trident one

Thanks, Walt. Weird to see the changes. We loved the Ryndam. Painting P&O on the front = tacky!

We really need a like button.

Do you know if you are using an ad blocker or if Kaspersky has an ad blocker built in? I have an ad blocker and need to disable it for these sites

Yes, Kaspersky does have an ad blocker and I did disable it for these sites. The only port cam I can get picture and sound on is Nassau, which I find

strange, all the other sites have everything else on the page just no picture or sound. Thought if I opened up the Nassau cam I could then go to the bottom of the page and switch between cameras. I used to be able to do this and have more then one open at a time, but that does not work. My flash player is up to date.

Any other suggestions?

I am only able to get Nassau web cam to work on my computer.

I am an electronic novice more or less. Use Kaspersky Pure 3.0 total security and IE browser with windows 8.1. Had no problems all last sailing season and somewhere around August it just stopped working except for the Nassau cam.

Screen shows map of the ships in port but no video or sound.

Really need step by step instructions as DH and I are having Sail Away, most especially Queen of Horns AKA Westerdam. withdrawal.

Thank you for this excellent blog! We are also currently on the Anthem. It is unfortunate that the outdoor and other motion-related activities (Cabaret show, bumper cars) have been canceled or postponed due to weather, but we knew this was a possibility when we booked this TA cruise, so we were prepared for it. We are having a great time! However, because of so many canceled activities, it is sometimes challenging to get a seat at the indoor events (trivia, music events, etc.). Again, it's not a surprise, just a bit frustrating. You have to arrive early to get a seat!

 

Someone asked about bringing your wine into the dining rooms. We brought our two allotted bottles on board along with a corkscrew. We've been carrying a glass into the dining room, and no one has seemed to have a problem with it.

 

Regarding lobster, we ate in the Grande (formal restaurant) on day two, and were served lobster tail (at no charge) with a light sauce (instead of butter). It was tasty. My favorite meal so far has been the Surf & Turf in American Icon. The beef was extremely tender, and in my opinion, cooked to perfection (which is sometimes tricky for me because I like it medium well).

 

We signed up for "classic" dining, which involves being rotated through the four dining rooms (which we will repeat as this is an 8-night cruise). Our rotation is Chic, Grande, Silk, then American Icon. I have reviewed the menus, and it appears that we will receive a slightly different menu than the one we received on the first night in each restaurant, although there are several items that are repeated.

 

Thanks again for blogging. It's been fun following along.

We have friends on the 12/12 sailing. Question on your "classic" dining. Do your waiters rotate with you and do you have an assigned table in each dining room. Do you just arrive at your stated time and wait to be seated.

I wouldn't consider either. A balcony (IMO) is for an ocean view....

:):) They so need a like button on these forums.

Thanks for the photo ! Great view from veranda ! Did u hear much noise from the Retreat above ? How far was the staircase from your cabin to acess the retreat?

You have definitely chosen the right cabin. If 232 was available I would switch to it if you could, because I think you would have more shade.

You will enjoy 095. We never heard any noise from the retreat in the cabin and maybe only two or three times in fourteen days did we hear what sounded like chairs being moved above while we were on the balcony. We didn't feel any vibration from the thrusters inside, just a tad if out on the balcony when they were in use. Noise, movement and light is never a problem for us and once we are asleep a heard of elephants could stampede in the cabin and we would not be aware of it.

We never had any soot on the railing or chairs, maybe because I packed a handi-wipe in case there was a problem. I will tell you to bring your seat cushions in at night, we tucked ours behind the drapes, so they are not damp in the morning. You may not have a problem where you will be cruising, but we had fog roll in late most nights.

Will tell you plugging anything in the bathroom is just about impossible, unless the item has a very long cord and you are seven feet tall. The bathroom receptacle is in the light fixture above the mirror and if I recall correctly it will be on your left as you face the mirror. The only other 110 receptacle is at the desk.

