Blackduck59

I think that for those including us who opt for the HIA fare one Pinnacle grill dinner is included, so it isn't "extra cost". We enjoy that dinner on that basis. The pinnacle lunch is a cut above the regular MDR lunch and well worth the reasonable upcharge. We have a 6 week voyage coming next year and I suspect we will enjoy lunch in Pinnacle several times over that time. I'm not sure we would go for dinner there more than those times included in our HIA fare. I do hope we will have an opportunity to enjoy a Tamarind pop up (Westerdam doesn't have Tamarind) on that cruise.

I think we are beginning to swing towards Qantas business class for the long haul Vancouver to Sydney. We will probably use Air New Zealand Premium Economy for the hop from Melbourne to Auckland, it is a much shorter flight and I doubt we would even attempt to sleep on it.

Like Linda we would rather stay home than fly coach ever again. After the last short hop flight through a full blown claustrophobia event, I decided I was never flying in a Dash 8 aircraft again; we'll rent a car and take the ferry over the day before we fly out. We aren't sure how much more travelling we have left in us. Although we are relatively young we are really growing weary of flying. There may be a couple of cruises left, perhaps an Alaska/Yukon cruise tour and maybe a UK cruise with a Trans Atlantic on Queen Mary 2 with a cross Canada train trip home.

We did the passage on the Eclipse which is about the same size as Koningsdam, It was quite calm. We did experience a bit of motion as we cleared Vancouver Island northbound but it didn't last long. That being said anything can happen. Enjoy your cruise and make whatever arrangements you need if you are prone to motion sickness.

2 hours ago, nannygoatjunction said:

I understand it is a steakhouse. I didnt say i didn't enjoy the food. 😬 and, yes, it was part of the hia package.  It is promoted as fine dining, which I guess I think of as something that takes skill to prepare, not something my kids can cook up and we eat every week.  I will eat mash taties till the cows come home.  If its offered, I can't help myself!  Hence, why I chose it.  I know many are happy, I had hoped for a little bit of exceptional. 😆 

I guess it depends on your idea of "Exceptional". Pinnacle Grill is officially a "Steak House at Sea" which means good steaks and chops well prepared, accompanied with a selection of sides. If you are looking for new highs in gastronomic imagination you are probably looking in the wrong place on a cruise ship.

Were you in Newfoundland?

It's unfortunate you didn't enjoy your choices from the Pinnacle Grill Menu. I think there are several choices of sides on the menu. I think mashed potatoes and onion rings would be popular choices for many cruisers. Hopefully if you choose to go to Pinnacle again you will choose something that better suits your tastes.

I'm doing well Linda, thanks for asking. I have gone a couple of days without pain killers. I still have some twinges if I move awkwardly. We are trying to decide about our flight arrangements. We have 2 choices for direct flights from Vancouver to Sydney; Air Canada and Qantas, we were not really that pleased with our Air Canada business class on our east coast trip last year. Right now we are leaning towards Qantas Premium Economy but may switch to Business Class depending on the price. We certainly didn't like the angled pods on Air Canada, the business class seats on Qantas look much better. The premium Economy on Qantas looks good as well if we can get the bulkhead seats, if we can't get those that may be the catalyst to go with Business class. We have so much of the trip planned but are taking a break from planning, while we settle Lynn's Mom's estate.

We have had a few Cruise ships in so far this season but I think this weekend is well and truly full with seven cruise ship visits between Thursday and Sunday. We even had a Regent ship in our drydock last week, although I don't know which one.

This is an unfortunate development for you. I wonder why she is tendering. It just feels that Holland America would have priority at the pier with their long history in Alaska. I hope everything works out for you.

I will try to narrow it down, maybe central America?

16 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

There is normally something offered even if it is an informal gathering. I suggest you ask any Aussies or Kiwis you meet and join them.

Thanks Mic, I thought that may be the case.

I think maybe Leigh misunderstood my point. I like the idea of education, helping people understand what ANZAC Day is all about. Happy Anzac Day is an oxymoron. Just as Happy Remembrance day wouldn't fly here. I find the tradition of your dawn service a moving thing. We will be at sea on the final leg of our voyage home on ANZAC Day next year, Hopefully we can get something organized for a dawn remembrance. I know there are folks from Australia and New Zealand on the cruise. If they want to do it I would be honoured to attend.

