jeh10641

HAPPY NEW YEAR HALJO1935 and everybody else.

Just wanted to make a comment about your Sacher Torte a couple of posts ago - we absolutely love them. Actually, we went o the Hotel Sacher in Vienna in 2016. Loved theirs so much I ordered two whole tortes for our 50th Anniversary a couple of months later. They were shipped to my home near Seattle from Vienna. About $150 for two delivered. Worth every penny as we shared them with about 30 friends.

The "Striped Shirts" cost the Lions the win. The Cowboys did not win it. Jim

On many of my annuary/February trips to the "Big Island" there was both water skiing and snow skiing available on the same day. Jim

Hi, ottahand7, Have you joined the Cruise Critic Rioll Call for that cruise? I am on it already. I look forward to meeting you as I have viewed many posts by you in the past. By the way - your name is...? Jim

Awesome. We were on Rotterdam in early December 2021 when it still had that "new ship" smell. HAL is our favorite cruise company. Jim

My wife and I also eat "breadless" sandwiches.

They do not look like service dogs, if they are indeed them.

I hear the HAL is 100% Starlink now for internet. JIM

We had a "sideways" inside cabin on Rotterdam. Look at cabins 1140, 1146 on the Main Deck (#1). Jim

What date in 2025? We are on the January 28th cruise. Jim

Having been to Hawaii more than 60 times when I was working (part of my sales territory), I can recommend the Polynesian Cultural Center as a "not miss" site/sight. It is on the Northshore. It is the ONE place I plan to visit on our January 28 2025 cruise on Koningsdam. Another place I plan to visit is the International Market near Waikiki and to have lunch (?) at the Sheraton Waikiki buffet. On Maui, the places to visit used to be Lahaina and the volcano Haleakalā (sp?). Lahaina had a disastrous fire late in 2023 and pretty much no longer exists. Its famous Banyan Tree is showing new growth in 2/3 of the tree. A true miracle. On Kauai, it is Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. On Hawaii, the active volcanoes are number one. I also love the Punalu'u Bake Shop near the most southern part of the US (move over Key West!). Jim

We are booked on January 28 2025. What date is your cruise? Jim,

I love Steak Tartare. It is hard to find. I could not go to Coastal Kitchen but I had it on our last HAL cruise on Rotterdam in Rudi's Sel de Mare of all spots. It was an appetizer so I ordered a double so that I could get 6-8 ounces of it. Jim

Thank you for saying that tastes vary from person to person. My taste in burgers is based on the burgers my mother made when I was growing up. High quality meat, handmade patties, cooked to my taste (medium rare), never from previously frozen meat. I know in 99% of restaurants I will not get them that way. So, I settle for whatever venue provides a close proximity to that. Thus, no fast-food stops. Medium rare is tough to judge when making tens, dozens, hundreds or thousands a day. I never expect medium rare at any burger place. I rarely eat burgers out, even on cruise ships. Even if they are "free".

To those who compare burgers on cruise ships to McDonalds or Burger King, not the same at all (shipboard burgers are much better wherever you get them). About 40 years ago, I decided I was done with fast food burgers so I would not set foot in them. On the other hand, I like Johnny Rockets, as I first discovered them on land where their staff used to dance to the music I grew up with in the 1950s. Their burgers are a step up from most fast-food renditions of that American staple, not gourmet but worth the price. Their milkshakes are to die for (from!), especially the Cookies and Cream. I do not eat burgers in Windjammer or any buffet, land or sea. The Dive In burgers on HAL ships are good and "free" as are their fries. However, eat and enjoy whichever burger you like. Free or not.

We buy burgers at Johnny Rockets and pair them with milkshakes. I do not mind paying for their burgers. Usually on a 14+ night cruise, we will go there twice.

I had no trouble opening it. Jim

I humbly disagree about the specialty venues. Jim

Have you seen the menua few posts back? It was definitely Asian Jim

I never tried an air-conditioned cabana that is open. Sounds like an oxymoron to me.

Thanks, Mary229. To me, the menu is underwhelming. I agree with those who advocate a French or Mediterranean place. Jim

Hi, POA1, On our 12/21 Rotterdam cruise, Rudi's was our second favorite restaurant barely missing out #1 (Tamarind). We also tried Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto's, which are also very good. We are planning a 2025 cruise to Hawaii on Koningsdam. I hope that there not be two Asian cuisine specialty restaurants then. Jim

Thanks. I realize the 'Dam ships are different categories. Rotterdam is still my all-time favorite ship, maybe because it was so new. Still had the "new ship" smell! Jim

Hello, XBGuy, This is exactly the info I needed. Thanks so much for the effort and the knowledge. It is much appreciated. Normally, we try to book large inside cabins but if the "right deal" appears we will venture to Oceanview or Balcony. On our recent Anthem OTS transatlantic we had a forward facing "spacious" cabin (over 200 sq ft., number 8500, deck 8) because it was about $80/person/night. Could not pass on that. Also, we usually go for a lower deck. Jim