obriendan

It was an amazing cruise! We loved every minute of it, right until the made us get off the ship. Loved the Rotterdam.

 

As for photos, I learned this way from the lovely ladies on the fashion board. Load your photos onto Photobucket. Once there, open the photo you want to post, and to the right of the image you will see some boxes. One has IMG to the left. Click inside that box, then paste into the box here on CC. You'll see the URL, but the image will show up when you post. Photobucket is free. Can't wait to see your pictures. I want to relive this trip over and over and over again.

Thanks, Amy. I'll give it a try. Apologies for forgetting to sign my name on the last post. This is Mary Kate & Chris. So good to hear from you and see your pictures.

Hi Amy and Mary Kate! Beautiful pictures, Amy.

It was a great cruise and the next 14 days were also wonderful. The highlight was Tattoo. As always visiting with you CC'ers made the cruises special. Here's our group with the CD and Captain.

Dan

Is the popcorn ready? This is going to a fun thread!:D

Dan

We leave for Rotterdam in only 7 days now!:D:D See all you folks on the August 2-16 Rotterdam cruise in the Crow's Nest at 2 PM on Sunday, August 3rd for the first M&G.

Dan

Thinking about the comments thus far on this topic, a thought struck me. Those of you who do not feel that you should ever add an extra tip for any service (including bars) are reaping the benefits of superior service without paying for it.

 

What I mean is, if no one ever tipped extra, I am certain that human nature being what it is, the level of service would end up being much inferior to what it is today. Everyone likes to be recognized for a job well done, and extra tipping is a way to express that. Makes it more likely that the person will continue to do a better job in the future I believe.

 

Don't believe me? Just go to a country where tips are included on your bill and in most (not all to be sure), the service you receive will not be as good.

 

Just my thought for today!

DaveOKC

With the wonderful dining wait staff, bar staff, and room stewards, I doubt this would ever happen. Our experience with these wonderful people is what causes us to come back again and again to HAL!

Dan

Compared to the current prices for the Sept 9th 12 day cruise, the VE to SC upgrade is not a very good deal. The current price difference between VE and SC is $2050 (1197 GBP); upgrade, 899 GBP. For the VE to SS the upgrade is a little better deal but not outstanding: Current price difference, $1300 (759 GBP); upgrade, 449 GBP.

If it were me, I would either wait for another upgrade email or hope for a free upgrade at the dock.

Dan

You're only riff raff if you carried your belongings in plastic grocery bags or coolers!!

I must be riff raff. On a Zuiderdam cruise I broke a large bottle of wine by placing my carry-on down not gentilly enough. I had to carry the pink contents onboard in a HAL supplied garbage bag!

Dan

Obriendan - Rotterdam - 6 - Mar - 15 - 34 day Passage to the Far East

Thanks, Jacqui.

Dan

We spent five nights at the Marriott London Kensington in October, 2013. It was a fine hotel with a large Sansbury accross the street for in room supplies. Close to the Earl's Court station, about five minutes walking. We got it on Priceline by bidding 4* in the Kensington-Earl's Court area for $100 + $13 (taxes and fees) per night. A great bargain since the rack rate was $333 per night!

Dan

Thanks for the schedule.

It is Gavin Burke from Galway. He was outstanding on the Ryndam on our April 6 to May 3 TA. Think he was going home at the end of May.

Dan

Test

Please include the Rottrdam! Thanks.

Dan

I have a serious Piano Bar question to those of you who seem to enjoy the entertainment there. In all of my HAL cruises, we have never actually been inside the Piano Bar. I've stood outside the door and listened for awhile, but never gone inside because there are never any open seats. How do you assure that if your favorite "piano man" is on your cruise that you actually get to "see" him or her?

If he is very popular get to the Piano Bar at least 10 minutes before he goes on duty. Usually then you can get a seat right at the piano.

Dan

We're you bothered at all at night by the lights on deck? We're the curtains sufficient to keep the room dark? How about noise from early morning walkers? Any smokers outside your lanai?

 

Would be interested as have always wanted to book one...

Night lights were no bother. However you may be awakend early in the morning by the crew washing down the promenade deck.

When we had a lanai on the Veendam, someone followed us after muster thinking our door was the way inside!

Dan

Thanks for the Review. We board the Ryndam for ou third cruise aboard her on April 6th.

Dan

I was just on the Zaandam for South America/Antarctica cruise. The aft outside pool was closed for quite a bit of our trip. And the Lido pool was drained completely for our time to, during and from Antarctica.

For safety purposes during rough weather the pools are closed and sometimes drained.

Dan

We are sailing on the Ryndam on 4/6 to Barcelona. We have not sailed on her since November of 2012. I noticed that she is going into a mini-dry dock after her final Spring sailing out of Tampa. HAL's deck plans indicate that there are some changes beginning with the April 6th cruise. I did see some changes to stateroom ranking within the various categories, but that is all that I can find.

 

Any ideas. Very excited since we love the S class ships. Everyone seems to value the size not that most new construction is on the huge side. Long may all the S class ships sail (including Zaandam and Volendam)!:):)

Please join us on the Roll Call thread

(http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1841971&page=23)!

Dan

We've never used Luggage Direct but we have used Southwest senior fares. When we first applied we did have to show proof of age at the airport. However we later submitted a letter with proof of age and since then it is in the Southwest system and no proof of age is required at check in and we can print boarding passes on line.

Dan

It is not Blue Bell but we think HAL ice cream is good!

Dan

We've cruised on both and both are S class ships so it is pretty much a toss up. The Veendam has Lanai cabins (a plus, IMO) but the aft pool has been replaced by a "poolette" (definitely a minus).

Dan

Here’s a picture of a well known Yum Yum man, Raymond, on formal night with DW Barb. It is from a 2002 Antartica cruise on the Ryndam. Raymond had a very outgoing personality. Whenever he saw me withourt Barb he would say "Where’s your honey!" This was in the days before the hotel charge and tipping was to individuals. Raymond as the Yum Yum man knew everyone and everyone, as Raymond would say, loves Raymond! I am very sure that he really, deservedly so, cleaned up!

Dan

Airfare need not be a problem. We are booked on the 27 Collector's Voyage on the Ryndam, FLL to Dover on April 6, 2014. We got a good price on a one way fare DFW to FLL on Delta. There are good one way fares because Delta competes with AA on this route. For the return flight we are using AA frequent flyer miles from Paris CDG to DFW. AA frequent one way flyer flights are just half the FF round trip fare.

Dan

If you have previously visited both St. Petersburg and Moscow, and had to choose ONLY one to go back to for a full day visit, which would you choose and why one over another? Please also vote. Thank you! :)

Undoubtedly St. Petersburg! The Hermitage, Catherine's Palace, Peterhof, etc., etc. give it the edge, perhapds only slightly over Red Square, and the Kremlin. How do you vote?

Oopd! Didn't see the boxes before I scrolled down. I did vote.

Dan

We have two future cruises booked that include Explore4: 27 day Ryndam transatlantic on April 6th and 28 day Rotterdam Northern Europe on Aug. 2nd. The BB price for the Ryndam cruise has gone down $600 pp and the Rotterdam cruise only $150 pp. Will probably seek the price reduction for the Ryndam cruise because $1200 is more than we would spend on drinks.

Dan

Please add:

Obriendan - Rotterdam - 02-Aug-14 28 Day Mignight Sun, Fjords & Highlands

Thanks.

Dan

Booked 27 day Ryndam transatlantic on May 10, 2013 with Internet TA. Fare was 12% lower than HAL and online posted fare. Heard about Explore4 offer on CC Saturday. Emailed TA yesterday. Explore4 Package added to my online invoice today. No increase in fare! :) Was able to retain FCC, Welcome Home, and shareholder OBC.

Dan

My first cruise ship was the Matson Line ss Lurline. As reported here before, my family (mother and two brothers) had the foresight:rolleyes: to travel from LA to Honolulu in late November, 1941, about two weeks before Pearl Harbor. My father was the captain of the USS Lamberton (DD119) (DMG 2), stationed in Hawaii. His ship was fortunate to have been on patrol outside the harbor at the time of the attack.

The Lurline is seen in the movie "From Here To Eternity" at the end leaving Honolulu. We traveled in second class, bunk beds and bathroom down the hall. As a 9 year old, I have a very clear memory of how bright the stars seemed at night at sea. After December 7th, we remained until April, and then returned to San Francisco in a small convoy aboard the transport ship USS U.S. Grant.

Dan