Tampa Girl

Apparently not too significantly. Take a peek at a very recent posting on the VOV's 2023 roll call re private tours and the M&G..

Perhaps HAL is getting tired of attending these functions and listening to the attendees exchange information regarding independent tours, which compete directly with HAL excursions. I never cease to be amazed at this.

There is, IMHO, considerable differences in a Grand Voyage. We took the 2018 Grand Asia. There were more educational speakers; greater variety in menus, with recipes and ingredients reflecting the various foreign ports; formal/gala night gifts; theme nights; and various perks not available on regular cruises, including luggage delivery, complimentary bottles of liquor, etc. I cannot comment on the entertainment because we normally do not go to the shows. However, we did so on the Grand Asia and found them very enjoyable. They frequently would have dancers and musician from the local ports, displayng their unique entertainment. What we most enjoyed, however, was the camaraderie and "community feel" of these voyages. We are eagerly looking forward to a repeat Grand Voyage.

What makes you think that this an HAL "practice", rather than simply an error?

I am not sure what you are referring to as "particulate", but I have never seen soot, smoke, or other matter coming from the funnel.

Since the purchase of the drinks were on an honor system, I assume that the concierges did not have the ship's cards to register the drinks automatically. At any other bar throughout the ship, you have to have the card. Lacking that, there is a lot of additional work on the part of the concierges to enter the information manually, so I can understand why that might be a reason for the change.

Sorry, the word should have been "price!" Hate Google's automatic word correction.

That is a regular balcony on the R class (Zaandam). They add the word "suite" so it gives you double points, but it is the only balcony class on that ship, except for Neptune Suites and Pinnacle cabins. Cabins on the R class, unfortunately more than the large ships because they can't hold as many passengers. However, the balconies on the R class are larger than on even the Vista class, although not by much. I would think that $1399 for the "vista suite" is a good prince for 14 days?

I don't know about the lanais, but the former S class and what's left of the R class (Zaandam and Volendam have the original verandah, which they call verandah suites. Since these cabins predate the verandah and verandah suites now found on the newer ships, I would consider Zaandam's verandahs to be the "regular" ones. Don't the Vista class ships only have one verandah class, as well? Were you asking for "regular verandah rooms" or just "verandah?" Perhaps there may have been confusion on the part of your PCC or TA?"

It is probably a casino cruise. I just took one in March, to the Caribbean, same details. I did not think that it was just for Mariners, although we are 5*. Were you told that by HAL? When I asked about our March '23 cruise, the rep told me that HAL really doesn't know how Casino picks the chosen. I have since received one more and another "free inside" from HAL directly, which is slightly different and carries a different code. Enjoy! It is a good deal.

Thank you, Mary. I like your "alternative concept" to cruising. That is also DH's and, for the most part, mine as well. So I we should do fine. As for the camaraderie in long cruises, we discovered that years ago, and have been impatiently waiting for HAL to schedule another Grand Asia. We took the 90-day in 2018 and would love to recreate the "our own little community" feeling. For some strange reason, however, I don't foresee another Grand Asia in the near future. Thanks again for your response.

DH and I are booked on the September, 2024, Zaandam, 51-day cruise. However, our days in the sun are long gone, thanks to skin cancer. And we don't snorkel. We have been to some of the islands as day excursions from other cruises, and we do like the South Pacific. However, can we , realistically expect fo enjoy 51 days of the South Pacific when we won't be engaging in any of the water sports, other than swimming? This is an expensive trip, and if one has to engage in water sports to appreciate the islands, it would be a waste of money. Would appreciate your opinions, pls. Thanks.

My mistake. I guess it was the narrowness in places that was reported by several people as not being comparable to the prior classes' full promenade.

I have avoided all the Pinnacle ships for a few reasons: I do not enjoy being on large (compared to Vista class or R class) because: 1) Many ports are closed to them and even when not closed, the smaller class ships find themselves at other than the primary pier, necessitating long walks or cabs to get into town; 2) we like long cruises, and I fear that it is more difficult with that many people to develop the "community" flavor of a group which has been together for several weeks. The "community" feeling is one of the joys of long cruises; 3) the promenade deck is not 360; 4) the cabins appear to be smaller, and I want a larger, not smaller, cabin for long cruises; 5) and, finally, I simply do not like crowds - just too many people. We recently sailed on the Eurodam, which was the largest HAL ship that we have been on. It took me a while to get used to it, but I did and enjoyed it. But even that size is not good for a lot of ports. Either the ship would not be allowed in port or it is moored away from the center of town. For our purposes, the Vista class or, preferable the R class, fit our sailing preferences. For those reasons we chose the R class Zaandam's 51-day South Pacific.

My thoughts, exactly. We are booked on the 51-day cruise on the Zaandam, in September, 2024. I would have liked the 35-day, but not on the Koningsdam, or any other Pinnacle class ship.

As would I! Thanks for the explanation.

What is your definition of substantial?

I think that most experienced cruisers would agree that taking clothing which wrinkles "galore" is ill advised. Not only does linen wrinkle, but it is heavier than polyester or other non-wrinkle fabrics. Enjoy your linen dress at home and splurge on a new, non-wrinkle dress. For that matter, a good quality cotton dress travel easily. At least my Indonesian cotton dresses do.

Thanks, Ruth. Great idea!

We will be flying to Amsterdam in August, but the ship leaves from Rotterdam. Having never seen Amsterdam, we will be staying there for three days before taking a cab to Rotterdam. Since the departure city is not Amsterdam, we are out of luck, I assume? BTW, how did you like the Movenpick? Was it convenient for bus, train, subway, canal tours, etc?

Thank you. We will try it for our Athens cruise in October. Does anyone know what hotel HAL uses in that city?

Never having booked anything through HAL, I was unaware that one can book hotel separately. Is this done through Flight Ease, through a TA, or through HAL directly?

That has been my experience, as well. Usually our OBC's come from HAL, and they have always been used for crew appreciation.

For a HAL cruise??? Or were you just being cute?c

we found the selection of non-fiction to be quite adequate on the Eurodam, as well DH, who is an avid reader, spent most of our 10-day cruise reading the history of the Vikings. As for travel books, that is the last thing I want to read while on a cruise. By the time that I have boarded, I have studied all the travel info that I want, at least for the time being. Instead of criticising HAL's new libraries, I am so grateful that they are being rejuvenated and also that there is a section for used books. Can't we give HAL a little bit of credit for responding to years of criticism for removing the former libraries