ANSalberg

I think most people cruise the cruiseline they are MOST comfortable on - that said, it's up to the consistant cruiser to figure out WHICH line that is, We;ve sailed several lines and never had an "AWFUL" cruise - but I CAN assure you -WE love HAL too AND are the MOST comfortable for MANY reasons. I won't even mention what those reasons are- they aren't anybody else's business. But-YES, we re VERY comfortable on HAL again and again!

Anne

The thing that's kind of fun about happy hour - IF you cruise by yourself or just A couple - it's a nice place to meet people and chat; That said -THAT is why its set at "Pre-dinner" times [ 4:30-5:30 AND 7 - 8] Also it's a nice place to RELAX with your new friends as you make them,. On our last cruise we met up with a few from our CC larger group and got to know them/ on another cruise we solidified a "friendship" with tablemates/ on another we just introduced ourselves to our neighbors and invited them. It CAN be an experience of opening doors to friendships! GOOD luck!!!!!! A :)

When boarding last time there was a long line before crossing over to the ship for the photos. With priority boarding someone put us at the screen, picture snapped, and we boarded. (We said we didn't want a picture but they insisted)

 

So without priority boarding can we just skip the photo que (as you can on DCL) or will they make everyone wait in the line?

 

You are basically asking about two [completely] different Photo's. The FIRST is taken AS you check in and is important ID for checking on & Off the ship -The second is a photo REMEMBERANCE for your cruise -to BUY and take home IF you wish. The first is manditory the second a choice.

The silliest remark was "I will NEVAH sail HAL again; My coffee was served LUKE_WARM one day" ..........I smiled; I OFTEN reheat my coffee AT HOME -Just ZAP it in the microwave; I've NEVER had that on HAL - NEVER!

We should have followed you that day. I lined up for the Public one, which turned out to be a gleaming brand new stainless steel unit with a hole in the floor.

 

AH, yes -Sapper- I REMEMBER it well!!!!! :) -It's good to hear from you!!!!! XXXXX A

This has NOTHING to do with an ANSWER but it's a story I tell because I -well- I know where EVERY Bathroom is; TRUST me; [ Then you understand]

We were in Croatia once - walking around the old walled city of Dubrovinic - an ancient city if there ever was one - and I started looking for the bathrooms -AND there was a Public site- with a LONG line of fellow travelers. I told my husband "I can't wait THAT long " so we headed for a near-by restaurant. We asked the head waitor shame-faced -but he showed us the door to the restaurant bathroom; I went in and it was one of the MOST beautiful bathrooms /restaurant -I have ever seen- ALL marble from tables/sinks to toilet etc - a huge ELEGANT room.

I never think of that ancient city without shaking my head-in amazement!!!!!! ;)

Those are the correct times for dinner there, I would think - although we were on a different ship [HAL "Amsterdam"] Shows will USUALLY be after - at 10. Our favorite shows are the crew's shows [ Philippines & Indonesia] and those changed on the Amsterdam to mid afternoon to MUCH applause/participation so I would hope this would be a GREAT change for all ships!

Enjoy your Asia cruise -That's our favorite destination and I'm in AWE of all we/ve seen and learned. Our last cruise -last Fall- was a themed WWII cruise going to many of the SEAsian Islands and it was amazing!!!!!!! Enjoy and then tell us all about it! And have FUN!!!!!!;)

You might just stick a pad of 3M "stick-em" notes in your suitcase; DH and I use them if we head out on our own for time/place info! Then stick them in a obvious place like the mirror just inside the door!

ENJOY your first cruise -It's a wonderful way to see our world and LEARN! ;)

SPECTACULAR review -LOVED the photos!!!!!! Thanks you! ;)

VERY much low-tech here too- but a totally different 'method' -We go on long [ Grand] cruises on HAL so I really want a monthly record more than a daily- and to remember the cruise -not on a daily pattern. Many years ago I started with a note book such as highschoolers use -Now I use more of a think "ledger" and I write ALMOST every day -HOW I FEEL about that day or where we visited and how it went for that day.

When I get home I make sure postcards or snapshots are ledgered on "their" day and then my family can read it if they choose.

What's kind of nice about "journaling" a trip as long as several months - is you can write DOWN your frustrations -whatever they are, and LEAVE them "there" in your journal/ You've 'vented' without hurting anyone.

