LAFFNVEGAS

Seems we agree, Lisa. :)

 

Yes ;)

Interesting about the per diem factor. So, what dictates these rates as based on the itinerary? Why is NE higher than the Caribbean? Is it the port charges that vary so much? I'd be interested to learn.

 

David

The biggest difference between Canada New England and Caribbean is shear numbers of ships and passengers. There are not many ships that do Canada New England. Most cruise lines send their ships to Europe and or through the Canal over to Alaska. A very few leave their ships in the Caribbean.Those that do the Canada New England itinerary mostly leave it for their smaller ships, which makes the shear numbers of those that can take the cruise limited bringing the per diem way up. Basically supply and demand against the competition.

On the 9th deck. Things were pretty intense before, but have calmed down. Now it's just a lot of rocking from side to side. Lots of damage and broken things, all very minor. From my past cruising experience, communication is a bit delayed. We still have no idea if the itinerary will be changed at all. Ship is completely shut down, no dining, nothing. Not a big worry on my account. It's very challenging to stand up and walk. Just have to stay in bed and ride it out. I wish that they would update us more and let us know if any of the itinerary will be altered.

Ryan, here is one of your videos you posted on FB :)

I think food budget also is related to per diems prices.

When Maasdam sails the Caribbean, the per diem for the exact same cabin is lower than when she sails Canada/NE which is one of the highest per diem for most of the ships that do that itinerary. We sailed in the same cabin literally dozens of times and it was no coincidence the food was (to our taste) better Canada/NE and we paid a great deal more for the same cabin.

Yes the per diem does come into play. With Caribbean,Trans Atlantic, Mexico, Pacific Coastals and 7 day Alaska cruises being on the lower end. Basically any cruise that you see the bottom basement pricing a few months in advance. Europe, Canada New England South America and of course those connected to any Grand Voyages or World Cruises have a higher per diem allowance. But you can bet that for the first 6 to 9 months for the Koningsdam the Food Budget per person will definitely be the highest in the fleet. It will be two fold, one the first months they will be wining and dining the media first in Europe, then when she comes to the US. Second they will be out to impress New and Old HAL cruisers. ;)

We just disembarked the Norwegian Spirit for a 7 day Eastern Carib cruise and had a wonderful time. Great cruise, happy staff, fantastic shows and music. They had a beverage service which we enjoyed which included top shelf liquor. Never a line at a bar. We had the dine around package, as well, which included 4 nights at specialty restaurants. I have to say, though, that I do think Holland America has better food. Seriously much better food in the Lido. However, the music on the ship was phenomenal and that's something HAL needs to pay attention to, in my opinion. The price was right; actually more than right, so we had a wonderful time. I will be back to Holland America, I am sure, but would like to see some changes. Smoking, for instance. There are good changes in that regard on NCL and Holland needs to pay a bit of attention here. All in all, a great time and just lovely staff.:)

So glad you enjoyed your cruise, I have become quite fond of NCL. Food like HAL changes from ship to ship depends a lot on the Chefs. My last several NCL cruises I felt the the food was far superior to HAL but then our evening meals were all in the specialty restaurants. Their Lidos vastly vary by ship with NCL the older ships such as Spirit, Star, Dawn, Sky do not have the same lay out of the buffet as the Jewel Class does and I have found the Garden Cafe aka Lido to be better on the newer NCL ships.

NCL like HAL gives an allotment for food budget aka quality higher for their newer ship just like HAL does. Right now the larger food budget per person is for the Signature Class, then Vista with the lower budget for the S and R Class. Special voyages are also given a bit higher budget. My last two HAL cruises were on a S class just over 2 yrs ago and an R Class this past May and I definitely was not impressed with any of the food quality compared to NCL. I am very much looking forward to Koningsdam where the food quality should take a few steps up. :)

NCL has a LOT to offer, all of their ships have great entertainment, there is always plenty to do. The Crew are amazing on the ship and we love the service. We are now Platinum with NCL and 4 Star with HAL so those are basically are two go to choices :D

Looking forward to Koningsdam's inside musters.

 

;)

Me Too, if in fact that is what they do :confused: I wonder if they have even thought that far ahead. :D

Sorry had not read the other posts after this one that I quoted.

Unfortunately I think the reason we have heard very little is that this is NOT the Christening Cruise. While they originally called it a Premier cruise they have not even taken that off the Title of this cruise. Sadly I do not think there will be anything happening and we will be lucky to even receive anything special like the Inaugural Plate like in past Inaugurals. This will be just like any other cruise with the exception that we are the first paying passengers. My understanding is all the hoopla will be focused on the Christening Cruise. But like everything else about the Koningsdam everything has been kept hush hush. My guess is a lot is still up in the air.