Hopefully, you have late dinner or anytime dining. We made the mistake of booking early dinner thinking it would be 5:45. Unfortunately, early dinner on the Veendam is 5:15. Fortunately, we were able to get it changed to late 7:45.

As much as we like assigned seating, from now on I will do anytime and hope for the best.

When you exit your cabin turn to your right and the door facing you will give you access to small deck and stairs up to the retreat.

If you have Ishlah and Jar as cabin attendants, you will be in good hands.

thank so very much for the links and the info , the verandah looks nice :) it is true it is much smaller then SC and SB we are used to but this will be only 2 of us in the cabin we usually travel with our daughter ,now she will begin college it will be just 2 people sharing a room :) but glad the aft view still have a tiny wrap around ,the best place to be on a lazy sea day or early morning is on the aft balcony watching the waves . we will have 15 days on panama canal full crossing from Sand Diego to FLL , so glad to have some info . thank you gain .

So glad I could have been of help to you.

We did the reverse of your cruise about 12 years ago and if we had realized what great views and serenity there was on the aft of the ship that is where we would have been. You should have fantastic views of the lock doors closing.

You will do find in the cabin. We have always had very large suites, but we realized on our last cruise that what we need is plenty of balcony space, as that is where we spend most of our time. As an aside we found the mattress to be the most comfortable one so far.

thanks for your reply :) it reassures us that we made the right decision on choosing aft veranda :) we been before in SC and SB cabins on hal other larger ships and we loved the view and serenity of the cabin location we used to spend our morning and sea days on the veranda and before dinner time it was our favorites place to view the sunsets , is the cabin layout similar to sc ? small couch opposite the bed ? or is the couch position on same side is the bed ?

http://halfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1-vndm095201402002.jpg

http://halfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/06-IMG_1237.jpg

Hopefully, if you click on the above sites you should have picture of cabin and balcony

thanks for your reply :) it reassures us that we made the right decision on choosing aft veranda :) we been before in SC and SB cabins on hal other larger ships and we loved the view and serenity of the cabin location we used to spend our morning and sea days on the veranda and before dinner time it was our favorites place to view the sunsets , is the cabin layout similar to sc ? small couch opposite the bed ? or is the couch position on same side is the bed ?

No the cabin layout is not like the SB or SC Cabins.

095 is a vista cabin and about half the width of the cabins you are use to.

When you enter there will be three closets on your left bathroom on your right with a step up to enter it. Bed is on the right with two night tables and couch and mini bar are also on the bed side of the cabin. Across from the couch is the desk which contains nine drawers for storage.

As I said the balcony is large for the size ship but not as large as the SB or SC cabin aft balconys you are use to on the larger ships.

This was the smallest cabin we have ever sailed in and found it quite comfortable for 14 days.

I would book this cabin again or cabins 232& 223 one deck below for the aft views on this ship. May prefer the two corner afts one deck below. because I think they may have more overhang to shade the balcony and you can never have to much shade when transiting the canal. If I can figure out how to do it I will try to post a picture of the balcony and cabin.

we are plan to book corner aft cabin particularly 095 on veendam from San Diego - panama canal to Fll cruise for 15 days we love aft and been aft on hal other larger ship my question do u have space or a 2 loungers or only one lounger ? is there a table for having meal on the veranda is there any photos u could share of the 095 would greatly appreciate any advice , it will be our first time on veendam

We had cabin 095 for our New England/Canada cruise in July. The balcony is quite spacious, considering that the Veendam is one of the smallest ships in the fleet. There is one lounger, two chairs and very small round table. Table will hold coffee pot and two cups comfortably, nothing else. We are balcony people and now realize just how special the views are from a corner aft.

You will be traveling from west to east while transiting the canal and sun could be a small problem, but your view will be fantastic, especially of the locks and the cut. I am not sure, but you might have more shade one deck down (Veranda) in cabin 223 or 232 if available. Shade is definitely your friend anytime of the year when going through the canal.

