OK Sleddog, my friend Pam and I had a great time. The diving was wonderful!! And I live in a small town were I have only two women friends. I can't tell you how good it was to be back with the women of Oliva. As for Pam until I started taking her on Olivia cruises she had never gone out of Ohio. Noe the things she has done!! And the fun she has had in the warms of new friends. Thank you all!! See on the next one. 

OK.  I lied. I'm back once more. On the Olivia site looking at the Carribean Sun Cruise with longing eyes. Invited almost a complete stranger to join me. As I said my Halloween Cruise trip was perfect, toilet flushed, snorkling excursions lovely and all of the women I met were fantastic, kind, fun, funny, energetic and sometimes wild in a good way. What a time! Wish my life were an Olivia cruise although I would probably burn out, I suppose. What a way to go though. Is that positive enough sleddog? Take care! Hope I see you on another cruise.

I started this topic on such a high from the great time we had on this cruise…so much better than toilet issues or some rough seas!

 

Yeah things happen and not always as we wished they would have…yet, the road ahead has two paths…you choose…

 

Remember the saying "the squeaky wheel gets the oil"…well my wheels have long ago been oiled…and I'm ready for the next great adventure…no squeaking here!

 

I've learned a lot from my GF's patients (she's an Oncologist & the Director of Hospice in Denver).  These people have taught me to live every moment as if tomorrow will never come…and for many of those brave souls it didn't!  Yet they lived their last days to the fullest and enjoyed things many of us only take for granted.

 

…so now tell me some positive stories…I know I saw many!!!

 

Yikes. I was just about to book on the Carribean Sun Cruise in October, but all this stuff about clogged toilets, dust, dirt and lack of air conditioning and mold is scaring me. My room was on the top floor this time and I was there to witness the incoming flood into the elevators. My room stayed dry because I was above the flood. I heard the people in the lower levels had water pouring in their cabins the whole trip. I think the stability was a huge issue depending on where people were on the ship. I chugged Bonine the whole trip so I wouldn't know. We had relatively calm seas considering we were still in Hurricane season which may have been the reason that the cruise was smooth compared to some. Just a warning for people with asthma, new carpeting sounds good, but new carpeting outgasses something awful and if you can't open a window, you might have issues. Well, I'm going to sign out from the Halloween Group. Life goes on. I was just taking one more look while I investigated upcoming cruises. Still thinking of the Carribean Sun Cruise though which is quickly going wait list. I really had a WONDERFUL time on this cruise and met some lovely people and realize I was lucky to have a dry room and a working toilet and air conditioning. Goodbye All.

Being we travel a lot…and not just with Olivia…hopefully I can help out with some answers as you are not alone on many of these problems!

First off…when you have problems…no matter what they are…talk to someone from HAL or Olivia…right then and there.  If they can be fixed or you can be taken care of in some other way…I know Olivia will go out of their way to try and remedy the problem. 

If you wait it only makes things worse…and it's harder to fix things after the fact. But I know Olivia always tries their best…trust me we've had our share of problems…and most times we were able to work things out!

We've had cabins on different ships that were dusty, looked as they were never cleaned, dirty wine glasses, ect. & only the bed was re-made…called head of housekeeping and had everything taken care of right then and there…and to our satisfaction!  And for our trouble we usually were given wine or champagne or lunch in the specialty restaurant.

We've been on many different ships and the toilet problem always rears its ugly head. If just one person puts something in that's "not allowed" it will and does mess up all those on that line.  We had maintenance in our halls daily and every time it was fixed…someone else…

Vickie Shaw may do her toilet thing at the sailaway party as comedy…but the message is real!

We also had many friends on this cruise with no AC…and personally that was unforgivable…HAL should have been on top of that…no excuses!!

I know the unexpected downpour Monday night in Key West flooded the Lido caused all the damp rugs and powerful smells and the elevators to be out of order and in need of repairs…again HAL should have been on top of things as many people can not use the stairs and depend on the elevators!  Not to excuse the elevator problems on the Ryndam…but all ships we have been on seem to have elevators out of order issues…are ya listening cruise lines!?!  Also I find people holding the elevators while they wait for their friends (who are still in their rooms!)  I just push the buttons and says pick them up on the return!

Though the restaurants have certain posted hours…24 hr room service should be just that…24 hours!  Not that your meal should be there instantly…but an hour is really pushing it!

