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Posts
42,960 -
Joined
About Me
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Location
Warwick, R.I. , USA
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Interests
travel; music; reading
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Favorite Cruise Line(s)
HAL
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Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
Antarctica
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RuthC's Achievements
40,000+ Club (8/15)
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Is it along walk to Trondheim cathedral ?
RuthC replied to Cruisetrekker's topic in Holland America Line
Define 'long'. I wouldn't have tried to walk it even when I could walk well. Other people wouldn't have trouble doing the distance. I don't remember whether or not there were taxies when I left the ship. -
Another problem for HAL's IT Department
RuthC replied to woodinville cruisers's topic in Holland America Line
If you have written confirmation of your onboard credits (I always receive a copy of this), and for your Club Orange purchase, why do you need to see it on the website? I always have a written copy of everything that's included in my booking, whether from the booking itself, or an add-on that I have purchased. That includes on-board credits, HIA inclusions, shore excursions I have purchased, specialty dinners, spa/salon purchases, and have never felt the need to see if they are listed on the website. It's the paperwork that matters, and is what is accepted as confirmation if something were ever to go wrong. -
I don't remember that, but I believe it happened. I did know one person who turned down the offer to join the group. Also, quite a few years ago.
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Live from the Koningsdam, it's a Solar Eclipse! April 5th to 27th
RuthC replied to cruisn71's topic in Holland America Line
I haven't seen what I would call 'late' dining in a long time, and certainly not 'late' entertainment. Late dinner used to be at 8:15, now it is at 7:30. The late show was at 10:00, which gave a comfortable amount of time to come in from the day, shower and change for dinner, have some cocktail time, dine, and then see the show. The proper order to the end of the day! After the show there was still plenty of entertainment around the ship, including music and dancing in the Ocean Bar until 1:00 AM, and the Piano Bar closing as late as 2:00 AM (dropped to 1:00 AM shortly after I started closing that bar). Crow's Nest had music until at least 11:00, and then switched to disco for a couple of hours. I'm convinced HAL wants us all snuggled in our beds so the officers and crew can call it a night. -
Live from the Koningsdam, it's a Solar Eclipse! April 5th to 27th
RuthC replied to cruisn71's topic in Holland America Line
Which defeats the purpose of choosing late dining. If you need to get to the show for 6:00 PM, then you still need to end your afternoon early, and come in to shower and dress for dinner. Then you are finished with dinner sometime around 9:00-ish, but much of the entertainment offered closes down not much later. It's as if HAL WANTS people to go to bed early so they can close down. -
Those of us who have been around HAL a while have met, or heard of, at least one passenger who is in the President's Club. I wonder how many people have the required number of nights aboard to qualify for this exclusive club, but never were invited to join? Anyone ever hear of that circumstance? I did once know one person who declined an invitation to join, but never heard of one who wasn't even asked.
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Oceania for HAL cruisers who love classical music?
RuthC replied to Hlitner's topic in Holland America Line
In general, Oceania's dress code is not very dressy, however, people do tend to dress up to the code. They dress a lot better on a 'casual' scale than so many HAL passengers do. -
All of this is normal. You are sailing in uncharted waters here, and it will take a while to get through this. Be kind to yourself, and take all the time you need before you start moving on.
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Cabin sizes on the Veendam and Volendam are the same in comparable categories. Identical. There are 'insides' and 'large' insides; the large insides are, well, larger! The large insides are normally 186 sq. ft., while the outsides on the Main and Dolphin Decks on the Volendam are 196 sq. ft. There are a few insides, not handicap accessible, that are larger still, but that isn't pertinent to your inquiry. On the Lower Promenade Deck, yes, the outside cabins are smaller than the insides across the passageway. I've been in many inside cabins on many cruises, and a few outside cabins on all eight S- and R-class ships. I could unpack in any of them blindfolded! (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration)
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Sail Standby for $49 a day- new program
RuthC replied to BermudaBound2014's topic in Holland America Line
More likely is that there were one (or two---in any case, a small number of) cabins left, and a lot of guarantees to be placed. If so, then selling that one (or two) cabins would have the ship filled, and close off the cabins, as your PCC noted. The Standby bookings are in case someone has to forego the cruise at the last minute. It happens. -
Oh, Bruno, I am so sorry to read this news. He was so fortunate to have you, even to his last. I hope you can take comfort in knowing you did your best for him. May you both rest peacefully until you see each other again.
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Interested in a comparison between HAL and a Scenic River cruise?
RuthC replied to 1of4's topic in Holland America Line
He's a keeper! -
Your cabin is on the port side. At least on the Nieuw Statendam, the smoking area is on starboard. I don't see how smoke could both cross over the entire Sea View area, AND drop down one deck to your balcony.
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It's official. Production shows are back!!
RuthC replied to Ken the cruiser's topic in Holland America Line
I was picturing the Pinnacle ships when I posted that, as that was the class of the last ship I was on. Of course, you're right---on other classes, musicians don't have to break for an entire set so as not to conflict with another group. However, all else you posted about the procedure in the Westerdam Billboard Onboard still keeps it from being a piano bar, which is certainly my preference. Even if HAL would reintroduce Piano Bars on the remaining R-class ships, that would work for me. And it would leave a choice for HAL patrons. -
It's official. Production shows are back!!
RuthC replied to Ken the cruiser's topic in Holland America Line
I was always especially fond of 'Encore', as the music and the costumes were both gorgeous! I only got to see it twice, but could have seen it more times, had it been offered. I used to love 'Copacabana', but that was around a while, and I know others got kind of sick of it. I didn't, but then I only saw it 2-3 times.