Riversedge

It’s obvious that some love it and and some don’t.  We sailed on the NS about a month ago and didn’t care for it.  We have also sailed the Koningsdam which we didn’t love either.  Too crowded and staffing is not up to par for a great experience.  Venues were crowded and loud.  We loved the Eurodam and Volendam.  If all the smaller ships go away we will probably go elsewhere, possibly Azamara as we love their experience. 

2 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

We noticed that HAL has also apparently stopped enforcing any sort of dress code for children in the MDR. Teens and younger were plentiful last night in shorts. Not sure if the relaxed code extends to adults too but I know they used to send anyone who arrived in shorts away. 

A man behind us in line on the NS told us he went to the dining room in shorts and was asked to go back and change.  So apparently they are enforcing, at least on some ships.  (Information only, not trying to turn this into a dress code thread)

We were on the Nieuw Statendam a couple of weeks ago.  We knew there would be a few children this of the time of year.  We just weren’t expecting crying babies and noisy children running around the specialty restaurants. That couldn’t have been fun for the parents either.  Why subject small children to a meal that lasts an hour and a half or more?  That seems cruel to those children who were constantly being reprimanded by their parents but were really too small to sit that long.  Everyone suffered.  I don’t like the 50% off because it encourages that.  I have no problem with children dining next to me in an expensive restaurant provided they are old enough to behave responsibly. We took our children when they were young (not HAL) and they were taught to sit and behave.  

1 hour ago, SilvertoGold said:

How is the App working on board?

Worked great last week.

4 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

They will do twice a day service. During the restart it was hit and miss and they would ask what you preferred. Sometimes you have to ask for it on the first day but recently it’s been the default again without having to request it. 
 

Just talk with the steward and they’ll note that you want it. No problem at all once you request it. 

We were on the same week as you.  We were told default for room service is once a day unless you request twice daily.  But then we also had a very lazy room steward.   

4 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

I can see charging for a second main course, but not an appetizer. I wanted two appetizers, but I was NOT going to pay $7 for three strips of bacon.

I wonder how many people actually order the bacon now?  It’s not filling enough to be my only appetizer and I’m not willing to pay $7 for 3 strips of bacon.  My husband would want at least one of them.  At least if I order soup I don’t have to share!

We board tomorrow and I was aware of the extra charge but it does not sit well with us.  We are already paying for a meal that night (dining room or lido)  in the cost of the cruise.  So, if I want to upgrade my experience I have to pay extra.  I get that.  I see no reason to be charged extra if I want a soup and salad.  I loved the days when it was appetizer, soup, salad, entree and dessert.  The portions are smaller too.  So, we have decided to skip the Pinnacle and make note of it on a survey as a manner of protest.   The whole Pinnacle experience is not what it used to be in regards to service so we won’t feel we are missing anything.  

1 hour ago, AFNavigator said:

Our Orange Party experience in December was pretty underwhelming.  We expected some sort of grand party but that didn't turn out to be the case.  Beyond the limited appetizers the staff passed out, the "party" was essentially just a regular BB Kings session with people wearing orange clothing.  At the end of the band's regular session duration, the band departed and recorded music was put on.  I expected the band to play longer for this special event...didn't happen.  45-50 minutes in, that was the end of the live music.  The crowd quickly dwindled after the live music ended.

Totally agree with you.  On our first cruise after they started Orange night we brought orange clothing, neon orange bracelets and prepared to have fun.  What we found was that it’s mostly a way for HAL to sell special drinks.  People were packed in, band was too loud and there was nowhere to sit.  We tried it again on another cruise and decided it’s all a ploy for them to make money and now we don’t bother to go any more.  

I’m assuming that the medical center will provide a letter from the dr stating you tested positive and did your quarantine. They did that for me and it was a good thing as we were traveling to St Lucia and needed a pcr test prior to entry.  I tested positive 2 months later but was able to travel with the recovery letter.  If they had required an antigen test it would not have been a problem but those pcr tests can show positivity for months.    I do think most countries have reduced requirements but always good to have proof. 

