CruiseMissives

Thank you Serentipity for your comments... - I appreciate your sympathy and it's nice to know that we're not the only ones to go through that horrible experience and trauma at the FL Port. I re-iterated this whole thing on our HAL survey, questioning why entry was not done as had been done in the past - i.e. agents boarding the ship at 8:00 am, setting up in the showroom, passengers given times the night before with set times to present to customs, sitting in rows in the Showroom and then called by rows, when 15 minutes later we were on our way out and off the ship. I reiterate I realize that HAL in not responsible to Homeland Security entry, but I was quite disappointed to receive nothing more thank a standard bla-bla-bla "thanks and go away" response from HAL.

We will of course, continue to cruise with Holland America as it has been our line of choice for almost 30 years, but will perhaps in the future find another more hospitable port.

On October 23, off the Nieuw Amsterdam, we were one of two ships into the Port in Fort Lauderdale, which meant that approximately 4 - 5,000 people entered the customs hall at basically the same time, between 8 and 10 am.. The lines were mixed and endless and horrific and there were a total of 4, count them, 4 agents in the booths. Inching along and two and a half hours later, my husband and I finally reached the head of our line, when he collapsed and dropped to the floor. The Sheriff hollered for a chair, he tried to stand, fell again, the line behind us was horrified, I was in shock, someone grabbed our passports out of my hand, and a chair was finally brought to get us through the wickets. It must have seemed odd to Homeland Security for someone to fail just on their doorstep and perhaps we were seen as a diversion or distraction or something, so then I had them hollering at me, as well as the 4 or 5 paramedics who brought the ambulance and were shouting questions at me. Off to the hospital, Broward General Medical Clinic, who were thankfully amazing and so very helpful. It turns out, his blood pressure was 84, caused entirely by dehydration and the lack of somewhere to sit, rest and not stand in line for 2 hours and 30 minutes. They didn't hold him overnight, but the rest of the day was spent there and of course, missing our flight... You just cannot treat seniors like that, and 99% of people in that line were seniors, most of whom were also missing their flights even though they likely had plenty of time under normal circumstances. This whole thing was appalling and it will be a very long time, if ever, that we will take a Holland America cruise out of Port Everglades again. I realize it was not HAL's fault, but I hope they can make it known to Customs/Security that this situation is ridiculous and totally unacceptable.

We can tototally relate to the above conversation. Sadly, my husband has experienced two fairly major strokes, leaving him totally mobile and understanding but unable to talk and with limited hearing. After many years of fixed and/or open dining neither of these options was feasible anymore. Our solution was to choose open dining and to approach the dining room manager at the podium and request a table for two, usually between 7 and 7:30, where we could sit side by side and eliminate the uncomfortable necessity of being sociable to new tablemates every night. He was always so accomodating and we so appreciated his help we were to always be sure to recognize him at the end of the cruise.

We loved Noordam for 21 days last February and on past Wednesday, made the decision to love Noordam again this February for another 21 days.

We are four star Mariners having experienced sailings on many of HAL's ships and the food, service, surroundings, and general all round great relaxing ambience on Noordam called us back again.

Hi all - we were on a b2b from Feb.17 to March 10 on Noordam and were offered absolutely nothing like this. We did get invited to an Indonesian luncheon on one Monday of the sailing. A short wine tasting one late afternoon, and that, my friends, was it. Am I upset.? Yes, as 4-star whatevers, I am.. We didn't even get one of those better canvas carry bags, but just two more of those cheesy blue plastic thingys....

"On our B2B cruise this past February on Noordam, we received a letter at the end of our first segment regarding some extras for those doing B2B.

They were offering us a "Special Collectors Voyage Wine Lovers Package for $10 per person per day, doing the math (both in cabin must purchase) it comes to $20 per day.

This package offered up to 3 glasses of house wine at lunch time and 3 glasses of house wine at dinner (in Lido, Vista, Caneletto,Pinnacle Grill).

Total of 12 glasses of house wine for $20. I thought that sounded like a good deal, but as we had already purchased a Navigator package we didn't try out this new package.

They also offered 20% off any bottled wine purchased in the Vista Dining Room (not to be combined with any other discounts).

Explorations Cafe-complimentary "extra" shot with any coffee purchase.

Photo -buy one print get one 50% off.

Internet -purchase a 500 minute package and receive 250 additional minutes for free.

I don't know if this is going to be a standard offer for B2B, but I haven't heard anyone else mention getting these.

Might call for some more research.:)"

What we have learned to do in the morning or early afternoon that makes things a bit easier about the ice situation, is to just fire the whole ice bucket thing into the little cooler ( we have already had on embark the mini-bar removed) as soon as we see that the stewards have already refreshed the cabin. Then we don't have to call anyone for service, or hit the bars with our bucket and the ice chips stay whole and solid for much longer than if they were left on the desk. This makes it nice for our later afternoon pre-dinner cocktails on the balcony (with HAL gin, of course! And our tonic still stays cold in the fridge....)

We just got off the Noordam on March 10th, and can relate to these comments about heat/cold temperatures at night. The first two nights in our balcony cabin, I woke up about 2am or so, hot, cranky and making things miserable by complaining to my poor husband. On the third morning, I checked our thermostat and found that it had been set much higher than the minimum cold where it had been. Perhaps it is a matter of routine for the stewards, having been told that when doing the turn-down service, to crank up the thermostats at nights in hopes no one will notice and thus saving whatever amps or ???

