Catlover54

6 minutes ago, stevenr597 said:

Hopefully this article may help to clear up any "misunderstandings."

Exploring Cruise Line Categories: From Mass-Market to Ultra-Luxury - Sophisticated Travel

This actually creates more confusion, in that the author has opted to create his own categories' definitions (e.g., "entry level luxury" for what are typically considered "premium" lines, and the term "ultraluxury" for standard "luxury" lines). 

This is not surprising, as he could not even get the spelling of Silversea correct 🙂

Thank you for taking time to write this detailed review, listing both pros and cons. 

1. Do you (or anyone else) perhaps have a screen shot showing the itinerary?

2.  I didn't know that mixed drinks with multiple ingredients come from pre-mixed containers (loaded with sugar).  Is this true on all HAL ships and itineraries (as far as you or others know), or just on Westerdam and/or on an Arctic cruise?  DH and I were recently on the Rotterdam, but we ordered wine and/or only the occasional cocktail with only 1 other ingredient besides the alcohol, so we didn't notice (I am pretty sure I would have noticed 41 gms of sugar in my drink). 

3.  ". . . .My wife and I washed our hands after each visit to the Lido, but I did not see one other person in the Men’s room washing hands in the 28 days we were on board. Most people also skipped the sanitizer stations. Elderly guests and especially 4+ star mariners simply do not like being told what to do . . . "

Statistically, I don't think it's just elderly and 4 stars who don't like being told what to do on cruises.   But if your cruise was already full of 4 stars, which you reported, and/or elderly (unclear but likely, for this long a cruise and as you called them "mature" ), those would just be primarily the people you saw, so without a direct age comparison, your sample is a bit skewed.

I don't spend any time in men's rooms (unless I'm on an excursion in a long ladies' line and am desperate) :), but my DH does.  

Researchers actually study who does and doesn't wash their hands! It is not just elderly men, but men in general who don't wash their hands much.

Signage (and seeing others wash) can help remind people to do so.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14738345/

DH and some others think there is more hand-washing in luxury venues or more affluent  settings (and even then some  skip the washing up part, despite good maintenance and all the easily available towels for drying). 

For an interesting read (for those of us interested in learning more about why things might happen as they do): 

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200417-the-hidden-reasons-some-people-dont-wash-their-hands

For a more 'explicit' read:

https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/12/men-explain-dont-wash-hands-pee-12381749/

Fortunately, you didn't have a noro outbreak and you had an overall great cruise. 🙂

And I do wish people of all genders would wash their hands more than they do, on or off cruises, in any event.

19 minutes ago, BasandSyb said:

We have also always layered our cases with large sheets of plastic - mid-way and on top of each half of the clam shell hard case (the plastic that covers your dry cleaning) - to prevent too much chaos from a wet pack leak. This helped, but long exposure and driving rain had everything wet to damp.

 

Have just been chatting to Bas about this and have clearly tried to move these travel memories to the Indiana Jones warehouse of my mind. He reminded me wet luggage happened three times - 2 Seabourn charters (BA - left sitting on the tarmac for 3hrs+ during a thunderstorm; Longyearbyen left sitting in the rain for us to identify and take inside the terminal for check-in while we were taken on an excursion to the museum pending departure; and Berlin airport after a flight from London City airport that saw our bags go missing for over 48 hours and left in the rain somewhere. Incredulously it was the Monday prior to Good Friday and the ground staff response was it might take two weeks before you hear anything as it’s Easter and the baggage people and courier have gone on holiday. A polite summary of Bas’ response was his surprise there was only one courier in all of Berlin.😇

 

Oh, the fun of travelling!

 

 

🙄

"Luxury" travel to places where there are monopolies or near monopolies on services (mostly unnecessary)  is unfortunately not luxury.

It is sad to hear that one of these incidents happened even in Germany (though of course it was Berlin, which has its own unique special service issues).  Germany has undergone a lot of changes  in the last 2-3 decades (and not necessarily for the better). 

I certainly hope I never have to disembark out of a Zodiak when I take an expedition cruise, and then have to get out of and pack up wet gear into a carryon (for which we typically have other plans). 

I'd rather plan to spend the night (if possible, i.e., if it is an option ) in the disembarkation port, dry it out, and then fly on the next day.

