roses313

We are doing the Barcelona signature experience in October prior to the Oosterdam TA and were informed about 2 weeks ago the hotel is the Melia Barcelona Sarria. Hope this helps,

Browsing through the ship library was a must on embarkation day. Often found something of interest. Since libraries are either gone or going, now bring my reader, plus a few paperbacks which I buy at whatever city we are leaving from. See no need to carry them on the plane. I leave the books on the ship.

In the past have struck up some very interesting conversations with folks on the ship when they either comment on the book I was reading or I comment on their book. That can't happen when everyone is into a reader. Times they have changed.

We have been offered this package in Barcelona for an October cruise. Don't really know if it is that good a deal. We would like to go to Barcelona for 4 days , rather than just the 2 days. The 2 extra days would be at our own expense. At this point HAL is unable to confirm which hotel and advises we are on a "wait list" for the extra days and will not indicate which Barcelona hotel or the availability of extra days only within 75 days of the cruise!

So, how are we to make travel arrangements...air travel, and the extra hotel nights? Do we make backup hotel reservations for the 4 nights ( somewhere with a cancellation policy), and where in Barcelona is the HAL hotel? Is it out of the city proper and therefore the need for transportation into the tourist area? What is the quality of the HAL hotel?

For all these reasons, and the uncertainty perhaps it is not such a good deal. There really isn't such a thing as a "free lunch". What is the experience of others and what advice do you have?

Stay on the ship and enjoy the day. Would not even think of venturing beyond the enclosed port area. Had a very terrifying incident just beyond the port gate. The police (if that's what they were) just looked the other way. We went back to the ship and said "never again". Wouldn't doubt it if cruise ships soon stop going to any port in Jamaica.

Definitely the Dutch pea soup...always very good.

In the MDR on a recent Zuiderdam cruise there was liver on the menu. I had never seen it on a HAL menu so tried it. What a pleasant surprise it was absolutely delicious. Another pax at our table also had it and had a similar reaction.

Love roses, used to grow them in my garden and I just like the numbers.

Happy Anniversary and all the very best. So good to hear HAL not only met, but also exceeded your expectations.

We are also booked on the Oosterdam transatlantic in Oct.

Interesting discussion.

We always do anytime dining and enjoy meeting and talking to other cruisers. Over the years we have met fantastic folks, from different backgrounds, countries and experiences. The location on our cabins may only come up in casual conversation..."spent most of the afternoon reading on my balcony". Never have we or anyone drilled us on our cabin or its location.

On a recent HAL cruise, which was not sold out, folks had purchased the cruise for "bargain prices" at the last minute and were bragging about how little they paid, while we who must contend with air travel do not have the option of booking last, last minute. Some of the braggers got to be quite annoying.

As for out and out snobbery, well I would say, yes it does exist on the ship, but in very subtle ways. The most blatant snobbery we experienced was on a Celebrity cruise where people were obsessed with their free drink tickets and the cocktail reception for elite cruisers. Since it was our first (and last) Celerity cruise can't say it was a "one of" for that cruise, or common place.

In my opinion, elitism, to some degree exists on Cruise Critic. Sometimes subtle and perhaps not intentional, while in some cases it is in your face elitism.

Interesting reading your post of the trip. We enjoyed spending some of those "90 minutes each day" in the Pinnacle Bar with you and Karen...good times..lots of laughs.

Enjoy your upcoming Veendam cruise and look forward to your report.

Just off the same cruise and we were very pleased with the "new look" of the Zuiderdam. The decor in the Lido was clean and bright. The carpets throughout the common areas were very modern and pleasing to the eye.

The deck chairs on the Promenade deck were an eyesore...not inviting at all. Yes, in our daily walk noticed many broken chairs, and for the cushions...well I wouldn't sit on one of them.

We found disembarkation to be a chaos. We always go "Expedited" and usually it's not very congested. This time thought the entire ship was trying to get off at the same time. Even saw folks who had tags for a different time, but decided at the last minute to get off early. Had concern about the number of ships in port on Sunday, and the end of the Thanksgiving holiday, but the airport went quite quickly. Seemed they had a lot of staff, which was good.

All in all a good cruise.

