Help! I jumped ship & now I'm lost at sea!

[sgrissom]

We've sailed Celebrity 4 times in the past few years so I consider myself something of a Celebrity expert. But I got an offer in my email last week from HAL that was too good to turn down on a "last minute" deal. We're now booked on a 10 day cruise on Maasdam out of Norfolk that leaves 10/26. So now I feel a bit like a "fish out of water" and have about a million questions that I'm hoping you kind folks can help me with. Perhaps I should post the questions individually, but I think I'll try it this way first.

 

1) What time can I expect that boarding will begin in Norfolk? What's a good time to arrive? And when are the cabins likely to be ready? (Does that all count as one question?)

 

2) What is the parking situation in Norfolk re cost, distance to pier, shuttle service, etc?

 

3) Can anyone recommend an inexpensive but nice place to stay near the dock?

 

4) We're booked in a category HH outside guarantee. What are my chances of an upgrade? And when are the guarantees usually assigned? I know, I know, we should book the minimum we'll be happy with, but I'm willing to chance the obstructed view outside room for the amazing price that we got. Still, a girl can hope and dream for an upgrade, can't she?

 

5) I read about the cabanas on one of the posts and quickly hightailed it over to the excursion site only to find that they were all booked. I waitlisted myself for each of them. What are my chances of getting a cabana off the waitlist? Should I book a clamshell also, or can I wait to do that until we're onboard?

 

6) Can the specialty restaurant be booked ahead of time? Is it comparable to the experience in Celebrity's specialty restaurants?

 

7) What other little tricks and inside tips can you HAL-types give me? What's not to be missed?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Sally

[sail7seas]

Welcome to HAL and to the 'beautiful and elegant' ms Maasdam as I (and the Captains on her) call the Maasdam. :)

 

She's a great ship that we have sailed many, many times. We did back-to-backs on her in June for Canada/New England and have booked another set of b-to-b's for next summer.

 

The chances of an upgrade are not great. HAL does not hand out upgrades nearly as much as I hear some other lines do.

 

Seeing as you have a moderate priced cabin, it is possible they may have a 'market' for that category and could upgrade you in order to satisfy a new booker who wants that category. DO NOT Count on it. The mysterious upgrade fairy never tells her reasons/methods for upgrade.

 

Tips/hints........She has a great crew. We find they very much more eager and friendly than we have encountered on other lines.

 

Norfolk is not a wonderful arrangement for embarkation/disembaration at the moment but they are building new facility.

 

You can pre-book Pinnacle reservations. If you prebook to go on the first night, the price is $10 vs. $20 pp. Call Ship Services at 800-541-1576.

 

Hope you have a great time.

[sail7seas]

Sorry.....meant to add that most often, most HAL ships, the open up checking and embarkation at about 11:15 A.M. You cannot immediately go to your cabin but Lido will be serving lunch and an announcement will be made about 1:30 that all cabins are ready for occupancy.

[RuthC]

I'll take a stab at a few of your questions.

 

First---welcome to HAL. Many of us are very happy with the cruiseline; I've read many reports that if you like Celebrity you'll like HAL.

 

1.) Usually the doors are open and check-in will start by 11:00 AM and boarding is immediate. The cabins won't be ready until about 1:00-1:30 (and announcement will be made). Until then you can check your carry-on luggage, have lunch, and tour the ship. (She's beautiful; I disembarked on 8/20.)

4.) You have a chance of an upgrade, but don't count on it. You should get your cabin assignment usually between one-two weeks before the cruise (can be longer; can be date of sailing).

I had a fully obstructed cabin on the Rotterdam (very similar ship) and found it fine. I was able to get all the daylight I needed, and could easily see the sea off to the side.

6.) If you want to make a reservation for the Pinnacle Grill in advance you may call Ship Services. It's half-price ($10 pp) the first night (plus optional tip) and an excellent meal. Try the chocolate volcano cake for dessert ( a personal favorite.)

That's a start. I'm sure others will be along to help with your other questions.

Have a great cruise!

[chefajax]

Hi to All....

The above posts are correct. We booked online for the first night at Pinnacle. It was a good thing as the chef in charge became ill afterwards and they had to limit the number of reservations there.We also ordered a clamshell as the cabanas were booked. We were glad that we had ordered it early as they ran out of those things fast. There was alot of upset people that day :(, I just hated the long line to be escorted to it,wish they improve that part. Advise going early......Dennis

[bobpatj]

The Pinnacle restaurant serves wonderful food, but you will not get the "show," from the waiters, like we experienced on the Summit. Celebrity charges a bit more for their specialty restaurants, also.

