localady

On 10/17/2021 at 11:45 AM, dobiemom said:

Bon Voyage! 🙂 (And a special “bon voyage” to @localady. 😘)

Thank you my dear friend!!

1 hour ago, tennisbeforewine said:

Yes, until the wine was served. Most on board have been really good about following the mask requirements. 

That was definitely my observation on our Nieuw Amsterdam cruise in Sept.  Everyone was compliant with the mask rules.  Occasionally, I'd run out of the room without a mask, and then run right back as soon as I realized my gaffe.  

You might be able to fit a couple more in, maybe not so much your credit card! 😁 

I have my first solo cruise coming up in 18 days to Mexico on the Koningsdam.  Have another of my Bucket List cruises booked solo in Jan. 2023, Singapore to Hong Kong.  I am with you, life is too short, I want to see these places while I still can!  Any tips you might have as a solo cruiser is appreciated!

Glad to hear it, and to see again in print on the website that a 5 Star Mariner is entitled to a Day Pass at the Spa.  I was told on the Nieuw Amsterdam in Sept. that I only had one hour free, not a full day. 

We did received drink vouchers, perhaps that is the new perk.

15 years in CC and every post turns into a smoking rant!!:'):')

Am really looking forward to the Rolling Stones in January. Between that and BB King

the joint will be Rocking!!:cool:

Thanks for the information!:D

It's been a bit since I have posted, but I will be cruising the Koningsdam for the first time and have a question. Are Mariner coffee discounts also honored in the Dutch Cafe or are we limited to discounts at the Explorations cafe??

Thanks in advance!!:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

That is a fabulous space for a single! :)

Thanks for all the reports and pictures!!

(been following the entire time, just quiet ;) )

Have fun with your upcoming time in Rome! :D

Can't wait for your reports!

Bon Voyage and enjoy your time in Rome too!!!

Loving your report, you lucky gal you!

Wish we could be with Pedro and you, the weather looks perfect, and if we were there, you'd might actually make it to the spa ;)

Such a delight to read!

You gals really know how to take a cruise!

Thanks for sharing your adventures :D

All well with FCC. One of the sets of deposits went to an email we aren't checking on board.

 

Since we were already talking to her we decided to put the deposits to work and booked the 5 night coastal from San Diego on NA next year B2B with the first Alaska cruise. I'm betting will be a LOT of CC friends on the ship. We hesitated as they would only accept a guarantee for any cabins on coastal so we did an SC guarantee and blocked a suite for Alaska cruise.

 

Short day in Ketchikan- bad part of the Seattle departures. Got all of our shopping done and watched the runners to the gangway from our balcony. Two almost were left behind.

 

Had a hot dog and fries from Dive In for lunch. They are soooo good.

 

Got our Mariner Brunch invite today. Have seen nothing resembling an invite to VIP party so likely weren't invited this time or there is no party. As I recall is usually on second formal night (tonight). I was told in the past was 4 or 5 star or 3 star if in NS or PS. Who knows- so many changes is hard to keep up with. I know most companies really work hard to keep those that pay rack rate, book far in advance, and only NS.

We were on board the week before. It was a wonderful cruise btw!:D I received my 300 day silver Medallion. ::cool:

There was no VIP party that I was aware of, and we seem to always get an invite. I am thinking that the VIP party has gone the way of the DooDoo (sp?) Bird!:rolleyes:

Thanks so much Everyone!! [emoji4]

Roy, wishing you Bon Voyage as well! [emoji568]

 

Hard to believe it has been 17 months since I last walked over that Gangway of a HAL ship. Definitely looking forward to returning and seeing friends on board. Plus returning to one of my favorite itineraries.

I am definitely needing this cruise I keep looking at the webcam of the Volendam daydreaming of being on board a week from today. [emoji6]

 

 

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Bon Voyage my friend!

