Riversedge

51 minutes ago, Archipelago said:

Called the advisor at HAL about the 2026 South America / Antarctica voyage for early January . I was surprised to learn that at this time the pre and post hotels and transfers are already waitlisted .  She has put me on a waitlist for that so  I could get what I wanted . Looking around though at other choices . I  was surprised this far out though ..really popular  .. I did this same one 20 years ago on Amsterdam and loved it !

Why do you have to book a hotel through HAL?  Go to Expedia and check them out.  I’m sure you’ll save some money.  Is the port a long distance away?  If not it would be easy to get transport.  Have you checked out your roll call?  There might be someone there who already has it all figured out.  

We were on a RCCL cruise once when a couple was late.  They came running down the dock as we were pulling out.  The man dove off the dock and started swimming after the ship.  The pilot boat picked him up and his wife and took them to the ship.  It made for fun entertainment from the verandah.  (It worked if any of you need to try this….)
We do a lot of cc independent shore excursions.  There’s always a couple or two that will start harassing the tour guide continuously about getting back 2 hours into a 6 hour excursion.  

We haven’t sailed NCL in years so can’t do a recent comparison.  But if you’re looking for great entertainment then you will be disappointed in HAL I think.  We love the staff and the food is good (not excellent in our opinion).  But typical entertainment during the day is jewelry presentations, spa sales, jewelry sales, foot analysis and trivia.  If you’re lucky (depending on the area of the world you’re sailing) you’ll get a port presentation or lecture.   Agree that 28 days might be too long for your first try.  We sail HAL for the itineraries and the crew.  They are top of the class there.  

22 hours ago, Cruiseroldies said:

We are on this February 17, 2025 cruise San Diego to San Diego.  Can anyone recommend a hotel near the cruise port please?  We do not know San Diego at all.  Many thanks, and greetings from Canada.

 

We stayed at the Wyndham Bayside and loved it.  Walkable to the port and restaurants

7 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

Would that be something like "The Polynesian Flu"?

 

~Nancy

We have done two South Pacific cruises and got very sick both times with a bad cough that lasted for months.  Only area of the world that has happened.  It will not be a future itinerary for us.  

There was norovirus on the previous cruise.  Maybe they had to do an extra deep cleaning?

I would be extremely suspicious of anyone who only had wonderful, glowing things to say.  We all know the world is not perfect so I appreciate hearing both the negative and positive things.  I’m hoping that your posts will nudge all of us into pushing HAL for better entertainment opportunities.  It’s easy to tell that you are “living the life” right now.  Enjoy your last couple days.  And thank you for keeping us all informed and entertained!

It seems like they’re shooting themselves in the foot on this one.  Are they forgetting that they cater to an older clientele?  I doubt that many of those are going to fill a cabin for 4 on a long cruise.  This seems totally unrealistic on their part.  Maybe their first priority should be fixing entertainment, not thinking up silly rules.  

36 minutes ago, danogg said:

@Riversedge what is the itinerary for the 28 Coral Triangle cruise?

Here you go

I am loving your daily posts.  You have such wit and humor and tell it like it is in a nice way.  It’s fun to see what’s happening on your many sea days as we have booked the 28 day Coral Triangle cruise next January and will have many sea days.  It looks as though I’ll have to bring my good humor as well because there’s not a lot to do that doesn’t bring more money into Holland’s coffers.  What I am contributing towards the booking of my cruise is enough, thank you.  I don’t need more jewelry or watches and my feet don’t need to be evaluated. Drawing from doodles twice today?  Is doodling really that popular?  I’m glad your cruise is such a great one.  We have done these ports before and thank you for taking us down memory lane.  I hope we cruise together some day.  

It’s working on my iPad and it seems faster.  I hope I’m not dreaming that. 

You posted this under the Asia board.  You might want to ask the same question under the Alaska port of call.  You’ll get lots more answers there.  Most people going to Alaska are not checking here.  

