SSBrickNJ

I've booked a HAL Cruise from Copenhagen to Norway and then back to Copenhagen. Aug. 2,2023 to Aug. 9, 2023 I put a $700 REfundable deposit for my wife and I. Refundable until May 4th. The problem is that flights form our area airports Newark NJ (EWR ) or Philadelphia (PHL) are so expensive. Yet flights into Norway itself are a much greater value. Are there cruises that leave FROM and return to Norway? We would like our cruise to start no earlier than August 1st and it must conclude by August 18th. A 7 night cruise would be perfect but I'm open to learn about slightly longer. Certainly NOT a 2 week cruise though. HAL cruises would be good but I'd entertain suggestions from other cruise lines as well.

Thank you. Here it is.... https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/nieuw-statendam-1179/grand-dutch-cafe-420901/grand-dutch-cafe--v18662548/

Thank you. You inspired me to do a search and I found this... https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/onboard-activities/cruise-activities/bbc-earth-experiences.html

The theater on the website looks modern and big. Why have such a theater unless you are going to do something worthy of attracting a decent sized audience. I look forward to additional feedback...thanks! 🙂

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned that I should not expect main theater shows like I am used to on Royal Caribbean. That's ok...yet....what SHOULD I expect to be able to see or experience in the main theater? 🤔

Orange you glad you know how to share links to help inquisitive people like me?

Wow! This Epic Lido Market is FAR SUPERIOR to Royal Caribbean's Windjammer Cafe. I am so thrilled with the wide variety of delicious options that are presented!

I just found this. The Buffet location on the ship is called "Epic Lido Market?" LOL....I'm posting it first, then I'll watch it immediately after I hit "Submit Reply" Fast forward past the first 40 seconds of the video and then it focuses on the cruise ship's buffet offerings... *

Everything you said is very helpful. Not sure about the "orange party" though 😁

After your glowing rave review of the ship and the financial value, I feel so blessed that my wife and I have a reservation for this early August. Misc. questions: What are the Fahrenheit temperatures that are typical for the first week of August? Will men wear shorts now and then or should I plan on dockers or jeans? I always enjoyed the help yourself buffet breakfast on Royal Caribbean ship ( Windjammer Buffet) ...........( Yet our last sailing was PRE Covid) What is HAL's version of the Windjammer Buffet? A nice spread? Self serve or are there staff members who serve your choices onto your plate?

My wife's job will not allow her to be away for a 14 day period. She and I are not retired. Thanks for taking the time to post on my thread.

I will probably do that sir, but I really enjoy the interaction on threads I create. I'm hoping many will share their thoughts with me here. Thanks! Steve

I placed a $700 REfundable Deposit (refundable up until May 4th) for a cruise on NEW STATENDAM....cruise dates are Wed. 8/2/23 through Wed. 8/9/23 It starts and concludes in Copenhagen Denmark. The majority of what we'll get to experience is in Norway. * * So those are the basics. Please tell me all the reasons I should be excited. I am excited, but I'm a Royal Caribbean Cruiser and this will be my wife and I's first HAL Cruise. Feel free to share anything about the ports of call, the ship, the dining, the theater. I'd be grateful to hear from anyone about whatever they wish to share. Thanks! Steve ( from Brick Township NJ / USA )

Nope. Thanks for posting ! Aug 2 thru Aug. 9 Then we gotta go home 🙂

I called Holland America and said "Yes" to the 24 hour courtesy hold I arranged yesterday. The deposit is due Jan. 2nd. I'm choosing the REfundable deposit. I'm willing to pay a higher fare for the peace of mind to be able to cancel for a full deposit refund....I have up to May 4th to cancel.

I called Holland America and said "Yes" to the 24 courtesy hold I set up last night. 7 Day Cruise out of Copenhagen Denmark. My wife and I are in a 5th floor inner stateroom. Out the Door Price for the 7 day cruise $2098 Good value and a nice itinerary re. seeing Norway. Cruise will be early August 2023

Thanks for posting on my thread. I want to have fun yet I need to be budget savvy as well. This was my attempt at considering a Viking River Cruise... Tap on the red "x"...then at the next screen that is presented...tap on that screen's red "x" as well.....

I called Princess today. Their phone rep had no clue about this... https://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-destinations/europe-cruises/europe-cruise-tips/activities/see-the-amazing-swiss-alps-and-lake-como.html * I could not share it like I am here. I could just read it...describe it, etc. After 2 minutes it was clear I was wasting my time....so I said: "Let's forget this Princess online specific site and approach my phone call this way: DOES Princess have ANY cruise which has an itinerary that includes a train excursion to Switzerland? He said things like: " I don't know. I don't do excursions. What ship are you interested in?" Oh well. I post this so others who ever come across this thread will not bother to pursue the link I posted earlier and now once again here in Post 14. If you want to see Swiss Alps or Switzerland in general...normal cruising is not the answer. Fly there....or do a river cruise. I shopped an 8 day Viking River Cruise. For my wife and I it came to $6,998! Ouch! Not gonna do that.

I did receive an email with an attachment displaying that my deposit is due Jan. 2nd. There is nothing in that attachment stating I have to call within 24 hours. That info is based on what the agent verbally said.

One drawback is my wife really likes the cruise...and....she appreciates that the price is very fair. BUT....the drawback is she plugged in the dates re. the airfare. We can fly out of Newark NJ (EWR) or out of Philadelphia (PHL) She says the air fares are really high....as if we were flying to Indonesia instead of just flying to Copenhagen. I suggested we pay the Refundable Deposit for the Cruise rather than the cheaper Non refundable Deposit....then we wait for the airfare prices to drop. We have until May 4th before we have to pay the cruise balance. She was non committal re. that. Thoughts anyone?

That's ok. Thanks for posting! I'm pretty sure I understood the agent correctly. Say "yes" tomorrow...yet it is ok to defer the credit card deposit until Jan. 2nd.

90 minutes ago I worked w/ a nice HAL phone rep. to create a 24 hour courtesy hold on Stateroom K5024 on board Nieuw Statendam. My guess is "Nieuw" is pronounced "New"....and my guess is "Statendam" is pronounced "Stah- ten- dahm". How did I do? 🤔 * So, please help me to clarify this..... I'm told it is a 24 hold but my deposit is not due until Jan. 2nd between 8am and 4:30pm Seattle/Pacific Time. So it seems that tomorrow I have to call and say "Yes"....but actually my "Yes" has no financial commitment until I call on Jan. 2nd and give the credit card for the deposit. Do I understand that correctly? * I DO have to call tomorrow or my "mock booking" I did today is purged from their system? Yet I can defer the deposit until Jan. 2nd? Thanks everyone for your anticipated help on this thread! 🙂 Steve

So I saw that Post #27's link WAS the Aug. 2nd Cruise. I called Holland America and the nice agent helped me select Stateroom K5024 A price I'm happy with and an itinerary that my wife and I like. Denmark and Norway. I'm very excited! So glad I posted here on Cruise Critic!

We are middle trim kinda cruisers. Not Carnival or Euro versions of that....but not Queen Victoria or high brow stuff either. I will look into Viking Sagas on August 2nd and I will open the link in Post #27 as well. Thanks everyone!!!!!!!! 🙂

I'm sure it is amazing. We do not have the vacation time or the money for a 14 day cruise.