I’m curious how many days you are in quarantine.  In your original room?  I was moved to a special hallway by people in hazmat suits.  When they delivered food it was to the table in the hallway.  They would knock and RUN!  HAL did deliver a bottle of wine about halfway thru quarantine, chocolate covered strawberries once, little gifts once in awhile.  That was a year ago.  I suspect the “special” treatment has dwindled since then.  My biggest problem was the food was not hot.  And wine out of a paper cup.  Yuck! They forgot and brought it in a wine glass once and that became a favorite possession for the rest of my quarantine.  I had to do 10 days.  I’m glad you are feeling relatively well but BOREDOM was one of the worst symptoms!

Been there, done that.  It’s no fun.  That cabin grows smaller every day.  Are they bringing your food on actual plates with real silverware?  Those wooden utensils got old really fast.  I’ve gotten Covid on my last two cruises.  The neighbors went recently and their whole traveling group came down with Covid the day after returning.  I’d like to say it’s never for me again, but…..there are those travel credits to use.  

We are 5* mariners, only sticking with HAL because we enjoy the longer cruise itineraries.  There’s a level of comfort to what we are used to (and it’s hard to give up that free laundry!) so we have continued to cruise with them.  As with most lines, the cut backs have taken away some of the special things we used to enjoy.   
 

When friends asked us to join them on the Celebrity Apex for 12 days last fall we were thrilled to try Celebrity again.  We had been on the Summit a few years ago and loved it.  This is one of their newest ships so I was expecting to be wowed and I was.  I’ve been on HAL’s newest ships as well and was not that impressed.  The common areas were beautiful, there were  many areas to get away from the crowds and lots to do.   We were not happy with the food but we are not happy with Hal’s food anymore (same old, same old only smaller portions).  Celebrity was understaffed and so wait time was long at most restaurants.   We LOVE the crew on HAL.  The Phillipinos and Indonesians know how to wait on you make make you love them.   Celebrity hires other walks of life and I agree that they talk amongst themselves, tend to ignore you and look down their nose at you.  BUT, the entertainment on Celebrity was phenomenal.  We don’t enjoy the music walk on HAL and there was so much to do on the Apex and the shows were outstanding.  
 

We will sail both lines again.  HAL for the service and Celebrity for entertainment and the beauty of the ships.  We did not find Celebrity to have loud music.  The clientele was an average of about 62-65.  I think shorter cruises tend to have more of a party feeling.  
 

Just now, snowmouse said:

Initially I did not add the Have it All option, we were just thinking we would add the signature drink package.  Now, however, we are about three weeks from sail and are being offered HIA for only $50/day.  Obviously, now this makes sense.  My question is about how you are credited for the specialty dining and shore excursion .  If we make reservations and prepay online, can these be applied to our account?  I would really like to book ahead for our choice of times, but don't want to pay if I can't be reimbursed with the credit.

 

I’m curious how much more the HIA was when you first decided not to get it.  We booked our cruise a couple months ago and $50 a day is what it was then.  I think that’s all we have ever paid.  Once you have the HIA package added to your reservation you can easily make the included dinner and shore excursion reservations through the navigator app.  There will be a box to check (easy to find) that indicates you want to use your free perk and you will not be charged at all.  

What is a first responder obc?  I’ve never heard of it.  

Be sure to try the Wasabi cocktail.  We often go to their bar to have that even if we aren’t dining there.  I’m a picky eater but I love the Szechuan shrimp and the wasabi crusted tenderloin.  I have a little more trouble with the starters but I’m willing to try them each time.  It’s my husband’s favorite restaurant.  Service is always excellent. 

On 12/4/2022 at 5:08 PM, alexisaboard said:

I’m surprised not to see mention of the dozens of buckets spread throughout the ship, across all decks, collecting dripping water from the ceiling. I work in hospitality - we would be terribly embarrassed if this were our guests’ experience. 
 

 

 

The crew was phenomenal, but the Zuiderdam is on her last legs. It’s really rather appalling that HAL does not have more shame. The buckets collecting dripping water really say it all. And that was across all decks, from deck 1 to deck 10. 
 

We made wonderful friends and had a great time overall. We have a good attitude and are easy-going, pretty easy to please. But these issues, on paper, paint a pretty grim picture. As one of our new friends said, it felt like we were on the holodeck or an episode of the Twilight Zone. Something was just off on this voyage. 