12 hours ago, charliedalrymple said:

 

 

I'd like to hear opinions on how HAL is different from the other mass-market lines from those who have experienced both. Given the number of sea days on our upcoming cruise, I'm particularly interested in daytime activities, as well as entertainment options. (I'm aware of the "Music Walk" but don't fully understand it, and I'd also like to hear about other shows and entertainment offerings.)

 

Thanks in advance!

 

HAL is quite laid back.  We like that but get very bored on itineraries that have a lot of sea days.  You will find on a typical day:  bingo, jewelry presentations, spa offerings, pickle ball, bridge, sometimes a port lecture or a lecture on the area you are cruising, adult coloring, casino, wine tasting, once in awhile flower arranging.  Many of their activities bring more money into the ship’s coffers.   There used to be lots more but after Covid not so much.  They tend to show the same shows year after year in World Stage so if you haven’t sailed before you might enjoy those.   My advice is enjoy the ports, the service, takes some books or cards.  Music walk is enjoyed by many but an equal part think it’s way too loud.  You will enjoy the crew…they’re the best.  Stand at the rail and watch the waves go by.  There’s not a better feeling than that.  

Is it now the norm to have the Orange party on deck?  I like this so much better.  We only attended once before….too crowded and too loud.  

41 minutes ago, dfish said:

I have many more choices now as well.  I did book a flexible fare in the class of service I wanted to make sure I have flights, but will continue to check options up until final payment.  The nice thing about flexible fares is that they can be changed.

Since I’ve never used Flight Ease I’m trying to understand what the benefit is.  Comparing using FE and doing it on my own, the FE cost is only a few dollars less.  I understand I could change or cancel my flight up until final payment which is 4 months before my cruise.  After that point I can’t get my money back if I want to cancel, correct?  If I book a refundable fare myself I can cancel all the way up to the day the flight leaves.  Is there something I’m missing?  I’m flying in 3 days early so not worried about missing my cruise.  Seems like a no-brainer to book it myself.  

16 hours ago, dfish said:

I would wait on this for a while.  Flights for my cruise next January just became available.  The first day there were only 5 to choose from and none were flex fares.  The next day had more choices and some flex fares added in.  Give it some time.

 

For my January 1st flight there are already 58 choices.  

If you love the entertainment on Celebrity you will be disappointed with HAL.   There’s not much to do but at least since this is your first cruise you will see entertainment for the first time instead of over and over across the years like the rest of us.  Go and have fun in the ports and enjoy the service.  That’s what HAL does well.  

I’ve never used flight ease.  As I understand it if I booked a flight today and was ticketed on my final payment day (September) I would pay for my flight then.   Am I locked in to the fare I book now if the airline fares are higher at actual time of ticketing?

1 hour ago, CNSJ said:

That best describes the pictures you sent!  Wow!

 

Looks much like the "best island stop ever" we visited on the 2022 Westerdam Fall Transpacific, at Papua New Guinea's Conflict Islands.  Two days there of essentially untouched South Pacific perfection!  I wish HAL would stop there more frequently on its Transpacific trips, we got lucky!

 

Keep up your great photos!

 

 

That sounds amazing.  Did you have a tour there or just find a beach?  We are headed there in January. 

We are 5* with HAL so obviously have sailed with them a bit.  About a year ago friends asked us to join them on Celebrity Apex for a 12 day Med cruise.  
 

At first the Apex totally wowed us.  There were so many areas to explore, beautiful spaces and many places to get food.  We loved it.  The ship seemed vibrant and alive although not a crazy wild atmosphere.  Average age was slightly less than HAL.  The entertainment was unbelievable. Things going on all over the ship.  It was a fairly port intensive cruise but on sea days there were always many things to do.   Their downfall was the quality of the food and the friendliness of the crew.  We weren’t expecting that.  They have few Indonesian or Phillipino crew members and we all know how much we love them on HAL.  We would sail this ship again.

