oldbluff

11 hours ago, oakridger said:

I last sailed in Rotterdam cabin #5160 and the balcony was a very good size for a standard veranda cabin.  I loved the location also since it was a Caribbean cruise, and I knew my main daytime area would be the Seaview Pool and Lido areas. That was a standard veranda on Konningsdam.

 

The HUGE verandas were right below me in cabins #4152 and #4154!!

 

~Nancy

Yes, the handful of port-side deck 4 extra-large balconies are great. Not more expensive than regular ones.

On 11/23/2023 at 8:18 PM, PalmSprings said:

I know it’s not the most popular opinion around here, but I think Rudi’s is amazing!  We have always enjoyed our meals there and have not experienced any of the troubles that others have experienced.

 

I also agree that Tamarind is terrific.

 

As far as Pinnacle goes, we actually tend to like the lunches there on sea days more than the normal dinner times (way less crowded, and lots of good choices on the menu).  On a related note, we have loved cellar-master dinners in Pinnacle (which, sadly, are not offered in every itinerary.

 

 Have a wonderful time on your cruise! 

I agree about Rudi’s. Our only experience was on Koningsdam the end of last year. We went once and it was fabulous. So we returned another 4-5 times during the four weeks onboard. The food was always excellent and only once was the service very good instead of superb.

I also agree about Pinnacle Grill for lunch. Consistently good and a bargain.

For us, consistency is key. I will frequent a lesser quality restaurant much more often than one that is hit or miss. Plus then I can recommend it without hesitation.

24 minutes ago, ottahand7 said:

Thanks for that information.  I have part F but never knew the up to amount.   Part F is no longer offered to new retirees. 

You are correct. Plan G is available, which we have. The big attraction for us is covering surprise extra charges from doctors and labs. The foreign medical is a bonus, although we still get travel insurance. I figure the Plan G $50K can stretch our travel insurance medical coverage if needed.

I believe the only difference between plan G and the discontinued plan F is F covers payment of the annual Medicare plan B premium of a few hundred dollars.

15 hours ago, OlsSalt said:

Just a thought: Since these booking require cash up front, it could be just a ploy to end the current quarter on the positive cash side. Even if they know there will be refunds later.  

 

A marketing gimmick perhaps.  Much like Oceania would send endless brochures at every appealing rates, until you call them and so sorry, those cabins have already been booked. Perhaps you would like Cabin ++ instead now that we captured your interest.  Bait and switch - not unheard of in the cruise industry. 

 

So it may not be a statement about HAH actual occupancy, but an end of the quarter accounting ruse. These things happen. Governments do this all  the time shifting revenues and expense to various fiscal years, in order to "balance" the end of the year books. 

These prepayments will not affect revenue until HAL is able to keep the money because you sailed or forfeited the funds. It does increase cash in hand on their balance sheet, but is offset by Unearned or Deferred Revenue, not real Revenue. This does not feed into profit and loss until later converted to revenue. Companies do try to shift revenue timing (think Enron), but today it is almost impossible for large publicly-traded firms to do so. Privately-held companies are more likely to try such shenanigans, depending on the strength of their auditors. 

3 hours ago, oldbluff said:

Our experience has been you can upgrade from the Signature to the Elite beverage package once onboard. The cost has been $15 per day per person in your cabin. Plus 18% of this amount. 
 

Things may have changed. Our last cruise was in January. We did the upgrade then without a problem. 

I gave the wrong price to upgrade the beverage package. It is $10/day/person, not $15. So $11.80 per day and $82.60 for a 7 night sailing, for one person.

1 hour ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

Reports from cruisers have varied as to whether you can upgrade or not - especially if the Signature Beverage Package is part of your Have It All package, the answer is usually No. All you can do is ask once onboard and before purchasing any drink.

Our experience has been you can upgrade from the Signature to the Elite beverage package once onboard. The cost has been $15 per day per person in your cabin. Plus 18% of this amount. 
 

