Zeno

Thx I will try to find it again

On 4/16/2024 at 8:11 AM, The4OfUs said:

 

 

Interesting!! Thank you, that's good to know - it's not on our documents for the Jan 2025 9 day Rotterdam cruise that we booked Oct 29, 2023, which is just silly, it's a great marketing tool they could use to get earlier bookings!  😛  

 

 

Where on you confirmation does this list of "Special Services and Included items"  appear?

Really happy to hear about the classical music returning. My husband and I enjoyed it a lot on our last HAL cruise and were disappointed to hear that it had gone away.

Thx this is great info

Oddly up to 1 flight of steps with fairly low risers (and that I just have to use once or twice a day) are really OK for me as they have

 railings.  High thresholds or lots of stairs that must be used to access all decks are not good. I think it's because my arms are reasonably strong.

Thx for info. Another quick question.  Since it's been a while since I have been on the Winsurf - I cannot remember - are the closing bulkhead doors just an issue on the "b" deck ? And which cabins would be blocked off from the elevator?  Thx again

Thx for info - my rollator folds sideways so that would not be a problem 

Some years ago we had our best cruise ever on the Windsurf and would really love to do another one but I now use a rollator.  I can walk short distances with my cane. Has anyone in a similar situation been on the Windsurf?  If so, did you manage OK?  Is there any deck or location that would be best? 

Any info is greatly appreciated.

How many formal nights on a 14 day cruise?  Is formal wear mandatory or suggested on formal nights?  My husband simply will Not dress formally - nice pants, nice shirt and tie - no problem.  What alternative dining possibilities that are not formal on formal nights would be available

Thx

Thanks for info - I had a feeling that the Vista "suites" were essentially no perks.  Oh well I will probably stick to an Oceanview. 

Seriously considering a cruise on the Rotterdam and trying to decide cabin type.  Can anyone tell me what perks (if any) does one get at the Vista Suite level?

Thanks

Jim and I were delighted by our recent (24 June - 5 July) 12-day Windstar cruise aboard Star Pride -- Edinburgh, Scotland / Kirkwall, Scotland / Norway (port stops in Bergen, Geiranger, Alesund and Molde) / Torshavn, Faroes / Reykjavik, Iceland.

 

That you may better understand my comments -- we are not avid cruisers having been disappointed in fairly recent voyages on Regent (Caribbean) and Silverseas (Amazon), one each. Although I cruised often as a child on the now-defunct Panama Line. Cruising lately has been an option we are trying because Jim is in mid-stage dementia and this form of travel can be easier than some.

 

We adored Star Pride, a smaller vessel with around 200 passengers. It was in tip-top shape and we found the furnishings pleasing and comfortable which cannot be said of our Silverseas and Regent experiences. No crowding, much comfort plus thoughtful touches throughout.

 

Service was pervasive, attentive and kindly. Never a surly face to be seen (although there was an occasional "doing my job" mien). Meanwhile the many smiles were sufficiently genuine so as to defeat my BS sensor.

 

As with our Silverseas and Regent cruises we booked top accommodation, an owners suite of 648sq.ft. which was perfect for us. Foyer, bar area, bedroom, living room, full marble bath with walk-in shower (YAY), powder room, walk-in closet, plentiful storage, windows galore, large outside deck with lounge and dining furniture. If I can't book a large premium REAL suite, I won't book, period, no matter the line. Although smaller by almost half of the SS and Regent top suites, we were delighted with the Star Pride owners suite and found it very much to our taste. So comfortable.

 

Speaking of taste, no question decor is entirely objective. I so prefer the quiet, comfortable ethos on Star Pride. Little bling, no fake elegance, no distasteful art, no sacrificing function over form. This cruise line has managed to furnish its cabins and public spaces with graceful furniture and airy ethos. Kudos, Windstar.

 

Much depends upon the food. This, in particular, is where SS and Regent utterly reneged on their Luxury promise yet Windstar shone finest kind. Food was fab! Breakfast in The Veranda was excellent. Mmm. The fruit buffet was fabulous -- juicy, tasty, utterly fresh. No cardboard melon. Best benedicts with variations. Delicious scrambled eggs -- these are my breakfast test, however common, good scrambled eggs are difficult to be had. Even room-service breakfast was fab!

 

Lunch for us was in the Yacht Club where a rotating selection of mini sandwiches was provided each day: egg salad on pita (my fave), pate on whole wheat, smoked salmon on French, Asian chicken wrap, turkey with cranberry jelly, ham and brie on French, etc. Plus a selection of cookies and dessert. There are two other lunch venues but we did not go there, so satisfied were we with the Yacht Club offerings.

 

Dinner. Well, dinner was finest kind. Delicious, wonderfully satisfying and a salubrious mix of creative and traditional. Lobster twice and it was very very good indeed. I confess I went to dinner with low expectations but was delightfully surprised every night but one. My grilled veal chop was not so grilled and closer to raw than medium rare.

 

We enjoyed our fellow cruisers who spanned the gamut from one young honeymoon couple to a full panoply of age ranges including more than a few family groups. In general on this cruise, average age skewed lover than our other two cruises. For good or ill -- just information.

