ldog

Thanks you for posting all of this.

We were on the Westerdam from Feb 2 - March 13 out of Singapore to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.  It was an experience with how all of those countries have dealt with new immigration protocols.  It sure made our problems last summer and ArriveCan seem trivial.

Japan was the most bureaucratic and time consuming including having to fill out their App with little notice and instruction while we were onboard.  We were told before boarding that it wouldn't be necessary.  There were long lines at guest services with those who needed assistance.

I totally agree with you about the lack of entertainment.  We were in our cabin most nights by 930 pm.  I found the sound in the Rolling Stone Lounge too hard on my head.  The ceiling is low and the music bounces around. 

For over twenty years we have always enjoyed a cocktail in the Ocean Bar before dinner while listening to the band or piano.  It's criminal that there is no music there at all.  When I asked the entertainment director why I was told that because these are a series of BTBs there was no need.  Doesn't make any sense to me. 

The Lincoln Centre group is very good but the venue is tiny.  We found you had to get there at least twenty minutes early to get a seat. 

Because of the BTBs the entertainment was repetitive.  We saw the same Cantare and World Step Dance shows three times each.  The set lists for Billboard were the same too.  With that number of songs they could have been mixed up more.   I won't even go into the repetitive trivia questions.  I gave up on that a few cruises ago.

I won't give up on HAL....we cruise more for the itinerary than the onboard amenities but there is a huge difference from what we used to have.

no sudoku on the Westerdam....they had kakaru on the Zaandam but I don't know how to do that. Crosswords available at Guest Services.

that probably is a priority time.  What group are you in?

We book for the itinerary so as long as HAL goes to interesting ports we will put up with the other stuff. 

I do miss the guest lecturers, the folk singers, the jazz groups and the production shows.

I think the canned EXC talks are atrocious.

But if you are paying without the HIA it's $7 a bottle plus 18% which is ridiculous. 

It doesn't cost the same to produce as beer with alcohol because it doesn't have the additional taxes that alcohol has.

We are just off the Zaandam too.  Quality was mostly fine.  I am happy that the portions are smaller.  I hate wasting food.  Sometimes the fish was overcooked in MDR.  Poached eggs - made to order- in the Lido every morning.

We laughed about the berries though.  The strawberries are cut into four little pieces and the raspberries and blueberries in half.  so if the dessert said something like "creme caramel with berries" there would be 2 pieces of strawberry and one piece of blueberry - so technically they are as advertised.  I'm not complaining though, just happy to be cruising. 

We arrive at Yokohama port at 7 am and our flight home from Narita is at 1830.   I know that we can take a train to the airport but I don't really want to sit around there all day.  We will have luggage.  Can anyone recommend a private tour/transfer service?

thanks

The Westerdam is making two stops in Bali in February 2023.  I can find tour operators in Benoa but am having no luck with Celukan Bawang on the North shore.  Not even very much on Tripadvisor either.

Has anyone been there?

On 11/2/2022 at 6:33 AM, travellovers2 said:

We're looking for cruises out of Singapore in May 2023. All we found are cruises that are 3-4 days to Penang & Phuket. We would like to spend 4 days in Singapore then take a cruise that ends in S. Korea or somewhere in that area that puts us closer to fly back to the US. We're also open to a 7-9 days cruise that goes back to Singapore.

 

But we don't see many cruises being offered. Has anyone done this route before? If it exists, then maybe we can wait until it's offered again which hopefully will be in another 1-2 years. Thank you.

If you were going in March the Westerdam goes from Singapore to Japan and onwards.

6 hours ago, portpete20 said:

We are booked on the Westerdam leaving Singapore on 3 Feb 23. I have been able to download HAL shore excursions for each of the ports of call except for Port Blair which requires an awkward application process and not inexpensive India Tourist Visa. Has anybody got any more info from HAL about this Port. 

I still can't see any shore excursions on our booking on the HAL website for Indonesia.  there are excursions posted for Phuket and Malaysia but nothing after Feb 14.  Not even anything in Singapore on that day.

All I can say is keep very good records if you cancel your HIA excursions.  I didn't and when we combined with paid for excursions it turned into a real mess that the shore excursion staff on board couldn't deal with.   The accounting system is flawed.

We ended up losing $180.

We will no longer do HIA and will be very selective of HAL shore excursions.

On Nieuw Statendam we were told that we weren’t reimbursed the 25% for Sel de Mer because we would still have to pay the 18% service charge. I walked away shaking my head. 

We had a good lobster dinner at Bluenose II in Halifax.

There was a Gray Lines table at the exit.  We took a cab to drive us to Lunenburg.

We have done that itinerary but on two different cruises. Lots of interesting ports.   Enjoy.

One of my favourite things is attending lectures on sea days.  I've heard nothing about them since I've been planning our July cruise from Copenhagen to Boston.

Have they all been stopped or can I hope for some intellectual stimulation on sea days?

We will be in Copenhagen for two nights before our cruise in July. The last time we were there was in 2003. We had one of the best dinners ever at a restaurant in Tivoli gardens. I can’t find my diary but seem to recall the name translated to Phoenix. Does this restaurant still exist?  Would you be able to tell me the correct name?  Do we need to make a reservation?  I’m sure things have changed in 19 years. 

We were booked on the spring TA last April 2020 on the Rotterdam. Since we have credits that need to be used,  I'm looking at something for April 2022 and I think the Volendam itinerary has fewer sea days and more interesting ports than the new Rotterdam.  We've been on the Volendam a number of times and enjoy the size. 

Sadly, we have cancelled our April 6 Rotterdam Transatlantic.  Maybe next year.

Thank you very much.  You are a wealth of information about your city.  I really appreciate all of your posts.

On 2/22/2020 at 6:12 PM, VMax1700 said:

I have just discovered a morning visit to Jameson Distillery, Midleton arranged by the distillery.

They collect from the cruise port and drop you back by lunchtime.  Might be interesting to you.

https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-EN/visit-us/jameson-distillery-midleton/jdm-our-home/jdm-plan-your-visit

thanks but we don't dock until 11 am. 

We have insurance coverage for if we get sick.  It's not possible to buy it for if the world gets sick.  sigh

We are booked on a TA on the Rotterdam in April.  I'm not particularly worried about getting the virus but I am concerned that museums etc will be closed in Europe.  We have a booked a week in amsterdam/Paris after the cruise.  The Louvre is closed now.

ldog  is booked on Rotterdam - 06-Apr-20 - 16 day Azores & Normandy Explorer

(sorry...I tried but I can't fix the fonts)

We will be in Cobh in April on Friday the 17th.  Our port time is 11 am to 11 pm so I'm in a bit of a quandary what to do. 

Travelling out to the countryside by public transport?  I've been to Blarney Castle - DH hasn't.  Jamieson distillery would be interesting.

With the later departure I'm thinking that going to an Irish pub is an option.  Suggestions?