. All groups left the ship at 9:00 a.m. headed for Freiburg and our walking tour. Again we had a foggy start but the skies cleared nicely for the remainder of the day. Our tour took us past 2 city gates and eventually to Freiburg’s Munster – a cathedral constructed of red sandstone.

At noon we left Freiburg by bus for the drive to Restaurant Hofgut Sternen for lunch. Once again, this single restaurant easily accommodated our entire group with soup, sausages and sauerkraut, black forest cake, and a selection of wines. After lunch we were free to explore the area and view the largest cuckoo clock, glass blower, and do some last minute souvenir shopping.

We returned to the ship around 3:45 p.m. Evening activities included a lecture on the EU, the Captain’s Farewell Cocktail Hour (both of which we skipped), the daily port talk, and the Captain’s Farewell Dinner.

The ship set sail for Basel a bit after 10:00 p.m.

Day 15

Sometime this morning the ship docked in Basel. At 9:00 a.m. all groups departed by bus for the trip into Basel for a walking tour. Our tour started at a water fountain with all types of interesting devices. From there we walked to the Munster where we were given an explanation of some of the exterior decorations. Then we walked to an overlook to view the river and finally ended at the City Hall. There was an outdoor market on the square near City Hall with fruits and vegetables, cheeses, bakery items, and other food items. Once again we were given the option of returning to the ship at the conclusion of the tour. Alternatively, we could stay and take one of the 2:30, 3:30 or 4:30 shuttles back to the ship. My husband and I elected to stay in town and walk around the market area. Afterward we headed up one of the side streets in search of the Christmas shop that our guide had mentioned. We then continued up the street and found an area that was full of booths sets up on both sides of the street selling all kinds of food, candy, and handcrafts. Today was the start of their Autumn Festival. After grabbing a pretzel with cheese and butter (for me) and a bratwurst (for my husband) we continued walking into a park area with more booths and double-decker carousel. The area was packed and everyone was having a good time on a bright sunny day. We then walked back down to the City Hall area where we happened upon an accordion player in the court area of the City Hall. From the sounds we had heard outside the building we expected to find a string quartet – he was that good. All too soon it was time to head back to the bus parking area for the trip back to the ship.

Tonight was the farewell talk and our final dinner aboard the River Splendor.

Day 16

Debarkation day. Some folks had a 4:00 a.m. departure but this was time change day for much of Europe so everyone got an extra hour of sleep. Our departure was 8:00 a.m. so we didn’t have to have our bags outside the cabin until 7:15 which gave us time for a leisurely breakfast. At 8:00 we watched as our luggage was put on the bus and after an “au revoir” to our magnificent Cruise Director, away we went for the 15-minute ride to the Basel airport.

We flew from Basel to Frankfurt, changed planes and arrived in Orlando about 7:00 p.m.

Day 10

This morning we had a guided tour of Mainz including the cathedral and Gutenberg Museum. The weather was very cool with intermittent rain which made for a rather miserable trek around the city. We were supposed to have some free time but that was not the case. We had to walk to the bus in a hard rain for the drive to Nierstein to meet the ship. Some of the guides took their groups through a parking garage to avoid the rain but ours was not one of them. By the time we reached the bus we were drenched.

In the afternoon, those that had signed up for the optional tour to Speyer left at 1:30 while the remainder of us had the afternoon at leisure. The Speyer group rejoined the ship at Worms and then we sailed on to Karlsruhe. I believe that it was on this stretch of the river that we had to wait about 4 hours to enter one of the locks.

Day 11

The ship arrived in Karlsruhe in the morning. We were supposed to dock in Plittersdorf but something had happened to our docking spot there. Anyway, we left the ship at 8:45 a.m. for the trip to Baden Baden where we visited the Casino and then had a walking tour of this beautiful town. We were once again supposed to have free time but ended up with about 15 minutes before returning to the buses for the ride back to Karlsruhe. We asked Jessica why we were going back to the ship so early since the ship wasn’t leaving Karlsruhe until 11:15 p.m. She said they had to get everyone back for lunch onboard. If we chose to stay in Baden Baden for the afternoon, we would have to take a train back to Karlsruhe. So back we went. Later in the afternoon we decide to take a taxi into Karlsruhe to look around and have dinner. This meant that we skipped the last wine tasting, the galley tour, tea time, and the port talk about the following day.

