smileycruiser2007

I will be in Barcelona in November for a transatlantic cruise. I am very concerned about pickpockets there. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

I have just made a deposit on the Oosterdam Spanish Farewell leaving Barcelona on Nov 1.

On the HAL website it allegedly allows one to choose early or main fixed dinner seating. But when I tried, I could only book the specialty restaurants. Does the ability to choose a dinner seating only appear after final payment, or should I ask my PCC to act now on my choice?

Any insight will be most appreciated.

If you have been on a Carnival cruise, you will see men wearing only swim trunks or women wearing only a bathing suit in the Lido at lunch. Not a good look in a dining area for anyone. That made me lose my appetite, YMMV.

Many thanks to everyone who responded! Please know that you have made my mother very happy to know that she can enjoy this cruise. I will show her Ann's review, and your encouraging comments. It's great to know that another mother-daughter pair of similar age is doing the Midnight Sun itinerary, and also that the North Cape Explorer will make her equally happy.

For those going on either itinerary, have a terrific time!!

First, I would like to thank all the Cruise Critic posters for the comments, information, blogs, and reviews you’ve shared for others to enjoy and to learn from.

My mother and I are thinking of taking the Voyage of the Midnight Sun (Ryndam) or North Cape Explorer (Prinsendam) itineraries in summer 2015. If you have taken either of these itineraries on any ship, we’d appreciate your comments about whether or not we could enjoy lots of scenery (once in the fjords) without leaving the ship.

My 86 year old mother is in good health except for arthritis in her ankles. She is fine walking inside, but walking on rough surfaces like cobblestones, etc. can be very painful and tiring for her. She would be really happy watching the scenery from the ship while sailing or in port. That is the only entertainment she wants!

She is a 4-Star Mariner, and has sailed on both these ships years ago, so she’ll feel right at home. It’s fine that these are older ships and showing some wear –so are we!

We are hoping that once in the fjords, we could enjoy the views like you can when cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage, or the approach to Stockholm. If we are wrong about this, which is pretty much the entire reason for going, we’d better make a different choice.

Thanks in advance for your comments,

Alison

I did the 10-day Sea of Cortez, and just loved the whole experience. Loreto is a charming place to stop, and also on a snorkel-dive trip we saw sea lions, flying rays, and blue-footed boobies. The mountains so close to the sea..One of my favorite cruises ever, on the Ryndam, and have been on Statendam too. Did not go to Copper Canyon myself. Some people really liked it, and some thought it was way too much effort for the time there. :)

Sailorjack,

My mother was feeling bad from a minor operation (she's fine). I handed her a couple of your reviews, and after a few minutes she was howling with laughter and feeling so much better.

You are so funny and I love how you transform the little (or sometimes large) annyances into hilarious adventures.

HAppy cruising to you and Sailor Jill,

Smileycruiser 2007