Beejay4016

Amazing photos. Thank you so much for posting. We were there in March but most of the excursions were cancelled due to a late arrival as a result of bad weather. These are real coffee-table-book photos. Thanks again.

I would rather sit next to a dog than some of the rude tablemates I've been stuck with before.

I'm with you. Great post.

One of my cruises had a group of people with service dogs on it. There were several boxes set up at the forward end of the Promenade Deck. They were about 4 feet square and had an astroturf top section that drained to an absorbent lower section. I have since seen the boxes on other cruises.

 

The funny thing about that first cruise was that during the stop at Half Moon Cay, some of the other passengers were complaining that the dogs swimming in the ocean somehow contaminated the water. They were quite loud in their complaints at the front desk, and to anyone else who looked as though they may listen.

What sort of people complain about service dogs? Give me the dogs any day, and throw those small-minded selfish clods overboard.

Non-smoker here, and have never been on a HAL ship that "reeked" of smoke. Wouldn't make this my prime consideration unless I was allergic to smoke or had severe breathing issues.

 

Roz

Like, from another non-smoker. Simply not an issue. I'd rather have a smoker than an obnoxious drunk anyway. :)

But they do serve decent hors d'oeuvres as part of the "Tapis Rouge" experience (one of the more expensive cocktail parties I ever attended)

Nice one, dakrewser. :D

To the previous poster, I think the whole world knows that Cirque de Soleil is not a dining experience and Americans, if very few others, know that Le Cirque is a restaurant (or two).

It shouldn't. Clean your cache and try again.

I'm with Gut on that one, and it is so frustrating because I can't always get the books I want from the Australian site. I much prefer The Book Depository to Amazon anyway, so they really are my last resort after TBD, The Nile etc.

Oops.

I didn't realize that spiffing up once or twice a cruise was such an imposition. I'm a casual guy after years of working in a coat and tie, but I look too good in a tux to not want to wear it once or twice a cruise!!

Ah, if some men only realised - as you do - how good they look dressed up, more would do it.

:)

What?

 

That's the point: the Europeans perhaps don't know much about Le Cirque, but they do know about De Librije

You're right there. Probably to most people outside the USA, Le Cirque is simply an abbreviation to Le Cirque de Soleil. I have to say, though, that we loved our Le Cirque meal on the Volendam.

Since I'm from an area where there's, let's say little supply (at best), I was quite taken aback to see it on the menu. Although there were some Aussies on board, it was mainly North Americans, so I thought it an adventuresome offering.

It's mostly used for pet food here, Ruth. A lot of people find it very difficult to get their head around a country which eats its national symbol. It is rather nice, though, and emu and crocodile aren't too bad either.

Cheers,

Bev

Thanks for the reminder about some Asian audiences - went to a university student production in Mongolia once and could not believe how everyone was initially quiet ....until the production began. Then all the sudden the audience talking to each other and it became an uproar. And this was in the days before cell phones. Never seen anything like that before, nor after. But haven't been to the cinema in Hong Kong either. I'll take your word for it. :eek: Our Mongolian guide was perplexed when I even asked her about it. Her response was why not?

Thanks for a great laugh. I have a nephew who lives in Korea. I'll have to ask him if it's the same there. We forget how different we are at times, don't we.

Yes, I have had this happen, and see it as merely another venue where the lessening of consideration for others has permeated society.

 

There was a time when people knew enough not to talk during shows, movies, concerts, etc. If they slipped, a simple glare, or finger to the lips, was sufficient to remind them.

Unfortunately, that hasn't been true for years. People are so used to talking in their living rooms when watching TV that they have moved those "new normal" manners to public places, too.

 

Now, the best you can do sometimes is whack them with a heavy purse. ;)

Hi Ruth,

Dare I say I think you're being ageist? Rude people have been with us always. I hate behaviour like that, and I would turn around and say something to them. And if they didn't shut up, I would find a member of staff and complain. I've done that in cinemas.

However, someone mentioned Russians behaving in a manner we might find offensive. Have you ever been to the cinema in Hong Kong? The audience hold conversations on their phones all through the movie. There is a cultural difference there. But as for the generational difference? No; it's just cretins who should be asked to leave and has little to do with age but much to do with that awful "entitlement" mentality. And failing all else, as you say, whack them with something heavy.

Cheers,

Bev

Good evening!

I'm so excited to let everyone know that we've shot thousands of photos of HAL's Noordam. Please check out the albums here http://gallery.cruisecritic.com/ships/noordam-362/ Our photographer was on an Alaskan sailing, so you can check out some photos of Alaska's ports as well. I particularly love our cabin photos, which include 360-degree panoramics.

This is the second HAL ship we've shot. Our first was Eurodam, which you can see here: http://gallery.cruisecritic.com/ships/eurodam-405/

I hope you have fun exploring these. We're going to continue to add photo galleries for Holland America and other cruise lines throughout the year.

Enjoy!

Colleen

Wow, thanks so much for posting these great photographs. We are sailing on her in March next year, so it's great fun looking at these - and, oh, those shops look to have some tempting goodies. Loved the Volendam and the Ryndam, and I think it may be a love affair with the Noordam also.