Things may have changed. Our last cruise was in January. We did the upgrade then without a problem. 

On 11/19/2023 at 12:02 PM, Ruthenium said:

My son is one of the two Billboard Onboard singer-pianists on the Eurodam for the next few months -- and from what he says, he and his fellow pianist get along really well and are happy to take requests on music from various decades.  He's a pretty wonderful singer (with perfect pitch, so your ears will appreciate it) and his performing partner has many skills as well.  People DO sing along and "it's nice," he says, and they try to do a lot of call and response!

 

 

We board Eurodam in a couple of weeks and look forward to meeting your son and listening. I don’t expect perfection but decent pitch and a bit of interaction with the crowd makes for a great evening. And using a tempo and style that matches the song, vs one size fits all. The two on Koningsdam the end of last year were dreadful. 

Tamarind. Consistently excellent food and service. 

Susan, we are looking forward to joining you in a month. Cheers!

Cliff & Shelley

43 minutes ago, Destiny0315 said:

Between disgruntled passengers and employees, terrible media publicity and future government investigations, and not to mention lonely luggage abandoned in strange airports, I don't see how SWA will survive all this turbulence! 

I have no doubt they will survive. But this will have a major impact on future business until they can rebuild credibility. 

42 minutes ago, spleenstomper said:

TBH, I wouldn’t be so sure about the 7th

Yeah, I came to the same conclusion last night and reserved a car from SD to Portland for the 7th. Always wanna have a Plan B. With us arriving Saturday morning, we will have two days to get back if needed. My DW and I try to minimize night driving.

44 minutes ago, spleenstomper said:

I’m hearing that If you have a southwest flight through next week you should probably look into other plans. This isn’t going to be fixed soon. Their Antiquated IT program fried. 

I do business software for a living and would happily sign on to a project to rewrite their crew scheduling software.

1 hour ago, 12cruise2 said:

I, too, now book separate outbound and return flights.  Round-trip flights are too much hassle if something needs to be changed, or if as pointed out above, you don't take your outbound flight, then they (probably will) cancel your return, and that's not just on Southwest but other airlines as well.

Yes.

1 hour ago, oakridger said:

Smart move @oldbluff!!  Be careful driving in the Central Valley tomorrow.   There may be some fog.

 

~Nancy

Thanks Nancy. Forgot about Tule fog.

Once upon a time I lived in Coarsegold and descended into the fog each morning enroute to my job in Fresno.

2 hours ago, ldtr said:

Just make sure that Southwest does not cancel the return, when you do not fly the leg to SD. Unfortunately not sure how you can even talk with someone to make sure due to the mess at both the airports and their customer service lines.

Having been in a jam before, I booked separate flights. So at least the return is disconnected from the cancelled outbound. 

1 minute ago, DENIE said:

Oh no!!!!  Safe travels!  Say hi to David and Omar in the Ocean Bar!  Was good to meet you back in early December.  Is this another B2B?

Nope. This 9 night is the last cruise for a good while, with Shelley watching our new granddaughter full time beginning January 9th. New Year's Eve on a ship is fun and there are two new ports for us, La Paz and Loreto. 
 

Glad you got home safely from your cruise. We enjoyed visiting with you both and hope to see you again. 
 

Cliff

5 minutes ago, julia said:

Perhaps drive to San Fran or Oakland or San Jose and fly from there to SD?  Wishing you the best...

We think alike. I did check those Bay Area airports as well. Nothing in time for less than $1000/person.

Our son had driven up from Napa for Christmas and was going to drive back tomorrow. Instead, he is driving us today to Sacramento where we will stay overnight. We have a car rental (thru Costco! 😁) from Sac airport to SD airport for tomorrow. The treat awaiting us is staying at the Westgate in SD tomorrow night before the cruise, thanks to the recommendation from @kazu.

I expect our Southwest flight back to Portland after disembarking on the 7th will hold.