Or, depending on the gear, just toss it.

Perhaps you already covered this (or others have), but what is the procedure for the boots if one rents them  (either on a Svalbard cruise or an Antarctica cruise)?  Does one have to order them to one's home and then haul them in suitcases to the embarkation port (which limits capacity for other luggage), or are they, like the jackets (which are not rented but complimentary) , delivered to the ship?

1 hour ago, irishwitchy said:

I was going to point out that the muesli bar from the ship would be a problem in Australia or New Zealand, but I see that you are down under.   You can’t take any food from the ship.  Is there a secret to doing so?  

1 On our Australia trips (2, though not on Regent), we were advised by those in charge that we could bring *packaged* , unopened energy bars and other *sealed* items that had been *made in Australia* with us out on to excursions. 

This was an important option for some people with various medical problems where they would have to go many hours on an excursion without access to food or opportunity to go to a shop to quickly buy something to tide them over while on an excursion.  Of course the cruise lines try and feed their guests at reasonable times, or provide opportunity to feed themselves when on excursions , but sometimes there is a traffic jam, or something else happens that delays access to calories.  

Pax were also allowed to bring glucose or sugar tablets, e.g., to treat dangerously low blood sugar drops in a diabetic, often on insulin. 

 It's not a matter of whether or not someone "is likely to starve" to death within a few hours,  it's an issue of avoiding loss of consciousness or other dangerous consequences from severe  blood sugar drops (this does not apply to most pax, but does apply to some).

We were also allowed to bring our Australia-made *sealed*  little jars of jam and jelly and honey (often sold as gift packs at tourist stops) which in a pinch can be busted into when out on a delayed excursion to get a glucose fix). 

However, there was inconsistency in the education of the port people who routinely dug through pax purses and backpacks looking for contraband, and frankly it got a bit ridiculous (e.g., I remember in Melbourne a port agent hostiley confiscated breath mint candy  from an old man who'd been munching on those candies while standing in a very slow-moving understaffed immigration line, which had to be bypassed pre-excursion, as we were coming from New Zealand).

For most people the ability to timely control one's food and beverage intake isn't an issue as they are healthy enough to accomodate to unexpected waits and delays, but for some, it is. 

2.  Related is that toilet access on bigger group excursions can  be an issue at times, though they  are more of an issue in older towns than those in Australia, e.g., where a bus with 35 cruisers pulls into a "lovely medieval town" after close to 3 hours  on the road, and there is only 1 toilet with borderline plumbing and everyone is standing in line impatiently, especially the women. This can cause reluctance to "enjoy a coffee or glass of local wine" in the limited time you have before you're supposed to climb back onto the bus.

There's a lot to be said for private excursions as an alternative (depending on the number in your group, either cheaper or more expensive than the cruise line options) , where you are more in control of when and where you can stop for food, toilets, photos, or to "gaze in awe" once you start, not to mention how high the air conditioning in the vehicle is set to run.

The older I get, the less tolerance (physical and mental)  I have for ship-organized excursions (some exceptions), though they sure are convenient, and in third world areas, *might* be safer. 

Unfortunately it's hard to find an organized set of reviews for specific excursions on small luxury lines like Regent, SS, and Seabourn as there is a small "n" of those willing to spend time reviewing.  On mainstream lines like HAL, so many people cruise that it is easier to find reviews (but of course they have other problems) . 🙂

On 6/28/2024 at 3:52 PM, Kay S said:

I got up and ran at the first glimpse of those horrible snakes!

But the rest of the production was terrific.  I saw it on the Rotterdam last year when I was on with a friend and this year was on with DH and hoped they would show it even though I hated those snakes (he is heavily into his amateur photography).  Unfortunately, they did not, instead we had a cheesy NYC 30's style  "musical" , set more than a century ago, overly affected acting and behavior.  We did not come back for more of that style. 

Depending on the kind of insulin you have, note that some insulins don't even need to be stored in the fridge anymore, and are just as effective at room temperature after several weeks  (though the pharmacy always stores it refrigerated and that's what patients are told to do and are thus mostly in the habit of doing).

Knowing this could provide some peace of mind as a backup, if there is a short-term problem with refrigeration.