I just know this trip will be wonderful for you and Tom! :D:D:D

Bon Voyage to Roy also! I want to be him when I grow up ;)

Thanks again for sharing your voyage with us. It was an honor and a pleasure. Your 'attitude of gratitude' was apparent at every turn, and it was a pleasure to read about the trip in that spirit.

Safe travels home!

So excited for you both!

Bon Voyage!

We look forward to hearing about the voyage. :D :D

We're going back to Istanbul and Kusadasi in June and while we'll pay close attention to the situation we don't have any particular concerns right now. We may have a slightly different view......the only place we've been attacked or were in danger was at work right here in the US in the Pentagon on 9/11.

I think we all have to make personal decisions on travel. I loved Istanbul and Kusadasi very much. In my current personal situation, I'd not be comfortable traveling there at this time, but my situation differs from yours.

I wish you and your wife a wonderful trip, both cities rank among my best travel memories to date. :D

I feel so fortunate to have been able to visit St. Petersburg, Istanbul and Kusadasi in more politically stable times. They hold some of the worlds most wonderous treasures and it is tragic that security concerns now outweigh their beauty.

We were also on the March 7 cruise. We felt that the ship's staff was wonderful, our room steward was excellent as well as the bar staff.:D

Unfortunately, it was my first cruise on HAL which was greatly impacted by room related issues and smells.:mad::(:mad:

I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed your cruise and didn't encounter the same issues. :D

We were a deck down from you in 2010 in 232 and found the size of that Vista cabin to be adequate for 3 adults for a 17 night cruise to Antarctica and South America. We had family (2 more) too and we would often gather in our cabin and balcony for viewing. Again, no problems with size.

 

The cabins at that time were the same size and I doubt have been changed; the balconies varied in depth from rail to glass door, deepest in the middle and less so at the corners. We could all 5 stand at our rail and enjoy the scenery. I have personal pictures posted of 232 on that site of facts about HAL cabins if you'd care to look there for them. We are large people and still managed comfortably.

I wanted to thank you for your pictures. :D They convinced me to go ahead and book the cabin for our upcoming cruise. I will let you know how we enjoyed "your" digs! ;)

Our favorite memories are also those impromptu meetings with locals during our travels. Those are the moments that stand out in my memories long after the trip. :D

Enjoy!

Thanks again for sharing your travels! :cool:

I am curious to see as well.

I would very much enjoy them, but I fear they may not stay on all Vista vessels through the Alaska season.

It sure would make for a great addition in the evenings!

I'm on the March 21 Veendam 7-day Mexico cruise from San Diego. I've booked a SW return flight for 11:05 a.m. on day of disembarkation. I guess there is a good chance I won't make that flight. However, the next flight at 4:05 p.m. seems awfully late. So, I'm going to take my chances, and hope for the best with the early flight. Will report back here either way.

Chelly- I think you should be fine. Just pay SW for pre-board and then request the early debarkation toting your own luggage. I have an 11:45am SW flight out of SD and really don't have a concern.

Have a great cruise! :)

I have done four cruises out of San Diego. I did the Mexican Rivera in 2000. That is when we had the election with the hanging chads. I also did two Hawaiian Cruises in 2005 and 2008. I also did a relocation cruise to Ft. Lauderdale in October 2013. In each of these cruises, I found it wonderful going out of San Diego.

I guess I am an exceptionally lucky cruiser. :D I have sailed out of San Diego eight times since 2007 and have never had a cruise related delay at embarkation or departure. :cool:

Yes, we have been delayed at the airport for fog upon disembarkation, but that was not cruise related. Only cruise related delay on all those cruises, was that we were delayed for a day returning from Hawaii due to multiple medical emergencies.

I am praying that my departure in 14 days will also be stress free but will enjoy whatever we happen upon because we are on vacation in a spectacular city!:D

It is our favorite easy winter cruise, one which I will enjoy again in a couple of weeks. :D

HAL leaves us no alternative than to book other lines.:rolleyes: