scubacruiserx2

We're on the same deck and had that corner cabin once . We didn't care for that floor as the connecting door between cabins eliminated the vanity storage area . But we always like the aft view and will miss it after 5 weeks of having it from Alaska to Nassau after the NA canceled our port in Grand Turk .

Thanks FeliciaLee . And it was great meeting you 2 also . Unfortunately we have not been able to find the great price that you did on the Seaborne Sojourn on the 29th , so we redirected our energy to a Western Cruise back on the NA . It includes 2 of our other favorite dive spots , Grand Cayman and Cozumel ( if the storms leave us and them alone ) . We booked a Signature Suite this time hoping for an upgrade . And by God's grace we got an E-mail from HAL yesterday offering the last Neptune for $ 200 each and we pounced on it like the hungry masses on the LIDO at lunchtime . 🙏

For those of us who love Grand Turk this is good news . The Nieuw Statendam is in GT today and the Rotterdam is set for Monday 11-7-22 . A video clip of the beautiful area where we love to dive ( and eat ) . This was from the Neiuw Amsterdam's visit on New Year's Day this year .

The NS is scheduled to make GT on 11-1 - 2022 but we were deceived of money by a false promise . Here's the port schedule for November . https://www.grandturkcc.com/Port-Schedule.aspx

We hope so too . BTW the Carnival Sunrise was in GT yesterday and the Carnival Legend is today . Tomorrow is the Carnival Freedom and the Mardi Gras ( The day that we were scheduled to be there ) . We hope that you have a great time in GT and it's beautiful water which we have enjoyed many times , the last being on New Year's Day on the NA . It was the first cruise ship there after they reopened the port from Covid . https://www.cruisetimetables.com/grand-turk-turks-and-caicos-cruise-ship-schedule.html

Of course not . But in all of our years cruising HAL we have had so many changes after we paid .

Other ships have made the stop there .

HAL pulled the same stunt on us . We booked Grand Turk for our grandson's 20th birthday present so we could SCUBA together and have lunch at a place that we love there . Just after we payed they cancelled GT and gave us Key West in it's place . And on our current cruise on the Neiuw Amsterdam when we boarded the ship in Vancouver they cancelled 2 ports and changed days on 1 port and times on 2 other ports forcing us to scramble our plans with our private guides . It's the old bait and switch game after we paid in full for 5 weeks in a Neptune suite .

We weren't on that tour so we can't answer that question . I don't think that was ever considered or asked though . We mentioned that because in today's study onboard when the 2 ladies came in the study , they told us of their experience . If we didn't have the study and they didn't attend we and you would not have heard the story first hand .

You're welcome . The 2 left in Colon were not related to the 40 on the tour .

We were able to speak to 2 of the 40 passengers that were left behind today in our bible study ( The extra 1 was the ship's employee who was with the group ) . It was a very interesting account of what happened . They had to walk 2 miles in the mud and rain after they became stuck for help . The local guild stayed with them the entire time and the tour company bought them new clothes to wear while their wet and dirty clothes were cleaned in the hotel . They stayed at the Marriot near Jaco 68 km. ( 42 miles ) from Puntarenas . They were flown 1st Class to Colon where they rejoined the ship last night . 2 passengers from the ship we taken by ambulance for further treatment in Colon . 2 of the 40 + the ship's employee were unable to fly and will rejoin us in Aruba . All in all a happy ending . 🙂

The gangway is down and people are boarding , praise God and HAL . 🙏

We are currently tying up at the Crown Casino in Colon and we see the bus and an ambulance . Local time is almost 7 pm in the dark with a light rain .

Amen Nancy ! Sorry 41 passengers .

Good news , we will be picking up our missing 31 guests in Colon in a couple of hours !

We're currently departing Punta Arenas on the NA ( about 2 hours late ) . Best wishes and our prayers to those left behind on the ships tour .

We first spoke to the service desk a couple of weeks ago and were told that they don't make policy . We next spoke to our concierge with whom we have a very good relationship . She is in fact Ukrainian . She did write Seattle about 10 days ago and we have waited patiently - with no response . Thus we have went to the court of public opinion . Our next action is to write Seattle . It would sure help if anyone could give us a name of a person that we could write to who could help . If anyone agrees with helping our fellow Floridians it would be nice if they say so .

We are currently on the Nieuw Amsterdam, for 4 cruises lasting 5 weeks. We have supported ODFAC for the Ukraine since April 2022. But a cause much closer to home and HAL's Eastern home port has materialized - Hurricane IAN. If this hurricane had stuck Port Everglades or the Port of Miami, the cruise season would have been over for this year and perhaps years to come. Hurricane Ian hit about 100 miles away from Port Everglades, with 150 mph winds - the 5th largest hurricane to strike the US. It left 4 million Floridians without power and caused over $47 billion. Over 100 people died in this storm in the US. Why hasn't HAL adopted Hurricane Relief to Florida, as an option for On Deck for a Cause ? https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/hurricane-ians-path-of-destruction#:~:text=On Sept. 28%2C Hurricane Ian,Cayman Islands%2C and western Cuba.

We found this on the web dealing with the fleet wide announcement . https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-line-ends-mask-requirement-for-crew-members/84607

We just got room service at the port of Huatulco , Mexico and the delivery dude was so happy that he could wear a giant smile instead of a mask . 😄🙂 It's like Independence Day for the crew with a freedom of choice the order of the day .

Yes. Captain said entire Fleet as of midnight tonight. They are happy that we will be able to see their smiling faces now. They will be some exceptions, but no longer required, it it up to the "Team Members".

Today's noon announcements on the Nieuw Amsterdam from the Captain informed everyone on board that as of midnight this evening , masks will no longer be required for crew . Thank God and thank Carnival .🎉

We had hoped to look at your photos on your blog but when we clicked on the photos we got a Google Drive screen that says we need access . Do we need access through you to see the photos ?

Hopefully in Rudi's ! We thought that they might have some outstanding seafood being in , and coming from Alaska . 🦀🦞🦐

This thread is about the future of Rudi's and the Pinnacle Gala on the Nieuw Amsterdam ( And other ships ) that have a pop up restaurants . It does not deal with which is better a pop up vs stand alone but rather if the option of these choices will remain available across the fleet and not only on the Pinnacle Class .