WriterOnDeck

Last year I stayed on for the TA after the GWV, and the ship was packed. 1,000 had Have It All, which also really slows down things because of the individual wine orders in the MDR. I think there are two issues. One is the staffing level. I was on the Zuiderdam for the 2023 holiday cruise between the Grand Africa and the Grand World. We had more than 2,000 passengers, with just 1,200 for the GWV (and I assume a similar lower number for the GA). It's probably not reasonable to add staff for an 11-day cruise, so the MDR staff was really stretched. Before the holiday cruise I was on the Zaandam for the Grand South America/Antarctica. The ship was far from full, but the restaurant managers said they knew the stewards would be shocked with a suddenly full ship for its holiday cruise. It could be the same for the TA after the GWV. Also, the number of people in the MDR can really fluctuate depending on whether it was a busy port day (thus tired cruisers might just go to the Lido instead of dressing for the MDR). You shouldn't have as much of a problem in fixed dining, particularly the later option.

I've never sailed in a single cabin, but have heard that even with the single upcharge, a regular cabin can be cheaper, plus a lot more inventory to choose from (thus more competitive pricing).

That Westerdam was big -- and had been stretched after HAL bought it. It was a totally different design from other HAL ships (eg no Crow's Nest), and was my first cruise, too. I sailed on her three times, the last being her final HAL cruise.

For the current world cruise, which started in early January, I got my first upsell offer on Aug. 8. My travel agent was surprised one came so soon -- even before final payment was due -- and recommended I wait for the offer to improve (which I did). And that's the benefit of having a great travel agent. She knows what I am likely to want and keeps her eyes open. If, like this fall, I am on a short B2B cruise before a grand cruise and don't like my cabin category, she reaches out to HAL to see what upsell options are open. My new modus operandi is to book a cabin I will be very happy with, but look for upsell opportunities, especially when it is a cruise that is unlikely to sell out.

Good to see you are up to posting, at least, Diane! And of course thankful for the benign status and excellent surgery and care. I'll look forward to seeing you on the 2025 World -- with Capt. Frank and Henk as Gus announced earlier this week. Best wishes for a fast and smooth recovery!

Now would be considered a little late for a full choice of summer 2024 ship excursions. But in most ports you can explore on your own on foot or pick up whale-watching tours once you step on shore. So just know that going in. The odds are you'll love Alaska cruising so much that you'll do it again, and again!

He did speak to that. He said: It is worth making a decision soon. The challenge is its a lot of Africa again if the Red Sea is closed. Is there a way to zip around Africa faster and do more in the Med -- we are looking at it. Later he indicated the decision would be made soon, like "now." I took that to mean in a month-ish or so. I did feel he understood the need to decide sooner not later. He asked who thought the Red Sea would be open in a year and fewer than a half-dozen people raised their hands. Almost everyone raised their hands thinking it won't be open. Other news: Capt. Frank and Hotel Director Henk for the 2025 GWV (I am assuming they will go back to the one captain for the world model), and it will be Henk's last work cruise. Capt. Rens van Eerten and Hotel Director Florin Dragomir will be on P2P.

I think the ship layout and size affects the ability to have a party. On the Zuiderdam the Lido pool area only holds about half the passengers, it seems. Almost impossible to find a seat and to move around during the first hour. And the audio system is so bad in that area that everyone around me quit trying to hear if they won anything, as we couldn't understand a single announcement. It is what it is. But the people who went (including us) really had a great time, and the free drinks were a nice touch.

You've obviously never been to the Texas State Fair, which has had that for years. They deep fry everything -- including butter one year.

Any word yet on the hull cleaning process, Rich? I hope it doesn't affect your NZ ports.

Thanks for the bios, Rich!

I love following your trip, Rich. And I'm glad to hear they are offering creative writing and drawing. Can you tell us who the instructor for each is? Thanks!

I use PIA (Private Internet Access). I haven't had problems connecting, but I don't use it a lot. Lately, as we are sailing across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to Guam, the internet service has been notably slower. Just my experience.

