WriterOnDeck

It's not unusual to have 60+ Presidents Club members on the world cruise, although this year I heard that about half went on the Grand Australia/NZ instead. And benefits like priority tender boarding for 4* and 5* are suspended, as there are so many aboard.

Per the rules, you have to have your AARP membership linked to HAL before you book a cruise. The OBC does not apply to already booked cruises, just future bookings. Then it is appears -- easy peasy. I also found that once you have registered with StockPerks and downloaded its app, it is a very simple process.

I believe you can do it through Guest Services once you are on board. Also, just be prepared for variances in service speed and quality. It's not likely to be like on land.

Here's what my Speedtest app just reported for me. We are in the Mozambique Channel between Mozambique in east Africa and Madagascar (world cruise, Zuiderdam). I'm sure the results depend a lot on where in the world you are. We've had slower internet generally in the Indian Ocean than before since the cruise started Jan. 3.

This is why I always book with a TA. The price is the same or lower, and my TA goes to bat for me when I want an upsell or other support in getting a better cabin. (For example, for my holiday cruise I had booked an inside and saw a couple of months out that the cruise wasn't selling out, so my TA got HAL to upgrade me to an obstructed ocean view cabin -- the same one I had booked for the following cruise -- at no additional charge.) Regardless of how you book, it's always a risk to book a guarantee where you wouldn't be satisfied with any cabin in that category. If its a big price savings, then just know that you may not love the location but you love having the extra money in your pocket. It's all in the attitude imho. I'm sure you will love Alaska!

Thanks, Ruth. Pete (Inside Cabin) posts a link to all the blogs for the current world cruise on his website: https://www.theinsidecabin.com/world_cruise_blogs/. I have stopped posting updates for my blog on Cruise Critic as it just takes a lot of time and most people seem to just subscribe on my website. I'm on my second world cruise now on the Zuiderdam and earlier sailed on the Amsterdam (same class as Volendam). I also just finished before this cruise the 73-day Grand South America/Antarctica on the Zaandam, so know about the enetertainment on both classes. Both ships have the World Stage for nightly entertainment, 2 shows a night. Entertainers come and go throughout the cruise, with most doing 2 different shows. Mixture of music, comedy and specialty acts (magic, etc.) In addition they have the company singers and dancers -- they are doing about 18 different shows this year, and a band for the World Stage. The band also plays during some of the sail-aways on the aft Lido deck. In addition, on the Volendam, you can expect a band in the Ocean Bar, a piano player/singer in the piano bar and a classical duo or trio in the Explorer's lounge. (The Zuiderdam moves the band to the Rolling Stone and has a jazz trio in the Ocean Bar, plus a piano duo instead of a single piano.) I wouldn't worry about the age of the ship. HAL keeps them in good condition and they cycle through drydock every few years. Comments about room storage are correct. The Volendam will have more ocean view cabins and fewer verandahs. Of course, all HAL staff are wonderful, but the World (and the grands) seem to have the best. Lots of interaction with the officers, from the captain on down. A real family.

And Darwin

Kathi, so glad to read about your adventures back on a dam ship! One thing I have learned is that shorex usually has one manager who specializes in knowing the "accessible" details about excursions. When I fractured my kneecap on the 2023 world cruise, they went over each of the excursions I had booked with more detail than in the description eg number of steps, number of stairs, etc. Once I may more ambulatory, they even emailed a tour operator asking for a photo of the access to a boat. It really helped me to be able to decide ahead of time what I could do.

We left about 8:10 am. There were four buses, and I was on the third. We arrived about 9:40 am at the Bitexco Financial Tower, the tallest in district 1 downtown. Our guides did not give a running commentary on the drive in, but gave some detail as we got closer. When we arrived, they directed us to the restrooms in the building (modern), ATMs and to the ticket counter to go to the skydeck (which I didn't). On the drive they handed out maps of downtown with a few sites marked, with the dropoff/pickup spot clearly marked and filled in with our departure time of 2:30 pm. (The bus after us had a 2:40 pickup time.) The map also had phone numbers for the guides. They answered any questions. A couple was about 20 minutes late in returning. Christel (Henk's wife, retired guest services manager) was on the bus and checked the list we had filled out earlier (name, birth date) as we circled the block waiting. On the return trip, we stopped for a 15-minute bathroom stop. I didn't get off so don't know the condition of the toilets. For some reason after our stop they decided to play loud music for the rest of the drive, so no more chance to sleep. I thought it was a great way to get into the city, which I had visited before. I felt comfortable walking around on my own. on top that soe went t

Just FYI, I took the transfer, along with enough people for 4 buses (not packed). It was a great day, especially if you have been to HCMC before. Most people headed to the market or the post office areas, and a bunch of us ended up at the rooftop garden at the Rex Hotel for a nice afternoon.

Just FYI, a feature of the world cruise is that the menu doesn't repeat for 128 days. Of course a lot of the individual items do, which is just fine with me.

Here's Holland America's press release from last fall when the company announced the event. It will answer lots of questions: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cake-me-away-presents-pastry-team-favorites-in-new-dessert-extravaganza-for-guests-on-holland-america-line-cruises-301991185.html At our recent formal dinner on the world cruise, I was hosted by the pastry chef (who wants a senior officer when you can dine with the pastry chef?!). He said it has been very popular, among passengers and among his team of chefs.

Rich, you'll love Florin! He was the HGM on the Grand South America/Antarctica a few months ago and is one of the best! Very friendly and outgoing. Keep enjoying your cruise -- and I hope you went ashore in Waitangi. It's beautiful, interesting and very historical. Too bad we missed the port when I sailed on the Westerdam in 2022 with you.

I will look forward to your reports! I sailed on the Wind Star and the Wind Spirit five times in the mid 1990s -- transAtlantics between Madeira or Lisbon and Barbados -- 14 days each with no stops until it was time to depart. I loved those voyages -- especially in those pre-Internet days when my boss could not reach me! We usually had no more than 60 or maybe 80 passengers (once 29), and when they bought the Wind Surf we thought it was entirely too big! Bon Voyage!!!

Sounds like you will be on Majestic Japan, Rich -- I'll look forward to sailing with you again!