cwd79

Disembarked from Zaandam yesterday after 16 days aboard and we loved the ship being smaller, easier to get around. Service was fantastic. Food is subjective but less options for food is a negative. But the Pinnacle Grill was wonderful and we ate their five times during the cruise and by far our favorite Pinnacle Grill out of all the ships we've sailed on HAL (new and older). The library by the Exploration Cafe is fantastic. We had an Ocean View room and it was large compared to the newer ships Ocean Views. We had a fantastic time and will be sailing on Zaandam again in August for 21 days.

Past two cruises we went on both were "free" casino O/V cabins with free play. One in November and one that ended yesterday. We got casino offers at the end of each cruise but not a casino free cruise, but $600 free play on a new booking. We wondered if because we were on a "free" casino cruise that is why we didn't get another "free" casino cruise offer. But either way it was nice to get something. We stopped getting the casino emails for some reason. Hubby and I both play in the casino every night when we cruise... Just when I think I understand the system, it throws a curve ball.

I also don't smoke but every now and then I will go out with my husband. But every time I have tried to sit with him we've run into an issue. We only stay in the section for less than 10 minutes. He has experienced push back as well, when he has tried to smoke and it's just him. Several half empty tables have told him no he can't sit with them and smoke and they aren't smoking.

In the 10+ years of sailing with HAL across many of the ships and having a wonderful experience in the smoking section with other guests, we sadly have not had the same experience on our current cruise. We are currently on the Zaandam. I knew the smoking section outside would be small but wow it's super small. There are not enough chairs/tables to accommodate all the smokers on this cruise. There are many people who stay at a table for hours. I mean literal hours, reading, watching shows on their phones etc. That's all fine and dandy but when there are chairs available at your table with no one sitting in them, some people have been very rude. My hubby and I asked if we could sit at a table that had two free chairs and the two people at the table said No. There were no other chairs available to sit in, so we ended up going back to the cabin and waiting an hour and went back down and at that time there were a few more chairs open... Another time we asked a table that had two free chairs, (they were not smoking) if we could sit and they rolled their eyes and said rudely, "fine whatever". I am sorry we bothered you from reading your book but where else can smokers go to sit and smoke? This has been a lesson in patience and showing kindness even with the attitude we have received in the smokers section on this cruise. Don't get me wrong, we have met several very nice people. But the majority of interactions have not been pleasant. Did I miss something? Do people sit in the smoking section and not smoke? Because there are a handful of people that we have seen do that. They read their book and then give you the most annoyed look when you ask if you can sit at the table to use the ash tray. Every other cruise ship on HAL that we've been on have never had any issues... Only wonderful experiences. Maybe this is a one off... 😞

I am currently on the Zaandam and in an OceanView room on the 2nd floor. The TV is a flat screen and looks new but it is not an interactive TV.

I am currently on the Zaandam and in an OceanView room on the 2nd floor. The TV is a flat screen and looks new but it is not an interactive TV.

I thought I only saw the sinks there for hand washing. I didn’t see the automatic ones. Maybe I missed it?

We wished the Rotterdam had the automatic hand washing machines at the Lido like the Koningsdam had previously on our August Alaskan cruise. That was an experience that I've never had. Hands felt super clean after using it.

You are correct that the free cabin generally is just for a guarantee. Although the most recent free stateroom offer we received we were able to choose our room at no extra charge, we prefer interior or ocean view rooms mid ship on a lower deck. But I am sure that is not something that happens often.

We first started getting interior and as of recent were getting ocean view.

This was the first cruise in about four cruises where we didn't get a free stateroom casino offer at the end of the cruise and only got free play casino offer. I will say I spent more time and money in the casino on this B2B cruise we were on than any other cruise. I know it's a mystery as to what triggers what but we are glad we got something, so that was nice. We cruise again on Dec 20th, and not going to spend as much time and money in the casino this time so we will see happens.

Hubby and I also got free play offer, last week. We were hoping for a free cruise offer but got free play instead. Beggars can't be choosers. Still happy we got something. I got $600 free play and hubby got $400. We booked another cruise this morning and got those added to the new cruise.

We did this in FLL airport a few weeks ago. We got our bags and walked up to the HAL reps and got added to the list and was able to get on the bus to the cruise terminal. A few days after the charge showed up on our onboard account. No problems at all in doing that.

That is what we did, we specifically picked 1119 as it was under the shops and we didn't hear a thing for 11 days. We had to move to another cabin on the following cruise so we picked 1113 as only a few doors down and never heard anything above us as again the shops were above us. Midship specifically on the starboard side seemed like a much safer choice then port side when looking at what's above.

We were in 1113, haven’t heard much noise if any from above. It is a connecting room which we heard some things from our neighbor but not enough to be annoying. We were on a B2B and the first leg we were in 1119 only a few rooms down from 1113 and we preferred that room as it is not a connecting room. We prefer midship starboard side to limit the noise. I believe the shops are above and we didn’t hear a thing and was on ship for over two weeks on main deck 1.

On the Rotterdam and this is happening as well. Caught us off guard cause we were on the 11-9 to 11-20 sailing and doing B2B and the first leg there were no tongs. But cruise that started 11-20 , now there are tongs.

On ship now, today is a sea day now and supposedly tomorrow at grand Turk , we will be longer in that port. It’s been a very bumpy ride so far. My amateur sea legs are not doing well. Hoping it calms down.

Past final payment date. We’d get the taxes and port fees refunded but I thought I had read somewhere that the have it all package would be refunded as well if you purchased that separately….

Hi, if we need to cancel a cruise last minute. No insurance purchased as this was a casino cruise... would the have it all package that was added after the cruise was booked be refunded? I asked in the chat on the HAL website and was told no but that didn't sound right. Anyone have any info? Thanks

On the Rotterdam for first time. Slots in casino are not friendly but still having a great time. Hubby has had a lot more success playing Craps on this cruise. Haven’t received any casino offers thru email in awhile so hoping we might get some soon if the casino fairies deem us worthy.

Not sure if I should be flying to FLL tomorrow now... Hope we hear from Holland America soon

We are also on this ship tomorrow. We fly in tomorrow first flight out of NC in the morning. A little nervous.

I was on the NS in September and there was one Coke freestyle machine on deck 9. I believe it was by the lido bar if I’m not mistaken. The Koningsdam in august had two of them next to each other on deck 9 as well. I cruise in Rotterdam in a week so I’m hoping they have one on there to.

We used to stay solely in Neptune Suites. Then one cruise we decided to see how an interior felt. Obviously smaller, and some perks were missed from being in the Neptune Suites but we really enjoyed the savings from staying in an interior. Plus, we now cruise from once or twice a year to four to five times a year now because of the cost savings.

I ended up calling HAL and I was emailed the boarding pass a few min ago. Should be good to go.