SLOTheta

When we've gotten them they've just mysteriously showed up too. You might ask your steward if he has any, or ask at the front desk.

 

Good idea! We will ask our steward or the front desk. It sounds like a lot of people don't use them, so it may not be hat hard to ask for one!

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Received an email that Suite Amenities Package for 2 guests is $515.00 USD based on the length of our cruise (12 days). I specifically asked for the price for 1 person. I'm going to assume the price, split in half. But, but I have emailed back to check what the individual pricing is.

He also sent me a PDF of what it includes. I couldn't figure out how to attach a PDF on the app, but here's a photo of the page.

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Our TA is a friend of a friend, who isn't a TA full time. She said she didn't know how to get these to our group and that when she's traveled, they just show up. Any rhyme or reason as to who gets them or not? We may buy the Wine Package, so dinner for 2 would be nice. I would probably do the blackjack tournament, also.

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We just got off the Eurodam. Attached are our Neptune Suite Photos (Stateroom 7070). The interior photos were taken as a panorama, so the cabin appears larger than actual. Included are photos of the coffee maker and the Bose SoundLink. The Bose is actually quite small, but has a great sound. The bath has two sinks, a jetted tub and separate shower. Overall, we were quite pleased with the updated decor of the Neptune Suite.

 

 

 

Bob

Great photos and beautiful room! It appears there's a table on your verandah. Someone had posted previously there weren't tables on verandahs. Our wedding couple friends have booked a Neptune suite and was hoping for a table on their verandah.

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Just disembarked the Eurodam today and smoking was prohibited in the casino. The casino seemed to be a little busier; the video poker seemed to be always full with patrons making their nightly deposits.:D

That's awesome! Glad to hear it's smoke free! Did you have a verandah room? If so, did you have many smokers around you?

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Then you must not be familiar with very many casinos outside of Las Vegas. For example, with the exception of a handful of Indian-run casinos, all casinos in Florida are smoke-free. That's 8 smoke-free casinos in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area alone, plus another 20 or so throughout the state.

 

 

 

Similarly, New Orleans only casino is smoke-free, as well as all casinos in Maryland and Ohio. I believe that even in Atlantic City the vast majority of casinos are smoke-free.

 

 

 

Of the 24 states that have state-run casinos, 18 ban smoking in each and every state-run casino in the state, and only 6 of them (Nevada, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Louisiana, and Mississippi) permit smoking. But as noted above, even within those 6 states that permit smoking, there are some casinos that are smoke free.

I loved that the Harrahs in NOLA was smoke free. I was traveling with coworkers. We wouldn't have stayed nearly as long if it has been a smoking a casino. In CA, most casinos have a smoke free floor or area.

There are smoke free casinos and hotels in Vegas, I wish all of them would move to smoke free. Anytime someone smokes at the table, I get up and leave.

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Our friends were in a verandah cabin and purchased the Suite Amenities package (as they usually do). Since they have received many bathrobes, we were the recipients of the two monogrammed robes.

 

 

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That's really nice of them! We are also staying in a Verandah cabin.

Another poster said that they have an email stating its only for suites, but they were able to book it.

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We were on the Westerdam last november . We had a verandah cabin. We ordered the Suite amenities package and a comfirmation folder with all the details was in our cabin as we boarded. Luckily I validated the info about booking here on cc. The first time had I chatted with Holland to clarify if we could indeed get the package, the rep wrote back NO it is not available to passengers sailing in a verandah cabin and even went as far as writing " this is why it is called a Suite package". I did think at the time that the irony was a litle rude. I did not bring it up with Holland, but I do find it funny now to know he was wrong.

Did you call to get it added, or were you able to select it from your indulgences list? Did you buy it for both people in your cabin, or just 1? The email back from HAL you received sounds a bit snarky. I would have brought it up to HAL management.

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I sent an email to hal_ship_services@hollandamerica.com to clarify. When I chatted online with HAL, the online rep didn't have the information

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I don't know that I would necessarily agree with that.

