dcsam

In trying to beat the crowds, we made 5:30 pm reservations at the Tamarind on the evening of embarkation.  For Eurodam. Alaska.   Just want to be comfortable after a long day, but don’t want any ‘looks’.  Are nice jeans appropriate?  Best to change?

Thank you!

Thank you.  I’ll keep a lookout. 🙂

Getting ready to cruise aboard the Eurodam to Alaska.  Does the ship offer reduced rates for massages during port days? 

Thank you

Just a thought:  You can often find decent deals doing a 7 nighter out of Vancouver; cruise to Seward and then stay on. the ship for another 7 night cruise back to Vancouver.  I think the scenery is a bit better on the southbound route.   Either way, good choice with the Volendam. 

Absolutely!!!  Definitely begin, end or do a round trip out of Vancouver.  Unlike Seattle, you experience the true inside passage and calmer waters.  It’s beautiful. 

We’ve cruised many times out of Seattle and Vancouver.  Seattle is for convenience.  Vancouver is for the scenery. 

 I understand the room is a bit smaller than the typical Neptune’s. That’s okay.   For us, it’s all about being able to spend more time outside on the balcony.   My husband has mobility challenges, so being able to view the scenery and enjoy the outdoors without the crowds is what it’s all about for us. 

I’m doin the happy dance as I just took a paid upgrade to an aft Neptune Suite aboard the Eurodam!   For ~$650 more for the two of us.  For a 1 week cruise.  I just booked (2 days ago) a good deal on a last minute cruise for Alaska (balcony).  So that additional seems like a great deal.  I’ve wanted to give an aft balcony a try - just never imagined it would be in a corner Neptune!  I’m stoked!!    

We were booked last summer on the Amsterdam, but had to cancel the night prior due to an emergency. This is our redemption cruise:-)

Is it true we can have breakfast in the Pinnacle grill area?  Can I trade the complimentary bottle of champagne in for wine? Any hidden perks you can tell me about?

Thank you!

I think I just answered my own question.  I’m not going to be bothered bringing a blender and I’m not going to go to the effort of finding some overworked person to blend things for me.  Instead, we’ll bring supplements, drink oodles of water and choose a few essential foods to keep things a movin. 

I see that HAL offer smoothies.  However, these are not similar to the type we drink every morning - lots of fresh vegis, fiber, a bit of fruit, ice...  

But will the blender be confiscated?  The other option is to collect our vegis and fruit from the lido and bring to someone who will blend for us.  Seems extreme, I know.  

 By the way, I have tried searching for info on the topic.  But the ‘search’ on this website isn’t user friendly.

Thank you!

It’s been awhile since we’ve cruised with Holland America.  I think we prefer the Pinnacle lunch over the dinner.  Does the Pinnacle Grill serve lunch every day?  Are reservations needed?  We’ll be on an upcoming Eurodam Alaska cruise.  

Thank you.

I just booked the June 15th, Eurodam. It’s been a few years since we’ve cruised with HAL. I’d like to dine at Tamarind a couple times and Pinnacle perhaps once.  Are there ‘packages’ available?  Is it best to book them now or wait until we’re on board?  If we book now, how does the Mariner discount work?

Id also like to order a bottle of vodka or gin for in-room consumption.  Anybody know the size?

Thanks so much!

Thanks y’all.  I went back and booked with holland America.  They were able to book  me into an ADA balcony cabin on an upper deck (something a popular travel agency was not able to do).  However, we are booked for the Oceania Riviera in December.  I’ll just have to wait until then.  

Thank you.  

Azamara does have some decent deals for Alaska - but only 1 that’s RT out of Vancouver.  The other’s require flight to Anchorage and then transfer to Seward.  Since my husband has mobility issues, keeping things easy is quite important.  Round trip out of Seattle is certainly the easiest.  Yes, there’s always Holland America.  But I do want to try Oceania. 

I just cancelled a hold on an upcoming Alaska cruise. It was with Holland America.  We’ve cruised with HAL many times, but our tastes have changed.   Viking Oceans and Azamara has spoiled us.  This cruise was listed under Holland America’s Top Ten deals.  Does Oceania have anything similar for an upcoming Alaska cruise?  We are very flexible in our travel, and Seattle is just a drive away.   

Thank you!

Thanks for the information.  Yes, this cruise for a balcony is hard to beat.  I’ll check into the Ruby Princess right now.  I do enjoy Princess.  I’ve cruised on some of their smaller ships.  I’m not terribly fond of their larger ones.  But I’ve only been in the Star.  Way too crowded.  Still... just give me a nice balcony, and I’m a happy camper. 

I just put a hold on a Eurodam June 15 cruise.  We’ve cruised witH HAL several times (never aboard the Eurodam however).  Never cruised with celebrity.  How would these two different ships compare? I need to make up my mind soon.

Thank you.

We docked in Cienfuegos and we’re there for 3 days.  We brought a transfer chair for my husband.  He can walk with assistance, but not very far and not on uneven ground. He did okay getting on and off the tender (with assistance). Can you do the steps up and down to the tender?  On one day, we got ourselves to the central area and just meandered around. There is a walking-only side street that was quite wheelchair friendly.  Just chilling in the town square was a nice experience.   But it was challenging getting there.  It would probably be best to hire a taxi to get there, although it’s really not far. Then we hired a horse-drawn buggy for a private tour.  But I don’t recommend it.  Very bumpy and not comfortable. We were dropped off back at the ship.  

Another day, we took an included ship tour.  Still, there was quite a bit of getting on and off the bus. I’m glad we didn’t stay on the ship, and I’d recommend a travel wheel-chair or transfer chair over the rollators.  And whatever you take, make sure they’re big wheels to help get over all the bumps.  Make sure someone else in the group is strong and can help. 

  You also might check the Cuba forum and look for a private guide that will meet you at the ship.  This would probably be best.  I prefer to do this whenever possible rather than a large tour.  

Thanks for the information.  This sounds like a great way to spend part of a day.  But our first option is to rent a car. We’re a group of 6, so finding a vehicle that’s doable may be challenging  - maybe not.  In addition, I’m wondering what happens with a car rental (and payment) should we not make it into port due to weather/seas.  

Wonderful!  Thank you for posting!  We’ll be making a one day visit too.  Trying to decide between Shell Beach or car rental.  How wheelchair or scooter friendly is the road to Shell Beach?  My husband couldn’t walk that far, so we’ll use one or the other to get there.  By the looks of your photos, he would have quite a long walk on the beach - is that correct? I’d imagine we’d spend no more than a couple hours there. 

Thank you!

Caroline

Boy, do I hear ya!  Your situation sounds a lot like ours.  After using a transfer chair, I finally purchased a Travelscoot for my husband.  Yes, they are expensive, but worth it.  

I can put the carry-on on his Travelscoot.  I carry a  backpack and pull  1 large checkin.  More than that, and it becomes more than I can handle.  In fact, it’s gotten to the point we just won’t travel with more than that. 

   I can easily lift and fold down the scooter as it’s 30-35 pounds.  It does come with a travel bag, and I’ve met a couple who uses it to check the scooter in.  Once checked in, they get a wheelchair at the airport. I prefer not to check it in however. My husband drives the scooter right to the point of entry at the plane.  He gets out and walks to his seat; I push down and lock steering; take off battery and back rest.  I carry those three things (and carry-ins) on the plane.  I leave the scooter and it’s loaded into cargo.  Once the plane lands,  I deplane a bit earlier than my husband; wait for scooter; put it back together and he walks out after most on the plane have left.  It works out great.  

The transfer chair worked pretty good too. In fact, we may bring both on an upcoming cruise.  He actually prefers me pushing him throughout the ship over using the scooter.  But on land, the scooter works best. 

  Also, do loads of research if you’re planning on purchasing a different scooter.  Before the Travelscoot, I purchased another folding type.  50 pounds may not sound like much, but it was an awkward 50 pounds.  It was very slow and bumpy.  Needless to say, we sold it shortly after we purchased it.  Yes, I was trying to save money, but ended up losing quite a bit on resale.  

It’s been a couple years since we cruised with Azamara.  My husband uses a compact Travelscoot.  Last we cruised, there were lots of areas (mainly to and from pool area) and onto the deck that were difficult to get through.  The thresh-holds were quite tall and doors were heavy. Have those improved?  We have a hold for ADA cabin 4047.  Are there any pics of this cabin? Or 4049?  We’re debating between the 10 night Azamara cruise or Holland America Volendam.  We enjoy both but realize Azamara offers so much more. 

Thank you. 

We’re not making too much progress on the President’s Day sale promo. 

Our friends are currently booked in a B3.  They can upgrade to an A3 for the same price or an A4 and get just a smidge back.  They really want to stay in the B3 with the extended balcony.  Below is what the TA said:

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Cat. B3 cannot be repriced to a lower category because it is not one of the categories in the promotion. The only thing they could do would be upgrade to a Concierge and move cabins or stay where they are. 

If they cancel and rebook the pricing will be the same for the B3 as they currently have.

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At this point I think they will be happy to stay where they’re at.  Don’t know if they’d be interested in booking an outside and get the promo to a standard balcony.  It’s all about the ex. balcony.  The concierge has a few extra perks - not many though.  Tough call.  Curious as to what others would do? Extended balcony or Concierge and why?

As far as my booking: for some reason we have to wait until tomorrow because we’re booked in one of the few ada balcony cabins.  After learning what our friend’s are eligible for (or not), I’m not sure what we’re waiting for and what they’ll be able to do.  Are there only 2 ada balcony cabins on the Riviera?  

Sale end tomorrow.

Thank you!

Thanks for the information.  I’ll post the outcome.  I don’t know what we’ll spend the money on - probably a couple massages.  Our TA is providing the gratuities. My husband doesn’t drink and we don’t do ship tours, so shipboard credit seems best. 

Thanks!  As of now, there’s loads of space.  We did get an OLife perk when we originally booked (we opted for the shipboard credit).  Other than that, there weren’t any other promotions going when we booked.  Hopefully, our TA can work a bit of magic on Monday.  We’re booked in a B3 category and would like to keep our cabin if at all possible (ada for my husband).  If we had to change, I think I’d stay with what we’re currently booked at and skip the sale. 

We’re already booked for a December cruise.  Today I see the President’s Day sale applies for our cruise.  I think it could save us a bit of money.  I called our TA, but she’s not in until Monday.  Any ideas what they might be able to do for us? Will we have to cancel and rebook?  Any penalties doing that?  Final payment isn’t until September.  

Thanks much!