Lourdes if we're ever on a cruise together again and you need help with your asthma, give my partner (Azar) a call…if she can she'll be happy to try and help you out!  She's an MD who has severe asthma and get sea sick easily…but she keeps to her med routine strictly and usually does fine. 

As far as stability issues…this cruise was actually pretty smooth compared to some…we've been on new and bigger ships…where people spend days, if not most of the cruise in their rooms with sea sickness…remember mother nature also plays a role here.

The Ryndam goes into dry-dock Feb. 9 - Feb. 28, 2010. First Cruise after first dry dock: Olivia's 7-day Western Caribbean roundtrip from Tampa, departing Feb. 28.  We were just on her sister ship the Veendam for the Alaska cruise fresh out of dry-dock…everything was fresh and new…new carpeting, new furniture, a new area next to the casino called the "Mix bar" which was very spacious and well laid out, with 3 separate areas/bars…a martini bar, a champagne & mimosa bar and a spirts and ales bar…everyone loved them!

Bottom line & most of all…this was suppose to be the trip of a lifetime…so if you experienced problems don't hesitate…call Cuzy or Jeri or even Judy at Olivia (they're good peeps…only Judy bites! hehehe!!) and let them know how you felt and what you feel would make amends for you!

I am not sure what all they will be doing, but the staff did tell me that all the carpets were being replaced when they were in drydock.

I am on the Ryndam in Feb. I booked it last year. I didn't know they when back out? I feel for the people on that trip. Does Olivia know when they are going into dry dock and what will be fixed? I never thought I would here women having to pick their trips by making sure not to take a ship Olivia booked.

I wonder when they are going to dry dock it?? We stayed at the Marriott for two nights when we got back.. doing some sight seeing in Tampa and we saw the Ryndam going back out again the next day.  It had people on board and they were having a sail away party.

The air conditioning in our room never worked the whole week. It was hot as smack in there.. we asked for a fan and did get one but all it did was blow hot air around. I didnt get sea sick until the last day.. and then look out!! I heard if you go on the bigger ships that you dont feel the rough ocean waves that much.. which will be really nice.. I thought we had a couple really rough days at sea..

All in all it was a good trip but I am with you ladies when you say that the Ryndam is OUT from now on.. not gonna take that one ever again!

~Kath

We also would never go aboard the Ryndham again. My wife is a severe asthmatic also and there was black mold in our shower, loads of dust in the room on all the surfaces, and then of course the elevator thing and other things you mentioned and of course, after going on one of the younger fleet members aboard NCL for Hawaii last year which is a much newer boat, we definately noticed the stability issues that this older model had which is why we can't wait to do this aboard the NCL Sun ship!!

Sorry to hear of your problems…hope you told someone from Olivia while you were onboard.

The good news is that the Ryndam is going into dry-dock and will be "brand new" for the Feb. '10 Caribbean Cruise!

All in all…this cruise still rocked and the Halloween party was a complete blast!!!

lesbian cruises and resorts are what dreams are made of ......I loved being with all of you again 2nd time around and miss you all.  the ones i got names for and the ones i did not.

i hated coming back to work knowing you don't live near us in jersey and missing the comaraderie and the sisterhood.

However the Ryndam i do not miss.  I had a hard time breathing while on board, on floor four, toiilets not working and smells of poop in hall way,  most of the time elevators out of order or in middle of repairs just to break down once again.  I have asthma and all the damp rugs and powerful smells caused my breathing problems.  Our toilet not workng off and on during our trip.  Also the air not working hardly at all and the fact that when we came in late from key west the ship forgot we were coming looking for something to eat.  everything was closed and when we ordered room service it was close to an hour before it arrived and we had fallen asleep.

Maybe Olivia can stay off the Ryndam for a while. Don't know but still miss all you wonderful, intelligent ladies that travels with us.

hope to hear from some of you soon.

Lourdes (kims wife)

Really, really busy.  Got a new writing job.  Not worried about paying for the Sun Cruise anymore. LOL  So hope to see you there!

I so hated to get on that plane home today- what a blast we all had! It is going to be so hard to wait till feb28th for my next Olivia fix!

and Sleddog- you are more than welcome to quote me- I am honoured!

 

hugs and misses

jan,eh!

Thanks for the Paaartay!!

One question though…..why did we let it end!??!!?

Next time…Lesbian Pirates…we take over the ship & fly under the Olivian flag!

LOL. so so true. I just sent Judy an email pretty much saying that I can't wait to get my next Olivia fix!

amazing week ladies of olivia! can't wait to see you all again!!

xo

carin (a brand new Olivia addict)