BaltimoreCruise

Dear CC Members,

I have been interested in booking the 14 day Alaskan cruise (September 2020).  I departed the Veendam on Friday, January 25, 2019.  On Thursday I checked with the onboard cruise consultant to inquire about this cruise because I could not find the September sailings online or in my recently received cruise planner.  The cruise consultant checked her computer and confirmed that the sailing was not yet available.  Over the weekend, I received an email from HAL and the cruise that I am interested in booking is available.  Yesterday I started checking the prices and cabin options.  The cruise will be on the Maasdam.  On the HAL website, Deck 4 cabins (ocean view) are not available.  Same for Deck 5.  On the big box store website, there is a Deck 4 cabin available, but when I complete the information, the website indicates that the fare is non-refundable (Not interested in a non-refundable fare).  Have you experienced anything similar?  I thought I would have my choice of cabin/deck and not have to lock into a non-refundable fare.  I have not called the big box travel company yet.  I am hoping to have some insight before I do.  Thank you for your experience and insight.

BaltimoreCruise

ddlslm,

We are booked in cabin 723 A Deck (4).  It's an OV cabin.  In April it was our first non-balcony cabin and we found that we didn't miss the balcony.  The cabin is close to the elevators but we detected no noise.  

BaltimoreCruise

I received an email from AMEX that I used an offer.  I'll keep my fingers crossed that I will meet the requirements and receive the credit.  No worries on my end if I don't spend $500 and don't receive the credit, as long as HAL returns the remaining OBC to me.  

BaltimoreCruise

Thank you for the information.  I'm going to attempt to purchase on the HAL website now.

BaltimoreCruise

All,

I am a little confused about what happens to any left over AMEX credit at the end of the cruise.  If we don't use the entire $500 obc ( I plan to purchase today directly from HAL on its website) will the balance be refunded to my AMEX card (the card we register for onboard purchases) with an understanding that we could lose the $100 AMEX credit if we don't use the entire $500 obc?  I was successful with adding the promotion to my AMEX card but with already having Explore 4 on the reservation, and OBC from HAL and the Big Box travel agent, I'm not certain we will spend the additional $500.  A rough calculation looks like I may have $222 at the end of the cruise.  

Thank you for any insight you can offer.

BaltimoreCruise

My husband and I will be on the Veendam next week.  Our second sailing on her in less than 12 months.  Our first was to Cuba in April.  We loved the size of the ship and the HAL staff.  We booked the same cabin as we liked the location in April.

I have a couple of questions for anyone that is currently on the Veendam or recently off the ship.  What are the current movies?  Have you had success upgrading the SPB with Explore 4 to the Elite Beverage Package? Will the mid-level unlimited wi-fi package permit words with friends games?

Thank you.

BaltimoreCruise

Is there a boat dock at Sugar Beach where tour transportation boats drop off and pick up passengers?

Thanks.

BaltimoreCruise

My husband and I were on the Veendam earlier this year and docked in Havana.  We hired a private tour guide (Lauren with Blexie tours) for the day (and it was an entire day), a combination of walking and riding in a vintage car.  In the evening we arranged a private tour with Strawberry tours to the local bars.  Both tours were fantastic.  During our day tour, we passed by a few large groups from the ship in Old Havana and were so happy to have our group of two!  There is no way that a large tour could cover all that we saw during our day tour.  We were all over the city (old and new).   We also saw many people just walking around but as a first timer in Havana, and with no public transportation network, we thought it was wise to hire the guides.  We had such a wonderful time we would hire the guides again.  

Anita

sail7seas,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Yes, careful evaluation was performed regarding the EXP4 package. We had recent HAL cruise data from our April cruise to Cuba to assist with the evaluation.

I'll try again tomorrow, and then leave it alone.

We always look forward to middle of winter getaways and this is no exception.