 

I've read some pretty wild stuff here. :D

Yes, I've read some crazy things! But, I do trust the people who have recently cruised and if they say there's no smoking in the casino, I would tend to believe them.

Going on the Eurodam this summer and they will certainly see more of me in the casino if it stays non-smoking. Even though most US casinos allow smoking, many offer non-smoking sections. I stay longer and gamble more in non smoking casinos.

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Yes Laundry is for the cabin, as well as the high tea they send a feast

I found the "Indulgences" list for 2015 and for the Suite Amenities package, it's written as if the package is only available for Suites. But, from reading the posts here, it sounds like it's available for all rooms. Can someone clarify?

http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-onboard/Onboard_Gifts.pdf

Suite Amenities Package (for all Suites, excluding Neptune Suites) — prices starting at $289.00 includes complimentary laundry and pressing; Holland America bathrobe with monogram of choice; in-stateroom High Tea or daily canapés; fresh flowers; special VIP debarkation procedures; special VIP debarkation lounge; Pillows a la Carte Menu; initial stateroom beverage setup; $50 Beverage Card; Pinnacle Grill dinner

Most of the crew leave thier country for a greater opportunity of employment. What they negotiate is not my business or concern. I actually find it quite rude that you beg others to donate more money over and above the auto-gratuities system that's in place for them. It's almost like badgering people to do more. Yeah, I know they work so hard....and so do a lot of people. Some get promoted and some don't and that's life. The fact of the matter of this post is tipping extra for room service is NOT REQUIRED as some people on these boards guilt trip people into doing so. Some people don't want to be bothered about who, when and where to tip, hence the auto-gratuities system which covers it all.

Whatever makes your feel better. It's not badgering, it's an opinion. If you think an extra $10 a day in top of your $1000 cruise is too burdensome, don't do it.

I tip for just about everything - hotel stays, several dollars day, deliver toothpaste, a $1, open my door or load my suitcase in a car, $1 per bag, bring me ice $1, deliver a package and I'm home, $1., hail a cab for me, $2. A few dollars here and there won't bankrupt me, but I know the extra money for those on the service industry, can make a difference. Maybe it's because I grew up very poor, had a mother who worked 3 jobs and was a cocktail waitress myself.

Delivering my breakfast, an extra $1 or $2 won't break the bank, but can really help the person who delivered it. If you don't want to do it, don't do it.

Nothing is required. But, as a Buddhist, I believe in good karma. Again, that's just me.

You do whatever feels right for you.

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If you get the suite amenities package for 1, which includes complimentary laundry and pressing, does it really work that both people can use this benefit?

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Tip as much as you can. I just finished reading the "Cruise Confidential" blog. A few dollars every opportunity you can will make a huge difference in the lives you encounter. You've paid a good sum to be on the ship, what's a few dollars every time someone delivers food, cleans your room, makes you a drink, or does something nice for you? It's maybe an extra $10 a day on top of auto tips? That's two Starbucks drinks.

Quote from the blog:

CC: Can you talk a little about what a crewmember earns and how tips play into it?

BDB: Tipping is serious stuff. It represents well over 95% of what the crew makes. Carnival gave me something around $60 a month or so when it was all said and done. "Salary" also included the cabin you share, plenty of food and two crew parties a month. There was also an unfulfilled promise of medical care

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Here is a link to my photo review of the Oosterdam from November 2015. Pictures of the minibar contents are near the bottom:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/On-Board.pdf

 

I will be taking more photos next month.

Thank you! Great photos!

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Don't give them any ideas!

Haha. Yes. Let's hope they don't raise the prices. It's more than they are comparable to drinks available on board, which is surprising. Pricing seems high for 2010, appropriate for today!

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I will be scanning the latest Minibar Menu next month on the Nieuw Amsterdam.

Thanks! The prices look fairly good. I could see myself grabbing a drink or two! I would clear out all the non-Alcoholic drinks and keep the booze!

Can you also snap a photo of the contents of the mini bar? I'd like to see the brand available.

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Where did you get that date? The link says ..com/here/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Minibar-Menu.pdf.

