WriterOnDeck

I also am booked to go to Israel on the Nieuw Statendam in 2025. I don't have high expectations, but I'm on for five months (late June till late November), so I expect other changes. Many of us on the 2024 world cruise, which changed itinerary to go around Africa instead of through the Red Sea, are wondering even about the 2026 World Cruise (the 2025 has already been changed to avoid the Red Sea).

I would expect HAL to decide sooner rather than later. With so many cruise ships in the Med, it isn't easy to find an available port, as most are booked 2 years in advance.

Japan also is wonderful, so it's always a good option.

11 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

"I would be looking for a new travel agent!"

 

WriterOnDeck

 

Please read post #18, again.  My TA is not involved in this, at all!!!  She does not know that I called the Upsell Department.  I have no reason to involve her.  I am very happy with the special rates, OBC, extra's that we get through her. 😀😉

 

Sorry, I just meant that a great TA would have handled it for you from the start. I wasn't blaming yours, as you initiated the upsell process. I just want people to realize that the right TA can do a lot for you at no expense to you. And save you a bundle of time in the process.

7 hours ago, Toad said:

I will be on a 35day legendary cruise and was hoping to get one of those bags: they look great.  Are these only for people on the world cruise?  

I don't know about the Legendary cruises, as they are fairly new. But the bag has come on all the Grand cruises I've been on, not just the World. I got the same bag on the Grand South America last fall as I just got on the World.

10 hours ago, Boatdrill said:

If it was originally a travel agent booking, why isn't the TA calling HAL on your behalf ?

(just curious)   

I would be looking for a new travel agent! My travel agent handles all of this for me, and frequently gets me great upsells. She knows just what kind of cabin I want, and she knows how to negotiate with the HAL folks (she once was one, both working on a ship and in Seattle). I don't have time to spend on the phone waiting for HAL (mainly because I am already on a ship, it seems!).

Good luck, and I'm sure you'll have a great cruise regardless.

6 hours ago, retird said:

On Noordam, no separate area in dining room. Just one Club Orange item each night at bottom of regular menu

This is the experience on all the Vista class ships (Noordam, Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, Westerdam) and R Class (Zaandam, Volendam). There is a special host desk in the MDR for Club Orange and they get a different menu, with the only change the additional entree option. If you share, you frequently share a table with Club Orange passengers.

55 minutes ago, cruiseaholic78 said:

We are able to stream Netflix, we have the premium padkage.

On the world cruise, where I have the top wifi package (don't remember names from when I bought it long ago), I can stream Netflix, but I have to engage my VPN first, as Netflix will not stream to some of the parts of the earth where we are. You might give that a try, VMax1700.

5 hours ago, WCB said:

We were just eating our salads at dinnertime when Kimberly announced that one couple had not seen the officials yet and if they did not appear soon, they would face a possible fine.  How they missed the afternoon of announcements and a letter that had been sent to all of us, we sure don’t know.   They must have showed up, since we did leave the port around 9:30pm.

 

 

 

Maya told me this morning that the couple HAD gone through the process, their passports stamped and their key cards scanned and stickered. The ship's system just didn't record the scan.

4 hours ago, REOVA said:

The rise in number of 4 and 5 star mariners now has diminished the exclusive rewards (as has Club Orange), especially on longer voyages (which HAL is known for).

It's not unusual to have 60+ Presidents Club members on the world cruise, although this year I heard that about half went on the Grand Australia/NZ instead. And benefits like priority tender boarding for 4* and 5* are suspended, as there are so many aboard.

18 hours ago, RobTheGob said:

I wasn’t sure how to get the AARP benefit added to our upcoming cruise in September (booked through a big box store TA), but I saw others mentioning sending an email to reservations_submit@hollandamerica.com.

 

I sent an email late Thursday afternoon (Pacific time) and received a reply within 15 minutes stating that the OBC credit had been applied! Very fast & easy!

 

I really liked how the Stockperks worked - also very easy. Mind you - in the past all I did was send and email and wait, so not exactly difficult.

Per the rules, you have to have your AARP membership linked to HAL before you book a cruise. The OBC does not apply to already booked cruises, just future bookings. Then it is appears -- easy peasy. I also found that once you have registered with StockPerks and downloaded its app, it is a very simple process.

3 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

That's fine, I need access to pretty much everything. Where can I upgrade the service though?

I believe you can do it through Guest Services once you are on board.

Also, just be prepared for variances in service speed and quality. It's not likely to be like on land.

Here's what my Speedtest app just reported for me. We are in the Mozambique Channel between Mozambique in east Africa and Madagascar (world cruise, Zuiderdam). I'm sure the results depend a lot on where in the world you are. We've had slower internet generally in the Indian Ocean than before since the cruise started Jan. 3.