[sail7seas]

The Pinnacle restaurant serves wonderful food, but you will not get the "show," from the waiters, like we experienced on the Summit. Celebrity charges a bit more for their specialty restaurants, also.

 

 

:confused: What kind of a 'show' would waiters put on at a fine dining restaurant?

 

The only show I want is stewards efficiently and professionally greeting us, taking our order, bringing it at an evenly spaced pace, getting it correct and providing smooth service. That is what we always get in Pinnacle.

 

I'm curious about this business about the 'show'.

[sgrissom]

The "show" that bobpatj is referring to is the way that the Celebrity waiters serve with a bit of a flourish in the specialty restaurant. For example, both parties' dishes are served at precisely the same time by 2 different servers and then the covers are simultaneously removed with a flourish. Also, many of the dishes involve elaborate tableside preparation and thus are also part of "the show." If the lady needs to get up to "powder her nose," the maitre d' takes her arm and escorts her (it's kind of hard to find!). That kind of thing.

But I agree, it's really the food, ambiance, and service that count.

[pcs15]

Here's a little more information on Norfolk.

 

Norfolk Port Info - parking: http://www.cruisenorfolk.org/

Norfolk Info: http://www.norfolkcvb.com/home.cfm

 

Hotels that have Park and Cruise packages:

Radisson:

http://www.radisson.com/specialoffers/offerdetail.jsp?offerId=451755

 

Best Western Holiday Sands: http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=47117

 

I have not stayed at either hotel, but have seen them mentioned by other posters. Let me know how things work out for you - I am booked on the Maasdam in February!

Pat

[WeLoveCruising]

SGrissom,

Welcome to HAL! We will be on the same cruise, a group of 10 from my family travelling down from NY State. This is my 6th or 7th time on the Maasdam, including the Norfolk cruise last year. We have a thread started on the roll call board as well, and one of the posters there lives in Norfolk and has some good local info, too.

 

Less than 6 weeks to go - My countdown has started :)

 

Joanne

[sail7seas]

The "show" that bobpatj is referring to is the way that the Celebrity waiters serve with a bit of a flourish in the specialty restaurant. For example, both parties' dishes are served at precisely the same time by 2 different servers and then the covers are simultaneously removed with a flourish. Also, many of the dishes involve elaborate tableside preparation and thus are also part of "the show." If the lady needs to get up to "powder her nose," the maitre d' takes her arm and escorts her (it's kind of hard to find!). That kind of thing.

But I agree, it's really the food, ambiance, and service that count.

 

Thanks for answering.

 

We had dinner in Pinnacle several times with a Hotel Manager and they did the 'lift the keep hot covers' thing. It's fun. They have as much fun doing it as we do watching it.

 

It's okay with me if the Maitre d' gives me directions on how to get to the Ladies' Room. I think I'd prefer to skip the escort. Just my personal preference. ;)

[JimVrhovac]

We have this site as it is nation wide

 

http://www.parksleepfly.com/index.php

 

Plug in the city and it will bring up the local hotels and some information on each of them and also if they offer free parking in the area.

 

Would recommend the kitch tour and cooking demonstration afterwards by the Pinnacle grill staff.

 

MUST go to dessert nite or Dessert Extravaganza (whatever they call it now) and the pastry chef's strutt their stuff. Can go in early to take pictures if you want.

 

Jim & Ruth

[CDRMark]

sgrissom (Sally)

 

Welcome to HAL and Norfolk. Your cruise has a fairly active roll call and a lot of these questions have been answered there. DW and I are resident in Norfolk, so can't address hotels directly, but the ones mentioned here are fine. Many have parking included with their room rate. Norfolk is not very large, so is fairly quick to get around. The main traffic jam at the terminal is from 1130 a.m-130 p.m. If you arrive after 2pm the crowds are much dispersed. There are City garages right across the street from the terminal (which is smack downtown) which charge $10 day (one more reason to get a deal with your hotel. Most have shuttles). Maasdam is indeed a lovely ship and you will have a great time.

Cheers

MArkB

[sgrissom]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the information.