knitter

My travel agent couldn't process the payment for our cruise in August - and when they called AZA, nothing happened, just dead air. Seems like all that you can do is call to make a new booking.

Thanks. Sandy

I was about to ask about M & M's - does AZA set them up?

Our Norway Intensive in August only has 3 or 4 shore ex listed for any port, which surprised me.

Thank you! Sandy

I'm hoping the Vermeer exhibit gets extended at the Rijksmuseum. It's only scheduled til June 4.

Would love your info on the tea room! Thanks.

Post this cruise we are staying at the Sheraton at the Amsterdam airport. We spent several days in the city in 2109, stayed at the Renaissance.

Monica- I I'm also on this Norway cruise. I hope you have joined the roll call for the cruise. Schiphol can be pretty crazy. We decided to come home on 8/18 (flying into Philly) and will stay at the airport the night before, so we aren't so rushed in the AM. I would want to be at the airport at least 3- 3 1/2 hours early. I'm guessing that the ship will dock by the Central Train Station in Amsterdam. Haven't decided what we will do after we get off, exactly, but I think the options are: 1. transfer from ship to airport if flying out same day (we decided not to chance it) 2. stay in the city (leave bags in train station baggage check) If staying in town, just take something small for the night. There is a nice Renaissance with walking distance of the train station that we have stayed at a couple of times. Or if staying at the airport, check bags for the day and take the train out to the airport. Another option would be to take the ship transfer to the airport, check in and just leave the bags at the hotel, take the train back and forth to town. I think it's bit of a hike at the terminal to get into the train station, even though they seem to be next to each other.

Years ago we had 2 overnights in Israel and our groups booked a private guide and a hotel, just told someone in the ship office we were doing so. The ship docked in 2 different places, and when we went to reboard, discovered that the port staff said we had to enter from the other end of the port, which would have necessitated a drive through rush hour Haifa, which could have resulted in missing the ship. We pretty much could have walked to the ship from where we were. After some arguing between port guards and our guide, and checking our passports and luggage, we were escorted to the ship by armed guards and vehicle with flashing lights. The guards were not at all happy, and we were the last people aboard. In Egypt, every tour (ship or private) from every ship in port left in a convoy. Cross traffic was stopped til we were out of Cairo by armed police. When coming to port, vans and buses met up again. Our bus was making funny noises- it had developed transmission issues, and couldn't keep up with the convoy. They had a rescue bus on it's way to us but we made it back. The guide on the bus was not happy!

We did a Baltic cruise where we hit what the crew said was the worst storm of the season. I think we were on Celebrity and had a balcony. We had to stuff a rug under the door because the wind whined in through the door so loudly, and we felt like we were slipping head to toe in bed! And did the ship ever creak!!!! They cancelled activities and heels were not allowed- there were motion sickness bags in every corridor every few feet.

We missed a stop in Tunisia due to civil unrest.

The Nieuw Amsterdam 2/12 sailing was originally scheduled for an overnight in Curacao (2 full days) and it got changed to 1 day in Bonaire, docking from 3-11:00 (seems like a strange time for a place that is all about beaches and snorkeling/diving) and one day in Curacao. The change was announced a month ago and no shore ex have been posted yet. I wonder if this has something to do with that.

Thank you!

Sorry if there is a thread on this, couldn't find it. Are there electrical outlets by the bed in the cabins on the Nieuw Amsterdam. DH uses a c-pap and need to know if we need an extension cord- we did on older HAL ships. I assume there are still both US and EU style plugs. Thanks in advance.

I was able to rebook for a price drop without losing my deposit, and later got a significant OBC added. Have never sailed A before so first experience.

We have been so disappointed by the port lectures- sometimes they couldn't even tell you how to get into a town from the port (Edinburgh comes to mind).

On the recommendation from a bartender in a place we wandered into for lunch, we got a great seafood lunch from a little trailer at the harbor where the staff wore berets and French navy style shirts, which we took back into the bar and got drinks (my first shandy- I do not like beer!) to go with. Several people from the cruise wandered in and joined us. It capped off a sweet little tour from some locals who were so excited at the opportunities they hoped becoming a stop would bring them.

No experience with using HAL to go to the Galapagos but we did a 7 day cruise there (tiny ship- no more than 18-20 people) and it was wonderful. We were out in zodiacs for snorkeling and hikes 2x a day, on board naturalists and food were excellent (I think all ships have to use trained park guides). We combined it with a trip Machu Picchu. I think a cruise is better than a land based trip there- you will see more variety/islands. We saw a pod of orcas and dolphins put on a show for us that was amazing. We actually got into the zodiacs to travel with orcas for a bit.

We had a bus develop transmission issues on the way back from the pyramids - we had traveled in a convoy of buses and couldn't keep up. They were ready to send a rescue bus but we were able to make it back - the last bus to arrive! I had forgotten all about it til I read your post.!

The Prinsedam used to do longer sailings- and because she was small she got into unique ports. We were on her when she became the biggest ship to dock in a port in Iceland (forget which one, but was the captain ever excited!) and was the first cruise ship ever to go to Killybegs in Ireland. Sandy

Years ago we got visited by the upgrade fairy - to a Neptune suite (I would have booked either outside or balcony, can't remember). The cruise was over my husband's birthday. It was quite lovely!