hugger

Well this was certainly more exciting then our situation KK. Do you remember when the eurodam circled back to check out a craft that may have been in trouble and it turned out to be a styrofoam boat.

We had a something like this happen last year on the Collector's Cruise the beginning of November. Were you on the same cruise?

We love Key West -- have been there many times.

Glad you had a wonderful time there.

We were fortunate that when we were there a couple of weeks we were docked at Pier B -- short walk into town.

on the Eurodam last November. I didn't even know there was another pier. We must have been at Pier B last year as we were right in town too. Hope we are again this year as we plan to walk to Truman's White House now that I kind of know where it is with help from CCer's. We couldn't find it last year.

Where is the other Pier?

How many days do you have on HAL? Depending on the number of days you have with HAL, depends on whether you qualify for one of the star pins or a medallion.

169 day's at this point with HAL. So we are well on our way to the 4 star/tier level.

Maybe they don't give any of them out till later now? We've never received any pins along the way.

Really I just want to get to that free laundry and 50% off discount :)

How in the world did you figure it out!!! Yes, we were on the Noordam Dec 7th 2012 with 2 other couples.

I am trying to place meeting you - you have a much better memory than I do that is for sure! Count me impressed!

Did we maybe go on the tour in Bonaire together? I remember meeting CC people on the tour - I went alone as my DH and the rest of our group were biking around the island. I wanted to KNOW what I was seeing the first time there :)

And, yes I most likely suggested to someone that they do a rental from Budget as opposed to the Cruise Connection Bus. It's so much more convenient and less expensive.

I am in AWE that you figured it out!

If I remember correctly I don't think we made any of the CC Meet up's on that cruise as we were traveling with the other couples. And, they had planned thing's out for us to do etc.

Thanks - I did do a search and couldn't find anything listed until around the 12 of December.

Have a great evening - it's raining like crazy in Tampa Bay - hope you're getting some sun in S Florida.

I have yet to have the opportunity of sailing to S America.

We have yet to meet I guess. By the sounds of it your 2nd week and our 1st week on the Eurodam this year will be the first time we sail together.

I will watch for the lady wearing different shoes each time I see her ;)

We did a water tour during the free day on a B2B several days ago. There were 6 cruise ships in port and the boat went in between them. It was awesome the height of the ships.

THAT would be so cool to see. You must have been thrilled at the sight and the feeling of being up close and seeing how truly HUGE the ships are.

We will be arriving at the hotel about the same time the cruise ships are departing on our next cruise this month.

I may need to wait until next year when we have a group of us going. DH is more likely to agree to go and do something when there are other's with us. He is just content to sit and watch the view most of the time. I am the exact opposite want to get out and experience the view ;)

We have yet to get a pin or anything - we have gotten 6 tiles I believe over the year's. Now day's they seem to be handing them out at the Mariner Luncheon. A few year's back they were delivered to our room. We missed a great many of them back then. Now we get them at the luncheon every cruise.

I even had one of the supervisor's from the front desk call us one time when sailing the Noordam. Out of the blue I hadn't requested the call - which I found interesting. She asked IF we were up to date on our recognition awards and tiles. I told her no that we hadn't gotten any of them only 2 of the tiles at that time. She was going to make sure we received them - have yet to get any.

I am not complaining just making an observation.

Is the Water Christmas Parade on November 21st? I have googled it and don't see anything special that evening.

if so I had no idea - hum I may have to pass then as we are driving into FLL that day and not completely sure of our arrival time. Especially IF the Parade is that day.

We will have to get off IF we make it as I know my DH won't stay on it for 3 hour's :-( I am having trouble talking him into even going on for a couple of hour's.

Am I correct to assume that there would be another one heading back to the Hilton along within 15-20 mins?

You are the FLL expert it seem's :)

You have suggested using the water taxi for a Christmas Decoration tour on another thread.

1. Do you think there may be some up by 11-21st?

2. We are staying at the Hilton Marina - I know there is a water taxi right there. In fact, 2 stops - which line would you think we should take for the best tour and how do we KNOW the difference?

3. If we were to get on a water taxi and stay on it - any idea how long it would take to go round trip and end back at the Hilton?

4. If we were to get off to eat somewhere - a local place not to expensive but good. Do you have any suggestion's? We don't need a fine dining just good for a decent price.

5. If we were to get off to dine - how careful do we have to be about making sure we are back by a certain time or stranded without a water taxi service back to the Hilton? We aren't going out drinking for the evening just dinner and a drink along the route of our FLL tour.

Thanking you in advance for any all help

experiencing health issue's. Sending you good thought's and prayer's for a full recovery soon.

Please keep us updated as you can.

