Don Kehote

Super fun: Just called up and talked to HAL. Their stance is that we cannot upgrade from an interior to a veranda at all, and maybe we can call back in a couple of weeks.

On that sailing too, been hoping to see word of upgrade offers coming out. I suspect that my TA does not receive notification that the offers happen, but can't prove it yet.

Oh god, it's the best. It was lovely going home and NOT having to immediately do laundry.

I'd just be happy if they'd update their images that they use to sell the cruise. If you look at the 12/3/23 sailing of Rotterdam, you sure would think that it's stopping in Key West. It is instead going to foulmouth, which is now a ship day for us. Did they update the itinerary? Sure they did. But not the image, which is the first thing you see.

Honestly, it's supposed to be just for guests who have rented a cabana, but people be breaking rules, and the staff won't say boo because they fear losing out on their tips or getting negative feedback.

So this morning, with a clear head, I logged into the First Mates site, and did some peering. At this point, it looks like I've got $300 bar tab, and $1450 of Sailor Loot. So that does appear to be correct. What stinks is that this 6 day voyage is priced significantly higher than the 7 day better itinerary that was cancelled. Since it was a MNVV, I did find the $300 discount off the fare applied deep in the invoice, and I can also see the $478 payment I made toward it to secure the booking, but the initial $300 that we gave VV to get the MNVV in the first place isn't reflected anywhere. Guess I'm just frustrated.

Well, my experience has not been spectacular so far. I'm going to call in tomorrow as see if it's as bad as it looks, or if I'm just misreading. Got notification that we're set to go on a replacement, and yes, there's bonus sailor loot and bar tab, which is great. What is not great is that it appears that the $600 sailor loot that we originally had is now gone, as is $300 that we put down on board, and I don't really see the $300 discount either. Somehow, we are now on an itinerary that's shorter, does NOT go to Curacao (weep for me), and yet we owe more and have less than expected. I could be wrong, but if this is how it be, I'm absolutely rethinking this trip.

OP, this can be done, as long as you transfer the booking to your agent. The latest *published* info is: Yes, Virgin Voyages will gladly transfer a reservation to your travel agent within 30 days from the creation date when a reservation is not paid in full. Can you do this with a MNVV? Answer is again, Yes. My source on that is that I have done it myself, transferring to myself. It's been a few months, though.

I mean, I'm okay with sailor loot. Fine. I already had a ton of it, though, so that's not so much a big help. What would be cool is something that would let me put that toward the whole suite experience. Now THAT I could get behind.

I feel like you could have moved, and that your reaction to someone else enjoying the show is over the line.

I am going to remember this, and try it. My attempt to put on the robe that was in our last room was...unflattering at best, and perhaps illegal in several jurisdictions.

I would love to see MORE of this kind of thread.

I will say with certainty that I found the food to be fantastic, and I lived in Italy for two years. I just hope they can make gnocchi still.

Weng Weng is the truth.

You are incorrect. The cabana was not filled; the director of food and beverage continued to invite us to utilize it up to the very end of our sailing.

Shenanigans, unfortunately, continue. My aforementioned daughter is currently on her honeymoon cruise. Upon reporting to the cabanas, they were informed that they would not have the one they specifically requested when they booked it, but good old #13 is here for you! It took them showing the original e-mails before the attendant relented and gave them the cabana they wanted. I'm a lot miffed right now. I sell a lot of cruises. A LOT. Do they think that I'm going to recommend this to people? I suppose a sternly written e-mail to the BDM will be my first act.

