Thank you to regular HAL CC posters

[Cerinda]

Your information, conversation, and photographs have helped me decide to book my first HAL cruise, and also greatly enrich my anticipation. I continue to be impressed by this board's candor and civility.

I particularly appreciate the several thought-provoking threads that have appeared this last week: until them, my pre-cruise anticipation has definitely lacked a spiritual/ intellectual dimension.

I want to thank all of you for that, but most especially thank RevNeal for the intelligence, integrity, genuineness, sensitivity, and specificity he brings equally to questions about cabin selection and spiritual practice.

Cerinda

[ekerr19]

Congratulations on booking your first HAL cruise!

I have to agree with you - Revneal is a true asset to this forum. I enjoy his posts tremendously. He is always gracious, yet he has this really funny side and great sense of humor that (from my experience) is seldom seen in his profession. :)

[bombero]

We're glad we could be of help to you... Happy Sailing and let us all know how you enjoyed your HAL experience... Bombero. :) :) :)

[sail7seas]

Happy you've enjoyed coming to HAL CC........pull up deck chair and stay a while. It's a great group here...... :D

[jhannah]

Glad to have you! So, what ship/itinerary have you chosen?

[HeatherInFlorida]

Cerinda, congrats on booking your first HAL cruise. I hope it's soon and I hope you love it!:) Can't believe you won't. I've grown to love these boards, too, and have found them extremely helpful in a huge spectrum of cruise-related subjects. I can't believe how helpful people are willing to be for someone they really don't know at all.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Cerinda

So - what ship will you be on?

So - when is the cruise?

Caribbean?

Mexico?

You left so many questions unanswered.

[Cerinda]

Okay, you aksed for it...

Oosterdam Mexican Riviera for spring break 05 (March 19): parents 40s, kids 17, 15, and 8.

We have 7081 and 7083 (how much closet space do the adjoining rooms cost you?).

We're trying to persuade my mother to join us, but she's concerned that the O is just too big for her limited mobility (Is it REALLY two city blocks from the dining room to the show lounge? That WOULD be too much for her).

We've invited other family members, too, but they're concerned that cigarette smoking on board will make them ill (I have NO idea what to say to that).

Our TA has advised us that HAL is really the only line likely to suit us AND our children ( I'm not sure why she axed Celebrity). We chose this cruise for the line and the ship, not the itinerary, though flying for two hours IS is whole lot more appealing than flying/sitting/flying/sitting/flying for nineteen (Portland OR to San Juan PR)!

We're more interested in snorkeling, swimming, sailing, and lying on the beach than shopping or sightseeing (SOMEDAY I'll get to see those fabulous ruins...). Comments about active excursions in PV, Cabo, and Mazatlan are really welcome!!

[dakrewser]

Oosterdam Mexican Riviera for spring break 05 (March 19): parents 40s, kids 17, 15, and 8.

We have 7081 and 7083 (how much closet space do the adjoining rooms cost you?).

We're trying to persuade my mother to join us, but she's concerned that the O is just too big for her limited mobility
We've invited other family members, too, but they're concerned that cigarette smoking on board will make them ill .

Our TA has advised us that HAL is really the only line likely to suit us AND our children
We're more interested in snorkeling, swimming, sailing, and lying on the beach than shopping or sightseeing

I'd say you picked the right line, ship and itinerary for the group you've described. The Mexican Riviera is best for the "water sports" crowd (or the drinkers) because there isn't much else to do (some shopping & sightseeing, but not intensive). Yes, there is smoking in some partsd of the ship (stay out of the casino if it really bothers you) but its not the same as a British pub - there's no cloud of smoke hanging about. Avoid the smaller loungs and the casino and there's no problem.

It is a long walk from the DR to the show lounge, but it isn't one you need to do 'all at once' and there's plenty of places to stop and rest along the way.

You don't give up any closet space for connecting cabins, its just a hole where other cabins have a wall.

Of course, sometimes people give you excuses for not doing something but won't reveal the real reason. There's little you can do in that situation except grin, bear it - then go out and have fun (and make them sit through the pictures when you get back!) :)

[Ziggy7]

We've invited other family members, too, but they're concerned that cigarette smoking on board will make them ill (I have NO idea what to say to that).
Hy hubby and I quit smoking 4 1/2 yrs ago and we didnt even notice the smell of smoking on the Zuiderdam and since we quit we notice it everywhere, and I was even in the casino alot and it never bothered me, I really dont think they should worry about it :)

[localady]

I have found that my cruises to Europe generally have more smokers per capita on board. I realize this is a gross generalzation, but that has been my own personal experience. I have never, that I can recall, been bothered by cigarette smoke on a cruise anywhere else. I believe that many European laws regarding smoking in public places are less strict than ours and it seems more tend to "light up" on those cruises. :cool: