thecruiserman

What are the advantages/ disadvantages of the QM2 sheltered balconies vs. obstructed balconies?

We are on Rotterdam in an oceanview. There is a separate sofa/loveseat, desk, and cube.

My recent experience is Celebrity Beyond (Edge class) November 2022 and HAL Rotterdam January 2023. Edge class ships are strange - the “Infinite Veranda” is not a veranda/balcony but just a picture window that you can open sometimes, but is closed by the captain whenever the weather is bad. The is no fixed dinner seating, just wait for a table, unless you want to go to the specialty restaurants at $60 per person (plus service charge). No wraparound walking deck, not much outdoor space unless you want to pay for it. The whole atmosphere is geared to the suite class passengers, not the regular passengers. I am Elite on Celebrity but I am not planning to return to Celebrity. Rotterdam is the newest HAL ship. It is very clean, cabins are good size, traditional balconies are available, food is excellent in the MDR with fixed dinner seating and walk up options, service is excellent, specialty restaurants are more reasonably priced, and there is lots of outdoor space including the traditional wraparound walking deck. The entertainment is more focused on different areas: BB Kings for jazz, Rolling Stone Rock Room, Lincoln Center Stage for classical music, and the Billboard Piano Bar. Mainstage entertainment is varied (but no production shows every night - if you want that go on MSC Cruises). I am three star on HAL and I will be sailing on HAL exclusively in the future.

My recent experience is Celebrity Beyond (Edge class) November 2022 and HAL Rotterdam January 2023. Edge class ships are strange - the “Infinite Veranda” is not a veranda/balcony but just a picture window that you can open sometimes, but is closed by the captain whenever the weather is bad. The is no fixed dinner seating, just wait for a table, unless you want to go to the specialty restaurants at $60 per person (plus service charge). No wraparound walking deck, not much outdoor space unless you want to pay for it. The whole atmosphere is geared to the suite class passengers, not the regular passengers. I am Elite on Celebrity but I am not planning to return to Celebrity. Rotterdam is the newest HAL ship. It is very clean, cabins are good size, traditional balconies are available, food is excellent in the MDR with fixed dinner seating and walk up options, service is excellent, specialty restaurants are more reasonably priced, and there is lots of outdoor space including the traditional wraparound walking deck. The entertainment is more focused on different areas: BB Kings for jazz, Rolling Stone Rock Room, Lincoln Center Stage for classical music, and the Billboard Piano Bar. Mainstage entertainment is varied (but no production shows every night - if you want that go on MSC Cruises). I am three star on HAL and I will be sailing on HAL exclusively in the future.

How do you make the reservation? On-line? With the Maitre d’?

For those who don’t have fixed dinner time seating, Is it possible to reserve dinner times, or do passengers need to stand in line ( or be given a pager) and wait to be called for dinner? Can you reserve dinner times for the entire voyage?

Was the main dining room open for lunch on embarkation day?

Enjoying your posts. We are on Rotterdam for 21 days later this year. What is the cost for WiFi? And do they still offer the unlimited laundry package? How much? Or the price for a bag of laundry?

We just got our assigned check-in time: 1:40 PM. Do we really need to wait that late? Ship is Rotterdam.