djhsolara

We did not go to the Mariner Brunch on Zuiderdam but we asked for and received our tiles in the Neptune Lounge.

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Thanks to the suggestion of several experienced cruisers, I wrote to the Mariner Society. Had problem with email going through so I got out the monogrammed stationery and wrote to Mariner Society (in my best Mrs. Bucket manner) and told them what happened. Today I received in the mail the missing tile! They paid $2.58 postage!!

 

 

 

Tomorrow I'll write a thank you note to them. HAL is certainly a class act!.

 

 

 

Emily

"It's Bouquet!!"...sorry, just had to say it. Love Hyacinth.

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I have been on six cruises and have carried on a power strip all six times and had no problems bringing it on, I wasn't even asked about it.

So you carried it on rather than having it in your checked luggage?

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Anyone have any recent input about the Splendor?

Thank you!!

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Does Carnival now permit power strips to be brought onboard?

We attempted to do this a few years ago on Pride and it was confiscated from our luggage (we had been told directly by Carnival to bring it and then they confiscated it and we waited in our stateroom for a few hours the first night for a solution from maintenance). We need a power strip to plug in both of our CPAP machines (since most rooms only have one outlet).

Thank you!!

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In the current MDR situation, I would miss the tablecloths. If they did a complete revamp of the MDR and were going for a very modern feel, then no tablecloths would be appropriate...but for me it would require a modern table setting, etc.

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I don't understand this entire thread. If I'm upgraded to a spa stateroom (no matter how it happened) I would expect to have the amenities of the new stateroom category available to me. That's like saying that you're being upgraded from an oceanview to a balcony, but because you didn't pay a certain price, you can't go out on the balcony.

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Does it mean that the morning of the Dr Seuss breakfast I'll have to pay $5 to have breakfast in the MDR?

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Agreed that it is one of the best excursions that we've done. We did it through HAL and then went directly to the airport. We used Luggage Direct so we didn't have any luggage to worry about...just carry-ons.

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I've had spa treatments in the past and never had a sales pitch. On this last cruise my Mom got her hair done in the salon (as she always does for formal nights). The stylist sold her the cream that they used on her face while they washed her hair...for $120!! Mom didn't realize the price because she said it was not told to her and the fact that the printer ink needed to be changed and she really couldn't read what she signed didn't help. When she returned to the suite I immediately took the cream back to the spa and cancelled her two other appointments. I also challenged the tip that she left and it was refunded as well. In my opinion this was very sneaky and they were taking advantage of an "older" customer. I've never been so upset at the spa!!

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Just didn't feel like the end of the cruise without it. They could incorporate it into the end of the show on the last night...or something. This was a wonderful HAL tradition that I'm sad to see go. :(

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We always bring them with us.

To us, it isn't an issue of making it back to the ship on time, but rather the fact that you never know what life will bring you. You could be off the ship and have an accident and need to stay on the island or fly back. I know that if something happens while we're off the ship, I certainly don't want to have to worry about getting back to the ship to get passports...and color copies or a driver's license won't get you back in the USA if you're flying from an island.

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I don't find tableside preparation pretentious. I think it makes the experience in a restaurant more upscale and special. Tableside prep of a Caesar salad beats having just another salad plopped down in front of you for an example, assuming the ingredients and the salad itself is extra special good.

Although experiences and food are very subjective to the individual, I must agree with you. I feel that it adds to the experience. There used to be a restaurant in our area where every dish was finished tableside. It really made for a special occasion and added so much to the experience. It was one of my favorite places.

Douglas...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Anyone know if the mid-ship pool under the retractable roof is heated?

Thank you!!

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They run a small ferry at no cost to the pax from shore to shore when the bridge is moved. No one should be 'stuck' there.

 

There were people walking across the bridge when it was opening and they were stuck on there because they weren't off before the bridge opened the whole way. Seemed like it was a regular thing because they just sat down right on the surface of the bridge and waited. I couldn't imagine that they don't clear the bridge before it starts to open.

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Day #4 Curacao

 

The weather remained sunny but more muggy than Aruba as we arrived in Curacao. Watching the move from across the waterway to the dock side of the Zuiderdam was very interesting especially with folks still standing on the bridge. As the day progressed, so did the wind which alleviated some of the muggy feelings. Since I have been to Curacao before, I remained on board and enjoyed the nearly deserted ship. Cooking demos continued on board.

 

Dining:

 

Today was the first day using Room Service for breakfast. The tray arrived 8 minutes early but we were up early enough to not be surprised in our pajamas. Mimosas, "almost free" for just $2, were served on the aft Lido deck. The cheese for nachos was postioned a bit late so an afternoon snack was pushed closer to a 5:30 early dining seating. The cheese souffle and roast turkey were excellent. For the first dinner, I tried dessert, "no sugar added' chocolate chip ice cream.

 

Facilities:

 

AC continues to function well and still needed to be turned down or the sleeping temperatures would be similar to a refrigerator. Discussions with neighbors revealed their AC was still doing well. No flushing issues either.

 

Miscellaneous:

 

Internet connection and speed is much slower than I experienced on the same ship in Alaska 2013 Internet minutes are used just waiting for a page to load. The new BB King Blues Club is getting rave reviews. The promised Panama menus have not yet been provided.

Our cruise was our first time in Curaçao and I thought it was so neat how that bridge works. I'm amazed that they move that bridge with people still on it. There were people stuck on there well over an hour when we left there.

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We are in 6166 and I don't think that is a personal question. We do have a CC sign on our door for CC members to "come on in" to visit on the balcony. At last count, more than 10 have stopped by.

You are right above the suite we had in October (5190). Great location...and great balcony for the Canal.

Enjoy the rest of your cruise...sounds like you're having a great cruise.

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If it's not too personal of a question, which stateroom are you in?

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You are confusing star status on HAL with the star rating that reviewers are giving to their cruises. Sort of like a 1,2,3,4, or 5 star hotel.

A one star rating denotes a poor cruise.

Oh ok...thanks for clarifying that for me. :)

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Any chance you can take a look at the recent string of one-star member reviews now posted on CC for the Zuiderdam and give your impressions point by point of what they found and what you are finding? Thnx :cool:

Does the star level of a cruiser really matter? Opinions are opinions and facts are facts...regardless of the experience level.

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Put them in your luggage or garment bag. We usually put ours in plastic bags (from the dry cleaners) and things usually come out perfect. If not, you can hang them in the bathroom while you shower...the steam will knock out most of the wrinkles.

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Have been there in December. It was one of those times that you had to get in slowly but once you were in it was okay. We spent our normal amount of time in the water when we were at HMC, so it wasn't too cold.

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How much does Carnival require you to put down if you are doing cash? On HAL we are required to put down $60/pp/day which for the two of us for a 7-day is $840.

Thank you!!

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We had one of these on Eurodam last year. Other than decor I'm really not sure why they are called Spa. They should really add access to the thermal suite as a perk to these rooms. Eurodam even has the stairway inside the Thasso pool area that, to me, indicates that perhaps this was an initial thought that never came to reality. I remember on our first Eurodam cruise people even used that stairway, but now it is roped off in the pool area and you can't even see where it comes out on the floor above.

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I thought I read somewhere that Pride was leaving Baltimore. Is that true? If so, it is being replaced?

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