Saga Rose Greenland Voyager August 2007

[Saga Ruby]

Surely you jest, dear Ruby? Naturally I plan to dine in the Pinnacle Grill during the night of the Chef's Hat dinner. Donald.

 

Thanks for the laugh, Donald. I had completely forgotten about Chef's Hat night on HAL. I'm knee-deep in planning my Antarctica cruise, deciding on which red parka, what boots, and do I really want to buy waterproof pants for a couple of shore excursions? So thanks for the reminder. It's a really good idea on your part to stay out of the fray of that special night on Ryndam. The closer I get to my Prinsendam trip in May, the more I realize that I am quite focused on returning to Royal Viking Sun and tend to forget that I'll actually be on HAL.

 

I'm sure Pinnacle Grill will allow you to rush thru dessert and get back down to the GDR to enjoy the perks of Chef's Hat night. Whew!

 

Ruby

[Saga Ruby]

Are you back from your Hawaiian excursion? Were you able to wipe clean your memories of the "free" NCL Jewel trip?

 

Donald - I meant to ask if your cruise encountered rain showers while you were cruising the islands. February is usually the rainiest month in Hawaii and I'm curious if your group got more than a bit wet during the cruise.

 

Ruby

[Kapricorn]

Ruby, I'll let you know after my Hawaiian cruise if we encountered rain showers. I'm not sailing until February 28, and will be back home on March 15. I've cruised Hawaii twice before, and both times it rained in Hilo. The other ports were just fine.

 

Donald.

[Saga Ruby]

Ruby, I'll let you know after my Hawaiian cruise if we encountered rain showers. I'm not sailing until February 28, and will be back home on March 15. I've cruised Hawaii twice before, and both times it rained in Hilo. The other ports were just fine. Donald.

 

Oh my aching head! I thought you and Fran were within days of being in Hawaii at the same time. So from February 28th to March 15th - that's a nice long cruise. Which port do you depart from? Do you have favourite ports to visit in the islands?

 

Ruby

[Kapricorn]

So from February 28th to March 15th - that's a nice long cruise. Which port do you depart from? Do you have favourite ports to visit in the islands?

 

The round-trip cruise is from San Diego. There will be four sea days to Hawaii and the same on the way back - I love sea days! We will tarry in Hilo, Kailua Kona, Lahaina & then 2 days in Honolulu. A five-hour stop in Ensenada, Mexico, is required before returning to the USA.

 

I've always liked Lahaina. While in Honolulu, I'm thinking of taking the Diamond Head Crater Adventure escorted tour which entails a 45-minute hike to the top. There should be a spectacular view from there!

 

Donald.

[Saga Ruby]

A five-hour stop in Ensenada, Mexico, is required before returning to the USA.

 

The Ensenada stop-over is a hoot - I didn't know one could dodge the negative aspects of the Jones Act with just a 5-hour stopover.

 

I've always liked Lahaina. While in Honolulu, I'm thinking of taking the Diamond Head Crater Adventure escorted tour which entails a 45-minute hike to the top. There should be a spectacular view from there! Donald.

 

Back in the day, when we wore suits, gloves, and hats on airplanes, my family would stop over in Honolulu for lunch at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel -that wonderful baby-pink pile on Waikiki. It was such a nice decompression from the flight - we sat outside under the shade of a pergola surrounded by palms, gazing out as the sands of Waikiki sparkled and the blue sky and gentle waves seemed to be winking a warm welcome to us. As time went by, I continued that tradition until nonstop flights to Maui became routine.

 

I have a clear memory of US flags adorning each grave in Punch Bowl - from Pearl Harbor, it was quite a sight of red, white, and blue colours in a lime-green environment. But I never saw the display again. In later years, standing on the Arizona Memorial and watching the oil bubbles coming to the surface, I gazed up at that cemetery in the side of the extinct volcano and remembered the sad history of those terrible, tragic times.

 

Ruby

[franu]

I am still onboard and the seas have been awful. For the first three days we had encountered what the Captain referred to as a mini-cyclone and I spent that time praying to the porcelain gods.

 

Donald- Hope that your trip will be better than mine. We are sailing in "code red". Will be home very late on Friday

Fran

[Kapricorn]

Fran, I'm sorry that you have not been coping well with the mini-cyclone. Neither Ruby nor I have ever prostrated ourselves on the bathroom floor in homage to the porcelain gods, but from what I've heard (and sometimes seen!), I have some concept of what it must be like. It was also on Zaandam that I experienced one of the most roughest seas, off Alaska during September 2007.