Thankyou!

 

 

 

I understand that there will be exceptions, but there are some who travel just for the cruise & make statements about not taking formal outfits due to airline restrictions.. :( That's hogwash! Just because you take the longer vacations, is not a reason for HAL to cancel Gala/Formal nights.. There are many who still enjoy dressing up & can do it without a problem..

 

When we flew, my DH always took at least one jacket or suit with a tie & wore it on the plane... I was required to be dressed in a suit or dress with hose, when we were Non Revenue on our carrier as well as all other carriers around the world.. It was only much later in my career, that I was even permitted to wear a pantsuit.. To this day, we must be appropriately dressed if we want to fly Non-Rev, especially in First or Business class.. Our Son was so proud at the age of 13 when he was dressed in a suit & was able to fly first class..

 

We've also met many Europeans, Asians & Australians as well as young people from all over the world, who have been able to take the appropriate clothes without a problem.. See the post I quoted above from Beejay who is from your area..:)

Thanks for your comments. We'll certainly be taking formal gear for our cruise on the Noordam next March. Dressing up in a long dress on a beautiful ship is the closest I'll ever get to a bit of old-fashioned Hollywood glamour, so I would be really sorry to see it disappear. :)

I disagree. Some of us enjoy the formal experience. It is one of the few opportunities to wear formal dress. .

Totally agree. We are in our 50s and love the formal nights, and it is quite apparent that plenty of people in their 20s and 30s feel the same way. Why is dressing up such an issue for some people? It makes you feel good before you even step outside your stateroom. If you don't like it, don't go to the MDR. It really is that simple.

Oh, I'm glad you can get Canada Dry! Funny how you get accustomed to certain flavours even though they seem the same to everyone else.

We have a bottle of gin delivered to our stateroom on sailing day and bring our own Schweppes aboard with us. As you say, you get used to the taste of a particular tonic.

If it makes you feel better, I will second your coffee comments. Three voyages ago I complained to HAL, BUT I am just one person.

I now take my own Illy strainer disposables, bought packages in Milan last year: and order hot water.

Funny how tea and coffee brands have been eliminated by obvious cost cutting. I would rather have thinner toilet paper, or reuse a linen napkin in the assigned MDR seats. Or one less juggler. But bad coffee or unfamiliar tea: come on HAL!

Nobody could vote for thinner toilet paper, surely.

A great review. Thank you for putting so much into it. We also did a Norwegian fjord cruise on the Ryndam, back in August last year, sailing out of Dover, which is fabulous in itself, and I certainly agree that the scenery is stunning. So glad you enjoyed the Ryndam. Like you, we are rather sad that she is moving down here/down under to become part of P&O Australia. I just hope that they appreciate what a special vessel she is and how loved she has been by so many people.

Cheers,

Bev

I'm with you, would never go P & O Australia - ever! Never done it, never will, but I do know one should never say "never". We are on the Ryndam tomorrow out of Harwich.

Hi Kobecat,

We were on the Ryndam last year on a Norwegian cruise out of Dover and just loved it. I'm sure you'll enjoy.

Cheers,

Bev

Wow! One P&O Australia cruise was enough for me to swear "Never again", but she looks so beautiful that we might be tempted.

From all reports, it must be a HAL excursion.

Thanks Kazu. It would probably still be worth it, particularly when boarding and taking a couple of bottles of really nice champagne on board, or visiting some of those NZ wineries.

Cheers .. Bev

Apparently there has been a amendment to these rules.

 

If you go on a HAL excursion to a winery you are allowed to bring back one bottle of wine each free.

 

We are going to NZ next year and will be testing this out. :)

Hi Stratheden,

Yes, after I posted that I realised that the NZ comment probably meant nothing to most people, but as a fellow Australian you know what I mean. We're also off on a cruise there next year. We may take a couple of bottles of nice bubbly on board with us in Sydney, but other than that we wouldn't bother until we visit NZ. I wonder if that allowance of a bottle after an excursion applies when it's an independent excursion or if it has to be a HAL one.

Cheers .. Bev

Thanks Jacqui.. Didn't realize that..We haven't brought wine on board in a long time..We normally just purchase HAL's packages..

 

 

 

Bev the corkage fee is $18.00 per bottle..

Many thanks for that. It does make it well worthwhile for a nice bottle of wine, and New Zealand certainly produces some wonderful ones. Other than wines, I find the prices of drinks on board very reasonable, much better than a bar here.

Cheers .. Bev

Hi folks,

Can somebody tell me what the corkage fee is?

Cheers .. Bev

So who has a P&O booking for 2015?

- which ship Pacific Pearl

- where to? Sydney to Eden, Kangaroo Island, Portland, Sydney

- when? March

 

I'm hoping to get on Aria or Eden to write one of the first reviews :)

 

Louise Goldsbury

Australia Editor

Cruise Critic

We've done two HAL cruises, most recently on the Ryndam from Dover up through the Norwegian fjords in August last year. She will be a beautiful addition as the Pacific Eden, but I'm wondering how they fit in an extra 200 people.