mactire

We are going on the Diamond Princess in March 2015 from Sydney to Singapore. One of the stops is at Airlie Beach and we would like to see the Great Barrier Reef but have been put off by the two hour each way Catamaran trip to see it as we are not very good sailors on small craft. Has anyone been on a Seaplane trip from there and is it worth it. I see that some prices are not much more than what the ship will charge for a trip to the reef.

We are going from Sydney to Singapore in March 2015 and see that the Great Barrier Reef is an option from Airlie Beach. I read somwhere that the trip to the reef is two hours and wonder if anyone out there has done this as two hours in a small boat is not that inviting. Any help greatly appreciated.

Patrick

Thanks a million POA1!

 

I am sure you will be rewarded generously by the real Santa (real Santa lives in Finland near arctic circle) this year for all the good works you have done to us fellow cruisers.

 

Looking forward rest of your cruise review as I will be on board of Nieuw Amsterdam on 25 January.

 

And after reporting that you can get Strongbow cider on board has really ensured me I should get us beverage cards! I wonder whether I should call HAL that two thristy Finns will be onboard from 25 January :D so they should make sure they will not run out of Strongbow!

My wife and I are also on the NA on January 25th, flying in from England, and good to see all the information POA1 is providing. I asked about Cider some time ago so perhaps there will be some when we get there.

Patrick & Sylvia

Am I the only one that thinks the prices for bottles of wine on HAL are very high. I live in England and have only ever cruised with British ships where the prices of bottled wine seem to be much cheaper. Thoughts please?

I have seen several lists of alchocol on the NA but cannot see Cider mentioned anywhere. Are my eyes deceiving me or do they not serve Cider?

Thanks for all your posts. I am getting excited about this trip.

We are going on a two week B2B on the NA in January and there is plenty of talking about the MDR and all that goes with it. We prefer to eat in the Lido and wonder if anyone who has been on the NA can give us their thoughts on the food that is served there and any tips they would like to pass on.

Thanks to all for a great site, which is full of so much information.

Hi POA1,

Your report on this cruise is first class, as well as entertaining. We so look forward to ours in January.

I see from the Daily On Location that Mass is celebrated on board. Does this mean there is a Priest on the ship?

Keep those words coming.

Patrick

What a great thread.

I have been using digital cameras since they came out but I never cease to learn and sometimes its the simple things that I tend to forget.

Patrick

Hi POA1,

We are flying from London to Miami on January 24th then joining the NA on January 25th for a B2B same similar to yours. We shall be glad of any tips you can give as you travel the wonderful Caribbean. Enjoy it all.

Patrick & Sylvia

Do they provide the chairs as well as the Clamshell?

Patrick

What happens to those that have booked a shore excursion.

Patrick

I read somewhere that on a HAL B2B we will have to get off the ship when we get back to FLL after the first week and hang around for a while before we can get back on board. WHY???

We have only been on one B2B in the Caribbean with Thomson out of Barbados and we didn't have to leave the ship after the first week. Only those that were leaving the ship had to get off.

Any help would be appreciated.

Patrick

Thanks for that. I shall book them.

Patrick

How many, if any, Jacuzzis are there on the Nieuw Amsterdam. Looking at several versions of the deck plans does not mention them.

Patrick

We are on a 14 day B2B on the NA in January 2015 and would like any advice on booking a Clamshell on Half Moon Cay, as we shall visit there twice. Is it worth the money?

Patrick

I have bought my cameras from UK Digital Cameras for years as they will trade in your old kit and give a good price. Have a look at their site.

Patrick

I forgot to mention the link to Halfacts. Fascinating and very informative.

Thanks very much.

Patrick

Thanks for that.

Patrick

On the HAL website it says there is a safe in each cabin on the NA. Is there a charge for the safe?

Patrick

We are on the NA from Fort Lauderdale on January 25th BtoB for 14 days. So looking forward to our first HAL cruise.

Patrick & Sylvia

I use the FZ200 to great effect at long range with the 600mm zoom. However, the range can be extended to 1200mm with the Extra Optical Zoom with very little loss of quality, if any,especially if the light is good. I only use the digial zoom for recognition if something is really far away. I have even managed a decent picture from this mode.

Patrick

The good lady and I are booked for a two week cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam from January 25th 2015 and wonder if anyone has any data on cabin 7105, which we have reserved.

Thanks for any info.

Patrick

Hi Folks,

What a great response to my query about our Caribbean cruise in January on the NA.

One question, which someone out there will answer, is about tipping. I come from a nation, Republic of Ireland, where tipping is not the norm unless for good service but know that in the USA it is part of the culture. When we order room service are we expected to tip the person who brings the order?

Thanks again for all your help.

patrick

My wife and I have just booked a 14 day cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam for 25th January 2015, flying from London to Miami on January 24th, staying in a hotel in Fort Lauderdale overnight and joining the ship on the 25th.

I would appreciate any help from those that have been on this ship with tit bits of information that would make our trip even better than we expect it will be. I have tried to find a copy of the Daily Program but can only find one from 2010.

Thanks for any help.

Patrick