0106

The Pinnacle is only open for lunch on sea days.

I love aft balconies, usually book the on deck 8 and have never experienced soot. Also, the aft provides a bit more protection from the wind if you are in a cooler climate.

I would pick the Koningsdam because it has verandah cabins. We use our balcony frequently, particular when viewing nature. The Zaadam has no standard balcony cabins, only suites.

Article from Condé Nast Traveler magazine This New ‘Standby’ Cruise Fare Costs Just $49 Per Day—but Is It Worth It?

After comments from @Cruising-along about her favorite Sauvignon Blanc regions and an informative post by @XBGuy, I thought I’d chime in too. I was amazed by the Sauvignon Blanca I drank in Chile. Excellent and inexpensive. We drank 2 bottles of this during my birthday lunch ($8 a bottle at the restaurant, same price at Total Wine here) On the way to the airport we stopped at a wonderful vineyard in the Casablanca Valley for a wine tasting This was my favorite ($12 at Total Wine). I have a difficult time describing why I like a wine but there was very little citrus, I would describe it as grassy. On another note, many have stated they prefer fresh salmon. The advantage of salmon cakes is they are delicious made with a CAN of wild Alaskan salmon. I always have canned salmon in my pantry for a quick and nutritious meal. Positive thoughts for all who need them. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

Here’s your Roll Call. You can speak to others on your cruise there.

Unfortunately BB King bands are gone from all but the Pinnacle class ships.

On the NS in March, the best band was in BB Kings. The Rolling Stones Lounge was virtually empty. On the Oosterdam in February, we made do with The Rolling Stones Lounge. I appreciated that they posted their set list so I knew what kind of music to expect. I don’t care about branding. I just want good music.

@ottahand7send me a message when you have time. My email is on the front page of the spreadsheets in my signature.

@BermudaBound2014 Thank you for this thread and for your recommendations.

The beach at Grand Turk is beautiful. The younger folks may appreciate the excitement at Margaritaville. However, I walk about 10 minutes down the beach to Jack’s Shack. I’ve also done private snorkeling tours with Blue Water Divers. Don’t hold your breath with Key West. It is frequently cancelled.

What type of boat was used? I am happy to hear all the positive medical updates!

@bennybearThank you for the additional photos and your advice. Great to hear whales can be seen every where. I’ve only been to Hawaii once and snorkeled Kealakakua Bay. I was lucky enough to see the spinner dolphins AND a mother whale who was pushing her baby up to the surface so it could breathe. The captain would count and point and we were lucky enough to see this several times. My niece still teases me because I was crying as I watched. First thing she said to me when I told her about seeing the whales in Antarctica was, “Did you cry?”😊 My husband prefers gardens to snorkeling. I just looked up Big Island Botanical Gardens. Wow! Can you recommend one? We are in port from 8-6 but will be tendering. Maybe renting a car would be a good idea. Is there a company near the port? @ottahand7 will also be on this cruise. Maybe we can organize our own private tour.

Thank you to everyone who has posted the wonderful pictures of Kona. We’ll be there next January. @bennybearWhat is the one thing we shouldn’t miss in Kona? I’ve booked a whale watching tour with HAL but only to use up a HIA credit. Would happily cancel. I was also looking for a private snorkeling tour to Kealakekua Bay that provides wet suits. Happy to receive advice from anyone about private tours at all the Hawaiian ports.

Here is the previous thread on the same topic. No one can provide additional information until the remainder of the 2026 cruise schedule is released.