jabcruiser

I checked my On Locations from 2013 for our Panama Canal cruise and can confirm that there was a pool party (buffet) from 8:30 - 10:00 PM. We will be on the PC cruise before you and I will confirm here on CC. See link below:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/PC-Day-04-On-Location.pdf

Thanks so much for the info. Will be watching for your posts! Have a great cruise.

Jane

We are on 11 day Panama Canal cruise leaving Nov 30. In Aruba from 1 until 11pm. Thinking of doing sunset cruise excursion. But wondering if Lido will still be open when we return as doubt if will want to do MDR that evening. Of course can always do room service, but am wondering if the ship might have a deck BBQ that evening for those returning later from excursions or maybe keep Lido open later than normal? Anyone been on this cruise who can give some insight? Thanks.

Jane

We had crab last night in the PG. Definitely no extra charge. It was good but not great. I did previously pay extra for crab in the PG, when they first had it on the menu; then I did think it was worth the extra charge. I don't now. Last night's crab was what they used to serve in the MDR on a formal night (like ten years ago) - with the bowl of broth and boiled potatoes.

I can't speak personally on the crab legs, but on our last cruise we became friends with a couple. She complained about the crab legs because they added garlic to the butter and she did not like them at all. I wouldn't either. Lemon and butter only, please. We aren't that enamored with PG and only did Canaletto last couple of cruises as we enjoy that more than PG. May try PG again on next cruise this Dec. as need to spend some OBC.

Jane

Just was reading NCL Escape 10/8 Roll Call posts last couple of days. Lots of people calling and getting free upgrades. So, apparently lots of cancellations. Apparently some people flying through Tampa then driving to Miami to catch the boat. Don't like NCL, but am sure we could have gotten a great deal on another line. Oh well, maybe next time! Looks like some areas of Bahamas got hit bad, but more around Freeport rather than Nausau I believe. Carnival sight says they are evaluating damage to HMC now so hope not too bad. Thanks Betty, I will post a thread few days after you get back to remind you. Any info you can give will be appreciated.

Jane

I am so sorry to hear this. I never like hearing when HAL passengers brag about tipping to get better room service, because that sets up expectations that should not be part of the included previously "cash-free" HAL experience.

 

I hope you did not tip him. I get called a cheapskate when I protest tipping for room service. But this sort of potential informal tip expectation ruins it for everyone. Thanks for your report.

My, our room service tipping experience on HAL totally opposite. I always tip room service on any ship I am on as do not believe it is considered part of the daily gratuity. But several times on HAL the waiter has left so quickly after delivering the meal that I had to call him back to tip him, or just plain forgot. Certainly no dawdling awaiting a tip.

Jane

Except to walk through when lost or exploring, I have never been to the gym. Never been to the salon or any other "treatment room."

 

OP, if your ship has a guest chef, do look into the cooking class, which is hands-on, not a demo. I've done two, and they were a lot of fun.

I have attended several of the cooking "demos", but I just recently found out about the cooking classes on another thread. Never even heard of it and have taken several HAL cruises in little over year. Anyway, we are on Zuiderdam in Dec and I plan on checking into those.

Walked through Northern Lights on one of our cruises and totally empty. So plan on checking out the new Gallery Bar. Not real sure if they have converted them on all the ships yet or if it will be done when they each go to dry dock. Does anyone know?

One place haven't been to, but looking forward to on our Panama Canal cruise, is the deck at bow of ship on Promenade deck. Apparently they open it up as a viewing platform while in canal.

Probably lots of other things also have not experienced yet, but these come to mind.

Jane

Sounds like one other thing you should do before booking is check your gas gauge. Sounds like gas supply is a big problem.

 

Roy

Roy,

We have full tank already. But gas stations here all had lines yesterday! We are on SW Gulf coast and not even close to hurricane. Can't go anyway. Remembered we have beach house rented for a "stay-cation" next week. Hope Red Tide all gone by then.

Jane

Umm ? It better not be a month!..:eek:We leave out of FLL in less than two weeks on the Zuiderdam, provided the Hurricane dissipates soon.!:)

 

Lets hope this storm does not do too much damage & people are safe..

Hey, I do believe you are on first HAL Caribbean cruise of the season! Congrats! We are on same cruise 11/30/16 so I do expect a trip report from you. Please! Also you can report back on condition of HMC after hurricane. Will be interesting, but assume will be pretty much back to normal since they have about 2 weeks until your visit. Hopefully not too much damage done. Hopefully it doesn't do that circle path they are saying is a possibility and hit Bahamas a second time.

