grsnovi

Sail, it sounds as if somebody is trolling you? Goodness knows there are few on CC who have been as helpful and giving as you. There is no reason to get sucked into a flame fest with a stranger. I read enough online boards to know that some people seem to live for making trouble - they're not happy unless they've thrown mud on someone. Just ignore them! Some boards have the ability to block specific individuals - I don't know if this one does because in the years that I've been posting here I've never felt the need.

I wonder what prompted this question? Of course there is no obligation to reply however the fact that somebody has publicly directed a question to a specific individual would suggest that there was a reason - perhaps the targeted individual has an exceptional record of responding to online questions in the message board. It takes all kinds and I suppose there are some who wouldn't think to contact the individual in private. If the question would be in keeping with what I would typically respond to, I'd answer. If the question was personal I would still possibly respond but with something along the lines of: send me an email or PM me...

Thanks for your dedication to this board. Where would we be without those like you who are reliable sources of help!

We've sailed the E'dam twice. Like all of HAL's ships she is gorgeous and was in good shape when we were last on her. Not to be missed: Tamarind - if you've never tried that, do so. I think I prefer to PG.

Did some searching on your Samsung Rant...

 

...your best bet is to come into the 2018's and upgrade your phone.

Not sure of your age or your current plan but I just switched over to T-Mobile (who is about to merge with Sprint) and they have a plan with unlimited calling, unlimited text, and unlimited data for 2 lines if you are over 55 for $70 all in to include taxes and fees. (And includes Europe)

The Rant has a dedicated ascii keyboard and is easy for text.

I'm 64, I don't live on my phone and would likely never download apps to it however we've wrestled with the whole upgrade thing and this could likely be the tipping point. Thanks for your plan details.

Seeking suggestions...

We are US-based and currently have so-called "feature phones" and after checking with our provider (Sprint) we were told that our current phones will not work in Europe (the Samsung Rant does not have a SIM card that can be popped out and replaced with a locally purchased SIM card). I'm not wild about being in a situation where I would have to rely on public phones. Sprint of course would like to upgrade both my hardware and our service. What I'd like would be a short-term solution valid for the 2 weeks we'll be out of the country that would include international calling if needed. I'm perfectly happy with what we have as far as domestic service. Any ideas? Thanks!

We've also done Alaska 3x and each time had an outside balcony. My most memorable experience was sitting outside as we approached Sitka or Ketchikan, our cabin was to starboard and we might have been 100 yards from shore. It was early (5:30 or 6) and some whales were swimming between us and the shore. You can hear the glaciers calving if you're outside but you can just as easily get a great view from the Lido. The forward bow is usually crowded when you're actually at the glacier face. I don't think that one side or the other is "better" viewing because eventually you'll be going the other direction.

Enjoy your cruise!

Unfortunately on our last Alaska cruise we were late docking in Victoria and missed our shore excursion. Depending on how BIG of a planner you are - you may want to have a Plan "B" in your pocket.

Thanks all!

...very "communist"

Being of the era when "duck and cover" was a memory of 1st and 2nd grades (1961/1962), standing in line to pass into St.Petersburg at the port in 2009 was something to wrap my head around. We loved our Baltic cruise!

I booked the suite KK.

We took the train into Berlin from port and did a bus tour that took us into East Berlin. Walked through Checkpoint Charlie. Stopped at the Brandenburg Gate and ended up with time on our own. I collect standing in front of Vermeer paintings so I picked up at least one that afternoon in Berlin. Our Baltic in 2009 was awesome. I think I liked Tallin most but seeing Swan Lake performed in St. Petersburg was pretty cool and The Hermitage was not to be missed.

I believe that with out cruise days and suite "kicker" we ought to transition from 2 to 3 stars this cruise. Assuming that it true would I be able to "invoke" the 25% restaurant discount during this cruise? That would make me more inclined to try Sel de Mer...

The square feet ranges certainly overlap a lot. We did just book a Vista on the K'dam due to it's location amidship v. the fore and aft locations of the Verandahs. I suspect it's the location you're paying for (and the Mariner points).

I remember our first Alaska trip on O'dam. In Juneau we did the helo trip up to the glacier. There was a couple at the airport (from Florida) dressed in shorts and flip-flops. I think it was the first or second week of June. The weather at the airport was fine for shorts and flip-flops but it was winter on the glacier and they froze! I thought our 3 Alaska trips was a lot - I can see from the responses above that I have a lot to go if I want to catch up! I have to admit it's an easy one for us - drive up, park and cruise. No airports to fool with. Enjoy your cruise!

