ASB&Cruiseluvr

I look forward to any responses you get.  We will be in port for the first time in November.

What is Aladdin's daily rate?

8 minutes ago, groundloop said:

 

I just happened to save some screenshots of menus from last week:

 

Cappuccino $3.50

Latte $3.50

Espresso $2.50

Art of Tea Selection $2.50

 

 

Any menus from the Miracle - 5 night to Cabo?  I'd love to see it to choose our specialty night.

2 hours ago, rodndonna said:

 

I would say in my experience it seems that is the case for the reverse, so I expect so.

Thanks for the response.  

Question for casino cruisers:  Do you know if time and money spent in the casino on a Carnival cruise have any impact on cruise offers from HAL?

1 minute ago, CruiserBruce said:

Plus KDam is doing some Hawaii trips also.

 

The Spring 2023 is out, has been for months.

Check Mexico and Pacific Coast and you will find out it isn't.  If you find any February or after March cruises, please let me know.

Sorry to hear about the March 25 cancellation.  That would have been a good time for us.  Much as I like the Koningsdam, there are no Mexican or Pacific Coast cruise alternatives currently available during the time we would like to cruise.  Very frustrating.  For various reasons, we are avoiding flying and want California departure ports right now.

7 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

Yes.

Thanks for the reply.

Just confirming - does the stockholder OBC from Carnival apply to all its brands?  I normally sail HAL, but we have one shorter Carnival cruise booked as well.

There is very little choice with any ship, and none that I saw in February or after March.

My point exactly - it is definitely past time to book that time period.  I've never known for there not to be options available this late.  We sailed the Koningsdam up the coast last December and definitely enjoyed the ship.  I always love the Lincoln Center shows.  My sisters and I are doing a "sisters sail" to the Mexican Riviera on her in December.  That is why I would like to change my husband's and my sailing (which was booked through future cruise on board) to 2023.  It is very frustrating not to have any options available.  I do not want to have to look at other cruiselines, but may have to if the situation doesn't resolve before our final payment is due for the November cruise.  

When will HAL have Mexico cruise dates and itineraries for 2023?  We are booked for November on the Koningsdam but want to transfer it to February 2023 or later.  I am very frustrated that no cruise itineraries have been released.  Does anyone know when we can expect to have them available?

On 11/1/2021 at 2:00 PM, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We departed San Diego for a 2 week cruise off the coast of California.   (two 7 day back to backs)   We arrived in Ensenada this AM.   Will be posting more later, but I wanted to upload this video which shows the embarkation process.    I am experimenting with doing more video.   We'll see how it goes!

 

 

Thanks for the video.  My sister, Laurie, is aboard your cruise, and I will be joining her for the Nov 7 leg of the sail.  Nice to get the information!

On 10/4/2021 at 6:29 PM, librarysmile said:

When I signed up for Cruise Critic my first choices for a screen name were already taken. I'm a college librarian and I think being friendly and approachable is one of the most important traits a college librarian can have hence the "librarysmile". Thanks for asking!

I am a part time Assistant Librarian at our local branch of the county library system - so I noticed your screen name right away.  I agree that one of the most important traits for any librarian is to be friendly & approachable!  My sister who is now retired has her Masters in Library Science and was a reference librarian for many years in Williamsburg, VA.

On 9/1/2021 at 2:37 PM, librarysmile said:

I was really looking forward to this stop on the November 7 Koningsdam cruise. We already lost Monterey and were slotted to spend the night in San Francisco. Hope we hear something official from HAL soon.

I was looking forward to it as well on the same cruise.  Both Monterey and Santa Barbara were high on my list - especially Monterey, as I haven't been in that area for a long time.  And Santa Barbara is such a lovely area.  I live in the Hi Desert of SoCal and have been missing water and beaches.  I am joining my sister from MI for a fun time together - so we will make the best of whatever comes.  I'm curious about the "librarysmile" name.  Care to elaborate?

5 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Happy to add it for you if I can make sure I have the right cruise 😉 

 

You didn’t name the ship but I’m guessing it’s the Koningsdam and California Coastal???  

If that’s not the cruise then I need more details, please.  Thanks 🙂 

So sorry!  I came over from roll call and forgot you didn't know the ship!!!  "Duh!" Yes, my sister and I are sailing on the Koningsdam.  My sister will be staying on from the week before.  A friend has also booked a solo cabin for the Nov. 7 sailing. Thanks for pointing out my omission.

Will be sailing on the Nov 7 Pacific Coastal.

