kucherov

5 hours ago, Djptcp said:

There is also a classical music venue. We found the rock venues on the Koningsdam to be sooooo loud we just couldn't stay very long and we were up a deck looking down on the venue over a balcony so not even on the same level. At the time, the two piano players on the Oosterdam rock venue were not very good players or singers. The best entertainment we ever saw on Holland was Feb. 2020 on the Veendam - a group of dancers that were wonderful and gave brilliant performances.

+1....saw them on the Veendam in 2019...was pleasantly surprised...better than those I've seen on Oceania or Seabourn.

59 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Funny you mention this because before the COVID shutdown HAL had already eliminated piano bars from many of its ships.  We are also big piano bar fans and it keeps getting more difficult to find ships with a piano bar and real piano bar entertainer.  HAL used to have some of the best.

 

Hank

As in Barry from Boston.

5 hours ago, cruisingxpert said:

Dec 1st Sirena from Barbados and Feb 7 2022 on Riviera ABC Islands if you trying to decide on cruises.😃

Booked on Insignia Nov 27....beyond that anything's possible...btw, we got our second dose of Moderna today so we are cruising ready.

1 hour ago, cruisingxpert said:

Thanks, Stephen.  Good to know.  I haven't taken trip cancellation for the last several cruises but I have booked Sirena Dec 1st and a friend who booked one of the pricier cabins asked that question and I wasn't sure what to answer.

Somewhere I have a picture of you on the beach in Tortola- so wish I was there now.  Hope we see you and Holly on a future cruise.

I hope so too...and I also have that picture, including Shelly from NS.  

8 minutes ago, cruisingxpert said:

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with what happens to your Trip Cancellation Fee(outside company - not through the Cruise line) when a Cruise line cancels cruise after Final payment and you get refunded the cruise cost.

Does the Insurance company refund the payment or give you a credit to apply to another cruise?  Anyone have first hand knowledge?

Ours was credited to the same cruise a year later...handled by our TA...also an outside company.  

On 12/30/2020 at 1:13 PM, TrulyBlonde said:

I would think that due to the large elderly population in FL, that is a good move. Keep us posted on your vaccine progress.

I live in the state of CO where the latest Covid virus from UK has been discovered. I contacted my Dr. recently to see about getting on the list for the vaccine. Was told to look at the Covid website for the guidelines as to when and where it will be distributed.

I do hope I get it before the prisoners and illegals here. But, you never know 😉

First dose is in.  Moderna.   The procedure was very organized and quick...15 minutes from arrival till departure.  Had to go to a neighboring county (Flagler) because the county I live in (Volusia) totally screwed it up...elderly folks camping in their cars overnight etc.  Now if everyone in Brazil gets vaccinated,  I can finally cruise on down there.  I hope everyone here has an equally simple and easy vaccine experience.   Stephen.

8 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Is there a State that is doing better?

If so, maybe I should ask them how they are getting it done.

Here in the sunshine state, they are already vaccinating anyone over the age of 65.  My DW and I will go Monday to get the first Moderna dose.  It's done on the County level...you sign up on the County website for an appointment time, or in our case, first come first serve.  The line will be long, but it's drive-thru so we can relax in the car and read.  Perhaps a benefit of living in a state governed by a Trump toady.

We are booked on the Insignia 11/27/21, and our thoughts are the same.  At the very least we expect some itinerary changes depending on the virus situation in various destinations, especially Brazil.  As far as Oceania protocol goes, there is no issue with us.  We will take a three week cruise to nowhere if that's what it comes to.  We spoke to a friend in Ecuador last night, and she said the situation there is pretty grim. The Chinese are very involved in testing and trials in SA, so another reason for optimism.  We too  will remain very optimistic that the vaccine will be the solution to our cruising woes.  

1 hour ago, crusinbanjo said:

that is an IT that Mrs Banjo and I do frequently in the fall, as a short getaway.  No airports required for us when we B to B or round trip

. 

Same for us.  Road trip to our daughters in West Rox then off to Maine or NH for short getaways, or as last year a cruise.  We would take that cruise again in a heartbeat, but the Amazon is next, if ever. 

Round trip Boston to Montreal and back in Sept 2019 on the Veendam.  The friendliest group of Pax and crew Holly and I have encountered with the possible exception of the Serena last Feb.  The best shows we've seen at sea, bar none.   First time in Canada for me and I loved it...the cold, the rain, the great tours that made you forget the cold and rain...Segwaying in Halifax with Emma...Kayaking in Bar harbor...Spending the day touring PEI with an encyclopedia for a tour guide (Target tours)...Beautiful Quebec City...Fiddlers in Sydney.   A great cruise on a real ship.   Stephen

3 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

I'm on a Caribbean cruise that was supposed to be all Cuba.  It had an active roll call until Cuba was cancelled.  Now there are a few of us (I only booked a few weeks ago, after FP) but we really don't know how many of the originals are still going...EM

Same here EM.  As soon  as Cuba was canceled I could hear the crickets on the new Caribbean Delights roll call. In contrast, on a Caribbean cruise last year on the Riviera, there were 80+ on the roll call and most of those at the meet and greet.  We were able to arrange two great private tours.  Still 3 months to go,  so who knows.  Stephen

1 hour ago, Classiccruiser777 said:

A boat can be placed on a ship, a ship can’t be placed on a boat.

