oakridger

Not always the case, unfortunately. In my experience the Signature Suites are usually around 1.5X more expensive than a veranda cabin but on my upcoming Trans-Atlantic in May 2024 from Ft. Lauderdale to Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) they are asking 2X the price for Signature Suites than verandas!!! I don't know why the price is so much more than usual other than because "they can" and people are paying for it. ~Nancy

The streamers went the way of skeet shooting and golf ball hitting off the stern of the ships! Throwing things in the ocean is not allowed anymore, but it was fun way back when we were so unaware of the pollution problem! For me, Royal Viking Line 1982 sailing from San Francisco!! HAL does usually have a Sail Away Party on the aft pool deck with drinks passed around (for sale) snacks (sometimes) and music. I like to go to those and it's a festive way to start off the cruise!! ~Nancy

Thanks! I'll go to the link and look at the pictures next. I'm glad you had a good time. ~Nancy

Hi Pete. I love your posts and blog. It's so informative and entertaining. I have a question about your postings though. (This is in no way a complaint about the many, many hours of work you do for so many of us!!) Just curious! You have been posting your reports and pictures pretty much within a day of when you are in ports, but your main blog is getting posted quite a bit later. Is it because the main blog is harder to send from the ship's internet or possibly because the main blog has much more added info for menus, Daily schedules, etc.? Or some other reason? I have been waiting to read mostly until the main blog is posted so I can "savor" it more. Maybe that's a little weird and I should just read the CC and get my fix ASAP!! 🤷‍♀️ Anyway, thanks, ~Nancy

I'm curious, privacy from what? The promenade deck? ~Nancy

The Easter brunch menu looks very nice. Is there a charge for it? (I'm guessing yes!) ~Nancy

@Reagan0712My phone and laptop both worked better in some other places on board. Specifically, I tried the Seaview pool deck area and the Ocean Bar by the windows which were both less troublesome.

iPhone 10R (XR) and my Windows 11 laptop.

That's a very personal question!! 😉

Am I remembering correctly that the cabana area closes at 5pm? I would be very tempted to rent a retreat cabana on warm cruises if it stayed open later. What a nice spot to star gaze late at night! I love balcony cabins for that reason but would definitely consider an Ocean View cabin plus cabana if I could use it at night. ~Nancy

Zuiderdam was my first HAL cruise! In 2006 I sailed from San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale through the Panama Canal. I haven't sailed on her since but am now signed up for the Trans-Atlantic repositioning in May 2024. I really, really, like the smaller ships! The World Cruise sailing right now has some mixed reviews, but mostly the negatives seem to be concerning variety of food and entertainment and not the ship itself. Like most people, I am hoping for an improvement in both categories as we move into the post pandemic era. ~Nancy

Thanks to everyone who posted the sail away on the webcams. Some of them are just wonderful with the city skyline and Statue of Liberty in the background! It sure makes me wish I was on board for this one!! Bon Voyage to Rotterdam and all who are sailing on her!!! ~Nancy

That sounds good!! We had live music in the Ocean Bar last fall on the Nieuw Amsterdam and they were very enjoyable. I'm glad if they make this a regular amenity on all the ships! ~Nancy

I was on the Rotterdam in November for 3 weeks. The internet was intermittent and had spotty service in different areas of the ship (including my cabin)! I got disconnected quite often. Would this be considered "normal" Starlink service? I hope not, because I saw no difference on that cruise than any other cruise I have been on. ~Nancy

Hi again Joe and Pat! My apologies for the cold and rainy weather we offered you on this trip! I will be watching to see your report! ~Nancy

Do you have the link? Thanks, ~Nancy

Make note that the Shipboard credit is "up to $500.*" Based on cabin category? Per person or per cabin? ~Nancy

Yay! I'm so glad you are seeing it. Even in the misty and dark morning it looks impressive. My grandparents came over by ship from Norway and Sweden in the late 1800s and they saw it too. I will see it someday, I hope! Have a wonderful day in New York! ~Nancy

I have posted in the past about the ships running out of so many common items. It happened to me also on several cruises from Ft. Lauderdale. So, does Florida really have a shortage of Diet Coke, strawberries, pickled beets for salads, Bud Light and strawberry purée for my Margaritas? On 7 and 10 day cruises? I really don't get it. Some of this bad inventory planning goes back to my 2012 cruises too. Sheesh!!! ~Nancy

I think I could understand not getting a referral bonus for someone in the same cabin, but why not if they are on the same cruise? Seems like if you suggested to a friend to try HAL and they went on your cruise that should be eligible for it? Hmmmm ~Nancy

That is one heck of a lot of curry powder!!! They could make the curry recipes in large vats with all of that!! ~Nancy

Yes, that is showing on Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam only. I can't imagine what it might be. It's listed under "Entertainment". It also has a Rudi's "Pop UP" listed again on all of the non-Pinnacle class ships. I hope that is going to come back!

Thanks for any information either of you have time to share with us! Have a wonderful time! ~Nancy

I too am waiting anxiously to see what New Crystal comes up with! I really want some good and diverse speakers who are experts in their field and are capable of interesting presentations. Please no reading of slides and scripts!!! In the past some speakers who were frequently on board didn't change their presentations enough considering how many people are repeat cruisers. I have enjoyed presenters that get out and about on the ship and talk to the guests. I've had several very interesting conversations with a few of them in the past. I love that aspect of enrichment while cruising. ~Nancy

Hi, and welcome to Cruise Critic @Aijeih! CC doesn't have a private message (PM) function. ~Nancy