Epicureangirl

Here’s the fine print on this Oct 2019 cruise:

Special Priced Promotion information ×

This is a special fare being offered for a limited time, with certain limitations that apply:

• Payment must be made in full at the time of booking.

• This specially priced promotion is 100% non-refundable from the point of payment unless you purchase one of our Cancellation Protection Plans at time of booking.

Holland America Line’s Cancellation Protection Plans can help protect your vacation investment from loss. The Standard and Platinum Cancellation Protection Plans are optional purchases. Payment is due at time of purchase. The plan cost is non-refundable.

So I guess it is refundable if I take the loss of money on the insurance policy, but I’m not hopeful they’d let me reprice as I’d already paid in full. If you picked the perfect room you might lose that too if you cancel and rebook. This fare has too many strings for being so far out.

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I’m not sure if you’re both describing the same offer. I was shopping for 2019 cruises yesterday, and when picking my room category saw an asterisk with the small print ‘special fare’, or something to that effect). When clicking on the link, it explained that this special price was non refundable and had to be paid in full at time of booking. I stayed away... I want that flexibility to reprice before a final payment date.

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I've got a headache trying to follow this logic ;p

Not sure if you're referring to something else in the thread, or just my last post?

I am just saying that people can like to drink quality over quantity, and if they try to do that the way the package is designed, isn't really great for them. I think you can only get drinks that are up to $9. If you only drink great scotch, top-shelf liquors or great wine, the package doesn't cover it. It doesn't let me buy wine by the bottle, or pay for my corkage fees. All that is out-of-pocket. If you want to slam back 10 middle-of-the-road selections or highballs, this could be an awesome deal! But for me, it can be hard to make the 'numbers' work if you don't really 'booze it up' and hold your liquor like the boys.

Slippers were in my cabin too -- you don't need to book a suite for them.

I think I finally understand what "..." means!

Yes, I think there are times I should probably use that. :')

Ceasar Salad was next...not enough dressing and not made as good as the one in MDR which is the traditional way to make it with hand made ceasar dressing, this one was bottle dressing....you can tell.

Sorry, no, mine was actually made table-side and I could have as much of any ingredient added as I want. Are you sure you went to these restaurants?

Steak was asked for medium well as I do not like pink in my meat! Came Medium barely, and it was TASTELESS for a steak...I could have sent it back but by then I was aggravated and still hungry didn't even stay for the dessert I was so pissed off.

Medium-well is not what a steak-lover does to a steak. No wonder it was tasteless. There were also many choices for excellent sauces. Most were not spicy.

2nd time we were given very good service even the Manager asked why we left with no explaination? Guess they remembered us? We just made an excuse and said I was not feeling well and had to leave immediately..OK small white lie. This time everything was extremely good and the service impeccable. So have to give it 4 out of 5 for the effort to please.

It sounded like you weren't given poor service the first time, but you rudely left without giving them a chance to rectify raw issues you experienced with your meal. The service is gracious and they are there to make things right.

Canneletto...strange menu. You share plates of food between you so you better both like the same thing!

There is no obligation to share at Canaletto (name is the same as the Venetian Painter). They make a 'suggestion' of how many appetizer and entrees you may require per person, but you can order differently if you like. My daughter keeps her bolognese to herself (a.k.a. spaghetti with meat sauce), and if you don't like something order something else. Pretty straightforward, no one is making you finish what is on your plate.

MDR Well I guess people like this one....we didn't. Every meal we chose and there were nights we couldn't pick one thing to eat that we liked, was SPICED! The Chef is either Indian or Indonesian and he obviously thinks everyone should eat food with spices in it, because he spiced even the vegetables! I mentioned it several times and was told I could pre-order my food without spice...well how am I going to know what I want days in advance? dumb.

Hmmm, I don't think the nationality of a chef plays into this at all. You know, MOST people quite like many of the foods you described. Chefs are supposed to salt and season the food, even vegetables. The staff in the MDR would have been happy to let you choose selections from the kids-menu if you would have liked to stick to chicken tenders (which happen to be amazing I might add) or grilled cheese, etc. If you found something you actually liked, you could have also pre-order that for other nights. But I suppose that is dumb too.:confused:

Lido Market....was the only place we could eat and that was a hit or a miss over the 11 days too! Same food was served there as in the MDR but with a few extra dishes. However, again everything was spiced...several nights I could only eat a Cheese Plate for Dinner! Was NOT impressed by HAL food and probably because of other issues we won't cruise with them again.

Not sure if you have cruised before successfully -- good luck with those other cruise lines.

Pizza was passable. Dive IN burgers/hotdogs...Hubby said they were good I don't eat that stuff

You will have to get used to not being able to help yourself at the Lido Market either, it is serve you only! Everything was limited, cheese plates, deli meats, and only 3-4 choices of fruit....No Peaches, Pears, Grapes. Melon was the choice of the day, served with everything, and one grape per plate! Must have been a shortage of Grapes in the US because we only got one per plate...geez.

Bananas you had to grab at the beginning of breakfast or you were out of luck! none later.

