dfish

Thanks for doing this. We are going next summer and the information about Yellow Cab at Mendenhall is what I've been looking for. We want to go out and hike and be able to take our time about it and now I'll be restful about it knowing we don't have to be back in time for the shuttle.

I once traveled with and roomed with a friend that I like a lot, but knew the arrangement could be problematic. I agree totally that the ground rules must be set, agreed on and understood before you ever book the cruise together.

In my case I made it clear that we would do our own thing whenever we wanted to do so. That included dinner although most nights we did dine together. There was one night I wanted to do something different and it was no problem. We agreed that if the activity was something we were both interested in, it was great and we'd go together. If it was something that one wanted to do, they were free to go do it. We also agreed that we would have time to ourselves and be respectful of each other's different time schedules. She was very quiet when she came in later than me each evening and I always set out my clothes at night so I could grab them, change in the bathroom and be out of the cabin very quietly in the morning while she slept in.

It was a combination that could have resulted in a huge problem, but because of agreeing on the ground rules ahead of time, we got through a 17 day cruise with no problems.

Others on the cruise who were traveling with friends were not as successful, mainly because they hadn't had that conversation in advance.

Debbie

But you have to realize too that when the Explore4 has been offered free as an incentive to book early, the cost of the cruise is usually higher. So it's all relative.

Just booked the Westerdam for Alaska in 2015 and we received the Explore 4 promotion. We are in the same category stateroom as we were when we did Alaska on the Zuiderdam in 2007 and the price, with the Explore 4, is actually cheaper than what we paid before. I can't imagine the price dropping much from what it is right now.

Debbie

The only really important rule about clothing is to always wear clean underwear - in case you are in an accident and get taken to the hospital.

They're just going to cut it off you. Why waste the good stuff?

We are experiencing the same situation with our Mariner numbers.

I talked with my PCC today and she said they were unaware of that problem with the website. She said she usually gets a notice if something is not working on the website, but hasn't received that information. She said she will pass it along.

Deb

It's been doing that to me for two days now. My mariner # won't work and neither will DH's. :mad: Gerrrrr

I even did the look up and I had it correct, so have decided to try the PCC route and see how that works. Called her, but she wasn't in today so I left a message.

Deb

I went on the site today (9/3) to look at a cruise for next year that I'm interested in. It wouldn't accept my mariner number. Its the same one I've been using for 7 years now, but it said either it or my name was wrong. I do know my name by heart and it was typed correctly, checked the mariner number and it was correct, but HAL says no.

Deb

One suggestion: Let the flight crew know you need a wheelchair at the next airport and have them radio ahead the information. Once when I left Frankfurt, I needed a wheelchair and the people in Frankfurt told me it was taken care of the whole distance and I would have assistance in each airport. Didn't happen at the first change. On the second flight I asked the flight attendant to let the next airport know I would need a wheelchair and it was waiting for me. Sometimes the orders don't get communicated.

I sailed on Veendam for 17 days in 2011 and again last summer on a Canada/New England cruise for 7 days. Both cruises were great and the ship was fine. Yes, what they did to the aft deck is not pretty, the rest of the ship was just fine. Last summer we were in an inside room and everything worked just fine. Same in 2011 in an aft balcony cabin.

Debbie

By all means, go!

There were several most memorable moments on the cruise for me. One was sitting in the hot tub on the aft deck in Antarctica. That fulfilled a fantasy for me. But, seeing the pristine nature of Antarctica filled me with wonder. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking.

As for excursions, that is an individual choice as to what is a must do. The one most talked about was the trip out to Volunteer Point in the Falklands, if you are lucky enough to land there. I would suggest joining the Roll Call for the cruise and see what others are planning. On ours, a group got together and booked some private excursions in several ports together and really enjoyed them. We also got together in Buenos Aires for a tango show before the cruise.

I would not wait till after final booking. On our cruise, in 2011, there were people on a waiting list to get on. We booked in April and they only had guarantees in the cabin category we wanted, so we took it and ended up with an aft balcony. We were also lucky to have Drake's Lake instead of the shake on the way down, although it was a bit rough on the way back, but not bad.

I would do this cruise again in a heartbeat. My sister and I are planning it for her retirement.

Deb

I took advantage of an upsell once and was able to choose my cabin.

Deb

Have a great cruise! I've done this one twice and had a wonderful time both times.

Debbie

Is there a reason you don't wish to ask your Congressman or Senators for help? This is part of what they do for constituents.

 

Absolutely right! They are in those offices to serve you, their constituent. They actually do like to help with these matters - it makes them feel good.

Thanks for the link to the article. On two Canada/New England cruises we have enjoyed hiking the trails in Acadia. The scenery is gorgeous! Someday, we plan to do an extended visit to do more hiking.

Debbie

Haven't you heard....formal night has been turned into anti-formal night and we are to wear our sloppy, torn duds and definitely eat pie with our fingers (after all, fingers were made before forks!)

