MlleMag

July 14, 2018

Some cruisers think you should have a certain side of the ship. I think you need to get a panoramic view of Alaska from the top decks. Also in May it will be quite cool on the veranda. The temperature might be in 60's but the water will still be cool and the breeze will cool the air on the verandah. We had an upgrade to 8021 on the Navigation deck on this ship and had no complaints. Even close to the elevators you barely hear the noise and there isn't much night life on that floor.Of course, one never knows what the weather and seas will be like. We always dress in layers.

Ha! We're booked in 8021 for Canada cruise Oct 3. Being by elevators has always been quiet and handy.

January 13, 2018

Rotterdam was in dry-dock at Freeport from 25 Oct - 03 Nov 2017, where the following took place: Showroom atSea changed to “the Mainstage”; Shorex changedto ‘Journey’s ashore’; Front Office changed to ‘Guest Services’; Lincoln CenterStage in the forward part of the Explorers Lounge; Suite upgrades and enhancements, incl. new sofa, lounge and desk chairs, carpetingand wall covers, a quartz stone top on the desk, dresser, nightstands andmakeup vanity. Electronic upgrades include a USB outlet added the bed'sheadboard, LED reading lights and a lighted closet rod. A Bose iPod dockingstation, in-cabin coffee and espresso machine in PS suites only. An interactive TV system on large LED flat-screen TV’swith complimentary movies on demand as well as access to the daily program andshipboard information incl. restaurant overviews, spa services and guestbilling; bathroom enhancements; standard stateroom upgrades incl. wall-mountedflat TV.

We upgraded from lanai 3381 (very cramped and glass in door was half fogged-up)) to Neptune Suite for w. Carib. 7-day cruise Dec 31-Jan 7 (last week). Did this when we saw the lanai.. for $1100 upcharge..well worth it. Called Guest Services from lanai cabin, They said “nothing available..oh...well, there's a Neptune suite...” Suite was newly done, beautiful, double size of our usual verandah, best perk was fast, free laundry! My husband was not feeling well and so we took good advantage of the big couch in sitting area with coffee table and two nice chairs and TV. More storage space than we could use. Suite 8007. Neptune Lounge offers snacks all day. Concierge there to help as needed. I had thought being on promenade deck (lanai location) for strolling would have been nice, but it was too chilly to sit or stroll much and you have no privacy (tho the doors have one-way glass.) Sea day coming home I sat on our verandah in my ski jacket and finally went inside. There was little to no hot sunshine on the trip, but, hey, it was -3 in Pittsburgh for days! I thought the ship was overall lovely, well-run, food good (no cooking chores!), friendly, and tho "smaller" it had the usual HAL trimmings. This was HAL #7 for us. Those Caribbean ports are best for water activities and some pyramids. Scenery not spectacular, poverty very visible. I've never seen horses wandered in the streets, thin, some with open sores, dogs running loose and one getting hit by a car... I heard again (and was warned) that ferry ride between Cozumel and mainland is very rough. People got seasick. There are rough currents there. This was our 5th Caribbean cruises, in all directions.