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We will be sailing on the Jan 28, 2018 departure of the Eurodam from Ft. Lauderdale. Express Docs show a 1:00 embarkation with sailaway of 4:00. We will be traveling with DS who has mobility isssues, therefore we wish to avoid standing in line. What time would you suggest we arrive? FWIW, we are not concerned about missing an hour or two on the ship. There will be plenty of food and the bars will be open when we do board.

Also, there are many posting about difficulty in finding a table in the Lido. Considering this, what time would you suggest as the best for the Lido?

Some Web sites lists HAL, Princess and Celebrity as primium cruise lines. However, most comments on CC speak of them as mass market (probably the best of the lot). We have cruised Princess and Celebrity with our first cruise on HAL coming in Jan, 2018

We want to upscale to the next level to see if we get value for the extra money. We are not completely sold on the idea of all inclusive. We may have 2 drinks a day each, so all inclusive booze means nothing to us.

We don't want to go to the top, just the next level. Is Azamara or Oceania the next step?

I'm so over this thread. (Yes, I know...don't read it). Nothing new to learn here. Most people love HMC, some don't like it, some don't care.

Interesting how we all have our regional favorites. To me, BBQ and blues go hand in hand. The places with distinct style of BBQ also have distinct style of blues.

St. Louis BBQ - St Louis Blues

Kansas City BBQ - Kansas City Blues

Memphis BBQ - Memphis Blues

Love Chicago blues but don't know if they have a unique style of BBQ. Love their hot dogs (almost as good as a slaw dog :D) but their pizza....no, no, no....give me New York style.

I like the fact that we have different preferences...makes life more interesting.

Been eating BBQ for over 70 years. It is very regional. Grew up in S.C. eating tomato based sauce with liver hash over rice. Still standard in S.C. It's just OK..IMHO

Vinegar based sauce is primarily from N.C. It is my favorite for PORK.

Can't stand the mustard based sauce from Charleston, S.C., but locals love it.

I never order BBQ beef in the south. The west does it best. My favorite beef is brisket from Texas, especially San Antonio and the hills area. Surprisingly, California is a close 2nd to me. Maybe some Texans migrated:D

I smiled as I read of your main dining room breakfast experiences, Pstreet12. I never understood the need for a computer, either, and breakfast order taking and food delivery has been a comedy of errors.

 

I have been happy with HAL dining, the food is generally better and definitely more varied than what I eat at home. I have no way of knowing how the dining experience compares to other lines. I am skeptical of any ranking published by a company that relies on cruise line advertising to survive. "Hey, we don't have anything for Princess. Let's make them the Best Itineraries winner." I assume that a Cruise Critic editor on a paid junket receives better food and service than the average Joe. Anyone want to guess how many of the editors have cruised on the ten most popular lines on their own dollar in the last year?

I had the same thought. The fact that all the major cruise lines got an award makes one wonder. After all, CC is a business not just a public service. (Hope I don't get banned for my candid opinion):D

I read about HAL winning the Dining category for ocean cruises on CC under Cruise news.

OMG, I can only imagine the whinning when people find that cruise line X won a particular category they disagree with. Katy, bar the door!!!!

I see in Cruise News that HAL was chosen as the best ocean cruise line in 2017 for dining.

Our first cruise on Hal is Jan 28, 2018. Looking forward to it even more.

Maybe we have been the exception. However, the bigger question/issue is do you see/experience in cruising snobbery?

Our first cruise was in 1998 on the Carnival Elation. We were lucky to have a couple from Kansas at our table for 8. They were on their 5th cruise and shared their experience and knowledge with us. One of the things the husband shared that I never forgot was how creative your tablemates get when trying to find out the category and general location of your stateroom/cabin.

We are doing our 7th cruise in Jan, 2018 on the Eurodam (first HAL cruise).

On each of our subsequent cruises, that has always come up at dinner. The longest it took was on the Celebrity Summit. It took 3 dinners.

Our last cruise was to Alaska on the Princess Diamond in 2010. As in the past, I turn to Cruise Critic for research before selecting a cruise. There is so much more snobbery and snarkyness (is that a word) than in the past that it amazes me. Maybe it is a sign of the times. Have others noticed this?

I was prompted to write this after reading the "I'm So Over Half Moon Cay" thread.

I'm not one to "pile on"

Few years ago we were on a 14 day cruise and we were seated with another couple and his mother.

 

Three days or so all was well and than they stopped showing up. Asked them if they planned on coming back and they said probably not they prefer lido.

 

Asked them if we could tell the MD they are giving up the table? They refused just in case they wanted to come to dinner one night.

 

I than said that was not nice as they were forcing us to have dinner by ourselves. The guys answer was why should that be their problem. Looked at him for quite a while and turned my back on him saying he was incredibly selfish.

 

So we wewnt to the MD and moved to another table.

