LouChamp

Aloha. We have done two Christmas Hanukkah New Year cruises and each time they had religious services and events. Every night for Hanukkah and Midnight Mass for Christmas. Those cruises were on Princess and HAL. Sorry about the experiences Im reading.

Aloha. Thank you for your posts and food pictures especially. We enjoyed the Caribbean Princess and did a South America cruise around South America and Antarctica in 2008. Time goes fast and the larger ships can no longer go near the Antarctic but enough of us…enjoy and have fun!

Aloha. Sorry about Belize. We enjoy Princess and have sailed them over Christmas Hanukkah and New Years as well as same with HAL. I rarely send food back but certainly if in your opinion you cannot eat it then you were right. Continue to have a great time and keep posting food pictures!

Aloha. Love your posts and especially the food pictures! Sorry again about the foot and lecture. We had an issue with a “lecture” on a long Princess Cruise. I called their headquarters and the Captain came to our stateroom and apologized to my wife personally. I’m not one to complain when on vacation but that day I had to be a New Yorker and not a Hawaiian 🌺 Not something I relished but a necessity for that situation. Blessings.

Aloha. Looking forward to your posts. Love your style of writing. We have been around the world and on countless cruises and are planning for WC in 2024. Love the Zuiderdam also and HAL. Happy you will be doing WC posts as I know another’s couple will be posting also but I can’t read anymore that they are president club members. It’s enough lol. Have a great time and smooth sailing!

Aloha. Agree with you totally. I see you are seasoned cruisers. If you can start to take longer cruises as we have learned to Europe, South Pacific, South America/Antarctica. When I was younger Carnival was fun but unfortunately no longer for us. Smooth Sailing.

The planning is the best part. We love Barcelona. Have stayed at the Hotel Arts and could walk to Las Ramblas. Beautiful outdoor pool and views pf the ocean. Monte Carlo is priceless as well. Enjoy the planning!

Aloha. Thank you Benny for sharing your adventures with us. We too have done a few Christmas Hanukkah New Year Year cruises but stopped cause we missed the family this time of year. To each his or her own but what about you? Not to pry and excuse my post just wondering what your thoughts are. All the best!

Sounds like a plan! If you can check out the Cipriani in Venice. We have stayed there many times and it truly is the top hotel. Venice is hard to describe and if your ships sails through the Grande Canal it is priceless although I have heard various reports that some of the larger ships are no longer doing so. My best wishes to your husband on his retirement and for a happy holiday season and New Year!

Yes agree with you about the timeline but he did run it into the ground. Hes shrewd but probably legal

Aloha. Yes on various lines and brands it is not unusual. May not be the norm but quite frankly all I care about is good health and blessings for the passengers crew including but not limited to the Captain. I have been cruising for decades and with all due respect they are no different than pilots and other employees. I expect a safe enjoyable voyage and wish everybody the best but never remember their names as long as they do a good job. Maybe the only Captains name I remember is Smith then again he was Captain on the Titanic. Smooth sailing

If you have followed FDR over the years you are correct. He is a legal milkman. Ran Renaissance into the ground after 9/11. He is crafty yet his products are good. Almost like Frank Lorenzo of the airline days. Texas Airlines, Continental. He brought home millions during Covid and now pits his son in charge. While Ted Arison rest in peace did the same for Mickey the culture and products delivered were different. That said lets see what happens.

Aloha. We have sailed many times in the Med. One cruise for several weeks from Southampton to Venice on Cunard. Another from Barcelona to Venice on Princess and another on Celebrity. Each one included some greek islands and Athens. We also stayed several days before and after each cruise in London, Barcelona, Rome, Venice. They were longer cruises and some back to backs so it depends on budget, experience and itinerary. Its very personal. My parents loved Europe and Asia with Crystal. I cannot attest to Viking and sorry if I am posting other lines on their page but I am confident Viking would be a top choice. I remember Royal Viking Line when I was in my younger years and they were phenomenal and as you may know the same owner for both. They certainly know what they are doing. Keep in mind since you have sailed primarily with Carnival the experience will be way different on Viking i.e. no casino, an older client base and a quiet in general atmosphere on board. Please keep us posted. Part of the fun is the planning!

Aloha. As a shareholder in the big three companies and as I’m sure many on these boards are also, the three major companies are up to their eyeballs in debt. They are basically refinancing and restructuring in order to push the debt down the road. While not necessarily too big to fail, if they did they have assets few can afford to buy nor would want so the lenders need to work with them. That said, they are cutting back the on board services, staff and general experiences onboard even the most higher end brands. No matter the glossy verbage they are all in trouble and hopefully they don’t cut back where they start losing long term devoted cruise addicts such as myself and many of us. Each brand has its own vibrant flavor and when that is diluted in my opinion it continues the downward slope which translates into many not returning and them hoping they attract new blood. Just my opinion. All the best for a happy and healthy holiday season and new year!

Aloha. Thank you for your review and pictures. Have a great holiday season.

Aloha. We have stayed at the IC Papeete and were very pleased with the OWB. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was most pleasant.

Aloha. Thank you for those beautiful pictures. It brings back great memories and I would recommend this cruise for those who are interested as it is truly special and most memorable. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Aloha Love your writing style. Thank you for reporting!

Aloha. Thank you for sharing your voyage and of course the food pictures! All the best for a great holiday season and new year.

Aloha. Thank you for posting. Can you please post the menu?

Aloha. As always thank you for taking time to post. Love the food pictures!

It is me again! I seriously feel upset at what HAL is doing with the lack of recognition for Jim and fellow Zeniths. Just like the yum yum man. When we receive certain service and then it is removed, it is frustrating. it means they don't care. My parents were world travelers on another unnamed cruise line. The Captain would actually arrange to visit certain passengers like my parents and recognize their loyalty as well as comp certain amenities. If Celebrity doesn’t have their internal requisite minimum for a reception then let the Captain personally and perhaps privately recognize them. Sorry for the rant. Smooth sailing to all

Aloha. It is sad but little things matter to me. For example the yum yum man. Chocolates every night at turn down. These are things that while valueless in reality make a voyage special and each line special. I feel the same way in a restaurant, hotel, etc. I don’t need special recognition and in reality whether I am elite, zenith or gold etc on a ship, hotel, etc but the point is the bean counters need to realize how important it is because our money can be moved elsewhere. I will stand in line at a bank and don't care if they know I am private bank but the little things matter a lot to me. Unfortunately the world has changed. Sad

Aloha. If we stayed with one cruise line we would also have top billing same with hotels although as with both cruise lines and hotels we do have high tiers. That said I personally don't need recognition just outstanding service. I enjoy variety be it cruise lines, ships, hotels, etc. But if you expect to be recognized and you are not then it is time to move on. They owe you for the recognition not the other way around.

Aloha. We have been blessed to sail in suites that include the Neptune Lounge many times. Service is excellent and I enjoy morning coffee and catching up on news while the other half is asleep. The snacks and offerings and the concierge is addictive. Smooth sailing!