2cruisecats

>It's a frequently made mistake to refer to HAL as to a single entity.

 

The MS Prinsendam is quite different from the other HAL ships.

 

Ira

Yes, it is true that HAL has a a few different 'products" depending on ship class.

 

We've now decided on timeframe and region. Plus, we want a smaller (under 1500?) ship. Certainly narrows the choices -- Viking or HAL's Rotterdam.

Due to family care commitments, we haven't cruised in 7 years and I know a lot has changed in the travel world including the introduction of Viking Ocean! We previously cruised with RCI, Cunard, Princes and HAL, which became our cruise line of choice, esp the Amsterdam. We are now able to travel again and I was looking at Scandinavian cruises for 2018. Viking Ocean keeps coming up in the search results and I'll admit to being intrigued, esp as they are smaller ships. I know Viking has a loyal following -- how does Viking compare to HAL?

Due to family care commitments, we haven't cruised in 7 years and I know a lot has changed in the travel world. We previously cruised with RCI, Cunard, Princes and HAL, which became our cruise line of choice, esp the Amsterdam. We are now able to travel again and I was looking at Scandinavian cruises for 2018. Viking Ocean keeps coming up in the search results and I'll admit to being intrigued, esp as they are smaller ships. Are there any HAL cruisers who've tried Viking? I know they have a loyal following but wonder how they compare to HAL or Princess.

I haven't been on the boards in awhile so please forgive me if this has been discussed in the last few months. I did search, but the search function baffles me. DH came home last night from a golf outing and casually dropped a) that one of the league members was going on a fall cruise on the Prinsendam (I'm so jealous) and more importably b) that he said the Prinsendam was going to be decommissioned in 2018. Is this true? Or just another rumour about HAL's Elegant Explorer?

…. to wines and other liquor on the lists not being available (so far 4 wines and one liquor that we requested) although we just left New Zealand 2 days ago. We were told tonight that there are no New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs available and nothing will be restocked until we reach Hawaii (all are listed on the wine and beverage lists and in the wine package).

 

Funny that you had just left NZ and there was no NZ wine. Reminds me of our Med cruise a few years back when we ran into a similar problem. We had been in Venice exploring for several days and then boarded our HAL ship for a B2B. That first night we ordered a nice wine with dinner. No. And another. No. And Another. Fourth attempt, we found a wine. We were told they would restock the wine supply in Istanbul. hmmm. The next day, as we had overnighted in Venice, we dashed off the ship before sailing to find our fav wine store and brought back several bottles of Italian "finds" to enjoy. We did pay corkage in the dining room (this was the year before the "one bottle per" limit). We also picked up wines along the way. I never could understand how they could be in the Med and not have a great choice of wines. Corporate restocking rules?

For now, there should be a way to get back the classic format.

1. Click on the Control Panel (In the new format it should be by your avitar at the upper right hand corner of the screen).

2. Click on "Edit Options".

3. Go to the bottom of the page to Skins

4. Click on Default skin. You may need to click a different skin and Then go back and click on Default skin again. A little bit of persistence may be needed.

5. It looks like you need to do this for each device where the new format pops up.

 

I suspect eventually the new format will be the default; then I hope there's an option for Classic Skin.

 

Roy

 

Thank you so much for the instructions on getting back to "the old way". I usually don't mind change, esp. if it is an improvement, but this new format is terrible! If they keep that "new thing", my CC browsing time will become extra reading or knitting or guitar practice time.

Can you still order from the MDR menu in the evenings?

Try the following ....

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2228315

 

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If I were you spend $2 euro for the bus to Oia and spend all your time there. It is an amazing place.

 

I agree with taking the local bus to Oia. It is a short ride and a great place to wander. Beautiful scenery, cute shops, great photography and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat. Leave in plenty of time to get back to Fira. We ended up sharing a taxi with another couple as there was a crowd waiting for the late-afternoon bus (several ships that day). And then long lines for the cable car (a long wait) but there was no way I wanted to walk down that path. The couple in front of us were in a panic, afraid that their ship (Celebrity) would sail without them. We enjoyed dinner on our veranda that evening.

