Cruising Boomer

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During the tour, the [Conch] train will make one loop through Old Town Key West. There are three stops- one is at Station Depot, allowing for a 10 minute rest break where you will find refreshments and shopping. Bring your ice cream and homemade fudge back on board to continue your tour. The second stop is at Truval Village, located at the corner of Duval Street and Truman Avenue. From Truval Village you are just minutes away from the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, the Key West Lighthouse, the Southernmost Point, the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and the many fine art galleries, shops and restaurants of upper Duval Street. The third stop is at Flagler Station. The second stop is also where those who wish to can disembark to see the sights of the Historic Key West Seaport and choose to catch a later train.

 

 

Pjk

Thanks - any recommendations on the Conch train vs. the Old Town Trolley?

Doug

The Conch Tour Train is not hop-on-hop off... the Old Town Trolley is. Both are run by the same company and both are highly professional and worth the $ if you want to learn about our great island and its history.

I really appreciate the great information from everyone.

Doug

Been on it multiple times. I've seen it when you can't get on and I've seen it empty. I would say, however, that the Old Town Trolley folks seem to take it pretty seriously getting another trolley over to crowded stops and not ruin your day.

Thanks!

Doug

The Old Town Trolley schedule page indicates that they have a trolley leaving every thirty minutes ---> https://www.trolleytours.com/key-west#schedule-section

 

The Conch train (with three stops) says the same ---> https://www.conchtourtrain.com/schedules-key-west-florida.html

 

I've noticed a half dozen of these getting ready to take on passengers at the intersection of Front and Duval and I've never noticed a line of people waiting to board.

 

The trolley is about 90 minutes long and the train, 60.

 

Pjk

Thanks so much!

Doug

We will be in Key West on April 16, 2018 on a cruise stop. Is it advisable to get advance tickets? On days with ships in port, how crowded is the HOHO? Is it really possible to use it to go from place to place? The reason I ask is that we had a bad experience with a HOHO in Reykjavik recently where it was really not possible to get off if you wanted any chance of getting back on without waiting for at least an hour.

Thanks.

Doug

.....which had not been sent to me by the time I posted. Relax.

My cruise catalog/view and verandah brochure came in the mail yesterday. Although the world cruise for 2017 is shown on the Amsterdam, the other Grand Voyages in 2017, which are on the Prinsendam, are NOT. One small paragraph does mention the 67 day Grand South America and the 55 day Grand Med, but nothing about them being on the Prinsendam or dates or prices. Thinking if HAL has a potential sale of our little Pdam in th e works, maybe they would substitute another ship to do those cruises???

The HAL website shows Prinsendam cruises January to June in 2017 - including the Grand South America - http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/FindCruises.action?cfVer=4&destCode=&regionCode=&dateCode=1_2017&__checkbox_flexibleMonths=true&noOfFlexibleMonths=1&durationCode=&embarkPort=&ship=PR

Doug

Sorry - didn't mean to worry you. A couple of years ago we were told the Prinsendam would probably be around in the fleet for at least another 5 years.

 

How long no one can say for sure - but she won't be in the fleet forever, sadly. She is not young and is very expensive to maintain as a lot of the parts have to be specially built.

 

 

 

Suggestion we were given was to make sure you mark in your survey that you want another Prinsendam when the time comes for her to go.

 

She's our favourite ship too :)

Great suggestion Kazu! We are on the Prinsendam next October for two bucket list cruises - Black Sea and Holy Land! Georgina sent me your info on tour guides in the Black Sea - very helpful! We were on the Oosterdam with her and with your neighbor - Glenn - last April/May! Great times! Your name is legendary! :D

Doug

 

Cherish the beautiful Ms Prinsendam while she remains in the fleet and let's hope HAl has enough where with all to secure another one.

Kazu - you have me worried? Are you speculating or is the Prinsendam on the "block" to be sold? It is our favorite ship!

Doug

We used Rui Mederios of Azores Private Tours October 2015. I had arranged it for 6 of us from the Roll Call on the Zuidderdam. Excellent tour.

