cwtravel

12 minutes ago, KirkNC said:

And the new HAL begins.

It sure does. Covid-19 is going to make President Gus’s restructuring of HAL much easier. Formal/elegant evenings.... possibly gone. Twice daily housekeeping....possibly gone (enhanced cleaning takes labor). Could the Volendam be next up?

My opinion all four are being sold.

I can not see a World Cruise sailing for a few years. A vaccine needs to be developed, tested and deployed. 

10 minutes ago, Himself said:

My understanding is that ALL HAL cruises are shut down through November 30th. I really do not expect anything before January

of 2021, sad to say.

Looking at the current data (increase in cases in the US, especially in South Florida; border restrictions around the world; world wide economic disruption; ships currently spread around the world along with major hurdles getting crews to/from the ships) I can not see how any North America cruises depart before 2021 and certainly not any HAL sailings around the world, especially the longer 14+ night sailings. 

13 hours ago, gejmeadows said:

Keep the ships smaller, the entertainment and facilities aimed toward us older cruisers.

This president will have the same issues as the past president and that is attracting new customers and focusing on the future, not the past

Let’s assume Gus was interviewed by various people/groups within corporate Carnival. Do you really think his vision laid out in interviews for the position is re-creating the past? Prioritizing the wishes of the 75-85 year old loyal cruiser vs. the wishes of a 45-55 year old new cruiser? He, like Mr. Ashford and his team has to implement a strategy to hit/exceed revenue, profit and customer service goals. I doubt having a product and environment from 1992 is going to accomplish those goals.

Southwest has opened its schedule into January.

Are ships it’s going to start boarding later & sail later than the normal 4-5 afternoon departures? I have to think sanitation will be emphasized 

quite a bit.

No. May 2, 2020

My Niece on her first birthday and first cruise. Photo was taken in one of the villas on Half Moon Cay, Christmas cruise on the Westerdam December 2017

Less long cruises (over 14 days) and certainly fewer Around the World sailings.

Celebrity Silhouette in Labadee & Haifa, Israel

Nieuw Amsterdam & Konigsdam Half Moon Cay.

Westerdam Half Moon Cay

Nieuw Amsterdam at Crown Bay, USVI

I cancelled the May Caribbean cruise my wife and I were booked on this morning and for me yesterday's events (Grand, Royal and now Regal Princess along with the Carnival ship) sealed the deal for me. We are both in our 50's, have over 40 cruises so have been to all the ports multiple times and was looking forward to a week or R&R. Not a potential week of worry and confusion.

It’s been since 2018 since I last sailed on a Princess ship but unless it has already changed  go back to individual containers of milk (not stuff pre-poured), juices and wrapped butters. Thank you Princess.

For all the virtual cruise CEO’s on Cruise Critic if the Europe and or Med season deteriorates more over the next week do some ships stay in North America vs doing their Eastern TA in late March/early April?

I would not do a final payment now for a mid-June sailing, to any destination, even if I fully intended to go unless I purchased the air already. Chances are good you can still book in the next few weeks or longer and prices might go down. There is quite a bit of capacity in Alaska this year.

A few that I think are good.....

- No smoking on the balcony 

- Larger flat screen televisions in staterooms with on demand movies (lots of choices)

- Taramind as a speciality dining option

- Most likely better/faster internet and unlimited

2I am very fortunate to have been on 5 Christmas cruises with the most recent one on HAL Westerdam in 2017 (the others were one on Celebrity and three on Princess). Our family is looking at going again in 2020 and HAL or Princess are the most likely choices. Our entire family of about 20 goes so ages range from 2 to 85.

The Westerdam was a bit more low key than Princess in my opinion but all were great. I do not know if anyone in our family gave any kind of gift to any crew but if I did it would probably be a card/envelope with some cash. On the Westerdam sailing, which departed Ft. Lauderdale 22 December, Christmas Eve was a Gala night & Christmas Day was a sea day and the weather was very nice. Lots of large groups of families onboard but otherwise seemed like a usual Caribbean cruise. Ship is of course decorated.

My wife and I swore no more HAL cruises after the Zuiderdam in 2004 (Caribbean) & Oosterdam in 2007 (Alaska). Liked the size of the ships but the Main factors were the smoking on balconies, entertainment (the HAL Cats did not work for us) and at the time the age demographics (we were in our early 40’s). So, we cruised only on Princess and Celebrity , are at the Elite level on both lines and had great cruises in various parts of the world on their ships.

