First cruise ponderings...

[javadane]

Just returned yesterday (August 19th) from our first cruise. We sailed the Oosterdam from Seattle to Juneau/Sitka/Ketchikan/Victoria. Since we have nothing to compare it to at this point we feel like we had a wonderful experience! Any negatives would be the lack of sleep because of noices in the early mornings (4:00ish) and probably my biggest gripe would be the over commercialism on board and in ports especially concerning jewelry sales. We figured early on to try and only deal with locally owned stores in each port. We will keep this board on my favorites as we are already looking forward to our next cruise and I will look forward to gleaning info from all of you!

[AWED23]

Just returned yesterday (August 19th) from our first cruise. We sailed the Oosterdam from Seattle to Juneau/Sitka/Ketchikan/Victoria. Since we have nothing to compare it to at this point we feel like we had a wonderful experience! Any negatives would be the lack of sleep because of noices in the early mornings (4:00ish) and probably my biggest gripe would be the over commercialism on board and in ports especially concerning jewelry sales. We figured early on to try and only deal with locally owned stores in each port. We will keep this board on my favorites as we are already looking forward to our next cruise and I will look forward to gleaning info from all of you!...You might want to consider either the "S" class or "R" class for your next cruise....A bit more reasonable size...These are the twwo classes of vessel that have made me a confirmed HAL cruiser....The Prinsendam is a great class all by itself!

[Neuroelf]

Thanks for the insights...we leave on the Westerdam - same itinerary- on Sunday...

[happy cruzer]

Hi, I found your ponderings profound. Will you write a review? and include the positive so we know why specifically you think you will cruise again?
did you fill out a comment card with your negatives?
CCer's care.:o

[jhannah]

Was you cabin below the lido deck pool area? That's the only time we had any noise bother us in our cabin. Every morning early the steward would move chairs and tables for what seemed like forever to get the deck straightened back up from the night before. We never made that cabin location mistake a second time!

Yes, there is much commercialization both on ship and in port. The onboard shops are a huge profit center for any cruise line, and the pax they deliver ashore are prime fodder for the shoreside merchants as well. Lots of people drop big bucks in these shops. You'll soon learn to ignore it all and enjoy the other aspects of cruising.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Do wish you write more!!!

[missygirl]

We also went on the Oosterdam, same interery back in May. This was our fifth cruise and the best yet. We had cruised with HAL the year before and was very pleased and booked Alaska this year with them. From the time that we boarded until the morning we disembarked I truly can't conplain about anything. If their was anything to complain about was the photo area was always congested trying to go into the dining room. But they put it there to sell photos and I understand that. Another complaint was that I wish that the ship would have arrived at Victoria sooner to be able to enjoy it more.

For anyone like us that happens to live on the east coast, southern states we do not experience a lot of snow. This Alaska trip was such a wonderful cruise and Oosterdam was the perfect ship for us. Sitka was my favorite stop because it was so homey. I could almost come home, pack and move there. Loved it, loved our trip.

Missygirl:)

[jagsfan]

I do the same thing on a cruise ship I do in the hospital......soft foam
ear plugs......no noise. You can hear if someone in the room yells, or if there
is a siren or something, but you can sleep in peace.
Just ignore the commercial stuff.....you can get away from it in port, too.
Just walk the streets or take a taxi or shore excursion away from the mob.