A friend was Mrs Amsterdam on our SA cruise in January 2004. I don't remember this event on our 2006 cruise.

Being the sole caregiver couple is a very tough job. It has its moments, but also it has great rewards. Your BIL is very fortunate to have such caring family. Not all are so lucky. Hope the surgery goes well.

Congratulations! Your wrist is healing and a great cruise is planned. And now, a Neptune Suite. Can't wait for the trip report -- this cruise is one I'd love to do.

click on the red triangle at the top right corner of the post. this will bring up a box for you to post direct to the moderators. If it is a duplicate, triplicate etc thread just ask the mods to merge the threads.

 

Thanks for the help! I'll make the request to combine the threads.

Thanks for pointing that out. "nordam" and "old carpet" and towels did bring the "Disasterdam" to mind. Especially since that is where the negativity theme on Nordam has seemed to congregate. Maybe this thread should be joined with those others.

 

Excellent suggestion! How does one request "the merge" of threads?

Parliament Hill is a sea of red and white. Music is blaring and we're waiting for the flypast of the Snowbirds. The party is well underway. (weather note: 30C "feels like 38"; heat and severe storm warnings)

Kazu, glad to hear you escaped before the storm. My BFF just texted me and it sounds like the home town is in for rough winter ride. Enjoy your cruise. Looking forward to your review.

Hi All

 

With permission of Bill and Mary Ann (my parents) -- please feel free to check out the blog version of their postings if you are also interested in seeing some of the photographs that go along with their cruising documentaries (note that not all reports have photos especially the at-sea days!)

 

The blog can be reached at http://cruisingwithbillandmaryann.blogspot.com

 

So far Reports 50-59 are available. As more are added I will put an update here.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Thank you for posting the blog link. It was great to see the picture of the window garden!

We (or should I say I?) love As You Wish Dining. In the fall of 2008 we did a B2B Med cruise with a couple we met on a pre-tour for an Antarctic cruise a few years before. On that first cruise, because of assigned seating and times, we were unable to dine together in the main dining room though we met a few times in the Grill. The Med cruise was great. We could go off on our separate tours, come back and regroup and get a table for 4. Minimal wait. Most days, if we were still on board while booking was available, we managed to book our preferred time. If we (or they) were off on a night on the town, we could get a table for two, or join others and share shore experiences, etc. And, you never had to rush back to meet your dining time! Next trip to Europe in the fall, we're doing "AYWD" again. If we dine alone, fine. If we meet new friends, even better. And the real nice thing about AYWD … if you have dinner with someone you really don’t like, you never need see them for dinner again! The downside, you don't get to know your servers, nor they you & your favourite goodies.

Wow ... I love this thread. Great memories. Our first cruise was our honeymoon cruise on the Cunard Countess in August 1978. We were one year out of university and my DH had never been off the continent. We flew from the Maritimes to San Juan and (not in order) sailed to Grenada, Barbados, St Lucia, St Thomas and Caracas. The great thing about this cruise, you could sail, stop at either St Lucia or Barbados for 1 week and then rejoin the ship on the next circuit. What a great option. We stayed at Paradise Beach (Barbados) which I think was owned by the cruise line (or at least associated with). What a great trip. After many land trips to Europe, the US and across Canada, it was 16 years before we cruised again, this time a belated 15th anniversary trip on the Pacific Princess in Asia. Another few years passed before Panama Canal on Legend of the Seas and then our 25th anniversary on the Amsterdam to the Antarctic, our 30th was 4 weeks with HAL in the Med. No, we are not frequent cruisers but do love to cruise and they are special celebrations for us. We're now fans of long cruises and HAL. Scandinavia here we come!