Hi, neighbor, good to hear from you. I am still looking forward to cruising
with you one day--but let's make it Princess, LOL. Actually, I'm with you,
when you're with friends, the ship hardly matters. We had a ball traveling
with good friends on this Baltics adventure.

As for being "ready for HAL," there's the rub. Our 82-year-old friend who
was with us wasn't "ready for HAL." Doesn't that suggest HAL is out of touch
with the tastes and interests of its clientele? I mean, what exactly is that
magic age when I'll lose my taste for vindaloo or my interest in listening
to a raucous set of rock and roll?! I like baked chicken and torch songs,
too, but geez, considering how rich our lives are today with the explosion
of cuisines and entertainment options...I just don't think a steady diet of
"tepid" and "cautious" remains a successful hospitality plan for any market.
But I agree with you, a 7-day cruise on one of HAL's purpose-built Carib
ships, e.g., the Zuidy, must offer a cruise experience more similar to what
we've enjoyed on the other lines. I know many RTC friends have had a lot of
fun on those cruises.

Take care, Becca.

Diana

"Becca" wrote in message
...
Welcome home, Diana, and thanks for the info on the Rotterdam. My cruise
friends tell me that I am not ready for HAL, but I hope to try them some
day. Maybe a 7-day cruise would be a little more livelier.

It is difficult for me to say which cruise line is my favorite. I would
have to say Princess, NCL, Carnival and RCI, in that order. I like
Freestyle and Personal Choice, although I know it does not suit everybody.
I enjoy the Solarium on Royal Caribbean, although their lunch buffet is
not the best. Celebrity was my least favorite cruise line, but I hope
that changes after I try the Millennium on the MOAGC2 in February. I hear
they have made some changes so I am looking forward to it. I will be
cruising with friends, so I am sure I will have a great time.

Becca