djhsolara

We went to Sel de Mer 4 times on on the Koningsdam, and enjoyed most of it... that said, if you do opt to go, check that what you order is fresh, not frozen or vacuum-packed. (Mussels were tough and grainy, a lot didn't open! - when I brought this to their attention, I was told they were vacuum-packed.) And that the fish actually is what you order! Has anyone posted the menu of the pop-up? I'd love to see it.

 

We're planning on going to the first pop-up on our next cruise. If it's good, we'll try for the second one.

 

Does Tom Moore's in Bermuda do lunch as well?

 

Edited to say - please disregard my question; I just checked and it looks like there is no lunch served at Tom Moore's Tavern.

Like I said, we LOVED SDM on Koningsdam but the pop-up just wasn’t the same experience for us.

We were “treated” to our first dinner in SDM as a gift for a bad dining experience on a prior night. This is one of the things that we had and enjoyed the most...and it was not offered in the pop-up.

I do, however, know that this is offered in the pop-up as well, but I don’t know if they will let you switch out things that you don’t like for extra if those others that you do like.

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Where do you find where SDM is offered for a particular cruise?

 

TIA!

I don’t know if there is any way to know prior to boarding.

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Our scheduled time is 1 pm. If we arrive at the port early, will we be allowed to check in or will we be required to just sit and wait until the time listed?

 

 

 

We are really interested in obtaining a pass for the thermal pool so want to check in as early as possible.

Check in and boarding are two different things. You’ll check in inside the terminal. Once you’re checked in, then you’ll wait to be called to board.

Once you board, then you can go anywhere you want...including the spa to purchase your Thermal Suite pass. That is exactly the first thing we do once onboard.

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We were on the Eurodam Feb.4-14 and were disappointed in the thermal suite. One heated tile lounger was totally cold. Several others had heat but some areas of these loungers were not warm. The water in the hydropool was not very warm and the water level was somewhat shallow. We paid $299 for 2 for the 10 days. We have experienced thermal suites/hydropools on other ships and have never encountered such problems. I know the Eurodam has a dry dock coming up in April so maybe loungers will be serviced.

I hope you spoke with the Spa Manager to try to resolve the issues and/or get a partial refund.

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Thanks...That was going to be my next step.

 

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We used to purchase the Thermal Suite package prior to sailing via Ship Services, but anymore we just wait until onboard because we’ve often found the cost to be less onboard. Yes, they will refund and recharge you, but it always seems like such a hassle, so we just wait now. It is the first thing we do once onboard.

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Just my opinion...If you’ve been to the regular SDM on Koningsdam, you may find the pop-up a little disappointing as not all of the menu items are offered. We’ve been to both. While the pop-up was good enough, it is still just another redo in the PG.

If you’re going to cruise HAL again, you’ll likely have another chance to do SDM again. If this is your only time to Bermuda, I’d eat in Bermuda.

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I suspect the pondering has more to do with HAL's rationale, and less to do with HAL's authority.

 

It is an interesting question.

Just seems like it would be much easier to serve them in a venue rather than carrying them down the halls to suites.

I know we like to have our breakfast in the PG, but I wonder if anyone has breakfast in their suite specifically because of the mimosas.

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Overall....I was satisfied with the quality of the NS product. It's even going to be a LITTLE improved with the mimosas and the Bose sound in the cabin! Even though it would be nice to get a complimentary cocktail in the Neptune Lounge I'm perfectly happy with the price/features now included. Awesome balcony, Neptune Lounge, breakfast venue, huge veranda with loungers, concierge service, and included laundry service pretty much has most of my boxes checked.

 

 

 

I suppose if I wanted REAL luxury there are plenty of cruse lines offering just that.

Sorry, a little off topic...but regarding the mimosas:

I don’t understand why they will bring them for no charge to your stateroom for in-suite breakfast, but you have to pay if you want one at the suite-only breakfast offered in the Pinnacle Grill.

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Does anyone know what the current price is on the Greenhouse Spa day pass? or weekly?

Can you utilize the sauna and thermal loungers without the day pass? Or the Greenhouse mineral pool?

There is a free sauna available without purchasing the spa pass. Not sure which ship you’re looking at, but on Vistas and Signatures, it is located in the passageway that leads from the Greenhouse Spa reception out to the Lido Pool area opposite the Hydropool.

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To answer your question...absolutely YES!!