I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time whatever you choose. I'll be looking forward to a review. I love your reviews!

:) Thanks, I enjoy doing the reviews, my next is Holland America where I will be doing the Inaugural cruise of the Koningsdam, it will be our first trip to Europe so very exciting plus a brand new ship.

Well, if you don't mind being out of the Haven, the H-6 on the Breakaway was fantastic with a huge balcony and separate bedroom. I'm guessing the layout on the Escape is the same.

 

We loved it and figured the walk to the Haven was our exercise!

Actually that would be my preference, I was looking at deck 12 but DH said if we are doing Haven than he wants to actually being in the Escape Haven :D Like I mentioned we had done Haven on the Jewel and really prefer our category SF Suite on the aft on deck 10. But we thought we have not been in the newer Haven Suites so need to try it.

My son and I stayed in an H5 and were quite surprised at how tiny the balcony was. Two chairs and a very small table and little room to move around.

 

Tracy

That is what I was afraid of. I cannot quite understand why the prime real estate on this ship gets the smallest balconies. My only thought is they think that everyone wants to use the other Haven areas. Personally I would rather have a nice large balcony for just my husband and I to sit and read rather than sharing with 40 plus other suites :o

Thanks for all the replies, looks like I will look for a cabin on 17 :)

Thanks, what both of you said makes sense.

One last question are the balconies any larger on the Haven Escape for say the H5 compared to the Haven H5 on the Jewel Class?

A particular website that has Deck plans ;) states the balcony is only 85 sq ft on the Jewel which I know that is not correct we have been in 14514 and it was the smallest balcony I have ever had on a ship.

For the Getaway and Escape it states H5 is 43 sq ft. so I am guessing that is correct. I would have thought with the different configuration of the cabin from the Jewel Class to the Breakaway Class the balcony could have been larger since the cabin on the H5 is basically the category SF on the Jewel Class and not taking away balcony space because of the bathroom tub and shower.

Need some assistance I plan to book category H5 for March 2017 on the Escape, would like to know which is the preferred Deck 17 or 18 and for what reason.

Thanks, :)

Lisa,

Hoping you will give us a thorough and prompt review of your cruise. (Somehow I think you will.) I know you will be honest in comparing to other ships and lines. Hope all the Negative Nellies will wait for you and others to report. There is so much more to this ship than a promenade deck - new decor, new dining and entertainment options, innovative rooms with the new single and family rooms, etc.

 

Let's wait and see. And thanks to Alphen for all the updates. We are certainly not getting a lot from HAL. Spoke to HAL rep regarding another booking and she said sales are very brisk through 2017, so there is a lot of interest.

Thanks, Yes I plan to do my Live From and planning on buying the unlimited Internet...figure I will need it :D I hope to see as many cabins as possible and take photos. I am excited about all of the new venues. I know the pictures and concept pictures are not doing it justice.

Lisa,

 

That is always a hard sell with boats in the way. What is the problem with the VA cat on 4 Deck? The tops of the boats will be almost right to the hand railing. A bit better than before, but the problem is still there. Even the brochure shows the boats right there. Buyer be aware.

 

Stephen

Actually one has to know the reasoning for HAL having those cabins be VA or V cabins on Signature and Pinnacle Class which is considered to be a higher more expensive category when in reality there are many negatives to the location. Very much the same as the VA categories on the Vista Class. For many years those were category VE and less money due to those life boats being right there and the balconies being smaller. To explain why they do this is that most cruisers book with cost first. They are going to take the lowest price balcony and the highest prices remains being last to sell. HAL got caught into the trick bag of selling lots of guarantee cabins and did not assign till a few weeks prior to sailing. Of course what is left over were the VA or V cabin categories that were the most expensive and at one time were the best location. So those paying the least got the best. HAL made the change that those cabins would be VA or V higher priced and those paying the least got those as guarantees. No One can complain because they got upgraded to one of the highest category balconies and once assigned they will not bring you down to a lower category.

Then the other thing was that they can state this is a better category because they are mid-ship cabins that are desirable :D

HAL has been a bit successful with this strategy in that HAL cruisers are learning that it is not a good idea to go with a guarantee if you want a specific location and worth spending the money to chose the location you want ;) And they make more money on the naive Passenger and or TA that sells them the high V or VA cabin.

Nice video of Koningsdam;

 

Jeroen, thanks so much for the video :) WOW now I was impressed with her looks here. I would normally say "What a Beautiful Grand Lady but I guess in this case I need to say "What a Handsome Grand Gent"Fit for a King :D

I will put my two cents in about the Promenade Deck, first it is obvious that it is still a totally walk around Promenade Deck, yes there will be several obstructions but there also appears to be lots of open sections as well. One must also remember there are more than just the Promenade Deck to relax and sit on a lounge chair and read and stare out into the ocean. The one thing that is nice on this ship is No Obstructed Ocean View Cabins. Profit wise for HAL this is good because that is the one area they have an extremely hard time selling those H and HH on Deck 4 of the Vistas. To Take away the Obstruct OV cabins those Life Boats have to go somewhere.

