trickylibrarian

Will be there next week.  Thank you fore the ideas and will take some of your recommendations.  

We'll be on her next Saturday and hope the weather is improved.  Going to pack

for the cold.  Enjoying this thread a lot,  

Next cruise try Cunard.  Lots of dancing in the ballroom with a live band.  

Mine too!

Will be on the Volendam May 11.  Have a wonderful time!  Bon Voyage.

Walkable from the port and which rental agency?  Thank you

I bit the bullet for the Hampton Inn across from the cruise terminal for next month,

$350.  Convenient but still 😞.   We have not spent any time seeing the sights in 

Boston so we are landing early and sightseeing the day before the cruise.  Cross 

Boston off our list.  

I've brought canned soda on HAL ships many times in the past.  Has this been changed to bringing no soda on board?  Buying it during happy hour is a great suggestion.  Thank you.

seacruise9, we are from suburban Chicagoland and will be on that cruise as well.  

Thank you for all your replies.  Booked this morning.  We cruised on the Prinsendam twice and loved it's size and since it is no longer with HAL this ship will be great.

Flying into Boston on a Friday and boarding a cruise ship on Saturday.

Any creative ideas how to lower the high cost of staying in Boston 

proper for that one night by staying outside of the city.  Appreciate

any thoughts.  

Thank you both for your replies.  No concerns after reading your opinions.  

Looking forward to boarding.  

Thinking of booking a last minute cruise to New England Boston to Montreal in May.  We are platinum Mariners 

but never sailed on the Volendam.  Read a few reviews here on CC and some say the ship is "tired". 

Would appreciate a few recent opinions. Thank you.  

Sorry we were on the Sirena Nautica was in November.  😞

I have not checked the O board in a while and this caught my eye.  We were on the Nautica at the end of January and both came down with lower GI illness mentioned above (NOT noro)

Many cruises behind us and this was the first time ever we got ill and we are both extremely

careful so much so I thought maybe it was something we ate at Red Ginger the night before but

we had different food.  My DH landed up going to the medical center and came back with 

generic Imodium and an antibiotic.... pleasantly surprised at no charge.  Our excursion money 

went out the window since we were not able to go on any.  Also had to cancel our reservation

for the other specialty restaurant.  However, I spoke to the Concierge and she did get us a 

reservation the last night of our cruise.  Only enjoyed 4 of the 10 cruise days.  "Stuff happens"

Very limited shopping.

Glad some one asked this since we just returned last week from our second O cruise in 2 months.

On our first O cruise in November we did not have SM and that worked for us.  Our second cruise 

was in January.  I am now rethinking booking again on O because of our experience.  Both myself and husband contracted something which I will call "traveler's diarrhea" on our third cruise day.

Days 4-9 we could not go on any of our booked excursion due to our illness.  Hence, our $800

excursion credit was lost.  We also had to cancel one specialty dining night.  I am not complaining just stating the facts.  Fortunately I spoke to the concierge and she was able to rebook our specialty 

dining night the last night of our cruise when we were feeling better.  Very pleased about that.

Because only one of us drinks moderately and one abstains the included alcohol is not an added

bonus for us.  So, I am wondering if the cost of O (I love the service, food, etc) is worth it for us.

BTW my husband did use the medical facility on board and received two medications.  Very 

surprised there was no charge.  

We flew home from Miami last Sunday. I wore a mask and my husband did not. Three days after our return he tested positive for Covid.  All part of traveling today.  

Just got off her yesterday.  Our second O cruise since November when we were on the Nautica.

I cannot compare the service in the past but we thought the service was excellent.  If you are larger

folks the bathroom might be a challenge.  

Did get an offer yesterday to upgrade to a concierge verandah for $500 pp.

Not interested.  However, did contact Oceania TA to see if there is a "regular"

verandah available and at what price.  Waiting to hear back.   

We will be taking our second Oceania cruise next week and booked a "guarantee" stateroom.

For those of you who have done this before is there a chance of them upgrading our booking 

(Inside to Oceanview?).  Thank you for your input.

Which category of cabin did you book to use this certificate?  Thank you.  

We received one after our first O cruise in November.  Booked and paid for another cruise a few weeks after returning. Waiting for a response as well.

Susiean did you book through Spain Day Tours?  We are doing that tour with them while on the Nautica

in November.  Our itinerary shows us in Motril 9am-9pm. 

We will be on the Nautica Barcelona to Barcelona.  Going to ports

we have never visited. Have you ever been on the Nautica?

Thank you for the information.  

Just booked our first O cruise for November.  

The booking says "beverage package" select non alcoholic drinks.

Is that ice tea, coffee, etc or soft drinks too?

Also, is it correct that dinner in the dining rooms start at 7pm?  

Does food service start earlier in the buffet?

Thank you.