daisy-mae

It may not be new, but HAL seems to have taken things up a notch by introducing better equipment by way of a genuine portable pickleball net (as opposed to the makeshift net that was on the Zuiderdam in 2019) and good quality paddles. We don't seek out pickleball venues mainly for exercise but rather as a form of daytime entertainment and a way to meet other like-minded guests.

Pickleball playing makes one thirsty...:) Someone suggested that HAL has to attract new customers; pickleball is one of the fastest growing racquet sports in North America, and players are constantly seeking new venues to enjoy the sport. The cruise line could exploit the niche.

Another plus is the addition of pickleball.

Agreed, it does sound like an entirely different experience, with an entirely different price point for those who may not be interested in a suite, unlimited drinks, or a segregated ship-within-a-ship experience. We are not big drinkers, nor are we intrigued by the possibility of tasting caviar, so rather than choose to pay $450 x 2 per day, and subsidize our fellow passengers who enjoy unlimited alcohol and all of the other perks, we choose to allocate our leisure funds to more economical yet (for us) just as enjoyable vacation options. And in that regard, HAL seems to fit the bill, at least for the time being. I guess it's a matter of "whatever floats your boat" 🙂

We recently sailed on the Zuiderdam and were disappointed to learn that the taco bar was not an option (likely due to health reasons). The equipment is still in place, but not being used. As for snacks, rather than rely on the gift shop, I usually pack a tube of Pringles or Stax (fits easily along one edge inside a suitcase), as well as a few bags of nuts, and replenish as needed when in port.

What I find puzzling is her son's assertion that jewelry has gone missing form his mother's cabin. Unless he is on the ship, or knows exactly what valuables she had with her, how could he know what is missing?

" I'm pretty sure that you would not be denied boarding if you arrived after your assigned time, so long as it was before the cut-off time. As to an early arrival, there have been numerous accounts of folks simply ignoring the time that they were given and boarding at their convenience.

Same scenario in our case. Our booked cruise was cancelled and we asked for a full refund. A short time later we were called and asked if we wished to book another cruise. We declined, as it was too soon and things were in flux. The casino offer arrived within about a year after the call.

There is at least one cruise line that provides a scale near the purser's desk on the day before debarkation so that guests can weigh their luggage before leaving.

We were on a Med cruise with MSC a few years ago. I guess the prices must be attractive to school groups as there was a gang of marauding teens running up and down the hallways at all hours of the night - with the monitors/chaperones nowhere to be found. Repeated calls to security were useless as the kids kept outrunning them.

On our recent Zuiderdam cruise there was a block of time and a separate venue set aside for help with Navigator and other IT problems. The service was available for the first two days of the cruise. We were given excellent help with issues related to our internet connection.

Thanks for a comprehensive, even-handed review. The comments about the entertainment were spot on. On a recent Zuiderdam cruise, all of the evening activities revolved around the Rolling Stone Lounge and nearby Billboard on Board, with spillover from the casino crowding the venue. Our attempt to escape the crowd and create our own fun was stymied when we discovered that the ping-pong balls and paddles had been removed from the covered pool deck so as not to interfere with the Orange party taking place 5 decks below. 😞 The photo lab has moved to facial recognition but the software is in dire need of some major tweaking. We were only able to recover three of the dozen or so photos that were taken, and a server outage halfway through the cruise made things even more difficult for the staff. As to the retreat cabanas, I wholeheartedly agree with the description.

The Zuiderdam also has a court as well as a decent portable net and paddles.

So what about the folks who commit to paying what the cruise line is asking, then agitate for a better rate when the price drops (and even advise others on strategies to get a better price)? How is that different from paying the taxes and port fees to secure a stateroom that may go empty or may be priced at a lower rate in order to fill the ship?

All very good points. With respect to formal dress, I think the changes in the airlines' baggage policy may have had something to do with the trend towards more informal attire. Those tuxedos and gowns are lovely, but when luggage space is at a premium, they are likely the first to go.

We were on the Zuiderdam last month. There was a happy hour every day from 4 to 5pm, but only in two of the bars. Drinks were discounted 50%.

Our PCC found us a suitable cabin when we agreed to book. We could have opted for an upgrade to a veranda but decided against it as we felt that we likely would not be able to take full advantage given the time of the year. Plus the price that was quoted for the upgrade negated any savings that we could benefit from with the "free" offer.

We've just returned from a casino cruise to Alaska. The offer was not quite as generous as yours - a free obstructed view cabin but only $50 in casino cash. We paid the port taxes and $250 CDN for the onboard credit, which was converted to US$200 on our shipboard account. At no point were we charged the full amount on our credit card. We made the arrangements through the PCC identified on the offer and were able to select the least obstructed ocean view cabin.

As someone who was fortunate to have a free cabin on our recent Alaska cruise, I would say that our service was far from budget. Both of our stewards were delightful and eager to please. Maybe it depends on one's attitude?...

And you know that because?...

Good to know. No reason for us to fell slighted, then 🙂

We were on the Sept. 21 sailing of the Zuiderdam and discovered when reading the "When and Where" that the Mariner Society Welcome Aboard Lunch had taken place on embarkation day. We have attended Mariner lunches in the past, usually part way through the cruise. Having had no prior notice of the event (nothing in our stateroom, nor in our pre-boarding info), we did not attend.

You can also make a phone reservation from your stateroom after you board.

We had open seating on a recent Alaska cruise. Once on board I called the dining room to reserve for that evening and later discovered that the same table and dining time had automatically been assigned to us for the rest of the voyage.

Apologies if this is a dumb question. Is it possible to drop off our bags an hour before our assigned boarding time? We are embarking in Vancouver. Thanks