This is why I always book with a TA. The price is the same or lower, and my TA goes to bat for me when I want an upsell or other support in getting a better cabin. (For example, for my holiday cruise I had booked an inside and saw a couple of months out that the cruise wasn't selling out, so my TA got HAL to upgrade me to an obstructed ocean view cabin -- the same one I had booked for the following cruise -- at no additional charge.)

Regardless of how you book, it's always a risk to book a guarantee where you wouldn't be satisfied with any cabin in that category. If its a big price savings, then just know that you may not love the location but you love having the extra money in your pocket. It's all in the attitude imho. I'm sure you will love Alaska!

6 hours ago, RuthC said:

The Volendam has larger cabins, in comparable categories, than the Zuiderdam (currently being used for this year's World Cruise) has. It is also true that there is more storage in the various cabin categories. Last year, World Cruisers on the Zuiderdam had a hard time storing all the things they need for a complete World Cruise. This year, the Hotel Manager ordered some additional portable stacks of drawers to help alleviate the storage problem, but not all cabins have room for them, and there aren't enough for every cabin. 
Storage matters a lot on the World Cruise, as there are formal nights in addition to the customary dressy and smart casual nights. There are also special events, such as balls, costume parties, and of course there is Orange Night. 

I encourage you to read The Inside Cabin's blog of the cruise, and there is also an excellent one by Writer On Deck. I also read a couple of others that are not posted to Cruise Critic, but could be also be helpful. One of them is very thorough, by John & Sharon Good. Perhaps you can locate it with a search; I get it by email, so don't have the URL for you. 

Thanks, Ruth. Pete (Inside Cabin) posts a link to all the blogs for the current world cruise on his website: https://www.theinsidecabin.com/world_cruise_blogs/. I have stopped posting updates for my blog on Cruise Critic as it just takes a lot of time and most people seem to just subscribe on my website.

I'm on my second world cruise now on the Zuiderdam and earlier sailed on the Amsterdam (same class as Volendam). I also just finished before this cruise the 73-day Grand South America/Antarctica on the Zaandam, so know about the enetertainment on both classes.

Both ships have the World Stage for nightly entertainment, 2 shows a night. Entertainers come and go throughout the cruise, with most doing 2 different shows. Mixture of music, comedy and specialty acts (magic, etc.) In addition they have the company singers and dancers -- they are doing about 18 different shows this year, and a band for the World Stage. The band also plays during some of the sail-aways on the aft Lido deck.

In addition, on the Volendam, you can expect a band in the Ocean Bar, a piano player/singer in the piano bar and a classical duo or trio in the Explorer's lounge. (The Zuiderdam moves the band to the Rolling Stone and has a jazz trio in the Ocean Bar, plus a piano duo instead of a single piano.)

I wouldn't worry about the age of the ship. HAL keeps them in good condition and they cycle through drydock every few years. Comments about room storage are correct. The Volendam will have more ocean view cabins and fewer verandahs.

Of course, all HAL staff are wonderful, but the World (and the grands) seem to have the best. Lots of interaction with the officers, from the captain on down. A real family.

12 hours ago, josumello said:

We changed our clocks 1/2 hour in Adelaide Australia 

And Darwin

On 3/24/2024 at 8:57 AM, Scrapnana said:

I went to Shore Excursions about the one they wouldn’t let me on with the rollator and was told it had been taken off my account.

 

 

Kathi, so glad to read about your adventures back on a dam ship! One thing I have learned is that shorex usually has one manager who specializes in knowing the "accessible" details about excursions. When I fractured my kneecap on the 2023 world cruise, they went over each of the excursions I had booked with more detail than in the description eg number of steps, number of stairs, etc. Once I may more ambulatory, they even emailed a tour operator asking for a photo of the access to a boat. It really helped me to be able to decide ahead of time what I could do.

2 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

What time did you arrive in HCMC?   What time did they tell you to meet for the return? Where did they drop you off?  What time did you get back?  
 

Did you get continuous commentary enroute? Or only answers to questions?  
 

I didn't get a current taxi fare quote, but I think it was around $150 USD round trip. 

We left about 8:10 am. There were four buses, and I was on the third. We arrived about 9:40 am at the Bitexco Financial Tower, the tallest in district 1 downtown. Our guides did not give a running commentary on the drive in, but gave some detail as we got closer. When we arrived, they directed us to the restrooms in the building (modern), ATMs and to the ticket counter to go to the skydeck (which I didn't). On the drive they handed out maps of downtown with a few sites marked, with the dropoff/pickup spot clearly marked and filled in with our departure time of 2:30 pm. (The bus after us had a 2:40 pickup time.) The map also had phone numbers for the guides. They answered any questions.

