Germancruiser

Thanks all for you posts- I agree- I will go with an open mind- and of course- the Asia experience is far more interessting then the sailing the carribbean for the uptenth time. LOL! In fact the carribbean get´s a little break from us! I sailed Milli twice- when she was 2 month old and just before her Solsticeation.

She is my all time farvorite cruise ship- and was my first X- ship though!

@needtobespoiled- I so enjoyed your review and those amazing pictures you shared with us Cruise Critic Folk- and yes your wrote a very balanced review- Thanks again!

Oh dear, I just checked the german reviews - they are just as bad- if not worse! Well let´s hope for the best and that X will take care of the issue´s!

As my next Millenium Cruise is almost around the corner I just checked the latest Reviews and was surprised to read such negativ comments, issues with showing her age, sevage smell all over the ship! One even mentioned that she got to know that the ship would be sold next year.

I do hope X will take notice and handle the issue´s !

I know they charge double- but well - one person buy´s a lot less then two in the cabin and so I thing I would do the same- same goes for Hotelrooms- I have never heard a complain there.

What I absolutly don´t get is the issue with wine- why on earth some bring their own wine is beyond me! There are so many wine options on board?

It can´t be , because it is cheaper to bring ones one right??

Well we brought everything when we went to camp ground when we were kids...!

I agree- that bed is not much better then sleeping on the floor , amazing, never saw that before! I just saw on an other thread a family corner cabin- that looked just as plain and very very basic! I think X could do better with the cabin interiour! Very simplified!

Grandeur was my first real big ship back in 1997 her inaugural season and so it began- my cruise addiction I mean. Also have such fond memory´s that the Vision Class always is special! Did the Maiden Voyage on borad Enchantment - same year- great ship. Vision the year that followed. So I thing they are not dated but- well older- and with all those new builts every year- people are more and more used to brand new ships and consider a 15 year old as very old- which it really is not- considering that those ships sail for about 35 , 40 years!

How about Celebrity Carnival- since they seem to go - sail- in that direction..! Just kidding of course!

I sailed Zuiderdam and Silhouette- what drove me from X right into the " decks" of HAL, were some things X changed- to " attract a younger bunch of people"! Loud music, canned music all over the place and so such things- the lack of a propper prommenade deck was also helping with the HAL decicsion.

Anyway- Silly is a great ship- no question about it!

Zuiderdam is older a bit dark in places, but a very nice ship also. Big plus- the prommenade deck- wrap round the whole ship! Since Silly has NO prommenade deck thats earns the name, it can get a bit crowded on the upper decks!

We found the Service and the food sometimes better then on board X- ships!

The older bunch of people- I don´t really care.

HAL stands for a more relaxed and " calm, classy " cruise experience.

Will ban X totaly - no I would not- my next cruise is on board Millenium- but HAL is definatey an alternativ to X!

Wonderful pictures- almost breathtakeing! We are on board Milli in the first two weeks of march! So it is great to get a " sneak peak" ! thanks for shareing!

Michael

I also hope and wish for a nice prommenade deck- I was surprised how many miss that on S- Class. On Zuiderdam two month ago I so enjoyed the wrapround prommenade deck- real DECK as in WOOD- FLOOR- GREAT VIEWS OUT TO THE SEA ! THAT is ship feeling.

I just read that in some new builts the idea is to get back to the more conept of more connection with the environment in which the ships sail in- the SEA!

Very good idea!

Oh poor X- can´t satisfy everyone- glad to hear the blaring music issue is taken care of - so it seem- can´t wait to cruise on board Millie again in three month. I very much enjoyed a very relaxing quite Holland Amerika cuise in October. Well for those who like a real lively atmosphere- there options out there- Royal- Costa- Carnival- all nice and loud- äh pardon livley!

Well yes- 18 month old- but still loud music on board X - ships- well that is not so good to heeeeaaaaaaaaaar!

Holland America in October this year was much, much better- well on Zuiderdam anyway!