 

I hope that you will manage to enjoy the rest of the cruise. Looking forward to hearing more after your return later this week.

 

Donald.

Edited February 17, 2009 by Kapricorn

[Druke I]

Once I did pay my respects to the Porcelain Gods - trying to outrun the back end of a typhoon on the little Golden Odyssey, between Hong Kong and Manila, 11-86.

 

Green water over the bridge, screws out of the water, inclinometer pegged. It was rough!

 

I much prefer calmer seas.

[Druke I]

Another nice picture of Marco Polo, taken earlier today, at Barbados, on the thread " PICS of Smaller Ships" this page.

Edited February 19, 2009 by Druke I

[Conte Di Savoia]

Donald-

After almost two years of hearing you laud Celebrity Mercury I have finally booked a cruise on board. I've been traveling by ship for 48 years but have never done a transcanal voyage so after alot of angst over picking the right ship at the right price we selected Mercury for this "honor" so we will be on board for the March 30 sailing from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale. So Donald, your assignment is to keep a seat warm for me at the Martini Bar!

[Kapricorn]

Ah, Conte, so you will be aboard Mercury two weeks after I've disembarked from her! I most certainly will keep a Martini Bar seat warm for you.

 

I do hope that you will enjoy the transcanal experience on her. An advice as to how to avoid jostling crowds during that passage: go aft to the stern of Deck 7 (Entertainment Deck), as it seems that the majority of passengers are unaware of its existence. You'll see the gates close nearby.

 

Donald.

[Conte Di Savoia]

Donald

Thanks for the advice about Entertainment Deck. I know that on these transcanals the prime viewing spots are highly prized. Maybe I'll camp out on deck overnight! We have been on board Galaxy twice, once in the Caribbean and once to Alaska. Although I thought she was large when we sailed her, both she and Mercury now seem small and intimate compared to the behemoths of the seas. We found Constellation too big for us but Mercury should be fine. It seems that everyone admires the style and decor of Solstice but there are issues. Apparently it is very difficult to find a deck chair as some passengers "mark" their spot and will not relinquish it. Service seems to be hit or miss. I think that the companies cannot provide a uniform product on these supersized vessels. The staff is simply overwhelmed by the hordes on board.

[Kapricorn]

I recently found out what Fran meant by "code red" ... there was a norovirus outbreak on Zaandam, with 74 of 1408 passengers (5.3%) and 21 of 590 crew (3.6%) down with it. I do hope that Fran was merely seasick from the heavy seas, and not with the virus. Fran? Fran ... !

 

Donald.

[Host Sharon]

Oh dear, what have I missed. Fran's trip sounds bad. I have once prayed as she is doing, on Saga Ruby in her Caronia incarnation, and it was not pleasant. We were traversing the Bay of Biscay on the last formal night and I had to hastily leave my table, hosted by the Staff Captain. Fortunately my cabin was close by and I just amde it, but seasickness sneaked up on me. One minute fine, then next not! In my defence, even the crew were sick that night. I hope things improve for her soon.

[Druke I]

For you Celebrity Mercury fans, there is a current thread on the Celebrity Forum speculating that Mercury is going to be retired.

 

No hard information - just different opinions.

 

I was only on Mercury once, Mar 04, and frankly did not think it as nice as the similarly sized Sun Princess, which we sailed May 04. The main thing I did not like about Mercury was its abreviated Promenade Deck, not a full wraparound as on Sun Princess.

 

I know, picky picky, but that is my opinion, and I'm sticking to it!

[Kapricorn]

Druke, I 100% agree with you about Mercury's abbreviated promenade deck, and I do appreciate wrap-around promenades on other ships. I also dislike the short jogging track on Deck 12, on which users must circle thirteen times to make a mile. The M-class Celebrity ships have a longer jogging track which requires only 3 1/2 circuits to make a mile.

 

However, in my opinion, Mercury's shortcomings in these aspects are overshadowed by positives. Otherwise I would have dropped her like a hot potato.

 

I suspect that the next winter season in the Caribbean will be Mercury's last with Celebrity before joining Galaxy in Europe.

 

Donald.

