Holland America Oosterdam--11/26/11

Holland America ms Oosterdam

My husband Chris and myself went on our first cruise ever this past November. We had been cruise hold-outs for quite awhile.  We had been afraid of forced fun. I was afraid of the motion--I have severe motion sickness. After doing more research on cruises and after hearing other people's experiences we realized that forced fun was a thing of the past and that I should be fine with the motion as long as I was able to get a prescription motion sickness patch. The fact that I am working towards my CLIA ACC and one of the requirements is to have personal cruise experience sealed the deal.



Decorated for Christmas

 Summary:
Our cruise was fantastic! We had a blast--we are now hooked on cruising! The ship (ms Oosterdam) was beautiful (it was even decorated for Christmas which was a great surprise). The crew was amazing. The ports were a fun experience. The spa was AMAZING (I did my professional duty and made sure it was up to par for you!)! We met some really nice people. And last but not least, the food on the ship was great.

Pinnacle Grill

Food:
We booked the flexible dining option. The first night we ate in the dining room. We were sat at a table with some very nice ladies. We very much enjoyed their company and conversation. The problem with dinner that night was the service.

The service was inconsistent and slow—definitely not up to par with the rest of service we received on our cruise. We were sat at the same time as few other tables immediately surrounding ours. These other tables were served in a much more timely fashion than ours was. Their drink and food orders were taken long before we were given menus. This got to be very frustrating as we waited quite awhile to get menus, then to have our orders taken, then to receive our food, then to have plates removed, 'rinse and repeat' with each course. Our table mates were planning to see one of the shows after dinner, but were not able to make the show because our dinner took so long. We got out just before the show was scheduled to end.



We did not go back to the main dinning room for the rest of the cruise, instead we ate at the Lido deck buffet and the Pinnacle Grill for the rest of the trip. The food at the Lido buffet was great and the staff were very helpful. The one night that we did eat at the Pinnacle Grill was excellent.  The food was amazing and the service was exceptional, everything we were hoping to get while on a premium cruise line. We also ordered room service a number of times.



Dessert from Room Service



Crew:

The crew was very nice and greeted us wherever we were. They went out of their way to assist any way that we needed.  The cabin stewards asked us what are names were on the first night, and somehow they remembered it and always called us by name for the remainder of the trip.

Itinerary:

Our ports were San Diego (embark), Puerto Vallarta (2 days), Cabo San Lucas, and San Diego (disembark). We also had 3 days at sea.



Towel Monkey!!!



Cabin:

Our cabin was a balcony located close to the aft of the ship. The balcony was amazing.  It was very spacious and had a couple nice sized deck chairs and a small table.   We had a fabulous time just sitting and relaxing while watching the waves and dolphins go by.  The dolphins were showing off for the cruise passengers and were jumping completely out of the water; seeing them was a real treat. Our stateroom itself was very nice, the bed in particular was very comfortable. Our cabin was kept very clean thanks to our helpful cabin stewards.

Spa: I had two treatments done at the spa, both of which were phenomenal. The first was a treatment combo of a facial and full body massage followed by a wrap. I was fully relaxed during and after that treatment. The second treatment I had was a fire and ice manicure. My hands looked and felt amazing afterwards. The spa facilities were very nice and tranquil. If you are looking for a little extra pampering on your vacation, I highly suggest visiting the spa!

Conclusion: We had a wonderful week on board. We are looking very forward to our next cruise--wherever that might be! The average age of the guests on board appeared quite high. However, that did not bother us as we would much rather be around an older crowd than children or a party crowd. Holland America is a premium line so you can expect to be treated to a more refined experience than the mass market lines offer.


Me holding my ultra strawberry lemonade and Chris' mojito













Are all-inclusive resorts worth it?

All-Inclusives – Are they worth it?

The all-inclusive resort used to be considered the “budget inn” of travel. Images of a rowdy crowd drinking in the Jacuzzi, bland food, forced group activities and limited entertainment was the norm. Today, the all-inclusive concept has expanded to unlimited activities such as golf on a championship golf course, gourmet meals, and more upscale and intimate resorts.

More and more vacationers are looking into all-inclusives and the industry is listening. The reasons for the popularity of all-inclusive resorts are time and value. Travel experts say that pre-paying for all the food and drinks ahead of time allows you to have a more enjoyable getaway because you don’t have to think about how much you are spending and you don’t have to worry about carrying your wallet around the resort. Think of it as a no-hassle, stress-free vacation.

An all-inclusive resort usually include:

·         Accommodations

·         All meals

·         Room service

·         Drinks including wine, beer and spirits

·         Daily activities

·         Entertainment

·         All tips and gratuities and more.

It’s best to choose the resort that has the activities and atmosphere that best matches your interest. Kid-friendly or romantic hideaway? Beach or snow? Whatever’s your fancy, there is one just for you.

All-inclusive family resorts have everything for everyone, young and old. Some of the most popular resorts are located in Mexico and the Caribbean. Great beaches, fun water sports and awesome age appropriate kids program. But wait. There’s more!

In addition to the “normal” inclusions, you can also expect the following at most family all-inclusives:

·         Family/connecting accommodations

·         Kids Club

·         Kids Only Dining Room

·         Teens Only Club

·         Organized games and activities

·         Family activities

·         Kid-friendly pools and waterparks

·         Themed character activities such as the gang from Sesame Street

The upfront sticker price may be a shock at the beginning, but when you do the math, it is all worth it. Plus, not having to think about pulling out the credit card and tipping the attendant every single time is, well, what a vacation is all about. Not a single care in the world!

