cwd79

We will be on the Zaandam in an interior room so there won't be any fridge. Was planning on getting ice from the Lido when the ice that was filled up in our room melts... but wasn't sure if that is a no-no...

Is there an unwritten rule on refillable water bottles? I will be bringing a water bottle (not plastic) for the first time. I used to buy the canned water and looking to spend that money elsewhere... Is it frowned upon filling the water bottle up with ice and water in the Lido?

Will be boarding Zaandam in Boston in 11 days and first time being a 4 star. Our boarding pass doesn't show we have priority embarking as we are in an interior room, but thought we get priority embarking if we are 4 star. I'm assuming there are signs on where to go if you are 4/5 star? Thank you

We did it last fall and everything was pretty easy, only annoying piece was having to stand in the extremally long Guest Services line to get our new cabin key. Wish they had a better process to get a new cabin key.

FYI - I wasn't aware but I wanted to buy OBC for our upcoming cruise using gift cards but HAL website wouldn't allow me to buy more than $1500 in OBC. Not sure if that's the norm or not?

This is great. What was the room #?

Hi. I wanted to give a update as I am the OP. I did not go on the cruise due to the illness. I had called a few days before and was told if they remove me from the cruise then either it cancels the cruise for the other two people or the 3rd guest would need to pay my portion (even though it was already paid by me and I was going to lose that). I am a 4 star so the 3rd guest was no charge outside of the taxes and port fees. So, I just didn't show up. I was refunded my taxes and port fees a few weeks after the cruise. When the other two boarded they were asked if I was coming and they stated they didn't know. They were not charged anything additional.

I don't smoke. But I enjoy the casino. If someone lights up next to me while I am playing at a slot machine, I will finish my game, smile and go to another machine or play on the craps table. I can only be around smoke for so long before it starts to bother my eyes etc. I have choices as a non-smoker, to walk away if I don't want to be around smoking. There are far more places for a non-smoker to lounge on the ship if they want to be in a smoke free environment. Smokers essentially have two small areas to exist. There are options to get around the casino if you don't want to deal with the smell of smoke. Is it perfect? No but there are options... My husband smokes so I have some bias but he is thankful there is a spot for him to do it. The last thing he wants to do is ruin anyone's trip and I would hope the last thing a non-smoker would want to do is shame someone for being a smoker who is following the rules that Holland America has set in place.

Hi All. Hoping for some insight and advice. Supposed to be going on cruise in a few days. There will be three of us. I am the main guest on the booking. Booked under a casino rate (not free, just lower price) and have come down with a cold/strep throat (not covid). Feeling pretty awful and don't believe it's smart for me to travel sick and be around a large group of people. I have the platinum cruise protection but my question is in regards to the two other guests on the booking. I am a 4 star mariner so the third guest cost was minimal as they only paid for port taxes and fees and HIA... So, If I cancel, I know I will get back my port taxes and fees, but I am assuming the rest of the cruise cost I would not get back since it would go from three people to two people in the room as a normal double occupancy? Would I get the HIA back that I paid for myself? Prepaid gratuities I paid? Does anyone know if the cost of the cruise is increased to the other two people since it was booked under a casino rate under my name and now I wouldn't be cruising? Thank for any info you can provide.

Was on the Zaandam last year during playoffs and we were unable to watch as the channels were not available. We tried to watch on our computer but the sites were blocked. We ended up listening to the games on the NHL app radio feed.

Yes I called yesterday and was told that even though the list of sailings show a price next to them, they are indeed a free stateroom. She then said you put a $100 down + taxes, port fees and that $100 is then considered on board credit. I asked her to clarify as usually it's $200 a per person but she said it's $100. I will probably call back and ask another rep just to be safe I am getting the correct info.

I had to call the phone number and then I was able to add it onto the casino deal. I was able to use gift cards with the cruise rep.

I got that email a few hours ago as well and called the phone number and was told there is no record of that campaign yet. I was asked to call back on Friday as the rep said reservations get the new campaign details on Fridays. I wanted to ask about the discrepancies between the email saying 'free stateroom' but the PDF says different things... Guess I'll call back on Friday to find out what's what.

I got a email a month ago with a small list of free cruises but they were all in the next month and couldn't swing it. That was my first email in about six months...

Ok that's good to know. We didn't want to have to try to settle up with each other at the end of the cruise with who bought what etc. If each of us has our own credit card associated with our own keycard then that should alleviate that issue. Thank you

Hello. There will be three of us in a cabin... so when checking in on the website and placing a credit card for expenses, it appears we can each add our own credit card for our own expenses. I am assuming when each of us uses our own room key for something that is extra cost, the charges will go against our individual credit card that we listed? Hope that made sense.

Anyone have any experience in a vista suite on the Zaandam with three adults? Been on Zaandam several times but only in an inside or OV room, never with three adults in one cabin. We will be on the deck 6 as we didn't want to be on the 7th deck due to Lido is on the 8th deck. With the sofa bed out, I'm assuming it's going to be pretty tight?

Hi, anyone have any experience or knowledge on cabin J1031 or J1063 on Nieuw Amsterdam? I think J1031 might be under Billboard Onboard but J1063 is connecting room... Looking at an Alaskan cruise and haven't been in any of the J cabins on the Signature ships and not many left... We prefer to be midship and both of the cabins fit that... Thanks for any guidance.

We got one on Rotterdam in Nov. and on the Zaandam in Dec.

We did this in Nov. on the Rotterdam. First time for us. Everything went smoothly. Our cabin stewards moved our luggage to the new room which was only a few doors down. We had packed everything up that morning. We went to the World Stage and checked in and there was a large group of people doing the B2B and we sat and waited until we were escorted to the cruise terminal to have our passports checked. Then escorted back on ship. Since we changed rooms we didn't have the new room keys so we had to wait in the guest service line which was LONG... That was my only complaint with the whole experience was the long line to get new room keys. We have another B2B in August and we decided to stay in the same room.

I must be missing something as the casino fares are gone when I search under my name or hubby's. When we search cruises and do a dummy booking there is no casino rate. The only thing we have seen that shows a lower price is the Have It All Rate when you choose a guarantee room. The price is less. But no longer seeing the casino rate on the initial cabin fare.

Google doesn't show much on passenger reviews for cabin 1877. A couple here and there but nothing significant. Hoping someone on cruise critic has had prior experience in this cabin.

We are booked in this cabin later this year and don't see a lot of info on it either. Hoping you get some responses. 🙂

We were on a 16 day cruise on this ship and got off a few days ago. We were in a Ocean View cabin on deck 2 and the room stewards gave us a power strip so we could plug in the fan we got, computers, chargers etc. Worked perfectly.

Another thing I remembered from the Zaandam. The quickness of the elevators was fantastic. We were onboard for 16 days in December and we rarely had to wait for an elevator and we were on deck 2. Loved the coziness of the ship. Tons of places to sit and relax.