On HAL, we love the crew and food is somewhat better than it was on the Apex.  I get tired of the monotony of the menus but that’s probably because we usually sail on long cruises.   As many will agree, HAL needs to improve on their entertainment.  The music walk is fun but blasts your eardrums apart.  How many times can you see Origins Story and BBC snakes and such.  A movie in the World Stage does not take the place of live entertainment.  We’ve seen comedians with the same jokes as 4 years previously.  Mostly we are unhappy with daily sea days activities.  Coloring for adults?  Making pictures from doodles?  Pickle ball (ok if you can play on your knees) Bridge, Mahjong,   There might be a fun coffee talk or port presentation.  But otherwise it’s ways for HAL to make money on casino, foot analysis, spa extras, trivia, jewelry presentations. My biggest wish is that HAL would up their entertainment game. 
 

But still we continue to sail with Holland for their itineraries and wonderful crew.  And most of the times no kids. And of course the free laundry.  There’s also a comfort factor that grows as we get older.  But I would also sail the Apex again in a heartbeat.  

1 hour ago, dmcfad2 said:

I’m on the 35 day Hawaii/Tahiti cruise right now. This is my 6th time on this itinerary and the first time it’s been called “legendary”. Seems about the same to me, except for the upgraded tote bag. Same Step One dance performances that I’ve been watching for about 8 years now. I even know what songs are coming next. LOL

Let me guess, you’re also having the Holland America origin story and the BBC movie with the snakes.  

1 hour ago, debbiejohncruise said:

I am on the Rotterdam right now and have met folks who don’t pay for their cabins and are now 4 or 5 star mariner cruisers. One lady was actually demanding her free laundry even though she is short the number of cruise days she needs for that. We have cruised with HAL many times and are disappointed to know that folks who don’t pay for their cabins are entitled to the same things we have paid for for so many years……

I have to agree with you.  Free cruises are a sore point with me.  I have a friend on a cruise now and she was bragging that she was turning 5* on this cruise.  She’s gotten free or vastly reduced cruises for a long time.  She swears that even tho she gambles she comes out about even at the end.  Not sure I believe that but I feel if you gamble onboard it’s how you choose to entertain yourself.  Same as if I were choosing to pay big bucks to see shows or concerts every week at home.  Why would I expect to be rewarded for my own entertainment other than the fun I had doing it?   I know the recipients of these free cruises are not going to agree with me and I know it’s been discussed before.  I’m probably stirring up the hornets nest.  

11 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I will let you know when I finish.  We are just now in Hawaii for a bit longer before going to Tahiti.  There is a live thread here in the HAL board if you want to skim 

I’ve been following along.  Really appreciate the time you’re putting into it.  

55 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I got that on the current RT from San Diego to Hawaii and Tahiti.   It was not listed as legendary when I purchased it but it was called ultimate or something else. My room steward said this is a brand new hot off the presses design. 

What’s the verdict on your Legendary cruise?   Are you seeing things that make it more special and worth extra cost?  Besides the special bag of course.  

We are booked on a Legendary voyage in January.  Before I booked I called HAL and asked.  I was told it’s a regular cruise but to more out of the way places.   
 

I have a friend who is on on a Legendary voyage now to Hawaii and the South Pacific.  No different itinerary than we’ve done before on a regular voyage.  She said there’s an extra entree choice at night and then she said we have these extra meals that are special for their  journey.  She thinks the entertainment is better but when I’ve seen the dailies it looks like same old same old.  To me the special dinners are just a way for HAL to charge more to eat seafood in the Lido.  We had that on the Koningsdam a couple years ago and they were begging people to sign up for it.  When we did a quick walk by it looked like hardly anyone did it.  I would not be inclined to pay an extra $76 to eat seafood from a buffet although it’s probably good.  I’ve already paid for my meal in my cruise fare, thank you.  
 

She did say they are having lobster 3 times on their 35 day voyage.  When we booked our upcoming cruise the price was $6,000 more (both included Have it all) for the same length cruise (28 days)to the same area of the world.   In HAL’s mind they’ve come up with a way to charge more by putting a fancy name on it.