Praying for your comfort, healing, peace and strength during this most difficult time.

Betty did you buy any chance do the Collector's Cruise on the Eurodam in the beginning of November last year (2014)?

As I was thinking we'd met onboard before as well.

No WAY could you only take 4 pair of shoes on even a 1 week cruise let alone 2!

Maybe you and your friend's wife should play a bit of a trick on him. Exchange his shoes for yours in his luggage tee hee

That we literally seem to have the actual artist communicating with us here on the thread in regards to all of the tiles over the past many years.

What an opportunity to ask question's and appreciate - the nuances and reason's why a particular tile is done in the way it is - quite AMAZING.

TopSham can I ask did you design the new logo that was just released in October?

Thank You

Topsham = Stephen

I am not familiar with your Chase card, but the HAL card earns points for all purchases, not just travel expenses. It earns 2 points per dollar for HAL purchases (a 2% return) and 1 point per dollar for all other purchases (a 1% return).

We use our HAL card for everything, including gas, groceries, TV cable, etc. We earn an average of 3,000 points per month.

We always use the points for cruise discounts. We will getting a $1500 credit for our next cruise, which will almost pay for half the cost of the cruise.

One trick that no one mentioned here, is to not ask for the credit until after you return from your cruise. That way, you will have earned a lot more points for all your cruise expenses, and since they are with HAL you will earn the double rate. You can wait a good couple of months after your cruise to ask for the credit.

Waiting until after we return from our cruise is a great idea - THANK YOU for sharing that tip.

Older one better - the image is so clear and the blue so bright.

Thank you! Today watched the Ship leave Port Everglades & became excited..

 

It's time to start to get our clothes ready..:):)

luggage :-) We had exchanged some fun posts a few months back regarding how many pair's of shoes we MUST have on a cruise. We are boarding on the 22nd half way through your cruise. Sailing for 15 nights - you KNOW I'll need several pair's of shoes :o

After watching sail away today I started pulling out some things to begin the task of packing.

Key West style - hope you have an AWESOME b-day.

Thank you for taking the time to write the Live from thread. We will be boarding the ship on the 22nd for the 15 night cruise. So will be paying particular attention to your thread.

Happy Cruising

can't wait to get back onboard the EURODAM in 2 weeks!

Thanks Guys

I am on my way to book it for our anniversary dinner. THANK YOU for your immediate responses.

Hi, all! We're on the Eurodam right now and getting ready for the muster drill, then sailing. It will be a two-week cruise for us and we have the Signature Beverage Package, so it should be fun :). Having read all of POA1's advice on the SBP and all of the Chardonnay Sisters' reviews, I feel well-armed with information about how to have the best possible time.

 

I'll try to do a live blog - we'll see if I last throughout the full two weeks. It will be my first live blog, so I can't predict, but I'll do my best.

 

Bon voyage!

 

Priscilla

We will be embarking as you disembark on the 22nd. ENJOY your cruise!

Thanks for the response. We prefer to drive to the port and Tampa cuts a couple hours off the drive to FLL.

 

One of my problems is the fact that I suffer from Compulsive Planners Disorder (CPD). It's something I picked up in my professional life. I'm retired now, so I plan cruises.

Rocketman25

First off I totally appreciated your thread title!

We live in Tampa Bay area and are SO looking forward to having the Oosterdam in our home port. Talk about an easy port to get in and out of - of course, as we grow (and we do want to grow) our port will get busier.

I have been fortunate to have started cruising in my early 20's. Our upcoming cruise on the Eurodam will be my 47th cruise. I have cruised all of the major cruise lines. Two of the older luxury lines. I have NEVER been on a cruise I didn't enjoy.

As we have gotten older our preferences have evolved. We have pretty much settled into HAL and Princess.

We soon will pass into 4 tier status on HAL.

We currently have Hal/Eurodam 15 day, Princess Regal 14 day and a 7 day RCI Vision of the Sea booked (this is a trip with my brother and niece - wanted to cruise out of Tampa).

We also have dog's - involved with Greyhound Rescue (foster and adoption).

WE TOTALLY understand how difficult it is to leave our fur babies to cruise.

I only share all of the above with you as it appear's we have a lot of things in common with you and your wife.

We enjoy HAL for our relaxation cruises. Yes, they have wonderful itin's. However, very often we don't even get off the ship in the port's we have visited numerous times. We enjoy being on ship - we spend a Great deal of time on our balcony. We love to have breakfast delivered in the morning - we linger over coffee while enjoying the ocean or island view. We enjoy Happy Hour on our balcony every night before getting ready for dinner. One of us will go up to the Lido or the Cafe and grab some munchies to enjoy with our wine. On HAL ships it's not a terribly long walk back to our cabin with our goodies. Other evening's we may order from the dining room menu appetizer's (after the dining room opens) and/or the dessert cheese plates be delivered and enjoy them on the balcony. And, yet on other evening's we will head to one of the lounges to enjoy the music and people watch.

