habenicd

18 hours ago, catspaw1 said:

 I love to snorkel so am interested in that. Also if you can tell us if you used celebrity wetsuits or should we bring our own? We are trying to reduce weight & may leave some things at the Marriott in Quito. Should we bring our own binoculars?

We are avid snorkelers and will definitely include wetsuit info. Given the bag/weight limits we are leaving our wetsuits at home as well as the rest of our own snorkeling gear but for our masks. (We are really picky about our masks.) Our info says that binoculars are provided but I am still taking my small, pocket binoculars as its always in my camera back anyway.

Quick question.  When Celebrity says a 20lbs carry-on for the Baltra flights, do they mean shoulder-bags or backpacks only or is a small to midsize roll-a-board bag ok? Do you have to manage the tender with it if you do have the smaller roll-a-board or any bags (other than checked bags of course.)  Backpacks and life jackets really don't work well together. Making the last of the decisions before "stuff goes in bags."

On 5/3/2024 at 9:20 PM, catspaw1 said:

 Can folks please post their Xploration TR? 

It is our plan to do a thorough TR for our Xploration trip that starts in 10 days.

Thanks for this review.  We leave 2 weeks from today for the Celebrity Xploration. 

Your comments, information and pictures have amped up our excitement 10 fold!

On 3/13/2024 at 5:46 PM, Phamer55 said:

I am not going on this sailing, but I am trying Star Clippers for the first time next March to Costa Rica.  Have you done that itinerary?  I see you’ve done 56 Star Clipper sailings, wow! 

I wish 56 sailings. 😉 56 days. Most of our sailings have been in the Med but Tahiti was the best.

We did the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica on Windstar just before we discovered Star Clippers. We had a great trip though. You should enjoy it on Star Clippers too. The crew is great and our experience is that most of the other passengers like a bit of adventure and usually have plenty of stories to tell regarding travel and life in general. With the open seating for dinner, you well meet plenty of new friends. We actually have dear friends going with us on this next trip. It will be their first time. We are excited to share Star Clippers with them. 

Finally, you will find mornings center around the bridge for sailing and afternoon/evenings center around the Tropical Bar. It is a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of fun and adventure.   

With only the three small ships these boards are typically kind of slow.

So, I will start something.

Anyone else booked for this cruise?

There are four of us going.  Two of which, this will be there first Star Clippers cruise.

1 hour ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Good morning from Les Saintes Guadeloupe, it’s a very muggy humid overcast day so we may just stay on board the ship. We had not planned a tour today and the tender ride in is a bit longer than most. There are no sea days on this itinerary and we love sea days. 

We have been to Les Saintes one time and loved it.  We have thought about returning just to stay on the island.  We do love sea days too.

We sailed Windstar a couple of times way back when.  We loved our Windstar cruises. Then we found Star Clippers which is even more about the sailing.  We will follow your journey and will be interested in your opinions and how the line has or has not changed over the years.

Bon Voyage!

Our first cruise was on the old Westerdam in 1997.  We still fondly remember our Dining Room waiter, Crispin.  As we were young (and foolish,) he would let us order each night, bring those items to us and then also bring what we should have ordered to share. He was never wrong.

We definitely miss the S class ships. Taking my parents on their first cruise on the Ryndam to Alaska for their retirement celebration and both sets of parents on the Statendam to Hawaii are wonderful memories.

Sunday, we board the Nieuw Statendam with more family that have never cruised before. We hop to recruit three more HAL cruisers in the family but they won't know that smaller ship HAL experience.

We frequent the J. Alexanders here in Chattanooga. It should be an excellent choice.

Looking forward to following your "Live from Nieuw Statendam" as a prologue of sorts for our Feb. 4 cruise.

What I have run across just today, is that unlike other lines (Royal for instance) I cannot use my OBC online to purchase excursions, dinner reservations, ect. prior to embarkation. This is mildly aggravating as I wanted to use my OBC to "purchase" my niece a small amount of OBC for her first cruise in Feb., as a Christmas gift.  Why would I want to pay interest on that $50 for 2 months (I know it's not that much) until I can stand in line once aboard and get it changed.  Come on HAL it's the 21st century.  Update your OBC accounting within the online account and the app too, for that matter. 

We first cruised with HAL 25 years ago and have typically been the "youngest on board." 

We introduced our parents to HAL a few years later (they are all in their 80's now.) We enjoy the company of the so-called HAL old folks, including our parents, and have another family cruise set in February.  We can't wait to have the time to take longer cruises and become HAL old folks ourselves. 

