T8NCruise

5 minutes ago, BSR said:

Looking to book my first Neptune Suite on N. Amsterdam. Is there any difference in the cabin size on decks 6 or 7? I see that the cabins on deck 7 are near the lounge. Also, I have a choice of aft cabins on decks 5, 6 or 7. Are these cabins larger inside or is the balcony huge? Trying to decide which one to pick. Any suggestions?  Thanks.

I've always preferred midship on deck 7.

On the Zuiderdam the verandahs on 4 are deeper  and if you can book one of the cabins with double-wide verandah, all the better. 4164 & 4166 I think.  We've snagged one of these on the Zuiderdam and Westerdam.

Your TA should know the Jones Act is for cargo ships.  However the PSV act covers cruise ships and there are restrictions.

51 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Not on the Westerdam. I believe they are only on Lido Deck around the Lido Pool. But someone could correct me if I am wrong.

We had a Retreat cabana on the Westerdam for 30 days in  2018.

2 hours ago, five. said:

Got my hopes up with that one.

 

But no, the front is maroon and white and says Beverage card, with the amount and my name and cabin number. The back is simply the HAL logo with a P/N in the top right corner.

Hmm the front sounds right but the back has Terms of Acceptance (and clarifies refund for unused portion) and the HAL logo.

On the onboard statement a refund shows as "Gift card refund" and the unused amount.

7 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

Did you look on the back of your beverage card? On the one from our TA, it stated any balance was not refundable or trandferrable.

Only if it was part of a promo and not a purchase.

Beverage cards that I purchase pre-cruise always have any unused balance credited back on the last night.  

Not sursure what fun an adult can have finding a plastic duck.  Given how many are brought onboard (I read on another forum one person took 90 on her cruise) I just see plastic pollution.  As for the crew enjoying them - I hear different from some in Housekeeping who consider them a nuisance.

Yes it's a dated ship but I would definitely do the Zaandam.  Loved my last cruise on her.

8 minutes ago, gizmodog said:

I am thinking about purchasing beverage cards for my daughters family since they do not have a drink package. Has anyone purchased these cards before? Is there any trouble to use them? Thinking it would help them some and drink packages are so expensive.

I always pre-order beverage cards.  Several reasons - it spreads the expenses, but most of all you do not have to continually check your onboard account for errors, and spend time at front desk trying to put it right.  With your drink, you see the charge and get an updated balance.  Total win for me, 

Forgot to mention - any unused portion is credited to your onboard account on the last evening.  

On 1/10/2023 at 4:36 PM, sprockie said:

So we're Canadians - flying from Ontario to Vancouver, ship leaving from Vancouver and returning to Vancouver but obviously visiting Alaska.  Do we go through customs when we get off the ship in the terminal?  

Yes, Canada customs.  Usually short and sweet, hand in your declaration card when disembarking at end of cruise.

At the terminal before boarding you will go through US border security as you are technically going into the US.

As Vancouverites, we have done many Alaska cruises.

30 minutes ago, albingirl said:

I don't go there because the menu isn't that appealing. I think they serve a hamburger as one of the offerings so it's far from special. But, it's a nice quiet place for people to catch their breath after a hectic morning 

Exactly!

The diagram shows the route on the outside of Vancouver Island, not the Inside Passage.

Deck 4 balconies are deeper. And you could try to get one of the cabins with double wide balcony. 4164 and 4166.

1 hour ago, Aquahound said:

Not too long ago, there was live entertainment in the Crows Nest. I don’t recall ever thinking the acoustics were bad. 

Sadly that was a long time ago, and before they screwed around with the Crows Nest on all the ships except the small ones. The Zaandam still has the original Crows Nest but no entertainment now.  I remember the days when it was so lively there in  the evenings.

1 minute ago, T8NCruise said:

The line at US Customs & Immigration is always bad when we've cruised from there. One time the officers turned up almost an hour late.

Oops hit submit too quick!  Just to add the Zuiderdam was always my favourite ship.

The line at US Customs & Immigration is always bad when we've cruised from there. One time the officers turned up almost an hour late.

1 hour ago, steve4031 said:

Thank You very much for your responses, especially Canadians.  I know that some US citizens have not been respectful in the past.  I wanted to make sure not to make assumptions.  
 

Normally I would be spending several days in Canada so stopping at an airport ATM would work. But this was 2 days in Vancouver and then on to Alaska.  And then 2 days when we return. 

There are many ATMs in Vancouver. You are not limited to the airport.

CDN.  That is the currency in Vancouver.  While we politely accept USD in most places, it's kind of rude to put the onus on the vendor to take the time to go change up your money just because you didn't bother to get CDN.

2 hours ago, laura1960 said:

In early July, I booked a 12-day New Zealand cruise on the Noordam for Jan 2023, using the Celebration Sale. I booked with AARP,  largely because of various promotions offering a $600 deposit and $250 in on-board credit. I called HAL about another matter, and asked if they could verify that I had $250 OBC. The HAL consultant could only verify $150, referring me back to AARP. Obviously, I'd rather have $250 (this momma likes her frou-frou coffee drinks, a glass of wine with dinner, and maybe a frou-frou alcoholic drink at the show). Has anyone else had this issue, and how do you get it straightened out...before you leave, or on embarkation day? Also, when does OBC show up on your card?

 

Any OBC from a TA or any agency other than HAL will not show up on your booking but will be applied to your onbiard account when you sail .  You should have something in writing from AARP which confirms the OBC - take it with you, just in case.

It sound like you have $150 from HAL as well.

5 hours ago, highscar said:

@ksmaxeythis must be very recent.   I had a credit on my account for unused portion of my beverage card. Nordham this May.  

Not true on the pre purchased cards. That applies to promos HAL has had.

5 hours ago, silversneakers said:

Just curious....is there any advantage for getting a prepaid beverage card?

Yes. Much easier to check your onboard account without loads of drink charges on it and bits of.paper to keep.  And.you have prepaid your drinks so the account is less at the end of the cruise.  I always purchase them for me and DH. Can also be used for water and special coffees.

4 hours ago, Crew News said:

Changing rooms is easy and will be facilitated by your Room Stewards. Often they just change drawers with the new stateroom as soon as the previous occupants leave.  All of your belongings will be locked in your new stateroom and you will pick up your new key at the time given in your instruction letter from Guest Services.

 

You will be escorted from the ship as part of the "zeroing out" process and be allowed to return usually within an hour.

They don't change drawers anymore. Often you are going from one category to another so that definitely doesn't work.

I've done many B2Bs.  It seems to depend on the port whether you have to disembark or not.  Usually you gather in a pre-determined location onboard and when everyone else has left the ship we have been escorted ashore and then back.on.  the last time, in Boston, we gathered on the lower promenade for awhile then were cleared to go back inside.  OR you can choose to go ashore and come back later.

We have also changed cabins and it has been an easy.process.  Just pack up your drawer contents, hanging stuff goes as is and a housekeeping team moves everything.  The biggest glitch (minor) is getting your new card.

3 hours ago, Cruisoholic said:

I was on the same 2 week cruise. I thought the entertainment was great especially the comedian. It was disappointing not to see passengers giving out extra tip envelopes. The staff and crew were wonderful throughout.

 

Most people are very discrete when giving out the extra tips. We are, as are our cruising friends.  So hopefully you just didn't see most of them.