There is a site we can no longer mention, but if you search hal and add facts.com you can see the balcony of 095 and 232.

Enjoy you transit of the canal, IMHO it is a very special cruise.

The only port cam I can get to work is the one in Nassau. I have Kaspersky pure. Everything worked fine last winter. Anyone have any ideas how to correct this.

The Via Rail station and the car rental places are at the Westin Hotel, not the Marriott. I think it was my mistake at the beginning of this thread.

 

If you enter the Westin via the back parking lot it is a very short walk and not worth taking a taxi.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Pier+21+Nation+Builder+Plaza,+Halifax,+NS+B3H+4P7/The+Westin+Nova+Scotian,+Halifax,+NS/@44.6392896,-63.5680031,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x4b5a224942585d63:0x768d098a5b87f0b3!2m2!1d-63.5654569!2d44.6382215!1m5!1m1!1s0x4b5a224a0403dbb5:0xf65e40e918b64a3a!2m2!1d-63.5682457!2d44.6402922!3e2

You are right Maryann if you are renting from Thrifty. It is at the Westin.

The Hertz locations are at the port, Marriott and the airport. Unless you sprint like a cheetah I think taking a cab is the best way if you are renting from Hertz at the Marriott location.

Thanks for putting the video up re Sydney NS, we are there on Aurora on Oct 5, P&O UK switched us from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. (Much to my wife's disgust, she dearly wanted to see the Anne of Green Gables Stuff at Charlottetown.)

I am truly sorry you will miss PEI, it is a beautiful island.

Sydney the town is not so great. We rented a car from Avis and drove out to the Fort and up the Marconi Trail and back. On our return stop rented a car again and went out to the Bell museum.

Rented from Avis but could have done Budget they are in the same building.

There van picks you up at the port and takes you back to the office. From port to getting in the car took about 15 minutes. Renting a car is the most reasonable way to go. Converting Canadian dollar back to US I think the cost of our full size vehicle was $35.00 and add another $10.00 to fill up the gas tank, not bad for a day of beautiful vistas for two.

I found Google maps and using their street view was my best friend for where and how I wanted to drive to these places. I found the roads in good shape and the signage easy to follow. I spent many hours planning this trip, but it was well worth the time and effort. Not once were the directions I printed out wrong, wish I could say that for our GPS.

We just used them last week and they did not have any cars there and there were 3 groups waiting. We had to wait 20 min. The employee did not normally work there so she had no clue. I felt bad for her bc people were ticked.

I will agree that it isn't the most organized office.

I think we were lucky as we were the only ship in port the two days I used them. I also had the advantage of instilling in them that we would be back the next week and I expected the car there at the time I specified, and it was. Possibly, because we were the first to pick up our car( within 10 minutes of the gangway opening) on both mornings is why we had no problems.

I don't know if it is any better by going up to the Marriott or not. If renting, using the Marriott location I would take a cab up as the walk is longer then you think.

The problem is that this location is only open during the cruise season and I think the employees from the Marriott and the airport take turns staffing it.

brucory do you have a phone number for the Hertz location at the pier? We are very interested in booking for that location.

The phone number is 902-422-8775 Port Office

I booked through Hertz.com. You will want to make sure you do the port location. It is a small one person office, on Marginal Street, very easy to get to from the pier. You will definitely need to have a reservation. Really stress that you want the car their at that location for your pick up time, sometimes they have to bring the car down from their location at the Marriott up on Water Street. This could delay you a good 20 minutes if traffic is heavy.

We rented from them twice in July, did not stay in town, so I really can't help you with parking etc. if that is your plan. Out of town the roads are well marked and the drive on lighthouse road has some beautiful sights.

Hope your time there is as bright, balmy and beautiful as ours was.