Seems you have woken up the group mind, resulting in judgement. Not only have many told you how they would have handled the situation, but some have gotten personal by calling you selfish. How can we really know what we would have done? We weren't there and don't know about the subtle dynamics of the situation.

Let me provide an old business quote "Whatever the market will bear". As an accountant (retired), I'm in awe of the success of their business model. Obviously, it works well. They are still building ships. Of course, their public relations approach of "for your convenience" is a bit hard to swallow.

As a cruiser, I think it is the sheets. I think the same about airlines luggage policy. Did complaining change anything there?

Captain John,

I completely agree with your logic, Sir. Just use that same logic for a huge part of the U.S. and you'll get my point. There are many MSC ships ported in Europe. Yes, must admit to a bit of jealousy here. :)

Just let us have one for a western port. All I need is white shoes and I'll be ready for White Night.

It will never stop. If you look at the big picture, NCL has been the Master of "nickel and diming" for the last 10 to 12 years. That is their business model and it has worked well. So much in fact that other mass market cruise lines eventually follow to some degree.

They know that some will complain for a couple of months but their latest increase will soon be accepted as the norm.

As long as their ships fill up and their bottom line increases, they don't care what you think. Take it from a retired accountant, it's all about the bottom line. These are service charges ( not tips, not gratuities) and they go towards the bottom line, not employees.

I know this dose of reality will offend some. So mote it be.

We would love to do a cruise with MSC. As international travelers (38 countries), we love an international vibe. I'm sure there are many Westerners who would like to try MSC but Miami or FFL doesn't work well for us.

Any rumors about another port (New Orleans, Galveston, LA)?

If you look at the big picture, NCL has been the Master of "nickel and diming" for the last 10 to 12 years. That is their business model and it has worked well. So much in fact that other mass market cruise lines eventually follow to some degree.

They know that some will complain for a couple of months but their latest increase will soon be accepted as the norm.

As long as their ships fill up and their bottom line increases, they don't care what you think. Take it from a retired accountant, it's all about the bottom line. These are service charges ( not tips, not gratuities) and they go towards the bottom line, not employees.

I know this dose of reality will offend some. So mote it be.

Cruise Critic - yes, we are all critics...sometimes, too much so. We spend lots of time and energy telling each other and the cruise lines what we don't want. What about what we want? If you could design your perfect cruise, what would it be like? Don't want to get into (or even mention) specific cruise lines.

My Perfect Cruise

1. 14 day cruise with only 4 ports and 16 hours at each port.

2. Not Eastern or Western Caribbean...Europe or Asia

3. Maximum of 1200 passengers

4. Only 2 alternative dining venues seating a maximum of 100. Keep MDR viable

5. No smoking anywhere inside the ship

6. Unobtrusive service. I enjoy good service but hate pampering

7. Mini suite with balcony

8. Allowed to bring a 12 pack of beer or 3 750 ml bottles and one 750 ml of liquer

9. Enhanced library

10. A 2 hour play at least weekly

11. Some type of entertainment from 8:00 am until 2:00 am.

12. Free hand dipped ice cream

13. Maximum of $2,000 PP

14. No art actions

15. Each afternon, alternate between tea service and sushi

Now, before the trolls attack my cruise, remember, it is my cruise.

Still another 2 weeks before I can print Express Docs. However, luggage tags are available. Beside the stateroom number on the tag is 1/F. Does anyone know what this means?

Thanks for the responses.

Special thanks to Crew News and IRL_Joanie. Joanie also seems to enjoy a little personal quiet time with coffee and a book to ease into the day.

Life is Good

I wake up every morning between 3-4 am. I then drink a couple mugs of coffee and read for a couple hours b4 DW and DS wake.

Is coffee available in the Lido 24 hours a day? If not, is the hot water in the Lido hot enough to stay hot in a Thermos for the night?

I know I could use room service but don't wish to wake wife and son.

Thanks, Everyone!!!

Thank you. I've had nasi goring when visiting (many times) friends in Gouda, Netherlands and I loved it. Never had bami goring, but looking forward to trying it. I'm off to google it.

Haven't cruised in 7 years. While researching cruising changes on CC, noticed a lot of ships now have Indian food and some even offer Indonesian food. I LOVE Indian food and have enjoyed Indonesian the few times I've had it.

Going on the Eurodam in January, 2018. Does the Eurodam offer these types of food?

Tried to post this on general forum, but couldn't find one.

In researching a possible cruise on Carnival Freedom, a very common complaint was smoke from the "open casino". It's surprising Carnival hasn't enclosed the casino and installed a highly efficient ventilation system.

This brought to mind the Paradise (now Carnival Paradise). It was designed to be smoke free and I believe Princess also tried this. Not sure when the policy changed, but as a retired accountant, I'm sure it was because of the bottom line.

My question is : should a cruiseline try again with one of their ships?

This question has the potential to ruffle feathers. Just be courteous to posters with an opinion different from yours.