Here is a useful guide so you can check on your type of insulin.  Note the chart which shows efficacy, comparing fridge vs room temperature, can be roughly the same for several insulins. 

https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/diabetes/how-long-can-insulin-be-out-the-fridge

5 hours ago, ralfrick said:

Thanks, Y'all. It looks likely that one of the Gala nights will be when wife & I have a couples massage around 8, so want to get in early that one in particular since a couple of menu items I've been see look interesting.

This has probably been mentioned multiple times before (I did not go back and read every post), but one possibility is to advance order room service off the MDR, for service in your cabin.  That way you can try the "interesting" menu items without a reservation or worry that you won't timely get in (of course this presumes the room service won't be massively delayed, and you don't care about the ambience).

3 hours ago, Nachosdelux said:

whatever currency you have will be greatly appreciated.

 

Frankly, the type does not really matter.

This.

But Filipino staff do love their dollars.  🙂

If you tip bus guides and bus drivers on excursions (usually guides are not pre-tipped), even though  party line is 'they don't need tips, it's the UK and "they earn a living wage, unlike in the U.S.", and that is perfectly acceptable, I have read and also heard from locals that local currency is just slightly preferred.  But  frankly they are happy with any viable and reasonably stable currency like dollars and Euros as an alternative to pounds (so no Argentinian or South African currency) , if you don't have pounds handy.

Some guides have described to us that when they accumulate enough foreign currency, they make a run on getting it converted in bulk  (you can save them the trip to the exchange centers if you tip in local currency).

On board, of course the dollar is "local" currency.  

6 minutes ago, RachelG said:

Clearly not actual edible beef on Silversea.  George has had this argument with them many times.  And all they would need to do to get edible hamburger is to buy a side of beef, cut off the good steaks and grind the rest up for burgers.  But they buy their burgers premade apparently (out of old cow, if that), at least that is what we were told. 

Last fall on Nova at the pool area they brought me a "burger" I'd ordered.   After one taste, I asked if it was beef or a mix. The waiter looked confused, like he didn't understand.  So I slowly asked if it was cow, "you know, the animal that goes MOOO " [and gave sound effects ending with a question mark tone].  He said, "yes, yes, it is MOO."  That may be as close as we will get to knowing the truth 🙂.

I don't know if Crystal has any "low carb" bread or if that could be arranged for you ahead of time (maybe some on board now could comment), e.g., if you could arrange to have a few frozen loaves sent in for you in advance (Crystal aims to please). 

But you certainly don't need to have low carb bread to be able to manage your "pre-diabetes" with ease on Crystal and most other cruise ships.

1.  I don't know how far in the future your cruise is, but just losing some weight *before* you cruise , if your BMI is over 25, often eliminates "pre-diabetes"  (even 5-10% weight loss is often significant).  

This is easier said than done (since everyone on this board can afford to eat whatever they want and food is available and tasty -- we like our food), but cutting overall energy intake and/or increasing energy output (i.e., some form of exercise) unfortunately are still key components to management (on cruise or off).  Talk to your doctor, of course. 

2.  As noted in post #2, if you're on a short cruise, and just have pre-DM, it won't matter much in the long run what you eat. It is a choice. It'd be unusual for someone to go on a cruise pre-diabetic (i.e., pre-type 2), feast 2x their caloric needs every day with all of it in carbs, not exercise at all, and emerge with life-threatening sugars (if you get an infection while on board, however, all bets are off, as that could surge sugars). 

But even if there is no low carb bread, there is plenty available to eat on a cruise that would help you avoid big carb loads (*if* you choose to do that even though you are offered a special opportunity -- a cruise with wonderful desserts, to indulge).

If you're overweight, it is not just what you eat qualitatively,  it's how much energy you take in (including energy from alcohol) compared with how much you burn.  If you gain weight on a cruise (or anywhere) , and don't exercise much, your pre-DM may get worse. You have likely heard this before. 

Here is one of many typical "diet" recommendations for pre-diabetics (or talk to your doctor).

Almost everything is available on a ship (even if there is no low carb bread).

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/prediabetes-diet

Have a wonderful cruise!

On 5/29/2024 at 5:30 PM, Ombud said:

Do I get 20 lashes for this practice of mine?

