Blackduck59

I'm going with Disneyland China.

As discussed earlier, to get the suite bonus you have to have booked and paid the price for the suite. Apparently upgrades don't count. Now an interesting quirk of the HIA package is that they credit what would be the full list price if you drank all 15 drinks at $11.00, as well as the retail price of all the other things in the package so your daily spending is pretty much covered by HIA. We went on an 11 day cruise in as vista suite (Zaandam) with HIA and we each came away with 33 mariner points. I really didn't understand how that happened at the time, I just took the points and that was that. It has since been explained.

I'm afraid that many people are stuck in the past, longing to have all the things that used to be. At the same time these same people would be truly incensed at the fare they would need to pay for it. Many of the "included in the price" things on the luxury lines hold no interest to me. Unlimited caviar and champagne for instance. I would be paying for these things for others. Also I think we have been hearing a lot of griping over "entertainment" or lack thereof. I hope that somewhere along the line HAL will come up with a new entertainment package that will be enjoyable for most guests. The powers that be can't possibly be that tone deaf as to not address what is clearly a deficiency when compared to the competition. I have been reading posts from a "Legendary Voyage" (is that the proper term?) which seems to indicate the entertainment on that particular cruise has been quite good. Perhaps this is being used as a test for what could come as they transition from "Brand Name" licensing and find a new package. I have to believe that someone has to grab a clue and realize that they have state of the art theatres on the Pinnacle ships and use them the way they have been.

Yes Julie the scotch eggs were good. I will admit I don't have any other scotch eggs to compare them to. I haven't had scotch eggs from anywhere else. I suspect they are a little finnicky to make. Glenwood bakes them, I'm pretty sure they were traditionally deep fried (like many things in Scotland).

we like the idea of an apartment style, it will be 4 nights Feb 19th to 23rd. Lynn has looked at a few places I think the high end would be $300.00 a night but if we can get it below $1,000.00 for the whole stay it would be good. Of course I'm working in Canadian dollars which at this point in time is apparently worth $1.13 AUD so a small advantage there. We don't require breakfast but it would be nice. I think you had suggested Brunch for the 21st before you board your cruise. We had vacation apartments in Europe and Hawaii and we quite like the idea of them.

So we are starting to get into the proper planning for this adventure, we are less than a year out and this time next year we will be enjoying our visit with Lyndon and seeing part of Oz that was not part of the original plan. From there it is down to Penrith to meet Neil and Tracey, that will also have us getting some local knowledge about the Blue Mountains. From there it is Canberra and a visit with Linda & Mario. For now we are working on accommodation in Sydney, I have looked back at what we booked before but some of those places are not available or now have unfortunate reviews. So I was hoping to get a few suggestions for hotels in Sydney that would be convenient to the Opera House and Manly ferry. I know that Mic may have some good suggestions, but please remember we are from a fairly small town and really not "Public transit" savvy. So any suggestions greatly appreciated. We look forward to meeting Mic & Rosie in Sydney in a little less than a year.

I was reading through the early part of the "Different" thread and smiled every time I saw something from Mr. Gut so I thought I should have a meat pie or 2. I stopped by my preferred purveyor of meat pies (Glenwood meats) and picked up one steak & mushroom and one butter chicken. I also got some sausage rolls and scotch eggs. I was set for 2 days of work lunches, I know it is not proper but I do eat them cold because I don't have the technology to heat them at work. I look forward to enjoying a proper meat pie when we get to Oz next year.

@teeeej it is entirely possible you sailed on Zaandam 20 years ago, she would have been relatively new then; now she is one of the oldest and smallest ships in the fleet. Koningsdam is the lead ship in the Pinnacle class and is among the newest and largest in the fleet. I haven't sailed in Koningsdam so will leave that to others. We have only sailed on HAL once and that was on Zaandam, she is a lovely ship but does show her age. Things are dated in places and updated in others. We had a vista suite which suited our needs. Zaandam is an older ship, but well maintained, comfortable like your comfy shoes.