HAL has such a quiet understated tone in the public area's. It's so wonderful to walk out of one of the dining or entertainment venue's and not have to fight a crowd. I have never seen anyone get unruly from drinking to much either. The crew is OUTSTANDING and friendly after a day or two they recognize you and call you by name. They go out of their way to attend to any requests that are politely made.

We enjoy the passenger's whom are well traveled and well mannered.

Another reason I LOVE HAL is I can really get fully involved in my CPD. I mean full blown all out CPD :o For me a great deal of my cruise enjoyment comes from the planning and research phase.

On HAL the ships are not cookie cutter - you can find odd shaped or over sized balconies and staterooms. Like you have discovered the Neptune Suites on deck 5 have those HUGE balconies that are covered. Not all Neptune suites have those exact same balconies IF you are looking for something different on a particular itin for instance. There are several small bar's and sitting area's all over the ship.

Each ship and crew have it's own personality we have found. We so enjoy it when we have the pleasure of cruising with some of the same passenger's and crew from past cruises.

Now this may happen when we cruise Princess. However, the ship's are so Large now we'd never know.

It can take 20 minutes to get from our stateroom to a venue on Princess. On HAL it's a nice leisurely stroll.

Princess ships are certainly Impressive and we LOVE them when in the mood for that type of experience. I do believe their entertainment is superior to HAL. Yet on HAL many times we get to know the entertainers being it's a more intimate atmosphere.

We to drive to FLL for most of our cruises. We rent a vehicle from our local Budget location - we overnight the night prior so that we can arrive early and pretty much get a full first day on the ship. We drop the car rental at the Budget location on 17th St downtown close to the port. They shuttle us to the ship. On our return they shuttle us back to their office where we pick up a rental to drive back home. We don't put the miles on our car, we don't have to worry or pay for parking, transfer's etc. We also don't have to drive in that port traffic. And, it normally is a less expensive option.

If we stay downtown at the Hilton Marina we drop the car the same day we arrive in FLL. Walk the two blocks back to the hotel and grab a taxi the next morning to take us to the ship. We LOVE to stay at the Hilton when we can get a reservation. We request a tower room overlooking the port. We ENJOY the EXCITEMENT of seeing the ships depart and arrive in port from our balcony.

Other's have covered the many other reasons why we LOVE HAL. We admittedly don't cruise them for every cruise. But they are a very large part of our cruising life.

I won't tell you that there are never any complaint's. You have traveled enough to KNOW that things happen. It's all in how we deal with them and how the crew deals with them when they do.

IF we are polite when letting them know there is a problem we are normally happy with the results.

We're on a cruise - being catered to - enjoying life. I'm not going to let a small problem ruin my day.

As other's have said I do hope that you will give HAL a try. And, come back and let us know how you enjoyed HAL. Even the pro's and con's are valuable when presented in the right "light".

We are boarding on the Eurodam 11-22 - want to celebrate our Anniversary in the PG on the 28th - being it is the last evening of our first week I am thinking the PG won't be that busy as the majority of passenger's will be disembarking the next morning. They will be packing.

We get to STAY for another 8 night cruise YEAH!

Sorry long way to get to my actual question.

We have a very nice amount of OBC this cruise. Really want to use it towards PG dining and extra indulgences that we normally wouldn't.

If I make a reservation now to be sure we can get in on the 28th for our anniversary. Will I have to pre pay on credit card? Or, will it be charged to our onboard account? And, will we still get our Mariner Discount IF I make the reservations prior to boarding? And, as a last resort if I need to wait till onboard am I correct in my thinking that the PG isn't that busy on the last night. BTW we like to dine between 8 and 9 most evening's - thinking that most people like to dine earlier. Of course, My thinking is often wrong :rolleyes:

For the other evening's and lunches in PG I don't mind taking my chances and waiting - as IF we aren't able to get in then I'll get a massage or something in the Spa.

You are a wealth of information on Key West. Appreciate your sharing your insight's with us, AQUAHOUND.

:)

FWIW the tour of the house is free for Vets on 11/11/15.

 

Pjk

Unfortunately, we won't be there until the 28th. There is a discount for vet's with Military ID from what I understand - I believe it's 13.98.

I have written to them to see IF you can just show your ID at the gate or IF you must get them ahead of time on the base.

That is exactly what I was looking for - I knew that there had to be a way to walk straight through when we walked off the ship. I could kind of see it on google but yet not really.

THANKS AGAIN