Tika

Looking for pre & post cruise input for assistance at airports with checking in and trekking to gates etc.  Our last cruise we were dropped off at Amsterdam airport at

7:00 am for a noon flight back home to Newark Airport.  It was a very difficult experience with luggage, checking in and walking what seemed like miles through the airport

to the gate and lounge areas.  Has anyone used Airport Assistance services?  If so please, please advise.  We are at the point that we will be unable to cruise without assistance.

We are in relatively good health and have cruised for many years but with the usual issues of being seniors the experience this past cruise has set us back.  I have seen these buggy carts at airports and I am wondering how that works for departure service curbside and return services.

Thank you all so much for responding to my question. We are not big spenders ( I like to think) but just want to be prepared '. I read somewhere here you even have to pay to use the restrooms in Europe.:)

We are going on an all inclusive river cruise on the Seine and would like to know what would be a safe amount of Euros we should have for personal tipping, off the ship dinners, gifts in the towns and other miscellaneous expenses . Any input would be gratefully appreciated.

Looks like a lovely day there, Bon Voyage to those sailing on her today.

I know there was a very active roll call, I hope you have a wonderful time.

Thanks Host Hattie,

We are patiently waiting for the car service to pick us up and take us to Brooklyn. I got an SUV so hopefully our luggage will easily fit. :>)!

As I mentioned on our roll call thread my DH wanted to know if I had pots & pans in my suitcases! Yes, but this cruise is on the QM2 and this will be our second time on her and I am so looking forward to all the ambiance etc. while on board. It has been a wonderful roll call thread here and I look forward to matching all the faces with their names at our Meet & Greet tomorrow afternoon.

Sail Away should be beautiful, as today is now sparkling with bright sunshine and not too cold or windy. I'm officially on vacation...............Yipeeeeeee :>)!

Eric I've done a couple crossings in August and worn sweatshirts and jeans mid-atlantic. The air temp is likely to be 40 or less' date=' then add the wind chill of the actual windspeed, plus the speed of the ship moving over the water (say 25 knots) and it will be COLD. I'm on this one, and I'm bringing a coat, hat, gloves, and lightweight lap blanket for outside time.[/quote']

 

Chris, I am with you 100% I wear my heavy duty down coat to board in November throw it in the closet once on board but believe me it sure comes in handy when you want to go out on deck or your balcony. The wind can cut right through a sweater or sweat shirt! I also pack my gloves and ear muffs! Be prepared to enjoy and stay toasty warm :>)!

Just received my sailing documentation and I see there are two formal nights. What do you wear for a Roaring 20s formal?

Marcy,

Do a search here on the internet for Flapper, Roaring 20's cloths-costumes etc. There are several good sites to explore and the prices are fairly reasonable. It is fun attire and really easy to get into it for the ladies. I found my flapper dress here on the internet. Sorry I don't remember the site but you can get a good idea of what you might like to put together for a fun theme.

After ankle surgery I passed through Amsterdam airport and they are fabulous with wheelchair assistance, etc. they wouldn't take a tip, either.

Also if anyone else needs to know, the entrance rolling onto the airport train is totally flat, the transfer is really easy.

Bon Voyage!

Susan

I did check Newark Int. NJ airport for luggage assistance and didn't come up with any specialized service for personalized assistance other than the usual skycaps that help you once you have located all your luggage from the carousel. We need help at the carousel just getting the luggage off and gathered and then out to car service. Maybe I am just not asking the right questions for this type of assistance. :<)!

We had to ship our luggage (3 pieces) from Canary Is to USA,

 

Cost € 708.40

 

Good luck....

The estimate or I should say guesstimate I found here on line with the different luggage services is somewhere between $5.00 & $6.00 a lb. One way for international shipping. Can anyone address the prices?

I know........Good Luck...........thanks for your input!

Thank you all so very much! The information about Schiphol is extremely helpful. We will need someone at the airport to help us get our luggage off the carousel reclaim area upon arrival and then on to the HA shuttle to the hotel and then again when we get to the airport when we leave for our flight back to the USA. Cost wise this seems a lot more do able with just the logistics to work out. I contacted the car service we have used in the past for airport/cruise travel and apparently they have international connections for the type of service as mentioned above......could possibly be Schiphol? So thanks to CC and all here I am on the right track!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so hoping and "praying" we can take this cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You might want to check with HAL, they offer this service as well. As you say it is expensive. I can't imagine that you need to do it but if you want to, bring your wallet.