 

I keep CA & add snacks and / or cash for:

> steward

> HW, W, Asst Waiter (HW takes my order)

> bar staff

> room service

 

But I don't have cash for:

> guest services

> maintenance (even when they fix my TV)

> buffet

> laundry

> security

 

Yet they ALL benefit from the CA. Happy crew = better cruise & it's still hands down less expensive than land trips (which I also do. See signature)

I am late to reading this thread (I will not be cruising Princess in the near future but a good friend will be who is a brand new cruiser and is very busy, so I am pre-researching issues for her).  This is my favorite response (likely because it agrees with what I do :)). 

I mostly cruise on luxury lines where "service is included" and "tipping is neither expected nor required"  .  But my cash 'gifts' (for their family) have never been turned down by crew who did a lot to make my voyage extra wonderful.  Even  though I know they are paid more than a living wage, and that they have solid middle class or even higher lifestyles back home (based on conversations)  I want to show my appreciation, *one-on-one*, for a job well done, for individual initiative, and for going above and beyond what I typically expect  and the norm (which, since Covid, is not nearly as much  as it used to be on most lines).

I also give positive feedback about them (so they can be in line for promotions and bonuses), and if the whole experience was good, in addition to feedback, I contribute to the "crew fund", which is used for special crew events (not cash distributions). 

 I have also cruised on HAL, which has a similar model to that on Princess (being part of Carnival and all), and on Celebrity,  and unless I want to give an extra reward *to the whole team* in a dining venue (where some of the team is mediocre), I give cash to the servers and bartenders  I really like (either at the time of the meal, if I'm not coming back, or the day before disembarkation, if I see them  regularly). They are always happy (or very happy, in the case of stewards and assistant stewards) , and I suspect it is because they can either keep a lot, most, or all of it.  Even if it goes into a pool (unclear), giving something extra and not removing the 18% gives them more than just the 18%.  

 I also give positive feedback on my review (I think we all agree that positive feedback is important on "inclusive" lines as well as on HAL and Princess style models). 

I'm not sure how to emotionally grasp the idea of removing CA payments, individually tipping people  (presumably more total spent than the 18% CA ), but then still giving positive feedback about performance .  I get the arguments for this cognitively, but perhaps because I have spent so much time in America, it confuses me.

To each his own.

There are educational talks, there is a small spa, there is a gym, there are fellow pax and expedition leaders to talk to, there is your in-room TV with movies, there is a jigsaw puzzle,  and there is your iPAD with many pre-downloaded movies of your choice as well as hundreds (or thousands) of books to read while you look at the scenery you mentioned (and many of those books can be about Antarctica or Chile).

And then, of course, there is your spouse. 😇

I love sea days.

On 6/27/2024 at 12:27 PM, Tothesunset said:

To be honest, if it were a choice between fellow passengers bringing their dogs or their children I'd go for the dogs. 

 

Dogs don't:

 

1. Carry norovirus, covid, measles, TB etc

2. Run around unsupervised. 

3. Burst into tears and have a paddy if they don't get their ice cream RIGHT NOW. 

4. Bomb into the pool (or pee in it for that matter) 

5. Hog the ping pong table/pool 

 

 

I could go on. In fact, I will:

 

 

6. Eat chips/chocolate/sweets all day

7. Leave smears from 6 above on furnishings

8. Whinge plaintively and loudly that they are too hot, too cold, hungry, thirsty, feel sick. 

9. Make you wonder where their parents are

10. Make you wonder how 10 million years of evolution has passed some people by. 

All true.

And my guess is that you were not a pediatrician 🙂

1 hour ago, Sea Hag said:

We're new to HAL, having only done one cruise with two more booked. The one that we did was on the Westerdam, and I added CO to that. I booked the lowest interior and upgraded to one of the "insides with window" on Observation deck. That cabin was a winner from several points of view. My husband really, really hates standing in line, so cabin upgrade aside we'll always book CO since that pretty much eliminates standing in line at the MDR. Some of the extra entrees for CO in the MDR were very good. And there's always that fantastic orange bag!

