shuttlebuggy

Yes Sunsetbeachgal! They DO! They were great!

Just returned from a beautiful week of cruising in the Eastern Carribean aboard the MS Eurodam. Weather was spectacular! A nice break from the cold & snow we escaped from!

Will be good giving a thorough recap next week when home from visiting our relatives in North FL.

But in taking another cruise on this vessel, some highlights were the familiar chug-a-chug of her engine & familiar vibration when underway. It was actually comforting to hear again.

All the many smiling faces though different from last cruise as many were moved.

The tenderness that the mostly Indonesian crew shows towards the elderly & handicapped cannot go unnoticed.

The spectacular food and entertainment! The enthusiasm of wait staff, down to the after dinner mint person.

The many little nuances that make the Eurodam a wonderful cruiser are ALL what cements our choice & preference of a HAL boat.

We do not seek out the negative but must add only two of those type observations that while present were not "deal breakers" for us.

First, the reduction in steward staff and the stewards themselves being given an additional room load to make up for the reduction was very obvious! We hardly saw any sign of our steward most times. No cart or any other steward to ask!

We did not ever see an assistant steward to ours as we did 3 yrs ago when they actually worked as a team! In fact, we received no formal introduction before or after first night turndown. When there was an issue with a lost bag of ours after sailaway, that was finally located - no apology.

We did not know his name until the 4th night when we happened to run into him and asked while looking at his badge!

Secondly, we found the drinking water quality in the Crow's Nest to be putrid, rank & foul. Any other place on board it was good! Strangest thing!

As I said before, we will still choose HAL, and hope our experience with these two things are the exception, not the norm :)

Windeed enjoyed the BB King band one night as well- Only one due to the lack of seating/crowds. Most of the members of the Eurodam's BB King band were from Memphis:)

I went back to check my "On Location" folders from the March 8 trip to confirm that the BB King band did not perform on the theater stage which was a disappointment to us.:(

What a shame! Yes, they did indeed draw a crowd!! We were lucky that a group seated in the couch area let us join them. Then 2 nights the bar had 2 seats we were able to nab!

The group's female lead singer mentioned that they had their roots in Memphis.

We loved hearing them!

Not to be contrary by any means, we are happy that hearing Greg in the piano bar, & the Crow's Nest exceeded your expectations!

We however prefererred BB Kings Band in both the Queens Lounge nightly attending both shows with standing room only crowds. The quality of both lead singers as well as the instrumentals were outstanding in the genres of blues, jazz, Motown & current.

Their energy & fun loving stage presence was infectious to the audience. In fact the night the performance was in the theater they brought both the early & late show to it's feet dancing! :)

We realize their are BB Kings on other HAL ships but this particular group was awesome.

I shall be waving to all my Cruise Critic buddies! On the back top deck!

Thank you SOOO much Crew News - I appreciate that helpful advice & info!

And Nana - that is one of my favorites too! I just need the mint for tummy issues.;)

Thank you SOOO much Crew News - I appreciate that helpful advice & info!

And Nana - that is one of my favorites too! I just need the mint for tummy issues.;)

I had a question along the bottled water subject. How much, in what quantity may I bring - I have a condition requiring that I drink at least 4 bottles daily.

So at minimum need to bring 28 (a case)

Will this be a problem?

Secondly I need to bring almond/cashew milk (no soy - no dairy). 2 small cartons should suffice. Will this be a problem? And how to keep cold in no refrigerators in room? We are in a semi obstructed ocean view cabin.

Last beverage question - I need mint tea nightly to calm my stomach. Are the tea bags in the Lido inclusive of this flavor?

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!:)

Okay - so a sort of "spin off" to this thread for someone who is a third time around cruiser here is -

"Pre - auths" or "holds" to your credit card are done by HAL before or at the beginning of your cruise (not to be mistaken as actual charges) and there should only be ONE hold made by HAL initially???:confused:

If one or multiple are made to the same card by HAL, the card can have the potential to be frozen by the CC company?

I realize that when we book the cruise and do the final preps that we have to give HAL a CC number etc, but did not have issue the other cruises and this post gave be pause to ask these basic questions. I appreciate your answers. Thanks in advance ;)

Mary & Cliff cruising March 15 - 22 on the Eurodam Eastern Carribean :)

I sm sure the food will be good no matter, usually always is. But was curious about how you all felt things like noise level, service, "traffic" were comparatively.

Funny, last time we booked early and table for 6, and were placed lower dining! Strange!

THANK you all ever so much! After much deliberation we are now booked at the Rodeway Inn that lakelorain suggested.

Most thrilled & grateful to be setting sail again ~ 03/15/15 on the Eurodam ~ Eastern Carribean! :)

Just wondering your opinions on this - I am booked right now for a table for 6 in the Upper Dining room on the Eurodam. We like a table for 6 so that we can be with the other couple we are traveling with and meet 2 new friends :)

Have dined in the Lower Dining room on my last cruise.

Curious on everyone's opinions and/or experiences on the Upper and the Lower Dining room and which you prefer if either?

Thanks!

One more thing for you BonnieJ - the parks ng you mentioned is in Ft Lauderdale? And the paid shuttle picks you up at the garage?

John in DC, how would I find a list of paces that do that?

Just wouldn't want to chance it and be stuck driving all around for hours.

Thsnks for the help everyone!

Thank you ALL! Will be going into booking something early next week.

Bonnie J and others you are WAAAAAY ahead of us in the number of cruises taken!

We are newbies in comparison with our third one coming up.

We are on a limited income and go when we can.

Okay fellow cruisers, seriously need your input on this as next week I need to work out the logistics on our plans to drive to the port area of Fort Lauderdale, and park and cruise options. Have any of you found a reasonable option?

We would like to leave the car at the hotel lot after staying a night. How does this work?*

BonnieJ that would be great if you could send me info - much appreciated!

Okay fellow cruisers, seriously need your input on this as next week I need to work out the logistics on our plans to drive to the port area of Fort Lauderdale, and park and cruise options. Have any of you found a reasonable option?

We would like to leave the car at the hotel lot after staying a night. How does this work? :confused:

Oh golly! What a kettle 'o fish!!!!

I have never been to one NOR organized one, and our Roll Call

thread has been quite S-L-O-W! :(

With our cruise being just 3 short weeks away...someone was needed to get this going, preferably some with experience, since I'm a novice for sure.

Well, with time running out "yours truly" :rolleyes:arranged one today with a most gracious events coordinator from HAL.

We were supposed to have numbers and confirmed attendees in order to adequately arrange for a "drinks" party.

But since attendence is questionable, in light of time, we opted for a coffee,tea, water an light snack/dessert. I was immediately sent the Cruise Critic Name Tags to print.;)

They gave us the Captains Corner in the Crows Nest, and 10 days out from the cruise should our number exceed 36, the will give us another spot in the larger area of the Crows Nest.

I felt given the time growing ever shorter and the fact they did this without forms and red tape - it was really accommodating of them!

I have already received the confirmation via email as well.:)

But now after reading some of the posts here I feel like I blundered in mentioning this was for a CC group! Hikes! What can happen???:confused:

I am such a Niobe that I sure wish I had known this ahead, but was totally unaware.

I did feel however she totally respected the fact I was from CC.