In 2017 our family of about 20 went on the Westerdam over Christmas and have since been on the Nieuw Amsterdam in 2018 and sailing again on her Saturday. While we still sail on Princess ( not so much due to pricing on Celebrity) we like the HAL experience on the Vista and Signature Class ships but will not sail on the older, smaller ships. My wife and I really like the Signature Suites with a decent size covered balcony, are fans of BB King’s, love the service (room service breakfast the final day is wonderful) love the speciality restaurants, especially Taramind and the hydro pool in the spa. The unbelievable amount of whining I read on these boards at times has me wondering what all the fuss is about when I am on the ships. 

We are now in our late 50’s with over 40 cruises and generally cruise to relax and recharge especially to the Caribbean. My guess is you will like the Eurodam if you liked the Westerdam. 

On 11/6/2019 at 3:40 PM, crewsweeper said:

Just curious if conditions changed since the hurricanes.  Great place before.

I’ve been to Emerald twice since the hurricane, in May & November 2018 & unfortunately yes. Still a good choice, especially if docked @ Crown Bay but the beach seemed smaller.

- Hyatt House FLL Airport/Cruise Port has 2 bedroom suites & shuttle service to/from airport and ship (for a fee to ship)

- Homewood Suites FLL Airport/Cruise Port also has 2 bedroom suites with shuttle service (fee to cruise port)

- Embassy Suites does not have two bedroom suites & sleeping 6 would, in my opinion be tight. No shuttle service for free

- Hyatt Place does not have two bedroom suites

I and my family have stayed in all four properties along with the Doubletree. I generally stay at the Hyatt House, good breakfast and comfortable rooms. All with two bedrooms are priced about the same most of the time.

My wife and I tried HAL due to many of the changes, specifically the ending of smoking on the balcony, addition of BB Kings, relaxed dress code and the updated staterooms on the Vista & Signature Class ships (have not yet tried the Pinnacle Class). We especially like the Signature Suites now.

The wife & I are both 58 and we tried the Zuiderdam in 2004 to the Caribbean and then the Oosterdam in 2007 to Alaska. A combo of smoke, lousy entertainment and on the Alaska cruise literally being run over by people in their scooters kept us away for 10 years. During those 10 years we took 30 other cruises primarily on Princess & Celebrity. In 2017 we took a Christmas cruise on the Westerdam, 2018 went on the Nieuw Amsterdam & are returning to the NA in November. 

Celebrity Has got very pricy, and we have no desire to sail on their new ships. I really like the size/price of the Signature Suites along with the service and smaller passenger size

along with a reasonable sized balcony with comfortable furniture. I also like the lack of separating suite guests with separate dining rooms and deck areas. With a little luck we hope to have another 20 or 25 years of cruising and now HAL is an option, though I doubt we will sail on the smaller ships.

Hi-

my wife and I enjoy our balcony when we cruise & use it for breakfast, drinks & relaxing.

We are looking at a cruise on the N. Statendam and looking at the deck plans the largest balconies are on deck 4 and there are angled balconies on the bump out parts. Any thoughts on the better cabins/balconies including the aft ones. Am also considering a Vista Duite but not sure if they are worth the extra cost.

Thanks - Chris

My wife and I are both in our 50's and we have  taken 40+ cruises. We are at the Elite level on both Princess and Celebrity and usually would switch between those lines but our last couple cruises have been on HAL on the Nieuw Amsterdam and Westerdam. I expect we will take another 40-50 cruises over the next 20 years and I am curious where our cruise dollars will be spent, though my guess is the majority of our money will go to these three lines.

The NA and Westerdam both have very comfortable suites (Signature Suites) with plenty of room, nice sized bathrooms and good sized balconies and cost a fraction of the Sky Suite cost on Celebrity. We do not need Luminare or butler service (though both are nice). I especially like the little things on HAL like being able to get room service on disembarkation day and the hydro pool in the spa.

I do not see sailing on the Edge class anytime soon, especially to the Caribbean, given the current pricing. 

Chris

Was on the 11/25/18 Nieuw Amsterdam sailing and I was very surprised when I went on the balcony and saw we were at Crown Bay. The QMII was also at Crown Bay with us. 

Chris

2-2:30 is the latest I would board at any port.