seabourndt Posted June 19, 2009 #2876 Share Posted June 19, 2009 glad everyone thinks i have a good selewction of cruises booked up, just hope i have the money to pay for them. yes the SS rotterdam is indeed thew old hal ship opening as a jhotel in july. i booked a suite but camnnpot seeif it has more than an outside. hope i get the chance to go to rotterdam before october. yes i loved disko bay on MS DISKO think she is still around. dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted June 19, 2009 #2877 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I hear summer has arrived in US, with Memphis having 110 degrees today, as well as lots of bad storms. Hope all are OK. Happy Father's Day to fathers. (Our Father's Day is in September.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapricorn Posted June 21, 2009 #2878 Share Posted June 21, 2009 I disembarked this morning after Mercury's one-week Alaskan cruise. My favourite photograph was taken at about 10:30pm, a couple of hours after we departed from Juneau. Attached are thumbnails of other photographs which I took during the cruise. Donald. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Sharon Posted June 22, 2009 #2879 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Wow - those are amazing Donald. I must get to Alaska one day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saga Ruby Posted June 23, 2009 Author #2880 Share Posted June 23, 2009 In Istanbul, as we were bashing around chasing porcelain, my guide happened to mention that most large Turkish tour agencies have their main offices in Kusadasi. Hanifi went on to explain that the megabarges cannot transit the Bosporus - they can’t make the turns as the narrow sea route bends along the coastline. So 90% of cruise ships go to Kusadasi, make an overnight stop in Istanbul, then turn around and continue on to the Med. Sure enough, in the Black Sea, we saw almost no cruise ships. It was culture shock to come into Piraeus and be surrounded by megabarges of many nations - we had gotten used to the luxury of being the sole cruise ship in a port. Trabzon, Turkey is a cargo port. When we docked, there were two small cargo ships next to us busily offloading Russian coal into endless lines of trucks. Many of Prinsendam’s passengers took an interest in the process but, if the wind had been against us, we would have scurried for cover to keep from being covered by coal dust. A cruise ship in this port was a unique experience for the locals. After a marvelous day in this small town, we departed the port under sparkling blue skies in the later afternoon. As majestic Prinsendam sailed out of this industrial harbour, we were saluted by berthed cargo ships and local ferries with the traditional 3-horn salute. Sometimes the ships were so small that their horns were tweets or whistles. As we approached the mouth of the harbour, Prinsendam’s basso profundo horn bellowed a memorable salute with the three blasts of her impressive ship’s horn echoing from the coastline up into the hills and valleys of Trabzon. As I turned to leave the bow, a police siren sounded. On the breakwater, there was a local police car parked at the far edge of the point. Evidently the policeman had realized the maritime tradition so he cranked his squad car’s siren three times in farewell to beautiful Prinsendam as she sailed out into open waters. Ruby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Sharon Posted June 23, 2009 #2881 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Hanifi went on to explain that the megabarges cannot transit the Bosporus - they can’t make the turns as the narrow sea route bends along the coastline. Ruby Not to mention, fit under the Bosphorus Bridge. As Artemis left Istanbul to sail towards the bridge, she had to sound her siren at some boatmen who clearly had expected her to turn back towards the Mediterranean and were very startled to see this cruise ship bearing down on them heading for the Bosphorus! Your sailaway at Trabzon sounds wonderful Ruby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted June 23, 2009 #2882 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I disembarked this morning after Mercury's one-week Alaskan cruise. My favourite photograph was taken at about 10:30pm, a couple of hours after we departed from Juneau. Attached are thumbnails of other photographs which I took during the cruise. Donald. Beautiful photographs Donald. It is easy to see why Alaska is so popular for spectacular scenery. Another wonderful week on Mercury? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted June 23, 2009 #2883 Share Posted June 23, 2009 In Istanbul, as we were bashing around chasing porcelain, my guide happened to mention that most large Turkish tour agencies have their main offices in Kusadasi. Hanifi went on to explain that the megabarges cannot transit the Bosporus - they can’t make the turns as the narrow sea route bends along the coastline. So 90% of cruise ships go to Kusadasi, make an overnight stop in Istanbul, then turn around and continue on to the Med. Sure enough, in the Black Sea, we saw almost no cruise ships. It was culture shock to come into Piraeus and be surrounded by megabarges of many nations - we had gotten used to the luxury of being the sole cruise ship in a port. Trabzon, Turkey is a cargo port. When we docked, there were two small cargo ships next to us busily offloading Russian coal into endless lines of trucks. Many of Prinsendam’s passengers took an interest in the process but, if the wind had been against us, we would have scurried for cover to keep from being covered by coal dust. A cruise ship in this port was a unique experience for the locals. After a marvelous day in this small town, we departed the port under sparkling blue skies in the later afternoon. As majestic Prinsendam sailed out of this industrial harbour, we were saluted by berthed cargo ships and local ferries with the traditional 3-horn salute. Sometimes the ships were so small