jbhcw
April 29th, 2010, 12:09 PM
I am hoping to get a review done at some point in time, but have been running since we got back last week, but wanted to post a short note about our trip. Even with the earthquake in San Diego on Easter Sunday, losing a stabilizer on the ship for about a day, cool weather, rough seas, and missing Lahaina it was still an amazing experience.
Our cabin, 1930 was great, we had a dip in the hall area that we could not figure out, but finally realized the bathtub had a leaking problem, also think our carpet was new.
The ship does need some work, one chandelier in the MDR was never lit and we wondered why, but just never did get around to asking. To my knowledge all elevators were working except one forward elevator.
We attended several culinary demos, tea one day, lectures by Kainoa, it was all great! Ate in the Canaletto one night which was good, not the best nor the worst Italian I’ve ever had but a fun evening. Food in the MDR was outstanding, we never did get to the Lido for dinner.
They did a fish BBQ thing at the Lido pool with fish they had gotten in Hawaii on our first or second sea day after leaving Hawaii. It was amazing to see the huge OPA (sp) fish they displayed, then carved up and then cooked, also delicious!
We had a great roll call prior to the cruise and I feel we met life long friends on this cruise. We had two meet and Greets, went to tea one day, and Cruisinetta’s ship won the shipbuilding contest!
Like I said the ship is showing some wear and tear. A huge scar on one of the elevator doors was one thing that I noticed, the service we received by the crew and officers helped to make up for some problems with the physical aspect of the ship. We were lucky that we had no a/c or plumbing problems in our cabin and had a great cabin steward, wonderful waiters and wine steward.
The crew and officers of this ship were without a doubt the best we’ve ever had in 30 some cruises. I’m not a person who pays a lot of attention to who’s who on a ship but the following were so amazing I just have to let everyone know!
Captain Darin Bowland, Master
Firmin Van Walle, Hotel Manager
Jimmy Lynett, Cruise Director
Kainoa, Travel Guide
They were the most accessible staff I’ve ever encountered, we saw them daily on the ship and they would speak to you. We enjoyed Jimmy, he was funny without being annoying and we had the feeling he basically liked what he was doing and was having a good time doing it. Kainoa was always doing a lecture, here there and everywhere and again we would see him out and about. Mr. Van Walle and Jimmy did a culinary demo on the a sea day coming back that was hilarious but also informative as Mr. Van Walle is a Master Chef and cooked a Flemish dish, we all got samples of his dish, while Jimmy microwaved a hot dog!
We got to speak with Captain Bowland the night we were in Ensenada so were able to tell him how much we appreciated his work and the work his officers and crew do.
I know this isn’t a review, hoping to get one done in time, I have started one but it is very long and rambling and also not finished!
If anyone has any specific questions I have saved all the daily programs, although I’m not at home right now but will have access to them on Monday, babysitting grandchildren out of town right now.
I titled my thread a voyage not a cruise as that is what is was, a wonderful voyage to Hawaii and back, not just a cruise. I think I’m spoiled now to a longer cruise but will have to settle for a while for shorter ones, but now I know the magic of an extended time at sea and hoping for more!
Our cabin, 1930 was great, we had a dip in the hall area that we could not figure out, but finally realized the bathtub had a leaking problem, also think our carpet was new.
The ship does need some work, one chandelier in the MDR was never lit and we wondered why, but just never did get around to asking. To my knowledge all elevators were working except one forward elevator.
We attended several culinary demos, tea one day, lectures by Kainoa, it was all great! Ate in the Canaletto one night which was good, not the best nor the worst Italian I’ve ever had but a fun evening. Food in the MDR was outstanding, we never did get to the Lido for dinner.
They did a fish BBQ thing at the Lido pool with fish they had gotten in Hawaii on our first or second sea day after leaving Hawaii. It was amazing to see the huge OPA (sp) fish they displayed, then carved up and then cooked, also delicious!
We had a great roll call prior to the cruise and I feel we met life long friends on this cruise. We had two meet and Greets, went to tea one day, and Cruisinetta’s ship won the shipbuilding contest!
Like I said the ship is showing some wear and tear. A huge scar on one of the elevator doors was one thing that I noticed, the service we received by the crew and officers helped to make up for some problems with the physical aspect of the ship. We were lucky that we had no a/c or plumbing problems in our cabin and had a great cabin steward, wonderful waiters and wine steward.
The crew and officers of this ship were without a doubt the best we’ve ever had in 30 some cruises. I’m not a person who pays a lot of attention to who’s who on a ship but the following were so amazing I just have to let everyone know!
Captain Darin Bowland, Master
Firmin Van Walle, Hotel Manager
Jimmy Lynett, Cruise Director
Kainoa, Travel Guide
They were the most accessible staff I’ve ever encountered, we saw them daily on the ship and they would speak to you. We enjoyed Jimmy, he was funny without being annoying and we had the feeling he basically liked what he was doing and was having a good time doing it. Kainoa was always doing a lecture, here there and everywhere and again we would see him out and about. Mr. Van Walle and Jimmy did a culinary demo on the a sea day coming back that was hilarious but also informative as Mr. Van Walle is a Master Chef and cooked a Flemish dish, we all got samples of his dish, while Jimmy microwaved a hot dog!
We got to speak with Captain Bowland the night we were in Ensenada so were able to tell him how much we appreciated his work and the work his officers and crew do.
I know this isn’t a review, hoping to get one done in time, I have started one but it is very long and rambling and also not finished!
If anyone has any specific questions I have saved all the daily programs, although I’m not at home right now but will have access to them on Monday, babysitting grandchildren out of town right now.
I titled my thread a voyage not a cruise as that is what is was, a wonderful voyage to Hawaii and back, not just a cruise. I think I’m spoiled now to a longer cruise but will have to settle for a while for shorter ones, but now I know the magic of an extended time at sea and hoping for more!