NCTribeFan

It's going to be epic!  Plus those two days in Paris after the sailing and also going to be wonderful.

Hope you have a safe and uneventful flight.

My DD has been in Ottawa since Friday and is flying home from Toronto later today.  At least, the plan is to pick her up when she arrives at Raleigh-Durham some time around 8 pm.

We *should* have nice weather here next Sunday, but when flying out later in the day, and not knowing where that equipment is flying earlier in the day, you just never know!

Edit:  and I just discovered that President Biden is flying in to Durham today.  That should make things interesting at the airport.  At least, he should be done and gone by the time her flight arrives.

Long travel day, for sure!

Really looking forward to having Club Orange and the private dining area.  And hope the music (I don't include the piano bar (ugh) in that category) is as good as it usually is.  Between BB Kings and the RS Rock band, I should get plenty of opportunities to dance the night away.  And, of course, LCS just for relaxing and listening.

But really looking forward to having a real library on a ship again.  With all the sea days, and expecting it will be too cool to spend my time sitting outside and reading, I hope to spend a lot of time in the library.  And that might help keep me out of the casino!

 That may be the first thing I do when I board next Monday - go to the library and "save" a seat by a window in the sun on the morning of 4/3).  You know, just toss a beach towel (or blanket, as I expect we'll have for the crossing) and some assorted items (socks?) on a chair.  Should've had a laminated "reserved" sign made up to bring. 😁

Just kidding, folks.  Please don't attack me.  But if it's anything like deck chairs, you know there will be people who get there at 5 am and put stuff on chairs and then don't actually show up until 11.

I've added it to casino bookings.  Unfortunately, it isn't available for the 2 5-night sailings I added to the end of the 4/3 Rotterdam TA.  The 2 5-nights were also sold as 1 10-night sailing, but because I booked the two separately (via the casino offers), I couldn't add HIA.

Flying to FLL a week from tomorrow, joining you on the 3rd.  We'll be on for 26 nights, since we added the 2 5-night sailings after the TA, then 1 night in Amsterdam, train to Paris, and 2 nights there.  Flying home on 5/2.

It's going to be wonderful!

Look forward to reading your impressions on this first leg.

I bring my own shampoo, conditioner & face wash.  But I love the other Elemis products. 

I have no need for twice-a-day service (I'm solo).  Don't need towel animals.  Don't need chocolates.  Don't need an ice bucket.

When cruising, I tend to shower in the evening then get ready for dinner, so having the cabin serviced while I'm out and about in the evening is perfect.

Having the bed made and getting fresh towels is plenty for me.  Sailing in 13 days! 😁

I uninstalled earlier today and reinstalled.  Same error.  Just tried again and got in.  Now to see if the activities (sailing 4/3) have updated and show what (may) actually be schedule to happen on board!

Nope.  No daily activities at all now.  Does show dining and excursions.

Interestingly, it now shows my entire 26 nights under My Itinerary although this is booked as 3 separate bookings.  Don't think I've had that on prior B2Bs (but I could be wrong; if it was longer than 2 hours ago, I've probably just forgotten!).

Hope Rotterdam has the same menu in a couple of weeks.  I really want that Saturday night shrimp!  But if it doesn't, I'll find something else yummy.

Thanks.  I know packing a couple dozen bags would hardly take up space or put my luggage over the limit, but if I don't need to pack any, I won't.

I am just not a fan of the whole piano bar scene.  They're obligated to play The Hits, which often don't fit their vocal range.  And just because it was a hit doesn't mean it was any good.  I'm continually amazed at some of the inferior songs that became big hits.  People just have no ear, I suppose. Yeah, I'm a music snob.  And I absolutely cannot listen to people sing who are off key, which often happens when they have to sing songs not in their range!

Anyway, back to the Rotterdam...

Can anyone confirm that they have PG Tips tea bags on the buffet?  I know it's not a big deal, but I'm always So Happy when I see them there.  Best tea ever.  FTR, the bags have no tag, so if you don't know what they look like, you wouldn't know the brand.  The bags are a pyramid shape and are usually in a glass jar next to the other tea selections.

I don't really wear a lot of clothing that I trust in those gigantic industrial washers and dryers.  I have free laundry on Carnival, and I think I sent out 2 bags on my 32 nights last fall (mostly just undies).

Have 26 nights coming up on Rotterdam in a couple of weeks and will need to pack some cold-weather items since it's the 150th Anniversary TA.  I imagine we could have rather cool days crossing the north Atlantic in early April.  Then staying on for Oslo, Copenhagen and Scotland.

I guess I'll have to use up some OBC and send out a bag of laundry at least once.

8 hours ago, doone said:

Not sure when you were on the Koningsdam but I sailed her back in 2019 and the Rolling Stone Rock Room was there, we went there every night along with BBKings.

 

totally agree with the BBKings band onboard, they are amazing…..entertainment on this ship has blown me away….

 

Lincoln Center Stage was where the Rolling Stones area is now.  Way too noisy there, being at the bottom of the stairs from the casino.  Glad they've moved LCS down the hall.

I think it was November 2017.  Maybe the first sailing after arriving from Europe.

Thanks for the responses re Canaletto and the drink prices.

I think BB Kings has been the best live bands of any I've been on. Just so much better.  Looking forward to the rock band.  When I was on Koningsdam, she didn't have that venue.

Now, if they'd just ditch the piano bar.  At least it's not right across from the casino. 😉

Curious about the "new" Canaletto menu and food, if anyone would like to chime in here.

Also unsure what HAL is doing re Signature drinks when one purchases something above that cost limit.  Are they just charging the difference or the full price?  

Three more weeks for me!

I have a bit of OBC for my upcoming Rotterdam TA.  Since I have HIA, and the NR OBC can't be used in the casino, spending it may be a problem (nice to have, but still, don't want it to go to waste).

On Carnival, they sell their gift cards in the candy store on board.  On our recent B2B2B this past fall, friends who had leftover OBC on each leg went to the candy store and purchased gift cards.  Since they have multiple upcoming cruises, those GCs can be used to either pay the balance due or used once onboard.

Does HAL sell their GCs anywhere on the ship?

If not, I'll use some in the spa and some extra specialty dining.  I'll be onboard for the next 2x5 night sailings.  Those 2 were casino offers where I have drinks in the casino, but no HIA since they're short cruises.  I suppose I could purchase a wine package at the end of the TA and take the bottles to the cabin.  I'm assuming if I then take the bottles to dinner that there will not be a corkage fee, right?

My cruise friends used CO to book V6143 for our upcoming 16 night TA on Rotterdam (leaving 4/3).  I'm sure they won't mind me coming down the hall from my interior cabin to hang out on their large balcony.  After all, I was the one who found these "special" cabins and that 6143 was the only one available, so I should get some use of the balcony.  Right? 😁

No new offers for me.  But I did just get a bunch from MSC (1st time for that; have only sailed them 4 times, last was last April).

Can't take advance of any upcoming freebies anyway since I leave in just over 3 weeks for 26 nights on Rotterdam.  Have 18 nights to Hawaii for November and I typically don't sail in the summer.

Given how many sea days we have on the TA, I'll probably be spending a lot of time in the casino.  Hopefully, I won't be bankrupt by the time I disembark.  The 2 5-nights I added to the end of the TA are freebies, so that was nice!

I check my onboard account regularly on every cruise, no matter what line I'm sailing.

They all make mistakes.  Some are more easily cleared up than others.

On Carnival, my cruise buddy has to input MY birthday to get her card to work in the casino.  They keep saying it's been corrected, and it may be for a day or two, and then it's back to being my DOB.  Ridiculous!  Too bad I don't get credit for her play, since she regularly gets better casino offers than me! 😄

4 weeks from today, I'll fly to FLL to board on 4/3 for 26 nights.  Can't wait!

Hope you have a wonderful voyage!

I mostly sail solo, simply because I've been single for about 35 years.  Once my daughter was out of college and working, her schedule no longer fit with mine, so I started going solo.

I always join the Roll Calls and like to find independent excursions to take with others.  Those smaller-sized groups made it much easier to make new cruise friends.  Also always attended the Meet & Greets.

One of the best parts of cruising is that you can partake in as many activities as you wish or you can find somewhere quiet to sit and read or just relax.  Well, not so much on Carnival!  LOL.  I've sailed them nearly 40 times and my biggest complaint these days (32 nights last fall, 14 in January) is the lack of anywhere even remotely quiet on their ships.  Since I almost always book interior cabins, it pains me to have to retreat there just to get away from the noise and activity.  But, sometimes, I want some noise and activity and they do have plenty of options during the day (more than HAL offers).

My past 4 sailings (2 HAL, 2 Carnival) have been with friends I made years ago on a Carnival cruise.  Often, I'm the 3rd wheel, but they don't seem to mind.  Sometimes I'm the 5th, or 7th, or even 9th wheel!  The great thing is I can do my own thing during the day, or join up with them, and we always have dinner together.  So, I'm solo but I'm not alone.  It's great.

I know what PGTips bags look like but expect many folks do not.  I don't drink it year round.  I "save" mine for tax season when I need a little extra boost.  Like this morning!

I do hope HAL also still brews it for their afternoon tea.  I was So Happy when I discovered that they were using PGTips there (I asked on Eurodam 11/21, NA 12/21 & Zuidy 6/22).  Fingers crossed that Rotterdam will be the same (for those days I don't want a do-it-yourself afternoon tea w/bread pudding).

On 2/27/2023 at 5:25 PM, Crew News said:

Bread pudding on the Rotterdam is not hidden but can be found among the bread at the Bread Station, not with desserts.

Good to know!  I'll be on her for 26 nights beginning April 3.  I would've been looking for the bread pudding in the dessert section.  I like to do my own "afternoon tea" with a nice, strong cup of PGTips and some bread pudding.  Usually holds me over until dinner.

I had a fantastic crab risotto one night.  I really, really hope that's still available.

As a solo cruiser, I couldn't even manage to eat one app and one entree, let alone a dessert!  I think I took a cheese plate back to my cabin for later.