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Globehoppers

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  1. Recently back from a Panama transit on Zaandam proceeded by a trans-Atlantic on Oceania Marina. First "cruise" was a trans-Atlantic as a youngster in 1949 with parents who were being transferred from Miami to Amsterdam by a US company. The "good old days" of ocean liner travel. Back and forth across the north Atlantic numerous times on a variety of ships: HAL ships, SS America (three times), SS United States, SS Constitution, etc. Following university, commissioned in the US Navy and wore the uniform for 30 years, "cruising" around the world. We have been fortunate enough to have made landfall on all 7 continents though the combination of modern cruising and the US Navy. Started "cruising" in 1999 on a Royal Caribbean ship in the Caribbean. Good reintroduction to ocean travel and port visits. Since then have sailed with numerous cruise lines to include Royal, Celebrity, Azamara, Oceania, Hurtigruten (Antarctica) and HAL. They all offer different perspectives, from the overstuffed Royal ships to more elegant Celebrity offerings. Dining, such as it is on cruise ships, varies by ship (we are not "foodies," although we do enjoy fresh food from many ethnic locales around the world. To focus back on this thread, we have found the modern "plastic" cruise ships with their carnival atmospheres inimical to our vision of a good cruise and a good ship. Azamara, at least pre-sale by RCCL, is a favorite and did cruising "right." Great crews, officers and crew, on all their ship. Welcoming environment like coming home. Have some distain for the mega ships who operate without personality and more for the "nickel and diming" their cooperate owners can extract from "guests." We also abhor some of the advertising fostered on perspective guests, especially the trade-marked "best food at sea" by Oceania. Comparing Oceania (Marina) to HAL Zaandam we really found Marina lacking. The ambiance did not match the hype. Food was okay, specialty restaurants were so crowded and noisy it was difficult to hear each other on a "two-top." On one occasion a group of 4 sat next to us in the Chinese restaurant, each with 3 drinks in hand and likely several more already consumed. Found the ambiance on Zaandam much more peaceful and elegant, especially in specialty restaurants. Better food as well. And much less crowded in the buffet. A canal transit is similar to a trans-Atlantic as far as entertainment and days at sea and, again, Zaandam was better than Marina. Like Azamara it seems that officers and crew cared about their passengers. Not so on Marina. I am personally dreading and upcoming Royal cruise on Odyssey, the epitome of a "plastic" ship focused not on the love of the seas, but on what the cruise line can extract from the cruiser. Spouse has committed us to the TA with acquaintances...
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