KrissyCruises

Thanks to all for the reviews!

Sorry to hear there are still cracks in the Crow’s Nest windows. We had imagined they would have been repaired during dry dock.

Can anyone advise if they’re is there still a dance floor in the Ocean Lounge, and whether a live band still plays there in the evenings?

I would love it if my husband could take both our cards and get pre-dinner drinks for us while I get ready for the evening.

My husband does this for me and has never had a problem.:)

Great pics! Thanks for posting :)

You can get an additional key card without charging privileges from the front desk and just use that.:)

We were also told by PG Manager (Zuiderdam August) that tips were pooled, with the exception of breakfast.

Also, as another poster suggested, it would be wise to put a nice

flyer of sorts on the tables in Vines for educational purposes. That would help both staff and passengers out.

Totally agree!:)

I would often take two glasses from the bartop when I went for morning coffee - they were not crystal or anything great -they were the same you get in the MDR - when you order wine glasses from room service you get water glasses

You can distinguish Riedel from other wine glasses by the ‘Riedel’ trademark etched on the base of the glass.

Somewhat because you cannot do much to improve 4.99 stuff. But it does make a difference as I have done various tests myself at home.

 

I believe I have had the Riedel in Crown Grill as well (or perhaps I asked for it?). I wonder if you got to know Vines staff well enough to be trusted to bring the glass back right after dinner, if they might allow it?

Sometimes...I’ve been allowed to bring my glass to the DR and brought it back to Vines immediately after dinner.:)

Would be nice to have especially with own wine on board. Needless to say, I won't be packing Riedel's.

 

Also, IDK for sure, but I doubt Princess has the Sommelier line of glasses (the original top end, but so many types now I am not sure). They probably have a less expensive line (Vinum or equivalent which are machine-made) which is also very good with same bowl shapes and so forth. Difference is mainly machine-made versus hand-blown bowls as I recall. Had Riedel at Winemakers Dinner.

^ Answer in red...

Thank you for posting such a very detailed review, including so many pics and menus!

Your website is amazing, as is your past cruise history.

You have some amazing cruises coming up, and look forward to your future reviews.

Cheers, and happy sailings to you and Carol 🙂

I'm not familiar with the term "two top." Is that simply a table for two?

My wife and I had no trouble on the Westerdam getting tables for two. I usually went to the MDR in the morning on days when we planned to have dinner there and made reservations...usually for 6 p.m.

Yes, just restaurant lingo for a table for two...

Just request a table for two. Sometimes, if two tops aren’t available, they’ll seat you at a table for four, and just take away the two additional place settings.

You can post on your Roll Call to reach out to your fellow passengers.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Welcome, ruditeo! Here’s a link to your roll call...

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2421304

Enjoy your cruise!!

Just a general comment regarding diners who arrive late or who are a no show to their Early Fixed Seating. It can affect other passengers and their dining experience...

We have been Open Seating diners on our past few cruises with HAL. We like to keep our options open, but normally arrive at the dining room between 6 and 6:30, and sometimes request a 2 top. We are fine with getting a beeper and waiting for a table to become available.

A couple of times, due to late/no show Early Seating diners, we have been directed upstairs and seated at Fixed Dining 2 tops.

Unfortunately, when that has happened, we did not have pleasant dining experiences. We were rushed through dinner, as the stewards had to speed us up in order to prepare for the next Fixed Seating. Certainly not their fault, and I’m sure late comers (as we unwittingly became), make their jobs more difficult. The last time this happened, we were actually told to leave our table (politely, but nonetheless). Side note...we are normally quick diners, especially when dining alone, and don’t often have dessert and coffee, or linger.

Needless to say, we quickly learned not to accept an “upstairs” table when dining Open Seating during Early Fixed Seating, and prefer to wait so we aren’t given the bum’s rush.

Is it near Piazza Navona and the incredible Berninini fountains? .... one of my favoritte places in all of Rome. , where there are so many favorite places. We had the pleasure of a lunch and dinner at Tre Scalini when it was still a 'must go to place. :)

Yes, about a 10 minute leisurely walk if I recall correctly. It really is a beautiful Piazza. This thread brings back such wonderful memories. It’s been a few years since we were last there. I think it’s time to consider a return trip! 🙂

OK, I am going to out on a limb here and although this hotel may be just a smidge above your price point, you may find that with all the inclusions, it is within it.

 

complimentary bar and mini bar, breakfast (beautiful) and cooked to order.

 

Just a few steps away from the maddening crowd but not far from any sights.

 

I do have a review for this hotel on tripadvisor and since then, it has only climbed in ratings.

 

If you don't mind to go over a bit (but do the math, and it might be nearly as cheap), the Villa Spalleti Trivelli is absolutely fabulous.

 

An old family palazzo that has been turned into a boutique hotel. The family takes very good care of it and it is fabulous. If we do the itinerary I am looking at for 2019, I will book this again in a flash.

 

Superior service - wonderful location (I don't mind to walk 5-10 minutes) with it's own lovely gardens.

 

It was they that warned us of the strike for the railway and suggested we change our private transfer to Civi.

 

It would probably work out though with the inclusions a smidge over your $ point. Not sure as it depends upon when you are going and you are out of really high season, I think.

