regnig

Yep he already covered it. Read the following posting and click on the embedded link to see the letter he received.

There are always questions about turnaround day at Port Everglades, when your first 7 day segment ends and your second week is about to begin. I know we had questions, and if you're doing a back to back or Collector's Cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, this might help.

 

A few days before your sailing ends, you should receive an envelope that contains your in-transit passes as well as written instructions about what to do on the day you return to Port Everglades.

 

Our dear friend, Poohby Joe (who guards our wine when we're out and about) is shown here, holding our in-transit cards.*

 

 

*I know someone's going to ask the question, so here's the answer. Poohby's in-transit card is very small and it's in his pocket. He has to report to a different room for immigration purposes. Huskerchick and I are American citizens, while Poohby Joe is a citizen of the Hundred Acre Wood. As such, he holds a UK passport.

 

Speaking of locations for immigration -- Here's a link to a scan of the procedure. We're staying on the ship, so we don't have to get off. This is a but different than I've seen reported here before. Bear in mind that the process could change as it is subject to modification by the US authorities.

 

http://www.evernote.com/l/AFg14MS4uZ1MV5tgQME559W2U8j8rlE35YE/

POA1, Huskerchick and Poohby Joe many many thanks for letting us cruise along with you. I must admit I'm addicted and find this thread is the first thing in the morning I check and the last thing at night. I know, I know, I really need to get a life but at least for another week it ain't goin' happen! :D

Your avid followers thank you for the time you are taking to keep us entertained and educated.

Keep us posted on those prunes! :rolleyes:

While 8141 on the Noordam is not shown on HALFACTS there are a couple of other cabins that I believe have the same depth balcony for which there are pictures. The width should be 9 feet (the standard veranda width on the Vista ships).

Take a look at 6173 on the Oosterdam and 8147 on the Zuiderdam to get a pretty good idea of the depth.

http://halfacts.com/6173-oosterdam/

http://halfacts.com/8147-zuiderdam/

I appreciate the quick responses. There is another little twist that I failed to mention on my original post.

 

We're a party of 6, with 3 separate cabins. Although, our bookings are 'linked' and we share the same fixed seating assignment.

 

Do you think that we will all receive the same PG reservation date and time?

 

Thanks again for your replies.

When we sailed in March we were part of a group of 8 people, 4 staterooms, and our 4 bookings were linked together. We received cards in our staterooms at embarkation indicating our PG reservation date and time and they were all the same. They sat us at a large table and we have a wonderful meal and a great service.

POA, like many many others a BIG thank you for a fun ride along on the NA!

Glad to read that you survived the many miles, meters or decakilometer and arrived home not too road weary.

I vote for a Kinda "Live From" - CSI: Homedam but only after you've done the laundry ;) and packed for next Sunday's boarding.

Not to worry as the same people who keep finding tanzanite despite years of warning that "there is no more to mine" will surely now turn their attention to chocolate. :rolleyes:

Do we all really want HAL to change that much? While at times maybe not perfect (what in life really is?) I at least would not want it to change so much that it resembled RCCl, Disney or NCL, etc. What’s the old adage “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.” Might we all just be a bit cautious with what we "wish for" as we might just get it plus a lot more we don't wish for.

Thanks so much for posting your picture - I always wondered what you looked like. You look like a very huggable kind of a guy, even though you don't appear to wear pants . . . . . . . Your bride must find packing a breeze !

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

Gerry

No, no Gerry, as he said he was dressed in his "jammies"... pink ones at that! :D:eek::D

Here are the missing 'animals'.....

On board WESTERDAM.... painting of WESTERDAM in Santorinio... the cross-legged cat with tail point to 12 o'clock!

On board ZUIDERDAM.... painting of ZUIDERDAM off the beach.... cat asleep under the boat next to the tree.

On board AMSTERDAM... painting of the old m.s. NIEUW AMSTERDAM... the log on the beach.... the lizard on log. And then painting of old s.s. NIEUW AMSTERDAM and old MAASDAM together at dock in Southampton.... the bollard on the dock at right... look for the rat!

The devil made me do it!!!!

Anything to look for on the Noordam???

Shellback801 what a WONDERFUL review you have written, many thanks. When I forced my DH to go on his 1st he was sure it was going to be just like those "gray boats" he sailed in the 70s. Took him all of 2 hours to get over that idea. :D Hopefully on your next cruise Pam will have her sea legs from day 1 onward.

Now here is the question.... Did you find my cat?

Stephen

Did you ever the find cat either? Some either never found him of were too embarassed to mention! ;)

Stephen

Okay, somebody PLEASE PLEASE tell the full story about the "cat". I really thought I followed pretty much of what has been written here on this board but obviously I've missed something. We spent 14 days on the Westy and a "cat" was not anything anyone ever mentioned to us. Please, inquiring minds want to know!

Deval there are facts and figures out on http://halfacts.com/ about those balconies.

