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Great trip report with wonderful pictures!! Thank you for sharing with us.

Wishing for a speedy recovery!

You must be on the Veendam GradUT. We were on the Maasdam last week.

Yes, we did much better than the people on the excursion. HAL charges I believe $85 per person for the Coal Mine excursion. We paid $55 for the car rental, $15 gas (SUV) and $25 for the admission.

But after the Coal Mine, we stayed for 15 minutes after the tour to use their free wifi and then we drove to Fortress of Louisbourg. We didn't have time to go inside the Fortress but we enjoyed the scenic drive. We even made couple stops and turns for pictures (especially the fishing town of Louisbourg).

You don't have the flexibility with the ship's excursion.

Here's my experience ...

I ended up with Enterprise in Sydney. When I walked out of the terminal, a van with Enterprise sign was parked right outside. (by the giant fiddle/violin) I approached the van and the lady checked our name off her list. We waited about 10 minutes for other passengers and after no one showed up, we left to the rental office. She dropped us off and returned to the terminal to pick up the rest of the passengers.

Their office was small (like a trailer park type home) but the whole experience was smooth. The agent asked if we wanted insurance and when we said no, she didn't pursue further. No pressure or anything. We booked a full size and was upgraded to an SUV. (Ford Edge)

We were running late on the return, arrived at 4:05 pm at the rental place for an all aboard call of 4:30 pm. The same lady that drove us to the office helped us getting our receipt quickly, checked the car for any damage then hopped in our car to drive us back to the port.

It was no more than 10 minutes drive each way between the terminal and the rental office.

Yes you understood me correctly.

I read that Enterprise may overbooked and I would be referred to Budget so why won't I have a Budget reservation ready just in case?

Yes, car rental offered lower rates on non-cancelable reservation through them, Hotwire or Priceline Name Your Own Price. I didn't go that route for this booking knowing I might cancel or I would have.

It's part of the business practice and good for you though I personally wouldn't do business with a restaurant that takes your CC on advance.

But thank you for your input anyway. They're not needed.

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Hello everyone, thanks for the replies. We're here enjoying lunch in the Maasdam. Beautiful weather today!! Hope the rest of our sailing will be fine. Thank you again.

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Hello,

We'll be on our first Canada New England cruise this weekend with the Maasdam.

Hurricane Arthur is "scheduled" to be in Boston on the 4th and Maine on the 5th. Honestly, I'm really concerned about this weather, especially since Maasdam is not a large ship.

In your experience, do they just postpone the departure date and change the ports? And what would the "substitute" ports be?

Thank you so much.

Thanks for all the info in this thread. I booked both with Enterprise and also with Budget ($20 more per day) just in case they're overbooked.

Hopefully our experience won't be as bad.

Thanks for sharing these amazing pictures. Looking forward to see the rest!

Thanks for sharing. Keep the pictures coming :)

I am in my thirties too and sailed HAL 3 years ago. There isn't much nightlife on the ship but I didn't mind much since it s a port intensive itinerary and since I walked/explored during the day, I was tired at night anyway. It s a very nice itinerary, mostly docking/tendering in city centers.

Thank you for the input. Yeah, we figured this is more of a relaxed cruise for us. Just like with our last Celebrity cruise. Strolled around the ship and people watching over a cup of tea or enjoying a dessert or two. And that can easily be the best cruise!

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We were on the April 11th cruise, too, and LOVED it! We enjoyed it so much, we're already signed up for a 14 night cruise on the Maasdam in April of 2015! If you'd care to see the ship from my eyes (and our Caribbean ports) I blogged it here:

http://travelingwithsue.blogspot.com/2014/05/2014-april-11-22-maasdam-southern.html

Thanks for the report and pictures. Looking forward to sail on her in July - Boston to Montreal.

Looking to sail on her in July from Boston to Montreal. First on HAL and we're in our 30's. Hope we made the right choice. We're so excited :D

I use a well known TA, never directly thru the cruise lines.

I usually get OBC or at the very least, a bottle of wine.

In fact, I booked onboard Celebrity for a future cruise and was given $125 OBC and drink package for 2. Once I got home, I transferred the booking to my TA and was given additional $100, just because.

Build a good relationship with a local TA and they'll work with you to earn your business.

Thank you for sharing this trip report. Really enjoyed it!

I've only been on 6 cruises but they were all inside cabins. Have two more booked and one will be an Oceanview. But that's because I booked while onboard Celebrity and in order to get the perks, I must book an Oceanview cabin. It was only $100 more per person than Inside and IMHO worth the extra money for unlimited booze and $225 OBC :D

We found ourselves never in the room enough to care. We may take afternoon naps here and there but having no windows didn't bother us. And the money I saved would get us to our next cruise sooner!

Thank you for being so helpful cruisemom42!

I booked a full day tour with PK Travel without tour guide. Will look into Rick Steves.

