CAVE MAN

5 hours ago, Alphen said:

We had not seen a performance by Cantaré before on one of our Holland America cruises, so for some this maybe old news, but since we personally were fan of the former Hal Singers & Dancers shows (especially “Droom”), we were pleased to find that Christopher C. Minor is now part of the Cantaré group, performing on our latest cruise on Rotterdam! He has an excellent voice and shines in this performance on HAL!

 

Maybe more of these former members of the HAL SIngers & Dancers found there way somewhere in the cruise industry, but we could not help notice him in Cantaré, which we thought was an excellent show.

 

It goes without saying, that if one likes or dislikes certain performances on the World Stage is always subject to ones personal taste, but since we liked him as a really talented singer, we thought we should mention this here.

We were on the cruise with you, and agree, the show was great !!!!

2 hours ago, jwattle said:

My Dh wears his tux on formal nights, and turns out quite nicely on other nights as well; we enjoy the dressing up (yes, we like going back to the old days of cruising when it comes to the nightly meal). Others will disagree, some may say they think it's dowdy, we don't care! Bring on the glitz and glamor! Celebrate, you're on a cruise ffs!!! Cheers to dressing to the nines if you like! (Refer to my avatar for a glimpse)🥂

I Agree!!! We have such few times to enjoy getting formal. You are in a beautiful dinning room, lovely linen tablecloths, interesting china, and many courses.  Many times we have had Maitre d's thank us for looking so nice.

36 minutes ago, memoak said:

I haven’t worn a tux in many years and take a lot of 14-21 day cruises. Long sleeve button down  slacks and maybe a sports jacket 

We were on the Apex Transatlantic in October. We were surprise how many men wore tuxedos. My husband was disappointed he didn't bring his.

Thank you for your reply.

Wondering on longer cruises such as Transatlantic do men dress more formally, such as tuxedos?

17 hours ago, cruise kitty said:

Just to follow up, the laundry service was brilliant....everything came back looking pressed & ready to wear,  I was even able to send things out the last day, so traveled home with all clean clothing, & simply put things away....

 

this is absolutely one area where HAL outshines Celebrity!

So very true, Was on the Apex in October, and I sent the laundry back twice, they did such a poor job. I guess I thought it was going to come back looking the way Holland does it.

21 hours ago, Hlitner said:

We have done more then 2 dozen crossings including several on smaller ships (about the size of the Insignia) although none with "O."  DW and I love TAs and Transpacifics because we truly covet lots of sea days.  While some cruisers will cruise for ports, there are many other cruisers (including me) who cruise because we love ships and the sea.  There are few things more relaxing then many sea days in a row.  We just booked a Seabourn cruise that has 9 straight sea days :).  

 

So lets be honest about big vs smaller vessels.  The big ships generally have more activities and the space for lots of events.  Smaller ships will still have busy schedules, but they must deal with the limited space.  For DW and I the activities are not very important since we are able to keep ourselves happy by just relaxing and doing a lot of reading.  I think our favorite TAs were on HAL's Prinsendam (now retired) which was about 38000 tons.  We had less then 600 passengers on those crossings which is pretty similar to what you might expect on the Insignia.  

 

Hank

Thank you Hank for your reply,

We are with you on loving those sea days!!!! We have been on the Insignia before and enjoyed it very much. I guess I was just wondering about how it would  feel on such a small ship going across the Atlantic. I know it probably depends so much on the weather. We just got off the Apex on the 24 (big ship) and the weather was spectacular, and the waters were so calm you hardly felt like you were on a ship. 

Nice to know that you were on a crossing on a small ship and it was one of your favorites.

Carlotta

Would so value your advice on a transatlantic sailing on the Insignia. Have been on many transatlantic sailing but on much larger ships.

Many thanks!!!

Thank you so much for all that you are sharing with us!!!! We board on the 10th for the transatlantic and the pictures are just making us even more excited.

Enjoy every moment!!

Thank you for sharing all your wonderful photos!!!!! So enjoying them!! We are on the Apex the 10th of October, and seeing your pictures, makes it that more exciting!!! 

Hope you make many wonderful memories!!

@Kreative03 

Thank you for all that you are sharing with us, we are following along and really appreciate all that we are learning.

 We are on the Transatlantic sailing leaving October 10 out of Barcelona. We are so hoping are cruise will leave without any problems. Any advice you have would be more than appreciated.