Around 11:15 p.m. the ship set sail for Kehl.

Day 12

In the morning, the ship arrived in Kehl. Today we had staggered departures for our excursion into Strasbourg where our guide first gave us a brief walking tour that included Petite France. Then we boarded the canal boat for the 1 ¼ hour tour. Finally, we visited the Cathedral de Notre Dame to view the beautiful stained glass windows and the astronomical clock. At this point, those going on the optional Black Forest tour had to return to the ship along with anyone wanting to go back for lunch. Those not on the tour who returned to the ship could take a shuttle back into Strasbourg at 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. My husband and I elected to stay in town for lunch and shopping and take one of the 2:10, 3:10, or 4:10 shuttles back to the ship. We found a restaurant serving crepes and sampled both a savory and sweet crepe. The weather finally decided to improve and the sun started to peek through.

Back on the ship we had some time to relax before the daily port talk. Tonight was the Chef’s Dinner but since the menu didn’t appeal to us, we opted to just snack in our cabin.

Day 13

Today we were again divided into 4 groups with 2 groups leaving at 8:30 a.m. and the remaining 2 groups leaving at 8:45 a.m. for a full day tour to Alsace. Our day started in the fog but once it cleared we were enjoyed a sunny day. Our first stop was Colmar where we were given a walking tour that started in “Little Venice” and eventually ended at the Unterlinden Museum to view the Isenheim Altarpiece. My husband and I decided to bypass the museum visit and start our free time a bit early. On the bus ride to Colmar everyone had received 30 euros for lunch and wine tasting. We decided to use our lunch money to try some tarte flambé and black forest cake. Soon it was time to return to our meeting point near the museum for the walk back to the buses.

After a 30-minute ride through some lovely Alsacian countryside, we arrived at Riquewhir. This was a great town for wine tasting as there are several options available as you walk up the main street. My husband and I decided to try some wines at Famille Hugel which were excellent. On our way back down the street we purchased a sample of Cremont – a sparkling wine – interesting but not our type of wine.

We returned to the ship around 4:15 that afternoon. The ship then set sail for Breisach. Evening activities included a debarkation briefing followed by the daily port talk. After dinner we enjoyed the “One and Only Crew Show” – a series of skits and songs performed by the crew.

Day 6

Early this morning the ship arrived in Schweich. After breakfast we attended a great lecture on the Romans in Germany. Following the lecture, we boarded a bus for the optional full day tour to Luxemburg and the American Cemetery in Hamm. We were pleased to discover that our guide for the day was the lecturer that we had listened to earlier. The bus ride to the cemetery took about an hour. At the memorial, several veterans from our group participated in a wreath laying ceremony after which the director explained two maps detailing the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. As we listened to the director, the weather, which had been very cool and misty, turned to drizzle and then to a full rain which continued as we viewed General Patton’s grave.

From the cemetery we had a 15-minute bus ride into Luxemburg City. Following a walking tour of the city we had some free time to shop and get some lunch (quiche for me and a crepe for my husband). Then it was back to the ship and our departure for Bernkastel-Kues.

After dinner, as the ship was docked in Kues, we decided to go ashore and walk for a while. All the shops were closed but it was fun to look in the windows.

Day 7

At 9:30 this morning we left the ship for a walking tour of the beautiful town of Bernkastel. After the tour we were taken to Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler for a wine tasting. They easily accommodated everyone in our group and we were able to sample 3 wonderful Rieslings. We decided to stay in town for lunch and then returned to Dr. Pauly’s for a glass of wine in the afternoon.

During the day, the ship repositioned from Kues to Bernkastel and then stayed overnight.

