On the Oosterdam until December 14!

[comcox]

Hope work on the propeller takes care of the problem completely.  We are due to sail out of SD on Oosterdam in my January.

 

[GTVCRUISER]

San Diego weather 

[canadianbear]

12 hours ago, sevenseasnomad said:

Duh!  I kind of figured there would be more ships at some point.  Is it silly of me to hope some of them will be smaller ships, or should I have my head examined for even wishing it?

 

He did mention they would keep smaller ships and as the older smaller ones need replaced have some smaller as they can do unique itineraries.  

[canadianbear]

14 hours ago, Kelownabccan said:

My god....!!!!....you guys are making me hungry......having burgers on the barbie tonight as the snow has melted away.....and easy to go outside but still chilly....about 34 degrees or plus one for us....lol......anyways been reading about this club orange stuff....is that on this ship???? or another way for HAL to get extra money....haha.....prob will try the PG for one night on the cruise....what is a good night to go or is busy all the time....we are only three star so still save some $$$   .Ken in Kelowna

 

Yes, CO is on the ship.  Being in a Neptune we don’t see/hear much about it but they put the bag on our bed our first night plus in the MDR there is a separate line for CO (or Neptune/Pinnacle guests).  And yes, I do think personally CO is a way for HAL to generate more income.  

 

I think the Pinnacle is busy most nights but we booked for 6:30 and no problem.  Just be prepared for a 2 hour dinner just in case.  

 

 

[canadianbear]

12 hours ago, Kelownabccan said:

candian bear....what is your take on this ....how is the ship working as you are on it.....Ken

 

We have not noticed any difference.  Since we were 3 hours late departing San Diego I think they did a temporary fix, ordered a “part” maybe and doing a proper fix when we get back to San Diego-hence the news of the overnight there now.  

 

 

[canadianbear]

So-what happened!!!  We decide to take a sunset sail excursion, (which was lovely) come back to the ship and I can’t get on CruiseCritic but could read my email-surprise!  Yikes! Was surprised too about the overnight in San Diego now.   I’ve read your comments-I hope you all still come (and don’t cancel) as the ship is great, crew great, weather has been very nice.  

 

GTVCRUISER-since we won’t see our friends next week in Mazatlán apparently the Norwegian Joy is in Cabo when we are so are meeting then.

 

Photos from our HAL sunset cruise below- highlight was seeing humpback whales but my phone couldn’t get good photos!  

 

Looks like my photos won’t load-will try later.  Off to breakfast!  

[*Miss G*]

Yes, the CC shutdown for maintenance was a surprise for me also.  I must have missed the announcement somehow.

[canadianbear]

Let’s see if photos will work this time from the sunset cruise.  Wish I could have gotten a photo of the whales-I got video so will review when home on a computer.  

 

Hot day here in Mazatlán.

[GTVCRUISER]

I like this place in San Diego , not to far from the ship 🙂 

[GTVCRUISER]

The Midway is very close to the ship 🙂 

[Vic The Parrot]

2 hours ago, canadianbear said:

Let’s see if photos will work this time from the sunset cruise.  Wish I could have gotten a photo of the whales-I got video so will review when home on a computer.  

 

Hot day here in Mazatlán.

They really built up that place! 

Don't recall those hi-rises last time I was there.  😱🤔

[GTVCRUISER]

Puerto Vallarta 

[lazey1]

21 hours ago, MoyCoy said:

Your the best. Thank you. Did you notice the age ranges in the younger kids area. 

Sorry, I did not pay much attention but the younger children looked quite small.  I would guess from 3 to 10.

[Krazy Kruizers]

canadianbear

 

Love your reports and pictures.

[canadianbear]

3 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

canadianbear

 

Love your reports and pictures.

Thank you!   The phone takes pretty good photos but the operator is questionable!!

[Vic The Parrot]

1 hour ago, canadianbear said:

Thank you!   The phone takes pretty good photos but the operator is questionable!!

Oh stop! 

 

Those shots are absolutely perfect. Close to a professional level.

[sevenseasnomad]

Lovely sunset.  Thanks for the update about the smaller ships.  Did you understand the captain to mean that HAL intends to build some new smaller ships or that they'll keep repairing the older smaller ships?  I'm hoping it's the former.

[canadianbear]

4 hours ago, sevenseasnomad said:

Lovely sunset.  Thanks for the update about the smaller ships.  Did you understand the captain to mean that HAL intends to build some new smaller ships or that they'll keep repairing the older smaller ships?  I'm hoping it's the former.

I don’t think he meant in the near future but definitely keep some smaller ones for the unique itineraries.

[canadianbear]

Liz was on the sunset cruise and managed to get these two photos of the whales.

[canadianbear]

We didn’t do much in Mazatlán today except take the tram to cruise terminal, looked around a bit then rest of day in the pool or in shade.  It was a beautiful hot day. Some photos attached. A mammoth other ship was there too.  

[Pepicou]

12 hours ago, canadianbear said:

 

We have not noticed any difference.  Since we were 3 hours late departing San Diego I think they did a temporary fix, ordered a “part” maybe and doing a proper fix when we get back to San Diego-hence the news of the overnight there now.  

 

 

 

So, about our 'propeller problem', here are the facts:

 

Soon after the end of our Alaska season we discovered some seawater getting past the 5 seals that go around the port azipod prop shaft. Not great, but alot better than the other possibility of oil leaking out past the seals. After inspections by divers, head scratching by people alot smarter than me, and having exhausted all other options, the decision was made to replace all 5 seals, which is a BIG job to do outside of dry dock.

