daisy-mae

We once watched as pool hogs used paperback books to reserve their loungers, then couldn't resist a smile when, a few minutes later, a sudden downburst made papier maché out of their reading material.

Well that only makes sense - you've already paid for the privilege with the drink package 🙂

I'm way ahead of you on that one...

So there would be no corkage fee if guests were to consume the alcohol in their cabin?

The sports deck is about to become a dedicated pickleball court, and is bound to be well used (weahter permitting). https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/this-cruise-line-is-going-all-in-on-pickleball/ar-AA15jEW4

Yes, I had a sticker on my card. I had no trouble getting a drink with the card; the only problem was with the timing. Enjoy your cruise 🙂

I had a free drinks at the casino offer when on the Zuiderdam last fall. When I signed in on the first day, the cashier suggested that I go to the bar myself to order my drinks. It took me awhile to understand why, but I eventually figured it out. For a server to deliver a drink he/she needs to have your keycard; since the card is required to record your slot play, any points earned while it is out of the machine will not be counted. The one time that I tried it the machine appeared to reset, so I was extra careful when ordering a beverage.

We took our folding Bike Friday bikes on a Norwegian cruise to Bermuda about 10 years ago. At the time we were required to sign a waiver and the bikes had to be kept in our stateroom. That particular cruise included two nights in port, which made the bikes very convenient for exploring the island. Although they fold, the bikes do take up space, specially in a regular sized cabin. I would want to research the length of time for each port of call and the type of access from the port (industrial zone, busy roadways, etc.) plus the airline charges for extra luggage (if flying to embarkation point) before deciding whether or not to repeat the experience.

A failed experiment? There were issues with the server as well as the face recognition technology when we were on the Zuiderdam in September. Although it's fun to browse the photographs on display, it's a bit of a step backwards in terms of waste and the environmental impact.

Hi there - welcome to Cruise Critic. You might have better luck on the Roll Call page. Just click on your cruise date and post your message. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/227-noordam-roll-calls/ Have fun!

The cruises that are eligible for casino offers are not unlimited - there is a specified number of dates, and itineraries, usually off-peak or off-season, and the free staterooms are the less desirable ones. It seems to me that it would be an advantage for the crew to have a ship that is either at or near full capacity, as this would be reflected in the "crew appreciation" charges (which the casino offers do not cover).

You could try pr@hollandamerica.com I found the following contacts online: CONTACT: Bill Zucker, Erik Elvejord PHONE: 800-637-5029, 206-626-9890

The paddles take a lot of use/abuse so I would suggest that you bring your own, as well as a few balls.

Before Pickleball's surge in popularity on HA ships we simply arranged to play at a certain time with like-minded guests. It sounds like there is now more scheduled play, so hopefully the cruise director will look in from time to time just to keep things running smoothly.

Specially if the non-smokers currently have to access their special room via the main casino.

I guess they realized that with fewer entertainment options the guests needed something to lure them out of their staterooms (and open their wallets).

Just wondering if there is any advantage (or discount) when pre-purchasing casino chips?

Great news! Many active and energetic seniors have embraced the sport. It just seems logical that HAL has recognized the keen interest of its customer base.

My DH would like to know which hotels.... 🙂

What if you were to pack an empty bottle in your luggage? Any chance that you would be called down to the naughty room if no liquid were detected?

Well it looks like I have opened a can of worms...My comment related to the statement made by terrydtx about an insurance claim that was paid even though he had not been ill; my guess was that he coverage included both parties as travel companions, and one's claim automatically covered the other. Then bennybear set the cat among the pigeons by mentioning volcanoes - likely tongue-in-cheek - and everything went off the rails. In the case of our coverage, and in the interest of keeping the discussion flowing, if lava were to set fire to the home of the folks with whom we were hoping to stay, then we would be covered for alternate lodging arrangements, or possibly cancellation (but I would have to verify that).

Good to hear. We have a similar travel insurance policy - it covers us if our travel companions' plans change or affect our travels, and we are also covered if we can no longer lodge with our intended hosts at our destination.

We have learned that it is possible to reserve ahead for anytime dining once we are on board; on our last cruise on the Zuiderdam we were offered the option of keeping the same table and dining time for the duration of the cruise.

Thanks for the tip. I just gave it a try; it's marginally better but still bounced me around through various screens with escalating fares. I guess that's the best we can hope for.

When it comes to online booking (or shopping for that matter), what is most frustrating is the inability to determine the exact price without going through the entire process. What matters to me is basically the bottom line, or what I will have to pay once the dust settles. For the past few days we have been trying to book a flight south to visit friends. The airline website provides a "teaser" price for the dates that we input, then offers a variety of tiers that do not resemble the original fare. Then come the various add-ons, taxes, fees, etc., and four or five screens later, a final tally that is way beyond our (admittedly naïve) expectations. It would be so much easier if we could simply be given a ball-park figure at the outset. I believe that online merchandise retailers collect statistics on "abandoned shopping carts" , or transactions that are not completed. It would be interesting to know if the travel industry is taking notice of similar trends.