Would my bathrobe be considered appropriate attire?

I booked directly with HAL and not through a TA and I was given my choice of dessert and an upgrade.

Debbie

I know it isn't ALF-CIO, or SEIU, but other than that, no I don't know what unions represent the workers on the ships.

I do remember the unions were involved when HAL switched from "No tipping required" to the hotel service charge system about 10 years ago.

This made me curious, so I went looking. I found a news article that mentioned the union for the workers on the ms Veendam http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1347725/union-requests-first-cruise-ship-of-the-season-to-bypass-sydney-port which referred to the union as Nautilus. You can find information about Nautilus https://www.nautilusint.org/About-Us/default.aspx

Debbie

I'm just thankful you and Roy have taken on this task and I do enjoy seeing my name when I have a cruise booked. So, thank you for the work you do and anyway you do it is fine with me.

In 2007 my family and I booked a cruise to Alaska. It was a first cruise for most of us and we took the TA's advice on which cruise line to use. Due to excitement and interest, I was on the internet looking up all the information I could find about cruising when I found CC.

The HAL board was active and had a ton of great information. I couldn't get enough of it. I read all the reviews of the Zuiderdam and learned it was a rust bucket better suited for the ship graveyard, but that didn't dampen my enthusiasm. Fortunately, that really wasn't the case and I learned to take reviews with a grain of salt. The information I did get helped make it a wonderful experience not just for me, but for Mom and Dad and my two sisters and BIL.

I joined the Roll Call and met some great people, some of whom I keep in contact with still today.

Now, I check in occasionally when I don't have a cruise booked and a lot when I do. I've had great experiences with Roll Calls on subsequent cruises and have felt a wonderful sense of community here.

Debbie

Deep68, that was what we did both times. Even leaving later at 9:00 am, we had time to do a 4 mile hike, although pretty easy, in the morning, go have lunch at Jordon Pond House and then hike part way around Jordon Pond before returning to Bar Harbor. The second time when we left earlier, we did a more strenuous hike, had lunch and then hiked at Bubble Pond.

Be sure to visit the park service cottage on the Village Green before going out to the park. You can pick up maps of the park and a schedule for the shuttle. There is a visitor's fee that most don't pay, but we do in order to make sure the parks have the money to operate and stay open. It is nominal, if I recall - about $5 to $10 if you aren't taking a car into the park.

The shuttle is the way to go as the park gets very crowded and parking can be impossible in the summer.

Deb

Without a HAL shore excursion or priority tendering, it is hard to tell. The first time we were in Bar Harbor we went to the lounge around 7:30 am to pick up tender tickets and waited almost an hour to tender. We did make the 9:00 am shuttle to Acadia. The second time, we got to the lounge where they sent us immediately down to the tender and we were on the 8:00 am Island Explorer out to Acadia. It just depends on how many have ship excursions and how many with priority boarding want to go ashore early.

Debbie

Thanks for the nice comments.

 

I was a little afraid I'd get slammed for 'telling people what to do'. :eek:

 

I mean, who am I to tell people to enjoy themselves? :D :rolleyes:

 

I think it is necessary once in a while. I do wonder why we focus so much on negatives rather than the positives. If we are on a cruise ship, we are luckier than many people who struggle daily just to survive.

I don't cruise often, but when I do I try to remember my good fortune. Last cruise was in an inside cabin, category NN. Can't get lower than that, but we had an absolutely fantastic time. We met a lot of fun people, had plenty of time to relax, ate well and enjoyed our time in all the ports. I don't remember how long it took the toilet to flush or what we had for dinner, but I do remember enjoying the company of my dinner companions.

Thanks for reminding us.

Debbie

I don't have the experience some cruisers have - only four under my belt, but I've never found the majority of passengers on HAL to be geriatric in nature. I'm 61 and fairly active and I've found myself to be somewhere right in the middle, including the one longer cruise (17 days) in January to South America.

Keep in mind that age is just a number. I had that point driven home on my last cruise when I met a gentleman in the MDR at breakfast. I'm sure my jaw was on the floor when he told me he was 98. He was as spry and active as me.

A good friend of mine is 21 years older than me. We travel well together as she is just as fit and active as I am. At 81 she went zip lining with her grand kids.

So, even if the chronological age of the passengers is greater, it doesn't mean they aren't as active, fit and fun as the younger crowd. Sometimes, they are more so.

Debbie

Flights are a part of all our cruises, living in the midwest US. My sister, with whom I cruise most often, is an extremely nervous flyer, but I have to credit her with not letting that stop her. We make sure she has lots to distract her during the flight. I tolerate it well, but look on it as a necessary evil.

If there is an itinerary I really want to do, I figure the airfare/hotel as part of the cost and budget for it. I may have to save for a year to make it possible, but with good planning, I can manage it.

Debbie