This sound exactly like our experience on the Zuiderdam’s Voyage of the Vikings (maybe 5 years ago?). I can’t believe it’s still in the same condition. That was our worst cruise experience ever.  They had a bucket outside our room collecting water from the dripping ceiling for the first 2 weeks.  I finally joked with our room steward that I was going to buy a floatie and have a pool party in the hall.  It got miraculously patched after that.   Going down each hallway was a challenge for able bodied people.  Don’t know how the many scooters maneuvered through the buckets.  It wasn’t just the drips, it was the whole experience and we will never book that ship again.  There were many many complaints about a lot of things and their answer was that the ship we were supposed to go on changed to a different itinerary so the Zuiderdam wasn’t prepared for a long voyage. I believe it’s leaving on the World Cruise today. It should have been in perfect condition. 

20 minutes ago, RuthC said:

You are allowed to, but with your carry-on, and whatever else you are handling, are you sure you want to lug a gallon of water, too? 
For the price on board, I don't have the stamina to lug a gallon of water, too. It would take more than that out of me. 

That’s all I would be carrying. No carry-on  this time.   I need it for sinus washes.  Otherwise I have to take a water purifying pump to use with tap water. One gallon would last me a week.  Thanks for the info.  

Can you carry on a gallon of unopened distilled water?

I don’t know that we have ever received a welcome back offer and we will turn 5* on our next cruise.   Lately they’ve probably read my surveys and decided they didn’t want me back on board!

I did 10 days of isolation for Covid in January.  I had the credit in my account about the same time I left the ship. Very fast and easy then but maybe they’re a little more swamped now.  At first there was a “use by” date of December 2022 but they have extended it twice.  Now I have all of next year to sail but it has to be booked by mid January.  I appreciated having longer to use it as I’m having a hard time convincing myself i

I can actually get on a cruise. I got Covid again on my September Celebrity cruise.  I guess I need to find another way to travel.  Doesn’t seem to be safe for me even though I do not take elevators and don’t gather in crowded bars.  

9 minutes ago, esimon said:

was there a BB King band?  

Yes and we enjoyed it. They did seem to play a lot of the same songs we have heard over and over.  But without the other music venues all trying to drown each other out it wasn’t so loud and not as many people all crowded into a music walk area. 

9 minutes ago, esimon said:

was there a BB King band?  

Yes and we enjoyed it. They did seem to play a lot of the same songs we have heard over and over.  But without the other music venues all trying to drown each other out it wasn’t so loud and not as many people all crowded into a music walk area. 

It’s been a year since we were onboard so of course there’s probably been more cutbacks since then (as there has been on all ships).  This was a great sized ship for us. We dislike the music walk so we were much happier on board this ship without the loud music and screaming passengers who thought they sounded good singing along.   We loved everything about the Eurodam.  We hope to sail her again as we find this size much better for us than the newest ships.  

It just took less than an hour for us to get an email confirmation after faxing in the request. We always specifically ask for one. 

6 hours ago, foodsvcmgr said:

We’ve sailed 100 days with HAL and 40 with Celebrity but neither since 2019.

Is the general consensus that Celebrity has cut back less post Covid on food, entertainment, and the overall experience?

 

We sailed on the Celebrity Apex for 12 nights in September.  The ship was absolutely beautiful.  The entertainment was some of the best we have ever seen.  It was our second cruise on Celebrity, the first being about 8 years ago (We are HAL 5*).  We were so looking forward to better food since we feel HAL’s menus have gone downhill and are repetitive and boring.   The food on Celebrity in the main dining room was awful. Prime rib that was impossible to chew, tasteless soups and entrees.   The service was deplorable in every area except room stewards and he was “ok”.   There were 8 of us traveling together with one of them being a travel agent.   She was going to call Celebrity after the cruise.  The way she put it was “it’s all glitz and glitter and no substance” and we all agreed with her.  We haven’t been too happy with HAL lately but we don’t like the large ships and the music walk.   We miss the things they used to have and some of those were not costing them much money.  But the one place that HAL shines over Celebrity is the crew.   We really enjoyed our first Celebrity cruise and so I would say yes, it’s definitely gone downhill.