Made a final payment on Monday and the statement credit was applied this morning.  Every little bit helps!

This was a no-brainer for us.  Our final payment date is Nov. 6.  So, if we pay a whole week early, by Oct 31, we get the credit. Also, we have a group of several couples going that all booked together but only one couple received the e-mailed offer.  However, when I called HAL to just go ahead pay our final payment (to get current AMEX offer applied too) I was told that we would receive the OBC credit for paying before 10/31 in spite of not having received a notification email.  Also, the notification e-mail our friends received says the credit will not show up until after Nov 30, and that part makes absolutely no sense to me.  Why does it take a full month?

We came across those blankets in the library on Rotterdam last year.  We went to the front desk and asked for one to purchase as my DW loved it.  One was delivered to our stateroom and added to our onboard account.  It was very reasonably priced although I do not remember how much at this point in time.

Has anyone posted, or know of, a comparison of an East to West Crossing to a West to East Crossing?  Obviously, the time of year is different but what about the weather, winds and seas between the two different routes taken and other such specifics?

Here is a start.

The Crow's Nest on most ships.  The library on most ships.  The bread pudding and the Dutch Pea Soup. 

With our last sail being pre-COVID in August of 2019 on Royal Clipper, we have finally booked another trip for the 12 October 2024 - Sporades Highlights sailing on Star Clipper. To add to the excitement and anticipation, we are bringing great friends along for their first time on Star Clippers.  Can not wait!

We were on the very next cruise as all of that occurred in 2019. Arrived in Cannes to NOT see our ship in the harbor. (We've sailed from Cannes before and know where it should be for embarkation.)  We then discovered we were being bussed to a different port to avoid possible seizure of the ship and that many of our upcoming ports would change.

We still had a marvelous trip though.

You would think Star Clippers could pick up Golden Horizon at a huge discount now.  That may have to wait until a bankruptcy court gets involved as I would not doubt the "sellers" would rather not sell to Star Clippers, especially at a discount, given the animosity and history between the parties.

In the meantime, a beautiful ship lies unused.  Such a waste.

On 1/22/2023 at 11:28 AM, cruisegirl1 said:

I'm not the OP but was on the Jewel for the same two weeks.   

 

 

The ship was in good condition.  Entertainment was good ( naturally not as good as an Oasis class ship with so much variety) however the live music was fantastic (Centrum, Schooner bar, shows, etc.)  The food was on par with others RCCL ships.  Few dining options made for a very crowded windjammer on sea days.  Only 3 specialty restaurants. (Izumi Sushi, Chops, Giovani's).  S

 

The 8 night was the old menu, and the 6 night was the new menu.  Lots of changes.  Some good, some not to my taste.  Didn't see any difference between the old menu lobster tail and the  new menu lobster tail.  Had dinner one night (second week) at Giovani's which has a new menu.  I ordered a new dish and the waiter talked me out of it. 

 

Casino was extremely  smokey the second week, but wasn't too bad the first week  I guess more smokers on board.

 

Staff is friendly and helpful. CD staff is energetic. 

 

If you  are expecting a new ship with lots of variety, you will be disappointed.  If you understand what you are booking, you will love the ship/cruise.

 

M

 

 

 

 

Thank you.  Our first RCI cruise is this summer on Jewel.

On 1/22/2023 at 11:24 AM, smokeybandit said:

People love to leave negative reviews, especially of the smaller, older ships

That is true.  However, we prefer smaller, older, more traditional ships.  We have been on one mega-ship on a different line and were not impressed.

I've seen some fairly poor reviews lately regarding the Jewel. I would be interested in your impressions having completed two weeks so recently.

3 hours ago, LadyBerard said:

Although cruising on Royal Caribbean for NE/Canada cruise in two weeks, why does Holland state that you must have received a booster if initial shots more than 5 months old for Canada?  I have read Canada's covid protocols, and do not see where they state that.

I would be interested in this answer as my brother and sister-in-law are on HAL Oct 5 to NE/Canada and have been told they have to have a booster (3rd shot for them overall) to go.

It appears to be very random how these "Offers" show up on the AMEX Platinum.  We've been watching for a Royal Caribbean Offer to use towards next years sailing but none have shown up.  We did however just receive the Celebrity "Offer" mentioned here and used it to book Celebrity Xploration through our longtime TA.  We have indeed received the $175 credit.  Now looking at our current list of Offers, there is an Oceania and a Carnival Offer available.

I do not see it on either one of our AMEX cards.  Disappointing.  We have a payment to make on our first RCI cruise.