BaltimoreCruise

I just tried to get the promotion added to my existing reservation (final payment is due in a couple of weeks). I was successful a couple of years ago having the promotion added to an existing reservation. This morning was very confusing and after 45 minutes on the phone with my big box agent ("bba") and the bba on the phone with a HAL rep. I hung up with no changes to my existing reservation. There were quite a few scenarios communicated to me that included: (i) refare to a higher fare and add $150 obc (which put me ahead by $42, not $100. Where did this $150 obc come from? I'm sailing on the Veendam in an OV on an 11 night itinerary, I believe the promotional obc is $100. (ii) and after more back and forth, leave the exisiting fare and have the $100 obc added. This was what I wanted and when I said yes, the bba went back to HAL and then came back to me and said that option was a mistake. I decided to end the call with the bba after instructing her to keep my existing reservation, and thanking her for spending so much time with me this morning. The bba seemed to agree with me that the HAL rep must have been new (indicated HAL rep was working through HAL supervisor as I continued to ask questions and for clarification of what I was being told). I'll call back tomorrow and hopefully the bba will connect with a HAL agent with more experience. And in the end, if no changes or additional benefits are made to my reservation, I'm good.

BaltimoreCruise

Could this October promotion be for "Plan a Cruise Month" and not related to Explore 4?

I was looking yesterday for the Plan a Cruise Month benefit and could not find it. I'll look again today using the code in the above post.

Thank you.

BaltimoreCruise

Sail7Seas,

I would book another cruise to Cuba in a minute. The Veendam cruise we were on was in Havana for only the full day and night, leaving at 2AM. I agree with OlsSalt that 2 full days in Havana would be great. Our private day tour with Blexie's company (Lauren was our guide) was comprehensive. I want to return and spend more time visiting the art galleries and museums. I would again hire Blexie's company to take us where we want to go. There was no time in our one evening there to do a professional show as we wanted to experience the local bar scene. Strawberry Tours facilitated a private tour for us (Nelson was our guide). I recently booked another cruise on the Veendam for January, 2019, but it does not go to Cuba. I couldn't make a Cuban itinerary work for the dates we had to work with in January. I am also interested in visiting the other side of the island.

BaltimoreCruise

We were in Havana in April, 2018 and booked with Blexie Havana Tours for a full day tour (walking tour and classic car transportation). Our guide was Lauren and she was fantastic. It was so nice to be a party of two, and run into the HAL ship tour of a party of 25 plus. We knew we made the right choice by arranging the private tour. In the evening we arranged for a private tour with Strawberry Tours (no group tour was offered that evening) for a tour of local/not tourist bars. Nelson was our guide and we enjoyed the tour very much.

If the US Regulations are still the same as in April, and I haven't seen any posts to the contrary, if you book your own tours, the proper classification for your visa is support for the Cuban people. If you book a tour through the ship (we did not) the proper classification is the people to people.

I can highly recommend both tours.

BaltimoreCruise

In April, 2018 we used Blexie for a private day tour and Strawberry Tours for a private night tour. The ship facilitated the purchase of visas. No need to do a ships tour. If you book a private tour, check the visa box: Support for the Cuban People (and NOT People to People). Use People to People if you book a ship sponsored tour. There are reviews of different tour companies in the Ports of Call/Caribbean/Cuba tab. We would book Blexie's tour company again.

BaltimoreCruise

My husband and I were on the Veendam in April, 2018 with one day/late evening in Havana. This was our first time on a smaller HAL ship. Havana is a wonderful port. I arranged a private tour with Blexie (you can find his contact information in the Cuba Ports of Call tab) and our guide was Lauren. We toured with Lauren all day (and for the second half we picked up a taxi and driver). The price was reasonable and it was just the two of us. Just an fyi, while touring old Havana we ran into the HAL ship tour/s. Very crowded compared to our 2 person tour. You may want to take that into consideration. For the evening, I arranged a private tour with Strawberry Tours (Nelson was our guide) to visit local bars in Havana. We had a great time on this tour as well. We brought euros with us and exchanged what we needed into CUCs at the Port. If you decide to do the private tour route in Havana, on your visa application check the box Support for the Cuban People (and not the People to People box).