We are on the Zuiderdam, 26 days from Athens to FLL, Oct 14. This cruise could also be purchased as a 7 day ATH->Rome, or 19 days Rome->FLL. We purchased this as one long cruise and we have only one booking number for the entire 26 days. We are scheduled to be in Rome from 7am to 5 pm, but, as many of you know, it's a 90 minute bus ride from the port to downtown Rome and another 90 minutes back. That kills 3 of the 10 hours we are in port. I have read on CC that when there is a lifeboat drill mid-cruise for passengers joining the ship at the mid-point, all passengers are required to attend the drill, even those who are already on the ship and attended a drill a week earlier. If this is true, HAL will want passengers back onboard around 90 minutes before departure, meaning 3:30pm. That would effectively shorten our available time off the ship to 7-1/2 hours, then remove 3 more hours for a round trip bus to Rome, and we have only 4-1/2 hours in Rome. Barely enough time for a gelato at the Trevi Fountain. This would eliminate many of the shore excursions we have been looking at. Is a mid-cruise lifeboat drill mandatory for guests who are already on the ship and have not boarded at the midpoint ?

On the Veendam 7/11/15 to 7/25/15 booked as a collectors cruise we were told we did not have to attend the second drill in Quebec.

We took an afternoon tour and ships personnel gave the drill on the bus before it left the port as we were scheduled to arrive back after the drill would have started. I do not know if this a normal procedure, as we rarely take ships tours. There were quite a few people who had embarked the day before and because there was an overnight and the drill wasn't scheduled until sailing day this could be why this was done on the bus.

I was on the same Veendam cruise, and I was actually impressed by the relative strictness and enforcement of the dress code in the dining room. On several (non-formal) nights I saw men being 86'ed at the door for wearing shorts - including one of my own tablemates. He reappeared later with long pants on. On the Gala nights, the guys up front were handing out loaner jackets until they ran out.

 

That said, it's nigh-impossible to enforce the "stay dressed throughout the evening" rule, and after dinner tuxedos rubbed elbows with t-shirts just about everywhere.

 

It's a constant struggle between "I'm on vacation; I'm here to relax, and I don't want to have to dress up" and "It's a special occasion and we should try to look our best". As society becomes more casual across the board, I think the relaxers will inevitably win this war. But I'll go down with my tie and cummerbund on, and I'll look fantastic. ;)

Which dinning room deck 7 or 8? I agree it is hard these days to enforce "stay dressed" after dinner. To me it would be more of a hassle to run back to the cabin to change once again then to stay dressed.

A better question is why Hal doesn't enforce it. Some people will try to get away with whatever they can.

The way the dress code reads, it applies to the MDR, the Pinnacle Grill, and (if available) Tamarind.

Having disembarked the Veendam on Saturday, IMHO they should do away with the Gala/Formal nights and the dress code or specifically state not suggest what is appropriate and enforce it!!!

Out of four Gala nights only once was someone turned away from the dinning room. A couple (old enough to know better) were dressed as follows: He in his cut off jeans and short sleeved white undershirt and she in a terry cloth beach cover up with flip flops. The only reason they were turned away was because shorts are not allowed in the dinning room for dinner; nothing said about the rest of their attire. How do I know this, because the couple was in line in front of my husband and myself.

As for the Pinnacle Grill, flannel shirts and levis were deemed appropriate, even on Gala Night.

Sorry you didn't book the 2:30 flight. Anyway it appears that United is in Terminal B, which has a Legal Seafoods.

 

You have tons and tons of time. How about taking a cab or cabs to Rowes Wharf, paying for a water taxi ticket to Logan to get the free luggage storage, and spending some time at Faneuil Hall? You could have an early lunch and take the water taxi over to the airport in plenty of time for a 4:30 flight.

 

Just to give you a sense of timing, I'm flying out this week at 5 pm. I live about 25 miles out. I'm leaving home at 2 pm to drive to the T station, park my car, and take the Red Line and the Silver Line to the airport. I expect to be there by about 3:30.

