harryw

The problem was we used HAL’s Luggage Direct option which required us to disembark at 7:30 am. We weren’t hungry at that hour. But next time we may eat onboard anyway to avoid the food desert.

P.S.

Afterwards we went to the bagel place to bring food on the plane. Service was slow, staff was rude, and they were out of many pre made sandwiches.

To think Biden said LaGuardia was like a third world country!

But got home OK, headwinds brought flight in 30 minutes early.

There is so much truth in your comments.

posting innocent questions can be like walking on egg shells. And too many heated arguments over minutiae. And also the loyal apologists who feel their cruise line of choice can do no wrong.

We just ate at Starbucks. Coffee and blueberry muffins. And OJ. Luckily we beat the line. I’m sitting across now and the line is over 20 persons.

We have a noon flight. I think that we will opt for Starbucks. The bagel place got dismal reviews. We disembark at 7:30 am and won’t be hungry at that hour to eat aboard.

I received my Luggage Direct FLL boarding passes this morning but I

do not see a TSA Pre notation. I was TSA Pre flying in from LGA. Is it embedded in the bar code?

I am currently on the Statendam and there was minimal activity for this 10 night sailing. When I proposed a day and time for a mingle, I got crickets.

    I miss the old website format. 

     Also, many CC members including myself are unhappy with the HAL website. Very difficult to navigate.

Flying Delta. Just got the Luggage Direct boarding pass left in cabin, but no

Terminal or gate listed.

I’m disembarking very early Wednesday morning and would like to have a hot breakfast at the airport, rather than onboard.

I did note an Air Margaritaville restaurant is there but could only find the Miami breakfast menu online. Any suggestions in where to go for eggs or pancakes??

I am currently on the Statendam and there was minimal activity for this 10 night sailing. When I proposed a day and time for a mingle, I got crickets.

I’ve been on the Statendam for a week and note that the photographer is getting sparse business. He attempts to flag down customers but the parade passes him by. This is my first HAL cruise and I was surprised that this profession still exists. Does he make a profit? Is he a HAL 

employee or free lancer?

Every time I search for a future cruise I have problems applying filter settings.

Tiles are non responsive or frozen. I’ve been forced to search on more user friendly cruise sites.

So I have to disembark on time  in case  I’m selected for a random customs search?

I don’t  understand how Luggage Direct works. So I have to pickup my luggage in the terminal and walk them to customs? Where do I take the luggage after clearing customs?

But if I chose to linger on the ship past the assigned time, not to get to the airport too early, is there any kind of penalty?

I’m on a cruise now and considering this option. Eligibility requirements read that you must be willing to disembark as early as 7:30 am.

Does this mean that disembarkation time may be earlier than if I was a regular disembarking passenger?

I resolved the problem. I thought that I wasn’t logged off because I was able to access the New York Times website. Guest Services informed me rhat it was complimentary. And my wife had not logged into Navigator.

When I log out, I still have web access. Does that mean I’m not fully logged out?

My wife”# emails won’t update. 

I registered on Navigator and purchased a package. Can I share my Internet package with my wife? What steps must she follow?

I flew into FLL this afternoon. Took a short taxi ride to the Renaissance Cruise Port Hotel.

The driver didn’t turn on the meter and charged me $22. And he said that he only took cash, even though the taxi had a credit card system.

4 hours ago, orchestrapal said:

 

We found the musicians on VO to be most cordial and we actually became friendly with many of them. We have not had  an experience like your’s on O but will try harder next time. We still enjoy both lines and are booked on both in the coming months.

We took our first Viking Cruise last year (Sea), and found that they had the BEST ship band we’ve ever heard. The duo lead singers were superb and played numerous genres.

The backup musicians were excellent.

17 minutes ago, roothy123 said:

Well, I was on the same Viking cruise and it was a younger crowd than usual, perhaps because it was Christmas to New Years. It was definitely a fun crowd.  That changes the whole experience. I agree that the music was good, but it seemed very similar to what Oceania has.  I think this cruise had some enhancements from our one on Viking a year ago. It was a totally awesome cruise. But I think in general that Viking is more low keyed than Oceania, with a slightly older crowd, and fewer activities.  (My husband loves the activities; I can get by without them.) I think both lines have about the same quality in food (with O having more options), service and music. Oceania seems a little less expensive, but of course it's hard to compare prices as V includes certain things in the price and O includes other things.  We enjoy both lines about the same, so choose mostly by itinerary. 

Roothy-

As we are leaving for our first HAL cruise in 2 weeks, on the Nieuw Statendam, how would you compare HAL food with Oceania?

2 hours ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

I have now done O, V, and Azamara as well as Ponant.

 

The math is pretty simple ... as you go up the "food chain", the age becomes older. There is an absolute and definite correlation between the price paid and the age of the crowd.

 

My partner and I are in my mid 50's and literally just got off Viking Sun. While we had a great time, it was most definitely NOT a good fit for us.

 

There is a bizarre disconnect between the products offered by the upper end cruise lines and what (slightly!) ageing and affluent cruisers want. While we both have post-grad degrees (one of them including music performance!), we don't want endless string ensembles with deadly Norwegian selections, lame main theater shows and an overall lack of energy.

 

When will the cruise lines learn that as we age,  we don't want to be in an extremely elegant mortuary?! Growing up in the 60's (and I think the primary target audience grew up in the 50's!),  I/we want the Temptations, the Beatles, the Four Tops, Carol King and James Taylor, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen!!! 

 

Again, this is from someone who had an opera subscription for 28 years!!!

 

A long way of saying ... try Azamara or ... the Haven or The Yacht Club!

“When will the cruise lines learn that as we age,  we don't want to be in an extremely elegant mortuary?! Growing up in the 60's (and I think the primary target audience grew up in the 50's!),  I/we want the Temptations, the Beatles, the Four Tops, Carol King and James Taylor, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen!!!”

I don’t have an answer but just want to

wholeheartedly echo this sentiment. I am 65 and having been mostly on Oceania the past 5 years, the above mentioned music is my favorite too. Unfortunately, the “covers” done at production shows were cringeworthy.

But we are sailing on HAL for the first time this month, and their new Rolling Stone Rock Room sounds promising! 

We will be docking at Amber Cove and ideally would like to head for a beach with plentiful umbrellas and 

lounge chairs. Which of these 2 beaches are preferable, and what would the taxi fares be?

24 minutes ago, Travrat said:

Since you usually sail on Oceania I hope you will not be disappointed with the food on HAL. I have sailed HAL 7 times over the past 20 years and Oceania 3 times in the past 7 years. I find the food and service on Oceania far superior to HAL but the entertainment on HAL is better. HAL used to have great food and service but I personally have seen a decline in both recently. I hope you have a nice experience on the N Statendam

Someone posted menus on the maiden voyage thread. The MDR breakfast seems better than the Oceania counterpart. And we like to start the day with a leisurely hot

 breakfast. So that is promising, Though the Oceania specialty restaurant menus are more enticing.