AV8rix

That is my married name, and my ex-husband's folks were all from the Florida panhandle -- no connection to Texas at all. In fact I didn't move there until 1970, back when Dallas (although already a big city) was like a charming small town with actual neighborhoods. I had one of those bumper stickers "I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as soon as I could". And in my mind it'll ALWAYS be my home!

Lenda, that's why I miss Texas so much. Up here it just "mizzles" (mists and drizzles) all the time. And we NEVER get thunderstorms -- at least we don't here west of the Cascades. I think that eastern Washington does have them. Back home in Dallas I could sit for hours watching the spectacular lightning. Umm, well I'm not too fond of the oddly-colored lightning that precedes a tornado ☹️.

Most of the old R-class and S-class ships were "themed". Ryndam was my favorite as I was a sailboat racer and she was the nautical-themed ship. Her atrium centerpiece was an old ship's bowsprit figurehead. She had many beautiful displays of old navigational instruments, sailing ship models, etc. Including an inappropriately-labeled ship model. The model was a gaff-rigged ketch on display in the deck 3 atrium. It was labeled as a schooner. This bothered me terribly, as it wouldn't surprise me to see an error like that on a Carnival or RCI ship (although I don't sail on those) but you'd think that the curators of the Holland America art and artifacts would do their due diligence on the labeling. Whatever. Anyway, I got all teary-eyed watching her final departure from Tampa. And @sambamama, you need to watch your spellchecker suggestions before posting. We never had a ship named "Duncan" and the aft-deck butchering was done on Veendam, not "Verandah". Jus' sayin' 😉😉😉.

This is a HAL board, so probably the majority of us know nothing about NCL. Do they not have an app to be used on board? How do you schedule your specialty dining, see the menus for the various dining venues, communicate with other passengers and, yes, let the powers that be know if you had a GREAT experience with a staffer -- or had a problem? IMO the most USEFUL feature of our Navigator app is the ability to message back and forth with your friends. It's educational and interesting to hear how other lines operate so glad you're here and looking forward to your reply.

(former UT alumna and Dallasite)

Not disputing what you were told 10 years ago. However, here's what the procedure is now: If you leave auto-charged grats ("crew incentive") in place the folks you tip (housekeeping stewards, F&B personnel, etc) are permitted to pocket the tips. However, if you remove those grats, then any individual cash tips must be pooled. Sorry, I can't quote the source but there have been MANY threads on this in the past with RELIABLE sources quoted. And I certainly agree with all posters about entering praise about individuals in the Navigator app. I have been profusely thanked by all who I have praised via the app.

<sigh> Well I've posted quite a few comments about this before, but late 2016 CCL (corporate) outsourced IT to offshore Capgemini. Just google keywords "Capgemini Carnival" for the whole story. And it's been downhill ever since.

Also note that, at least on the Pinnacle-class ships, the Orange Party is ***LOUD***! Just noting this because I don't like loud music and I know that there are others that also don't like it. You (OP) may be okay with it. But I wear my orange on that evening anyway 😃.

I'm unhappy because in the new menu they have discontinued both the carpaccio and the lamb chops. I believe that there are also other changes but the two that I have mentioned are the ones that really displease me.

Jennifer isn't a "guest relations" person, she's the Mariner Society rep. Cool lady. I've sailed with her a few times. Anyway, tell her that Susan Kennedy says hi (if you remember). Thanks. Anyway, glad you're doing this blog and happy to be following along with you.

I'm a long-time HAL cruiser, just blackjack. To be honest, haven't paid rack rate for a stateroom in over 10 years. Many, many free interiors (can be upgraded to better category relatively cheaply) and when not actually free, generally 30% off rack rate. Have a nice 30%-off coming up soon with $750 in free play.

From your lips to G*ds ears.🙂

Carolyn, what fire? I can't find any info about it. No sirens or anything. The Anchor Pub fire yesterday is just 1 mile from my house. Maybe your neighbor has old news?

Oooh, Hubbard! On one of my first HAL cruises in 2010 (can't remember which ship, think it was Statendam) we went to Hubbard. We watched the relatively small chunks calving for a while. Then there was a sound like the loudest thunder I've ever heard and seemed like the WHOLE FACE of the glacier fell off, causing an ENORMOUS wave! Captain shouted over the PA "Everyone grab a hand rail. That tsunami (yeah, he really used that term) will hit us". And it did. Really rocked the ship. Been up there many times since...most recently last week...but have never observed a repeat of that phenomenon.

Ewww, that's an AWFUL one! I've been on a few as a preliminary segment to Hawaii, et al. They are booze cruises for the Seattle HAL office folk, who all get drunk and loud and make everyone else miserable. On the last couple of them, I just stayed in my stateroom 'til they all disembarked. It's only one night, so it's certainly tolerable (to me).

Unfortunately, you are correct for Vancouver. All other ports -- including San Diego, which can also be bad at times -- definitely honor the Mariner status/CO/suite priority boarding. But have a great cruise anyway. Once you're aboard, your suite status will be honored.