What tote bag?  I was in a suite this year and there was no bag offered (admittedly I didn't *ask* for one, because I'd brought my own, from another cruise).  I need compensation!!! 🙂

16 hours ago, Cruiser Sean said:

". . . . I told the agent that I'd like to cancel all excursions and we would rebook if my daughter got better. I also let the agent know that Guest Services emailed them the day prior. Agent tells me that he has no email so I clearly did not go to guest services. Essentially calling me a liar. He also says that it is now within 48 hours. He will not cancel the Day 4 excursion. I tell him that 1. Excursions was not open this morning to cancel...which would have been within 48 hours. 2. If I didn't previously go to guest services, how did I know that their process was to send an email. After much back and forth, I requested a manager. The manager backs the agent and says I must not have went to guest services and no refund for the Day 4 excursion. Now I am getting a bit upset. I then notice that the guest services person I spoke to on Day 1 is at their station. I point this out. The excursions manager talks to them. Comes back and says they verified that I did speak to them. They finally refund everything.. . ."

Thank you for now being very specific in your description of what happened (as noted above and in all the details in post #6), especially on this point. I agree with others that at first you didn't really say enough about what had happened for people to understand your anger, but of course it takes a lot of space and requires a lot of reader attention to follow along with precise details in a long initial post so I understand thinking it would be better to be initially brief and just summarize your impression without going into tedious details.  But of  it is in the latter that the crux of the problems reside. 

I have cruised multiple lines for many years, mostly luxury, but also mainstream. On HAL, I now focus on cruising in a suite (in part so I don't have to deal with guest relations, i.e., to get better coordinating services). To me, yours is a very convincing and maddening story.  I have also experienced being indirectly -- never directly -- called a liar by assorted personnel who have  tried  to cover up their confused and disorganized communications arrangements and errors. This has happened not just on mainstream lines (e.g., on HAL 5 years ago when I was not in a suite) but even on English and French language luxury lines (not on a German line), where you'd think everything would be smooth sailing.  But unfortunately there are staffing problems and errors and communication  inconsistencies on all lines.    Incompetence is one thing, but to not give the guest the benefit of the doubt in what he is reporting is another, especially when staff  know very well there are problems in their system   (unless the guest has a known history of malingering and trying to get something for nothing).  To me, this borderline lying accusation is the worst part of what you reported. 

You were lucky that the person you initially spoke to who'd said he'd sent an email was there, or you may not have gotten your excursion refund.

 BTW, if you had *not* gotten your refund, if you had cruise insurance, depending on the type, you might have been able to file a claim with them (since cancellation was related to your daughter's injury).

On cruises, in hotels, and in other service contexts where I have to deal with a lot of people (have you perhaps dealt with the VA at all?)   I usually try and get the name of the person I talked to who promises me something important that is time-dependent,  and cheerily (without expressing hostility) write their name down in front of them if I don't know if they are reliable or not,  or I get a bad vibe.  I recognize one shouldn't have to have an adverserial relationship with guest relations or any other personnel on a ship, and frankly,  all in, HAL is not the cheapest of mainstream lines, but sometimes there will just be unanticipated issues.

Some are unfortunately part of modern cruising, but having  to spend 6 hours of one's time on a short 1 week cruise dealing with them is, in my opinion, excessive, even on a mainstream line. Ideally, one also shouldn't have to spend time on CC before a cruise to receive clear and polite service.  However, you go to battle with the soldiers  (or in this case, modern cruise lines) you have, not the ones you want.  I hate to think of preparing for a cruise as a form of potential fight, (it's a vacation, after all).   But  frankly going forward, even if you have cruised with another line, to maximize your future experiences, I would suggest arming up in advance and reading on CC about the latest on that cruise line.  

You sound like an organized guy, so look for insider tips you might be able to use, especially if you are booking a cruise to very popular Alaska. Plan and book far ahead, get insurance and check back on the board of the line you will be sailing periodically to stay up to date.  If you aren't routinely using a travel agent, use one (a good one, one who knows the line you pick,  will keep you abreast of the most essential things if not more).  I know it will take time from what is likely a busy schedule you have, working as well as raising two daughters, but research may be a good investment, and TA costs nothing.

I am glad you posted your story (and later your details, which  are important).  I don't expect you will hear anything more from HAL, and I doubt you will come back to HAL (overall, I still think it's a good line). So I wish you  the best in your future travels on other lines, or on land. 

3 hours ago, Petronillus said:

You make excellent points (as you always do).