Five Tips For Stress-Free Vacations

•      Make a packing list

To some, this may seem like a given step in the trip preparation process. I am a very list-oriented person, so this is an essential step for me when preparing for a trip. You will be less likely to feel like you’ve forgotten something (and less likely to actually forget something) if you make a list of things to pack ahead of time. I use an iPhone app called, “Packing (+TO DO)”. This app is very comprehensive. It even allows you to make your pre-departure to-do list.

·         Leave for the airport with plenty of extra time

I personally leave for the airport with plenty of extra time. It’s better to be safe than sorry. When embarking on a trip, what’s more stressful than getting stuck in traffic on your way to the airport? Or making it to the airport with seemingly enough time, only to get stuck in a horrendously long security line? I would rather spend some extra time in the terminal waiting for my flight than pulling my hair out in security or in traffic wondering if I am going to make my flight.

·         Leave for your cruise departure city early

Fly into the city you are departing from the day before the cruise to allow for breathing room in case of flight delays and cancellations. Not only will doing this relieve some stress, it will also allow you to start relaxing and begin enjoying your vacation earlier! What is not to love about that?!

·         Take one or two day’s worth of clothes in your carry-on

If your checked bag gets delayed, it is comforting to know that you will be able to have a change of shirt and fresh underwear. I typically fold a shirt, a pair of socks, and underwear together in my carry-on. It gives me peace of mind and takes up hardly any space in my carry-on.

·         Leave work at work

You are going on vacation to relax and spend quality time with family or friends. Leave your work at work, and RELAX!!!

How to Get the Best Cruise Deal

Should I wait to book my cruise?
Well that depends on you. Do you have the luxury of traveling at the last minute? If not, contact your local cruise agent and book well in advance. This will assure you the best cabin at the best rate available. That doesn’t mean that the cruise rate won’t change; but if you are dealing with a good agent, they will guarantee to change your rate if the cruise line adjusts the prices prior to final payment.

How do I know if I am dealing with a good agent?
Check out the company you are dealing with – try using one that has a good reputation or touts they are “Top Producers” with the cruise line of your choice. This typically means that they have buying power and will have special pricing or amenities available.
When is the best time to travel?
If you are traveling to any exotic port, there are usually softer booking periods in which pricing can be hundreds of dollars lower. For example, if you are sailing to Alaska – book in May or September and your savings will be substantial. Caribbean is dirt cheap in the fall – it’s so inexpensive, it’s almost free. Well, maybe not, but it can be less than $100 dollars per day which is cheaper than staying home. Again, choose a reputable, knowledgeable agent who can guide you to these savings.

How do I find the best cruise deals?
Ask your travel agent if they send out weekly specials. Most competent agents send out a weekly e-mail promotion. This will give you a heads up when they have special cruise deals. In other words, agents regularly have access to cruise line promotions that include: shipboard credit, cabin category upgrades, reduced payment deposits, coupon booklets for onboard savings, and even free gratuities. But you will miss the deal, if you don’t know about it.

Are travel agents dinosaurs?

Why call a travel agent instead of going direct? Good Question! And about 5 years ago, it was predicted that being a travel agent was a dying profession, and in the age of technology, travel agents would become extinct. Well, here it is 5 years later and the agent community is alive and thriving. Yes, it is true that booking an airline ticket is a commodity, so they’re not quite the order takers they once were. Today’s travel agent will help you figure out not only where your next vacation will be; they will help you weed through the piles of information on the internet and let you know what’s real and what’s not.

Why you SHOULD use a Travel Agent

• The biggest myth surrounding travel agents is that they “charge” for their services. And for the most part, their service is complimentary. Perhaps not for an airline ticket (because airlines have cut out paying any commission), but for travel – such as cruises, tours and land packages, their commission is paid by the vendor. Which means – travel agent’s services are FREE to you!

• You get the BEST DEAL by calling on a Cruise Planners/American Express Travel Consultant. We don’t work for any one cruise line or tour operator – we search all cruise lines to find you the best deal for the best available cabin at the time of booking. And the best part is a travel agent will continue to work for you even after the deposit. So, if a cruise line has a rate change, we call and lower your price. If you book directly with the supplier, does the cruise line call you to let you know there has been a price reduction? I doubt it!

• A good agent will also provide advice – once you pull into a port of call, now what? Try to Google the words “Mediterranean cruise” and you will see 1.5 million results. Yikes! Where do you start to look? Who is legitimate and who isn’t? A good travel agent will guide you and let you know which is the most popular site to see or even some hidden secrets they’ve uncovered while traveling. When calling a cruise line directly, do you think the hourly person who answers the phone can offer the same advice?

• If you run into trouble on a weekend while traveling, will the cruise line agent help? Most agents check their e-mail or voice mail during the weekend just in case of any emergency. 

• Your time is valuable. Give an agent a call and let them know what trip you are interested in and let them do all the work. Why spend hours and hours searching the internet or calling each cruise line? Call a Cruise Planners/American Express Specialist and they will save you time and money.

• Who has the best deals? If I call direct, will I get the best possible deal? Yet another myth is that many online sites run exclusive promotions or hold space months in advance. This supposedly gives them an advantage on certain ships and sailing dates. Travel agents have access to all the best promotions as well. You might receive extra shipboard credit to spend onboard or pre-paid gratuities so all tipping is included. And on some itineraries a unique shore excursion is available. They aren’t available on all sailings, but if you book in advance you are more likely to enjoy a special extra perk.

• A travel agent can help you customize your vacation! So you want to have a family reunion, get married or renew your vows onboard? Call an agent today! Don’t try and book this through the cruise lines or on your own as it will likely become a nightmare. By booking through a reputable agent, they will take the burden off of you and become the “party planner”. They can set up cocktail parties, beach parties, special shore excursions, wedding receptions, meeting rooms, dining arrangements. Leave it to the pros!