HAL recommends Luggage Forward but there seems to be no discounts or promos. DH has heart issues with past open heart surgery, so we really need some kind of luggage help. The cruise is 14 days/nights. Packing will be a challenge for us for sure especially for me as hard as I really try I always over pack. I don't know yet what the airlines charge for luggage on International flights. I am not sure but I think our TA said Delta.

Thank you everyone who responded to my post! Maybe I will get some more input for our luggage issues.

We are planning to book a HA cruise on the Prinsendam in August 2016. We would like to ship our luggage from New Jersey to Imjuiden, Amsterdam, Netherlands and then have it shipped back home to NJ after the cruise. Has anyone done this? I have checked several web sites offering this service and Luggage Forward seems to offer the best service but it is soooooo expensive. Is it worth it? Pros and cons would be appreciated for any shipping services. What was you experience?

Dave,

You can't imagine how thrilled I am to have found you here on CC! We booked this cruise months ago and just before we were due to send in our finale payment DH had a heart problem which we were unsure if he would need surgery (again) so we sadly had to cancel. Good news is that he didn't need any surgery and all is good. We were so looking forward to cruising on the Oosterdam and escaping winter here in NJ. I will be cruising with you vicariously and so look forward to your everyday day account on your retirement celebration and journey into the sunshine & Caribbean. Have a great cruise and say hello at the Meet & Greet to all the roll call folks from Tika.

Those complaining about the dogs swimming obviously haven't walked further down the beach and watched the horses dropping road apples on the beach and in the water! :)

Good one.................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Tika,

 

The fire on board HOMERIC was 1 July 1973. The galley was gutted and as the ship was quite old, Home Lines made a decision to scrap the ship.

 

STATENDAM started the weekly service to Bermuda started in 1974. Before that she came on occasional runs.... going back to 1960. Unfortunately I do not have all the dates for the STATENDAM. I will have to go back to the files. Next chance in Hamilton it should be easy to find what cruise you were on... and about the dock strike roughly that period. July.August 1973.

 

Stephen

Stephen, You are right on about the July 1973 date and the dock strike. It would be interesting to see how many pax were on board. Also how many pax booked on the Homeric where transferred over to the Statendam. She was really, really busting !

Were you in Bermuda when the Veendam left Hamilton for the last time? It was so sad with no formal Farewell Ceremony........nothing......happily we did see folks waving from ashore as we pulled out of the harbor but that was it!!!!!!!!!!!! looking forward to hearing from you.

As a young child I was always fascinated by the big ships docked in New York when my father drove down the West Side Highway. We always asked him to slow down as we gazed in awe of the big ships. For a surprise he booked a transatlantic crossings to and from Europe. I was totally hooked by the age of 14. Rolling forward and married I convinced my DH to try a cruise to Bermuda. He was extremely reluctant but conceded and I booked the old Statendam for a cruise to Bermuda. I think it was the end of July or the beginning of August. It was last minute booking and we were in a stateroom way forward and up on a high deck near the bow. These were the days when there were grand bon voyage celebrations at the pier with family, friends waving. streamers etc. It was so exciting!!!!!!!!!

Once boarded we were informed that there was a major fire on the Homeric (anyone remember?) because of the fire "many" of the pax were transferred to the Statendam. The ship was bursting at the seams but no complaints from us, remember this is DH's first cruise. Next came some rough seas. Stateroom up high near the Bow DH became very ill..........it wasn't going good for him but he survived and we finally reached Bermuda. As we approached the beautiful island the Captain announced that there was a dock strike and the ship was not going to be able to dock! Now there is this packed ship bursting the seams and no one could disembark. The ship cruised around and around the island for I guess two days before she headed back to New York. I was happy just to be on a ship and was in awe how the crew managed the overwhelming huge crowd of disappointed pax. I don't know how I ever got my DH to cruise again but since that first cruise we have cruised many, many times. We were fortunate to cruise to Bermuda on the Veendam her very last time to dock in Hamilton a few years ago and now we are booked on the Oosterdam for a Southern Caribbean cruise Jan. 2016. Always a magical adventure being on board one of these Grand Dams of the Seas!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a young child I was always fascinated by the big ships docked in New York when my father drove down the West Side Highway. We always asked him to slow down as we gazed in awe of the big ships. For a surprise he booked a transatlantic crossings to and from Europe. I was totally hooked by the age of 14. Rolling forward and married I convinced my DH to try a cruise to Bermuda. He was extremely reluctant but conceded and I booked the old Statendam for a cruise to Bermuda. I think it was the end of July or the beginning of August. It was last minute booking and we were in a stateroom way forward and up on a high deck near the bow. These were the days when there were grand bon voyage celebrations at the pier with family, friends waving. streamers etc. It was so exciting!!!!!!!!!