7 day Viking Sagas (sorry...)

Seems like there was always a yum-yum man with ginger outside the MDR after dinner however the last couple of times it's been hit or miss. Can anyone who has cruised lately offer an idea of how frequently there has been ginger upon leaving the MDR?

June 24, 2018

Koningsdam

Gary's birthday on 6/24

It seems we discovered CC when we did our 1st Alaska on the O'dam. We did the roll call and discovered that there was a tradition on the O that involved a banner kept by the ship and signed by those who knew about it and it was hung out on sail away. We did that the next time we sailed her and it was fun to see our sigs on the banner. The CC roll calls do seem to attract fewer and I suspect as someone mentioned previously it might have to do with social media which wasn't as prevalent all those years ago. As part of the roll calls we've done meet-and-greets usually on the first sea day where there was typically an organizer and some contact with HAL that made it special. On our first meet-and-greet we met the hotel manager who was very people-oriented and took very good care of us throughout the rest of the cruise. Some of you may remember James Deering? A class act who is no longer with HAL. Anyway, there was a meet and greet that I organized and missed because I forgot to reset my clocks - pretty embarrassing. We would likely attend one set-up by somebody else but I won't be doing the organizing...

We'll be going out on her in June and should pick up our third Mariner stars. We're not sailing her as a specific choice of ship but rather due to the itinerary being sailed. I'm not a fan of crowds and must admit I liked the O'dam (3x as I recall) and the E'dam (which although larger felt familiar). I'll look at the art but again, it isn't what I'm buying - it's just there (we'll spend time in the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum while in Amsterdam for art). Agreed that the Vista class suites are not particularly spacious but I just sleep in it... I suspect calling the cabins amidships "suites" rather than "Verandahs" gives them the ability to sell location for those who prefer a smoother sail?

Thanks Krazy, Jacqui and Sail! I'll report back in early July.

Thanks to everyone for your input. My TA has assured me (famous last words) that we'll get priority disembarkation and that HAL would book flights as early as 11:30 out of Schiphol. I'll try to relax and will never again commit to purchase without having the flight absolutely confirmed. The whole flight thing with this booking was a pain - I think it changed three times. I've had good luck in the past with some TA's and not so good with others and while I've used this agency previously I've never worked with this particular agent. We'll see if I ever do again come July 1st.

I've flown through Schiphol and know how large it is however I've not been through there in 10 years or so and (like everywhere) they've tightened their security. I always drive to Seattle when we cruise to Alaska so transfers there have never been an issue. I think I'll go back to the TA and see if she can't get us on the Delta/KLM that leaves at 2:30 or on Icelandair leaving at 2. If she can't I suppose I'll cancel the transfer as someone has suggested and try to get off as soon as the ship is cleared and take a cab that will drop us at the specific location for the flight hopefully eliminating arriving at a common bus location and then still having to navigate to a specific terminal.

I appreciate everyone's input!

I would agree if I were just getting off and getting myself to the airport. What I'm worried about is waiting to fill the transfer bus and then being dropped at a single location at the airport and then having to find our way through the maze. OK, I do tend to worry - I'd love to hear from others who seem as confident as you Sammie :)

I've booked a June sailing on K'dam out of and back to Amsterdam. I've used this TA previously but not this specific agent. Nailing things down took several days and I never really had flight details until after everything was paid for. It included the cruise, flights and pre-cruise hotel. I'm not happy with the time of the return flight reservation which is for noon on a day when the ship is supposed to arrive at 7AM. We are supposed to have a HAL transfer from the ship to Schiphol but I'm skeptical that we'll be to the airport in enough time to check-in and wait our way through security and make the flight.

My TA seem to think that HAL wouldn't have allowed them to make the flight reservation if it wasn't possible. It may be possoble if we schlepp our own bags off and grab a cab on our own.

Should I go back to the TA and insist on an alternative flight (there are flights that leave at 2 and 2:30 on Icelandair, Delta and KLM). Our outbound segment from USA to Amsterdam is on Delta - I can't even find the United flight we're on listed when I look for return flights.

If I contact somebody in Seattle will I likely get any help or assurances that their transfer will get me to the airport on time?