Also on longer cruises -you can say later [ without the journal] "Now WHERE was it we saw that museum -was that Hong Kong or Singapore?" While you may have written down what a thrill it WAS to BE in China learning about new things......and specifying what those new things were! I find journaling very relaxing emotionally! ;)

Itineraries that are SO wonderful! I never thought we would ever be able to cruise to Russia, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, - I thought [even] Australia and New Zealand were SOOOO far away we'd NEVER "be" there. I never dreamed I would see the Red sea and sail the Suez canal and see the pyramids.

The MAGIC of cruising is SEEING history!

Thanks for your responses. What is the theoretical order of "V" categories?

 

Veranda. [open deck] That's all -the rest is WHERE it is!

CNN just aired a damning report showing Carnival Corp. knew of trouble and neglected to repair CCL's Triumph Engine 6. Fuel lines leaking onto engines, which caused Costa Alegra's fire, was a known issue but immediate fixes were not mandated.

 

But the kicker, in response to a passenger lawsuit, Carnival issued a statement that says the ticket contract "makes absolutely no guarantee for safe passage, a seaworthy vessel, adequate and wholesome food, and sanitary and safe living conditions."

 

What in the world? As they are the parent company of HAL, does this bother anyone like it does me?

 

We just returned from a 70 day cruise on Holland America; This cruise was into Asia and dealt with SEVERAL typhoons in the area of South Japan and the Philippines. We experienced very little rough sea AT ALL and felt like we were TOTALLY being protected BY Holland America in some very dire situations; I might add that there are still over 1000 Filipinos still unaccounted for. Holland America DOES accept responsibility for keeping passengers safe! Amen!

Anne

 

I agree...... that is remarkable. Even if including the three always available they offer, that means nine other entree choices each night. That's great.

 

 

There were nights that I ordered Shrimp cocktail and [main course] the basic chicken. Because I need LESS spices than some choices, this was OK for me. What makes me crazy is people that can't figure out for THEMSELVES that the whole menu HAS a HUGE variety of choices :)

Hello all,

 

We will be going on a B2B cruise on the NA in January. Do the menus change between the eastern and western itinerary or is it the same?

 

Thanks for any help!

Elizabeth

 

I can't think there would ever be a problem simply because there ARE so many choices; at least a Vegetarian choice; a beef choice, 2 fish choices, a chicken/fowl choice and often a destination choice; We recently were on a Grand cruise of over 70 days and I can honestly say the menu [and its RESULTS] were wonderful.....AND they had Escargot appetizers at least 10 times! ;) !!!!! There are usually 5 BASIC choices as well; close to a dozen NIGHTLY main course choices!

This is our [?] 4th cruise ON HAL/ in Asia/ON the Amsterdam. I assumed when I retired I would 1. be bored 2. quit LEARNING. NONE of that is true and I've LOVED our adventures [PLUS a World Cruise/HAL -that took us thru the red sea/Suez and India and Egypt; which is what makes me sad about the recent politics in the Middle East; There is SO MUCH to see/learn/enjoy. It's called a "Bucket-list" and we've LOVED every minute!

Anne

Capt. Edward van Zaane, Father

 

It was NICE to read that Edward VanZaane [ and his DARLING wife Apolonia] are still sailing actively. The last time we saw them WAS on the NIEUW Amsterdam but we first knew them on several Grand cruises in the mid-2000s into Asia/Australia, on the Amsterdam and REALLY felt they are special!

I don't remember WHY now but on one of the earlier cruises I wrote Apolonia a "Thank You" note for something -and then heard that simply wasn't done; I became known as the "Thank-you note lady!" [ not a bad thing! ] They are a LOVELY and CHARMING couple and I'm glad to hear about them!

We'll be on the Amsterdam next month/WWII theme cruise in Asia -I believe FRed Everson is the Captain and we enjoy him too; They SHARED those duties/Capt on the Amsterdam! Memorable cruise; memorable PEOPLE!

Thank You, Copper -your information is always welcome! :) Anne

[quote name='sapper1']We did 31 days on the Prinsendam in May/June so there will be nothing more until next April.
Ken doing great.
Enjoy your cruise. We would love that but the long flights would be too much. I don't know if we will even try Europe again. Maybe.[/QUOTE]

This one cruise to/from Southern California [which is why we cruise this way] It's also why its so much longer [ and -in some ways more leisurely] but we have REALLY enjoyed them. "Amsterdam" not the Nieuw Amsterdam [darn] And it has been a HUGE learning experience as well as "Vacation" .
SO many people ask "WHY do you cruise/Will "I" like cruising" -I think TOTALLY impossible questions to ANSWER. #1 EACH cruise is different no matter HOW long/short #2 Each itinerary determines so many different things [days at-sea , clientel , society at BOTH[ cruising/visited] etc - SO varied....
Glad to hear Ken is doing well! XXXXXX A

[quote name='sapper1']You know, somehow I believe that. ;)[/QUOTE]

I'm sure you do! Where are you cruising this year? We're doing Asia/Pacific/Amsterdam in about a month! And how is Hubby!????