So I'm the guy that raised the stink over that one. Short version: We were refunded. Long version: Our first trip to Guest Services was met with a "Did you tell the attendant?" Why, yes, we did. The attendant did nothing, which is why we are here. "What do you want to do about it?" Well, we'd like our money back. "We'll have to ask." Time passed. Refund was granted, and we relocated to the Sea Bar, where I broke down and bought a pack of cigarettes and smoked them all. After a few drinks, and some calming down, we went BACK to guest services. This time, we said that essentially, the refund is good and all, but the principle of the thing is what really matters. We were specifically not looking for any compensation of any sort, no freebies. All we wanted was to get this thing fixed. So, we asked to escalate, and were offered a chat with the Assistant Beverage Manager. After a wait, we sat with him in the atrium, and discussed how displeased we were with the handling of the whole situation, soup to nuts. He said he was sorry, and we asked to further escalate. We then arranged a meeting with the Director of Food and Beverage. By this time, I think we really had the feeling that they were confused. We already had our money back (albeit as OBC as far as I could see), so...what were we wanting now? To the Director, we explained that we didn't want anything other than: 1) to have this issue fixed, and 2) To know how the heck this could have happened in the first place? So, promises were made to fix it. And we were offered massages, which we didn't want, and didn't use. Director called our room the next day to check in with us, and noted that we would be meeting with the Events coordinator as we also had purchased the Renewal of Vows for this sailing. I can't tell you exactly what was said (wife answered the call), but I know she told Director. "We'll be talking to the Captain about it." The call ended abruptly after that. And, we DID end up speaking to the Captain. At length, after our ceremony, in fact. He agreed that the cabanas are supposed to be tranquil, and that things were poorly handled. We asked if we should have our daughter cancel her cabana for her January sailing; would it be like this on Statendam, too? He assured us that it would not be, and he mentioned that he had added the cabanas to his walk-around, to ensure that his presence was known. I believe that the cabana staff were "retrained" as well. The next day, we were given thermal spa passes. Again, didn't want, didn't use. Overall, the 15 minutes we got in the cabana by ourselves was great. The attendant's shakedown (seriously, he hadn't even asked our names before telling how generous other passengers were, about how he was missing his kids, how he bought his mother a washing machine with his first sailing's tips - and showed us pictures of the damn washing machine) was pretty terrible, and the recycling bin sized boombox started shortly thereafter. 0/10, will not book a cabana again. I wouldn't take it if were offered for free unless they figure their mess out.

Getting this solved for the other people who want a resolution, but are intimidated. There is such a thing as doing the right thing, even if it sucks.

Had a good chat today with first the assistant beverage manager, who facilitated a sit-down with the food and bev director. Seems like we are making progress. In fact, wife is on the phone with the director now, right before we head to dinner.

I strenuously disagree with this statement. I am currently in my cabin reading this, verbatim, from the TV, "Relax in your own private cabana located high above the lower decks. LUXURIOUS TRANQUILITY and superb service await (Emphasis mine), including refreshments, sparkling wine, plush robes and towels." Luxurious tranquility, in every possible way of looking at it, indicates peace and quiet. It most certainly does not offer the promise of Miley Cyrus at levels higher than the music at the Seaview bar.

I believe he has been aboard for three legs, if I understood the cabana attendant correctly. My impression as to his vip status is: someone who tipped well and is being given a pass. As it stands,, I can't recommend this to my clients in all honesty.

I will start out with this: we loved the space. The view was lovely, and the loungers were super comfortable. But...the downside was far too much to put up with. As we sat there, shortly before departure enjoying the peace and quiet, some guy starts dragging a large speaker out into the common area, blasting what I THINK was the techno part of "Wake me when its over". Not sure on that. Anyway, we made it VERY clear to Alex, one of our attendants, that this was just NOT cool. A short time later we were approached by the self-appointed DJ, he was in the next cabana over. It was made clear to him as well that 1: I was at this point angry and wanted nothing to do with him and that 2: we didn't pay $400 to listen to his music for a week. He left. Shortly after that, the music started back up. Alex came back and told us that the guy was some kind of VIP or something, and he would be allowed to keep the music going. So the refund was processed quickly as OBC when we went down to guest services immediately after that. We have a meeting request in with the food and beverage manager tomorrow afternoon to discuss our problems with this, as its not just about getting that money back, it was a significant part of our vacation/birthday/renewal/first time on HAL cruise. We really wanted to have a quiet place where we could relax and enjoy some peace and quiet out in the open, and we feel like it was essentially yoinked from us. Aside from that debacle, most everyone else has been incredible. Canaletto was incredible (booked again for tomorrow night's osso bucco), the BB King All-Stars were over the top good. I just hope they can fix this. If not for us then for others. Rant over, carry on please.

Walter, I don't know you, but I think we should be friends. I don't even smell bad. Usually.

I have always been told that the *appropriate* way to eat sushi is with your hands; it is a traditional finger food. When sushi started out, it was much larger (like three times larger) and couldn't be picked up with the chopsticks. Later, after Edo was westernized, they started cutting them smaller, but the traditional manner remained. The big key is clean hands, and eat the whole piece in one bite for maximum correctness. Also, don't stick your chopsticks vertically in your rice; that is a super bad mojo thing (something to do with Japanese funerals, I'm told), as is crossing the sticks on the table, or rubbing them together after separating them (saying they are cheap). They also say don't put wasabi in your soy sauce. But my wife does it anyway. *edited to add - here's a great video: How to Eat Sushi : You've Been Doing it Wrong

Please do not get me wrong; I enjoy watching football. But I swear the very last place I ever want to watch a football game is at sea. I don't want to be around That Guy (or Gal, or That Them) who talks smack about their favorite sports team any more than I want to be around someone who is wearing a political statement shirt. I've seen too many fights over stuff like this. Way, wayyyyy too many, and it's just wholly unappealing anymore.