Once boarded we were informed that there was a major fire on the Homeric (anyone remember?) because of the fire "many" of the pax were transferred to the Statendam. The ship was bursting at the seams but no complaints from us, remember this is DH's first cruise. Next came some rough seas. Stateroom up high near the Bow DH became very ill..........it wasn't going good for him but he survived and we finally reached Bermuda. As we approached the beautiful island the Captain announced that there was a dock strike and the ship was not going to be able to dock! Now there is this packed ship bursting the seams and no one could disembark. The ship cruised around and around the island for I guess two days before she headed back to New York. I was happy just to be on a ship and was in awe how the crew managed the overwhelming huge crowd of disappointed pax. I don't know how I ever got my DH to cruise again but since that first cruise we have cruised many, many times. We were fortunate to cruise to Bermuda on the Veendam her very last time to dock in Hamilton a few years ago and now we are booked on the Oosterdam for a Southern Caribbean cruise Jan. 2016. Always a magical adventure being on board one of these Grand Dams of the Seas!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like she's turned around and is going back down the Hudson.

I was watching the NY Harbor web cam and saw the same thing. Confused me. Maybe they will disembark the Passenger that had the Alpha call. So sad for sure!

For those curious about the snacks in the Concierge Lounge, here are some photos.

They look standard ........same as on other RCL ships.

I am super fussy when it comes to tea and always pack my decaf Tetley British Blend. On the ships there is always a choice of herbal teas and usually Lipton decaf tea but I have to have my Tetley. I have never seen Tetley decaf offered on any of our cruises!

We are on this cruise. If they give us free internet I will come back. We are B2B but no information about how they will handle it is coming yet.

And yes, I got it, and am over it now. DW did not. I thought that I would write a little of diary of events and post them here.

 

Francis

Thank you for posting!!!!!! Please keep us updated. Our cruise friends Pam & Walt (Coboltblue) are on board and I hope they are OK!!!!!!! It is so sad to think that everyone's anticipated vacation has to end because of this awful "bug"! The news has been spotty and I am anxious to hear the "real story" from folks on board. Just the thought of being so sick, even for 24 hours, is devastating when on vacation.

It should be interesting how they provide for your B2B.

Sending prayers and good luck for you and all on board.

Tika

First ship T/A Cristoforo Columbo May 31, 1955

Second ship Andrea Doria T/A August 31, 1955 her tragic accident July 26, 1956

lurline Matson line to Hawaii June 1959

Totally hooked for a lifetime of ships and cruising.

Raw sewage backing up all over floors, soaking carpets, sloshing all over the place .. that is a major health hazard. Why wouldnt the CDC, DPH (or whoever it is that gives ships their cleanliness ratings) force them to take that ship out of service fix the problems, sanitize the hell out of the ship and then re-inspect it to make sure it is fit for passengers.

To call this disgusting is an understatement. Raw sewage?? And the ship is still sailing with new passengers ??

And yet they pretend to be so worried about things like Norovirus .. squish-squish hand sanitizer patrol people ain't gonna help this mess.

That's exactly what I was thinking! It is diplorable that a ship is allowed to sail with passengers under these circumstances. There are major bacterial infections such as C-Diff and Giradia which come form sewage. One does not want to get this type of bacterial invasion as it can be a killer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it will be very crowded. It's kind of crowded with just the sofa bed open, IMO. If you're talking $600 for all four of you, I think that would be money well spent.

Go for the upgrade! You all will be so much more comfortable. Love the GS layout with plenty of storage and seating etc. Plus you have the perk with the Concierge Lounge for coffee, juice etc. in the AM etc. etc. throughout the day and evening.

I am hoping someone in this thread can help me with my question.

My family is booked in the Owner's suite on the Allure. I have tried making reservations for Chops and Geo's table. They are completely booked for the time I need the entire cruise. I need a before 7pm time as my daughter is 11.

I also can't make reservations for several of our nights using the MTD as they are booked as well.

 

Does anyone know if concierge holds reservations to the side for suite guest?

I know my booking information states that concierge will help with our dining but I am not sure if I can get in with everything booked.

I am anxiious to see the responses to your post. As suite guests hopefully your Concierge will be able to pull some strings. I find it hard to believe that you couldn't book the dinner reservations for the time you have requested. Contact your Allure Concierge ASAP.

Thank you all so very much for responding to my enquiry!!!!!!!!! A big plus knowing that we can pack appropriately for the crossings & land touring. I think the price is reasonable for this convenience. The days of the free b's are long gone and I am just happy that the service is still available especially with Cunard/Carnival's storage facility.

Do you have to take out special insurance?