rkacruiser

If I used my credit card for paying for ancillary charges, then I would receive the benefits. But, as to my Marriott status? No, unless it was a surprise upgrade which did happen once from an oceanview room in the Marriott Harbor Beach Hotel to a two room oceanfront suite. How and why these things happen is.......?

I agree. It's like that old cereal commercial when "Mikey" was reluctant to try a cereal: "Try it; you may like it". I have done so. And, I "like it". But, that has not happened. I receive the Cunarder on occasion, I suppose, because I have sailed with them am a member of their loyalty program. You are absolutely correct in what I am saying. And, the lack of a glossy brochure is the least of those changes!

An excellent choice to visit. During my last visit to Halifax, I visited the last Canadian Corvette that served during World War II which, I thought, was interesting. Do you recall if it is still at dock along the waterfront? I experienced this when I was a Neptune Suite guest and had breakfast in the PG. Ridiculous! Each of the servers seemed to have specific duties: the pastry tray person, the order taker, etc. God forbid that someone dared to pour me a cup of coffee when the coffee pourer person was AWOL.

It was called an "Explorer's Cruise", whatever that designation meant by marketing/sales. But, it was a "Grand Cruise"! Did you attend the program in the Wajang Theater on the morning we arrived in Tokyo? The Volendam's Senior Officers met the Port Officials for a welcome ceremony where gifts were exchanged between the Port of Tokyo and the Volendam? Captain Harris was presented a beautiful 3 foot high Geisha Doll in a plastic case as one of the Port's welcome gifts. The Captain said he would have it displayed on the Front Office's desk. Never appeared there or anywhere during the cruise. A few years later, Mr. Dernison was the Hotel Manager on the ship I was sailing and I asked him about what happened to the Doll. He remembered it; he had no idea what happened to it.

I think it probably would. I was surprised to see the number of children/teenagers of varying ages on the Prinsendam when I sailed on a Christmas/New Year's Cruise. Your family must not miss the Christmas morning program when Santa arrives on the ship. It's very entertaining for young and old. Your son ought to receive a gift from Santa. If there are not many children in attendance, he may get more than one. But, I'd recommend that you suggest to your teen-age son, that if the CD asks: What would you like Santa to bring you? Remind him that his answer should be in the "G" rating range and not the "X" range that one young man provided during the Prinsendam's program. (Although that answer got more laughter than the comedian did during his performances. A Christmas morning for me to remember!)

No. The shore excursion was called the Bluff Cove Penguin Rookery. The tour was shorter than HAL's tour to Volunteer Point, yet, allowed me to see some King Penguins as well as Gentoo Penguins. Many, many chicks with many birds sitting on their nest. The muck consisted of very soft and wet soil (the best description would be mud covered with grass). Was poop part of it? Based on what I was told after I had fallen into it, yes, it did. Did I smell poop before I briefly became part of the landscape? No. My stability in such footing and the need to traverse some difficult terrain for a person of my stability alone was the issue. Had I had a companion to help me, my accident would not have happened. The highlight of the tour was when one penguin chose to move from the main flock to another smaller flock behind me. The bird ignored me and walked by me by not much more than 12 feet.

No issue with my Gall Bladder, but, I did find it too greasy for my digestive system to enjoy. Probably was the problem with what I was served. Using that fat for frying potatoes: Yum! I'd like to try that. I do like duck without issue.

Without hesitation, I recommend Fort Lauderdale Marriott North. On Andrews Avenue, a short distance from I-95 using the Cypress Creek Drive exit, free attached garage parking, a 4th Floor Sun Deck/Pool/Fitness Center area with a good sized covered area with comfortable seating on the Sun Deck, a restaurant open for all three meals (at least Pre-Covid) and bar/lounge (buffet breakfast is varied with made to order omelets and is good), and pleasant helpful service including a Bellman (but, not on duty 24 hours a day). A shopping center with a movie theater and a few restaurants are across Andrews Avenue with other choices not far away. The hotel is located down a driveway off Andrews Avenue that, initially makes one wonder: where is it? It has been much much more inexpensive than Marriott properties closer to the Port and--surprisingly to me--has been less expensive than a Courtyard on Cypress Creek Drive somewhat further West than this hotel. From there to the Port, is about a 30-45 minute drive, traffic permitting. One could still reach the Port without using the Interstate, but, it would take longer. I have stayed at this hotel several times.

Then, what are those spikes that I see on the dorsal side of the fish? I realize that the actual spines are longer.