3 hours ago, BruhnSisters said:

Very sorry you have to make that long drive.  We get the best rental car rates with Costco.

 

Hope this cruise will be EXTRA relaxing once you are onboard.

 

 

Thanks. Yes, rental cars thru Costco have great rates plus second driver at no extra cost. 

I was notified just after midnight that our Southwest flight tomorrow from Portland to San Diego has been cancelled. There are no flights from Portland or Seattle on any airline that will get us to SD in time to board the Koningsdam Thursday. We will rent a car and drive, leaving today. That may not be an option for others, if they are traveling too far to a cruise port and their flight is cancelled. The sooner you verify flights scheduled thru this weekend, the more time you will have to deal with unexpected changes.

28 minutes ago, MereBooty said:

A sea day and I don’t see afternoon tea on the schedule? Am I missing it? I will be very disappointed if there is no tea service when I board next month. 

It is 3pm in the MDR every sea day. Sometimes it is listed in the Daily What And Where and other times not. But is is held every sea day. At least on the Koningsdam.

14 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Duplicate post.

13 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

People covered by the "Crew appreciation" don't have to pool extra tips, as long as you don't cancel your Crew Appreciation contribution. Discussed here frequently.

 

Bar waiters are on a different contract, covered by the 18% on each drink, which is pooled. Extra money given to them is not pooled.

On Koningsdam last week, I asked two lead bartenders what happens with bar tips, both cash and a tip amount added to a drink receipt.

Both gave me the same answer. Cash tips are pooled among bartenders, either across the ship or for a group of bars. Tips added to a drink receipt go only to the bartender listed on the receipt. This is the opposite I would expect, but there was no misunderstanding my question and their response. It was still early in the evening. 😁
 

I am unsure what the protocol is for beverage servers, as I only asked a couple bartenders about their tips given directly to them.

Cliff

23 hours ago, Vic The Parrot said:

My favorite view of San Diego ... sailing away. 

I agree. Here is the sailaway view on Koningsdam 11/26.

On 12/17/2022 at 11:06 AM, SJSULIBRARIAN said:

Jacquie, sorry tohave missed you. Just got off Konigsdam and it is a fine ship. You will have a grand time. Diamond Princess being here today make security more lengthy since ships traditionally in San Diego use same security. 

 

Best restaurant aboard is Rudy's sel de mer in my opinion. Ask for Melvin as server. Tamarind also excellent.  If in Neptune Suite breakfast in Club Orange is a perk. I hope more dining staff board today as the MDR was a problem service wise I heard.

 

Smooth waters and good weather should come your way. 500 children expected on Christmas cruise.

 

Happy Holidays and Bon Voyage. Barbara. 

I agree about Sel de Mer being the best specialty restaurant at present on Kdam. Milan was our go-to server there the past three weeks. Nelson and Tatenda will welcome you as fine friends when you arrive.

Cliff

15 hours ago, san diego spartan said:

On the Kdam now.  Been a good cruise.  Of course there are always hits and misses on any ship but I'm sure you'll have a good time! Weather has been excellent and the sailing to date smooth.  Last night was the 1st.time I've felt the ship moving at all.

 

I heard the ship has 2700 on board now so not full but it is busy....waits for breakfast lunch and dinner in MDR without set dining times.  I think still understaffed unfortunately.   Food for the most part good though dinner tonight a miss that I actually  ended up grabbing something a bit later in the Lido.  They need more venues for watching sports but for some that isn't  an issues.  At pool now watching Thursday nite football.  Lots of people here.  I do think they need some more activities on sea days.  Ship still looks great.   They have some nice decorations for Christmas and put up a gingerbread village yesterday which is sweet....pun intended.

 

Enjoy!

We are also on this week and had some food quality misses in the Pinnacle Grill. Sel de Mer and Tamarind had exquisite food and service. Canaletto was also a very good experience.

Here's a pic of the gingerbread village, with a running model train. Deck 2 just forward of the midship atrium.