that their horns were tweets or whistles. As we approached the mouth of the harbour, Prinsendam’s basso profundo horn bellowed a memorable salute with the three blasts of her impressive ship’s horn echoing from the coastline up into the hills and valleys of Trabzon. As I turned to leave the bow, a police siren sounded. On the breakwater, there was a local police car parked at the far edge of the point. Evidently the policeman had realized the maritime tradition so he cranked his squad car’s siren three times in farewell to beautiful Prinsendam as she sailed out into open waters. Ruby It must have been wonderful to cruise the Black Sea without a multitude of mega cruise ships and to be the sole cruise ship in port, Ruby. Piraeus, a giant carpark for ships, is a culture shock. I'll always remember searching the wharves for our ferry to Crete, then spending 24 hours on board without leaving the ship or the wharf, due to rough seas. What a memorable farewell you had from Trabzon. You mentioned you enjoyed a marvelous day there. What was it that appealed to you about this small town? Did you have other favourite places, which were new to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapricorn Posted June 24, 2009 #2884 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Another wonderful week on Mercury? It was fine. This probably was the smoothest cruising that I've ever had to Alaska. The sea was calm on the first six days, and on the seventh day there were small waves as we approached Vancouver Island, with Mercury gently pitching and rolling. It was sunny in Sitka, cloudy in Juneau and rainy in Ketchikan. The ship approached 1.5 miles from Hubbard Glacier. The Captain announced that this was the closest that Mercury got to the glacier since she started the Alaska season four weeks previously. However, I've been half as close on three or four cruises. I noticed that there is less snow on the mountains at this time of year since I started cruising to Alaska in 1999. Ruby's complaint about the cabin shower curtain clinging to her body mirrored mine on Mercury, but on this cruise I was pleasantly surprised to find that the flimsy curtain was replaced by a heavier and sturdier curtain. It did not blow inside the shower cubicle at all. At a ceremony the Captain presented me with a bottle of red wine and a certificate for being the most frequent cruiser on board. Another guy, from California, with three less cruise credits than me, also was honoured. I was shocked when the Captain's Club hostess invited that runner-up and his four companions to the Captain's Table, but not me. After the cruise, I e-mailed a nicely-worded complaint to Captain's Club stating that I felt disrespected. I don't care that I will be seeing the hostess again in four weeks - she needs to know that she simply cannot do that. So, this is not really a cruise for me to remember too fondly. Donald. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted June 25, 2009 #2885 Share Posted June 25, 2009 (edited) At a ceremony the Captain presented me with a bottle of red wine and a certificate for being the most frequent cruiser on board. Another guy, from California, with three less cruise credits than me, also was honoured. I was shocked when the Captain's Club hostess invited that runner-up and his four companions to the Captain's Table, but not me. After the cruise, I e-mailed a nicely-worded complaint to Captain's Club stating that I felt disrespected. I don't care that I will be seeing the hostess again in four weeks - she needs to know that she simply cannot do that. So, this is not really a cruise for me to remember too fondly. Donald. What a disappointment, Donald, especially after being presented with a bottle of wine and a certificate for being the most frequent cruiser on board. What were they thinking? Hope you get a good response to your valid complaint and they make it up to you when you cruise again in four weeks. Pleased you enjoyed a good cruise weatherwise. When we visited Alaska, the lady, who owned a B&B in Sitka, said May was her favourite time of year in Alaska. We were at Sitka at the opposite end of the season in September. Have I mentioned that Alaskans remind me of Australians? Edited June 25, 2009 by MMDown Under Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapricorn Posted June 25, 2009 #2886 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Pleased you enjoyed a good cruise weatherwise. When we visited Alaska, the lady, who owned a B&B in Sitka, said May was her favourite time of year in Alaska. We were at Sitka at the opposite end of the season in September. Have I mentioned that Alaskans remind me of Australians? Of my 15 cruises so far to Alaska, 3 were in May, 1 in June, 3 in July, 3 in August and 5 in September. I like May for the snow on the mountains, and late August and September for the return of the salmon. I don't remember what you said about Alaskans and Australians ... perhaps that they are hardy and independent people? Please refresh my memory. Donald. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conte Di Savoia Posted June 25, 2009 #2887 Share Posted June 25, 2009 (edited) I was shocked when the Captain's Club hostess invited that runner-up and his four companions to the Captain's Table, but not me. After the cruise, I e-mailed a nicely-worded complaint to Captain's Club stating that I felt disrespected. I don't care that I will be seeing the hostess again in four weeks - she needs to know that she simply cannot do that. So, this is not really a cruise for me to remember too fondly. Donald. Donald, you're right to be upset by this. You have been a very loyal promoter of this ship and one of the reasons we booked Mercury for our recent transcanal cruise was your positive experience. I would be curious to know if you receive a response to your note. At the Connexions party we attended the cruise director mentioned that they get feedback on remarks which are posted on these boards (but probably not from this thread). I hope you get to sit with the captain on your next voyage. You should probably hold on to your title until then. Edited June 25, 2009 by Conte Di Savoia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapricorn Posted June 25, 2009 #2888 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Thanks to all for their support. This hostess is new to me, but when she first met me, she smiled and exclaimed, "So, you are the famous Donald (using my full name)!" I remarked, "Good, that's better than infamous" and she laughed, and then I said, "Nice to meet you" and we shook hands. We were off to a good start (or so I thought). I'll certainly let you know if I hear back from Captain's Club. Donald. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted June 25, 2009 #2889 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Of my 15 cruises so far to Alaska, 3 were in May, 1 in June, 3 in July, 3 in August and 5 in September. I like May for the snow on the mountains, and late August and September for the return of the salmon. I don't remember what you said about Alaskans and Australians ... perhaps that they are hardy and independent people? Please refresh my memory. Donald. My, you've cruised every month of the season, Donald. It must be wonderful to just get on in Vancouver and away you go, with no flights. Have you done any land trips as well, or are you just happy to cruise and soak up the atmosphere? From memory, the lady, who owned the B&B in Sitka, liked May because it was Spring, everything was fresh, and those in the tourist industry weren't all burnt out. The return of the salmon was fascinating, plus the eagles and bears waiting for their feast, but I wasn't prepared for the smell of the dying salmon! Sometimes we smelt them before we saw them. Yes, hardy, independent people with a frontier mentality and a lack of respect for political authority. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saga Ruby Posted June 25, 2009 Author #2890 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Thanks to all for their support. This hostess is new to me, but when she first met me, she smiled and exclaimed, "So, you are the famous Donald (using my full name)!" I remarked, "Good, that's better than infamous" and she laughed, and then I said, "Nice to meet you" and we shook hands. We were off to a good start (or so I thought). I'll certainly let you know if I hear back from Captain's Club. Donald. Donald, I too am puzzled about you being "overlooked" for an invite to the Captain's table. Were you standing right there when the other man was invited? In reference to your comment to HAL about that regrettable situation, as Desi said to Lucy, "You got a lot of 'splainin' to do!" Keep us in the loop about the reply from the Captain's Club. Ruby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapricorn Posted June 25, 2009 #2891 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Donald, I too am puzzled about you being "overlooked" for an invite to the Captain's table. Were you standing right there when the other man was invited? In reference to your comment to HAL about that regrettable situation, as Desi said to Lucy, "You got a lot of 'splainin' to do!" Ruby, it was Celebrity, not HAL. OK, here’s the whole sordid story: Mercury departed Vancouver on Sunday 14th. The next morning I found a note on my door from the Captain’s Club hostess, Angela, notifying me that I am the most frequent cruiser on board and that I would be honoured at the Captain’s Club Cocktail Party on Wednesday. At 11a.m. Monday I went to the Elite member’s Chardonnay blending seminar where I met Angela for the first time. I sat at a table with two men in their 30s, and introduced ourselves (they were Walter and his best buddy, Nick). Angela approached Walter and said, “You have taken many cruises with us and we would like to invite you and your friends to the Captain’s Table …” whereupon, realizing that I was eavesdropping, she lowered her voice. Mystified about the invitation to Walter, I decided not to “brag” to him that I am the most frequent cruiser. Early that afternoon, I attended the wilderness seminar by a naturalist, and just happened to sit in the row in front of Walter, Nick and three others, introduced to me as Nick’s girlfriend and his parents. That evening, as I relaxed with my pre-dinner martini in the Martini Bar, Walter and his four companions passed me on their way out of the dining room. The girlfriend told me that they had been at the Captain’s Table, and showed me the red rose given to her by the Officer. At the Captain’s Club Cocktail Party on Wednesday, Walter and his four companions, already seated at a “reserved” table, were astonished to see me being escorted by Angela to a nearby “reserved” table. As I said, I hadn’t informed them that I am the most frequent cruiser. Walter, with three less cruises than me, was first honoured, and then it was my turn (see first picture). I thought that for sure that I would be at the Captain’s Table on the second formal night (Friday). I kept waiting, waiting … and waiting for the invitation. Nothing! On Friday night, as I sat with my usual pre-dinner martini, Angela walked by on her way to the dining room (obviously to oversee the preparations of the Captain’s Table) and she waved at me with a smile. After several moments she exited the dining room and paused to chat with me. As I am not one for confrontations, especially at that time, I was civil and complimented her on how nice she looked. That night, I found a note on my door inviting me to an exclusive tour in the morning of the engine control room, made on behalf of the Chief Engineer, Evangelos Miskedakis. As a subtle rebuke to Angela, I left a note on her desk with my acceptance and that I was looking forward to meeting Miskedakis, with whom I had “enjoyed convivial chats at the Captain’s Table last year.” The next morning, Angela couldn’t escape noticing that Miskedakis and I were delighted to see each other again and had good-natured banter (see second picture). I have absolutely no idea how Angela felt at that point about having snubbed me regarding the Captain's Table. Donald. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapricorn Posted June 26, 2009 #2892 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Invitations to dine with the ship’s officers while extended by The Captain’s Club Hostess, are done so at the direction of the ship’s officers, and not as a benefit of the Captain’s Club program. We regret if this was not explained to you at the time of the cruise. Again, we apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused. We look forward to seeing you, our valued Elite Captain’s Club member, onboard soon. Donald. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saga Ruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author #2893 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Invitations to dine with the ship’s officers while extended by The Captain’s Club Hostess, are done so at the direction of the ship’s officers, and not as a benefit of the Captain’s Club program. We regret if this was not explained to you at the time of the cruise. Again, we apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused. We look forward to seeing you, our valued Elite Captain’s Club member, onboard soon.Donald. So what "benefit" did Walter et al. bring to Celebrity that would lead him to the Captain's Table? What do you think about this kerfuffle, Donald? Does it colour your image of Celebrity? Ruby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted June 26, 2009 #2894 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Invitations to dine with the ship’s officers while extendedby The Captain’s Club Hostess, are done so at the direction of the ship’s officers, and not as a benefit of the Captain’s Club program. We regret if this was not explained to you at the time of the cruise. Again, we apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused. We look forward to seeing you, our valued Elite Captain’s Club member, onboard soon. Donald. The response appears to be stating that your invitation to the Captain's Table was at the discretion of the ship's officers. In that case, the question remains why didn't the ship's officers invite you to the Captain's Table, after your special award as Most Frequent Cruiser on board. The fact that they only invited the other group, who were also awarded, was insensitive at best. No wonder you were disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapricorn Posted June 26, 2009 #2895 Share Posted June 26, 2009 I can't imagine the officers, busy with their duties, spending time poring over the list of 1,800 passengers to decide whom to invite to the Captain's Table. They certainly wouldn't have instructed the Hostess to invite the person with the 2nd highest cruise credits over the one with the most credits. That simply is disrespectful. I wasn't expecting an invitation as a benefit of the Captain's Club program, but most certainly as the honour of being the most frequent cruiser. Perhaps an officer recognized Walter's name from past cruises and asked that he be invited, and if Walter asked that his four companions be included, then so be it. There simply may be no room left for me at any of the four Captain's Tables. It's done, it's over. Certainly I have hard feelings, but I'll see how things go next month. Donald. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franu Posted June 27, 2009 #2896 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I wonder if the Captain's Club Hostess feels powerful now that she has publicly snubbed the most frequent cruiser aboard. Fran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapricorn Posted June 27, 2009 #2897 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I wonder if the Captain's Club Hostess feels powerful now that she has publicly snubbed the most frequent cruiser aboard. Fran Let's wait and see what happens when I go back on Mercury in a bit over three weeks. The Hostess is actually a very nice young lady; perhaps she was following instructions from her superiors. There is no rule publicly posted that the Most Frequent Cruiser on each cruise is to be invited to the Captain's Table, though one would think that would be common sense in appreciation for his/her repeat business. Donald. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franu Posted June 27, 2009 #2898 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Having recently read that returning cruisers benefits are being reduced by some cruise lines then perhaps you have had yours reduced. I must be the only one that has turned down the honour. It was my favorite captain but I do not do small talk well and turned down the invitation. Fran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saga Ruby Posted June 29, 2009 Author #2899 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I have never used a travel agent until I signed up a year ago for Antarctica. As we all know, I cancelled that trip when I got back from the Black Sea and the TA in the small agency in Missoula MT said I would have a $500 refund in the mail within a week. Today, 3 weeks later and after a gentle email noodge, I got my refund check. I found this episode to be a puzzler - is that experience with a travel agency standard operating procedure? Ruby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druke I Posted June 29, 2009 #2900 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I think the speed of a refund depends on the individual travel agent. On those occasions that I have had to cancel, I have received the refund in a timely fashion, and nudging has not been necessary. I see you were dealing with a travel agent in Montana, while you live in Texas. I always deal with travel agents close by - I like to be able to look into their eyeballs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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