Unless that boat is a submarine...was on one once and made the mistake of calling it (she) a ship.  We're on the Sirena in Feb.

13 minutes ago, retdon said:

Just off the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas and NEVER AGAIN. 5,700 passengers with about 1,000 of them children. We went because of my high school reunion cruise and we did want to try a large ship but we could not wait to get off this monster. There are so many things we did not like it is easier to note the things we did like, our cabin steward was excellent, service in the Main Dinning room was very good as was the food, food over all was OK, only excellent items was the onion soup, escargot, prime rib and lamb chops. 

 

We like to come back to our cabin in the afternoons and sometimes watch a movie, not here, they charge $11.99 for a in cabin movie, ridiculous. Royal will nickel and dime you to death. Cocktail are from $10 up and usually half full. The noise level would deafen anyone, we needed ear plugs. Their buffet was terrible, no lines just pushing and shoving and it was serve your self which is a real health hazard. The worst was smoking in the casino, terrible. Cheap small paper napkins, no drink service, had to get it your self and screaming children everywhere. They had 12 elevators at the front and back of the ship and it was always wait and wait to get on. There was so much more with many in our group saying NEVER again on a ship this size. We had to drag our carry on luggage to lunch and try to find a place to eat, what a joke. The very first day is was pouring rain and will more than half the ship open to the out doors trying to get somewhere was difficult. 

 

This is just a brief review but I caution anyone who is thinking about going on a ship this size to read all the review on the Royal site and be prepared for a ship shock. We are back to Holland and really appreciate all they do for their passengers, THANK YOU HAL.....  

amen!

Segway Nova Scotia in Halifax. Do the city tour with Emma. You won't regret it.

9 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

All of this has us looking forward even more to our first HAL cruise in several weeks.

 

What time are the Lincoln Center performances?  Is there just one per evening?

I'm interested in how the timing would work with dinner.

 

(I'd need to have a seat,for medical reasons, so we'd want to be able to arrive "early".)

 

Is it always classical music? 

 

Many thanks.

 

GC

Remembering our cruise on Zuiderdam  a couple years back, LST performed three shows a day with some matinees.  We always had to arrive early to secure a seat. These guys were great.  I remember one night a violin player was sick, so the piano player went solo with Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition arranged for piano.  It was one of those performances you never forget. Not always but mostly classical compositions...thats what they loved to play and it showed in their execution.  Enjoy HAL, I always have.   Stephen 

5 hours ago, Match Game 72 said:

Welcome to my trip report/review of the Zaandam Montreal to Boston cruise. We left Montreal on Saturday, August 10, 2019 for this 7 night cruise. We disembarked in Boston on August 17, 2019.  

 

Please feel free to ask any questions, and I will try my best to answer them. I realize that not everyone's experience will be the same, and keep in mind this was our experience. Travelers were me and my husband (40's), our son (13), and my mother (70s). My husband and I have cruised about 14 or 15 times on mass market cruise lines such as NCL, RCCL, Princess, Carnival, MSC, and Premier (remember the little blue boat?).  We tend to cruise in a balcony cabin. For the Zaandam, we had 2 oceanview cabins on deck 2 near the bow. Cabins were adjacent but not connecting.

 

 

Quick question MG 72....We are taking this cruise in a few weeks on the Veendam...was there an Orange Party on your trip?

2 hours ago, ORV said:

Another one I haven't met, but if he's still on in November I'll get to meet him. 

4 hours ago, golfguyhhi said:

Who is the CD on Riviera at the moment? 

 

The excellent John Ekin.  If you are on with him, don't miss his Comedy Magic show.

John was great on our Riviera cruise last winter.

I could have written it myself, but you said it better than I ever could.  I never get over the pickiness of people I see on cruises... but never let it affect my enjoyment.  Having been in the Navy, I just love being on ships.

Upper level is for assigned seating...Lower level for anytime dining...We always asked the maitre d

 for a table for two when we went to dine...Only waited once for 5 minutes...You never wait if you avoid peak hours...You can reserve a table, but i'm not sure how that works...We loved the Zuiderdam...I'm sure you will too.

Ditto for Oldcartours.

Bon Voyage Miss G

We are also doing this cruise in September...back to back from Boston...looking forward to your report and any tour information as we will hit every port twice...and how was the Edge cruising expert...I recall you mentioning you were booked when we were in White Bay.

We used Oldcartours in Havana....with a driver and a guide...6 hours with the most interesting guide we've ever come across....her name was Lucretia...she tells it like it is....hope to run into her next February when we return on the Serena.

Hi Sierramist 44...We are also from east Florida and just off the Rotterdam 2-24 to 3-3.  We also had a "vista suite".   Interested to see if our impressions of the ship and cruise are similar.  Stephen and Holly.

650.00 or thereabouts.