Here's the TripAdvisor review of the company. My review is the most recent.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189135-d2368576-Reviews-Rui_Medeiros_Azores_Private_Tours-Ponta_Delgada_Sao_Miguel_Azores.html

Doug

No, we are on MSC Divina. I love CC events. Unfortunately, this sailing has a very quiet roll call. We only have 89 posts to date, none this week so far. I tried to get 6 people to join a tour to Granada with absolutely no luck. So now switching to plan B and excited to find all we can on our first visit to Malaga.

Malaga will be busy on 10/27 - we are there on the Zuiderdam! In port 9am to 7pm.

Doug

Unlike many places in Europe, most museums in Malaga are open on Mondays including the Picasso Museum. Queues can be quite long in high Summer but at the end of October you will be able to go straight in so I wouldn't book in advance and be tied to a certain time. This link shows some other museum options open on Mondays http://www.malagainformation.com/museums.html

 

The HOHO bus goes from immediately outside the port entrance so is very easy to find. These are not as busy as in other major cities - especially out of season - so you should not have any trouble getting seats on buses after visiting the sites.

 

Casa Aranda is always my choice for Churros and Chocolate. http://casa-aranda.net/

 

Have a great visit.

Thanks so much - we are there on a Tuesday - does that change anything?

Doug

Thanks Campolady...fabulous thread on Malaga!

I have lots of questions. :D

Last time we were in Malaga on a cruise we rented a car at the train station and drove to Ronda - had been there on a driving tour in 1974 and had always wanted to go back - but - this time we want to see Malaga.

We will be in Malaga on the Zuiderdam on Tuesday October 27. I have read that Mondays are closing days for museums so I think we are ok to get to the Picasso Museum? Do you recommend advance tickets from their website?

Plan on using the HOHO to get our bearings in the City first. Have read somewhere (?) that the signs for the stops of the HOHO are hard to find - some sort of City restrictions? Your experience? In some cities, once you get off to see a site it can be hard to get back on the HOHO - sometimes full buses. Do you know if this is an issue in Malaga?

And finally the most important question - we are addicted to Spanish Hot Chocolate and Churros. Any places you'd recommend?

Thanks!

Doug

Please add us to the Future Cruise List, Cruising Boomer, Zuiderdam - 14-October-15 - 26-Day Passage From Athens

Please add us to the Future Cruise List, Cruising Boomer, Oosterdam - 05-Apr-15 - 36-DAY AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, & SOUTH PACIFIC.

Cruising Boomer is on:

Oosterdam - 05-Apr-15 -36 day Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific

Doug

I just called the Mariner's phone line - really nice person who answered my questions. He said that the CD was wrong and that he would recommend sending a letter or calling them to let them know. As he said, they want to know about these things so they can fix them.

Of course, he had no idea what the asterisk referred to. I did find a list of FAQs on the website, and there was an explanation about the priority check-in and priority disembarkation but nothing on the tendering. So - who knows!!

Doug

Interesting post, great info!

 

When the Westerdam was doing this cruise, they had an unfortunate choice for CD. He made us wait and wait in the "designate 4 star area" until every last one of the shorex were off. The second time, he walked off and we were behind the last of the shorex and the first of the regulars with their tender tickets.

 

Caneletto is supposed to be rolling out a new menu, where you pick 2 appetizers per 2 diners, 1 pasta and 2 entrees. This would work better for groups, I think.

 

HAL seems to be going 3 shows a night, at least last year in Alaska they did. Love the local shows and will add this to my list of when to expect them.

 

Do you know I can't get your website. Do you still have one?

 

 

 

Many thanks. I am still thinking of questions for you!

My travel blog is at http://www.travelswithmydoug.com

Actually, the Pinnacle had something like the Menu option you mentioned - a lot like you would find in a restaurant in France. There were several options in the three categories - appetizer, main course, and dessert. But - you could not pick one of the appetizers on this list, for example, and the rest of your dinner from the traditional menu.

That CD on the Westerdam would have gotten a strongly written negative comment from me...during the cruise! They either provide the benefit or they don't - but if they don't then they should stop publicizing it as a benefit. BUT - I just checked on the website and it is somewhat strange - they list the benefit plus priority disembarkation and check-in. There is an asterisk for the three benefits that says to check on the HAL website for more information. I have tried everything and find no additional information anywhere. I have found that calling HAL is somewhat useless - except for calling the Mariners' line. Since I am now curious about this, I may call them this afternoon.

Doug

Good to hear that you were so pleased with everything on this cruise.