8 minutes ago, Hammer61 said:

Young lady at the gym reception yesterday afternoon as i was leaving said have a happy Anzac day! Made me smile at first then i thought how sad. Maybe some people just see it as a day off rather than a day of reflection and respect to those who gave their lives. 

 

I hope this day is something that never gets dropped or changed to suit business or politicians and this day is kept and respected for many years to come, as the saying goes 'lest we forget" but seems some already have.

This is indeed sad. I know it is a long journey, but Australians should be encouraged to go to Gallipoli. To be there is to understand. For Canada our Battle was Vimy Ridge, April 9th, 1917. We don't have "Vimy Day". Much of our youth know nothing about it. I have seen first hand how young people have an instant understanding when they actually see the "crosses row on row, that mark the place". Of course they aren't crosses now that the battles are over, but standard headstones. Go to the battlefields, you will never forget.

Cairns Koalas and Creatures?

I shall raise a glass of the good stuff to the fallen. We haven't been anywhere but home for Remembrance Day but have been to the Vimy Memorial and attended the nightly last post at Mennen Gate.

To the fallen, lest we forget. 

@VMax1700 Thank you for this thread. I have to admit I didn't really pay that much attention to this thread,  until the Thread about HAL closing the Crow's Nest for many evenings in a row because of an "Art" group.

As it turns out there is a "Roads Scholar" group on our cruise next year, hopefully this will be a plus.

1 hour ago, TRLD said:

You can add every other cruise line to that list including Viking, Oceania, etc.

 

All of have group bookings. They have pretty much since they started. Nothing new. It is part of core practices of the industry. It would be a change if one of them stopped doing it.

Maybe HAL should be a leader in that change.

3 hours ago, TRLD said:

Cruise lines do not disclose groups on board. Nor do they provide advance notice of any venues that might be closed for private functions.

 

Sometimes you get a warning when trying to select dining because some groups lock up  most of the dining capacity for a given time such as early or late fixed. Mcrcruiser opened a topic exactly about that happening on April 17. Which for many might be more impact full  then taking over Crows Nest for 4 nights.

 

Could be worse as this post indicated

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1443495-how-to-find-if-a-large-group-is-booked-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=29914780

Just because cruise lines don't give paying guests a heads up doesn't mean that they shouldn't. There seem to be a few who think it's okay that paying customers are blind sided by a large group who in their entitlement directly affect others. Just because the cruise line can screw the guests doesn't mean it's okay.

If this is indeed a special "art" ( I use the term lightly) cruise. It should have been billed as such so that full fare guests can make an informed decision to book it or not.

Aren't all the Lincoln center stage spaces basically unused for now?

Another thought is Argentina

Were you in Spain?

I thought for a moment it was somewhere in Saskatchewan with all those Deeres lined up, then I saw the Utes (our pick ups aren't like that). I did a google search and got a name that I think I recall from a show I watched. I will let the game play out to see if it was correct.

Maybe I'll be able to guess the next one.

We normally pack 2 checked bags and 2 carry ons. But on our last cruise we discovered the outstanding laundry service on HAL. We found with that we had way more stuff than "needed". I think for the "great Australian meet and greet tour" we will try to pack less. We have booked places with laundry facilities in the suite for the 4 weeks of land travel, and we will get the unlimited laundry package for the 43 day cruise home. I suspect we will be bringing more stuff home than we left with.

Is that the "Yacht Club" where In Rod we Trust keeps his tinny?

I think if the Cruise line is charging me full fare for a cruise, I have an expectation that I will be able to use the amenities that come with the booking. If the cruise line decides that some group who may or may not have paid full fare should have exclusive use of amenities they just rented to me (in my full fare) I'm going to be looking for compensation. I really don't care that the contract says "we (the cruise line) can do whatever we want; all contracts are based on a "meeting of the minds" as it were and if at the time of my booking you said that amenities such as the Crows Nest or anytime dining are included in my fare. Then Bob's Book club shows up with 600 passengers (most likely with discounted fares) and I (full fare booked well in advance) is now excluded from these things, well they have broken that contract.