The date is coded at the bottom of the sheet. It's a print code that used to keep track of last update. I work in consulting and use a lot of print shops for our communications. Photo may have been taken and uploaded in 2013, but their last print update was 2010. Good to know they haven't increase prices in 6 years!

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THIS IS from 2013. I don't know what ship.

Thank you! It gives me an idea. The menu appears to have been dated 3/2010. My guess is prices have gone up.

If anyone is cruising soon, please snap a photo for me and the brands available in your fridge!

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Hi,

I tried to search in this forum for what types of drinks are in the room mini bars and the pricing of such drinks. I wanted to see if they were like hotel mini bars that are highway robbery. Most people seem to clear out the bar and put their own stuff in. I like the convenience of a drink if I would like one.

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I really love Cloudy Bay Sauvignon blanc.

 

I was served Villa Maria and really enjoyed that.

 

 

 

It is the same grape and about $60 difference in price. HAL likely charges over $100 for Cloudy Bay now. It's been a while.

 

 

 

I happily order the Villa Maria

 

 

 

It's crazy the mark up. I'm used to double, sometimes 3x in restaurants.

Cloudy Bay is $25ish retail and Villa Maria is usually less than $10.

HAL is charging $80 and $50!!

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One thing that wasn't mentioned about the wine packages is that they are discounted for those who cruise a lot. Four star Mariners get a 50% discount on a wine package. However, you are charged a 15% gratuity on the original price of the package. So, for example of the package was originally $200, it would normally be $230 total. For a four star Mariner it would be $130. Last time I bought the package it brought the cost of each bottle to something like $22. each.

Are there wine package discounts for 3 Star Mariners? For 4 Stars, is it all the wine packages that are 50% off?

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I emailed the casino several days ago with a few questions about the players club and such, I haven't heard back. Hoping to hear from people who have actually gambled. Thanks!

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I'd like to try some of the other drinks on our next cruise. DH has told me to get Kahlua and Bailey's. We tried an old bottle of Kahlua at home, and it was good, but gnarly. Considering the Tia Maria, but not sure it's enough better for two for one.

Kahlua on its own isn't great. But, it's a nice mixer to make yummy drinks such as a Black Russian or Mudslides. Yummy sweet! You could mix it with Kahula and baileys to make a modified White Russian. I drink Baileys on the rocks or over vanilla ice cream. Baileys and Kahula are good mixed in coffee or hot chocolate.

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Are there code words to look for? What does light wine mean? Is it sweet? What does Crisp mean? We've heard Brut is dry.

 

In the store, we look for those that are listed as sweet in the description.

 

We went to a wine tasting in Astoria, and some of those wines were too fancy for us. For us, we have a few bottles of Twin Springs Sweet Red, and another of Twin Springs Moscato.

 

DH won't let me bring wine aboard, so I'd better pick well.

If you want to make sure you like the wines before you commit, I would buy them first and do a home taste test. Invite some friends over! Have a nice wine tasting evening. It's about a $30 investment and you may have some new factories.

There really aren't code words in descriptions, unless it specifically says it's a sweet wine or have "sec" in the name. Sec in wine names such as Demi-Sec usually means it's sweet. "Late Harvest" is also another good key that the wine is going to be very sweet. Most late harvest wines are made like port.

"Crisp" is usually a tart, fresh taste. Sauvignon blanc usually is described as having a crisp taste.

"Brut" is only used to describe champagne or sparkling wine. Brut is used to describe "dry" and low residual sugar taste. Ironically, for champagne, if you want a sweet bubbly you want to look for "Dry" and "Extra Dry" - those are the sweet ones (some Asti sparkling is very sweet). There are some Demi-Sec sparkling wines that are also sweet.

I would stick with wine varietals that you know are traditionally sweet that are high in residual sugar, such as (sweetest first, to less sweet):

Port, Tokaj/Tokaji, Sauternes, Moscato (Muscat), Ice Wine, gewürztraminer, Riesling, Vouvray (made from Chenin Blanc - not as sweet as the others, slightly sweet) and Pinot Gris.

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