LIVE from the Koningsdam Holiday Sailing - Dec. 17th - Jan 7th - exploring my first Pinnacle Class ship 🤞

kochleffel · January 3, 2023

5 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

The waiter station for our table was far away, and we got very slow service. The only way to get to the 8:00 show was to skip dessert. We complained and the pace of service improved.

I had this happen once on another cruise line, when sharing a large table, but it developed partly because some people ordered two starters and one person ordered two mains. A dining manager confirmed that their service protocol was not to serve anyone the next course until every dish from the previous course has been cleared away, and to serve double orders sequentially, not together. He also said that servers are supposed to ask if anyone wants to get to a show, and are allowed to expedite service for that. If ours did, they only asked one person and assumed that the response was for the whole table. I suggested that at tables for more than about four, the question be asked all the way around (or along).

Edited January 3, 2023 by kochleffel

alibabacruisers · January 3, 2023

Finally caught up....

Happy New Year! Congratulations on your casino win!

Thank you for the great pictures in Cabo!

kazu · January 3, 2023

4 hours ago, 0106 said:

Happy New Year Jacqui-

Loved your whale watching pictures but wow, it seemed like the boats were close. When we were in Puerto Vallarta we took a HAL ship tour out to Marietas Islands to snorkel and bird & whale watch. We were told boats were not allowed to come close to the whales (can’t remember exactly 300 feet?) and we saw “officers” enforcing that rule

Did you get off the ship in La Paz or Loreto? What were the names of the HAL ship tours you took? Would you recommend them?

I hope you are enjoying the warm weather, the CO service and that you continue your winning ways in the casino!

In Loreto we went to the Clam bake and Mexican Fiesta - the clams were interesting - will post about it - but the tour itself was not impressive with the long wait to load people in taxis and a bit of a hokey, tourista type fiesta. Clams were interesting though.

La Paz - saw no tours that appealed and it was New year’s Day and Sunday so we went off on our own. Had a nice day.

I thought boats were too close to the whales too and when I saw so many go after them I felt badly being on one.

kazu · January 3, 2023

Here is the MDR menu for today:

kazu · January 3, 2023

And here is the LIdo menu:

And the lunch menu:

REOVA · January 3, 2023

13 hours ago, oakridger said:

I prefer to cruise on a ship without a class distinction where all passengers get equal (and great!) service. I'm looking for that elusive experience (that I can afford)!! 😉

It may take a few years to find it, if it does exist. 😄 Currently cruise lines are just trying to get out of the red so revenue generation and cost cutting is the current model. I doubt Corp is sitting back and saying "let them eat cake or pay us more for brioche", but after 3 years on Pinnacle ships, one would think best laid plans. And the MDR excuse that "it's always crazy at the start of a new cruise" wears thin.

kazu · January 3, 2023

Went back to the Tamarind the other night.

Just a tad of food porn that I don’t think I had posted before

And our wine

kazu · January 3, 2023

Did room service for once - just to check it out and have the coveted Clubhouse sandwich

Sorry to say. Club house isn’t as good as it used to be. More fried than toasted.

Traveling Dot · January 3, 2023

@kazuWhen I was on the Rotterdam in October there was a line up for the walk-in early diners which is on the same floor as Club Orange. I had fixed dining on the 2nd floor of the MDR and had adequate service. When you ate in the MDR where you in fixed or walk-in? I also had Club Orange and enjoyed it for breakfast with one of my friends every morning but didn't eat there for dinner. Did eat in SEL De Mer and enjoyed that meal except for the fact that a couple that we knew joined us and slowed us up from getting our entrees. If we had known they were going to order more than two appetizers we wouldn't have had them join us.

kazu · January 4, 2023

For La Paz, we knew it was January 1st and a Sunday so decided to explore the Malecon.

There is a shuttle that takes you into town - it’s a bit of a ride and despite the law that you must wear masks in La Paz on public transport and a reminder by the ship, a lot of passengers didn’t.

The Christmas ornaments were quite neat - they were set up so anyone could pose in them.

There are statues all along the walk. I loved this one:

Closer:

Her feet are at the bottom:

And the book tells the story:

kazu · January 4, 2023

You just have to take the standard pic right?

The country side on the way in is pretty much desert.

Loved the whale statue

Can you see the Xmas decorations on the palm trees? They were everywhere.

Very pretty spot.

3.2k · January 4, 2023

I use these pics to organize my photo album. Thanks for the info about La Paz.

@kazuYou just have to take the standard pic right?

Nickelpenny · January 4, 2023

5 hours ago, kazu said:

You got me in your picture!!!! 🤪👍

juban · January 4, 2023

Hi Jacqui,

I have been following your postings and you’re doing an amazing job!

Congratulations on you winning!

I have a silly ( but important for us) question. Do they have the real SPLENDA packages or the yellow imitation? We are used to a drinking our espresso with Splenda and the other one tastes different.

Also, we have “anytime dining” and in Celebrity and Princess, we were able to make reservations for a specific time. Do you know if it can be done on Konigsdam?

kazu · January 4, 2023

17 hours ago, Traveling Dot said:

@kazuWhen I was on the Rotterdam in October there was a line up for the walk-in early diners which is on the same floor as Club Orange. I had fixed dining on the 2nd floor of the MDR and had adequate service. When you ate in the MDR where you in fixed or walk-in? I also had Club Orange and enjoyed it for breakfast with one of my friends every morning but didn't eat there for dinner. Did eat in SEL De Mer and enjoyed that meal except for the fact that a couple that we knew joined us and slowed us up from getting our entrees. If we had known they were going to order more than two appetizers we wouldn't have had them join us.

Yes, there’s a line up for walk in. Since Club Orange was anytime dining - we were anytime but chose a time we thought they would be less busy.

CO dinner has been really decent and a haven from the MDR.

10 hours ago, Nickelpenny said:

You got me in your picture!!!! 🤪👍

Oops - sorry about that.

kazu · January 4, 2023

1 minute ago, juban said:

Hi Jacqui,

I have been following your postings and you’re doing an amazing job!

Congratulations on you winning!

I have a silly ( but important for us) question. Do they have the real SPLENDA packages or the yellow imitation? We are used to a drinking our espresso with Splenda and the other one tastes different.

Also, we have “anytime dining” and in Celebrity and Princess, we were able to make reservations for a specific time. Do you know if it can be done on Konigsdam?

Thanks. Just checked and they do have real Splenda in the Lido at least.

I will double check at CO tonight (assuming I go).

Reservations could always be made for any time dining on the other HAL ships. I haven’t talked to anyone here who has done it though. I am any time dining as I have CO and CO doesn’t do reservations.

I’ll see if I can find out more and let you know.

kazu · January 4, 2023

Here is today’s Daily

juban · January 4, 2023

1 minute ago, kazu said:

Thanks. Just checked and they do have real Splenda in the Lido at least.

I will double check at CO tonight (assuming I go).

Reservations could always be made for any time dining on the other HAL ships. I haven’t talked to anyone here who has done it though. I am any time dining as I have CO and CO doesn’t do reservations.

I’ll see if I can find out more and let you know.

Thanks! You’re are extremely helpful!

We will be on the Konigsdam for 35 days and need to prepare.

3 minutes ago, kazu said:

Thanks. Just checked and they do have real Splenda in the Lido at least.

I will double check at CO tonight (assuming I go).

Reservations could always be made for any time dining on the other HAL ships. I haven’t talked to anyone here who has done it though. I am any time dining as I have CO and CO doesn’t do reservations.

I’ll see if I can find out more and let you know.