May 2017 - 21 Night Baltic Jewels & Norwegian Fjords (Amsterdam Roundtrip) Cruise on Koningsdam
chezbob
Purser
Phoenix, Arizona
Joined 04/2016
6
Cruises2
Reviews97
Helpful VotesPast cruises
May 2017 - 12 Night Fjords & Highlands (Copenhagen Roundtrip) Cruise on Zuiderdam
April 2017 - 16 Night Transatlantic Eastbound (Miami To Copenhagen) Cruise on Norwegian Getaway
May 2016 - 7 Night Glacier Discovery Northbound (Vancouver To Seward) Cruise on Zaandam
Norwegian Gem
Sail date: January 27, 2019
My husband likes to find value cruises and as Panama Canal trips to this was good. We also liked that it ended in NYC as we wanted to stay there a few days. We would not go on the Gem again but like Norwegian because of the perks they include in the room packages if you buy at the right time.
Noordam
Sail date: September 29, 2016
We still love Holland America - but are concerned they are changing
Holland is our favorite line because they cater to older folks (we are 62 & 70); there are very few kids and they offer duplicate bridge. We however heard a rumor they were trying to dump the bridge as an activity. The Noordam was very nice - not too large and the food was the best of any Holland ship were have lived on. The Noordam still has a traditional sing along piano bar which we love. Mike McCabe was on contract and very, very talented. We made our best friends on the cruise at the piano bar and at bridge. The staff couldn't have been nicer and we loved the south seas and Australia/New Zealand itinerary. The 39 days flew by for us.
Cruise tips
We did a ship tour - aerial tram and nature walk. Once again -hot but fun.
We stayed on the ship.
We bought Cruises Only jeep tour and were out all day. We say the whole island which is not as commercial/resort oriented as Aruba. It was rough and tumble. It included some good snorkeling. Lunch was on us so we might have overpaid for the tour.
You gotta love and hate NYC. I have lived here and visited many times. It is CROWDED. Unfortunately the ship docked on the Friday of a holiday weekend, so it was extra busy. Shows were sold out, nothing good at TKTS. You can always find things to do.
Norwegian Gem
Take a power strip - there is only one outlet. The Wi Fi worked well - we got 250 minutes in our package and made them last the entire cruise.
We took a $5 group cab to the old city and walked around - found a cafe with good WiFi. It is interesting but the street vendors are too aggressive.
We did a ship tour. It's hot in Central America but the safari was fun.
Loved it. Go parasailing. You can do alot of activities right off the boat for pennies on the dollar.
The canal itself is not scenic - very industrial -it need a good public art program. The lakes and waterways are fine. My husband really liked seeing how the locks worked.
Not much to see or do. We bought a hat from a nice lady.
commercial port
We met friends there. Great walking and views.
Another beautiful island. All the boat tours and car rentals were sold out so we rented a golf cart for about three hours. It was fun - we stopped to snorkel. I bought some beautiful jewelry from a local artist in the tents outside the port.
Loved it. Bought a sailing and snorkeling tour off the ship at Palm Beach. Got another $5 ride there. It's gorgeous.
We were at a distant port and didn't get good information about the walk to the opera house. They also stopped transportation early and we had to take at $40 cab ride back to the ship in traffic (we went to see My Fair Lady). We loved Sydney, but make sure you get good information and directions.
Had the best iced coffee of my life at a cafe straight up the street from the port - about 6-7 blocks.
The Royal Botanical Garden are awesome (and free) - plan to spend a few hours there.
This was the only Holland tour we took because they handled our luggage to the airport, but it was fine. Kelly Dalton's aquarium is awesome.
Hidden island is worth the fee; great snorkeling
We rented a car and went to the Volcanoes National Park (take your senior pass), the Akaka Falls State Park and the Botanical Gardens. Awesome day. Wish we had been at this port longer.
Noordam
Get to know Thomas Schumann (Executive Chef) - if you have any food issues, he will take care of you! He is awesome.
We were there really early, so we slept through it.
Pay for the snorkeling - it is worth it.
There is a gorgeous hike just to the left of the port that no one tells you about. Take it if you are mobile.
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