MaisonRose

On 4/17/2023 at 10:36 AM, NoShoes2 said:

 

I don't even order crab cakes anymore. I've been disappointed too many times!

Two places : here in Frederick RAGIN REEF and Jimmy’s in Dundalk which is off 95 N just after the Harbor Tunnel.

On 8/10/2022 at 4:07 PM, flamingos said:

The crab in the crabcake and the crab stuffed shrimp appears to be real crab, tastes like it.  

Here in Maryland a can of lump crabmeat is nearing $40. One can makes four small real Maryland crab cakes…so you can see where this is heading.

I asked this about Enchantment sailing on April 30. The answer was no to Marseille: the explanation was that CoVid started this policy, understandably. It’s sad, though, that they haven’t changed back. It would have saved me much time, money & grief.

Oh yes but I think it is me. There isn’t much on the app. I am checked in and I’m waiting to the 30th to do my health questionaire but I can’t pull up drinks packages or internet choices. Navigating the app is quite limited and the website doesn’t give m much choice either.

have I missed the boat?

i waited this long to make these commitments because my DH had recent surgery and I wasn’t sure we’d make it.

Anyway is there a tutorial for the Royal app?

26 minutes ago, teddie said:

I can answer 2 out of 3:

 

On my 2/4 Anthem cruise, there was a pretty good selection of Bigelow tea bags, both caffeinated and herbal.  Yes to both pink and yellow sweetener packets (can't recall if they were the name brands). 

 

Teddie

Merci bien…S

I want to post a question 

Anyone familiar with gluten free dining? Is there more than one soup selection at lunch?

Also about the beverages:  is sweet n low available and what brand of tea bags, please?

Thanks,

Susan

Tea bag brands. Sweet n Low? Gluten Free eating?

Thanks.

11 hours ago, Sun Lover said:

I just got a text that says it's from Royal Caribbean (I've never gotten a text from them, only emails.) This is what it says:

 

The U.S. Coast Guard will conduct an annual inspection onboard Anthem of the Seas. We may experience some boarding delays, so we ask that you arrive after 1:00 p.m. Please arrive no later than 1:30 p.m. All guests should be checked in and onboard by 2:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

Could this be a joke? My son is going on Anthem tomorrow and he did get an email yesterday stating that the Coast Guard is doing an annual inspection on his sailing and the boarding times were changed.

 

How could it be an annual inspection if it's conducted twice in a 3 week span? There's no way everyone would arrive after 1 p.m. and all guests would be checked in and onboard by 2 p.m. Also, I have never gotten a text from RCI and it doesn't really look official to me. At the bottom it says "everbridge," whatever that means.

 

Did anyone else get this?

April Fools! (Sorta)

Who are Princess Solutions? What is Aon?   I travelled Apr 16 on Emerald. My husband & I disembarked May 1 for purposes of quarantine,

having missed two days on ship + May 1/9 British Isles.

Nothing shows on my Princess account and I can’t find any forms to fill out on the Princess website.

We have other travel insurance but must clear up the Princess situation before filing.

Thanks for any further discussion.

Susan

21 minutes ago, shipshape sam said:

We are sailing on Rotterdam VII soon and looking at deck plans, not sure if there is a place dedicated coffee shop area.  Couple of locations with the term 'cafe', but have not sailed on HAL in over 12 years and not on Rotterdam VII.  

 

Any information would be appreciated.  Any other areas on ship that are neat/uniquie.  

21 minutes ago, shipshape sam said:

We are sailing on Rotterdam VII soon and looking at deck plans, not sure if there is a place dedicated coffee shop area.  Couple of locations with the term 'cafe', but have not sailed on HAL in over 12 years and not on Rotterdam VII.  

 

Any information would be appreciated.  Any other areas on ship that are neat/uniquie.  

GO to you tube and search Rotterdam reviews. You will get tons of answers. If I recall correctly, Explorations Cafe is in the library in the front of Rotterdam and the Dutch Cafe is on a lower deck mid-ships. I’m sailing from NYC on the TA to Rotterdam, April 7.

This subject is number 1 for me today. I was checking out the options (now that I used the app on my iPhone.) I was surprised to see BEVERAGE CARDS listed and especially denominations but not what you can get for your I.e. $100.

In the past (2019 last HAL sailing) I got beverage cards that were for sodas and coffee and maybe more. But the use of the card gave more than the amount paid. Comments?

The hitch on the Drinks package is that both passengers in the cabin must take the plan. For medical reasons I can’t drink alcohol, so that’s out.

It seems that there is a Quench Package, almost $20 a day which would be perfect for me but again my DH would have to sign up also.

in our cabin DH wine with dinner, maybe a beer at lunch.

