Ohboyohboyohboyohboy and ay caramba! <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> We just got email that our documents are in for the Navigator's Dec. 5 Panama Canal transit.

We just adore the HAL Prinsendam, except DH keeps whining that he wants a suite, like the one we had on the Statendam for our honeymoon. Now seriously, will we ever be able to go back to HAL after this trip? Or will we feel deprived that we're not on HAL this time?

I should mention that we like trivia (and the prizes we get for winning), crossword puzzles, the daily quiz, bingo, HAL's famous bread pudding, afternoon tea, wine with dinner, port or cognac and cigars after, and the free laundry and dry cleaning that come with a HAL suite. And one of us likes the HAL pickled herring, too.

cactuslady...we'll be on the Navigator with you and we are former HAL cruisers - over 200 day but left them for RSSC - for some very good reasons, at least in our minds.

We've been on the Prisendam when it was part of Seabourn and we loved the ship AND we've always had a suite on HAL's bigger ships, so we had some very good comparisons.

You won't get "free" laundry and dry cleaning, but the laundry facilities on RSSC have no charge. They have the trivia, daily quizes etc. The bingo doesn't really compare, so that may disappoint you. If you were getting free wine on HAL, you were on a different cruise than any I've been on.

RSSC has wonderful food, teas etc. I don't know about the herring - not one of our requirements.

Hope to meet you on the Navigator and we can discuss more. If you have other questions let me know! See you soon,

Cactus lady, welcome to lct! I think you will love the Navigator, having sailed on her 3 times. She has a great cozy cigar lounge just next to the Navigator Lounge with all the cigars and cognac, (wine flows freely at dinner) there's a daily crossword and quiz (the later for tokens), trivia, wonderful teas (especially chocoholic tea), bingo is fun, but not big winnings here. I love the dry cleaning service, although there is a charge, no worse than home. Most of all, I love the warm and accommodating service of the Navigator staff. There are a lot of former HAL cruisers on this board. While you may be happy to sail that line again, I really doubt that you will feel deprived that you are not on HAL through the canal. I hope you will give a report when you return, as I am on the Voyager through the canal over New Year's. Happy sailing!

Congrats Cactuslady! Getting your docs is just the best feeling!

the Princendam was the very up-scale Royal Viking ..
Know it fron the RVL days.. there is no comparison with a Radisson.... however the Navigator is only a 5 star the same,but the Mariner and Voyager are a whole different world
Food, cabins, staff, atmosphere, ...space with 1/2 the passengers as HAL... none of which are husteling for tips.
havign started on the mariner... I cant go back... dont know about the Navigator a smaller ship with smaller cabins....

Cruisecrazy, don't quite what you mean about Royal Viking and what the "no comparison" is with Radisson, having never sailed that line. Anyway, it no longer exists. I was on a leg of the 2005 World Cruise with a lot of former RVL cruisers, maybe you are one. However, having sailed all the RSSC ships, I can't say that the Navigator is "only" a 5 star, wondering what the Mariner and Voyager are in your mind. The cabins on the Navigator are the same size as the Voyager, larger slightly than the Mariner. The main differences in the standard cabins on the Voyager and Navigator are exactly the same, whereas on the Mariner, they are ever so slightly narrower, and the bathroom on the Mariner has a tub/shower combo in most cabins.

And the Navigator cabins come standard with tub and separate shower while most of the cabins on the Mariner don't. :)

(I'm sorry, Olivia -- I just reread your post and that's what you said, wasn't it? Oops)

Welcome Cactuslady and congrats on the docs!

Masaki

My Husband sailed many many times on Royal Viking Lines and found that RSSC cruises have been his favorites. We have sailed twice on the Navigator and twice on the Mariner (and have two Voyager cruises booked for next year). The Navigator is a wonderful ship. Service is excellent and the space quite nice. I am sure you will enjoy her. And the Panama Canal itinerary is so far my favorite.

This is all good news. We just can't live without that daily crossword puzzle. Is it from the New York Times?
Does the Navigator have a "signature" treat like the bread pudding? (I did read about the chocolate truffles and how easy they are to steal . . . )

ITravelNow -- can't wait to meet you.

Hi Cactuslady --

I'm addicted to crosswords, too. To supplement what we get onboard, I print from the NYTimes web site. They have archives that go back many years, so even if you've done them before, you've probably forgotten! No others are quite like the NYTimes crosswords.

Betty

the majority of cruise critics rate the paul gaugin and Navigator as 5 not 6 star.
The top cat. cabins on the navigator are the standard cabin on the Mariner.
As far as bread pudding....HAL has a good one...
Radisson will make you one but puts its focus on cuisine above comfort food. HAL is good banquet food.... if you like HAL you will be blown away by Radisson. It is like comparing carrows to the Four seasons....

Have to disagree with your statement that "the top cat. cabins on the navigator are the standard cabin on the Mariner." Sailed on Navigator last year in Cat D, standard balcony cabin, and chose a Cat. C on this year's Mariner cruise because the standard Mariner cabin is LESS sq. footage than the Navigator; the bathroom on Mariner is smaller than Navigator and does not have separate tub and shower.

Cactus Lady...maybe we can plan a time to get together. It's often popular for message board people to meet in the lounge after the lifeboat muster.

The drill is in the Seven Seas Lounge (aft - Deck 7) - maybe we could meet for a drink in Galileo's Lounge (aft - Deck Eleven)

If that doesn't work, we're in Cabin 932 - a note or a phone call to find a good meeting time would be fine.

Margo,

Sounds lovely, we'll plan to see you there. We're right down the passageway from you in 904.

On our cruise, it looks like we will be joined by Perry and Carolyn, who are mountainred on the Cruise Critic board. Apparently, they are winemakers from Napa Valley.
--Ev and Bruce

Ev:

How exciting to know there are some other message board passengers, and winemakers no less! I like them already!!!!

We should invite them to join us. I'll go over to cruise critic and see if I can find their email address - or just post an invitation.

Margo,

Ev has done the doc dance and has started her packing list.

We keep replaying the Navigator video tape and notice something new each time we watch.

See you in the lounge if not at the drill!

Bruce

Bruce...we're actually boarding the Navigator on Nov. 8 so we'll get things all warmed up for your arrival. See you on the 5th!

ITravelNOw -- The itinerary is looking even better. We will be transiting the Panama Canal under a full moon. Also, we will be in Acapulco on Saturday, Dec. 10, just 2 days before the major Mexico-wide festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Last time we were in Acapulco was at exactly the same time, and we were treated all afternoon and evening to a long series of groups parading down the street right next to the ship, with music, singing and balloons on their way to the plaza. (We were in Puerto Vallarta on the 12th, arriving in front of the cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe just as the runners went in carrying the Virgin's statue and the priest came out to bless the crowd. What a memory!)

Ev...you are amazing...even checking the moon stages...a full moon should be beautiful as we finish our transit!

I haven't really planned any of my tours yet - we've been to most of these ports so I'm pondering what might be a little different. Staying on the ship in Acapulco might be kind of fun if the parades are going by!

You will have a great time!!!

Wish I was going too......sniff! :mecry:

Trish

Margo -- We're going to the La Concha Beach Club in Acapulco. Incredibly, I've lived in resort areas most of my life, but haven't yet enjoyed a swim-up bar. :pass: