horseymike

13 hours ago, Cdude said:

Congratulations! I’m dealing with a very similar issue with a recent Princess sailing and all I got back so far was a canned email stating they’re overworked and be patient.

 

I hope this doesn’t ruffle feathers, but common billing issues like this make me want to go back to all-inclusive on land. Very different experience, I know. But, much, much lower chance of stress and lots of beach time if that’s your itinerary. Isn’t competition from all-inclusive resorts why cruise lines started offering drink packages? Maybe they can get their billing up to speed. Hard to imagine these discrepancies are all inadvertent in 2024.

I totally agree with you, they are in the cruise business and they are dealing with excessive numbers of passengers but the I T departments need to be brought up to speed.

the car / limo services are much more convenient for the door to door service , luggage ect.

I really enjoy a good steak , but I would have to pass on this one.

6 hours ago, 1Virgo said:

just back from Ascent.  This is the first time we have seen a long table set up for people after cruise to retrieve their confiscated items, and some were disgruntled. These are a few of what we saw:

 

..Clothes Steamers, doesnt matter what size or how tiny, dont bring them (lots of those)

..Irons.   full size and small

..a Panini/waffle maker.  yup. Not new or in a box

 

If it says don’t bring, not allowed, follow the rules. No means no.  

 

Cruise awesome. Cannot say enough of how great the staff were.  

Any chainsaws ? 🤣

Always best to check your statement periodically when cruising, mistakes happen, the sooner resolved the better ( onboard if possible) .

I know it takes you out of vacation mode for a few minutes, but it is worth it.

It has always gone smoothly for us at Port Everglades when it comes to boarding.

Never had to wait long to board regardless of the assigned time.

Hope you have a great cruise 🚢 

I think it may be worth your while to book a cruise on HAL.

That will be the true test how it works for you , if given the opportunity to bet on it , my guess is that you will like it.

In our experience cruising we have found different lines have strengths and weaknesses depending on what is most important to the individual  , food , entertainment, itinerary etc….

All the Best 👍🍀

1 hour ago, VMax1700 said:

And that is the reason that there is the daily hotel charge/crew gratuities/ or whatever they have named it this week.  Correct?

Absolutely. Any additional tips are at the discretion of the individual.

For the record , we were in Club Orange.🍊 

Hi Everyone,

For those who have been in an Oceanview cabin on the Rotterdam , would you please clarify the bathroom layout.

I believe the Family Oceanview cabins have 2 bathrooms one of which has a bathtub.

The cabins I am inquiring about are the regular Oceanview cabins , I am hoping they are equipped with a a shower only.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Just of the Rotterdam a few weeks ago, we gave an extra tip to the hostesses and an envelope for all the wait staff who took care of us to share a few nights before the end of the cruise, several members  of the waitstaff as well as the hostesses thanked us for the extra tips.

With all the different people taking care of us throughout the cruise it was very difficult for me to figure out who should get what.

2 hours ago, Capt_BJ said:

IME most cruise ships have either a prom' deck suitable for walking or a running/walking track <often on a high deck> ....

 

Disney's newest ship WISH actually gets beaten up by many cuz they LACK this . . .

Different type of cruise than what we look for…… 

On 2/25/2024 at 2:55 PM, NSnJW said:

I have been there on Carnival and NCL and had a great time on both.  I will say that NCL takes very good care of solos.  Carnival was pretty good too but didn't have a dedicated solo meet just before dinner like NCL. 

The only place that I snorkeled was Bonaire.  I went out on a ship built like a Chinese Junk.  We went to Little Bonaire and the current will carry you down the coast of the island.  So they put you in the water about a half mile up the coast and then wait for you.  You don't have swim at all to cover a lot of water.

Did a snorkel excursion from that same Chinese Junk in Bonaire 24 years ago !

At the time the operator of the excursion told us it was featured in a James Bond movie years ago.