My partner and I both use CPAP. We have started carrying our own extension cord right in our CPAP carry bag so we don’t need to rely on getting one from the ship (after a nightmare trying to get one once on Carnival). In a regular balcony stateroom, we usually run our CPAP cords under the bed and onto the extension cord...then we plug in the extension cord at the desk at night. In the morning we unplug and the cord is out of sight under the bed.

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Well, we did have a free dinner on the Koningsdam a year ago in the Culinary Arts Center. It was part of the Neptune Welcome Aboard party.

Same here.

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I also think part of it is that because the suites do not sell, they end up upselling people into them at greatly reduced rates. We’ve only paid full price for a Neptune Suite once for a special-occasion sailing...all other times we’ve been upsold from a balcony guarantee.

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I agree. It isn't enough to keep me off Koningsdam, but it was disappointing. When we got the tour (sales pitch), I asked about side jets and the young woman said oh yes, and pointed to a sort of bench area. Wrong, there are no side jets anywhere. Definitely shallower than on a Vista. When my lower back has bothered me, walking in the Vista spas soothed it. This water level was too low to do any good. The only good thing about the shallower pool is that it seemed easier to climb up onto the pipe beds.

 

 

 

The shower jets in the center of the pool are too strong. As soon as someone steps beneath one, everybody gets splashed.

 

 

 

I also found it annoying that the changing room (which is smaller despite the fact that the ship has more passengers) is farther from the pool than on Vistas. And you enter the pool by going through the ceramic lounger area, so the lounger area can be less peaceful at times. There's less seating in the hydropool area. Only plus is more ceramic loungers than on the Vistas.

 

 

 

The shower in the pool area is curved like on the Vistas but it's less useful. It has a pre-programmed sequence of of overhead water streams, so you have to move around to rinse off well. Not the simple shower heads on the Vistas that you can use to get a good rinse. But it has misty jets with color-changing lights at mid-calf height to soothe you. (I don't know why it's soothing, but that's what the girl at the spa said) Also, they added a lot of odd things around the lounger area. A horizontal shower, where you lie on a slab and several rows of water fall down on you--when it works. I could never get it to work right. And there are two places where you can dump a bucket of water on yourself.

We found that the location of the ceramic loungers was much less relaxing because of everyone passing through. Almost like they should have traded that area with the steam area and a walkway.

I LOVED the horizontal shower. I used it almost every night and found it to be very relaxing (but it took a little playing to get the jets and temperature correct).

The cold-water drop buckets were refreshing.

I’ll take the hydro pool on a Vista or Signature anytime over this one. It looks nice, but didn’t enjoy it nearly as much.

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It's too bad that we couldn't have a thread about what niceties could be added that all passengers could enjoy. Many of the comments on this thread are quite self-centered.

 

igraf

Are you aware of how to start a new topic? You could easily have the thread that you’ve suggested...just start it. This thread is about luxury that could be added to Neptune Suites.

Seems a little self-centered on your part to infer that comments that are on-topic to this thread are self-centered. These comments are relevant to this topic.

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Up until last August I have been a devote HAL cruiser and champion. In the last 15 years I have done 20 cruises on HAL all in Neptune or Pinnacle suites. The Pinnacle suite was special primarily due to larger real estate, a better bottle of champagne on embarkation, a half bath, a fantastic master bath and a great Kitchen/pantry. Otherwise there is no difference in amenities or perks between Neptune and Pinnacle suites. While the Pinnacle verandah is large, it is narrow and the small whirlpool tub is in full view of many passengers on the deck above forward of the suite.

 

 

 

Fast forward to last June. We had a challenging 6 months in 2017 and wanted a total chill and no fly cruise. The Celebrity Summit had a 7 night cruise out of Bayonne going to Bermuda and also had one of two Penthouse suites available. We grabbed it. OMG! What a cruise! The finest I had experienced in over 30 cruises. My only other Celebrity cruise was in September of 2011 with a 12 night on the Mercury from Vancouver to Hawaii in the Penthouse suite.it was lovely, but long before all of the suite perks, specialty restaurants, etc.