Just off the Zuiderdam and I too noticed the Pinnacle 25% discount to all cruisers. If this kind of offer is now being made to the general population, then HAL should do a bit better for the 3 star Mariners.

We were booked into Pier 66 for our November cruise, but have changed to the Renaissance.

Just got our docs for 11 day Zuiderdam cruise next month...2 Gala nights.

We always looked forward to the special buffets around the pool. There was a very festive atmosphere with local musicians. The last one we experienced was last October on the Westerdam as the ship left Cabo. Great food, including a roasted pig. The sunset was awesome, which added to the atmosphere.

Too bad HAL can't/won't find their way to making whatever adjustments are necessary. It was a great cruise experience.

We are also on the cruise. We have been in SY's on 8 in previous cruises and have never had an issue with Lido noise. As someone has already stated...real easy access to the Lido, with no need to wait for the crowded morning elevators. We are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with all the American cruisers.

We prefer Pier 66 to all other hotels in the 17th St area. Beautiful grounds, good walk over the causeway. In fact we were just there in early August for a bit of a getaway. We have reservations for mid-November prior to our Zuiderdam cruise. Hope our reservation is transferred over, but all the same will check.

So glad I found your posting. I look forward to "joining" you on your cruise. We have been on the Eurodam, and just love the ship. We have also done a Vancouver to Hawaii cruise, and are also booked on the circle Hawaii on the Westrdam next April, so look forward to your opinions and reading your very interesting stories.

This past June we did the Veendam from Boston to Bermuda. There is much to do and see in Bermuda, so the days go by quickly. You really get the opportunity to do far more than the usual one day in a port. What's nice about docking in downtown Hamilton is you have the opportunity to have dinner on shore, or go for an after dinner walk along Front St. Every Wednesday evening in the summer there is a street festival on Front St., so just get off the ship and you are right in the middle of it. It was our first time in Bermuda, and by having the few days there we came away feeling we had really got a good overview of the island. You will not be bored.

The Veendam is an older ship, no doubt about it, but has a lot of good features as well.

Enjoy your cruise.

If it is in your budget, I would highly recommend a verandah. There is nothing like going out on the verandah first thing in the morning ( providing the weather is OK) and just looking out at the ocean. On a Hawaii cruise, there would be a real advantage to seeing the islands from the comfort of your own balcony. Mind you, each to his/her own, but in my opinion a balcony is a "must" on all cruises. J.

Will definitely be following along with you on your cruise. We did the Honolulu to Vancouver cruise on Celebrity 2 years ago in April. As someone posted in the 5 days from Hawaii to Vancouver, the weather changed considerably. It was very rough (pool chairs tied down), and a real change in temperature. We anticipated the cooler temps and had come prepared with appropriate clothes.

We loved the cruise so much, booked with Holland America for their circle Hawaii from Vancouver for next April.

Have a great cruise, enjoy Hawaii and know you will be having many folks following along with you.

We were on the June10th Boston/Bermuda cruise. Our Pinnacle dinner was not a pleasant experience. I agree with much that has been posted...indifferent manager, serving staff made basic serving errors. The entire staff acted/carried on as though we were imposing on their chatting/socializing with each other. I wrote a scathing report on the HAL survey.

There was a thread in either late June/early July about the Pinnacle on the Veendam.

Always bring my own shampoo and bar soap. Once I decided to use the Elemis shampoo and conditioner...just to give it a try. Went to dinner and was scratching my scalp, which had become very itchy. Had to wash it all out of my hair before going bed. Decided not to even try the body gel. Stick to my own products. Meanwhile DH has no problem with the products provided.

We are booked on the Zuiderdam for the November 15, 2017 cruise. Really looking forward to seeing the renovations and the "new look'.

Good to hear you put on a brave face and took the cruise.

We were on the June 7th Veendam Bermuda cruise and like you must say our experience in the Pinnacle was the worst we have ever experienced. The manager was not welcoming and we felt we were just a big inconvenience by being there. The servers made several basic mistakes ie reaching across the table to serve. We thought the food was only so-so. All in all we would have been better by going elsewhere.

We were on the Veendam cruise to Bermuda in June. Agree with everything in "taxmantoo's" brief and to the point review, but we did not bring our own wine.