rkacruiser

Sometimes masquerades under different names depending upon the scenic area through which the ship is sailing. Just like the Dutch Pea Soup served during scenic areas like Alaska and Greenland as the ship transits Prinz Christian Sund, its one thing that makes a HAL cruise a unique cruise experience.

This was the absolute most disappointing dinner I have ever experienced on a Holland America Line ship in my cruising career. To make it worse, it was a special birthday dinner. Where and when? Eurodam during a Viking Passage cruise from Amsterdam to New York.

Thank you for a very interesting review with very good pictures. I noticed that you were reading The Woman in Cabin 10. Did you enjoy the book?

I am unsure about the reasons for this "new debt" for all three companies, but, I am pretty certain that at least for one of them the "new debt" was taken on to help pay off higher interest debt. Cue Kenny Rogers: "You have to know when to hold them, when to fold them...." Absolutely. Having ridden through the storms of 2008-2009, RCI has far yet to fall before it reaches their low. CCL, on the other hand, is roughly 50% lower than its low during that time. NCLH? No idea. Never had any investment in them. As long as I believe in their business model and in their management, I'll hold. I may be tempted to "nibble" and buy a bit more if the time and price seems right. That day is weeks, maybe months, away, I think. Will some continue to choose cruising as a vacation? I think we all have lived through a recession or two. If one has the means, if one has the desire, the name of the economic conditions at time has nothing to do with one's recreational or spending decisions.

You are not being unfair and your post reflects my thinking about traveling. Missing something major? The slowness of response by our Federal government has been detailed in the first chapter of our Country's response to Covid. In a new book that could be titled "where's the baby formula?", we are witnessing a repeat performance only this time by the FDA. The bureaucracy for both the CDC and the FDA has become too large to properly do their job.

Enjoying your reports; thank you for making them and posting such good photos. A souffle that was undercooked, I think. I have had issues with the PG's preparation of this dessert.

The battle of Private Islands has been underway for awhile. This news is not a surprise to me. If any have read my posts when I returned from my experience on MSC's Ocean Cay, you may remember that I said Half Moon Cay was in danger of being "left behind". Half Moon Cay is a wonderful island experience. Just no debate about that. But, it has reached its limits as far as development, I think. There is nothing to compare to Ocean Cay's Yacht Club experience.

This is not as an encouraging of a report that was posted by a guest on a Norwegian Escape. NCL handled their situation flawlessly.

"Simple" country cooking is called "comfort food" by many of us. It reminds me of "home"; of a Grandmother and Mother who were excellent bakers and cooks. Of my Grandmother's homemade Noodles and Dumplings and Coffee Cakes. Green Beans and Ham and Potatoes was a staple when I was growing up. Pork and Sauerkraut remain a staple for me, particularly, as a New Year's Day dinner. I was encouraged by my Mother to "try" something different as I was growing up. I came to learn and appreciate different cuisines, different preparations, different foods. Surely don't like them all, however! Sir, I agree with your thinking. Your DW would not enjoy the cuisine that is offered in a Yacht Club Restaurant. I hope both of you will find a cruise line that does offer cuisine/menus that both of you like.

I think your reasoning is impeccable. I suspect we may be at different stages of life. Regarding wines and liquors, I have done my experimenting. (I still do try others with which I am unfamiliar, however.) But, when it's HH or choosing a dinner wine, I am most likely going to order a "comfort" drink/wine.

Rarely are there any of the mini bottles that I would bother taking with me. More often than not, what is stocked is stuff that I don't drink.

Some of the pizza chains where I live advertise "Detroit" pizza. Is there really such a thing or is this just the marketing people trying to create something "new" and "different"?

There is a First Edition book titled Last Dinner on the Titanic on sale on eBay for $129.99. Others are also available for lesser amounts. Since your post, I have been looking for my copy. I know I have read it. But, I know I have it. (Maybe not the First Edition, though.) LaAna, I appreciate the posting of the link and I will access them.

Agree that I am likely to enjoy whatever the shape of the pizza slice may be. But, I have witnessed pizzas being removed from ovens in no pans. They have been always been round. How they are are cooked seems to have nothing to do with how they are cut.

I do as well.

How the Stewards are able to handle the doors amazes me. I try to hold the door to the cabin for them, but, there are times when I think I am more in the way than not. Your gratuity amount is mostly the same as mine. I will adjust it upwards if I have a traveling companion because that results in more "stuff" on the tray. Regardless of the amount, it always is appreciated and, usually, I have to almost chase him before he leaves to give him the money.

That is a very good thought to keep in mind when one is cruising on a b2b or on muti-day or long cruises. Crew contracts do not always begin or end on a guest's embarkation/disembarkation day. When I am on a longer than 7-11 day cruise, I will ask my Stewards "will you be my Steward throughout my cruise"? If not, and if I wish to offer them an additional gratuity, I will make it a point to give it to them before they are not serving me.

Hoonah is where Icy Point Strait is located. I did not realize that it was so close to Juneau that a webcam there would provide views of Juneau's harbor.

A great video! Thanks for posting it. When Hubbard decides to "perform", it puts on quite a show, much more so than any glaciers I have seen anywhere else.

Unfortunately, I think this is good advice at this point in time. If you followed the adventures of WCB on the HAL Message Board, that is basically what they did for their many weeks of cruising this Winter. Mary Ann still became positive early in the cruise and had to quarantine with her husband at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale. But, they did return to the Nieuw Statendam and continued cruising, but, it seemed to me, they were much less "social" than what they often are.

This an exceedingly well written informative article without drama. It will be very helpful for all who read it. NCL ought to be congratulated for the way their staff handled the situation and for their attentiveness to your wife's situation. I appreciate the photos that were added. Thank you very much.

Do the same onboard credits also extend?

The water is beautiful. The view from the "I Could Stay Here Forever" bar is the most scenic view from such a facility that I have ever seen. You had a drink package? I never buy these things. For me, there is no value in them. I will pay for whatever I drink and of whatever brands/quality that I want during my cruise.

The covered outside area of the YC facility is where I enjoyed my Lobster Roll lunch. It's a very enjoyable site.

Having to tender is a negative for HMC. But, unless one wants to go to the island or return to the ship in "prime time", it is not a serious issue. HAL has built a shelter for guests waiting to return to the ship that did not originally exist. Much better than standing uncovered in whatever the environment is at that time. I agree. Ocean Cay is a work in progress just as all of the other cruise lines' Private Islands have been. I see so much potential at Ocean Cay that islands like Princess Cay and Half Moon Cay may not be so well considered in the future.