oakridger

@smj This one?

Bon Voyage and I will definitely be reading! I am following @NorbertsNiece as well. I think I'm going to take this itinerary after a couple of already planned trips. Thanks, and get a good rest tonight. ~Nancy

@zoomerica @nancynana9950 @ellebele The new blog is up now! "Treasures of Cruising the World" with Bill & Mary Ann (cruisingwithbillandmaryann.blogspot.com) I have it bookmarked in "Favorites"! Thanks @WCB!! ~Nancy

If you are staying at the same hotel in Rome pre hike and post hike (before boarding your ship) you could ask them to hold your large suitcase while you are hiking. I did just that in Sydney when I arrived by cruise then went out in Australia for a week on the train, then returned to the same hotel in Sydney. The hotel happily stored my big case while I was gone! ~Nancy

That's the last place I disembarked from a Crystal Ship! Sydney April 2019 White Bay Terminal. Gosh I wish I was boarding with you!! Have a wonderful cruise and thanks for posting whenever you get inspired! @DaisyUK also! ~Nancy

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I haven't gone to one in years either and the menus from 2022 were pretty bad too. It's great to see that HAL has upped their Mariner Luncheon game in the last six months based on postings I've seen on Cruise Critic! I will attend on my next cruise in May. 🙂 ~Nancy

Here you go: ~Nancy

This Nancy is going to be reading along as well! Thanks for sharing your time to create these posts! ~Nancy

I would check with the ship before assuming anything about curfew times! I have seen reports that some ports will not allow all night ship access. ~Nancy

OP hasn't come back to let us know which ship they will be on. As mentioned, that makes a big difference! ~Nancy

Good point @Roz. When I was looking into a port pedicure it was in Auckland, New Zealand, so I wasn't even considering the sanitation aspect at all since I would think theirs is excellent. Some other ports, not so much! Thanks for bringing that to our attention. ~Nancy

I hope you will be posting from Konningsdam! Happy New Year! `Nancy

It just turned 2024 here in California! Happy New Year @Haljo1935!! ~Nancy

My last shipboard pedicure on Nieuw Amsterdam was done very well. Yes, it was more expensive than here in the San Francisco Bay area in a mom-and-pop salon. She didn't try to upsell me with products! Maybe she read my mind that I would have shut the sales pitch down immediately, but I was happy with the experience. Steiner spa services is now called "One Spa World" and is on 20 cruise lines, including HAL. Spas at Sea - OneSpaWorld If I was on a long cruise and had time in port, I would get my mani/pedi done in port. I think that would be fun! ~Nancy

I love Rambutan!! It's great you had them on the ship. We can get them here in Asian markets. It's midnight here in an hour and 6 minutes. Happy New Year! Enjoy the rest of the cruise! ~Nancy

Those Champagnes look wonderful, but the Dessert of Escargot Bourguignon or Shrimp Cocktail is a little out of my taste zone!! 😁 Happy New Year Rich! ~Nancy

Absolutely!! Signature Suite has two sinks with a large counter area and a tub/shower plus shower (Pinnacle Class is different) or two Verandas has...well...two bathrooms! Pinnacle Class Signature suites seem less spacious to me in the sitting area. Look at pictures on Halfacts.com if that is your ship. Which ship are you considering? Makes a bit of difference in the cabin sizes and configuration. Have a great time! ~Nancy

Oooo.....Oooo....I'll be there in 5 months!! First time in the Netherlands and can even pronounce Ijmuiden correctly thanks to @Copper10-8!! 😁 ~Nancy

@crystalspin Are you asking Mary Ann? ~Nancy

And another Bon Voyage to you both! I'll be boarding Zuiderdam in Ft. Lauderdale on May 11th when you return......but let's not think about that yet! You are just getting started! ~Nancy

I can't remember if you are asked for the CC number when each excursion is booked, but if not, your dad could just go into his HAL account and change the card to the one he wants to use for the excursion. He could change it back to the original card if he wants after the train booking. ~Nancy

Crystal Cruises (Symphony and Serenity) has butlers in every cabin category now. ~Nancy

Fortunately, my TA is responsive at all times she isn't sleeping! She answers emails within an hour or less. The PCC giving @shipmeoff! grief for transferring the booking to a TA really sounds like a rogue PCC and not the normal policy. Let's hope anyway! Sorry you have to deal with this unpleasant situation. ~Nancy

We are so good at Googling John!! 😁 ~Nancy