A couple was about 20 minutes late in returning. Christel (Henk's wife, retired guest services manager) was on the bus and checked the list we had filled out earlier (name, birth date) as we circled the block waiting. On the return trip, we stopped for a 15-minute bathroom stop. I didn't get off so don't know the condition of the toilets. For some reason after our stop they decided to play loud music for the rest of the drive, so no more chance to sleep.

I thought it was a great way to get into the city, which I had visited before. I felt comfortable walking around on my own.

on top that soe went t

Just FYI, I took the transfer, along with enough people for 4 buses (not packed). It was a great day, especially if you have been to HCMC before. Most people headed to the market or the post office areas, and a bunch of us ended up at the rooftop garden at the Rex Hotel for a nice afternoon.

Just FYI, a feature of the world cruise is that the menu doesn't repeat for 128 days. Of course a lot of the individual items do, which is just fine with me.

Here's Holland America's press release from last fall when the company announced the event. It will answer lots of questions:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cake-me-away-presents-pastry-team-favorites-in-new-dessert-extravaganza-for-guests-on-holland-america-line-cruises-301991185.html

At our recent formal dinner on the world cruise, I was hosted by the pastry chef (who wants a senior officer when you can dine with the pastry chef?!). He said it has been very popular, among passengers and among his team of chefs.

Rich, you'll love Florin! He was the HGM on the Grand South America/Antarctica a few months ago and is one of the best! Very friendly and outgoing. Keep enjoying your cruise -- and I hope you went ashore in Waitangi. It's beautiful, interesting and very historical. Too bad we missed the port when I sailed on the Westerdam in 2022 with you.

I will look forward to your reports! I sailed on the Wind Star and the Wind Spirit five times in the mid 1990s -- transAtlantics between Madeira or Lisbon and Barbados -- 14 days each with no stops until it was time to depart. I loved those voyages -- especially in those pre-Internet days when my boss could not reach me! We usually had no more than 60 or maybe 80 passengers (once 29), and when they bought the Wind Surf we thought it was entirely too big!

Bon Voyage!!!

6 hours ago, richwmn said:

 

Today is our last day with Captain Bart Vaartjes. He has been aboard for the last two months and has been very approachable. He is out and around the ship most days and I have enjoyed his announcements. I was happy when he told me he would be the Captain of Westerdam when I board in September.

 

Sounds like you will be on Majestic Japan, Rich -- I'll look forward to sailing with you again!

35 minutes ago, SDARCH said:

@WriterOnDeck Congrats on the Platinum Medallion -  lots of amazing memories to get there!!!  Smart to reserve a table.  Rumors that the MDR crew switched at the end of the GWV.  Any truth to that?  We had zero issues other than the MDR.

Some switched, but not most. They do stagger them. And due to the large number of people boarding, a lot of crew I know who had planned to leave in Fort Lauderdale were asked to stay at least through the first post-GWV segment.

2 minutes ago, SDARCH said:

Was that the May Fort Lauderdale to Rotterdam TA on the Zuiderdam?  We had the absolute worse experience with the MDR.  It was complete chaos.  The C.O. podium was useless since it was serving all three lines. 3 days in, we switched to the Lido for dinner - we had NEVER eaten in the Lido for dinner before and we have been on a few HA cruises....got our Bronze Medallion on that voyage.

Also, we learned A LONG time ago...if you want a glass of wine at dinner....bring it with you.  Didn't ruin our cruise though....we adapted and had a blast.

Yes. We expected it would be crazy and had arranged a reserved table for anytime dining before the GWV ended. And I got my Platinum Medallion on the post GWV voyage!

11 minutes ago, Navybikermom said:

I tried to get a single cabin on the Rotterdam but it was cheaper to get a regular inside and pay double the fare. That’s the one beef I have with cruise lines - their solo price “penalty”. 

As a single, I agree. But as a Carnival shareholder and retired corporate type, I understand the rationale. As a single I pay double the "per person" price doubles pay for hotel rooms. And yes, food is included on the ship. But HAL loses the opportunity cost of that second person's spending on shore excursions, drinks, specialty restaurants, casino gambling, on board shop sales, spa services, etc. As long as singles pony up the money, it won't likely change.

I was encouraged to hear HAL president Gus Antorcha comment on the world voyage this week that it might be worth looking into awarding double Mariner points for those who pay double the rate under the single policy (it's not always double, though). Similar to the double points for suites. I would have loved that when I was working on higher Mariner stars. But now it doesn't matter for me, as nothing to achieve with more Mariner points.