Whoops, just looked at halfacts and there is a picture of your stateroom DEVAL. It does look a bit tight if the chairs fact straight out but turning them slightly would probably help.

Sure would be great for us with over 25 cruises (not nearly as many as others) on 3 of their products!

We've got the ones from Serendipity and have used them for years without problem. The last 2 years our TA has sent us a couple that I don't like nearly as well.

Hello,

And have we Beachtowels in the Cabin?

Thanks.

Yes your stateroom steward will leave them for you and replace them when dirty. IF by chance they are not there just ask.

Sig line will be changing shortly. Mike's health has had major impact. Might yet be available for Noordam.

Oh dear, sending good thoughts your direction for Mike.

Barb

LOL. Hi Barb, nice to "see" you. :) Too bad we're not on the same cruise.

Pia, the Noordam 11 day on March 9th is always an option for you. We did it the last 2 years, wonderful weather the entire trip. With it's embarkation and debarkation days being what they are the port in Lauderdale is a breeze, no massive crowds.

Whoops, read your "signature" too late. A World Cruise.... I'm green with envy. That ought to be a wonderful "live from".

LOL. We've been on 75 Princess cruises and 6 on HAL. And we're coming back!

:D

Welcome Pia! The Westerdam, one of the Vista ships, is just the right size for us. Hopefully she will have enough broccoli. ;)

Barb

Darn no close ups! :mad::(

My friends are trying to convince me to try a Princess cruise, but they think I'll need a handicap cabin to have enough room to hold my scooter. I would prefer not to take such a cabin, as I don't otherwise need the amenities. I would rather leave it for someone who does.

Do you happen to know if Princess will pick up a scooter, store it overnight, and return it in the morning, as HAL is known to do (I've always been able to fit it in my HAL cabin, but not all of them are large enough). No, not unless it is a new service being offered. When I took my mom & her wheelchair it had to be stored within the stateroom at all times.

 

Was the shower in the handicap cabin separate from the toilet, unlike some of the HAL ships? :mad: Nope.

 

How was the coffee? Has Princess improved the wake-up juice? Only if you want to pay extra for "brewed coffee".

 

Thanks for any answers you might have.

Sorry Ruth as I don't think those are the answers you wanted.

While written 2 years ago I still stick by what I wrote so feel free to take a look at my comparison -

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1603771

All that said the Island, sister to the Coral, is our favorite size ship that Princess has in it's fleet and you will find it a bit similar to HAL's Vista ships. If you get a regular stateroom beware the bathroom is small with the world's tiniest shower ---- no tub. You must book at least a mini-suite to get a bathtub that includes a shower similar to HAL's (fixed head only). Also on disembarkation day they will want you out of your stateroom early and gathered in a common area with lots of others.

Having sailed both Princess & HAL trust me HAL's beds are nothing like the "bricks" Princess calls beds. While I believe Princess is changing their bedding I don't believe all ships have been retrofitted. The HAL beds are simply wonderful and I can't see any reason for a topper of any kind.

BTB Bill, many thanks for your service! :D

David, I would be unhappy with my travel agent, not Holland America. What is the use of a travel agent if he can not get you an advertised price? Did your travel agent maximize the price you paid to maximize his commission?

I so agree with whogo. The B & M TA that we have used for years has always gotten us not only advertised price breaks but additionally some that only they and the cruise lines are aware of. As soon as the newest Explor4 was announced this summer she secured that at no additional cost - in fact she actually lowered our fares. Although our business is just a drop in the bucket for her she treats us as if we are her best customers.

Also- figured out no coffee makers in cabins- so, are the choices, walk to the Lido Deck, bring back coffee when you happen to wake up and want it- go to a pay for coffee shop onboard (do they have them) or order room service and hope you are awake when they deliver?

You can use the door hanger as an alarm clock if you want or just wait until you arise and give room service a call. On the Noordam in the past they have delivered within 15 minutes. I would though recommend you use the door card on disembarkation day as they get super busy.

 

Is it correct that room service on HAL- in a Verandah Cabin can order a hot breakfast- any one have room service menus to share. When you order room service make very certain you list everything you will need, ie butter, jam, etc, or it probably will not be on the tray.

Although not mandatory most of us also recommend tipping Room Service a couple of $s upon delivery. I always take a bunch of $1s and for morning coffee & tea always hand them $2. On one sailing we had the same server everyday and we became great early morning friends. Again, not required, but this staff works very hard. Once I only got 1 small pot for my tea (although I had ordered 2) and the server returned within 5 minutes with my other pot. :D

Just as a follow up to my original post question I ordered 4 cups of coffee for DD and received a large pot and 4 cups of tea for myself and received 2 of the smaller pots. Fortunately there was NO coffee taste in the smaller cups at all. :D I skipped asking for Breakfast Tea but there was always ample supply of many varieties out at the Lido to choose from.

Roz, Lisa put the listing here on CC when it was announced. See Post #7 here

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2072202&highlight=explor