13 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Funny thing about ships with decent Promenades.  Most of the time we sit or walk on those decks we might run into a few dozen other passengers.  But a few dozen, out of more than 1000, 2000, etc. really makes me wonder what happens to all the folks who claim to love Promenades.  It seems like, these days, the typical cruiser will wait 15 minutes for an elevator to take them one deck, complain when they need to walk from one end of a ship to the other, etc.

 

Hank

Hi Hank,

You have made a good point , but I am still a fan of a proper promenade deck on a ship,

The last cruise I took on the Rotterdam in March of 2024 there seemed to be more than a few dozen who shared my enthusiasum. Like most folks , I tend to overindulge on a cruise , so those walks around the deck help me to offset that to some point. I also don't know anywhere else where you can take a walk in the middle of the ocean .

10 minutes ago, bandp407 said:

Thanks much! Hope you enjoyed your cruise!

 

Our last HAL was the NS IN 2019 & we enjoyed it very much. We have primarily sailed with Celebrity since, due to our hesitation with the lack of good live music ( other than BB KING) & the entertainment. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise. Thanks. 

2 hours ago, bandp407 said:

I am not sure , but did I read that HAL has done away with the BB King Blues Club Band? We are contemplating the NS or ROTTERDAM, and that would be a deal breaker. Where does the Steal Drum Calypso play? Sounds great! 

thank you in advance for clarifying! 

As of March 17 2024 the BB King All Stars were performing most nights on the Rotterdam. We cruised from March 8 - March 18 , 2024.

Hope this helps. 

For the record, we disembarked the Rotterdam on March 17 , 2024, during that cruise there was a Steel Pan Group called Island Magic who took this style of music to the next level……

If you have the opportunity to attend one of their performances don’t pass it up.

I am sticking out my neck here , but I have found among various cruise lines that the new ships tend to get the best crew and it trickles down from there, I know there will be exceptions to this , but it has been my observation.

Hi Everyone,

Walking on a proper outdoor promenade deck is something my wife and I have always enjoyed.

It is unique to cruising.

Please name any and every ship you know of that is currently in service that still has a proper outside promenade deck.

Thanks in Advance for your responses.

On 3/13/2024 at 9:48 AM, Mr. Boston said:

I agree on the lame excuse.  It sounds like the one they gave for getting rid of the libraries.  They need a better liar in Seattle!

Most likely not in Seattle, outsourced to a foreign country.

Hi Everyone,

Cruising today on Rotterdam from Port Everglades.

Can anyone tell me the earliest you can arrive to get inside the terminal ?

We do have the priority boarding perk with club orange.

Thanks

Mary Beth ,

I am thoroughly enjoying and very impressed by your excellent review.

The photos and content are both knock it out of the park great 👍.

 Thank you for taking the time to share it all with us .

3 hours ago, EatonDoolittle said:

Are you asking how to use Uber?

Download the app, enter your credit card info, tell then where you are, tell them where you want to go, tell them what type of vehicle you want. Wait for the driver.  They should give you an approximate arrival time, car, and driver info. 

 

Are you asking if they will go all the way to Delray Beach? Yes.

 

Are you asking will they have a large SUV available?  Probably, but you may have a wait. 

 

Many, many cruisers use ride share at Port Everglades.  A few weeks back I walked past the ride share waiting area, and it was packed. People were 3 - 4 deep watching for the incoming cars. 

Terminal 25, which is relatively new and has a well organized arrival and departure process for vehicles. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the information. I am familiar with how to use Uber , just wanted to know about the pick up experience at Port Everglades, you made a good point when you mentioned the ride share pick up area was packed. It so happens we return on a day that will see 7 ships in port with a total passenger count north of 30,000 . That said I would think the ride share providers will be spread thin . Driving and parking may be the best choice on this day.

Thanks anyway. 
I guess not many cruisers do this.

Thanks Marybeth,

We are actually boarding her on March 8 .ABC islands, however B was canceled.

Still very much looking forward to it.🚢😎