@Hlitner I read your post with interest. One thing I have noticed with almost all of your posts since "that cruise" have been how HAL is "not what it was". I wouldn't know, because I don't know what was. In your post you say that even on "that cruise" the food was what you expect from "Mass market lines". From your recent posts on different threads, you have apparently moved on from "Mass market lines" and that is the product that you enjoy and can afford. That works for you and that is all well and good; for many who don't have the budget for Oceana or Regent, HAL may fit their sweet spot. So when someone asks about HAL as a choice in the "Mass market" on the HAL board many will say "it's worth a try". Of course it isn't Oceana or Regent or whatever OMG priced line you are endorsing these days, but for those with a budget HAL is a good choice. Our 43 night Auckland to Seattle voyage, with enhanced HIA, in a verandah cabin is $30,000.00 CAD, and as luck would have it we can get off at our home port of Victoria. So in this instance the savings from not having to fly home is substantial. How much would that 43 day voyage in a verandah cabin cost on Oceana?

Bacon is a bit of a dilemma. What is thought of as "English" style bacon is cut thicker, and barely cooked so it is soft and limp for lack of a better word (the way I prefer). What is often thought of as "American" style bacon is the same pork belly product but sliced much thinner and usually has a bit higher fat content, this helps in getting it properly crispy (for those who like it that way). Then of course there is what Americans call "Canadian" bacon which is a total misnomer, it is "Back" bacon made from the loin of the hog not the belly. I don't think many places in Canada refer to "Back" bacon as Canadian bacon and it is impossible to have "crispy" back bacon, you either have it limp or re-sole your shoes with it.

Okay I will try Talkeetna first, and if not there then probably Seward

Yes but each one would count as 2 drinks.

It was easier to quote you again. I was indeed wrong the Japanese musician in that video and several others was "Char". My mistake, I apologize for being misleading. That being said It's a great video, as are many of the "Playing for Change" videos.

I have read your constant blather about "Food Poisoning" and "Dog Food" on at least 3 different thread 2 of them started by you. I'm not a cheerleader, I have only ever been on one HAL cruise and the food was fine. Until you have some viable proof of "Food Poisoning" maybe give that a rest because it really is bordering on Liable. At no point have you ever mentioned the visit to the sickbay or how exactly you came that "Diagnosis". I'm afraid "my tummy hurt" doesn't make it "Food Poisoning". I'm sorry you had a bad cruise but please get a grip.

It really depends on your expectations. Will you get Michelin star dining? Probably not, but it's not Golden Corral either. We have come to temper our expectations. We enjoyed the food on our cruise but we weren't wowed by any of it. Some people choose to complain about everything, others are stuck in "what used to be". There are also those who think the food is fabulous because it is miles better than the best diner they have at home.

I'm going with Edinburgh because the looks like HMY Britannia. On second thought not so much, everything else is too new. Never mind 🤫

I'm pretty sure the version I'm thinking of has Tako, it starts with Jackson Brown, Leland Sklar and Russ Kunkle in the scene and then shifts to other players all over the world and I'm quite sure there is a caption that reads Tako, he is an older guy though.

You can see Tako on several of the "playing for change" videos on you tube. Including Doctor my Eyes which includes the original bass player, Leland Sklar who is playing the original bass from the album.

You know that I take it as an insult and I made that clear years ago, somehow you still have failed to gain a clue. I'm really not sure why you would be interested in knowing if we are coming to Sydney, unless of course it is to insult me face to face.

Or you could put all you laundry in before the cut off, which will mean all clean clothes except what you use on the last 2 days of the cruise. And you could plan your land based accommodation so there is laundry facilities there. That is what we will be doing for the 26 days we are away from home before we board the ship. We will book apartment style hotels with laundry facilities in suite in several places along the way including Melbourne and Auckland. Although if we do laundry in Melbourne we probably won't need to do laundry in Auckland, we can send that out on the first day.

So plan accordingly.

I guess you have to look at it in terms of the whole package. The early booking HIA package has the "crew appreciation", elite beverages, and enhanced wifi (whatever they are calling that now) included in the cost of that package. For some it represents good value others not as much. It would seem to me that if you think HIA is good value for you, get the regular package at $55.00 a day and prepay your "crew appreciation" it would still be less than the $100.00/day you say you were quoted.

I'm pretty sure I would mention it is a Library and she should tone it down. Sometimes the only way to deal with rude is to be rude.

I tried to look it up on my booking but alas it is technically a B2B so for some reason the excellent HAL web site will only give me the cost of the second leg of 29 days, it is $246.50 I have to assume the 14 day first leg would be about half that price. That is a cruise that starts in Auckland and ends in Seattle.

Really? Still?😠