G&G

As stated in other threads, we will be sailing on HAL in December 2022 for the last time after 40 years sailing on HAL. We are not leaving HAL, HAL left us.

On 7/26/2022 at 8:11 AM, G&G said:

One final question, we board the Nieuw Statendam in December. What made this ship better than the Beyond?

Hi Lunastella. Are you still out there or have you left the building 😀.

Would very much appreciate an answer to my question from a week ago, why did you rank Nieux Statendam ahead of the Beyond?

Here is my two cents. I live in the Tampa area. It appears your ship arrives on 10/22/22. Fog is usually not an issue in Tampa Bay until the winter months, sometime after Thanksgiving. But Holland America stop sailing out of Tampa three years ago due to the fog; but their ships did not start sailing until late November. I would suggest you have pre TSA to make flight. Airport has been busy this summer but very efficient to get through security to gates. If it was me, I would book after 12 noon.

On 7/18/2022 at 12:29 PM, Lunastella said:

Last day & Parting words

 
I know lots of people don’t seem to like the Edge class ships (at least that’s the vibe I get from CC), but now I can safely say that I do. That said….dum, dum, dum…the big reveal….it’s not my most favourite ship ever…that accolade goes to HAL Nieuw Statendam.

 

 

 

One final question, we board the Nieuw Statendam in December. What made this ship better than the Beyond?

1 hour ago, Sykes said:

Our July 11th Greek Isles cruise on the Beyond was nearly 100% full (over 3,000 passengers), but honestly it never really felt that much worse than my last two half-full Edge cruises. I did notice that they added significantly more chairs to the main pool area compared to the half-full sailings--before there was an area left open for dancing and events, and this time that area was full of chairs and all the chairs were more densely packed. But nowhere on the ship did I find it difficult to find a place to sit, nor did I ever have to wait long for a drink if I went up to a bar.

Wow, that’s a relief. Not a long wait for a drink 😀

37 minutes ago, CyberTag said:

We were on the same sailing, and were told around 1600 on board. 

Thanks CyberTag. I thought by now these ships would be sailing nearly full. But what was amazing was most of the photos that Lunastella posted from inside the ship, rarely were there other passengers in the picture. It looked like y’all had your own private yacht 😀

Great review Bob. It is good to see the lighter side of cruising.

Thanks for the great review. Scheduled to board Beyond in November and very excited. I do not know if I missed it but do you know how many passengers were on your cruise? Thanks

13 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Another funny (I think) cruise story.that is kinder like Paul Harvey, the way he would say it.

 

Many years ago while on a cruise there was a cooking contest and who ever prepared the best dish would have their dish on the menu in the MDR the next night for everyone to enjoy. There were a host of contestants hoping to gain fame in their mission to prepare the best dish. It was tough competition but in the end our cruising buddy won by making a delicious baked mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat. I talked with the Head Chef who judged the event and he said it was one of the best mushroom dishes ever. So the next night everyone anticipated the dish. As we arrived into the MDR and were seated we noticed unusual chatter and laughter occurring periodic throughout the venue. Then we were presented the Menu in the MDR and when we saw the awarding winning dish on the menu we understood what was going on.

 

Our cruising buddy’s dish read and I quote, “Baked Mushroom Stuffed with Crapmeat”. No further explanation required except there is an end to this story.

 

I was another cruise six months later and ran into the Head Chef who was on the Crapmeat cruise. I asked him did anything happen after the mistake on the menu. The Chef replied in a German assent, “I got my a _ _ chewed out”.

 

And now you know the rest of the story. RIP Trish

Bob,

How do you come up so many funny cruise stories? 😀

In this time of sorrow, I would like to tell a brief story about one of our cruises with Trish. I call it, One Letter Can make a Difference.

On our 2nd South Pacific cruise with Kakalena in March 2010, on a sea day, HAL had a cooking contest in the theater. The passenger who prepared the best dish would have there dish placed on the menu in the MDR the next night for everyone to enjoy. The judges to the contest were the CD, Chef and HM. There was stiff competition but Kakalena wrong! Her awarding dish was Baked Mushrooms with Stuffed Crabmeat. So the next night we were all anticipating having the mushrooms for dinner. As I and my DW entered the MDR at about 5:45 PM we noticed unusual chatter and laughter occurring throughout the MDR. We sat down at our table and was handed the menu, looked at it, and also starting laughing. The prize dish that Kakalena had prepared the day before and was on this night’s menu read, and I quote,

”Baked Mushrooms with Stuffed Crapmeat”.