 

enjoy your cruise and Rome :)

I checked out it’s website. Look’s like a lovely hotel! I’m putting it in my travel files. 🙂

I'll agree with cruisemom here. I consider her to be one of the Rome "experts" here on CC. I love the location of the Santa Chiara - the Pantheon area is one of my favorites at night! And, there is an excellent restaurant just steps away, Armando al Pantheon, which is known for it's Roman cuisine. Reservations in advance are mandatory - it fills every night with locals and visitors alike. You may search their website and do reservations from there or make use of your hotel Concierge. Also, the rooftop bar at the Grand Hotel de la Minerve (a 2-minute walk from the Santa Chiara) is a nice place to sit and sip!

We love Santa Chiara as well. Great location, friendly and helpful staff, and wonderful breakfast. And...Armando’s! 😋

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Are you traveling without your DH? Are you divorced? If so, you need to get his permission in writing and notarized.

 

Do you have passports? OR do you have original birth certificates?

Good point. When my daughter was a minor, we occasionally cruised and travelled out of the country without my husband.

I always brought a notarized letter. The Passport Services website has a Minor Travel Consent Form that can be download.

I don't recall anyone ever asking to look at it, but it's always good to have just in case an airline, immigration, cruise line, etc. request it.

Maybe HAL is aware many cruisers have figured out their pattern when they offer upsells. Cruisers know there are limited number fo cabins and many rerceive the offer. We know iif they do not sell them first round, they often lower the price.SO, many cruisers wait it out to see if tthey will get an ofer at lower price. SO...... they start high and hope they get many people to pay the high price offer. If they do not, HAL then offers upsells at lower price and any additional revenue they get is better than none. Maybe?

Sounds like a reasonable supposition to me...

They make nice ornaments for a Christmas tree. Always brings back nice memories and guests find them intriguing and are good conversation starters.

 

You can always turn it back into the front desk after the ceremony if you prefer not to have one.

Christmas ornaments...what a nice idea!

I understand that many people enjoy the "trinkets" but I wonder what would happen if one of the suggestions made above were to be implemented: Given a CHOICE between a "trinket" or internet minutes, etc. ...... how many people would stick with the "trinket"?

 

I was cleaning out our home office this week and came across our medallions. I couldn't bring myself to throw them away but didn't really see the need to keep them either. We know how many days we have sailed -- we were duly recognized in front of our fellow passengers -- and now we have these "trinkets" taking up space at home. Can anyone who values these items shed some light on what they do with them once they get them home?

I occasionally come across our medallions as well. Every time I do, they bring a smile to my face...and they really don’t take up much room!

They also remind me of my daughter, who was probably 12 years old when she received her first medallion. She’s now in her 20’s and has it, along with her picture with the Captain, in her “memories box“. :)

And they would join all the onboard art sale notices, store sales, and other rubbish we find, on a daily basis, at our door. In addition, we have little use for the silly medallions, pins, (I know we are tramping on sacred ground), arctic circle crossing certificates, equator crossing certificates, International Date Line crossing certificates, etc. etc. But we will acknowledge that some (or all) of this stuff is important to some folks. It is the same with the Mariners Party where folks will wait in line for a half hour to just see the Captain and get a free drink (usually lousy). I never realized how important this stuff is to some folks until we saw the uproar (here on CC) when HAL tried to eliminate Medallions. Personally, they can take away all that stuff and perhaps give us some free internet time (like we get on nearly every other cruise line). Those Medallions, pins, certificates, etc. either get tossed on the ship..or end up in the back of a bottom drawer (only known to DW). But internet time is nice to keep in touch with family/friends during those long HAL cruises..

 

Hank

Is it really necessary to use the adjective “silly” when making your feelings known about medallions and pins? From your post, you obviously know these things are important to others.

Perhaps, it would be kinder we could get our point across without using wording that deliberately demeans others. :)

The up grade,, up sell a fairy does not t ell us how their system works. :)

I think there’s more upsell rather than upgrade fairies these days than there used to be! :)

We will be on the Westerdam over Christmas 1 Suite and 1 Veranda with 3 well behaved kids 9,15,17 with 5 cruises under their belt. We are renovating our home and are displaced at the time so we booked this as a nice break.

What a great way for your family to survive a home renovation!

We’ve sailed quite a few Christmas breaks, many with our kids (back when they were around the same ages as yours). They love cruising, and we’ve sailed many lines, but the only line they wanted to sail for holiday cruises was HAL. There are enough kids to hang out with...but not too many. The staff at Club Hal are fantastic, and many officers have their families onboard as well. My kids are still in touch with others they met years ago.

The ship will be beautifully decorated, and the staff pays special attention to the kids onboard.

Enjoy your holiday!!

Three cruises this year on pre drydock ships, and all had the “Navigator”. It was very convenient for checking our bill as well as checking daily events. However, I learned to double check it against the daily “When and Where”. Sometimes programs or events were listed on one and not the other. Also, double check times, as a lecture we wanted to attend was listed at the wrong time on the Navigator, and we missed it. Hopefully, just growing pains.

If you want a "ballroom" song, request it from the band...they know MANY different styles of songs!

CB, sorry, just to clarify, “The Band” that would gladly play ballroom music in the Ocean Bar is still on the newly renovated Westerdam?

I’m hoping so!

I'm glad you have had good luck with them. I haven't used them in years. They are "middle men" and you don't know who the tour will be with and you pay a premium price. I prefer to go to the source, do my research and book my tour directly with the operator.

 

Once was enough with these people. I've learned to take the bull by the horns and do the bookings myself. Had I been as lucky as you, that might not have happened ;)

I believe TripAdvisor acquired Viatour a few years back. We’ve also used them...just once. They’re a consolidator, so just be aware that if there are any issues that arise with your tour, they may chose not to assume responsibility, as they are not the tour provider. Moreover, make sure you are aware in advance of their payment and refund policy.