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crystalspin

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  • Location
    SE Utah
  • Interests
    Fibercrafts, technology, and travel!
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    Holland America
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    Alaska

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  1. Umm... Carnival markets heavily to families with kids, just avoid spring break and very short "booze cruises" if the party barge atmosphere has you spooked. I think that EM's suggestion sounds ideal; especially as I was a bit worried about the 10yo being the oldest in a room with a balcony door.
  2. I think you have it there. The door-slamming noise is concentrated on times when you are up and about yourself. Let me tell you a secret: Insides 10021 and 10024 have a Window! to be sure a window with no view (over the top of the Lido Pool roof), but you get natural light and can check the weather.
  3. There is no private messaging on Cruise Critic. But let me add my welcome!
  4. Well, it's not just a "fire door" but general access to the deck. Oh you mean "fire" as in being a heavy door? Yes, and it shuts loudly, I have read some complaints but didn't notice it after maybe the first day! And we spent some time each evening in the cabin as my husband was still working and needed (to try) to log in to the computer... before StarLink was a glimmer!
  5. Which packages in particular? Laundry and Daily "crew appreciation" are the same price pre-sailing vs onboard. Wifi is cheaper pre-sailing. If you are considering the Elite Beverage Package it is apparently discounted pre-sailing, as to upgrade the Signature BP on board costs $11.80 pppd. However, if you are looking at the Signature Beverage Package -- buying Have-It-All is a considerably better value -- the same amount! and getting shore-ex credit, specialty dinner(s), wifi, and 15 beverages per day at or below $11. HIA is actually less expensive than SBP because the Beverage Packages have 18% service added! There is a phenomenon that occurs in the weeks or months after a cruise itinerary is launched known as Early Booking Bonus. HIA/EBB includes Daily Crew Appreciation, upgraded WiFi, and the Elite BP. It is a very good value and seldom (in my experience) beat by later promotions. (I did have two legs of a B2B2B work out cheaper with the Black Friday Cyber Week sale, losing the EBB but still including Crew Appreciation!) (Note, those savings were accomplished by 're-faring', essentially re-booking under the new promo, without any risk of losing the booked cabin.) HAL has not historically done the Flash Sales I experienced on my one Royal Caribbean booking. However, times ARE a'changin' -- so you must not hold it against me if they try something new!
  6. We did a TA in K10021 on the Zuiderdam. While there were no storms, we felt no motion (and DH does have history of Mal de Mer). We risked it based on how much time we spent in the Crows Nest anyway! One thing about the K-inside, that seems to be true of every cabin below a suite on the Vista ships, is a dearth of drawers: small ones in the nightstands and large ones under the beds. I obtained and bought collapsible shallow boxes (sold as drawer organizers) and used them on the closet shelves.
  7. This is what we heard after our one-and-done experience on NCL. That we should try a newer, larger ship than the N.Star. Why would we give a company our money, that does not keep all of their ships in good condition and all of their crew members in high morale?
  8. Once you are on board, my experience (over new year 22-23) is that you can "see ahead" and preview the menus to come, for the cruise you are on (but not the second cruise in a B2B).
  9. Hahaha! My husband even knows [a bit of] German! Enough to project that he is following the convo! Back when muster drills were outside on the promenade, we were standing next to two or three young people (not children) who were conducting a conversation in Russian at full volume DURING the captain's broadcast instructions. I turned to them and said sharply "пожалуйста!" (pozhaluysta, a wonderful word that means both please and thank you and in this context "DO YOU MIND!!!") in my best бабушка/babushka imitation. They quieted down and probably never guessed that I had completed only one semester of Russian Language! Several English-speaking passengers thanked me, after the drill. This story has nothing in particular to do with the topic, just something to keep in mind in an international environment.
  10. On the Feb15/2025 Roll Call, I recently posted the Master List. (Post 677) You can see many are staying at Best Western Yacht Harbor -- it is not too close, but it economical (maybe a 3* hotel?) esp. if needing to park car. They have breakfast and a shuttle to the port; I am not sure how that worked out for those that stayed this past cruise! Wyndham Bayside is directly across from the port, as are two or three other high-level hotels in the BRIC (as the block of buildings is called).
  11. You are right -- mine does that too. But, the limits (price and number) are there in the top-level description. The "details" would be things like, no sharing, all in cabin must have the same level package, alcohol service may be cut off from distruptive passengers, etc.
  12. I used to do it when there was this [shopping] site with images of many clothing items. I guess far more people used it for boards than for shopping, as the site went away!
  13. Deck 6 is as quiet as D.7 -- I would vote in favor of two connecting cabins (and balconies) if travelling with friends or family! Here is the video of 7109 showing right before the finish, the view of the tenders hanging several decks below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBT9IM2JPUs
  14. It's under Ship Life/Onboard Amenities Note that upgrading the HIA's Signature Package to Elite BP will cost $10+$1.80=$11.80 per person per day and both must upgrade. It must be done on board before using the SBP even once.
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