Me: frequent club soda and maybe a cafe coffee a day.

Any suggestions other than pay as you go which is our current choice?

Also it seems that specialty drinks at the Dutch Cafe are not included in any drinks package. Is this correct?

THANKS IN ADVANCE TO ANYONE OFFERING AN OPINION.

SUSAN.  

Rotterdam VII April 6.

AIX.   The modern buildings on the far side of La Rotunde has a huge APPLE STORE and near that the tourist office (Office du Tourisme).

These shops include H&M...the parking garage under is ROTUNDE if you have a need..

The fountain is a circle, if your back is to the Apple Store the Cours Mirabeau Is across the fountain from you.

The French department store AU PRINTEMPS is on the left side of the Cours. The famous cafe AUX DEUX GARÇONS is further down on the same side.

OK. hope this isn’t TMI.

SUSAN

About Cassis: easy train ride from Marseille St Charles station 

 but Cassis station is a long walk from town. Big hills, very little parking. Otherwise charming.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187253-d6879322-r288226959-Les_Terrasses_du_Port-Marseille_Bouches_du_Rhone_Provence_Alpes_Cote_d_Azur.html

It is called

Les Terrassés du Port. Reviews on Tripadvisor.

Hi, I’m not going to comment on “getting there” since I don’t know where your ship will dock and the location that is between Marseille & MRS airport is really awkward, so good luck with that. The region has fabulous public transport but to use it one has to navigate the problematic websites such as sncf.com (trains).

I’m  a senior citizen that’s been a half year resident spending 22 years in the Luberon, a valley with charming medieval hill villages but without a car or driver sort of inaccessible. For amusement read Peter Mayle: A YEAR IN PROVENCE.

But here’s some ideas for areas around Marseille.

My first choice would be Aix en Provence, a gorgeous, leafy, walkable university town. There are cheap little jitneys that can whisk you around the Old Town (vielle ville). There is a main area on the edge which is the Place de la Rotunde (huge fountain) where starts the renowned Cours Mirabeau (5 stars). For preparation: foodies might read MFK FISHER’s TWO TOWNS IN PROVENCE, a mémoire covering post war Aix. A train runs from Marseille St Charles but really a little mini bus tour just to Aix might be worth the research. Sat AM market notable.

Another adventure could be to ARLES where there are ancient Roman ruins and tiny little village streets haunted by the ghost of Van Gogh. Skip Arles if there is a bullfighting weekend.

And lastly (easily accessed) is Avignon,  a larger but walkable city on the east bank of the wide and sleepy Rhône. City center: aim for the Palais des Papes. Historic. 

I’ll leave you to figure out Marseille, head for the port & walk around & possibly take the tourist train: going up to the cathedral above the city will afford spectacular views. Marseille is very international, full of seafood restaurants and curious, down to earth citizens. It won’t strike you as a huge tourist destination but as a real, bustling southern French city...

of course you can take a boat excursion to Chateau d’If of literary fame (The Count of Monte Cristo).

For shoppers there’s a huge new Shopping Center that has some nice restaurants with terraces overlooking the sea as well as several good museums. It’s a reasonable taxi ride from the ship. I’m posting this & coming back with the link to this area.

On 11/9/2022 at 5:03 PM, Clay Clayton said:

As Miss G stated, credit card type. On Koningsdam the card (or perhaps one from a previous cruise 🤔) had to go in a slot inside the door to power up the room.
 

I saw someone somewhere punching holes in a guest’s card so they could hang it on a lanyard.   I would find the wrist bracket that Miss G mentioned unwieldy and like her don’t like wearing a lanyard but to each his own.  For me, simply slipping the card in my pants pocket works. 

Guest services will punch the card. Note to females: my favorite carry Place is in my bra but for some reason it desensitizes the keycard (requiring a walk to guest services. My advice: don’t do it.)

🤪🤪🤪

3 hours ago, DJ Cruisers said:

Thank you for all responses.  We have plenty of time since we just booked a week ago.

It takes time though. I just submitted my forms and my booking was made 90 days out: so it can be time sensitive.

i booked directly because my TA couldn’t confirm a cabin I wanted but HAL did give me the cabin.

1 hour ago, AFNavigator said:

It reflects HAL's Dutch heritage.

 

From a Netherlands website:  "The color orange refers to the family name of the Dutch Royal Family, the House of Orange-Nassau.  Their ancestor, William of Orange, is the founding father of the Netherlands.  Orange symbolizes national unity, and the Dutch signify national pride by wearing orange."

Additionally: there is an Orange Party on the ship and if you are in the Netherlands on April 29-30 wearing ORANGE is almost mandatory: it’s like our 4th of July. Bring something orange on your cruise, even if it’s just a scarf in any case.

Also the heritage thing: I wear orange on St Patrick’s Day because my ancestors are from Northern Ireland. (Only à history teacher gets this!)

Susan

Susan & Ivars  ROTTERDAM April 6  13 days   NYC/Rotterdam

150 Anniversary Crossing.

keeping fingers crossed for YOU,  JACQUI.

On 1/7/2023 at 12:46 PM, lazey1 said:

I for one am delighted to find out that HAL will be eliminating Lincoln Center Stage or limiting it to a rotating headliner act. Classical music is not enjoyed by everyone and it seems like for years that Lincoln Center Stage has been devoted to funerary music. Perhaps once a cruise I could manage to sit through one of their shows. PS, I am 81 years old, definitely not one of the younger generations.

My experience with Lincoln Center stage is that it is ALWAYS hard to find a seat. I suspect this is about $ (what isn’t) so with prices shooting up almost everywhere, Lincoln Center/Juilliard priced itself out of the market.

Im curious to hear how many loved the pre dinner concerts. Those students were fantastic, IMHO.

Maybe less pool time toward Barcelona:  it depends.

On 1/8/2023 at 7:46 PM, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I sailed with Cunard twice last year. Princess Grill on QE had wonderful food and service. We didn't order off menu, but we did have a lot of the special things that have to be ordered the night before.

 

Britannia (MDR) on QM2 was not as good. The food was okay, but they didn't have the "always available" items. I think they actually did and the waiter either didn't know or lied. The service at our table was poor. It took 20 minutes between being seated and having our orders taken. The assistant waiter was obviously new because he made mistakes. I felt that QM2 had poor service in MDR and buffet because they're understaffed and have a lot of new and poorly trained staff. I think service in PG was better because Cunard has always put the best staff in the higher dining rooms. 

Totally agree: the Brittania DR was like dining in the 1950s (Dec, 2022). Being on QM2 in Brittania class was definately second (third) class treat treatment.

But I LOVED two things: afternoon tea and the kettle and tea service items in the cabin. Oh was I a happy cruiser, that’s for sure.

On 1/8/2023 at 9:29 AM, MISTER 67 said:

Exactly and except for the service HAL has downgraded many facets on their ships and even the service has been cut back with only once a day cabin service. For now we are taking our business elsewhere.

Very interesting. My last TA was Nov. ‘19 and I’m sailing eastbound on the Rotterdam on April 6 (NYC-Rotterdam). I’m confident that the things I love about HAL will be essentially there: but I’m picky so I’ll be back to report. Already I’m informed that the CookingShows are gone (America’s Test Kitchen was a mistake, IMHO because the show became impersonal and lost its camaraderie. When HAL had ship personnel doing the program with Food Trivia in the afternoons, it had quite a following.) Being a grumpy old lady, I don’t cotton to things that turn slick, branded and impersonal.

It looks like cruise lines subcontract out events.

Theres good stuff, too, of course. I do enjoy the new tech additions to cruise ships but the truth is that although wi fi connectivity is irresistible, it was nice to really « be away » on a cruise ship. Remember when we got off in a port to hang out at a « hot spot » to get news from home?

I called a friend for her birthday last night and she answered on a Régent ship in Mexico! We were both shocked.

Cheers,

Susan

SUSAN

I’m totally impressed with the knowledge shared in response to my inquiry, and grateful to everyone giving time to sharing their experience & expertise.

i booked today with a cabin in VH and await further communications from HAL (cross fingers). At the least I will add Quench and wi fi if no big offers are not forthcoming.

SO glad to be back to HAL after several years of poor timing & TA schedules. I really love this cruise line!

Thanks to everyone.

Susan

On 1/5/2023 at 12:17 AM, hellokate said:

I just put my deposit down on the 13-DAY 150TH Anniversary Transatlantic April 6-19 and had worked it out as the following:

 

*Note: 3 Star Mariner which may or may not have affected how much OBC we received*

 

Inside $750 pp (Room Only) = $57.69 per day

Inside $1559 pp (Have it All) I paid an extra $20 for the room we wanted. =$119.92 per day

That is a $809.00 difference PP for HIA.

 

The perceived PP benefits are this:

• Signature Beverage Package = $689.52 x 18% gratuity = $813.63
• Surf Wi-Fi = $15 per day = $195.00
• Specialty Dining (2 credits per person) = $46 (Pinnacle Grill) x 2 = $92.00
• Excursion Credits ($100 credit per excursion x 2) = $200
• OBC $ 150

Total Benefits Received = $1,450.63 per person

Total cost to upgrade to Have It All = $809

Total Savings = $641.63

Im

On 1/5/2023 at 12:17 AM, hellokate said:

I’m totally impressed and