Day 8

Today was a full day excursion to Trier. We left the ship at 9 a.m. for the 1 ½ hour ride into Trier. Our first stop was the Amphitheater where it was again very cool and drizzling. After this stop we were given a walking tour of the city that ended at the Porta Nigra followed by some free time for shopping. Shoe shopping seemed to be popular with our group.

Lunch was at G. F. von Nell Weingut. We were a bit concerned about 170 folks descending on a single restaurant for lunch but they were ready for us. We could see and smell the pork steaks sizzling on the swinging grill on the way in. My husband and I thought that this was the best meal of the trip. It also included a wine tasting by course – a total of 6 different wines. All in all, a delightful experience.

We returned to the ship (which was now docked in Zell) around 4:30 and immediately set sail for Boppard.

Day 9 – Sunday

Today we had the special Sunday breakfast with champagne and eggs benedict – a welcome change from the everyday offerings. After breakfast, Jessica (our Cruise Director) gave a short introduction on Boppard. We were then free to go into town on our own and explore. Most of the shops were closed except for a few cafes and a couple souvenir stands. We had to be back onboard at 12:45 as the ship was sailing for Mainz at 1:00 p.m. Lunch today was a Bavarian Lunch Buffet complete with sausage, sauerkraut, and German beer.

This afternoon put us in the castle section of the Rhine. Our cruise director provided commentary as we cruised. The weather was overcast and very cool which made it very cold when out on deck. My husband and I went to the area forward of the lounge which had a glass windbreak. There were a series of heaters above the last row of seats that some passengers utilized. At one point the bar servers brought out glasses of hot chocolate. My layers were not quite enough.

Later in the afternoon we had our second wine tasting session – uniquely German wines.

The ship arrived in Mainz during dinner where it remained overnight.

Tonight was the pub crawl with our Cruise Director and Concierge. Although it sounded like fun we decided to stay aboard.

Day 1

Our flight from Orlando to Frankfurt on Lufthansa left at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. We had upgraded to premium economy and found that the extra space made the flight much more enjoyable.

Day 2

We arrived in Frankfurt around 10:30 a.m. and boarded our flight to Amsterdam. When we arrived Amsterdam around 1:00 p.m. we collected our bags and met the Vantage representative immediately outside of immigration. Once she had collected everyone from the various flights, we boarded a bus for the 1 ½ hour ride to Arnhem where the River Splendor was waiting. We were quickly shown to our cabin and had a few minutes to explore before the Welcome Briefing at 5:30 p.m. Next was a port talk about the following day followed by dinner. After dinner we returned to our cabin and unpacked. The ship remained in Arnhem overnight.

Day 3

We elected to do the Liberation Museum tour which departed the ship by bus at 8:45 a.m. The Museum is a tribute to the troops involved in Operation Market Garden and is hosted by locals. The Museum and memorial are nicely done. After the tour we were returned to the ship for lunch. The ship departed Arnhem at 12:45 p.m. The weather in Arnhem was sunny and warm – one of the best days in terms of weather during the entire trip.

In the afternoon there was a presentation on the optional tours followed by a German lesson. Later that evening was the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail hour, daily port talk, and Captain’s Welcome Dinner.

Tonight was a movie night – “Andre Rieu Concert” – which we enjoyed.

Day 4

The morning and early afternoon were at leisure with no planned activities except a lecture on German wines. This was a special wine cruise so we had a wine expert on board for lectures and tastings.

The ship arrived in Koblenz ahead of schedule so we elected to skip the walking tour and go into town on our own. We took the cable car to the Fortress Ehrenbreitstein to enjoy the panoramic view and explore the fortress. Afterward we walked around town and ate some swineschnitzel and spätzle at a restaurant near the German Corner. Later that evening the ship set sail for Cochem.