However, as soon as I started making sure the thermostat was set at extreme low before bed, for the rest of our 22 day b-to-back no one meddled with it again and we/I had no further problems. I can't stand a hot, stuffy room at night and had this continued, would not have been a happy passenger.

Wow! This is surely not an encouragement to dine at the Pinacle on our upcoming February 17th three week sail on the Noordam... it has always been our pleasure to visit there at least three or four times on a voyage but it sounds very discouraging when some or all of our menu favourites seem to be disappearing. Perhaps they have now really gone too far in altering or eliminating some of the optional extra-pay pleasures of that dining room. Coupled with that extremely short-sighted, and frankly quite stupid approach to their new wine policy, perhaps it is truly time to look elsewhere for the spending of our travel dollar.

We usually take fairly long cruises of 21 - 30+ days and while I don't feel any seasickness coming home, my husband calls me "Lurch-a-lot" as I do tend to occasionally bump into things for about a week or so... It's kind of embarassing but he thinks it's so funny. He has a warped sense of humour.

I can certainly second the recommendation of the Best Western on Ash Street. The rooms are large, fridge, micro, etc., and the included breakfast is more than adequate with scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, pancakes, cereals, fruits, pastries, yoghurt, toast, etc. It is right next to Little Italy with many restaurants and cafes close by and is walkable to the Bay and the cruise terminal. Also provides a shuttle service from/to airport and terminal. I'm not trying to be a commercial for this Hotel but we've stayed there many times pre-cruise and the management is most helpful and accommodating. We'll be there again come February!

Hi All - well, this is one Canadian who really feels special as I got a reply from the "Office of the President." Big Whoop. Same response referencing our October sailing on Maasdam, not responding to any questions or suggestions I offered. Boilerplate letter just inserting relevant sailing I guess.. Although it did say that they hoped I would reconsider my promise to take our cruising dollars elsewhere if this dumb policy remained as is.

I hope that everyone who is disturbed and angry about this arbitrary, blindsiding rollout of a controversial new policy has already, or soon will, e-mail HAL under Contact Us on their site. Talk to your Travel Agents too and let them know that this is unacceptable and to pass that word along to HAL. They have taken we loyal "regulars" and even newer cruisers for granted just too long, and it's time to tell them this is over the line. It is reprehensible to change a contract midstream for those who have already booked and paid and there must be a law somewhere prohibiting this.

As we are another couple that have already booked the October 5 repo Montreal to FL, and have already made the final payment, I am disturbed by this arbitrary and ridiculous move on the part of HAL. We are four-star and one of the benefits of going with this cruise line was their generous, realistic and civilized wine policy. Never bringing on a case(s), our pleasure was in seeking out different wines in different ports for an enjoyable sip on our balcony before dinner or bed. Of course we always enjoyed daily cocktails in the lounges and the occasional beer with lunch so our modest few bottles of wine really won't affect their bottom line. But I refuse to pay their outlandish prices for their very mediocre, dull wine and will be totally re-thinking any more 30+ day cruises. This increasingly penny pinching attitude of theirs is really going too far and after twenty plus years of cruising with HAL, perhaps it's time to look at other options for our vacation dollars.

We were on the Rotterdam two years ago, on the 30 day South American run and were returning up the coast off Costa Rica when, at the Mariner's luncheon, our Captain suddenly changed course and announcements began about Mr. X please report to the main desk, repeated again and again. He then came on and announced that there had been a man overboard and would those with balconies please attend them and watch for someone in the water and report if seen. We sailed back to where the man had gone over, as his wife thought because he had been walking behind her at the time. We all left the dining room in silence and all down the ship side you could see people hanging over their balconies, staring, as the ship did a very, very slow 360 degree turn, everyone trying to spot the body. The seas were not calm which made it difficult to see anything that might be in the water.

The search planes overhead were from the US Coast Guard from Panama and they spotted the body, whereas the Captain deployed a tender to retreive him. My husband had been speaking with one of the Officers earlier who stated that rarely were they able to find the person in these cases, the search was merely for the peace of mind of the passengers and the person's companions.

The captain asked everyone to clear deck four as the man was brought aboard and there was a overwhelming sense of relief for everyone that at least there would be closure for that man's wife.

The Captain and crew of the Rotterdam were absolutely magnificant in how they treated the widow. She wanted to organize a small memorial for the Cruise Critic folk whom they had come to know, which was held the next morning in the Theatre, with staff singing, Minister giving a short Remembrance with the Widow, and everyone giving her their condolences. The most bizarre event in the midst of the sorrow, was the Captain coming on the intercom announcing that we would be delayed making our harbour at _________ because we were waiting for the tsunami after the earthquake in Chile!

Her son responded on Cruise Critic later stating that HAL had stepped up to the plate in ways far above and beyond. They flew the man's son and family to CR immediately that morning, helped with translation etc., it took almost a week to complete the complicated paper work, etc. at which time the family had a HAL representative with them throughout, and at which time all their living expenses were covered.

The sad part was that the son reported that his Dad had been in worsening health, with totally no hope of getting better and had obviously chosen this way of moving on. I won't comment on his choice for doing so, but I did weep for his widow.

Kudos to HAL for their sympathetic and compassionate response to this awful tragedy.