Avril

I'm sailing on the Transatlantic, SO excited!!!! :D

Inviting you and anyone else on the Vista TA to come say hi - already a very active roll call going on! :)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2156355

Thanks Froufie!! I actually just joined the roll call. Can't wait to get to know you all and hopefully meet you in person onboard!! :D

Thanks!! :D I wasn't sure if they'd (meaning cruise critic) have the Roll Calls set up for this ship yet. Great to know they have!! :D

Is anyone else on the Transatlantic Crossing from Barcelona to New York? I'm sailing with my Mom and I'd love to meet others who will be onboard and make friends even before we sail. I know it's not for awhile yet but I'm super excited already!!!! :D

Too long, lol. Sailing on the Vista's Transatlantic Crossing in 619 days. Can't wait!! :D

I have a question on how rough the seas are on a transatlantic. I know seas can be rough anytime, anywhere. I've been on two cruises, one to the Western Caribbean and one to the Eastern. I took Bonine on the first and didn't get sick at all. The Eastern cruise killed me the first day. I've never been so sick in my life. Anyone have any experience on a transatlantic and seasickness? I plan to try the patch on our cruise this year.

 

Thanks to all!

Missy

Hey Missy!! Ug, that's awful. :( I can't imagine being sick on a cruise, no fun at all. I think you'd be fine on the transatlantic. I've done 2 of them and the seas were fine both times (even though we had a Hurricane near us on the 1st one, seas were still fine). I never got sick once on either one (and they were both on ships smaller than Vista). I can't wait for this one on Vista!! :D

I really hope John is the CD (or at least on the ship doing something) for the Transatlantic, I've always wanted to sail with him!! :D

Hi Jimbo!! Thanks for the info and pics from the event, looks like it was a blast!! :D Thanks also for offering to answer any questions. I do have a few and I'm sure I'll have more in the months ahead until I sail on Vista. I'm going on the 13 Day Transatlantic from Barcelona to New York, can't wait!! :D

I was wondering about the SkyRide. Does it go fast, slow or both and how many times per ride do you get to go around the track? Also, would they let me use my GoPro on the ride (this goes for the SkyCourse, think it's called that, the one they also have on the Breeze, and the watersides)?

I was looking at the deck plans on Carnival's website and I didn't see anything that looked like a Dance Club/Disco. Are they not having on onboard or am I missing something? I thought I looked pretty carefully but maybe not.

Our cabin is on Deck 6 directly above the Havana Bar/Pool (an aft facing balcony). I know we can't use that area ( :( ) since we don't have a Havana cabin but I was wondering, do you think it will be noisy in the morning? Sometimes I like to sleep in on cruises. I don't care how loud it is at night since I'm usually up till 3 or 4 in the morning anyway so don't care.

If you're right about the naming ceremony being in NY, what should we call the ship when we're onboard? Can we call her the Vista or should we refer to her by her technical/official "name" at that point which would be Newbuild # whatever? LOL, just kidding (sorta)!! :p :D

Thanks again and I hope I get to sail with you and your wife someday (either on Vista or some other ship)!! :D

Anyone been on a NYE cruise recently with HAL?

If some one wants to get that toe up "crunk" :) and they can't get some "mega" drink . They can get just as drunk having 2 or 3 (or more) "regular" drinks.

 

As long as there is alcohol, someone is going to do something stupid, some way , some how , some where

Now that is very true!! Sometimes, it's not the quality, it's the quantity.

That must have been one awful singer.

LMAO, good one Trish!! :D But a singer from where? Piano Bar maybe? LOL

I would have corrected this sooner but I realized to late to edit my original post. It was 2008/2009 when I did my last NYE cruise on HAL. Oops, my bad!! :o

It's been awhile since my last NYE cruise with HAL so I just have a few questions abut wether it's still the same. I seem to remember the demographics being more in line with Carnival or NCL then traditional HAL (not a bad thing, younger people aboard is good, I'm 30). No offence to older people, I'm an only child so grew up around people older than me. Sometimes, I get along better with them then people my own age. I also remember they had a big party in the atrium and at the Ocean Bar with a countdown and ringing the ship's bell at midnight with the Captain. It was also an unofficial Formal Night to go along with the 2 normal formal nights on a 7 day cruise (also good, I love Formal Nights). So we had 3 Formal Nights in 7 days, awesome. Are those things still true? Also, do they give out free hats and noise makers as well as free champagne (on NYE)? Is there free champagne at Embarkation (Carnival does and since they're the same company, I'm kinda assuming here)? Any other parties around the ship other than the one in the atrium? I had a blast on the Eurodam 2009/2010 and can't wait to repeat the experience!!!! :D We have the SBP this time so I know no matter what, it's going to be an awesome cruise.

Thanks!! :D

The "on board incident" sounds like it could be a punchline to a joke: "So he said to my wife, "Do you want to try my wang-wang?" and then the fight started."

LOL, it kinda does for sure!! :D It must have been real bad (and serious) though for them to ban a drink from a ship for more than that 1 cruise. :eek:

Thanks, Avril. Much appreciate the info.

No problem!! :D Keep in mind though, I haven't actually had the package before (yet, I do have it on my upcoming cruise) so I'm no SBP expert. I'm just repeating what I've read here on the CC boards. I'll be able to give a lot more info after my cruise in a couple of weeks.

I was thinking the same thing .

 

I have only heard of Wang Wangs from this board , but there are other multi alcohol kick ass drinks out there like Long Islands, Alabama Slammers etc . I wonder if those are banned too?