Jane

My PCC is good but sometimes it does take her a few hours to return calls. Once when she wasn't at work yet, I just booked with another agent who was and my PCC still got the credit. No problems so far. 3 hours difference in time from FL to WA does make it difficult though if trying to take advantage of upgrade offer or other offer where time is of essence. They need to extend their hours for us East Coasters.

Jane

Take a wrap! I am never cold- except on cruise ships! I always take a sweater or wrap to interior venues as just never know just how cold it will be.

Jane

As far as I can remember, HAL doesn't have any ships headed for Ft Lauderdale over the next few days.

 

But on Carnivals web site, there is quite a list of ship some with changes some without. Time will tell what will happen there.

No HAL cruises for another month or so. Carnival and RCCL and NCL are choices now in FLL and Miami I think.

We recently spent 24 days on the Zuiderdam in a very nice balcony cabin. The total cost of that 24 days on Hal would have bought us 4 - 5 days on Silverseas. Silverseas is darn good.....but not that good.

 

Hank

Agree, don't think price difference is worth it, at least for us. We are fairly laid back cruisers and HAL suits us just fine. Still getting into the "spending mode" after being in the "saving mode" for so long, but just no way I could justify the cost for Silverseas. Hope to do a Windstar next spring though!

Jane

Oasis otS is supposed to turn around in PEV on Sat. If it does, I'll bet there will be a lot of empty cabins leaving.

Wow, hadn't thought of that. We could just drive few hours and be on board. I would do in a second but don't think could talk DH into it. But agree that even if ports do re-open for the Saturday turn arounds, many folks going to miss the boat. Airlines have canceled 1600 flights now. Even if FLL and Miami are able to re-open on Fri, many people who's flights were cancelled won't be able to get new flights in time to depart. Will probably be good opportunity for a last minute cruise for those who live close.

Jane

I guess I am so thrilled to be on a HAL ship, I don't stress about the carpets

 

 

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Agree, haven't noticed the hodgepodge. But I do LOVE the "Day of Week" elevator carpets! Especially useful on longer cruises when you kind of lose track of time! Or day of week.

Jane

Don't know about cost, but go for it if you can! Have visited with several singles on previous HAL cruises and they seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot. Go to the singles meet and greet early in the cruise. Get a 6 or 8 top in MDR so you can meet others. I feel certain it will be a lot of fun.

Jane

Hope you like it. We did several Carnival cruises before changing over to HAL couple years ago. Have always thought Carnival gets a bad rap. We always enjoyed our Carnival cruises but like HAL because the food is overall much better IMO and other reasons. But have had some excellent and delicious meals on Carnival. Especially the Steak House which has HAL Pinnacle beat by a mile - you must try it, a real experience. Also the pizza is way better on Carnival. My DH about lived on it one cruise.

Also, the veranda cabins I believe are larger on Carnival or at least seems so to me. HAL regular verandas seem confined compared to similar ones we had on Carnival. Both lines have their strong points so enjoy and have a great time. We loved leaving from NO many years ago.

Jane

Has always been quick and little or no wait to get on the large tenders and transfer to island. We always go pretty early - 1st or 2nd tender. As stated above they are quite large. Even when we had to use the smaller boat tenders when another ship was there that got the larger island tenders, not a long wait.

Jane

Hi all. We are on the Nov 30 Zuiderdam PC cruise and getting excited now. I already had found VacationingCharlene's You Tube video and that helped us decide to do SylTravel in Puerto Limon for boat tour to Tortuguero Canals. So that is booked. There is a great post from Wibox on another thread called "Cartagena on your own Easy Peasy" from Jan'16 which I printed out and we are probably just going to follow that and taxi to "Old Town". I also found a brochure somewhere with walking tour info and pictures of all the old buildings so will have that. Aruba may just walk up street to the Casino and check it out. Still undecided about Sunset Cruise there. Don't get in until 1:00 so won't be doing beach this time I don't believe. Water not good last time after early am because of so much boat and watersport activity. Curacao undecided. Have been there couple times before and just walked bridge or took water taxi across to town for shopping and wandering around. This time considering a 4x4 tour or maybe the semi-submarine. Can't decide. Staying on board for Canal.

Glad to see this Thread as our Roll-Call slow also.

