Aruba

THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE.

I keep wishing that some of it would find its way to me! ;)

We have two past cruises with RSSC, and our first Oceania coming up in December. Are there any benefits to an O cruiser (first time or otherwise) if you have previously sailed with RSSC? (Have never sailed with Norwegian, but now also wonder about those with past NCL cruises.)

No, I don't believe so.

... the ignore button is a good friend. There are several people I ignore as I just got tired of their sarcastic remarks.

What do you mean by "ignore button"? Is it just an expression you're using (as in "I'll ignore that thread") or is it a real feature? Thanks.

You haven't lived until you've spent some time in their waiting for your clothes to run through the dryer cycle. Can be quite entertaining, educational and good for the male soul ;)

Yes, "entertaining" is a good description. The washer cycles and dryer cycles do not align well, so as the day progresses there can be a backlog of wet clothes waiting for available dryers...and, in my experience at least, 1 dryer cycle is never quite enough to get the clothes completely dry.

On busy days, this brings out a WHOLE other side of people -- which is where the entertainment comes in.

I have heard about Security having to be called because of people coming close to blows. The funniest that ever happened to me was when my dryer stopped and a woman said to me ("snarled" is more accurate), "Those clothes are coming out NOW whether they're dry or not!". :eek:

There aren't 2 main dining rooms on Ryndam. There is 1 dining room but it is on 2 levels. Shorts are not permitted in the main dining room at dinner, ever., but are permitted at dinner in the Lido Buffet. Check this link for more details on HAL's dress codes:

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Cruise+Preparation&contentMenu=Baggage,+Packing+%26+Dress+Code&contentSubMenu=Is+There+A+Dress+Code?&WT.ac=PopTop_Dress

I am taking special joy in reading about your cruise. I was supposed to be on the May 18th sailing of the same itinerary but had to cancel the day before departure because of a death in my family. Thank you for the opportunity to experience this cruise vicariously through you. :)

Navigator:

3 bottles for $89

5 bottles for $149

7 bottles for $199

Admiral:

3 bottles for $118

5 bottles for $199

7 bottles for $269

plus 15% gratuity.

3-star Mariners get a 25% discount, 4- and 5-star Mariners get a 50% discount...although the gratuity is calculated on the non-discounted price.

17 cruises on HAL...and I NEVER knew until now that you can order off the Dining Room menu for Room Service.

After all these years, I STILL learn new things from CC! :)

I tried my best to get the discussion back on topic... :rolleyes:

I also remember Darryl with fondness. He was playing on the Statendam about three years ago, and he was really great.

I remember him well also, from Ryndam. Darryl had a group of regulars (that grew rapidly as the cruise progressed) and called us the "Derelicts" (Darryl-licks). Would love to hear him again someday.

Yes, you can have dinner delivered every night of the cruise. Just check the procedure on board. You have to order within a certain time window but it will be delivered at the time of your choice (dining hours)

17 cruises on HAL...and I NEVER knew until now that you can order off the Dining Room menu for Room Service.

After all these years, I STILL learn new things from CC! :)

I just read in the O Club newsletter that Artists Loft is being added to Insignia. Does anyone know where it will be located on an R ship?

I accept the perques given as a bonus, as that's all they are. I would still sail HAL if there were no perques, but do enjoy the benefits of being a 5* Mariner. And I am really looking forward to having that platinum medallion draped around my neck. :D

How many more days before you reach that milestone Ruth? :)

We just got upgraded from a VE to a Signature Suite (SY) for $149 per person. Is this a worthwhile expenditure?

I would do that in a heartbeat and thank my lucky stars.

BTW, I assume you mean $149pp for the entire voyage and not per day! That would be a different story entirely. :eek:

suggestions on sightseeing. We are planning on flying in as early as possible the day before so as to have a full day to explore Boston. I know Boston is not a one-day town but considering its history and diversity some things may be more interesting than other. I'm thinking about seeing Old Ironsides.

If you're visiting Old Ironsides, I'd suggest also walking all or part of the Freedom Trail which runs along Old Ironsides across the Charles River through colonial parts of Boston.

If you're a baseball fan, take a guided tour of Fenway Park.

When I travel solo, I intentionally wear t-shirts with pictures or logos of various places I have traveled -- cities, countries, sites, etc that on not on the current cruise itinerary. Invariably someone will approach me (on the Promenade Deck, in Lido Buffet line, in Explorations, to name just a few) because they have something in common with the t-shirt: either they've been there or they're from there, whatever, but it is a conversation starter.

Once I wore a t-shirt that said "Ogunquit" (a small resort town in Maine). I was in a shop on a hillside in Positano, Italy when I heard a voice say, in English, "I vacationed there every year as a child". To my surprise, this person was on the same cruise ship I was and we became friends...and all because of that Ogunquit t-shirt. :)

I see no reason why the OP's plan would not work. Of course he would need to be the CEO of HAL or Carnival......:p

And even then it may not work! I think the solution is to charter your own yacht...or be like Barbra and get someone to offer it to you gratis.;)

Have you printed the documents for the cruise(boarding pass, etc) -- on the last page, or very close to it will be a confirmation of your package.

I have the $50pp beverage card for my next HAL voyage (at least I'm supposed to get it, according to my TA) but there is no mention of that on the Express Docs, only on the invoice from my TA.

Have other people seen it identified on their Express Docs?

I was supposed to be on that sailing but had to cancel the day before departure because of a death in my family. :(

In happier days I'd like to do that 2-week Alaska itinerary. I hope HAL continues to offer it.

... men wearing shorts and flip-flops at Canelletto on formal night...

On formal night?! Were the ladies dressed as belles of the ball or were they too wearing shorts and flip-flops? :eek:

That's the kind of offer that you have to grab in a "New York minute", otherwise it will be gone. $29 wow, that was a great offer.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that ships the size of Zaandam are too large to make it far enough up Tracy Arm fjord to actually see Sawyer Glaciers. I've been there twice, on Regent Mariner and HAL Volendam, and both times had to take the excursion where we disembarked the ship and boarded a much smaller boat in order to continue up the fjord to reach the glaciers.

I'll soon be returning to Tracy Arm on Amsterdam and was not envisioning that the ship itself could go far enough up the fjord to see the glacier. Maybe I'm wrong.

I guess it depends how many days you are on the cruise before hitting Tallin

Otherwise known as the "Toscana Effect". :D

Do I indeed get some kind of reciprocal status for my Princess cruises ...

None that I know of. I sailed Princess 3 times before giving HAL a try, but was not a Star Mariner with HAL until I finished that first HAL cruise.

I think in Tallin there is a shuttle provided by the town from the port to old Town ..

If you're in reasonably good health, it's not a far walk from the Tallin port to the Old Town. What would you say Lyn, 10 minutes?

These are incredible reviews you have prepared. I've never seen anything like them.

Consider yourselves "bookmarked"! :)