Eremita

Rich,

Not sure how you handle links but I found these if they are of interest...

Oosterdam 08-09-2008 has listed Spirit West Coast Ministries. This is a link for information on their cruise through Inspiration Travel with Purpose:

http://www.inspirationcruises.com/html/spirit_west_coast.html

and Cruises for Doctors is behind the Pediatric Review 2008 group:

http://www.cruisesfordoctors.com/conted.htm

Eremita

Sheri, I have T-Mobile too so am glad to see the response you got. Have been over to roll-call lately? :)

Eremita

Thank you for the responses. Looks like we will be having a great time on the cruise.

I am curious about the cloth towels in public rooms. I suppose washing towels is actually easier than dealing with paper but what a job!

And I hope someone with experience with an upper bunk in a VF quad will report on its comfort. One poster much earlier in the thread specified LOWER when describing how comfortable the beds were. Makes me wonder about that upper. Either and 11- or 12-year old will be in it.

Eremita

I've been reading this thread which dates back a few years so wondered which of these secrets are still going on. We will be on the Oosterdam in a VF cabin for a 7-day Alaska cruise in August. These were the "secrets" that most interested me...

Complementary lemonade at the pool (at a certain time in afternoon?)

Pizza available in the Lido (all afternoon and evening?)

Iced tea in the afternoon served out on deck

Dutch Pea Soup served on deck in Glacier Bay

Complementary hot chocolate with whipped cream & sprinkles

Chocolates in the Explorer's Lounge after dinner

Cookies and ice cream in the Lido every afternoon

Food at the Lido is just as good as in the dinning room. (with table cloths and candles for dinner?)

Write in Eggs Benedict or Cinnamon rolls on the breakfast room service

card and get it even though its not printed.

Freshly squeeze orange juice

Charge for bottled water but free refills in the Lido

Very, comfy beds in all cabins (Does that include an upper bunk for a 12 year old?)

Cut flowers and fruit bowl in the room

Magnifying mirror

Regular hairdryer that plugs in in a desk drawer on Vista ships

Real patio furniture on the verandas (not plastic)

Hand-held Showers

Bath and soap, shampoo and conditioner, a body wash or lotion of some kind, shower cap in bathroom (Are these bar soaps or dispensed from the wall?)

Complimentary canvas ‘Tote’ for port calls

Robes in all cabins (larger sizes available on request)

Personalized stationery

On Vista-class ships, all cabins have a fridge which can be emptied and used with no charge

Wood chaise lounges on the Promenade deck

One can walk completely around the ship on the Lower Promenade deck

Cloth hand towels in the public restrooms

Art tour brochure available and mp3 tour can be downloaded from HAL

website

Exploration cafe has a good choice of books, as well as the 'take one, leave one corner' for the paperback exchange. And a puzzle corner with jigsaw puzzles up to 4,000 pieces.

Also someone wrote:

On a tour of the kitchen we were told that if we would like any recipes, for anything on board just write it down and give it to your waiter who will direct it to the chef- the recipes will arrive ASAP

And to get to the bow there were two comments for the Oosterdam. Which is correct? And if it is the second... should we be ignoring a "Crew only" sign??

1. The "secret access" on the Oosterdam is via a hallway by the fitness center

2. On Vista ships you have to go forward on the Upper Promenade deck, through "Crew only" doors and the crew lounge, to access the forward bow. It's opened to passengers on Alaska cruises and Panama Canal transits (at least).

Any comments and updates appreciated.

Thanks, Eremita

What time did you usually choose to eat? Could you tell if there were times that were more or less crowded? You say it seemed slow... how long did it take?

Thanks, Eremita

First timer sailing in August.