Your suggestion sounds wonderful and if it was just my husband and myself we would do that, actually we would have been on the 2:30 plane or maybe on the one that leaves at 11:30. That won't fly with this couple I have taken them way out of their comfort level by renting a car in two of the ports to do some sightseeing and I am still not sure if they will go with us or not. This will be their 32nd cruise and they only do ships excursions or nothing at all, afraid they will miss the boat.

What time is your flight and what day if the week? What airline? You can see Logan Airport across the harbor from the cruise ship. Two cabs should not be more than $30 each to get there. $110 sounds pricey unless you have a super early flight.

Us Airlines Saturday 4:30pm.

Not a super early flight for sure, actually later than I would like, but the people with us were afraid we would not be able to make the 2:30 flight, hope there is somewhere good to eat at Logan.

As long as cabs are plentiful, two cabs it will be.

Thanks for the quick reply Carol.

Wondering if anyone has used Boston Car Service at 61 Waverly Street or could suggest one.

They seem to be the most reasonable ($110.00) for SUV but, I am looking for reliability. Date of pick-up July 25th 2015

There will be 4 of us with minimum of four bags and 3 carry-on sizes.

Thought this might be easier then 2 cabs, also not sure how readily cabs are available at Black Falcon never having been there before.

Thanking you in advance to anyone that can help with this.

I'm not sure how HAL is calculating prices/taxes. When I placed my order earlier today, it was for delivery in Boston. I've just gone back and placed a dummy purchase of the same item for delivery in Halifax and again for Quebec City and got exactly the same price as for Boston.

I placed an order for delivery in Boston also and was only charged the price on the web site. I assume if there are taxes they are built in along with the 15% service charge as there is no breakdown on the confirmation slip.

Will order another bottle onboard after Bar Harbor and before Halifax and see if there is a price difference.

This is a two week cruise so will need another bottle.

After 27 plus cruises to Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, and others, I swore that I woud not go to Alaska - too cold - too wet - yada yada yada.

 

Well, in 8 short weeks we will pursure Alaska on the Radiance of the Seas and a 4 day land tour with a vengence. I have reams of information from friends, relatives, internet sites, etc. My sister just returned from Alaska and said it was their best trip EVER.

 

So, I am excited and looking forward to a new experience. I know that there will not be warm sunny beaches and days lounging around the pool. And I hope to God that I do not see one Diamonds International!

 

Keep an open mind and you might be surprised. I have yet to talk to ANYONE who did not love their trip/cruise to Alaska.

Keep your eyes closed when you disembark in Juneau. If I recall correctly its (DI) diagonally across from the Red Dog Saloon.

It is quite steep; my wife doesn't like it. I have walked around the area many times. If you look at the earth view or satellite view on Google or Bing maps you can see the area clearly. You mentioned July 13th; according to the Port Authority the Veendam is the only ship in port and it will be at Pier 22. When you leave the terminal (it's more like a shopping mall:)) just turn right then cross the main street at the crosswalk just after the brewery on the left. The first car park is for the VIA Rail station and the second one is for the hotel. It doesn't matter which one you cut across as they are connected. The entrance to the hotel is at the far right of the parking area.

Thank you David,

Your instructions are what I needed to know. Quite sure this will be quicker than a cab up to the Marriott for Hertz.

I know we are quite lucky as the Veendam is the only ship in all of our ports including Quebec as of now. Should make renting a car easier. Maybe not in Quebec as the music festival (wasn't aware) will be taking place the weekend we are docked. Guess I didn't quite time this cruise correctly but, wanted the two stops in Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown and the long time in Quebec.

Peg

We rented from this same location back in October. The car was a Fiat 500 and practically brand new!

Thanks for your response. Hopefully you rented a sub compact or compact class. We are looking for a full size. Glad to know the Fiat was practically brand new, but we would be very disappointed if this was in the full size class.