My experience of late has been that many captains tend to stick with a certain ship for the 3-month rotations. Chantel (FCC) was on the Zuiderdam for the holiday cruise. As the partner of a HAL captain, she frequently sails with him (although he wasn't on that cruise). If you follow regular bloggers, it's easy to learn who is where. I solved the problem of "advertising" you are away from home on social media by selling my house! I realize it isn't practical for everyone. 🙂

I've frequently streamed Netflix with the premium package. I engage my VPN after signing onto the ship's wifi in order for Netflix to stream to my location. But no real issues. Just FYI.

I agree that StarLink is a huge improvement (spent 10 months on HAL ships in 2023, 7 pre-Starlink). If you want to work or play from your cabin, just keep in mind that the signal may be poor at your desk. I found that on the Zaandam, (perhaps the magnetic walls played a role). I had a router just outside my cabin, but hardly any signal inside. It isn't always easy to find a place to work in the public areas, and your fellow passengers will not appreciate you zooming or calling from those areas. All that said, it's much better than in 2011, where I recall that I paid $250 for 1,000 minutes of VERY slow service. Popped on briefly to get email assignments, logged off to work, then back on to submit work. I think I went through 3,000 minutes on a 45-day cruise.

I did a partial on the Zuiderdam in late December and just completed a full, also on Zuiderdam, last week. Shouldn't be any problem.

We’re Having a Grand Time Aboard the Zuiderdam Day 22, 2024 Grand World Voyage Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024; Panama Canal If this cruise gets any more “grand,” it may be the death of me. If it’s not a port day with lots to see and do, it’s a party or special event aboard the Zuiderdam. There’s hardly any time to catch my breath (or catch up on blogging). (continue reading and see the photographs of all the parties at www.WriterOnDeck.com)

One consideration for HAL as to the ship class is that the R class has fewer balconies to sell at higher prices. The Vistas have fewer ocean view. I'll leave it to the accountants to figure the break-even points. I was on the Zaandam for the Grand SA/A in the fall and on the GWV now on the Zuiderdam. There are things I like better about each ship, and those pretty much balance out for me.

It's a Grand Asia with some of SA added in. I like it! Especially if they add more new Asia ports.

Pete, as I read the survey (and re-read to check), it seemed HAL asked about a RETURN to NY, not a departure. That would probably place the ship in a spot to do NE/Canada or Northern Europe (which the Zuiderdam has done after the WC). Just nitpicking, I know!

I was on the Zaandam (deeper draft than Zuiderdam, although the latter is bigger) which entered the Amazon on Dec. 1 (the first cruise ship this season). Had we been 2 days earlier, we couldn't have gone. But we did fine -- passing over one sandbar with 1.1 meters to spare! When I was there with Pete a week ago, water levels were much higher. Its no longer an issue. Enjoy!

I've been to Devil's Island twice in the past two months with HAL and it was never required. Like others, I suggest you go ahead and get the YF vaccination, as it will last you a lifetime and you never know when a country will start to require it. Better to have the vaccine when you can than wait until your doctor won't suggest it and risk getting yellow fever, I say. It looks like it pays to shop around for a better price. If you are looking at longer cruises that could require it, it's only a rounding error in relation to the full cost of the cruise, and you can amortize it over your life of cruising! (I'm the queen of finding ways to justify spending money.)

I inquired, as the Navigator was updated to show that we would skip 2/13 instead. But that is Mardi Gras! I sent a note via the Navigator that they should rethink, as there are many sea days around that time and does it matter? Someone from guest services called to say that they now moved the "skip day" to Feb. 12. (Sorry, Abe.)

It would be hard -- there are things I like about each one. I'm considering writing a blog about that. I like the smaller size of the Zaandam, its cabins with more storage and its use of the Crow's Nest with its dance floor. I like the music venues on the Zuiderdam and its no-smoking policy in the casino, to name a few things that pop into mind.