jig

A bit of advice about stamping your passport. Only gov agents may stamp a passport. There are places I see where the tourist desk has a stamp and people stamp it themselves. That could render your passport void. In most ports there is a immigration office. You can take it there and ask them to stamp it. I did that in the Bahamas, Jamaca and American Samoa. But there are real official stamps. Be careful.

Glad you liked Antigua. I will go back in Jan.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

We have a half day and I will not miss the chance to see Leon. Said to one of the most beautiful colonial cities. I was hoping you would go there to give a review. Antigua is also stunning. We did the "shuttle" and hired a guide that was waiting for us as we got off the bus. Just walk up and down the lanes. It beautiful.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

"Not sure about that. We are on the reverse in Jan after the canal. Still a half day. Seems all ships do that there."

 

 

 

 

 

I have been to Cartagena twice, both on Celebrity. These cruises were not part of a transit of the canal. We spent a whole day there each time. First we did a full day tour of the city and this last fall we did a canoe ride in a Mangrove swamp.

Ok. Might be a HAL thing. I notice that all the time they stop there it's for a half day. We are doing a 4 hour walking tour. I've been told it's a beautiful city and would not miss it.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

They probably need buffer to ensure they don't miss their canal reservation time

 

Another change from world. No port agent info cards the night before. Name and number of port agent is not in on location, not in Explorer Brochure. Will see if Front Desk will have info readily available. I always like to have their phone number just in case. They are your only line of communication to the ship when in port.

 

Wonder if you could call Seattle in emergency and get transferred?

Not sure about that. We are on the reverse in Jan after the canal. Still a half day. Seems all ships do that there.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

We have no plans for Columbia...short day....all aboard at 12:30

Not sure why , but all the calls are half day. Maybe tides. Shame as I heard it's a beautiful city. Part is kinda far to walk to old town. You should try to hook up with something.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Haven't seen that on Deck 5 which is all fixed.....since we start at 8 pm probably less people wanting that time for open. They said they would only bring extra people from open if we asked for them each day. We had all 4 from Abba Fab last night...working on 4 more fir tonight. Not confirmed.

That's good. We were on the Volendam for 42 days and were late seating as well. We saw it every night. Being brought upstairs.

We're were going on the Veendam in 28 days but have had to cancel. Sad as we love being on a ship. Not sure what your doing in the next stop but we plan to do our own walking tour with a private guide.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

The problem with having extra seat open is that they will bring people to the table whenever. We would see people seated at a table already served and the waiters have to take their orders in the middle of serving you. One of the reasons we went to a table for 2.

As far as the sail away, a lot of people are still unpacking. Not sure what your next stop is but looking forward to your Colombia visit

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

When we were in the Volendam last year 3 people took care of the wine for the whole upper dining room. Way too much for 3 people to do. I guess there are more staff on the WC. The world has been that HAL has not made a dime on it. Glad you enjoyed it. Might be hard to go back to the regular HAL service. The staff are are amazing.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

I have posted a few that were not mine and always say so. But I would have no problem I f someone did. I would feel honored that someone thought it was that good.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

My friend Heo won the picture contest for the last segment. Great people. Great cruisers. Will see them in June in Australia.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

I just saw my friend Heo won the photo contest.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Thanks, 1of4. Quite a read. I see they also cruised on Royal Caribbean but you think they would have checked on HAL a little bit before such a commitment.

 

 

 

Pete and Judy, when you leave Ft, Lauderdale I hope you'll post on personnel changes. I assume Debby Bacon will leave as usual but I'm especially wondering about Barbara, Gene, and Captain Mercer. They've all been on a long time. I'm also hoping HAL will soon release the Grand Asia.

 

 

 

Roy

Oh, it was rcci. The greatest read ever.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

We were on the WC with that cruiser, and the complaints never stopped coming. Our favorite, however, was after the cruise was over and one of her last comments on CC was "We stopped at IHOP for dinner. It was the first decent meal I'd had in four months."

Your talking about legally blond. It was not her first cruise. She had done a carnival cruise once. You have to admit it was the greatest. The best was in Agra it was too early to get up to see the taj at sunrise so she went bowling. She has not done any cruising since.

I has been great reading about your adventures. Next time you will be in Africa. Should be great. I have travelled all over the world since I was a kid. Saw so much and never wanted to go on a ship. However since I did I saw so many places I would never have seen. i.e. The Seychelles. Maldives. Antarctica. And so many more. Will be reading you PC transit as I will be doing it in Jan.

Thanks.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

There will always be a few but only for one segment, as Mariner Status is recalculated at the end of each leg. There are even a few people who will do a full World Cruise as their first ever cruise, but on HAL they would be at least 2 stars (and almost 3) by this point.

 

 

 

Roy

Didn't realize that but still it's amazing that this would be anyone's first cruise.

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

There is at least one person where this was their first cruise ever

Wow. We did 44 days on the Amsterdam once and met a couple that had never been on a cruise before. What if you don't like it? Oh well

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

On a world cruise they should have a special lunch for non Mariners. They could have it in a closet. Was there anyone on board that this was their first HAL cruise?

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Equal right, yes. Equal outcome, no. Did I miss something but when did Dimon steal billions? But this was about cruises and the NY Times. Somehow they found a way to put NCL and occupy Wall Street in the same story. If that's not a wired stretch then nothing is.

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

I figure we will get the standard email survey after the cruise...

Ok, I remember that from the Volendam last year. Will see what happens on the Veendam

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

No I meant the survey for the cruise you are on now. You might feel differently 15 days latter.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

... absolutely spot on!!! This sort of nonsensical (and hypocritical) article is unfortunately typical of the NYT and probably explains why the NYT just announced another layoff of 150 employees as it faces steadily declining readership. RIP, NYT!!!

Bet they won't be taking a cruise for a while. Maybe they should have gotten a job at a media that people read.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Interesting that they did not give you a WC survey. Next cruise totally different.

Totally agree about the front office staff. As we spend a lot of time at one time onboard we get to know them. We usually get them some gift. Usually chocolates. Very grateful.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Leave it to the New York Times to make a political statement about a cruise. This is not an egalerterian country. We have always had people that could afford more and spent more. Mass market cruise lines are seeing their passengers going to seebourne or silversea or regent. This is a way to try to keep them in the family.

Somehow I think "Pinch" is very picky who gets into the private clubs he belongs to. New Yorkers like myself might remember what happened when patti Davis , pres reagan's daughter tried to dare move into the building he lied in.

Article about nothing.

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

There was a ship tour that went there that was a few minutes late.

The timing was too tight to do it on your own. If there was another stop in Spain or Portugal then one might have taken a chance. Shame as it is a beautiful city.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

It's been a long time since I've had a proper Mongolian BBQ on a ship. It was normal years ago but now it's just a plain BBQ. In 4 weeks we are on the Veendam so we she'll see.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Most ships leave Cadiz latter to give you a chance to take a train to Seville. But your time was right. Could have done it but cut it very close.

Chocolate is unsweetened in Spain. I had a hot chocolate there once and no amount of milk and sugar could "fix" it.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app