The best 'Dam cruise ever?

[CDRMark]

How about this?

[SHayesShip]

Fall-Caribbean
Nov to early Dec

Steve Hayes

[tiffnco]

I know I'm in the minority here based on a previous thread...but I'd LOVE to get a group cruise going to Alaska next June/July.

That's why my vote went under "other"

[sail7seas]

message deleted by poster.

[sail7seas]

Seems I misunderstood .... Sorry

[CDRMark]

Sorry, no. I was trying to post a poll to get interested parties to vote for their preference for a group cruise. I apologize if I was unclear. I'm new here.

Cheers

MarkB

[sail7seas]

I think what happened Mark is that I saw your post before the poll actually appeared in the post. So, I took your question as standing alone and not as a poll.

You did fine....you posted a good poll. Sorry for my confusing the issue.

[sail7seas]

I think what happened Mark is that I saw your post before the poll actually appeared in the post. So, I took your question as standing alone and not as a poll.

You did fine....you posted a good poll. Sorry for my confusing the issue.

[CDRMark]

I should be working anyway;) .
Cheers
MarkB

[jhannah]

While we've never had a "bad" cruise, our spring C/NE was fabulous. Everything lush and green and the weather practically perfect. Plus, we were on the Rotterdam which remains our overall favorite ship.

That's okay, Mark. That work will be there later. :D

[Himself]

A few years ago I sailed the old WESTERDAM--not my favorate ship--between Fll and Vancouver, stopping at Half Moon Cay, Cartegena, sailing all the way through the Canal, stopping at a town on the Western side of Costa
Rica, Huatulko, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Los Angeles and on to Vancouver.
It was a wonderful cruise and if that option had been there I would have voted for this cruise.

[bepsf]

I'm up for Europe on Noordam - Fall 2006...

[kryos]

My favorite was the second half of my b2b on the Zuiderdam last September ... an abbreviated West Carribean itinerary.

It was a shortened cruise because of the hurricane ... only five days. Because of the hurricane damage in Florida, and the fact that a lot of folks scheduled to depart that Saturday either couldn't get to Fort Lauderdale, or otherwise chose to cancel, we sailed with a mere 650 or so pax on that cruise. Imagine a ship the size of the Zuiderdam with only 650 pax on it. There was actually more crew than passengers aboard! That cruise was like being on a private yacht. No lines for anything ... plenty of room at the pool ... only one dinner seating ... one showtime ... loads of personal one-on-one service ... and lots of special events like behind-the-scenes tours of areas normally not covered in those sorts of things and q&a's with the cruise director.

It was a glorious, relaxing cruise ... and an experience I doubt I'll ever have again. The odds would be against it.

Yeah, I guess I can understand why HAL has pulled out of the Carribean during the summer months now. They had to have taken a bloodbath financially with that particular cruise ... and even with the one before it that got extended by two days with no cost to the passengers.

Sorry for HAL's financial loss, but boy did I enjoy that cruise! And I even got shipboard credit and a discount coupon for a future cruise out of it. How could you do better than that!?!?!?!

Blue skies ...

--rita

[RevNeal]

Right now it's a tie between:
Hawaii aboard the Statendam
Panama Canal aboard the Zaandam

[GrammyPL]

Our 28 day Amazon Cruise in Nov. - Maiden Voyage for HAL on the Prinsendam and our 7 day Alaskan Cruise on the Zaandam

[ekerr19]

I misunderstood too - I thought you were asking for our best cruise so I voted "other" - Panama Canal Holiday 2000 :)

[ger_77]

I voted "other" because we would love to do the Black Sea & Beyond cruise again on the Prinsendam in early June - there were so many options and so little time that we need to go back. If it means going on a group cruise, great! We've got some friends that we cruised with just a couple of weeks ago who would happily join the group.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[CDRMark]

Hey Host! I give my permission to delete this puppy so I can start over, K?
Cheers
MarkB

[Bill S]

Count me in with the "misunderstood" group, too! I was voted "other" thinking it was about our best cruise so far--sorry!

I'd still vote, other: Alaska-anytime during the cruise season or Mexican Riviera in early Spring or Fall.

[HeatherInFlorida]

If you're considering doing a second group cruise that's fine, Mark. But there are already a group of us working on the current one so I just want everyone to be clear this is not a poll regarding that cruise.

That poll will be up shortly.

[CDRMark]

I already apologized for starting this thread, Heather.
Cheers
MarkB

[HeatherInFlorida]

Mark, you misunderstood me!!! There is no need for an apology so I wasn't expecting or wanting an one:D ... just wanted to be sure no one thought this was the thread I had been saying I would put up.

We narrowed it to the Caribbean only because that was when most people said they could go. But there nothing stopping you from going ahead with another CC cruise to another exotic location!:)

[TylerRose]

Hands down: a HAL last minute Europe replacment: after 9/11 and expectations of potential followups, HAL pulled Prinsendam off previous schedule and through together a 2 week Alaska journey originating from San Francisco, and visiting lesser known ports and areas! It was the best!

Portland, Oregeon greeting us with a local market and Marching Band!
We visited Victoria, BC, and Wrangall, Sitka, and then all the usual Alaska ports... But it was 14 days of unrepeated, and "off the regulars cruise ship schedule" of Beautiful, plentiful, spectacular Alaska ala Holland America.

For Nature, Wildlife viewing, apprciating the environment, and cool days of exploration... It's Alaska Hands Down!!!:D

[Two Ells]

Right after 9/11, the Prinsendam (which was at that time the Seabourn Sun) had a great cruise around the Gulf of Mexico - leaving from Ft. Lauderdale, with one port of call in Santa Cruz, Mexico and then on to Galveston, TX (with an available side trip to the Space Center in Houston) and a couple of days in New Orleans before returning to FT. Lauderdale by way of the Western Caribbean. No one was afraid to travel by ship, in New Orleans we were berthed near the big bridge and the Coast Guard could be observed from our balcony where they sat guard with rifle and everyone aboard had some relief from the tragedy of 9/11. The Captain was very visable, attended every get together and hosted a cocktail party nearly every night. Wine was complimentary with lunch and dinner - everyone was mellow! The ports of call were interesting and fun for all ages. This was in 2001 and no cruise line has repeated that course.........I'd go again in a minute if some line would repeat it. It was November and the Gulf was as calm as a lake. Out of l8 cruises that we've taken, it was the very best.

[Golfgrl1911]

Sorry but I seemed to have read wrong too. Thought this was about best cruise so far! It's a great question though so I'll plead ignorance and continue! I agree with Kyros, last Sept. we were on the same cruise but did not meet. It was glorious for the same reasons Kyros stated.....nearly empty ship! It was also my first "real" cruise so that made it all the more special..they say you never forget your first.....right??:D Chef Nancy