 

Interesting to hear that the 4 star priority tendering went well. This seems to be up to the CD and the last time on this cruise, it did not work well. Hoping the new CD, Alex raven, is as good as your Armen.

 

We experienced the On Location Program last year on different ships to Alaska: it was an improvement, and the Tahiti cruise sounds excellent. I am taking notes about what to expect!

 

I hope the Tahitian bunch are on ours. This sounds great and we will look forward to them.

 

Did you get to the Pinnacle? We haven't been to Caneletto for a few years but will try the Statendam's on your recommendation. The new menu sounds interesting and I like the idea of nightly specials. Was this the "sharing" concept that I read about on the HAL board?

 

Thanks for the review. Hope you don't mind the questions!

The 4 Star tendering priority is a printed benefit on the HAL website and in the information in the cabin so I would certainly complain at the front desk if they did not allow it. We also had a letter informing us of our priority in our cabin. The CD asked one time that Four and Five Star come to get a tender ticket - but we did not do this - our cabin on A Deck was only a few feet from the entrance to B deck and the tenders so we just walked down when we were ready. Our opinion is - it is either a benefit or it is not....a truth in advertising issue in our view.

Never had a problem - just showed our keys and said "Four Star." I never saw a full tender. Fanning was apparently a problem with hours of waiting for the tender tickets but this was for people who waited too late in the morning. However, we headed down the minute they said the tenders were ready and we were on the first tender and it was not at all full. Glad we went early...saw the islanders setting up their stands and saw the Post Office set up under a tarp!

We ate at Pinnacle one night and it was as good as usual - they do not have the flights of wine like in the past - that we liked.

Not sure what you mean by the "sharing concept."

The Canneleto staff was so nice - in some ways better and less stuffy than Pinnacle. Of course, we became regulars so they were always glad to see us. The manager who is also the Lido manager was doing things to attract business. He said that on longer cruises he adds the optional menu items to add variety. This was usually one additional appetizer, one added main course, and one new dessert. Canneleto was never full and we only made a reservation the first night we went. From then on, we just showed up - usually between 6 and 6:30.

To be honest, we have gotten a little tired of the main Dining Room - it takes so long and the stewards seem to have more tables than in the past. Although we now like the Anytime Dining, it is a juggling act for the stewards. We probably went to the Lido for dinner as often as the Main Dining Room - especially since we like to make our own salads and to pick several vegetables with a main course. Besides - there is always the sinful HAL cookies for dessert! :D

Something else that was new to us - the Evening Shows were at 6:30 - 8:00 - and 10:00. In the past, our HAL ships only had two shows. For the special local shows - Honolulu and in Papeete - there was only one show.

Doug

Thanks for your reply!

 

Since you are just off the Statendam, do you have any comments, advice, ideas to share? Would appreciate your views on this cruise on this ship.

 

Thanks a lot!

We love the smaller HAL ships and have been on the Statendam a couple of times - it seems to have been refurbished. We loved the Cruise Director - Armen - few if any of the corny jokes so many of them love to tell and he was not on the PA every few minutes announcing bingo or art sales! :D

They had something new on this cruise called the On Location Program - at least we were told it was new. In addition to Kainoa the port lecturer (who was fabulous) there was a cultural team headed by Paki Allen - a Tahitian who was raised in Hawaii. He brought two women who assisted. All three danced hula and Tahitian style - usually every day at 4pm in the Crow's Nest. They gave classes in hula, Tahitian dance, lei making, ukulele, Tahitian drums, Hawaiian language, and other traditional crafts. My wife went to everything and was in the Ukulele Orchestra in the show at the end of the cruise! I have written the President of HAL praising the On Location program - because we would like to see this extended to other cruises. (BTW - can you believe the President of HAL's name is Stein Kruse? He HAD to work for the cruise industry!) :D

Kainoa also lectured on Polynesian and Hawaiian culture and history. This was all in addition to three lecturers - anthropologist, natural scientist, and an astronomer.

The only negative was not HAL's fault - due to weather we could not land on Moorea but it was due to wind not rain. Our weather throughout was quite good. We were told that previous cruises had missed both Fanning and Rangiroa due to weather so we felt pretty lucky overall.