 

Excursions -- Inextricably wrapped up in port choices. We traveled with my kindergarten friend from Panama and none of the three of us could come up with an explanation of why we had 36 hours at Kirkwall in Scotland where the weather was dreadful all the day long.

 

Meanwhile, the four Norway ports were nothing short of fabulous but we could have used more time in each. Ashore time was skimpy. For most onboard, Norway was the point of the trip.

 

Faroe Islands -- in the middle of the Norwegian Sea. Arrived in the early morning. Left at 1pm when the sun began to shine. Poor timing.

 

It's odd but probably familiar to the well cruised -- port choices and times have little to do with what is best for passengers but rather more to do with management sailing and PR issues.

 

In general excursion choices were fine with good selection for the more active. Our four excursions in Norway were good to great. We opted out of excursions in Kirkwall and Faroes due to entirely overcast weather which is the norm in the morning which is when we were there. Right. Why?

 

I am a good sailor but my two companions suffered mal de mer on the last two days of the voyage as we transited the Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic. Seas were rambunctious and ours was a small ship. Bonine available gratis at reception and that did help. Ship's doctor available for injections in grievous cases.

 

Service was kindly and competent across the board. A call-out to our suite steward, Christian, who was so sweetly expert.

 

If we cruise again, It will be on one of the Windstar motorized yachts. The Windstar sail yachts have too many passengers in tiny cabins so not for us. If you need decent room in your cabin, look only to the motorized "yachts."

We loved our Windstar voyage on Star Pride very much -- it was finest kind. If we cruise again it will be on one of the Star vessels.

Finally, a note about luxury. For me, luxury is about comfort, kindness, good food, intelligent excursions and fine accommodations. In an environment that brings together like-minded folk. We were happy to jostle along with our colleagues.

I loved the atmosphere on our first Windstar cruise (and we are dying to go again - maybe in the later half of 2019). We were on one of the sailing vessels (Wind Surf) and loved it but I can understand why the sailing vessels might not be for you if room size is very important. I agree about Windstar food - absolutely the best we have ever had on a cruise and the service was definitely fantastic. Our fellow passengers were interesting and pleasant.

It's too bad that you did not have a good time on Orkney (we were there on another cruise (not Windstar) and it was one of our favorite ports - so much to see (I guess it helps of Neolithic ruins are your thing and if the weather is decent).

Reading your review, made me want to book another cruise TODAY!

Oops I nearly forgot - I wanted to thank you for the comparisons to other cruiselines - VERY helpful.

Very helpful review - Thanks!

Don't drink.

Personally I think it's a ridiculous decision on NCL's part - particularly skipping Kona which is nowhere near the eruption.

But then I find cruise lines are often absurdly over-cautious about perceived "danger".

HAL website's new motto: why use one click to find what you want to know, when we can make you click a dozen times to see all our pretty imagery to distract you with what we want you to see.

That about sums it up - the new website sucks

Don't leave the tray in the hall!

Why?

1. It's disgusting.

2. More important - it's dangerous - people can trip over it.

3. It "narrows" the hallways space making it more difficult for people with mobility problems to move around.

What's wrong with calling Room service and asking them to pick up the tray IN YOUR ROOM or asking your cabin steward to pick it up from your room.

For us that sucks - we enjoy libraries on ships. The books and the quiet. I guess I will just have to load up more e-books for our upcoming cruise.

Considering all the complaints - has a library been added to the Koningsdam?

Got the email and booked a 10 day southern caribbean on the Koningsdam

While NCL could pass those changes on to existing bookings, they normally don't pass them on. Changes in port fees, etc., happen all the time.Sometimes they go up, and NCL eats the cost. Sometimes they go down and you get a refund.

That happened to us once - the port charges went down and we got a small refund.

DSC is common across most cruise lines.

I don't recall saying that it wasn't. On every cruise I have taken there as been a service charge and of course it's to keep the base fare looking low. And I still wish that it was part of the cruise fare regardless of which cruiseline. BTW I don't object to the DSC, I would just prefer to have it rolled into the cruise fare.

Of course! Personally I just wish that they would include the SC in the price.

My buddy and I are doing a cruise on June 3rd through the 10th on the Norwegian Getaway. Below is our itinerary. We try to take a "bro cruise" once every couple years just to take a break from every day life. Most men do golf outings or camping trips or this or that a few times a year. We do this. We generally don't do excursions on our Bro Cruise (we do sometimes with our families) unless it's a mini tour or something of the island/area. Honestly, those tend to not be all that exciting. This time, we are contemplating a different plan.

 

So, here is my question. Out of the following itinerary, what stop would be the best to rent a convertible and just drive? We are just looking for the experience. Views. Local villages or something that tourists generally don't go to. Safety. Overall experience. Thoughts?

 

Thanks for your feedback!

 

Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

Harvest Caye, Belize

Costa Maya, Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico

My opinion: Cozumel or Costa Maya

"We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto".

A lot of people don't seem to get that simple truth.