 

If what OP is taking is a 7-day cruise and if she/he is new to the Caribbean, then by all means whatever priority they can get is precious. DW & I, after three or so Caribbean cruises, feel like we have seen what there is to see and have sought out other warm-weather destinations for our winter getaways. Each island has its own story (the ruins of St.-Pierre, the erstwhile capital of Martinique that got totally destroyed in the 1902 volcanic eruption, stand out in our recollection), but for the most part we've found that each island blends into the other. 

 

I can only imagine how dreadful it must be to spend 90 minutes waiting to tender back from HMC. Our pattern has been to frolic with the manta rays (for me, one of the all-time great shorex, BTW), grab a quick lunch at the picnic tables, and head back before the crowds press in.

I will check out the manta rays next visit 🙂

I burst out laughing at your contrast  of the hotel restaurant burger with the SS burger:

". . . 

18 minutes ago, Petronillus said:

Others here have complained that so-called priority access to the tenders in overrated. The problem is that when you take all the CO pax, plus the NS pax, and the 4- and 5-star Mariners into account, easily half the ship gets priority access. Ship happens.

 

If it were me in an inside cabin, I'd opt for a cabana in the Retreat. Compared to Half Moon Cay and many/most Caribbean ports of call, I'd be happier staying onboard and basking in my cabana.

IF one is not planning on getting off the ship, that makes perfect sense.

But if a port is a place that often gets first-timers, without status, not in suites,  I would think that most first-timers want to get off and see some of the port, so it could be good to get a jump on those by having CO (or priority from something else). 

I don't know the exact statistics on what Caribbean ports/cruises are more or less likely to have first-timers on board than elsewhere , but my view is that priority tender access on a cruise with tender ports can be very helpful (even if a ship has many 4 and 5 stars, CO pax (limited), and NS pax (there are only 46 suites or so, so average max under 100 people)I think many of the veterans don't get off in some ports (especially in tender ports that aren't unique and are just fun-in-the-sun-like-everywhere-else places). 

As suite guests (pretty new to HAL, however, so we have a limited n), we had priority tendering last year in the Caribbean (and this year in northern Europe) and it was invaluable.  

There was a separate line, and the staff called ahead to the tender getting ready to depart to try and make room for a small bunch of us, communicating that we were priority. Some people without priority later complained they couldn't get off for 1.5 hours in a popular port. 

Now if there were only priority tender *returns* , and not just priority outbound, it would be perfect (but you still have to stand in land with non-priority people on the return, and that can add an hour -- last year in Half Moon it added 1.5 hours).

I also like the quieter Club Orange dining room on the Pinnacle class.  It is easier to get seated if you have open seating, easier to get a waiter's attention, and because they serve suite pax (who frankly expect more because they pay so much more), the waiters are very service-oriented and understaffing seemed less of an issue. 

3 minutes ago, Petronillus said:

On our most recent cruises (Westerdam and Rotterdam) one evening was marked for an Orange Party to celebrate HAL's Dutch heritage. It's a lot of fun. Before our next cruise DW & I will be sure to pack orange for the occasion.

For those who forget something orange, but still want to participate, HAL sells little orange corsages and ribbons and other little things you can put on your clothing.

But if you have no orange on, for those who don't already know, you can of course still go to the party. 🙂

My guess is it would be good to hand-carry luggage off the ship, just in case, given you must leave  so early (in case the staff  can't find it in time early in the chaotic morning -- unless you can easily get another flight if you miss yours). 

4 hours ago, cccole said:

Check Tours by Locals and the Trip Advisor Athens forum.  You might find something you like and can contact the tour operator to plan a private tour exactly as you want.  Have fun, Cherie 

Beware, however, that Tours by Locals has been having website problems for several weeks, and problems are slow getting fixed.  Many of the guides are unhappy (we had 4 TBL private tours on our very recent cruise and they all expressed concerns about various software glitch features), because customers now have to communicate through the company (based in Canada) instead of directly with the guide, which has created confusion.  But you can communicate via What's App.  

Guides have lost a lot of business because of customer frustrations.

If you use them, be very careful and take screen shots of all information and contact information, so you can confirm meeting up and other issues.

11 minutes ago, kctwinmommy said:

I do agree with you, I didn't understand why the talks were while we were still in port and tours still out. We did find that we didn't have an issue watching the talks, usually after dinner. I would also sometimes watch it in the morning while we were getting ready. But, I didn't always want to listen to all the basic info about the city, sometimes I would just skip to our tour to hear those details.