Actually the Vancouver train station is right across the park from the SkyTrain Expo Line station (with elevator for your luggage). I generally use that, although in bad weather I've taken a taxi -- about $12 Canadian to the port.

Hi, neighbor (I'm in Snohomish County)! I've driven up for cruises there. Canada Place parking is OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. So what I have done in the past is stay one night at the Radisson. They have (or used to have) a "parking package" for folks on cruises. Nice indoor garage. And they're right across the street from a SkyTrain terminal (SkyTrain is Vancouver's excellent mass transit). However, I just checked their site and no longer see the parking package listed. So you might want to give them a call and see if it is still offered. (236) 305-5339. But more often, I just take the Amtrak Cascade train up and back. Business Class is just about $150 from SnoCo round trip. Probably a bit more from downtown. Train always full of cruisers.

Yeah, I was through the Vancouver misery on July 30. Four ships boarding. I'm a 4* and there was ABSOLUTELY NO priority boarding! The line for security snaked through for the better part of an hour, mixing pax of ALL ships. You see, Vancouver has only one terminal building/line for ALL ships. Unlike Fort Lauderdale with its multiple terminal buildings, each with its own customs/security line.

I had it on both Kdam and Vdam earlier this year in PG for lunch and Canaletto for dinner (both starters). But take a look at the NEW Canaletto menu. It's not included in the starters any more.☹️ Boarding NAdam tomorrow. That's one of the first things I'll check on -- or no Canaletto for me.

Yeah, in May Volendam stopped for just 4-5 hours -- I forget now exactly how long. But as long as it's sufficient time for me to walk the mile (and back) to my favorite sushi shop in the James Bay neighborhood, I'm good.

Jacqui @kazu, I'm going on a cruise tomorrow and always unplug when I'm on the ships. So could you give us an update on Ivan today? Even a brief one? I'm sure we're all curious. Thanks.

Yeah, they’ve moved to Rowena. But they no longer have an airstrip. So nobody’s gonna drive the 200+ miles (one way) from Dallas for a steak dinner, no matter how good. But we pilots, of course, use ANYTHING as an excuse to fly. So that’s why we happily flew the 200+ miles to Lowake for “just” a steak dinner, then turn right around again and fly home. BTW, been retired in the PacNW for >20 years now but will ALWAYS consider Texas my home. Jus' sayin’ 🙂. On another subject: Within a week I’ll be on a 2-week cruise so won’t be following. Well, actually I don’t follow the Daily much any more – just search for posts of certain individuals, of which you’re one. I’m not a praying person, but am HOPING that Steve gets the shunt procedure scheduled in a timely fashion. The love of my life refused the shunt (didn’t want people “poking around in his brain”), so watching the inexorable progression of the NPH up to his death in January of this year was heartbreaking. Hope to hear some good news from you when I return in mid August.

Y’all want to know something? I’m intending to pack up my copper and silver and mailing them (certified mail) back to the Mariner Society office. Why? Well, we no longer have ANY occasion to wear them. We never wear them around the ship except for the reception which has now been closed to us lowly folk. We certainly don’t wear them for any reason at all when we’re not on a ship. So I can’t see the point in awarding them at all below gold and platinum level. When I do send them back I will of course include a message containing the paragraph above. And why am I just talking about it and not doing it? Because Gerald Bernhoft, the Mariner Society Director has retired. He has not been replaced. I don’t see any point in making the gesture until a new Director has been appointed. The underlings would likely just shrug their shoulders and return the medallions back to inventory. ‘Nuff said. BTW, @Haljo1935, there is no 200-day medallion. The next level up from the 100-day copper is the silver for 300 days. And if I were you I definitely would contact them about your missing copper. Their email address is mariner_society@hollandamerica.com

Well, I can answer that one -- and it's a BUMMER!! The Mariner medallion reception on the last sea day of every cruise (right before the Mariner luncheon) was a wonderful tradition. ALL 4* and 5* Mariners were invited. It was held in either the theater or the Explorers Lounge (depending upon the ship) with snacks and wine provided. Each person receiving a medallion was called to the front, the ships Master himself placed the medallion on the recipient and a photo was taken with the Master and the Hotel Director. Well, that was discontinued at the startup after the pandemic, when we were all masked. Only a very few extremely high-status 5*s and PC members were invited. I've heard that some of the receptions had fewer than 12 attendees (other than the ones being awarded medallions). Medallions were unceremoniously dropped off in staterooms. Well, I could understand it back then. Wanting to limit the Masters and HDs contact to as few people as possible because covid was still pretty prevalent. But that's still the way the medallions are awarded now and IMO there's no excuse for it. I received my silver in my stateroom, went to the reception, and all they did was call out the names of all of the recipients, each of whom put their own medallion on. No individual contact with either the Master or the HD. Just another lovely HAL tradition that's gone, along with the Yum Yum Man, the crew show, the librarian, the officers hosting tables in the MDR, etc, etc. End of rant.