[franu]

After a very lengthy (time-wise) flight home I have just recovered from my my first and last HAL cruise. It was not only the disrepair of my cabin, which was the least expensive cabin on the ship but the absolute mastery of "passive aggressive" service which irked me no end. In the past I have been absolutely spoiled by the Filipino crew of the Marco Polo and now this crew is on the other end of the spectrum.

 

My cabin safe was broken as well as the door to the cabin. Although it closed to outsiders, it was not possible to lock from the inside. The possibility of not hearing the cabin steward if I was indisposed would have led to an embarrassing situation for me had The lock not be fixed on the fourth day. It required having to remove and reset the entire door. This was in addition to there not being the medical aids requested on their form. The cherry on the top of this situation was the presence of fruit flies in the cabin which contained no fruit. The steward was able to talk to them and waved them out the door. Were they trained flies?

 

A few days later I received a note with a plate of chocolates thanking me for my patience with my problem with the cabin toilet. I was amused as this seemed to be the only part of the cabin which was operational. A few hours later, after dinner and a few hours later I returned to my cabin to find out that the reference to the toilet was not incorrect, just early. It was not a mistake just a case of fortune telling.

 

Most mornings we had breakfast in the dining room. I was there with two friends. To get the dining room crew to serve as requested, never did happen. Coffee would be pored into two of the three cups and the crew would turn and walk away. Dirty dishes remained on the table constantly so that one morning I checked the time and it lay on the table for 45 minutes before I could take no more.

 

Lunch at the Lido was equally as bad where we had to ask for things as the "code red" disallowed us even having salt and pepper shakers. The passive aggressive manner worked well for the crew who promised you anything and walked away never to be seen again until the following day.

 

The only saving grace was my dining room waiter who was a rare gem. It is only because of him that the cruise had any service at all other than the wonderful girls at the front desk whose job it was to clean up the problems made by other departments.

Fran

[Saga Ruby]

Fran, I'm so sorry to hear that your HAL to Hawaii was a bust. Between Jewel and the Dam ship, it sounds like you've been unlucky more than most with onboard experiences. Heavy seas, a Code Red, and inhospitality - what a tough combination for what should be a relaxing vacation on the high seas. Would you please remind me of which ship you were on?

 

The puzzle to me is the disinterest of the Filipino dining staff. Saga Cruises has mostly Filipino crew and staff and other ships I have sailed have been Filipinos who seemed to have written the book on hospitality. I can only wonder at the indifferent attitude on your ship - examples are set from the top and I wonder what the "top" did to make the staff so unresponsive.

 

Once upon a time on Constellation, I had lunch in the dining room with friends and the service was abominable. The waiters stood against the far wall, watching us, doing nothing. So I stood up, walked over to the service counter nearest to our table, and started pouring ice water and coffee and tea for my tablemates. I made sure to drag it out to at least embarrass the headwaiter. It worked but I never went back, stayed on the Lido for lunch where I could at least maneuver the buffet line to my own pace.

 

Do you have any pleasant memories of this Islands cruise or did the atmosphere on the ship darken your experience? You must be heartily tired of cruising right about now. Are you going to stay onshore for awhile or keep looking for a replacement for Marco Polo?

 

Ruby

Edited February 22, 2009 by Saga Ruby

[Kapricorn]

Omigoodness, Fran, I am shocked at the general indifference of the HAL staff on your cruise! They must have been a newly-recruited group who did not know any better. When I was on the same ship, Zaandam, in September 2007 to Alaska I had absolutely no complaints about the shipboard service.

 

I'm so sorry that you had such a bad experience.:(

 

Donald.

[Host Sharon]

That sounds like the cruise from Hell Fran. I always thought HAL were a good line, although I have neve sailed with them. It has certainly put me off trying them now.

[seabourndt]

where is this mini cyclone? on which ship? HAL? not beenn on hear lately. my friend is boarding SAGA ROSE in a few days all the way to SOTON then on the MYSTERY CRUISE on RUBY i envy him both trips, hope i meet him while he is in london./ meanwhile my next is 6 weeks on NCL STAR from LOS ANGELESV TO VANCOVER(with a stay in the QUEEN MARY HOTEL PRE CRUISE. then on ZAANDAM after cruise to SEATTLE.

dave

[Kapricorn]

Well, Dave, Zaandam was the one on which Fran had her cruise from Hell. You'll have to let us know after your Los Angeles-Seattle cruise on the same ship if service has improved since then.