I guess we have to use our imaginations as to what could have happened. From Domestic Violence/Assault, to causing a brawl (or something similar) in public, to damaging HAL property, to someone jumping overboard (or pushing/throwing someone else overboard), the possibilities are almost endless. All we know for sure is, someone did something stupid. What that something may be is anyone's guess.

These boards are the only place I've heard of them as well. I assume those other drinks are still available (even on the Westerdam) but you'd have to ask someone who's recently been on her to know for sure.

Does the 15 drink limit include water and coffee?

From what I've heard, yes is does. :( Also includes soda (or pop depending on where you're from) and any other non-alcoholic beverages. :( I think though, that you can just use your ship card for drink purchases like you would without the package. This would also work for getting extra alcoholic drinks above the 15 drink limit (if you need/want more than 15 that is, which I highly doubt I will, nice to have the option though). :D

I board Maasdam in two weeks and my wife & I are going to try that "bad thing" out. Never heard of one and never tried one so it will be a first. I'll let you know if we have two;)...lol Hope the ship still serves them.

You should be ok Bob!! From what I've heard (on this thread), it's only on the Westerdam that they're banned. Enjoy and have a great cruise!! :D

The explore 4 package would become the explore floor package for me:D.

Ok, THAT is hilarious, love it!!!! :D I have the SBP on my next cruise (sailing in 11 days but who's counting? :D) and am going to be trying really hard not to be Exploring the Floor. Shouldn't be hard for me, I have a super high alcohol tolerance.

Huh. I wonder what the "Onboard Incident" aboard the Westerdam was. Must have been bad for them to ban a drink (and therefore lost the money that would come from people buying it). :eek: Do they still sell Long Islands, shots, etc onboard Westerdam?

Thanks everyone!! :D Good to hear they're still around. 2oz isn't that much (for me). I usually drink Long Island Iced Teas on a cruise. :D Not sure how much booze is in those but I know it's quite a bit. Maybe it was just that particular ship that the person was on in the review I was reading that they're no longer allowed. I think it was the Westerdam.

I read about this drink here on the HAL boards a few times and it sounds really yummy (I like strong drinks)!! I've been really looking forward to trying it on my upcoming cruise. I have the SPB so I'm going to try as many new (to me at least) drinks as I can. :D However, I was just reading a review here on CC where the poster said that they no longer serve/are not allowed to serve that drink (maybe someone got too drunk with it and did something stupid?) onboard anymore. :( Is that true? I've been looking forward to trying it and would be really disappointed if I couldn't (not that it would ruin the cruise of course). I'm sailing on the Eurodam for New Years in that makes a difference.

Thanks!! :D

Yes, it's a separate card. It's probably better to keep both cards together and take a extra second or two to look at them to ensure one gives the server the correct card. But in dark venues, well, mix ups can and do happen!

 

Here's an extensive thread about the SBP (and more): http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1999316&highlight=sbp

Ya, I figured that it would be best to keep them together. That's why I'm wondering, can you punch a hole in the SBP card? That way, I can keep it and my ship card on my lanyard together. Sure, I can see how in a dark room it would be hard to tell them apart!! :eek:

Yea, I tried that. Always fun to try and get into your room with your drink card.

 

I did not understand the Signature until after spending 26 days on the Noordam. The advertising keeps taking about the $50 a day limit, but it doesn't matter. I spent a lot of time trying to get my wife to quit spending our drink money on coffee and fizzy water.

Sorry but LOL!! I have a great mental picture now of someone trying repeatedly to open their cabin door and getting more and mrs frustrated/confused only to realize their using their drink card. :D

I think it's a 15 alcoholic drinks/day limit not a $ limit so wouldn't your wife be ok with coffee and fizzy water? It wouldn't matter how many she bought, they're non alcoholic drinks (unless of course she was buying Baileys coffee or something similar).

Why not, just give them your cruise card instead of you drink card. Bartenders don't care, as long as your pay for your drinks one way or the other.

 

Oh, it's a separate card? On Carnival (the only other line I've had a drinks package with), they just put a sticker on your card so they won't not be not counted towards the Cheers Package (SBP on HAL) and they won't serve you (other than soda and other non alcoholic drinks) after you hit 15. Having a separate card so you can charge instead of using one of the 15 is awesome!! :D Although it does mean an extra thing I have to be careful not to lose. Can you get a hole punch in the SBP card and put it on a lanyard with your ship card?

To answer your other question, yes you can charge drinks to your cruise card at any time. I accidentally did it when I had the SBP and I never got anywhere close to the 15 drink limit! It was a little challenging to have it reversed and applied to the SBP but it was done with a smile, even though it was my mistake.

Thanks!! I can see how that could happen by mistake, lol. Maybe next time, you could keep 1 of the 2 cards in your pocket or purse so it doesn't happen again. Just a thought, not trying to be rude or anything (in other words, not saying it's your fault or because you were stupid, far from it!). It's great they were able to reverse it and fix the problem for you!! :D

That's what I thought but wasn't sure. Some lines (such as Carnival) will cut you off after 15 so you can't even charge extra drinks to your card. Also (again on Carnival) if the drink you want is over the price limit ($10 on CCL) it still counts towards the 15. Great to hear HAL is different!! :D Another question, can you charge drinks to your cruise card (and not have them count towards your daily limit), can you do that before you hit 15? I'm just really curious to how this program works!! It sounds better than Carnival's Cheers Program (although with Cheers, non alcoholic drinks such as soda don't count towards the 15, I think that's different on HAL which is unfortunate) and I really enjoyed that one (and never once hit 15).