I think this video finally shows what she really looks like and I like it, I like it a lot.

Now the one area I want to see picture of that see to be very hush hush is the Spa :D

Let us please not forget that the vessel is NOT FINISHED YET.

 

Meaning, she still needs fresh paint, windows are not completed/ in protection foil, scafolding is still present... Basically, she is still in the process of getting ready for dinner, give the girl some slack and be patient untill she is ready to go out in public!

 

Granted, She will not be HAL's most beautiful design ever ( the old Nieuw Amsterdam was in my humble opinion), but at least she has a Hydroactive hull design and a proud funnel and more or less classic lines compared with some real appartment's at Sea like the newest Princess, MSC, Carnival and Costa vessels, also Fincantieri products...

 

Does anyone know if she has a strenghtened bow, like Queen Victoria/Elisabeth for Atlantic crossings/Antarctic ops. ? ( still in no way as strong as QM2 obviously)

Very good point plus, I honestly think pictures do not always do justice to the ship just like for people. I suspect that in person the Koningsdam will look quite nice.

Personally I will always like the way the original Vista Class looked prior to them chopping up and changing her aft on the Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam :) Noordam looked a bit too boxy but then all her younger sisters followed with the same look :D

I'm glad someone else sees it, too. I mentioned the similarities in an earlier thread, at least to my eyes. I don't understand why there are such extreme changes in depth along the sides. Perhaps a marine architect can explain it.

:) Yes I saw it early on as well but then since I tend to like NCL and HAL I see lots of similarities ;)

Definitely her best view is a Side View, I guess those that picked on the Epic can know pick on the Konningsdam ;) :D

Correction; separated at berth...

Now that is FUNNY :D

Lisa,

 

Taking a leap of faith and I just booked the NCL Jewel to Alaska for this coming June. Barb does not know that I have booked Penthouse 9002 (forward). It will be interesting to see how it compares to the HAL Neptune Suites. Not sure we will really use the butler and I'm already thinking I will miss the Neptune Lounge.

 

This will be a precursor cruise on NCL to see if we want to do a Fall 2017 with them or find a different line to go with. So I hope I made the right decision and that you and JD are right about NCL.

 

Terry Green

Terry, that is Great!!!, In all honesty I doubt you will miss the Neptune Lounge. I much prefer the Suites on NCL over HAL. Plus I love having the Lavazza Coffee maker in my suite. The Butler is just an extensions of your Cabin Steward who brings afternoon treats who brings afternoon treats every day at 3pm :D I think over all you will be quite pleased :)

Thanks for posting, I have been waiting for the link for the next one. now that final is paid I am ready to cruise the Koningsdam.

Just wish, these were a bit more timely and informative. I kind of find them rather lame. Stan's recording was obviously done months ago, probably in late September because he talks about going to Italy in October and November....hello it id now mid January. I would really rather hear more updated information. We get more from poster that live in Italy that post here on CC and Facebook. It is kind of like this is all just a second thought that....oh yes guess we should say something about Koningsdam :rolleyes:

If you booked direct through Holland America, contact Mariner Society I am pretty sure they will activate them for you and apply the $200 plus get you the Ship Board Credit. If you used a Travel Agent they should also be able to do this for you but I believe you would still be able to contact Mariner Society if you wish to do it yourself. I have seen several cases where the FCC had expired and they did re-activate them as well as I have seen FCC's refunded for reasons of illness or passing of a loved one. I also saw where one spouse was not a cruiser and the other was and they were able to transfer a FCC to the active cruiser spouse. In other words mariner Society has always been willing to work it out. :)

I was able to have a full cup of coffee on my Nespresso machine on NCL. I did not want espresso and had a choice of 'coffee'.

 

 

 

Sail, I am pretty sure it was NOT a Nespresso machine you had on the Dawn. It would have been Lavazza with the Lavazza coffee. NCL currently has the Nespresso only on the new Escape that was introduced in November. Many long time NCL cruisers have commented they are not impressed with the Nespresso machines. I cannot comment since I have used the Nespresso but love the Lavazzo machines in my NCL suite.

https://vimeo.com/151308110

Now I also having been using Keurig at home for at least 8 years and it is very true about finding the right coffee. I have it narrowed down to 4 different ones I used and actually one of them is the Lavazza for Keurig.

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Sending you a big HUG Dot, I know it was hard to even post. But I am sure Jack will be cruising with you in spirit, heart and soul.

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