jeh10641

hi, Mary, I did not mean your whole name. I hate writing to "Hey you". just a first name. Jim

We are Koningsdam January 28, 2025 to Hawaii. Most reports that I saw this winter from cruisers was mostly positive. Jim

To Peajay, HAL sails in Europe so you can use the future cruise there. You did not say how much your FCC was. I see HAL cruises in Europe for US$500 or 600 so a hypothetical credit of US$100 amounts to a pretty good discount. To all responders, why do you not sign your names to comments? I always do. Jim

I am happy to hear that Classical music has returned to HAL. Does anybody know if Koningsdam has it? Thanks in advance if you can report on that. Jim

I like that idea. Even if there was no "branded" name attached, I would be happy. Jim

Talk about a small world. Jeff helped us design our first house in Green Township NJ (near Newton in Sussex County). Do you know if he is still around? Jim

Hi, ontheweb, We saw the Oak Ridge Boys in concert years ago (last century!). I won tickets to a Gatlin Brothers show via a radio station at a venue that involved taking a ferry to reach (this century). The total trip was about 2 hours each way plus the concert. I was a lot younger! We are not big fans of concerts, too expensive, too many people. We have a Folk Life Festival in Seattle on Memorial Day with many types of folk/country music. We used to go every year when it was free. Hordes of people, usually in good weather, brought our own seats. Now, they charge and it is beyond our budget (retired seniors). I have been a country fan since 1950 (9 years old) living in suburban New York. There was a country music station in Paterson, NJ and the wake-up show was called Barkin' with Larkin (the host). I used to listen while getting ready for elementary school. It was a very sad day for me when it was announced that Hank Williams had died. I did not want to go to school. I had a good friend in Liberty, Jeff Sternberg, whom I had met on a HAL cruise in 1966. His family owned a lumber yard if I recall correctly. lost track of him when we moved to Seattle in 1975. Jim

Hi, FlaMarina, I do feel very deprived. First, Lincoln Center is gone. Second, I now find out that there actually may have been some country music I missed. Woe is me! My parents had retired to Fort Lauderdale and my wife's to Del Ray. We have a lot of family and friends still in Florida. Jim

Thanks, I will. Is your charter thread easily found on Cruise Critic? Jim

Hi, FlaMarina, On our several HAL cruises, we never heard a country set at Billboard. Hopefully on Koningsdam in January 2025, there will be a Billboard musician who can add that dimension. Jim

Oh My God! What a lineup, including the Grand Ol' Opry. We have been to Opryland and the Ryman Auditorium a few times. Thanks for the information. Jim

I booked the wrong January 2025 HAL cruise! If only I had known about one...! Jim

Roz, I have a cousin in Nashville whose husband is a country musician. He plays in backup bands. Jim

Absolutely, culturally deprived. Jim

Thanks for the suggestion. I will do so! Your advice is always welcome in my world. Jim

Hi, happercamper, Wish I had been there for that. Right up my musical alley. Jim

My musical tastes run from Classical to Fifties to Big Band (1940s style) and Country music. The latter is near the top of the most requested/listened to/purchased form of music and yet no cruise line I have been on (HAL, Royal Caribbean or Costa) offers it. Why is that? Jim

I, too, am a longtime fan of classical music. I hope HAL reads and listens to those of us who wish it to return full time on HAL. Jim

Try synching your cruise reservation numbers to connect more than 1 cabin for reservations. I have done that in the past. Jim

In this era of easily bruised egos, I am happy for the response from CruiseIreland. Jim

We had an inside cabin on Rotterdam, 1146 Main Deck that is a side entrance. 11 nights, Caribbean. Lots of room and storage. No sofa but we had a desk seat. On Westerdam, for a 20-night Panama Canal repositioning, we had an inside with a sofa bed for 3 seniors. Doorway at the end. Again, more than enough room and storage. Jim

PacificMountain12, Welcome to the world of HAL. I started with HAL when I was 17, albeit it was 65 years ago. It is still my favorite even though we have tried Costa and Royal Caribbean. HAL has just to offer a guarantee that you will visit (or see) a glacier in Alaska. A marketing gimmick or not, it is typical of their service. Their food is awesome. I recommend Koningsdam as it is one of the newest and largest (2,600 passengers) of the HAL ships. The entertainment at night is in flux so I do not know what is being offered now. No big Broadway shows but more smaller venues for live music. Port intensive cruises in Alaska and in June/July, more daylight hours than you can imagine. To honor your father, magnificent choice. Good luck and have fun. Jim

When I decided to take a cruise to Hawaii with HAL, I originally thought Vancouver because of its proximity to my home (easy drive and park). After reading about the Port of Vancouver embarkation, I said "forgeddaboutit!" and booked a cruise from San Diego! Jim

If money is not a consideration, there is a hotel at the pier. Jim

Hi, kazu (is it Jacqui?), Madie and I will be on Koningsdam, January 28, 2025, 18 days Circle Hawaii. It is always nice to a "post" from you on Cruise Critic. Jim