foodgirl Posted September 20, 2013 #1 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Hello all. We are booked on a four day quick trip this December on the Eurodam. This will be my fourth time on that ship. My question is how ,if at all, will this be different? I have never done a short cruise so not really sure. Will the people be different for example? I didn't even know HAL did short trips and stumbled on this one. We normally do 7 days and we just can't swing it this year as we are spending the holidays with family in Florida. We had cruise fever and this will hopefully tide us over. Anyone who has done this on HAL that can share would be appreciated. I am not expecting a wild party crowd but I thought there might be some differences. Thank you!! Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted September 20, 2013 #2 Share Posted September 20, 2013 HAL very rarely does such short cruises except as Pacific Coast segments of AK-FL repositionings in the Spring and Fall. We did a 3-day on the E'dam for its very first sailing out of Port Everglades in Oct 2008. Initially many CCers had booked it as the first short part of a 10-day b2b, but then HAL chartered the 7-day. As a result there were a great many cancellations of the 3-day, and HAL scrambled to fill the ship with very cheap prices. The ship filled up with TAs and a party-hearty crowd out of Miami. The TAs were treated as VIPs, to the detriment of the rest, and some of the Miami crowd were pretty obnoxious everywhere. Hopefully yours will not be like that, since your 4-day has long been planned as such. Other than those due to the very unusual crowd, the only differences I recall were that we had no formal night, and everyone hauled their own luggage off the ship at cruise end ... but most did not have much luggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foodgirl Posted September 20, 2013 Author #3 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Thanks for the response. I do hope you are right about the crowd. That was my only fear with a short cruise. We love the Eurodam so will enjoy our stay I feel sure. Also wondered about formal nights. We don't dress up so my DH will be happy about that. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoothsailors Posted September 20, 2013 #4 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Believe this 4-day cruise was put on the schedule to fill the gap right after the Eurodam comes out of a 9-day scheduled wet-dock in Freeport...so would expect everything to be spiffed-up and shiny for you!!!:) Enjoy and please report back about any refurbishments...thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon1 Posted September 20, 2013 #5 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Is will be different because it will end before you know it. Too short to enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted September 20, 2013 #6 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Too short to enjoy.It takes you more than 4 nights to start enjoying a cruise? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewpie Posted September 22, 2013 #7 Share Posted September 22, 2013 We are taking that cruise also. My husband was very glad to hear that there is no formal night. Plus it means lighter luggage. He is so worried about lobster at dinner. I guess we will have to get that in Key West. I think that 4 night cruises are great. I usually go on three cruises a year and they are 7 nights. This 4 nighter will be a fun way to start the holiday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foodgirl Posted September 22, 2013 Author #8 Share Posted September 22, 2013 I know it will be short. We almost didn't book for that reason but we only had a few days to spare. The holidays will be hectic seeing many family members (love them all). We just wanted some time to ourselves and we love the Eurodam. It worked out that we could squeeze a cruise in as all the family is in south Florida. DH is glad for no formal nights and we are excited to spend a day in Key West as it has been awhile since we have been there. We will stay on board in Nassau and just relax and wait to take in that amazing view of the ship from half moon cay. I will be curious as to the vibe on the ship compared to a 7 day. I will report back when we return. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted September 22, 2013 #9 Share Posted September 22, 2013 My husband was very glad to hear that there is no formal night. DH is glad for no formal nights and ... We didn't have a formal night on our 3-day, but that doesn't necessarily mean you won't have one on a 4-day. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foodgirl Posted September 23, 2013 Author #10 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Well we are hopeful there will be none. If so we will just get room service or eat in the lido. DH will not dress up. We will let everyone know. I am very curious about everything. Glad to hear she is coming off a wet dock. That should make things nice. No matter what we will be on a cruise albeit it short and that is always a good thing. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaSharp Posted September 23, 2013 #11 Share Posted September 23, 2013 We're going, too!! It's a quickie, and holding us over till we have a nice 40th anniversary cruise booked towards the end of January, but what the heck!!! We have very little family left, plus we'll be home in time for Christmas Eve; and someone else can worry with the annual Christmas dinner; uhhh, not me. We're hoping the ship will be decorated for the holidays?? In any event, we're looking forward to a short mini-vacation, just in time for the holidays, and recently out of wet-dock; plus we get to experience the infamous Eurodam, then unto the Maasdam toward the end of January!! Can't wait!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metairiegal Posted September 23, 2013 #12 Share Posted September 23, 2013 We'll be on it, too! We are sailing for our anniversary. Here is the link to the roll call: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1786534 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydogs Posted September 23, 2013 #13 Share Posted September 23, 2013 We are on this cruise. Took it because the 4 night fit into our schedule. Have done the Westerdam several times in Dec. and they had really nice holiday decorations so hopefully the Eurodam will have them. We had booked the Constellation then changed to the Eurodam because we liked the ports better even though it is one less night. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewpie Posted September 26, 2013 #14 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I spoke with an agent at HAL and they indicated that there is no formal night on the 4 night cruise, I asked about jackets for men in the dining room and he (Lorenzo) said no; they are not required. I am happy about this, it means less in the luggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metairiegal Posted September 26, 2013 #15 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I spoke with an agent at HAL and they indicated that there is no formal night on the 4 night cruise, I asked about jackets for men in the dining room and he (Lorenzo) said no; they are not required. I am happy about this, it means less in the luggage. Thanks! That is good news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmera Posted October 6, 2013 #16 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I am wondering if there will be a Mariner's lunch on embarkation day. Also do you think there will be a Royal Dutch tea, crew talent night, or any cooking demonstrations? Thanks for any answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted October 6, 2013 #17 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Just off of a 5 day Pacific Coastal cruise from Vancouver to San Diego. We were in a Neptune suite. Here are a few things/thoughts to share: Normally there is a welcome aboard Neptune Suite cocktail party and another one later in the week (on a 7 day cruise). We had neither on this cruise - and we have had at least one on all of our other Pacific Coastal cruises prior. We did have the Mariner Lunch on departure day, but not the normal Mariner Lunch during the week. We got our tiles from the Neptune conceirge. Service in the main and Pinnacle dining rooms was very slow on the first evening and the following morning. This was reported by a number of passengers. It improved and was fine after that. No formal nights - we always had one on a Coastal before. No surprisingly, we did not have lobster night or what I considered to be a better than normal menu night. Food was good, but nothing special IMO. Passengers were definately younger than on most of our other HAL cruises, with most of them being from CA or British Columbia. There did not seem to be as many activities scheduled as you normally find on a HAL cruise, but this may just have been my observation. The crew was great, as normal for HAL. All in all, the cruise was not as good as a normal 7 day HAL one. While the cruise pricing was less (per day) than a normal 7 day one, so was the "quality" IMO. I also noted that HAL's pricing on these Coastal cruises are creeping up, while many of their longer cruises are declining. Any other questions? DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted October 6, 2013 #18 Share Posted October 6, 2013 We got our tiles from the Neptune conceirge. It used to be that you didn't get tiles on short cruises ... but I don't remember what the cut-off point was. I thought was a 7-day minimum to get them. I know for certain that we didn't get any on our 3-day. I wouldn't count on those on a 4-day getting them either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted October 7, 2013 #19 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Just off of a 5 day Pacific Coastal cruise from Vancouver to San Diego. We were in a Neptune suite. Here are a few things/thoughts to share: Normally there is a welcome aboard Neptune Suite cocktail party and another one later in the week (on a 7 day cruise). We had neither on this cruise - and we have had at least one on all of our other Pacific Coastal cruises prior. We did have the Mariner Lunch on departure day, but not the normal Mariner Lunch during the week. We got our tiles from the Neptune conceirge. Service in the main and Pinnacle dining rooms was very slow on the first evening and the following morning. This was reported by a number of passengers. It improved and was fine after that. No formal nights - we always had one on a Coastal before. No surprisingly, we did not have lobster night or what I considered to be a better than normal menu night. Food was good, but nothing special IMO. Passengers were definately younger than on most of our other HAL cruises, with most of them being from CA or British Columbia. There did not seem to be as many activities scheduled as you normally find on a HAL cruise, but this may just have been my observation. All in all, the cruise was not as good as a normal 7 day HAL one. While the cruise pricing was less (per day) than a normal 7 day one, so was the "quality" IMO. I also noted that HAL's pricing on these Coastal cruises are creeping up, while many of their longer cruises are declining. After thinking a bit more about our 5 day cruise and our disappointment with it, it occured to me that our cruise was also being sold as a 3 day (Vancouver to San Francisco), as well as the longer 30 day plus versions to the south Pacific. This could explain why some of the items (like no formal nights, no Neptune party) may have been deleted from past years' experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metairiegal Posted October 8, 2013 #20 Share Posted October 8, 2013 We are GTY in category VF. It looks like there are still lots of availability in all categories. I wonder if the price will drop any more? And, I am really curious about what cabin we will wind up in! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaofami Posted October 8, 2013 #21 Share Posted October 8, 2013 We took the 3 night Eurodam inagural sailing out of NYC which was it's first sailing in the US. WHile it was short, we had a fabulous time with almost 90 people signed up for the Meet and Greet and most came. The crowd wasn't a party one, and we were escorted out of NYC harbor by fire boats, fireworks in front of Lady Liberty, and air planes that dipped down to say Bon Voyage. Great Cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted October 8, 2013 #22 Share Posted October 8, 2013 We are GTY in category VF. It looks like there are still lots of availability in all categories. I wonder if the price will drop any more? And, I am really curious about what cabin we will wind up in! :cool: It really depends on what the price is now, versus what the other similiar cruises have been going for. It seems to me that HAL has a floor they like to maintain. On our cruise the prices never dropped, while they did on a similiar one the same week that started out higher than ours. DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseapril Posted October 9, 2013 #23 Share Posted October 9, 2013 How many 4 day cruises does the Eurodam do from Florida? We noted that Princess now offers shorter cruises and were hoping the HAL would as one of our family members can only go on 4 or 5 day cruise due to work timing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted October 9, 2013 #24 Share Posted October 9, 2013 How many 4 day cruises does the Eurodam do from Florida?One this season. As I said in post #2: HAL very rarely does such short cruises except as Pacific Coast segments of AK-FL repositionings in the Spring and Fall. This year's is just a "filler" between the dry dock and regular cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah@Sea Posted October 10, 2013 #25 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Hello all. We are booked on a four day quick trip this December on the Eurodam. This will be my fourth time on that ship. My question is how ,if at all, will this be different? I have never done a short cruise so not really sure. Will the people be different for example? I didn't even know HAL did short trips and stumbled on this one. We normally do 7 days and we just can't swing it this year as we are spending the holidays with family in Florida. We had cruise fever and this will hopefully tide us over. Anyone who has done this on HAL that can share would be appreciated. I am not expecting a wild party crowd but I thought there might be some differences. Thank you!! Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Just booked same cruise last week, could pass up the deal and it will be our first HAL cruise. Love Half Moon Cay, and we will both be out of school at that time. We often 4 or 5 day cruise, but again never been on HAL. We're just looking forward to relaxing and dining. Hoping the ship will be decorated for Christmas/Holidays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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