"Because they CAN!" sort of thing. On a VERY long cruise; I've forgotten if it was World or ASia/Pacific "Grand" -a couple preparing to disembark was packing a RECLINER chair from their home that they had shipped for this longish cruise [more than 70 days] Someone asked HOW he could DO that??? And his comment was "Well- Next year we're shipping 2!!!!!!!" If I remember correctly [?] Suites could send any number of packed items/boxes [ and I worried about shoes and blouses!] :)
Anne

[quote name='sapper1']They obviously didn't know you were a first class sort of guy. :D:D
I'm still waiting for FB pictures of that new house. :)[/QUOTE]

Are you kidding me????? at 6 months N was already trying to kiss the gals!!!!!!!!;)

"I am really NOT interested in doing an Alaskan cruise. Who wants to cruise and be cold?!"

Famous last words, uttered by yours truly last year as my hubby and I were figuring out where our next adventure would be. I had only done warm weather cruises and just could not figure out why anyone would want to cruise somewhere cold.

 

WHAT a TOTALLY delightful review! I loved the personal tastes as well as the comparisons, LOVED the pictures and the humor! :) AND on the Amsterdam; our favorite ship [ many cruises but over a year in days; 72 MORE days coming up in September!!] THANK you!

Anne

No question - ESCARGOT -either of their two recipes....YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anne

Did you have no points during the cruise when you thought you'd had enough? You didn't get an urge to leave and go home? I feel that would happen to me at some point on such a long cruise.

 

 

We've done 4 of the Grand cruises -and one World Cruise [ 2008] - We felt the World was simply TOO long; NOT because it wasn't exciting but because I began to REALLY miss our family and was practically "Home-sick" , except that we saw such wonderful places we had never seen before........India [ 2 ports] was AMAZING and my favorite; Egypt was a lesson in history -ancient history ....so some of the ports on the World cruise are VERY ...'different'

On the GRand Cruises - by FAR Asia/Australia was my favorite and we keep going back.

What is different on HAL than many other lines is that the Grand/World cruises leave/return from a USA port so flights are shorter and are much easier on your internal system [ crossing the oceans you have 4 or 5 days of hourly change in times; if you FLY you may have to deal with 4 or 5 hourly changes in ONE [or two] flights on the same 24 hour period. When you are young -that's a piece of cake -older, not so easily accomplished.

The longer cruises are neither "perfect" or "Awful" -they are simply OFFERED for you to consider. We love them! You often see a question "Will I get bored?" on a longer-than-seven-day cruise. I don't HAVE an answer for that cruiser. I don't GET "bored"

Whether YOU enjoy these MUCH longer [ 65/70 days -to 100-105 day World] is ENTIRELY up to you.;)

I've been reading other boards and that's caused me to reflect on some of the discussions lately. I've come up with these and know others will have many more based on more experience than mine, but here goes:

 

Self-service laundry on many ships (lifesaver on long cruises)

Fresh orange juice in the buffet

 

 

Great crew and safety record are a couple more that I see on other lines as well with one glaring exception of late.

I know there are many more to add to the list. I am comparing HAL to other lines of like cost, not the luxury lines. Friend is trying to convince travel partner to go HAL and more reasons will help.

 

I can think of several VALID reasons;

1. Itineraries. HAL has longer itineraries that sail out of and in to the USA -limiting the DREADED longer flights. [ see "Grand" cruises]

2. Size of ships. The HAL ships are between 1200 and 1800 passengers [ exception is Prinsendam] For many cruises -this wouldn't matter all that much but over the years you realise in "Comfort-Zone" for embarkation/disembarkation -dining room/mealtimes - major ship-planned activities.......numbers matter!

3. The CREW; I don't know how many times I've made THIS comment; the CARING and LOVING HAL crews from Indonesia and the Philipines -make ALL the difference in YOUR cruise experience.

;) Anne