Just back from Amsterdam to Alaska cruise

[anniecat]

I'm now suffering from the dreaded PCD...I'm home and no one turned down by bed or 'pointed' my toilet tissue last night. :rolleyes: ...I took my almost 80 year old mother on both her and my first cruise. I AM ADDICTED!!!!. We had a great time, enjoyed great service and a wonderful ship...and also had fantastic weather. The Amsterdam was a beautiful ship, the staff were always pleasant and helpful. Yes I did hear complaints....someone asked the steward to turn down the noise and stop the vibration ( :eek: stop the engines...I don't think so)...and the vibration of the engines are part of the ship..very mild and even sleep inducing. Someone else, just after lunch in the Lido, complained about cracker crumbs on the floor then yelled at the housekeeper who was vaccuming (can't win some days). There were LOTS of kids on board (400!!!)...and I never was bothered or annoyed by any of them...the older teens seemed to love the Club HAL...it was great to see tatoo'd and pierced 17 year olds playing games with the 10 year olds and all having FUN. Most of the adults were in the age range of 40-65, many with near adult kids and parents in tow. Also many babes..all taken out of the theater immediately when they cried. SUCH WELL BEHAVED ADULTS I'VE NEVER SEEN.
Our cruise went from Seattle (clear sunny with the Blue Angels overhead) to Glacier Bay (clear, puffy clouds, a few rain drops) to Juneau (clear sunny warm) to SItka (clear almost hot) to Ketchikan (clear sunny) to Victoria (foggy then clear) and back to Seattle (clear sunny). The sights were amazing...a whale watch trip was great out of Juneau, but mostly we just walked around the towns ourselves. ASK me any questions... :)
I'll post again later
Anniecat, reserved on the Ryndam for February 14 to Mexico :D

[Roz]

Annie,

Wow! Glad to hear you and your mother had such a great first cruise experience. Once you're been on HAL, you're spoiled.

400 kids...yikes! On my first cruise, also to Alaska, we had 35 kids. Just the right number, in my opinion. Enough to be fun, without getting under foot or taking over the ship.

Does your mother want to cruise again?

Roz

[ekerr19]

Annie-

Welcome back! Glad you enjoyed your first cruise on the Amsterdam, a lovely ship IMO!

Looks like you are already booking another? We couldn't wait either! We booked our next one the same week after DH & I returned from the Veendam. :)

[Jett456]

Great to hear you enjoyed the ship. I'll be going next year but the following week in august. I hope we have as nice weather as you had!!

[anniecat]

yes my mother was delighted with the cruise....all her fears..eating too much, feeling overwhelmed by all the activities, staying up late, staying in a cabin with me :rolleyes: ...none was a problem. She's already talking about where she'd like to go...but since she REALLY hates to fly..she is limited to the west coast.
in any case...I offered to take her again, anywhere, anytime. :D

[Jett456]

I have a question for you. How was the ship as far as rocking and rolling. Did it make a difference in the front or the back. I'm thinking of a forward cabin on the verandah deck and am a little nervous because this is a smaller ship than my last cruise. Thanks for any input

[anniecat]

we had very nice weather..only one night of rocking/rolling. our cabin was on the dolphin deck midships so basically we had very little problem, and I don't get ill from rocking (kind of like it). BUT at dinner (two levels above the verandah deck) several people had to leave the dutch dinner suddenly with their dinner in their dutch hat. It was rolling alot, again I liked it, kept on eating etc. If you are sensitive..try the scop patches, the wrist bands and have meclizine handy. People who had the patches seemed to be fine. When are you going?
Anniecat

[hammybee]

Thank you for letting us know how much you enjoyed your cruise. We did the same intinerary on the Oosterdam in June and kids and adults were really well behaved. Not a stinker in the bunch. I know what you mean when you talk about the overly cool and pierced kids who just can't help themselves from having fun. There is indeed hope for them all.

[Jett456]

Not till next Aug. 14 but my DH wants me to book now. Its a group poker cruise and I guess he wants to know he's in! Anyway I have always taken bonine with success but on the Celebrity Horizon even the Bonine with seabands didn't work. We were rocking and rolling. I did not feel well at all. If I stayed in bed I was ok but if I tried to get up to do anything, my head was spinning.