Mary229

All they ask now is if you have your credit card available

I have followed @DaveOKC advice successfully. Be ready with deck plan, what you are willing to pay and credit card. Always ask which room. I have often said to them that the offered upsell price is acceptable but I want another cabin. Knowing they have a paying customer on the line they often give you other options. i have been told by upsell that the inside cabins are the last they approach and with the weakest offers that is why it is important to be proactive and call.

You may want to research this in the American Airlines website https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/airportAmenities/mia-club.jsp here is the official Miami airport guide. https://www.miami-airport.com/maps.asp importantly is your flight domestic or international as that often helps pinpoint your terminal?

I look but mainly so I don’t miss something. So many times in the past I missed some feature or dining spot that I now look ahead of time and make note of must do. Once onboard I tend to go with the flow often failing to read the daily program guide.

Water and coffee drinker here. You can request Pellegrino or Perrier and the bottle size depends on what is available in the location. The still water comes in a can and not particularly good so I just use my sports bottle. Whether you can get 2 at a time depends on the bartender/waitstaff. They will let you know when you order. I agree that buying the extra card is a better solution. Your coffee beverages can be discounted according to your Mariner status.

I just lean to savory.

I think this awareness and the accompanying shock started when technology advanced and we get text messages announcing the “charge”. Prior we were happily oblivious and by time we got home to see our accounts the charge had dropped off

I don’t eat dinner at home at all and it is my favorite meal while cruising. I am a grazer at home with one meal a day, usually midday. That habit simply doesn’t work when traveling and grazing can be dangerous on a cruise ship (;

My local grocer has mastered bagel making. For all bagels we lightly heat them in the toaster oven then cut them in half for toasting. For plain and savory varieties we butter than sprinkle on a all seed garlic mix. The mix is poppy and sesame seeds, parsley and garlic- lots of garlic. You can also pre melt the butter and add equal parts olive oil to spread for a Mediterranean treat. for sweet varieties such as blueberry it is either butter and cinnamon sugar or preserves but no butter. now to the grocer they have mastered the Texas standard bagel - cheddar cheese and jalapeño. Yum, yum, a meal in itself.

Yes, it can be unsettling. I remember a cruise I took that was 45 days, 2 people. We always keep low credit limits on our cards and that card was toast for the next 44 days. Henceforth I use my Discover card for the hold as it is generally not accepted for my travel destinations. I do actually pay my shipboard account with my travel credit card for the points. Yes it is a lot of maneuvering but there are lots of sea days!

I have not had these issues. Maybe your TA is not familiar with their systems. The very best check is when you first book your TA should forward you a confirmation email. Scrolling through the attached invoice it shows every single perk you booked.

The gift card has no expiration, the bonus gift card does. You can use them for OBC, pay down or for paying onboard account.

I wouldn’t count on this reaching fulfillment but if it happens that’s great.

It just seems to have a better flow.

🤷‍♀️I don’t really pay attention to all of the schedules

The NS was definitely step up from the Koningsdam. I sailed the Koningsdam in 2019 and was meh. The NS definitely cured many of the issues.

The Koningsdam did Alaska this year. I haven’t been on the Rotterdam yet.

They would have to improve their websites immensely before online booking takes hold and they would have to institute the 24 hour change of heart rule that airlines have. I am all for it. I booked my business travel online for years; hotels and airlines were simple and easy. Airlines weren’t originally easy but once they steered away from the round trip model with no deviations it became easy.

On a recent cruise it was listed as $30 and I put $30 on the form but was only charged $20. Not complaining😉

Lots of metal. Here is an interesting video of how cabins are built. spoiler alert they are modular. https://gcaptain.com/how-its-built-cruise-ship-cabins/

HAL announced that they are planning on going into Alaska in an even bigger way for 2023. This may be the hold up. Obviously they are quite pleased with the past and future demand. https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28449-holland-america-line-growing-interest-for-alaska-in-2023.html

That is for the all you can stuff into the bag rate. I can fit almost a week load of clothes for 2 into that bag by rolling and carefully compressing

I dined with a friend with food allergies. She notified in advance, reminded the maitre d upon arrival. They brought her a menu for the next day at the end of evening meal. She would select her options and those options would be fixed for her with substitutes for her food allergies. Her meals looked scrumptious. This was on Holland.

I paid $20 a bag both in Quebec and Alaska, July and September. In April I paid $20 in Europe. Ships: Zaandam, Zuiderdam, N Statendam

Bon Voyage. I wish i was going, great itinerary, great ship.