Thats the same with any cruise line I heard of - I never deal with them directly- I let my TA do the job they are supposed to do!

Celebrity was the worst I have ever experienced- first waiting for someone to pick up for about 20 minutes, then usualy the one at the other end know´s nothing or not much of anything! When ones dare´s to ask again- they can get almost rude! Well those cruise lines have to put some work into that compartment! As long as their ships booked nicely I suppose they just don´t care!

you are right brigittetom- a TA on board QM must be special! Just the eight bells- or what it is called in the atrium every noon at sea is great!

I wish you a wonderful cruise fantasy51- very nice to get back a little sun before X- mas!

Of course money does not buy manners - thats not what I ment- sometimes it visa verse! I was generaly speaking!

As for the elveators- I really don´t care if people use that very practial innovation for just one floor- as long as they stick to elevator corectness!

Rudness to the staff is absolutly not acceptable. I did not hestitate to mention that to a fellow table mate who yellled and bossed a very nice waiteress around for no reason at all!

I may get slapped for that comment- but IMO ,if cruise lines lower the prices and lower them even more, they ( and we) should not expect that ALL people who can NOW afford a cruises are brought up with- MANNERS!

I witnessed over and over again, on debarkation day- people sitting on the floor in the landings, stairways and so on. They avoid the lounges because they can´t wait to debark! That sitting on floors on landings, etc. may be suitable for a picnic or a camp ground holiday! ( nothing to say against that kind of vacation- we did that for years and years when were children)

Thank you for those great pictures! She is almost ready to sail- LOL! I don´t think the regonition of the new King as anything to do where ship will be positioned. The name may be a nice touch- but what counts are profits! And the " Mama " of HAL is located in the US- for them profit is almost everything!

So we have to wait AND see! I am going for my first HAL cruise in three weeks- I am looking forward to the experience with HAL. From that experience I will make further cruise decisons!

nana 51- the same goes for me- i love the prommenade deck- sadly the new Koenigsdam wil not have that anymore- Solstice Class ships are great ships- but the prommenade deck- or the lack there of- is the reason I prefer the Millenium Class!

So I suppose I will stick to them as long they are around! A shame HAL did not stick to their famous prommenade deck!

Thanks brigittemom and Hendrika- oh yes I had a wonderful time! I never did real TA on board QM 2 - but that is also on my " to do " list! I had quite a few TA´s with X and RCI and loved it- I would enjoy it very much to be on board a TA- perferably a round trip- TA- that would be the icing on the cake. LOL!

So do I- grayjay- so do I ! I would never, ever set foot on a german cruise line or ship for that matter!

Balf- I don´t know HOW british London really is- if you want a really british experience - well I highly recommend the Goring - Hotel in London Belgravia- British at it´s best!

OP- you are the role model for cunard! Believe me! You will love every minute of it- the cruise- I am sorry- the sail- experience ( nobody cruises on board QM 2 - big no no no) is very british!

As you- I can sit for hours read my book ( kindle nowadays ) and order one cup of the tea after the other!

As for the 30 year old gentlemen hosts that some other poster mentioned- of course that will never happen since Cunard sure would not like the idea.

The Lady´s , well that´s another matter- They would be very happy indeed- to dance with a young guy- of that I am pretty sure!

Maybe Cunard should train them right in the teen club - just kidding of course!

oh dear- thank you Ma Bell- for clearing that- yes of course- hut means hat- my first language got hold over me. LOL!

Oh no it was not Grill Class- it was a regular balcony cabin- in the hull - nothing fancy- okay the Hotel was- but the cruise was " simple" Britania Class!

I agree I really was treated like royality. A very special cruise! I met such great people also- mostly from England! Soooo interessting to meet new people from different country´s !

Oh yes Kathy- I had a great time! I just wish Cunard would not have those sometimes grazy prices- they do offer deals , but mostly inside´s or cabins with no balcony. So I also have to wait- but I will sail her again- that´s for sure! For me the grandest, greatest Ship afloat!