Thank you again, Carlotta

So Happy for you and your family!!! Praying all will go well and that you will have one of the best times cruising you have ever had. We are on the Transatlantic cruise and so excited and thankful to have the opportunity to be on this beautiful ship.

Carlotta

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

By your description it may not be the same as I have.    The one I have is a leatherette cover and plastic pages you slip your photos into.    By your description it sounds like one of those items you have made at Walgreens and is printed and bound.  With those I believe you can have multiple sizes in the same album.

This is a photo book that Celebrity offers, for my cruise date it was on sale for $100.00. When I called Celebrity they said you get to choose 34 pictures that have been taken during your time on the ship. You pick them out on the last day of the cruise and then they mail the photo Album with the pictures you have chosen in approximately 6 weeks. What they can't tell me is what size the pictures will be.

11 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I believe they are the standard size 8 X 10 that they put out on the racks.   At least the book they gave us as a give when we hit Zenith were that size.    The book itself is about 10 x 12.

Thank you Jim_lain,

 I did call Celebrity and ask the size of the photo book, she couldn't tell me, she did say you get to choose 34 pictures and it takes 6 to 8 weeks to de delivered. When I said you must have some way of telling what size they are, she said well maybe 6 by 9. That didn't seem right to me, that is why I asked.

Again thank you, hope the pictures are 8 by 10!!!

If you have purchased the photo book, please tell me what size are the pictures. It says you get to choose 34 pictures but it doesn't say what size they are. 

Thank You, Carlotta

Would very much appreciate recommendations on what you have done in Alicante.

Thank you, Carlotta

58 minutes ago, Oville said:

I found Vtcruising’s poll but that was back in April ‘19 and only 41 members voted.  There have been many sailings since then but here’s the link:

 

 

Thank you, that was very helpful!!!!!

Thank you, I understand now what you mean!!!

Of the four dinning rooms on the Edge and {soon on the Apex} which is your favorite and why. Will be sailing on the Apex and want to start making dinner reservations. Thank you for the help. Carlotta

Wondering if anyone has used City Wonders Tour Company in Paris? Have never been to Paris and looking at so many options. Would value any recommendations. Thank you, Carlotta

Would love to hear your thoughts on the Crown Princess, sailed on her many years ago.
Looking at another one I would like to take, but have read some very negative reviews. Thank you for any help!!!

3 minutes ago, Blondilu said:

Most of the Princess ships are the same to me, can't really tell them apart. I'm not sure what the negative things are being said but I have been on the Crown twice and found it to be equal to all of the others.  Which is to say I thought it was fine, just like all the others.  But, then I give no thought at all to the location of certain venues like the gym or the lounges.  Or whether or not it seems crowded in one place or another.  Can't remember being particularly unhappy with the crew or the food.  Without going back and looking up specifics I couldn't even tell you any of the differences.  I just like Princess in general and the product they deliver.

 

What I can tell you is the places we went on each ship.  So far two of my favorite cruises happen to have been on the Crown.  Honestly though I like to cruise on any of the ships and I choose a cruise based on itinerary and not which ship.

 

 

Thank you so much for your answer, we have been on the Crown but many years ago. Have not been on Princess for a long time. Lot of Holland America, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. And most of the time on the New ships. But really liked some of the iteniaries Princess had out of Southampton. Just wondering what had changed.

Would love to know your thoughts on the Crown Princess, some of the reviews sound so negative. 

Thank you for any insight, Carlotta

Does International Friends do a 4 day pre-cruise tour in November? I thought I read somewhere they only did it through October. Hoping that is not true. If so can you recommend a company that does that? 

Many thanks, Carlotta

34 minutes ago, helpthejuggler said:

The price is given when you book your journey. I created a profile with photo on their site and paid with a credit card.

 

The drivers use whatsapp to stay in contact, if you give them your number, our drivers all sent a message saying where they were. Great for an airport transfer.

 

An email confirms the driver name and a photo, vehicle type. If plans change you can adjust from your phone.

 

A little more than a regular taxi, but worthwhile.

 

Check the TripAdvisor reviews, lots of happy customers.

Many thanks, for helping me make a decision!!!!!

14 hours ago, helpthejuggler said:

We used them 4 times in June and were very happy.

I recommended them to a friend who visited Barcelona over the weekend, also very impressed.

Thank you, that was what I was looking for, someone who could recommend them!!!! Anything else you could share about them, I would love to hear!!!!