oakridger

Ha ha you are very sure about that!! Thank you to all who have commented! After looking at all possibilities I decided to just take Southwest down to SAN and save the train trip for some other adventure! I just couldn't make the logistics work nicely with having to switch trains somewhere from the Coast Starlight to the Pacific Surfliner. The cruise itself will be my focus this time. ~Nancy

I'm enjoying your postings @Mike B Landlubber. Is it possible that chocolate milk is $5? (seems high for milk, but who knows?) ~Nancy

@rsmakowski I predict that you and your family will love Crystal and the itinerary! 🙂 I suggest that you read the threads on the Ports of Call forum here on Cruise Critic to get some really great targeted information about your ports and possible excursions available. You will get input from a larger group than only here on the Crystal Forum. Many of the cruise lines offer the same or similar excursions in ports so that information could also pertain to Crystal. Of course, other online sites such as TripAdvisor are great too! Here's the Northern Europe/Baltics/Western Europe Belgium Forum link on Cruise Critic Europe Cruises Q&A: Find Tips & Recommendations - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums Have fun planning! ~Nancy

Thanks @kaisatsu. I checked where Revierkaia is below.

Thanks so much for the review @elklemi. Do you mind sharing what your cabin number was as you mentioned it was forward and you felt movement each night. I'll be on Star Breeze and had to move to a slightly more forward cabin than I originally booked due to the January/February 2025 cancellations. (maintenance location moved from New Zealand to Central America) ~Nancy

@Flyinby I'm so glad this topic came up by @MeHeartCruising! I'm now getting in the final 6 weeks before I leave home for my trip....making my way towards Norway via the Netherlands. I had thought about the Russian boarder trip and pretty much dismissed it thinking it was just a bus ride out to look at a fence but if the WWII caves and history are part of it then I am definitely interested in that! I'll have a look online about that tour. I'll be on Castor on the June 7, 2024 BKB! Thanks Cruise Critic Community for all the information everyone provides! Have a wonderful time @MeHeartCruising!!! ~Nancy

NZeTA application - request an NZeTA | Immigration New Zealand NZD $17 on the free App or NZD $23 if completed online. I'm sorry this happened to you. I got caught in a third-party website for a hotel booking even though I know to be careful because they are so sneaky on how they name their sites. It only cost me $15 for the "booking" fee but I was so mad...at myself and them! ~Nancy

Oops, you said New Zealand.....

Not until a few months before the cruise. You just need to keep checking. Use the HAL website under "Manage My Cruise". ~Nancy

My good friend was just on the Eurodam last week on the Western Caribbean cruise and she called me several times on WhatsApp. She had the Surf Wi-Fi. One call did drop after about 2 minutes, but she called right back, and it was okay. The longest call was 38 minutes. Just reporting current info. ~Nancy

I loved that movie and we sure do miss Robin Williams who was from the Bay Area. 😔 ~Nancy

Crystal cruises also holds passports for the same reasons. So does Holland America Cruise line on some extended itineraries, such as the World Cruise. ~Nancy

Cool video! Thanks, and Bon Voyage! ~Nancy

@Eoghan-23 I see that you just joined and that's why I was offering what I think is a helpful suggestion about how and where you post. Most people here on CC are very helpful and friendly. We want you to have a good experience here online and on your cruises! 😊 After you read through the forums and threads that interest you, please come back and ask any questions you want! I'm not new to cruising but I learn something every day here! ~Nancy

You will find your answers in these current threads:

Thank you @RuthC, @3rdGenCunarder and @TiogaCruiser! I think you have talked me out of a Lanai Cabin. It may depend on how full my bank account is at the time of booking though! I don't have anything pending on Volendam at the moment so any decision can wait. ~Nancy

When I was looking at a Volendam cruise, as a solo who prefers veranda cabins, the Lanai was considerably lower fare than the Vista Suites. I figure that the Lanai cabin would be acceptable size wise for one person. I haven't tried one yet though. Do any of the other solo cruisers have thoughts on the Lanai cabins for one person? ~Nancy

I'm very glad it's served by the staff! I've seen other places where people cut and serve themselves cake and very quickly the cake turns into a huge unappetizing mess of crumbs and frosting blobs! 😮 ~Nancy

I haven't returned to the HAL afternoon tea since my first one in 2006. I think the Crow's Nest, or some other "lounge" type place is a better atmosphere than the noisy dining room sitting at a table for 6 or 8. I miss the real clotted cream for scones and some nice classical or easy listening live music. That's how I like my tea service! 🫖 I guess it isn't traditional, but I prefer a cart with a selection of the treats going to each table so we can select what and how many of each item we want. That's my wish list for afternoon tea! ~Nancy

I wasn't clear when I said there was not a naturalist. There definitely were park rangers on in Glacier Bay on all my cruises there! They were very informative and offered entertaining presentations. I meant that HAL didn't have any subject expert outside naturalist/lecturers on board for the cruise. ~Nancy

Slightly off topic but I'm looking at taking Amtrak to San Diego for a cruise. The train arrival is at 01:00 am. I'm leery about walking around as a solo female at that hour even just over to the Intercontinental Hotel. Do any of you locals have any comment on how safe it may be? Thanks, ~Nancy

That level of special requests for off menu ordering is what you can find on luxury lines at a much higher fare. Mainstream cruise lines like HAL, with a 2400 passenger capacity, are not generally prepared to accommodate those bespoke special orders. I love Crystal Cruises, maybe try them next time. As the others have stated, the staff on HAL will do what they can with what is available to try and please diners. I hope your group has a great time on HAL and I think you will with appropriate expectations! ~Nancy

Maybe your TA already booked you with the HIA rate? ~Nancy

Nieuw Amsterdam and all the other non-Pinnacle ships only show movies in the main stage or indoor theater (if the ship has one). There are movies on demand on the cabin TVs. Konningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam have the movies in the Lido pool area. ~Nancy

Dang!! I wonder if the cost difference will change as time passes or stay the same???? ~Nancy