 

 

 

We arrived at the port in Bayonne at 10:30 and were sitting in the lovely Michaels club lounge by 10:54. So, here are the highlights and why HAL Pinnacle Suites simply do not compare:

 

 

 

—The penthouse suite is over 1,400 square feet inside with two full bathrooms and a verandah that is over 1,000 square feet. The suite and the verandah are spectacular! The true Butlers pantry is beautiful and comes stocked with anything you want re beer, all kinds of water, fresh squeezed oj, vitamin water, soda. All refreshed daily at no charge! You are called before the cruise to find out what you want so the full-size refrigerator is already stocked. Beyond the top shelf bubbly in the suite you get two free liter bottles of liquor of your choice. And, daily canapés of your choice if you wish and lovely food offerings for insuite parties.

 

 

 

—The suite has a dedicated restaurant for virtually all meals. Luminae is truly fine dining with lunch and dinner menus that change daily. Excellent service with true highly trained sommeliers. And, if you want something from the MDR or a specialty restaurant, they are happy to bring it to you.

 

 

 

—the suite INCLUDES FREE unlimited internet access, free top-shelf liquor across the entire ship, free specialty dining, free laundry and dry cleaning and Michaels club that is the dedicated concierge lounge that includes superior food, free top shelf drinks, high tea, etc.

 

 

 

—A highly trained butler takes care of anything and everything you want including course-by-course dining in the suite with a dining table for 8 and a huge table on the palatial verandah. He also makes sure to place excellent coffee and anything else you want in the Butlers pantry each morning.

 

 

 

And, all of this cost us about $300 pp more than the Pinnacle suite on HAL. At least that was the difference for that cruise. We loved the experience so much that we booked the same suite for 3 more different cruises. HAL is going to need to “up their game” for suite passengers if they want all of my business in the future.

 

 

 

I am happy to answer any questions. Happy sailing.

You’ve hit the nail on the head. We did a suite once on Celebrity (not a Penthouse) and still felt like we were treated like royalty compared to our suite experience on HAL.

We love HAL, but there really is nothing overly special done for their suite guests. The Neptune is great, but come on...you can’t even give the Thermal Suite pass to your Spa Suite guests?? AND...I still get bitter that I can order room service breakfast in my suite and get a free mimosa, but you can’t give me a free one when I go to the PG for breakfast.

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So now I don’t know which we’ve used. We were always able to walk right off the ship.

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What is Pier B?

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We would probably do a summer cruise if HAL offered it out of FLL.

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I did the k last year and I did not enjoy it. I didn't feel the food was any better than the MDR. I went with a friend and he felt the same way. Usually I enjoy specialty restaurants but I didn't enjoy that for the money. I did the pop up a couple months ago. For me the food was a of higher quality than the restaraunt on the k.

Interesting.

We loved the K. What was most disappointing to us was that there were things on the K menu that were not offered at the pop-up. I was looking forward to a few things and they weren’t offered.

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I feel the other way. I thought the pop up was much better than the sel de mer on the K.

[emoji2]

Just out of curiosity, which did you do first...SdM on Koningsdam or pop-up?

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Do the Pinnacle Grill.

In October on NA, we did PG and the pop-up SdM. Last January we did the real Sel de Mer on Koningsdam. Wait til you sail on Koningsdam and do the real Sel de Mer rather than the pop-up. The original is MUCH, MUCH better.

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Looking at the deck plans for NA, the stairs are still shown in the atrium. Have they been removed?

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Karaoke used to be a big deal on HAL. They did it as a competition and had the final in the main showroom.

 

I haven’t seen this on our last several cruises.

 

 

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Now that I think about it, Karaoke was held in the Queen’s Lounge. Now that BBKing is onboard, I don’t know that I’ve seen it.

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Karaoke used to be a big deal on HAL. They did it as a competition and had the final in the main showroom.

I haven’t seen this on our last several cruises.

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I always buy my spa pass before the cruise from ships service, if the price is less on the ship we always get a credit to our on board account. I have been told they only sell so many passes a cruise. I don't know if this is true.

We used to do the same thing, but when it happened a few times that the onboard price was less, we stopped. It just seemed like such a hassle to go through for the refund and rebook (they always have to get the manager, etc).

We’ve been on many HAL cruises and book the Thermal Suite every time. I can say that for probably the last 7 or 8 cruises, we just booked onboard and there has been no issue. We go directly to the spa upon boarding and book.

I’ve always seen the signs up for the first day or so, so I have a hard time believing that it sells out (even though they say they only sell a limited number of cruise-long passes). I know that sometimes it seems crowded in there, but it is my understanding that those who get a spa treatment can use it prior or afterward.

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