BaltimoreCruise

Jacqui Tom and I wish you the best with surgery and the outcome. Take care and take the time you need to recover. We appreciate everything you do for CC. And we can’t thank you enough for the work you did on the 2023 transatlantic! Anita

Tina Thank you for doing another live report. We met on the October, 2023 transatlantic. I’m happy to see that you are on the high seas again. We are cruising Norway and another transatlantic in October, 2025. It will be our first trip to Norway. I’m looking forward to reading your posts and enjoying your photos. We are also flying to Buenos Aires in February 2025 for an expedition cruise to Antarctica. I enjoyed your live report and photos from your HAL Antarctica cruise. Anita BaltimoreCruise

I agree with the Blue Heaven suggestion. Our favorite is the Lobster Benedict. There is an outdoor bar and live music.

We were in cabin 5200 on the Rotterdam for the October 2023 Transatlantic. We loved the location and the view. We do not get seasick. In my opinion crossing the Atlantic was pretty calm. I seem to recall that the Captain had to circumvent a storm system in the Atlantic. We missed our Ponta Delgada port because of rough seas. BaltimoreCruise

We liked the Harbor 360 and the Major Marine all day tour this past May.

I was successful with having the AARP OBC added to my cruise. It took less than one hour from my initial email to HAL. I used email for previous cruises (Reservations_submit@Hollandamerica.com) and it worked again. I forwarded the SheerID confirmation email with a request to have the OBC added to my future cruise. BaltimoreCruise

Thank you for your responses. Today I emailed HAL with the confirmation email from SheerID. I used the email approach in August 2023 when I applied for the AARP benefit for three booked cruises (2023-2024). I will keep you posted. BaltimoreCruise

I returned from a HAL land/sea trip last week. While onboard I booked a 22 night cruise for October, 2025. I just received my Sheer ID verification email. Recently, have any members been successful adding the AARP OBC after the initial booking? What process did you use? I should have mentioned it to the onboard Cruise Consultant but failed to do so. In the past I was able to add it to my bookings after the fact. I appreciate hearing about your most recent experiences. Thank you. BaltimoreCruise

Thank you for all the replies. I plan to call at least once per week. The sailing date is October 4, 2025. We have enjoyed CO on the Rotterdam many times and hope to have another opportunity. Anita BaltimoreCruise

We just returned home from a Cruise tour. If you have any specific questions please feel free to reach out. Anita BaltimoreCruise

I booked a cruise on May 28, 2024 while onboard the Zaandam. Club Orange was not available. I called Club Orange today (my first day home) to check on the status of CO and inquire about a waiting list. CO is full for my sailing and I was added to a waiting list. I was also told that I would not be contacted if CO space becomes available and to continue to call to check the status. I would appreciate it if anyone that has been on the CO waiting list can share their experiences. Thank you. Anita BaltimoreCruise

The service was not available at Port Everglades after our October transatlantic on the Rotterdam.

Oaktreerb, Thank you. Yes, our cruise tour begins on May 17. I assume that we have all day and into the evening to check-in. BC

For those of you on Cruise Critic that have taken a Land and Sea tour of Alaska on Holland America where the land tour is first out of Anchorage, can you share your experience or recollections on how the first day, or report day to the hotel works? For some context, we arrive in Anchorage on May 14. On May 15 we head to Seward with stops along the way (thanks to the CC members that provided great suggestions on the AK board). We plan to return to Anchorage on May 17 leaving Seward in the early morning. I want to reserve a flight seeing, glacier landing, and dog sledding excursion. We can drive our rental, or purchase transfers from Anchorage to the airstrip and back after the excursion is over. I think we should be back in Anchorage by 5PM. At that point we have to return our rental to the airport and proceed to the hotel, or proceed to the hotel to check-in then return the car to the airport. Your comments, suggestions and experiences are appreciated. Thank you. BC

Thank you Edinburgher and diesel1973 for your tips .They are very much appreciated. I reserved a car today. Next up is mapping the itinerary, then hotels. If you think of anything else please let me know. BC