Jane

One of the reasons we moved to Florida (from Illinois) was to catch those last-minute bargains that are out there. So many really tempting ones. Princess is offering some super deals from California to Hawaii. Too long in the air for me.

 

I can drive to Ft. Lauderdale, Miami or Tampa within 4.5 hours. All we have to do is make sure the cat sitter can be here. Then we be gone! Retirement is great.

 

Jim

Jim,

We did same. Retired and moved to SW FL Gulf coast. Love being so close to beach and no flights for cruises. 4 ports within few hours. Love it! Looking to pick up some of those last-minute bargains too.

Jane

Agree with Ruth's wonderful suggestions. I wanted to add that there is a singles meet and greet early in cruise so find out when it is and go to that. Our last cruise we met a solo woman who had met several women there and they kind of hung out the rest of the cruise and seemed to become great friends. Also, try to find an evening venue you like (i.e BB King Club, Piano Bar, etc) and return every nite. You will start to recognize some of the same people each evening - strike up a conversation. Just be talkative, like Ruth says, and most people will respond in kind. Have a great time.

Jane

Now well north and west of the ABC's and South America coast - and tracking further away every hour.

Agree, normally ABC islands are out of hurricane zone. But DH just read on Weather Chanel that Matthew is lowest latitude hurricane EVER in Atlantic. Winds picking up again and starting to make northern turn. Will just have to see where it goes. Looks like Jamaica and Cuba and Haiti could get hit hard. Just pray it gets weaker before gets there.

Jane

We have only been on three large ship cruises including the Christening Cruise on Koningsdam as well as a couple of short cruises on small ships. We went on HAL as our friends were going and asked us along. The previous HAL cruise was on the Prisendam and we really did much prefer it.

Our issues were mostly with crowding; we did find the Lido very crowded indeed and it really felt to us just like being in our local mall. When we tried the MDR for breakfast the service was exceptionally slow and slack. Keep in mind that as Aussies we are used to slow and slack service and although we do not like slack, we like more leisurely than is the norm in the US. But to wait 45 minutes for a coffee, for example, is above our level of tolerance. We had traditional fixed dining and we were happy with that. Our steward had to get rid of us some nights by joking about our taxi having arrived etc.

We were happy with the stateroom and its arrangement but we really felt sorry for the performers on the Lincoln Stage with all the noise that passers by caused.

I think we just prefer the small more intimate atmosphere on small ships. We don't care if the decor is old-fashioned.

Having read some of the comments about Koningsdam I think we will stay with the "older" ships for now. We love the Vista class ships and in fact, so far, we have only been on those. Will be on last of the four, Zuiderdam, end of Nov. We just retired 2 years and are getting into cruising more now so hope to check out some of the others in next few years and try some longer voyages. In looking at deck plans of Koningsdam I don't like the way the Vista and Signature suites are laid out with bed next to veranda area rather than the sitting area. Looks like you have to lay in bed to see the views unless you are actually out on the veranda. I love the Signature Suites on Vista class where there is a window right in front of the large desk area. Bathrooms look way smaller than Vista class SS. No promenade to speak of. More crowded Lido? Not good. Don't use library that much so that no big deal I guess but have enjoyed browsing there before. Long coffee wait would definitely not set well with me and DH would have been out of there! Think I will stick with the old ships for now - rust and all!

Jane

Hope damage is minimal on Curacao, Aruba, Columbia and sure hope it misses HMC. We don't leave until end Nov for Panama Canal and that cruise goes to all of these ports. Hope it weakens soon.

Jane

I was wondering that also. We shall see:)

I did look on HAL website and mention of Northern Lights is gone. Now just lists Galary Bar but don't make it clear where the Ricjksmuseum at sea is. Guess we will see and hopefully recent cruisers will give us the answers.

Jane

Sarcasm?

My first airconditioned car was from year 2000. Al my cars before 2000 did not have airconditioning. In Europe before 2000 AC was not standard, but an expensive extra. We forget quickly. Who remembers the time when there were no cellphones?: :)

Yes a little sarcasm! And when I grew up in Florida in 50's and 60's A/C

not standard in cars or houses. In 70's in Colorado A/C not standard in cars or houses. Don't have any desire to go back to those days, thank you. Don't believe A/C in car is an "option" for about 99% of buyers any more. Maybe in Iceland or AK I guess, but for most people NOT. Times do change i.e Global Warming!

Jane