rkacruiser

I understand; not my preferred guest count, either. But, I have found that number really doesn't have a significant impact on my cruise. Book a veranda where I can retreat, if I desire. If there is an upscale (ship within a ship type option available), book it. In your listing of cruise lines operating from Port Canaveral, you overlooked MSC. Having sailed on MSC Meraviglia in Yacht Club, it's a different--and, I must say--the most varied cruise experience that I have had. One has the exclusivity and atmosphere/service of YC and the ability to experience other options available on the ship. And, when I ventured out of YC and the crew recognized my YC status: I do believe it made a difference in my experience in those venues.

I recommend Captain Mateboer's books as well. I have purchased them for my Grand-Nephews and were enjoyed. His two books of anecdotes make for entertaining reading for adults. His writing style makes for engaging reading.

Just being at sea and "getting away" is enough for me! If I lived in Florida......!

Some of us are lucky and some of us are not.

I'm a long time solo HAL cruiser and I think you will be pleased if you choose to cruise with them. The suggestion of signing up for your cruises Roll Call and attending the meeting aboard may help you identify others on the ship during your cruise to help make you feel a "connection: Have I felt bored? No! Plus, on an Alaskan cruise, there is so much to "see" along with attending the onboard Alaska related programs that HAL provides.

Agree! And on recent HAL cruises, the Ocean Bar has been where such gentlemen preside. On the Nieuw Statendam, the Billboard on Board had the bartenders that I preferred. Once upon a time, my HH residence was the Crow's Nest. No where better! But, then, HAL began figgling around with the Crow's Nest. Other than the views, it has never been the same, in my opinion.

No, you are not, in my opinion. The ease of driving, parking, and embarking at Port Canaveral is so much better than at the Port of Miami. Some HAL cruisers are sometimes unhappy with Port Everglades regarding those arrangements, but, if, indeed, HAL does need to move to Miami, those that drive will be most unhappy in comparison to Port Everglades. For those that fly into either Port, it will one of those "ho-hum"--so what?--situations. Flying to embark a cruise sailing from Port Canaveral is a different matter.

Order Breakfast on the spur of the moment? Yes. But, one may need to be patient for delivery. I have never considered ordering Room Service from the MDR Lunch menu when the MDR was open. The selections available on the Room Service are more than adequate for lunch. (Club Sandwich, as an example.)

I am going to do that. Besides, I have no opinion of their specialty restaurants. As a YC guest, I did not want to patronize them. Looked at the Butcher's Cut menu available for Diamond level guests and decided I could dine better in the Meraviglia's YC Restaurant.

Looking forward to reading your posts whenever you are able to make them, OP. Good wishes for a safe and pleasant cruise.

I suspect you may be like me from the standpoint that after I have learned something by speaking with an Officer, I think of other things that I wish I could have asked. I had heard of this pre-Covid, but, no details. Can't help but think that this is the same training place that HAL uses, just a different name.

I have had Hollandaise many times with vegetables; fresh Asparagus with Hollandaise is my favorite. Have I had it with seafood? Not sure. Is there a sauce that may come with (or used in preparing) Lobster Thermidor? (It has been so long since I have eaten that, I don't remember.)

Bearnaise Sauce goes with a good steak; Hollandaise belongs with Eggs Benedict. But to each his/her own.

Since the OP is Canadian, what might happen when the OP returns to Canada with the Reindeer Salami? If Customs confiscated it in Vancouver, wouldn't the same thing happen wherever the OP crosses the border?

Driving in the Port of Miami is a heck of lot more difficult than it is in Port Everglades. My gracious! YES! Port Canaveral's driving and parking situation is as good, if not better, than Port Everglades. While I found a pleasant stay in the Port Canaveral area for a night or two pre-cruise stay, I would much prefer Fort Lauderdale. Remaining in the Port Canaveral post-cruise for a stay? No. Not much that would entice me to do that.

A cruise guest who visits Halifax should not fail to visit this site to pay their respects to those who lost their lives and whose loss contributed to the safeness of our cruises today. A visit is a sobering experience. Very much worthwhile. The "Baked Beans" looks closer to Bean Soup than Baked Beans. I recommend this. The cheese is a Spanish cheese that is quite good, I have found. I had a Cuban heritage table mate on a cruise that suggested I might like this. I did.