On our 2nd Hawaii cruise we flew across the pacific and stayed an extra day in Honolulu to give the divers enough time to replace the seals (an impressively complex job all done underwater by building a 'habitat' around the work area then pumping in air/pumping out water so the divers are working in a dry space underwater). That  job seemed to go well, but during our last cruise it was confirmed that water was again coming in past the seals on the port azipod.

Considering they were all brand new, and are expected to last for many many years, our first thought was perhaps a rope/net had got entangled around the shaft (we have rope guards and net cutters around the shaft to protect against this, but they are not infallible) 

Last San Diego we had divers down for another inspection. After verifying there was no ropes/nets/obstructions, they took apart the shaft casing and inspected the first 2 seals, which appear to be perfectly fine. That was why we were a little late leaving in San Diego (well, to be honest, the Divers were done well ahead of schedule, but as we had extended the all aboard time in anticipation of our late sail, we then had to sit and twiddle our thumbs until everyone got back onboard) 

As we cannot just let the water continue to seep into the azipod (Highly complex mechanical/electrical equipment dont like sea water as a general rule) the decision was reluctantly made to once again replace all 5 seals, and that is why we will be spending the extra day in San Diego

As it stands, both azipods are at 100% functionality/maneuverability, we just need to fix a leak..... 

[canadianbear]

1 hour ago, Pepicou said:

 

So, about our 'propeller problem', here are the facts:

 

Soon after the end of our Alaska season we discovered some seawater getting past the 5 seals that go around the port azipod prop shaft. Not great, but alot better than the other possibility of oil leaking out past the seals. After inspections by divers, head scratching by people alot smarter than me, and having exhausted all other options, the decision was made to replace all 5 seals, which is a BIG job to do outside of dry dock.

On our 2nd Hawaii cruise we flew across the pacific and stayed an extra day in Honolulu to give the divers enough time to replace the seals (an impressively complex job all done underwater by building a 'habitat' around the work area then pumping in air/pumping out water so the divers are working in a dry space underwater). That  job seemed to go well, but during our last cruise it was confirmed that water was again coming in past the seals on the port azipod.

Considering they were all brand new, and are expected to last for many many years, our first thought was perhaps a rope/net had got entangled around the shaft (we have rope guards and net cutters around the shaft to protect against this, but they are not infallible) 

Last San Diego we had divers down for another inspection. After verifying there was no ropes/nets/obstructions, they took apart the shaft casing and inspected the first 2 seals, which appear to be perfectly fine. That was why we were a little late leaving in San Diego (well, to be honest, the Divers were done well ahead of schedule, but as we had extended the all aboard time in anticipation of our late sail, we then had to sit and twiddle our thumbs until everyone got back onboard) 

As we cannot just let the water continue to seep into the azipod (Highly complex mechanical/electrical equipment dont like sea water as a general rule) the decision was reluctantly made to once again replace all 5 seals, and that is why we will be spending the extra day in San Diego

As it stands, both azipods are at 100% functionality/maneuverability, we just need to fix a leak..... 

Thanks for the explanation.  I know it has disrupted a lot of passengers who perhaps had private excursions or plans.  For us, this was always meant to be a “do nothing but relax” holiday so has had no impact.  Appreciate you chiming in.  

[richstowe]

Great review OP . Thanks .                                                                                                   

19 minutes ago, Pepicou said:

As we cannot just let the water continue to seep into the azipod (Highly complex mechanical/electrical equipment dont like sea water as a general rule) the decision was reluctantly made to once again replace all 5 seals,   

 It doesn't seem like HAL knows what the actual problem is . Pardon my bluntness but it doesn't sound like the  problem is the seals . In other words, I doubt this will be the last "fix". Thank you for posting though . 

[Pepicou]

1 minute ago, richstowe said:

Great review OP . Thanks .                                                                                                   

 It doesn't seem like HAL knows what the actual problem is . Pardon my bluntness but it doesn't sound like the  problem is the seals . In other words, I doubt this will be the last "fix". Thank you for posting though . 

 

I'm a sailor so 'bluntness' does not faze me in the slightest; but if it comes down to choosing to believe a really concerted effort and brain trust between the manufacturers of azipods, shafts, shaft seals and highly experienced specialized divers and engineers that have spend years dealing with these problems across all maritime industries, or the opinions expressed by someone with no knowledge of the issues and a dose of unfounded cynicism I'm gonna have to just put it out there that my money is going to go on the former. Thank you for your thoughts though.

[canadianbear]

Thought I had posted our Club Orange menu and photos but guess I forgot to hit submit.

 

Anyway, we went at 6:30 to the MDR and in the CO line.  We were taken to our table within 5 minutes.  The lady that escorted us also escorted others to a different table.  She seated us first with a menu then the others at a different table.  As she was walked by us I asked if she had the Club Orange menu or could tell us what the extra entree was.  She said she would get the menu.  The extra feature was duck which my husband ordered.  (So obviously either she didn’t pay attention to the receipt printed for us or didn’t know to give us the CO menu).  

 

In our opinion the CO is not worth it-we didn’t pay because we are in a Neptune but if we weren’t, we still would not feel it worth it at all.  Perhaps tomorrow when people have to tender in Cabo, CO might come in handy for them.  Just not sure but everybody has their pros and cons re CO.  Being 4* it certainly would not be worth it to us.

 

Hopefully the menus are readable.