Ride-The-Waves
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Everything posted by Ride-The-Waves
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Appreciate everyone's assistance. So far, no joy! Even tried the website "chat" function and that didn't work.
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Yes. Have been trying for days to access flight bookings and nada. Website puts me in a "do loop" or sends me to a page that cannot be accessed. Simply trying to look at flight options appears to be something HAL is not interested in passengers having access to. It is horrible, especially for a cruise line/business that prides itself on customer service. Even the website "chat" function is not active. What gives HAL?
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Have been trying to reset my HAL password for 4 days. No joy. Not critical - yet, but have an upcoming trans-Atlantic and need to arrange one-way airfare. "Forgot" password link ends in gibberish. Called and spoke with a HAL representative and told she would fix it and provide me with a functioning link. Nope - never happened. Not sure why. From my perspective this is simply HAL lying to me to get me off the phone. Password reset should be one of the easiest things an IT shop can do. Anyone else have similar experienced with HAL's website?
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Flight Ease is a consolidator bring ing together and offering options from multiple airlines. These cruise line consolidators can provide a excellent options on both round trip and one-way airfares. We use them frequently especially on one-way flights to Europe to accommodate the reverse leg of a trans-Atlantic cruise. Their best deals are in the premium categories (Business and Premium Economy classes). A good place to start looking at airfare is google.com/flights. That said, flights are usually not available for research/booking until 330 days out. We have flown to/fm Europe out of Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Orlando and Miami offer good options for flights and airlines offering non-stop routing with major European cities. We have also flown TAP (Air Portugal) which has direct flights from Miami (and NYC and Boston) via Lisbon to major European cities and good business class pricing.
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St. Paddy's day onboard celebration?
Ride-The-Waves replied to queenfrostine22's topic in Royal Caribbean International
Royal is thinking for charging anyone wearing green on St Paddy's day $10! -
Now $1.50 for gelato in Windjammer
Ride-The-Waves replied to Slidell_Cruiser's topic in Royal Caribbean International
A third-rate action for a fourth-rate cruise line. True bottom dwellers. And we use ti like Royal. No more. -
HAL shore excursion to the pyramids from Alexandria
Ride-The-Waves replied to Torquer's topic in Africa & Middle East
Today traveling in Egypt is as safe as traveling in Europe or North America. Because of the time/distance I would opt for a private tour by a reputable tour agency. Actual drive time Alexandria-to-Giza is just over 2 hours going around Cairo. Definitely worth it. And, yes, if claustrophobic I would advice against the inside climb of the Great Pyramid. For those who can that is another unforgettable trek. And suggest staying away from the camels... -
Do cruise lines share our addresses?
Ride-The-Waves replied to SSBrickNJ's topic in Holland America Line
We receive hard copy solicitations but not emails. Some of it large glossy brochures for cruise lines we would never consider sailing. It is not easy to get off their mailing lists. Must be less expensive to creat and mail a brochure than to delete an address... -
Correction: the "O" ship was Marina.
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WOW! These board offer opinions, not facts. Facts on a specific cruise question is much better answered by the cruise company, not some random commentary on CC. Especially on a thread created to praise "O" - you will not find an unbiased answer.
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Lets don't oversell O to those who have not experienced an O cruise. We have cruised for decades and enjoy nice cabins, good food and great itineraries, and not "loyal" to one cruise lines. Last year we did a TA on Riviera followed several months later by a Panama Canal transit on HAL Zaandam. Similar sized ships. We found Zaandam significantly better to include food especially in the specialty restaurants. "O" has coined the advertising slogan of "best cuisine at sea." It is not, especially when including ambiance of the restaurants. "O's" specialties are crowded, table to close together, compared to Zaandam. And the noise levels in the specialties is nearly unbearable, so bad that we did not return to one for a second meal. Tables in the buffet are also too close together miming access and forcing diners to walk circuitous routes to tables. We found the suite cabin adequate but nothing special. Dining room crew were even a bit "uppity" to guests. "O" is not a panacea. Azamara is much better and friendlier. Even HAL's Zaandam is superior.
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Royal Caribbean, A Lie is a Lie
Ride-The-Waves replied to SailorMarg's topic in Royal Caribbean International
In past years before the hiatus we would bring a small container of CoffeeMate to breakfast, usually doing a decent job of killing the taste of the syrup RCI uses for coffee... Only problem is remembering to take the container back to the cabin... -
Royal Caribbean, A Lie is a Lie
Ride-The-Waves replied to SailorMarg's topic in Royal Caribbean International
We were on one once - years ago. Had been complimentary upgraded to the biggest suite and remember that the crew constantly reminded us that the next "guest" was important and not to touch anything... I'm sure El Presidente will have little or no connection with day-to-day activities or experience anything like a "normal" guest. His suite will be cleaned 4-times a day! -
Royal Caribbean, A Lie is a Lie
Ride-The-Waves replied to SailorMarg's topic in Royal Caribbean International
Hilarious! Its called "Marketing" and companies, including RCI, lie through their teeth. RCI caters to "bottom feeders" so they know that no one will sue over "marketing" transgressions. In thee olden days we started sailing with RCI. Good ships then, and good crews. Today RCI doesn't care about legacy passengers. It all about enticing newbies to make one cruise, and get their money. Much harder to pull the wool over an experienced cruiser... Haven't cruised RCI in a decade or so - last time was horrible with dining in the MDR being so loud you could not hear the person next to you. then ad in bad food and service. Spouse's friends have enticed her back onboard a TA this Fall and, ugh, I'm going. Intend to spend my time reading in the overpriced cabin. RCI has definitely destroyed the concept of elegant cruising. -
Think about this. Crew are professionals. Just as you consider yourself a professional at your place/vocation of work. Do you want to be paid in "candy?" I sure don't! Give them the extra gratuity in currency!