I think all guests AND all cruise staff being vaccinated would make me the most comfortable for cruising.  We are booked on a November cruise and hope to be able to sail based on those conditions.  I have never been one to book a lot of ship tours, but I would not object to that requirement for the remainder of 2021 at least.

I think all guests AND all cruise staff being vaccinated would make me the most comfortable for cruising.  We are booked on a November cruise and hope to be able to sail based on those conditions.

7 hours ago, jeda4137 said:

We stayed in K #4044 for a 21 day Carribbean cruise in Mar 2019.  Not quite the same as #4046.  Room lay out for the most part is , but seemed maybe slightly smaller - however you are missing that extra window. If it had the extra window  like #4046 you be looking at #4042 balcony.  # 4042 balcony was huge  So as you walk in the room there is a big blank space where that window would have been so nice. Made the room somewhat dark. We started leaving the TV on to the aft channel and it kind of took away your attention from that big dark space as you entered  the room. Too bad they did not put a big mirror on that space and it would have helped brighten up the room.  The layout put the bed very close to the door. Gave you a nice space between bed and desk  Might hear a few voices go by in the evening, but as not a party ship did not find that to be a big problem- however would hear the breakfast cart rattle by early morning.  Had an irregular shaped deck, kind of almost triangle, but did like it. Sat 4 comfortably - no extra chairs , just used ones from inside.  Sorry , do have pics but have no idea how to post them here. ( It is Senior thing- ha-ha)  Not sure if there is a way you could email private message me and then maybe send them to you. Just not sure would stay in that one again - - however if price and destination were right might consider it - so not all bad for sure. 

Jeda4137, your message feature is disabled.  Photos could be sent to eyesonnatureimages@outlook dot com.  I'd love to see them.  Kim 

Thanks for all the information!  Too bad about the 2nd window not being there.  It looked really nice.

Thanks!

Does anyone have photos of Cabin 4044 or its like cabins?  It is a different format than the normal obstructed Verandah.  I would love to see how it looks, as we are booked to sail in it on November 7.

ASB&Cruiseluvr wrote:

 

At the very end I broke down and bought a little turtle with a moving head from a child for $1.

 

Was this a very friendly and precocious boy around seven years old? He was by far the best salesman on Stone Island when we were there last week.

No. I believe he came by earlier on when we were discouraging attention, but it was a little girl that approached as just before we were leaving, and I decided to make my "major purchase." Kim

Thank you for taking the time so soon after your cruise to post. Sound like a great place to unwind. That is what my vacation is all about.

 

How was the weather for your cruise? What was your favorite port? Did you have a favorite restaraunt on the ship? OK...I'll stop! LOL!

 

jannyb

The weather was fantastic! The evenings were quite cool (sweatshirt/jacket weather if on the Promenade deck) the first and last nights - up CA way - but even there the days were beautiful. Other than that it was beach weather all the way.

I think Stone Island was a highlight; however, we really enjoyed going to the Malicon walk in Puerto Vallarta and having cheap drinks at The Cheeky Monkey ($1 beer, $2 for my creamy drink with banana rum) which is on the 2nd floor looking over the walk and water. We first walked to a grocery store near the port and someone told us we could take a bus for $.50 pp to DT PV and where to get off, etc. There were 4 of us, and we had planned to take a taxi but decided to get the local flavor, and it was easy and interesting. However, as mentioned on CC, if you take the bright yellow taxis that are found outside the port fence, it is a set rate per car (I think $5) to go downtown, as opposed to a pp rate if you take the white or cream federal taxis inside the port area.

I'm not much help on the ship restaurants as we did late seating in the International Dining Room every night. I guess I'm a traditionalist, and we liked our wait staff (Eduardo and Arturo). I did enjoy getting a coffee card and having a latte each morning at the cafe on Deck 5 (Plaza), along with brewed coffee and one hot chocolate enjoyed by my DH - and I have punches left for my NEXT Princess cruise - whenever I am fortunate enough for that to be. One member of our group insisted that plans pause at about 3:30 in the afternoon each day to go to the free ice cream bar in the Horizon Court (vanilla or chocolate with chocolate and/or caramel topping and with a few types of sprinkles available). As with most cruises - especially with a 24 hour buffet - there was always plenty of good food to eat!

My biggest disappointment on the cruise was that we had to miss the first and last night's show productions because there was only one showing and it conflicted with late seating. I think that is poor planning on the cruise's part. It would be too bad for the wait staffs and the other restaurants if a lot of people deserted their late seating and went any time on those nights just to be able to get to the shows. I enjoyed the shows I saw and thought the voices of the singers were better than on my last couple of cruises.

Kim