I care, but, I am sometimes guilty of that sin. My English teachers in Junior High, High School, and my two English professors in college would have not given me the grades that they did if I had not learned otherwise. (Thank God for what they taught me. I know the difference.) I guess what is a "modern presentation of an entree" remains from recent years. This "stacking" of stuff was once "in". Why is it still? (If it really is? Or, did HAL's Food and Beverage Vice-President not get the memo that this seems so "yesteryear"?) Never liked it, personally. But, like you, I deal with it.

Never considered offering a gratuity directed to the laundry staff. As long as whatever is given will get to them, a good idea. But, does one realize the number of staff that are at work 24 hours a day? To make much of a gratuity that amounts to much, the gratuity would need to be of some size. An increase in the Crew Appreciation Fund or a special gift to the Crew Benefit Fund (which can be done via Front Desk) might be a better idea. Agree: the laundry does an excellent job! Lots of laundry has been sent be me and returned with only two hiccups: one pair of wash/wear slacks had shrunk (and not because of too many visits to the Midnight Snacks 😀) and one cotton shirt that had a burn mark on it.

Cunard has experience. HAL doesn't. Even though the mantra of "best practices" is supposed to be followed among the Carnival brands, some of the memos seem to get lost.

From an entertainment perspective, HAL has never settled on anything that was consistent. Most appropriate, in my opinion, was a solo guitarist/soloist performing that my traveling companion enjoyed on the Noordam. BB King "worked", but, my, they were loud because of the low ceiling and hard surfaces. A small combo works well. We experienced this welcoming in a New Year on the Nieuw Amsterdam. It was a "Goldilocks" situation: good and appropriate music for those of us of our generation, not loud. Nadine and I enjoyed a couple of dances that night. It is a shame that the Crow's Nest--which has been and could be again--a good revenue generator for HAL if they would only use the lounge properly. And, as it was originally designed.

There are itinerary possibilities that seem not to have crossed the minds of those in Seattle responsible for making those decisions. So what? A transit of the Bay is an interesting experience. Sailing under the Bay Bridge, the night time crossing of the Bridge-Tunnel complex, with all its lights, from/into the Atlantic: it's a different cruise experience. The Volendam and Zaandam ought to be able to sail under that darn bridge. The Vistas and others? You are correct. I doubt that it would be possible. Indeed. They have done them well. As you said, for me, VOV was a winner for me, but the Asia Pacific Cruise on the Volendam remains at the top of my list. In many ways, it was better than my Grand World Voyage. I don't believe that any of the Vistas and other Classes were designed to be vessels that would sail on extended cruises. If the Zuiderdam does sail on the 2023 world cruise, it will be very interesting to learn how that ship does on such a voyage and the responses of those who will be sailing on her. Particularly, those who have experienced world cruises on the Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Prinsendam.

I wonder where and what company trains the Seabourn crew when they are initially hired. HAL has a school in Indonesia as well as the Philippines for their crew. I wonder if Seabourn also uses those facilities. And, a definite yes, from what the crew have told to me, the training is hard and some are not successful and are let go. Don't recall the name, but there was a small French restaurant within Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal that was elegant, service and food were excellent, and was expensive. But, worth it.

I stayed at the Sheraton Santiago and was quite pleased with the accommodations, service, and the food that I was served when I dined at the hotel. Didn't spend much time wandering around on my own. I did a wine country tour that was simply excellent with a delicious lunch with local/regional items on the menu and a comprehensive city tour.

Did you open the survey? I am always wary of phishing. 12 years ago, I clicked on what appeared to be a genuine link only to discover hidden in the upper left hand corner of an expanded e-mail view, something written in Russian. Wasn't a legitimate e-mail when I then called the company that supposedly sent it and was worried for weeks if any of my accounts were compromised. Ended up closing one credit card and getting a new account issued because of it.

One reason why I enjoy cruising as much as I do. Such a treat is not part of my daily existence. Thank you so very much, kjbaon, for your posts, your photos, and your evaluation of the service and experiences that you have had. It's been a very informative "journey" for me.