Mabs

Just putting in my two cents. I can handle a tub but showers are impossible for me on one leg, really need the handicap room. 

19 hours ago, Palms2Pines2Sea said:

Our very first HAL was a 9 night Transatlantic on the Prinsendam, in May 2007. We were young(ish), still working, and could only afford an inside guarantee. But we wanted to try HAL, and this opportunity was too good to pass up.

After embarkation, we went to the dining room to get a feel for our assigned table. We had the good fortune to meet the DR manager (Sander Vogtlander) who dedicated himself to orienting these two newbies to the HAL experience. We were very very well looked after, and were even invited to the Captain's Table on the first formal night. I was quite glad that I had packed a tux. I'm sorry that I don't recall the captain's name, but he was a kind and handsome man (British if I recall correctly) who I am sure that many of you remember fondly.

We were onboard with many seasoned HAL veterans, but consider ourselves most fortunate to have been welcomed to our first HAL ship with such enthusiasm. And of couse the Prinsendam, aged as she was, made us feel lucky to be on a ship, and not a floating hotel. 

We loved it all, and are looking forward to joining the Nieuw Statendam this summer. But we will always miss the Prinsendam.

😎

The captain on the Prinsendam was Captain Gundersen, what a gentleman. It was a wonderful ship and the crew was always the best. We are on the Zaandam in a few weeks, don't know what we will do if they do away with the two remaining small ships. Guess we will also be looking for a different line.

They need to get some new entertainment. We go on a lot of cruises with HAL so we have seen most of the shows several times and lately did not even go to them. Sure would be nice to have something new.

It was and e-mail and I do check but I could have missed one. Actually I've been checking as I used to get some offers thru the regular mail and had been informed they would be on the e-mail, first one in months.

No, mine did not say LAST CHANCE. It said 'Casino Insider's Deal'

I finally received a casino offer for 30% off some cruises. Received it on October 13 and it is only good thru October 15. It seems like a very short time.

She was the best ship ever. Only went on it a couple times and loved every minute of it. Sure do miss the smaller ships that HAL had.

I just want to put in my two cents about the tubs. As I can not always get a handicapped room, and if the room only has a shower sometimes it is impossible for me to get in to take a shower with my leg off. I  can get into a tub or at least have a bath seat. Just to let you know that what is good for some is not for others. I always make do with what I have.

First ship we ever sailed on and we have always liked it. Have over 700 days sailing a much prefer the smaller ships. We think you would like it and we like that voyage.

We are on the Feb. 19 sailing for two weeks, do you no for sure that it is cancelled?  We have not received any notice about it. Thanks.

I also am a 5 star and do not like it that for a few dollars others can have the same benefits and sometimes more than I had to earn. HAL has no loyality to me so now I am no longer loyal to HAL.

Just adding my comments. If they do away with all the smaller ships we will be looking for another line to cruise on, we like the ports they can go to and just the size and feel of the smaller ships. The new showers on the ships are AWFUL, as a person with one leg  and the need for a shower seat it is extremely difficult to get in and out of the shower. By the time I've managed took the shower and got back out, really need a shower. Okay enough, just had to vent. 

You are also right about the music venues they come up with, would be nice to have some that is background music we can listen and enjoy while having a drink and a conservation without shouting.

Everyone stay safe and hope we will be on a cruise soon.

21 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

America's Test Kitchen (ATK) is on its way out with HAL. Time will tell if they will go back to the Culinary Arts Center (CAC) which it was prior to ATK

I'm glad to hear the ATK is on the way out, very boring to sit and watch someone cook. The Culinary Arts Center was hands on and going to the Pinnacle for lunch was fun and we got to share a meal. I felt that I actually learned something new.

Now's the time to buy!!!

One of our best investments. The on board credits are better than any interest we can earn.

10 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

This is certainly the way to get  low prices - assuming, of course, that ANY cabins (or cabins you would enjoy) remain available  — AND that prices have gone down.

 

For some itineraries, prices go up, rather than down as sailing date nears.  For those of us who enjoy cruising, and not just the feeling that we got a bargain,  paying what seems to be an appropriate fare  for the accommodations we want seems OK.

That is right and we have paid more for interesting itineraries. We are now cruising more for an easy way to enjoy some nice weather and some very nice people we always meet on cruises.

I feel the same way as the original poster as it also happened to us. On a two week cruise it was almost $2,000 cheaper to book late and we did indeed get the worst cabin in the category we booked. I will wait until after final payment and pay much less than booking early. We have done a LOT of cruising with HAL and will now look for bargains instead of brand.

I also do not like seeing the libraries going out, it is something that we enjoy on the ships. At the very least we hope they keep the book exchange, we always bring at least a dozen books, some already read that we can drop off and pick up a few new ones. I usually read at least 2 or 3 books a week as there is not much else to do anymore.

Personally I'll just be happy when I'm not greeted with a goofy grinning photo of Oprah every time I log onto HAL's home page. I find it very distracting...(read "feels cheap", like something I would expect on a different cruise line). :rolleyes:

 

PS - haven't been on HAL since 2015. What's up with the libraries? Several mentions of them going away? We like the Explorations Cafe, especially on the S and R class ships and would be sad if they go away. And what will replace those great spaces if they do eliminate them?

This is the first that I have heard about HAL cutting back on the libraries. We will be on the Maasdam in a week and one of the things we love is the library. We also love the smaller ships, not sure we will keep cruising if they get rid of all the smaller ships. The new music venues on the ships is just way to loud we do not enjoy the singers screaming over the bands.

As for Oprah, I don't see how that would influence our going on a cruise. I would not like to be on if they were going to close off the public rooms.

I don't disagree with you KK. We've certainly had some interesing ones of late, never heard of them, never seen them again.;)

Except for Captain PJ, Captain Mercer, Captain Henk, oh and Captain Turner whom seems to be chained to the Zuiderdam, there seems to be alot of Captains I don't know anymore either.

Is Captain Van Der Loo around, I think the last I heard he was on the Veendam. We enjoyed him when he was Captain of the Ooserdam.

Captain Van Der Loo was on the Veendam for the Voyage of the Vikings this year.:)

Tour in NhaTrang,

Vietnam with Doug Pham on October 23, 2012

This tour was okay, a full day and we did see a lot. The stop at the embroidery factory was a shopping stop, beautiful stuff and very expensive. It had rained hard the day before and the street to the Pagoda Orphanage was flooded so several of us stayed on the bus rather that walk thru ankle deep water. The stop to see people weaving mats was okay mainly a place to shop. Very interesting to see the way they make the rice paper they slice into noodles. The conical hat making stop was another shiopping opportunity. Lunch on the dock okay not great. Getting into the boat for a ride on the river a bit difficult, got caught in a rain storm on the river with no cover on our boat and they let the people off their boats that had covers first while we waited in the rain. Wanted us to walk over two other boats to get to the dock and then climb up a very HIGH STEP to get out. Very hard for a lot of us. I only got out with the help of several of my fellow passengers. It was a LONG walk to a temple that had LOTS of steps again, which several of us decided was too much. There was a shopping stop that we passed on as we had already shopped at several of the stops. A good tour for younger people or those in very good shape, and for someone that wants to shop. Not good for older people who have a harder time walking and climbing steps.