We also thought that the Canneleto had improved - we ended up eating there 4 nights. In addition to what we thought was an improved menu they had a list of nightly specials. With our 4 Star 50% reduction, it was well worth the extra $5 per person, in our view. As you know, there is a lot of tendering on this cruise but again the 4 Star was nice since we could just go down to the tender any time.

Overall this was one of our favorite cruises - but, of course, we love sea days. I think I finished more books in 30 days than I usually read in 3 months!

Have a great cruise!

Doug

This is a great description of the HAL tour! Thanks

 

Do you remember if the crafts stands took USD?

They took US$. Since this was our last port in French Polynesia, we used our last Polynesian Francs plus some US$ for our first purchase...dollars for the rest of our buying. All of the vendors seem to have hand-made charts to help them convert. Although we were told we could bargain, we didn't because the crafts seemed so inexpensive.

I don't know if you are also going to Fanning Island in the Republic of Kirabati - but this remote atoll also had incredible crafts. It was much more primitive than Nuku Hiva and there are far fewer cruise ships that stop - definitely this atoll and Nuku Hiva were highlights of the cruise - at least for us. All of French Polynesia is incredibly beautiful.

Doug

We were in Nuku Hiva last week - wonderful island. I could not find private tours in advance. The Statendam offered one shore excursion. Although we rarely take a ship's tour, we opted for this one. Basically, any local with a 4 Wheel Drive vehicle lined up and took four people for a drive up the mountain and over to the other coast. We drove out in caravan stopping several times. The views of the horseshoe bay with our ship in the middle were beautiful - from about 2,000 feet up in the hills.

Our driver only spoke French but since my wife is French she ended up being the translator for the other couple. When we stopped, one of the drivers who spoke "English" talked about what we were seeing. On the other side of the island we stopped at a beautiful bay where locals were selling crafts and there was a sampling of tropical fruits. Herman Melville lived in this village. Because the locals with vehicles were busy with two caravans for the day, it was my understanding that those who usually do private tours were booked through the ship.

There were many craft stands near the tender dock - they do wonderful carving. There are places to walk in the village from the tender dock - do not miss the Catholic Cathedral. Incredible carvings - a very elaborate pulpit. There were carvings of saints - Both Mary and St. Peter (with key and fishnet) were carved with Polynesian features!

This is not a beach island - one small beach near the tender dock and after the beautiful options on other islands, would not recommend a beach day.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stop - we were here from 7:30 to 3:30.

Doug

I just checked on line for tickets and it looks like I have waited too late...everything is sold out. Is there any point in going anyway and hoping for tickets on a "walk up" basis?

Doug

Mary Ann and Bill,

Love your cruise review. We are on the Statendam for this cruise in 2/14. Friends who took the Noordam to the Eastern Med a few months ago were very disappointed that there were no lecturers on the cruise despite it being 21 days with stops in the Holy Land, Greece, Turkey, etc. They were told that HAL is not doing lecturers unless the cruise is over 30 days and because HAL is now breaking up cruises into several smaller segments that there are few of these. I cannot believe this and have been trying to get into out of HAL in Seattle without success.

It sounds like you did have lecturers. Our friends who took this cruise about 5 years ago raved about a lecturer who was a native Hawaiian. The lecturers on several of our cruises really enhanced the experience. Sure hope our friends were wrong about the change in policy! Did you hear anything about this change of policy?

Doug

I appreciate the explanation. I know that some people like AYW and it is probably not going away but we will not book if AYW is all we can get. I realize that people have had to dine at 8pm in the past but not us since we have not booked a cruise when that was our only option. This is why we typically book so far in advance.

We were originally assigned first seating on the cruise in question but because someone in our party booked later they put us ALL into AYW. We did not know this until we were on board...not a good thing! We should have been told in advance.

We did find that dinner at the Lido was better than in the past and were told they are trying to make this an improved option since AYW is driving some people to this alternative. The only problem was that the Lido was very crowded and they were not prepared for this from what I could tell. Food seemed to be very late or arrived while you were still eating the first course. I'm sure they will get this working better in the future.

As I said in my original post, I am sure that part of our problem was being a party of 5. AYW might work well if you are a party of two or four. With 5, we were limited to tables of 6 or more which is probably why we had so much trouble getting a table since there are fewer options.

When all is said and done, we still like having the same table staff every night.

Doug