Denali2003

We will be in Grand Turk the 2nd week in Dec 2024. Is doing a whale watching excursion worth it? Thank you 🙂

Hello! I am very glad HAL has extensive Vegan/Vegetarian options!! What about their Sugar Free options? Danish, Sweets, Desserts? Thank you for your help 😃

@Liskap Thank you for the breakfast menu. I hope some of those items will be on the Caribbean sailing: Irish steel cut oatmeal. My husband will love the 3 different kinds of eggs benedict. Banana bread French Toast sounds interesting. Buckwheat pancakes!!!!! Swedish Pancakes. I do hope the coconut yogurt will be available and I will be able to have some fruit in it.

I'm not a strict Vegan, more Vegetarian, but if Vegan options are available I will choose that. We booked the H.I.A. package. Our 2 specialty restaurants are Tamarind and the Pinnacle Grill. I did look at the menu for the P.G. There was something on there I can eat. Can't remember what it is, but I do have options there.

That is great news! Does anyone know if they have non-dairy yogurt in the buffet and/or the MDR for breakfast? If so, is it Soy, Almond, or Coconut?

We will be on NS from Nov 30th - Dec 14th.

My husband & I will be on Nieuw Statendam in Dec 2024. This will be our first time on HAL. We had sailed 18 times with Princess. Really looking forward to sailing on HAL. I am VERY impressed with the Vegetarian / Vegan options on HAL. Princess has MAYBE 1 or 2 items in the MDR and in the buffet, their Vegetarian/Vegan options are the salad bar, rice, and cooked vegetables. No real entree. Even their pasta dishes in the buffet had meat in them. I love Beyond Meats - so I am really looking forward to having it on HAL.

For the coffee excursion: Even with what was said, still sounds better than the coffee excursion we did in Colombia. We were on a boat. The group was split into 2 separate groups. One group was on the covered deck. All they did was show us these giant cards with different kinds of beans on it. Pour 2 different kinds of coffee then try to sell us that coffee. The one everyone liked they didn't have any bags. The 2nd group was up top, no cover, having some kind of cooking demonstration. After each demonstration, the groups switched places. I stayed in the covered section. My husband went to the cooking demonstration. He did not like it. After, there was a walking tour. We stayed on the boat. It was blazing hot!!!! When the rest of the tour group returned, they all looked like they were about to have a heat stroke, some had heat exhaustion and they couldn't walk 5 feet without a local trying to sell them something. Some were trying to sell them water bottles that had already been opened. We were so glad we did not go on the walking tour.

We did a dolphin encounter in 2007. However, I no longer support those kinds of encounters. The dolphins are "stolen" from their pods and the encounters are very stressful on them.

Hello. I have a few questions about a couple of excursions. Have you done these excursions? Your opinion? Pros & Cons? Thank you! #1 - Cozumel -- A Traditional Mexican Christmas (we will be cruising in Dec 2024) #2 - Amber Cove -- Dominican Coffee: A Local Experience

What if you are allergic to cashmere and/or are a Vegan and do not want to sleep on goat fur/skin? Or do not want goose feather pillows (again - Vegan)? Can these be replaced with non-animal sheets, mattress, comforter, pillows?

I actually found a Pink Sapphire ring in St. Thomas at Grands Jewelers. I first went into 3 jewelry stores, before someone recommended Grands. 🙂

Hello. We went to Mr. Tablecoth. We got a tablecloth for our kitchen table and a table runner for our dining room table. Both are very beautiful!

Hello. YEARS ago, there was a linen / lace store in St. Thomas on a main street, I believe near the water. Does anyone know if it's still there and what the name of it is? Thank you 🙂

Hello. We will be sailing on Holland America out of Ft. Lauderdale and are considering spending 2 nights pre-cruise in Miami. We've never been to Miami. Is there a shuttle service that can take us from our hotel to Port Everglades cruise port? We do not like to use Uber/Lyft, etc. Also, does HAL have a shuttle service from Port Everglades to the Miami airport? Thank you.

Hello. We are looking for a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale for 2 nights before a cruise. Our budget is no more than $300-$325 per night. Since we will be there for 2 days/nights, somewhere within walking distance to restaurants (no more than a 5-10 min walk). Has airport and cruise port shuttle services. Thank you!

How long is the ferry ride from St. Thomas to St. John's?

I'm not too picky about the rings I wear. I don't care if the stone is fake or not. If I like the stone/color and I can afford it, I will buy it. I'm also on the thrifty side, so I do have a budget when it comes to jewelry. When we were in St. Thomas in Dec 2019, I did find a store that was real close to the ship docked in Havensight. I can't remember the name, but I did find a Tanzanite ring for a great price. Is it real? I don't know. But I like the setting and it has an interesting band. It's not a "straight" circle, it's kind of off set on each side. I also like simple settings and on the small side (not tiny). *my person opinion for myself* the rings that are out now are too big and gaudy for me. Now, do I want a "Cracker Jack box / Gumball" ring? No. Each time we go on a cruise, I seem to be on the "hunt" for a specific piece of jewelry. One time we were in Alaska (2010) and I wanted a Whale Tail necklace. We went into several jewelry stores and none of them appealed to me. My husband found one that was a few hundred dollars. Nope, I didn't like it. We were in a souvenir shop in Ketchikan and I found this whale tail necklace & earring set for only $25. I LOVE it!! I still have them and they are still in great condition.

I actually make beaded bracelets, earrings and some necklaces 🙂

The Eccleston has food: Eccleston Square Hotel offers an extensive bar menu and a selection of breakfast dishes. Breakfast Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 7.00am – 10.30am Saturday-Sunday: 7.00am – 11.ooam Bar Food & Room-service Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11am to 2pm and 6pm to 10.30pm/ Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 11am-10.30pm Only available to hotel guests

Has anyone ever stayed at Eccleston Square Hotel? We are considering this hotel.

I am not wanting a pink ring because of Barbie. I have not seen the movie, nor will I see it. I have been wanting a pink sapphire (ish) ring for the last 10 years. Haven't been able to find one I like or can afford. I don't like the big flashy rings. I like simple stones/settings. Can't seem to find simple anymore.

I'm actually looking for a Pink Sapphire (or a pink stone). I don't want Effy, Diamonds International, etc. The last time I was at St. Thomas, 99% of the stores we walked past, there were SO many pushy sales people, that it made our visit there, less than happy. We did not go into those stores, because of their pushiness.

Hello. I will be visiting St. Thomas on a cruise in a few months. I am looking for a specific ring. However, I want to AVOID the major chain jewelry stores, especially the ones that practically pull you off the street and hound you to go into their stores. Are there any small, non-pushy jewelry stores near Havensight and Crown Bay? Maybe not right at the port, but a short ride / walk from there. Thank you 🙂

@We_like_to_cruise We went to a B&B last September. They have an electric kettle. I thought it was the coolest thing. Yes, it heats the water up FAST. So, when we got home, I ordered one from Amazon. I LOVE IT!!! Love that it shuts off immediately once the water is boiled. It takes longer for the tea to steep than it does for the water to heat up 😉