Though Kakalena was not happy about this, she came to laugh about it later as I presented her with the original menu for one of those great or unusual cruise memories. So one letter can make a difference, Kakalina or Kakalena, RIP

RIP Kakalina. So sad to hear of her passing. We were very lucky to have sailed with Trish & Virgil in the South Pacific. But now they are sailing together again.

Very funny. Look forward to your cruise review

Well, Hello friends from the Eurodam South Pacific cruise March 2019. I was reviewing threads on the CC site and there it was, at the bottom of the page. Hope everyone is doing well and safe. It was a pleasure meeting all of you on this cruise. What a great time! The islands are beautiful and the tours were outstanding. It is also wonderful that you have kept in touch with each other. That can be hard to do.

 I feel all of your pain; no cruising and who knows when it will restart. We were very lucky; booked a cruise at the last minute on Celebrity, sailed March 7-14, 2020 and was the last ship to sail out of Ft Lauderdale; with no one sick! Since then we have had 4 cruises cancelled and waiting for number 5 to be cancelled; 11/21/2020 sailing,  We have six cruises booked next year hoping one sails.

To keep busy during these times I learned how to paint; from an artist brush to an eight inch roller; not on canvas but on drywall. Painted the entire inside of house plus outside patio. Who were have thought that besides a run on toilet paper (no pun intended), that at Walmart there was a run on dumb bells and paint brushes. I got the job done in just under 3 months and me and the Misses had to go somewhere. So I pulled my paddle boat out of mothballs and set sail around our Lake for a unforgettable cruise.  While cruising there was a break in the water; was it a black tip shark; no, just Fred the alligator. Of course there were a few turtles following us; not sea but those who like to snap at you. I pictured myself in Fakarava circling the atoll but in a much smaller boat. And wouldn't you know it, when we got to the other side of the Lake the paddles would not paddle anyone; just like one of the three boats breaking down on our tour in Fakarava. Since there was no one to help, we dog paddled back to home base and the paddle boat is now in drydock for repairs. 

Hope we see y'all on some future dam ship. Stay safe. Rick & Connie from Odessa, FL

7 hours ago, hcat said:

Decided to check for myself..much as I dislike the Celebrity website

 

Results:

The Celeb website ( ugh) shows  Connie coming directly to Tampa  after the TA ( what a great itin! )

 

  Cruises from Tampa in Nov and Dec 2020 include Eastern, Southern and Western Carib... a vaiety of  7, 10, 5 and 11 night offerings. 

 

Is anyone here booked on these?

Do you think itins will change to shorter trips?  

All speculative but wondering????

 

Yes, booked on 11/21 & 12/13. These two cruises plus the 12/3 sailing are currently only 44% to 56% full, with only suites almost sold out. No shorter trips if ships sail with less passengers; better chance for social distancing.

We received our Celebrity refund for our sailing on the Reflection April 13, 2020 on 05/13/2020. Requested refund on 03/29/2020; it took 45 days.

Celebrity cruises has a medical form to be filled out by your physician for those over 70 that states you are able to sail with no pre-existing conditions that may be a problem cruising

RNB. Another classic review that only you can write! Happy cruising whenever it starts again

Sorry for the wait. They probably had to swim ashore to get your drink 😕

Does this mean we get a price break since the Tamarind Restaurants on other ships is less charge per person? Ha

Ninadam, 1492, $4.99, Blue Light Special 

Actually, Carnaval Festavale, Nov 1978, $665 pp, still have carbon copy of AMEX receipt.

4 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Discussed back in Sept:

 

 

 

On two separate threads

Great news. Plan to sail on the Veendam next year out of Tampa.

Irie Tours,  Curaçao,, was $25 pp. Find on line for details

This thread sounds like a continuation of the "Why do you hate HAL" thread!

25 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Just saw an announcement that Veendam will be sailing out of Tampa for 2020 season.  Will have 7, 12 and 14 day cruises to Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean.

 

Thanks for the info but this was discussed in a prior thread. I guess HAL did not like Celebrity moving into its territory