We both enjoyed the ship. It was clean, the service was outstanding, and the food in the MDR was very good. We also ate at the Pinnacle (good), Rudi's Sel de Mer (disappointed), and Canaletto (good). We mainly had cocktails at the Ocean Bar and Crow's Nest bar. The bartenders in both venues were great. Breakfast was usually in the Lido (we are early risers) with a couple in the main dining room. I thought the quality of the food at breakfast was better in the Lido. There were no crowds because of the early hour. Lunch was usually in the Lido.

We had an ocean view cabin on the A Deck (723). Our first time without a balcony. On our Koningsdam trip last year we didn't use the balcony so we thought we would try an OV this trip. I enjoyed the large window at pretty much sea level. The cabin was spacious and well maintained. I travel with a fan and at the end of our cruise it stopped working. I called the Front Desk and a fan was provided promptly. I was not prepared for having only 1 electrical outlet in the cabin located at the desk area. If we cruise the Veendam again I will be sure to request a power strip from the Front Desk as soon as I board.

I hope you find this information helpful

BaltimoreCruise

My husband and I arranged to do a "private" Strawberry Tour bar crawl because a group tour was not scheduled for the evening we were in Havana. Nelson was our guide and we had a great time. You may want to try this route if the group tour is not operating the evening you are there. I can't remember what we paid, but it was worth it in our opinion. I think we paid at the time of booking online and tipped at the end of the night.

My husband and I were on the Veendam in April and I recall that in the cabin there is one outlet on the desk. I could not find an outlet near the bed. There is one in the bathroom but it was high up near or on the light fixture. I assumed this is for an electric razor. Since we returned I have read with great interest that you may request a power strip from the front desk upon boarding. I plan to do this on our next Veendam cruise.

Baltimore Cruise

We were in Cuba in April on the Veendam. We checked off the Visa box for Support for the Cuban People. We hired Blexie's company (our guide was Lauren and she was wonderful) for our day tour and hired Strawberry Tours (Nelson) for a private night tour of local bars. Both tours were fantastic.

BaltimoreCruise

We have used the unlimited laundry on most of our HAL cruises with much success. I do not send out my nicest clothes (the items I hand wash at home), but my husband sends everything out. It occurred to me while reading this thread that it may be possible with the unlimited plan to send out items for pressing only. The ticket is pretty clear that dry cleaning is not included and we're good with that.

Is my assumption correct? Does unlimited laundry include pressing only as well. If it does, then I would have saved two hours this weekend ironing for our cruise this week!

Thank you for your answers.

BaltimoreCruise

Dear Go-Bucks,

You have the recent specific experience that I have been hoping to find. We will be in port 2 days and 2 nights. I booked a ship excursion on day 1 and a private tour on day 2. Any advice about the visa requirement? I was hoping to use support for the Cuban people to cover both days, although I think for day 1 with the ship tour I could use people to people. I wanted to apply for 1 visa to cover both days. Thank you. Baltimore Cruise

I have a couple of questions for those of you that have sailed on the Zaandam/Alaska cruise. How is the internet access? Is unlimited laundry available? I recently returned from a 7night on the Koningsdam and I hope to use the ZPM/ZPN code, although in all of my HAL cruises I have never received the code in an email after returning home. I figure it can't hurt to ask. Any tips on booking the Zaandam to Alaska are appreciated.

Thank you.

BaltimoreCruise

Thank you. I appreciate the quick responses. We said on Sunday!

Does anyone here have experience with bringing wine onboard (the "free" bottles to be consumed in your stateroom) and deciding later to take to the dining room? Is this possible and can the corkage fee be added at that point?

Thank you.

BaltimoreCruise

A slight bit off topic... is Uber permitted to do a pick-up at Port Everglades?

Are there bars located near or in the Pinnacle or Tamarind?