 

But @CCWineLover I do agree with you. I don't understand why they can't give more detailed descriptions prior to the cruise, since you know they have that information. It seemed walking time and bathroom opportunities are the biggest things people want to know. For me, personally, those aren't issues. But I'm also on the younger side for Viking's normal demographic. 😉

My guess is they don't give you all the information in advance because they want people booking the excursions, but then have them decide  not to go  last minute if the excursions are described as too difficult (and my understanding is that you then forfeit your payment for the excursion if you cancel within less than 24 hours -- correct me if I am wrong, I am a novice to V.)

26 minutes ago, rwmiller said:

We are in a similar situation taking a 14 day cruise over New Year that is also sold as two 7-day cruises. Right now we can book dinner over the first 7 days but the second half is still unavailable. The New Year’s Eve reservations are also unavailable. I can’t believe they are sold out so think they are holding for onboard. We had no issue booking NYE 2 years ago and am hoping to do so this time. Any recent experiences?

 

Bob

They do hold some back for booking onboard, though I'm not sure of the percentage (I'd casually heard as many as 50% are held back, but don't know the accuracy). 

If nothing opens up, and you are not in a suite, you can use the very visible dining  reservations desk staff to book the day you board.

If you are in a suite, you can ask the Neptune Lounge concierges to book your dining reservations for you (I know some dining spots are held back from general pre-boarding availability, in part  for short notice suite passengers, and I was told such availability of specialty dining bookings is  part of the suite benefits package). 

Also, depending on the cruise and how full it is , as the cruise goes on (and likely because people feel more stuffed),  you might notice that some specialty restaurants just aren't full, and you can walk up and get a spot then and there (especially for later dining, e.g., seating after 8PM -- but probably not on New Year's Eve !) 

2 hours ago, Ray4Fun said:

Has anyone been a part of Dutch Day ? 

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/news/2024/April/news-042624-holland-america-line-debuts-dutch-day

 

?  

On the Rotterdam recently on the day when there was the Orange Party in the evening , the MDR, Lido, and Club Orange menus featured a lot of Dutch items, like the pea soup (the one daily available at the Dutch cafe *if* you can get in), the delicious Hodge Podge, and the deadly cream puff (also available in the Dutch cafe daily *if* you can get in).

However, neither on that day, nor on any other on our two-week cruise, did we receive any pillow chocolates or sweets of any kind (we were in a suite and,  if available ship-wide on that day, , we probably could have gotten them).  It didn't occur to me to ask, neither  this year or last year when we didn't have any pillow sweets delivered, now I will know better for future cruises. 

2 hours ago, TRLD said:

Amsterdam is actually looking at converting some of the existing center city hotels to businesses or housing. They want any new hotels to be built away from the city center and for tourist to use mass transit.  They are also planning on distributing tourist attractions outside the city center were possible. Basically tourist decentralization as well as reduction.

Interesting idea, i.e., "distributing tourist attractions outside the city center where possible" (beyond the idea of encouraging diverting visits to places that are already outside, some pictures of which I posted in #20, or to Rotterdam). Will most people still come?

Some of the precise appeal in big cities is to visit *historic* central locations (Anne Frank house), old canals and old architecture, and to just walk around taking it all in and imagine life in centuries past, just like in Venice.

But I suppose they could build a new Rijksmuseum and move the art to somewhere in the suburbs, and/or maybe even do a reconstruction of the Anne Frank house, and build new canals away from the city center . . .

I loved subways in Europe when I was younger and healthier (buses not so much) , but  DH and I don't ride much mass transit anymore. Too many times there are no seats when we're on the go,  and I cannot safely stand up well in a moving vehicle.  I also note most young men  do not get up to make seats available for seniors, much less women (they're tired too!), as often as they used to. Plus it is often hot,  and respiratory infection transmission risks are greater when you're packed together closely.  So we tend to book within walking distance of most of the things we want to see *in* a big city, unless we want to see the beautiful countryside or a villa garden or castle out of town.  

I certainly understand the concerns locals have about letting their city be overrun by outsiders, especially if they don't need tourist revenue as much as they used to.