There are health reasons they are assisting with serving, they are not trying to keep you from your food. The grapes were probably a garnish to decorate the plate, not the main-event as it were. As for fruit, your room-steward will fill and replenish a basket in your room with many fruit choices. There is a card in your room inside the silver bowl that explains it. Endless bananas if you wanted. Sorry you missed out. Sounds like a terrible experience, I'm so glad I haven't experienced any of these issues.

Why don't the ladies booze it up?

I for one am a wine-drinker, and the by-the -glass selections don’t do it for me. Sometimes the package doesn’t cut it, even if you do appreciate your spirits.

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Can’t you just give a medical excuse for each wife so you can just buy one package per cabin?

 

 

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Well that would be dishonest too, why can’t they skip the package or buy one for the wives and let them drink smoothies and cappuccinos to their hearts content?

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I think what they were suggesting does not break the rules as long as they are not giving any drinks to their wives. I’m pretty sure once my cruise is booked, I can sleep in someone else’s cabin if they offer too. They are looking to work the system to their advantage, but I’m not sure it’s a violation of the rules as written.

I wouldn’t bother though, after paying for the package I’m not sure if the savings would be worth it for the hassle. Every time you give your card for a dinner reservation or other item, they are going to be ‘a couple’. Not Mr. and Mrs. I would not be cool with my husband doing that at all.

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Absolutely correct but all TA do not necessarily realize this. Yesterday, my TA forwarded an upsell offer from HAL. I called the TA. She said I had to call HAL. I told her that was incorrect then I called HAL. HAL called the TA. The TA called me. I took the upsell.

Well that was efficient! [emoji6]Time to get a new TA? I think I’d be too happy about my upsell. Congrats!

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I take mine, and I couldn’t think about leaving my watch and rings at home — I’d probably continually panic I’d lost them! I did take my watch registration card and a photo of my receipts for my rings just in case I had trouble in customs, but that’s it. Used the safe if I was in a port where there was a higher risk of being mugged. Enjoy your jewelry as often as possible!

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The bigger downside to me would be the confusion in keeping track of other stateroom charges and the final bill. The additional cruise days (for each $300 spent) would also not necessarily be split equitably. Too much to think about, IMO. [emoji848]Gives me a headache.

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I loved the suggestion to try all 3, I would do the one Gala night in the MDR and the restaurants on the other nights. I’m a big fan of PG, and the lunch is a bargain. Enjoy!

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I just came off the Volendam, and it was great. However I also agree with Krazy Kruisers and give the edge to the Eurodam for Tamarind. But if you’re not someone who plans on using the upcharge-restaurants, it’s a moot point.

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There’s packing light, or packing compactly. I rely on packing cubes to organize and compact my clothes down and maximize the available space. As mentioned, wear your bulkiest items on the plane or things you don’t want squished. HAL laundry is money well spent — you can have everything that is wrinkled re-laundered and pressed. You’ll have it the next day and you will look marvellous!

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Maybe it's like those bird stickers so they don't fly into the window. Instead it's human stickers so they don't walk into the window.

I actually just thought they liked to decorate their stateroom and add a little extra-special something to it. But since you've admitted to being a clutter-free minimalist in your stateroom, I'm guessing you're not running out to buy some for your next trip. ;)

I put it in my purse, I need my book, phone and a few other things so it might as well carry the card too. The lanyard comment had me stumped too Miss G.

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No. I realized, I’m just saying that I too send back extra hangers frequently. Let other guests use them.

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Veendam is one of my favorite ships and the laundry service Dec 23017 was the best I have ever experienced in the HAL fleet. Laundry picked up by my Room Steward at 7:30 AM was returned by 3:00 PM the same day!!

 

I had the exact same experience on the Veendam as well last month. Same day turn around if I left it ready to go when I went for breakfast. Amazing.

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Certain food/drink items I can’t get onboard. But that’s a whole other thread...

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Yes, I am trying to ignore that. I think my groaning about prices is set-off by just getting my post-cruise Visa bill. I am excited though, and am now planning for some good meals onshore, and hopefully my mum is game for it. My daughter is a foodie so she is always up for me paying for dinner! [emoji23]

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No problem, enjoy your cruise. If you haven’t read about it yet, the soda-card is a great value if your kids don’t need too many specialty drinks. $25 for a $50 value. I find those cards along with paying for the occasional coffee-drink or Shirley Temple, was considerably cheaper then buying a drink package for my girls.

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3 nights in port there, getting that behind me only leaves me one sea day!

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I needed extra hangers and was brought wood ones, but was quickly inundated with wire ones once we started sending out our laundry. So as Kazu does, we did a frequent purge of hangers into the wicker basket they provide. The wire ones actually helped us hang more clothes so the extra wood ones went back to our Steward.

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There is also a wine store at 555 W. Hastings if you decide to pop out for something once you board. It is maybe 1/2 a block from where you exit the waterfront station.

 

 

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I should mention that there is an entrance on W. Cordova, you do not need to walk up a block to the Hastings entrance.

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