Day 5

The ship arrived in Cochem around 7 a.m. and the passengers were divided into 4 groups with different starting times to take a bus to Reichsburg Castle. We toured both the inside and outside of the castle and concluded the tour with a visit by the “lord of the castle” and troubadour offering us a taste of wine in a souvenir glass. At the end of the visit we were surprised to discover that we had two options for getting down from the castle – walk down the path into town (scenic but very steep in some places) or take a bus directly to the ship (thereby missing town entirely). This had been discussed in the port talk which we missed. We decided to take the path and after about a 20-minute walk arrived in town where we had some free time before heading back to the ship for lunch. On our way back to the ship we stopped in at the Mustard Mill. It was very crowded but we managed to try most of the samples and purchase a couple of crocks. At 1:00 p.m. the ship departed for Schweich.

This afternoon we had our first wine tasting – a Rhine Riesling tasting (one of our favorite types).

Evening activities included the daily port talk before dinner and a showing of the movie “Patton” (which we elected to skip).

Overall Impressions

Ship: River Splendor

We found the ship comfortable and well laid-out. Although well appointed, the décor seemed to be a bit understated and plain compared to the ocean-going ships that we were used to. Only once did we have the opportunity to walk through another ship as we were rafted together so we didn’t get to do much comparison.

Cabin:

The cabin (312) was comfortable and fairly roomy. There was plenty of storage under the bed for suitcases. The closet space and drawer areas were adequate for the amount of clothes that we took. I did bring extra hangers with me and they came in handy. There was a digital alarm clock with iPod docking station on the desk.

Electrical outlets:

The desk had 3 European style outlets (one taken by the clock, one by the lamp, and one by the QuietVox charging station) and 1 American outlet. On each side of the bed under the nightstand was another European style outlet. There was an outlet designed for razors in the bathroom.

Bath:

Although the counter space around the sink was somewhat limited there was ample space in the cabinet below the sink. The shower was generously sized with good water pressure.

Dining:

The dining room was nicely appointed with tables for 6 as well as larger tables for bigger groups. The Captain’s table was a long table near the entrance of the dining room. A group of retired FDNY folks on our sailing always had the last two rows of tables reserved at dinner. The noise level in the dining room was always high which made it difficult to converse with your table mates.

There were three options for breakfast – early risers from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m., regular from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. and late risers from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. We always went to the regular breakfast was served buffet style with a selection of hot and cold items and an omelet station (where there was always a line). The selections were always the same except on Sunday when they offer eggs benedict and mimosas.

Lunch included a buffet with salad items, some sandwich items, and a pasta station serving the pasta of the day. A menu was also provided from which you could choose hot or cold soup and an entrée. We found lunch a bit rushed especially if you went for salad or pasta. By the time you came back to your seat the soup was already waiting and before you could finish it the entrée was served. The same items were served in the Captain’s Club as a buffet in a much more relaxed and quieter manner.

For dinner, there were always two menus – a healthy choices option and a regular option – but you could select from either. From the regular menu you could choose between three entrees and two desserts. Appetizers and soups were already determined unless you substituted from the healthy choice menu. Chicken, fish, and beef choices were also always available as were a fresh fruit plate or cheese plate for dessert. The Captain’s Club had a separate menu and reservations were required if you wanted to dine there.

The food was quite good (although I would not say excellent) and well presented. Additional dining choices would have been welcome so we ate off the ship several times or in the cabin with bread, cheese, meat, and wine that we had purchased along the way. We found the room service menu to be very limited and never placed an order.

Service:

The service aboard was excellent. The Cruise Director (Jessica) went above and beyond to ensure that everyone was accommodated and all problems resolved. The housekeeping staff did a great job keeping everything provisioned and sparkling. The wait staff was outstanding and quickly learned your preferences. We had a favorite waiter and chose one of his tables when we could.

I must give a special thanks to Captain Gabor and his crew for working so hard to keep us sailing through low water levels, increased barge traffic, busy locks, and docking changes. Also thanks to Jessica and Ramona (the Concierge) who did a fantastic job rearranging buses and tour guides as the schedule changed.

Notamermaid - interesting information concerning the bomb. We were on the River Splendor last week through that section and were scheduled to dock at Plitterdorf but docked in Karlsruhe instead. We were told only that our Plitterdorf dock was not available.