A point that isn't often made about even the partial Canal cruises is that while one's ship will probably use the old locks, the new Canal can be viewed at times. Particularly if there is a really huge container ship making a transit. One can see the entrance/exit to the new Canal on the Caribbean side of the Canal as one's ship approaches or exits the old locks. But, it helps to prepare for that view so that one has some idea of what to look for.

I doubt that would happen. We have had mega air disasters and that has not killed the airline industry. Maybe "chilled" it a bit in the minds of some potential passengers? Probably, yes. The same kind of reaction is what I would expect if such a disaster would take place again. After the Costa Concordia accident, a couple of friends, who have never cruised, asked me if I was more "concerned" about being in such a situation. My answer was "No. I feel more safe on a ship than I do at home sometimes."

Agree and don't make eye contact with whomever is speaking (yelling at) to you.

I prefer having the beds closer to the bathroom and closets. I prefer an open space with chairs and/or sofa just inside the balcony doors. As far as I am concerned, having the beds close to the balcony doors partially blocks the pathway to use the balcony.

If I have not visited a port before and I want an excursion that would introduce me to the area, a shore excursion would be my choice. If I have visited a port before and am comfortable in visiting it on my own, I would choose to do that.

It is a personal choice. I have experienced both types of dining and prefer late sitting fixed. Early sitting is too early; I normally am a late diner at home; early often does conflict with sailaway times or my HH time, which is very important to me. Once I had to request a table change after the first night's dinner when, while the ladies were pleasant, they related and wanted to converse in German. I know some German, but, not enough to carry on a dinner conversation.

US dollars are best for gratuities for the crew.

I responded to this on a different thread. Host, you know my opinion.

That is correct.

No. But, when I am a patron of Fleming's, I will order Fleming Potatoes and Caesar Salad with no intention of consuming all of these in the restaurant.

Agree. But, someone who would order multiple dishes of Escargot (if they are offered) or Manchego Cheese and Cantaloupe (if it is offered), the bottom line cost might exceed the cost of an entree.

The concerns are ones that I have thought of. But, whatever the Volendam may have suffered as being a refugee vessel out to be cosmetic. And, whatever they may be, they ought not to be so bad that a guest's experience would suffer. Her upcoming long South America cruise has been a favorite for so many HAL cruisers. For her not to be able to perform to the satisfaction of her guests is unthinkable for me. A Volendam anniversary note: It was 20 years ago this month when the Volendam sailed on her first really long cruise: a very successful Asia Pacific Cruise from Vancouver. Jonathan Peter Harris was at the helm and Hans Dernison was the Hotel Manager; I was a guest. It was, and is, the best cruise I have ever taken.

This is nothing short of ridiculous! How much money was spent to install the dispenser? How much money was spent to remove the dispenser? To save how much money on the amount of conditioner (already bought in bulk) that would be dispensed during the cruise?

This is the inconsistency of experience that I fail to fathom. One night at the PG, why did I ever book this? Another night at a pop-up of Rudi's, I was a very satisfied patron.

I seriously doubt it. In the post Lanterman-Kruse era, the "suits" have been responsible for the inconsistency of experiences from ship to ship, the micro-management that I KNOW for a fact that has/is taking place, and the deterioration of the HAL cruise experience in some ways. There was one particular "suit" who reigned supreme for decades who was responsible for entertainment. Entertainment went South! Maybe, by now, he has retired, because there does seem to be some glimmers of new entertainment that is worthy of HAL.

I know not your expertise in the marketing area (and don't need to know). I will assume that you "know about which you speak". I will use myself as an example of "lifetime value" to use the illustration of yourself. I often book pre-post hotel packages. I always book an outside or a veranda stateroom, a Signature Suite, or a Neptune Suite. Most of my shore excursions are those sold by HAL. I have a history of booking long cruises or b2b2b cruises. I buy wine packages. I buy spa passes. I patronize specialty restaurants. I would think I would meet some MBA's definition of a "lifetime value" cruiser. If marketing to established customers is unimportant to HAL, then, please explain to me why as an owner of a 2020 Buick, I am regularly receiving marketing e-mails and snail mails enticing me to buy a new Buick from GM? (And, my current Buick is Buick #5). Absolutely! Such marketing I am seeing from HAL is why I used the word "fools" in what I wrote. My wondering "afield" when I sailed in YC on MSC showed me that there is a different cruising experience "out there". And, it was one that I liked. And, there was the quality of cruise experience offered that does not exist in the current iteration of HAL. I hope you have no objection to playing this "game". It is only when the participants of a "game" begin to object. (Please reference to what is taking place in college athletics (particularly football) today to, maybe, understand what I mean.