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Welove2cruise2
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Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 02:27 pm | 1st Post |
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Anyone on this cruise? We've defected from NCL  because their prices are outrageous, and trying this beautiful ship! Especially excited because we snagged an aft veranda!!
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"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 12:46 am | 2nd Post |
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Welove2cruise2 wrote: Anyone on this cruise? We've defected from NCL because their prices are outrageous, and trying this beautiful ship! Especially excited because we snagged an aft veranda!!
Oooo, lucky you! I haven't yet tried HAL, but I keep reading the reviews because someday I might like to try them for a change. I heard about the NCL prices going through the roof. That would be enough incentive for me to jump ship as well. Hope you have a great time!
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"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
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Welove2cruise2
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Posted: Sat May 19th, 2007 01:41 am | 3rd Post |
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Really excited about this cruise, but apprehensive at the same time. We absolutely LOVE NCL and freestyle. I still haven't exactly figured out how their "anytime" dining works. We like to go to dinner around 7-7:30, and I'm still not sure if we can do that on HAL.
We've done a lot of research on this cruise, and the ship is absolutely breathtaking! Small, like the Spirit (which we've decided is our favorite). To top it all off, we snagged a stern balcony stateroom -- which is almost impossible to get on NCL!!
I'm sure I'll be overly-critical, since I was really dragged kicking and screaming to book this cruise...
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"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
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captN
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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2007 05:34 pm | 4th Post |
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Welove2cruise2 wrote: Really excited about this cruise, but apprehensive at the same time. We absolutely LOVE NCL and freestyle. I still haven't exactly figured out how their "anytime" dining works. We like to go to dinner around 7-7:30, and I'm still not sure if we can do that on HAL.
We've done a lot of research on this cruise, and the ship is absolutely breathtaking! Small, like the Spirit (which we've decided is our favorite). To top it all off, we snagged a stern balcony stateroom -- which is almost impossible to get on NCL!!
I'm sure I'll be overly-critical, since I was really dragged kicking and screaming to book this cruise...
Hope to see a review since this ship is one of the few choices next year because NCL decided that filling 2 ships for 10 and 11 days was not something they were interested in doing anymore 
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c6e1d7"We had the personal choice dining on Princess personally I thought it worked out great. One dining room but you show up when you are ready, never had to wait more than 5 min. I believe that HAL is trying this in a similar manner. 
Last edited on Mon May 21st, 2007 05:37 pm by captN
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Big Al B
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 01:19 pm | 5th Post |
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We'll be getting off while you'll be getting on, love2  .
I still haven't seen an explanation of the anytime dining that I understand. I saw one which said they give you a table and an early or main time and you go when you want within a range of time. Some people at your table might be eating dessert when you sit down.
The other I read looked like it was similar to NCL's in that the lower level is open throughout the entire time and you just walk in and are seated.
I know we were originally confirmed for early lower sitting and were moved to early upper. I think only the upper will be the traditional one table- choice of 2 times. I know they waitlisted a lot of people who wanted that. We may still change our minds.
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Welove2cruise2
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 03:05 am | 6th Post |
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I've found the same, Big Al -- no definitive answers on how the "as you wish" dining works. Here's the latest I've read -- say the dining room serves "early seating" from 5-6:30 PM -- and late seating is 8-9:30 -- you can walk into the "any time dining" venue at these times and be seated for dinner. We booked anytime, table for two -- we'll see what happens! But it doesn't look like we can go to dinner every night at 7:30 (our preferred time).
Capn: you'll definitely see a review from me when we get back!! Yes, not many choices out of NYC in the winter -- but this one was a winner for us! I hope it lives up to all the great things we've heard! RCCL was definitely out due to the size of that mega-mall ship!!
hstrybuf: I found a great price on this cruise through Cruise Value Center (okay, now don't everyone come on here with horror stories, please! So far it's been a good experience booking with them -- very quick to respond to questions) and in addition to a great rate, they offered a $300 OBC and free shore excursion in St. Maarten (which we'll probably pass on, unless it's to Orient Beach ).
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"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
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captN
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 01:11 pm | 7th Post |
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Welove2cruise2 wrote:
hstrybuf: I found a great price on this cruise through Cruise Value Center (okay, now don't everyone come on here with horror stories, please! So far it's been a good experience booking with them -- very quick to respond to questions) and in addition to a great rate, they offered a $300 OBC and free shore excursion in St. Maarten (which we'll probably pass on, unless it's to Orient Beach ).
Don't pass it up if its the Golden Eagle Catamaran ... what a great trip that is
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Fri May 25th, 2007 12:59 am | 8th Post |
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captN wrote: Welove2cruise2 wrote:
hstrybuf: I found a great price on this cruise through Cruise Value Center (okay, now don't everyone come on here with horror stories, please! So far it's been a good experience booking with them -- very quick to respond to questions) and in addition to a great rate, they offered a $300 OBC and free shore excursion in St. Maarten (which we'll probably pass on, unless it's to Orient Beach ).
Don't pass it up if its the Golden Eagle Catamaran ... what a great trip that is
No kidding! I've done that one twice and a good friend has done it three times!
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"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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Welove2cruise2
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Posted: Fri May 25th, 2007 11:19 am | 9th Post |
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hstrybuf wrote: captN wrote: Welove2cruise2 wrote:
hstrybuf: I found a great price on this cruise through Cruise Value Center (okay, now don't everyone come on here with horror stories, please! So far it's been a good experience booking with them -- very quick to respond to questions) and in addition to a great rate, they offered a $300 OBC and free shore excursion in St. Maarten (which we'll probably pass on, unless it's to Orient Beach ).
Don't pass it up if its the Golden Eagle Catamaran ... what a great trip that is
No kidding! I've done that one twice and a good friend has done it three times!
I've heard this is a good excursion -- think we could be so lucky?
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"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Fri May 25th, 2007 05:16 pm | 10th Post |
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| I hope you'd be lucky too! I went on it with a group and without DH the first time. The second time, I took DH so he could enjoy it as well.
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"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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Welove2cruise2
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Posted: Wed Jun 13th, 2007 03:47 am | 11th Post |
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| DH & I discussed this, and decided since we've already been to Orient Beach twice, we'll book the Golden Eagle Catamaran excursion -- sounds like a blast -- unless we find something similar in St. Thomas. Any HAL cruisers out there with a suggestion? There's a Champagne Catamaran sail -- wondering if this is Captain Eddie that we did a similar excursion with on NCL???
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"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
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Welove2cruise2
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 03:31 am | 12th Post |
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| Anyone out there coming with us???
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"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
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Welove2cruise2
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Posted: Thu Aug 9th, 2007 02:48 pm | 13th Post |
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| Okay, I know we picked up a lot of new CT members last night -- anyone on this cruise with us?
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"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
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Welove2cruise2
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Posted: Sat Aug 18th, 2007 09:08 pm | 14th Post |
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Well, there's no turning back now -- we made final payment!!
And there's STILL no one coming with us...
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"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
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Big Al B
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Posted: Sun Aug 19th, 2007 02:53 pm | 15th Post |
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Don't feel too bad. Evidentally the HAL board hasn't been forcing people to head over here  . The roll calls on CC are more active (I imagine you are on the one there also).
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Stupidity got us into this mess, and stupidity will get us out.
HAL Zaandam Hawaii - October 2009
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Welove2cruise2
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Posted: Sun Aug 19th, 2007 05:00 pm | 16th Post |
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| Well, I'm "on there" until I get booted off again. And that's not likely to happen, since I post rarely now, and mostly on the roll call...
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"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
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Angeljt
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Posted: Wed Oct 24th, 2007 02:37 pm | 17th Post |
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Hi Peggy!
You're getting close to sailing time. I remembered you were on going on the Noordam soon, so I thought I'd check the roll calls.
I'm sure you and Joe will have a great time, and it will be something new for you. We did sail on the Veendam quite a few years ago. We enjoyed it, but also like the freestyle dining. I hope it works out for you on HAL. They had a pasta station in the buffet for lunch that was very good when we cruised. It was much better than the pasta station on the Dawn, but it may have changed.
I finally booked for April on the Gem, and I was limited to Terry's vacation time. This isn't as easy as it was when I could book anytime I wanted, but that's okay.
We're also in an aft AE. Looking forward to trying the aft suite. We've always been forward and very happy with that, so it will be a new experience for us too.
Hope you and Joe have a great time!
Jackie
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