Can't wait :D

I usually book via a travel agent.

I would tell them "look, this is what the cruise website or major search engine is offering, tell me why I should book through you instead?" I would get between bottle of wine/champagne and OBC.

I received $200 OBC from my travel agent for my Grand Med cruise in Sept and paid the same price as what NCL site offered.

I booked a future cruise on board Celebrity and was offered $125 OBC and unlimited beverage for two. I transferred the booking to my travel agent and she's giving me additional $100 OBC.

Even on a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas where the fare was already way reduced ($129 for inside?), I was given a bottle of wine just to keep my business.

Just ask ask ask ... the worst they'll say is no. But staying loyal to one travel agent has its rewards.

Hello,

Thank you for all the helpful responses.

Just want to give an update. I booked Grand Mediterranean sailing this September from Barcelona to Venice.

Thanks for pointing out that the ship is ports heavy so pretty much will be used to shower, eat and sleep. And yes, I think the size will be helpful for getting in and out in ports.

I am really looking forward to this trip :)

Thank you again cruisemom42.

Last question (hopefully lol)

The tour company is offering a tour guide for either Acropolis or for the full day tour. In your experience, is that necessary or do you think we'll be sufficient with our driver? From the reviews I read, PK Travel tour drivers have great general knowledge of Athens and its history.

And any personal preference between Private Greece Tours and PK Tour aka Athens by Taxi?

Thank you.

Thank you for the clarification cruisemom42. Yes, I posted that after going through couple Trip Reports on here.

I found the following from PK Travel website. I'm not sure if 8-6 in Athens is enough for their full day tour but this is their tour description

ATHENS

includes a visit to: The Acropolis (where you will see the Temple of Parthenon which is dedicated to Athena Parthenos, Propylea which is the monumental entrance to the sacred area, the Temple of Athena Nike which is dedicated to Athena-Apteros Nike, the Temple of Erechtheion which is dedicated to Athena Polias, the Cariatides, Herodeon Theater, the ruins of the Theater of Dionysus, Areopagus (Mars Hill), The Temple of Zeus (which is the largest ancient temple in Greece in the Corinthian order), The Panathenaic Stadium (also known as The Kallimarmaro, the original stadium built in the 1863 for the first modern Olympic games in 1896), The Hill of Lycabettus, The Old Palace, The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament & The Changing of The Guards, The Catholic Cathedral, The “Neoclassical Trilogy” [The Academy, The National Library, The First University of Athens], The Plaka (which is Athens’ oldest and most picturesque neighborhood. It is stone-paved, with narrow streets, and is full of gyros places, tavernas and souvenir shops) for lunch and free time, The Greek Agora (which was the civic, religious and commercial center of the Athenian life set with appropriate buildings like the Stoa of Attalus [now, since its restoration, is used as a Museum housing interesting findings] and The Temple of Hephaistus), The Roman Agora (where the Tower of Winds stands [which is an octagonal pentelic marble clock tower], and finally The New Acropolis Museum*.

* Please note that The New Acropolis Museum is closed on Mondays so it is replaced by The National Archaeological Museum (which is the largest museum in Greece and one of the world's great museums with more than 20,000 exhibits).

I wonder if I can replace New Acropolis Museum with the National Archaeological Museum.

And I found more from my other notes :D

Mars Hill

Arena of Herodes

Propylaea

Porch of Caryatids

Climb Lykavitros HIll to the highest point of Athens to take photos looking down towards Acropolis

Temple of Hephaestus

And when I said "visit", it can also be a "photo stop", so only about 10 minutes stop needed.

Thanks again!

Hello,

I am trying to organize a group tour for our sailing on Norwegian Spirit in September. Our ship will be in port from 8AM to 6PM.

We are going to rent a minibus and we're debating between Private Greece Tours or PK Travel aka AthensbyTaxi as they both have excellent reviews on CruiseCritic.

I did a quick google search and found the following to be point of interest. I'd like to see them all but PLEASE tell me if something is out of the way / impossible to include in the day tour.

Acropolis (would a guide be necessary?)

Sygtagma Square to see changing of the guards

Hill of St. Georges to see Acropolis and Temple of Zeus from above

Hadrian's Arch

Olympic Stadium

The Parthenon

Tomb of Unknown Soldier

Theater of Dionysus

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Panathenaic Stadium

Hill of Lycabettous

Roman / Ancient Agora

Plaka for quick lunch and Baklava

Driving along the Greek Coast

And if there's anything that's not listed but a "must visit" for Athens, please let me know.

I thank you so much for your help!

Why not head over to a large size, major chain hotel nearby and wait there with your luggage? Just tell them you're waiting for some friends to arrive.

Will sail on the Spirit for our first European cruise this September. At first, I was hesitant because of her small size but everyone saying that the itinerary will be ports heavy and I'm pretty much going to be in the ship to eat and sleep.