 

Donald.

[franu]

Would you please remind me of which ship you were on?

 

The puzzle to me is the disinterest of the Filipino dining staff. Saga Cruises has mostly Filipino crew and staff and other ships I have sailed have been Filipinos who seemed to have written the book on hospitality. I can only wonder at the indifferent attitude on your ship - examples are set from the top and I wonder what the "top" did to make the staff so unresponsive.

Ruby, I was hesitating to write this because of your impending cruise on HAL. The Zaandam is the ship whose itineraries remind me of a ferry. For the winter it sails a 15 day circle to Hawaii and in the summer to Alaska. I believe that there is a culture of each ship and they may not be company wide, I also believe that my being in the lowest category cabin intensified this as they seemed to care less.

 

Yes, I was travelling with friends one of whom was born in Hawaii. We visited family and friends. That part and noticing the difference in prices we paid when he spoke in his Hawaiian dialect. All was not lost except it was tinged by the other experiences.

 

As I do not like prejudice in any form, I did not name the the group or country of origin of the dining room crew. Let me assure you that I have only once in all of my cruising days ever had an issue with Filipino staff and that was his big mouth.

 

The dining crew is Indonesian. They seem to have passive aggressiveness down to an art. They do not know or not wish to learn about service. Yesterday when I tipped the young man who wheeled me from my cabin to the shore side, he told me that that was his only tip this cruise. I told him that although I tipped my cabin steward, waiter and asst. waiter as well as those at the front desk, I chose not to tip anyone else as their service was not deserving of it although I had been prepared for it.

 

Perhaps HAL needs to have all of it's staff go through a "cultural sensitivity course. It needs to work both ways as they need to be able to let us know about them.

 

BTW please understand that the complaints that I have about the condition of the ship are just a few of many.

Fran

Edited February 22, 2009 by franu
additional info

[Saga Ruby]

Ruby, I was hesitating to write this because of your impending cruise on HAL.

 

The dining crew is Indonesian. Yesterday when I tipped the young man who wheeled me from my cabin to the shore side, he told me that that was his only tip this cruise. I told him that although I tipped my cabin steward, waiter and asst. waiter as well as those at the front desk, I chose not to tip anyone else as their service was not deserving of it although I had been prepared for it.

 

BTW please understand that the complaints that I have about the condition of the ship are just a few of many. Fran

 

No worries about your notes, Fran and I am truly sorry that your beautiful cruise turned into a large and detailed disappointment.

 

I booked Prinsendam, which is touted as the "Elegant Explorer," on the belief that the ship and staff are worlds apart from the rest of the HAL fleet. To be quite honest, I would never sail on any of the other HAL ships for reasons of size and mass-market attitude. I'm sure Donald disagrees with me and to each his own. But this Black Sea cruise is the cheapest cruise I've done in memory so, speaking to the subject of hospitality, I am not full of high expectations.

 

As I mentioned, I have saved $2,613 on this Black Sea cruise and have a vague concern that the service will not be up to snuff, but I truly want to see my Royal Viking ship before she goes out of service. If necessary, I'll use my Antarctica "luxury" expedition ship, Corinthian II, to cleanse the negative aspects of the Black Sea cruise. We shall see.

 

I take due note of your friend who was given native prices as opposed to tourist prices. I see that tourist-trap attitude all over the world. The Ukrainians want $500 for 4 hrs. in a private car; HAL has a shorex for $49 to watch Naval dances. I think I hear music in the air. And I'm told in Buenos Aires, it is a popular sport to gig the tourists on every level. I'm loaded for bear at the Argentine taxi drivers who take a large bill, pretend they have no change, then hand back a counterfeit bill, plus the thieves who rob us at outside ATMs.

 

I appreciate so much your honesty about the highs and many lows of your Hawaiian experience. It doesn't discourage me at all but I will carry your comments as a ghost, a shadow, onboard Prinsendam. One thought I have is that my cabin is directly under the bridge and, if I get mad, I'll borrow a broom from my cabin steward and beat the heck out of my cabin ceiling. Nothing wrong with getting the Master's attention - why should I suffer alone?

 

Thanks again, Fran. Here's to better cruises for you in the future.

 

Ruby