Bubba54

We decided to surprise my brother for his 50th birthday. With his wife help she told him she was taking him to Seattle for a few days without the kids. When they showed up we greeted them at the airport. We told my brother we just crashed the party. We spent a couple of days in Seattle and then we started driving to Vancouver. We told him the night before we were just going up the coast a little. Just short of the border we stopped at a coffee shop and we gave him his boarding pass and luggage tags. He became very emotional and just kept saying I can't believe it, I'm going on a cruise!

Six months of planning and scheming and we actually pulled it off. We had a great cruise.

I think this is just another example of customer no service by NCL. It seems to becoming a regular occurrence with them. I've had a few issues with them myself. Hope it all works out for you.

We always go to mendenhall when we are in port unless the weather is terrible. We take the one of the buses right by the ships. It is currently $15 each way. I believe it is worth seeing.

We are currently on the pearl. We have an inside cabin. It is noisy, all the time. Occasional loud bangs.

I almost bought an invitation watch at one of those sales. Decided against it. Glad I did now! Thanks for the info

I have heard that Phoenix rising is currently on the Island. This is second hand info.

I've been cruising over 30 years and have gone on over 100 cruises. I am elite on Princess, Diamond on Carnival, Platinum on NCL, Diamond/Elite on Celebrity and RCI, low on HAL. :)

 

I sailed NCL the most, and have been Platinum over 10 years. At the time I got it, you had to sail 14 cruises. I was frequently the only Platinum on board, for a few years. I got, nice gifts and cpt dinner invites. :)

 

Now- there are thousands of those higher tier people. Cruising isn't a once/year trip for many so it doesn't take long to get your points. Overall it's pretty easy.

 

With that said, sure the perks are going to be watered down, it's all about revenue. Even $10 per perk passenger has a bottom financial line. I'd rather have the lower rates and not advocate for more spending. Flame away. :)

Kind of hard to flame, when I agree. :D

Catching that first glimpse of the ship as you arrive at the pier to start your vacation!

Yep!:)

2010 Zaandam, 21 days San Diego- Hawaii-.Vancouver.

Its for both airports. IAH is about 15 minutes further.

Best $24 you ever spend and they are very efficient.

The fog is a crap shoot.

 

Make the flight late afternoon.

I agree completely. We did BtB in February on the Emerald Princess. The first seven days the Captain said we would have fog and was trying to get to Houston early in the last day of the cruise. Clear as can be. The second leg no mention of fog. We did not dock until 11:30. Fog was thick.

I think the Mendenhall glacier is beautiful to hike around. Whale watching is good in Juneau, but bubble feeding is never a guaranteed thing.

The bearing sea fishermans tour on the Alutian Ballad is outstanding. Granted everything is subjective to ones personal choice. With that said I have been on the excursion five times and always have a great time. Enjoy Alaska.

This is what works for us. We get up and I walk on deck my DW goes to the gym. We eat a late breakfast 10:30/11:00ish. Then early Dinner 5:30/6 ish. We try to stay away from carbs after 3PM. Dessert every 2 or 3 days. It's take all our will power to not eat the bread basket empty but we try[emoji4].

I have done the tour on the Golden within the last year. I received all the promised goods. I received an apron not and chefs coat.

We enjoy the Pinnacle, I really enjoy the lunch. When it is open for lunch that is where I am. Dinner a couple,times a cruise.

I have spent 56 days on the Statendam this year on three different cruises. I can not agree more with the OP. This is the best crew I have sailed with. We had a great time.

I attended a M&G during a cruise earlier this year on a ship that will remain unnamed.

The organizers invited the officers and they did attend. However, as soon as they arrived the organizers proceeded to attack each one for a variety of complaints from not enough sauerkraut on the Reuben to shortened port stops and what have you.

The Captain tried to say a few words and they interrupted him. I couldn't believe it.

 

I just walked away in disgust.

 

If this is what the officers may think they may encounter, I don't blame HAL for changing their policy.

 

I have run a number of M&Gs and always invited the officers and made sure they were welcome. I would really be upset if one that I ran took that turn.

 

Just my two cents.

Terru

I have only attended two meet and greets, on both occasions officers showed up. I would not say they were attacked, but it was complaint after complaint. I wonder why they even bother showing up. I don't even bother going anymore as I find it embarrassing.

I always carry an 8 foot extension cord with my Cpap. It has always been suffient for any cruise ship or hotel room. On most of my cruises the elec socket was on the other side of the room from the bed. During the day I just unplug it and shove the extension under the bed.

 

I never was concerned about getting distilled water on the ship, but your mileage may vary.

Yep, I do exactly the same thing.

You will be fine. Enjoy your cruise.

Just too funny!![emoji41]

This is not so much a review of our recent cruise, but rather, it is a way to vent about a pet peeve that we seem to encounter on just about every cruise.

 

People, if you get food from the buffet and take it to another place on the ship to eat it, after you are done, clean up after yourself! Don’t leave your half-eaten bacon on the stairs, your plate of ketchup-soaked fries under a lounge chair, or your bowl of melted ice cream alongside the pool deck.

 

It floors me how inconsiderate people are when it comes to having respect for others.

 

It’s time for everyone to take responsibility for his or her social behavior and act like considerate human beings, not selfish slobs.

Amen, I couldn't agree more!

And it is now the Adagio Duo -- just a piano player and a violin player.

Yes, I noticed that as well.

Just off of the Statendam. While on board I learned that Hal has ended Solo guitarists on vista class ships and thinking of taking it fleet wide. They will also no longer provide singers for the Hal cats and cutting out the saxophonist. I find this very sad as I enjoy the music in the lounges. I always thought Hal was above the pack now they seem to be sliding to the middle.

We were on the Veendam in December. The ship is in good shape and the crew are great. As far as the Lanai stateroom. I would say go for it. Just a note of caution. You can not see into the rooms during the day from the promenade deck. However, at night with the lights in you can see in. So close your drapes. :-)

Congrats on the upgrade. Plaza deck is my favorite. With my coffee card in hand short walk for morning coffee!!

Lemon drop Martini, yummy