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We are seniors and when traveling factor in business class in our costs to get to/fm cruises. There are several good airlines flying across the Pond which offer good options, to include Air Portugal (TAP) and Turkish airlines. Also check co-share flights. Several years ago who booked an Antartica cruise and discovered that flying on a US carrier was triple the cost of flying Aerolineas Argentinas code-share on the same airplane/flight between MIA-EZE-USH.
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Pre-Cruise hotels in Ft. Lauderdale area
Ride-The-Waves replied to bubbemarcia's topic in Florida Departures
Welcome to Florida! Hotel rates can nearly double during winter months when snowbirds head south for warmer climes. Has nothing to do with cruising. Its just greed. -
Price Comparisons between HAL and Seabourn
Ride-The-Waves replied to Hlitner's topic in Holland America Line
Last 7 months we have sailed Oceania Marina and HAL Zaandam. Similar sized ships. We found HAL's offering superior to Oceania: better food, friendlier crew, and more amenities. Marina's specialty restaurants were terrible, too crowded, far too noisy, poor service and so-so food. Not what we expected when we booked Oceania. For us, sailing Oceania is a suite was not an upgrade. -
Do it! Both knees replaced. Second one was 3.5 months prior to an Antarctica cruise with Zodiac landings on Antarctica south of the Antarctic Circle. First two weeks after surgery are the most challenging. The rest is PT and gaining confidence. Age 73 at the time.
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We are Azamara fans - O's smaller ships. Always good eating, always well presented with great fanfare by the kitchen and wait staffs. Have not sailed Azamara since the pandemic but hope to return in the future.
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Agree. Thought the bakery items on Zaandam were excellent with good selection. Have read that HAL's larger ships enjoy expanded bakery items as well as Dutch treats.
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Good question. First, I am not a "foodie." My observation is based on how the food is cooked, which impacts taste, and presentation. The locale (restaurant) is also important. Another note: I am not a "foodie" but have had the opportunity to eat at "state level" events outside the US, events where a senior US official is hosted to an elaborate lunch/dinner by a counterpart. I understand "good" food. The specialty restaurants on Marina are designed to serve the maximum number of people as possible (maximize profit). Tables are crowded together to the point where its is difficult to reach your table and more importantly difficult for servers. This is true in the buffet as well as the specialty restaurants. In comparison the specialty restaurants on Zaandam have well spaced tables as does the buffet. We found the servers on Marina a bit gruff. No accommodation of any kind, even by request. Example: my spouse asked for "pink" sugar substitute (blue and yellow on the table) was rebuffed. "Pinks" were readily available but the server didn't want to extend himself to retrieve them. As I mentioned, I am not a foodie so stick with the basics. And on Marina was very "basic" in taste and presentation. Food was not prepared to that ordered: steaks (fillet) were undercooked and vegetables over cooked in any cases. Soups, for me, are usually telling. Better prepared and tastier to me on Zanndam. We found the selection in Zaandam much wider that that offered on Marina. More choices and better prepared. This especially includes that buffets. Ambiance plays a large part in restaurant enjoyment. Marina was lacking with its noisy and too closely arranged tables. Maybe the worst specially restaurant experience ever on a cruise ship in Marina's Italian restaurant. My experience on the seas? First "cruise' I remember was a transatlantic in 1949. Family made about ten crossings in the early 1950s, First Class, where you were called to dinner by a waiter walking the passageways playing a xylophone. Elegant settings. Perfectly cooked and well presented delicacies. I also served 30 years in the US Navy. Always great food on the table even in the "buffets."
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Recently home from a Panama Canal transit on the fine ship. Comfortable, excellent venues, wonderful food and entertainment. Previous cruise a Transatlantic on Oceania Marina, a cruise line which advertises itself as having the "finest cruise at sea." We much enjoyed Zaandam's restaurants over Marina's - more elegant, "better" food and much less noisy. Tables on Marina were so close together and thus to close to others that one could not carry on a conversation with one's tablemate. And the crew on Zaandam was always ready to help us anywhere on the ship.
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Recently home from a Panama Canal transit on the fine ship. Comfortable, excellent venues, wonderful food and entertainment. Previous cruise a Transatlantic on Oceania Marina, a cruise line which advertises itself as having the "finest cruise at sea." We much enjoyed Zaandam's restaurants over Marina's - more elegant, "better" food and much less noisy. Tables on Marina were so close together and thus to close to others that one could not carry on a conversation with one's tablemate. And the crew on Zaandam was always ready to help us anywhere on the ship.