lastlook

Another fan here of Yorkshire Gold - just discovered it this past year and bought extra boxes the last time that I ordered it, to give to fellow tea drinker friends for Christmas. Planning to bring some with me on our next HAL cruise as well.

As far as coffee goes, Dunkin' Donuts is our preference here in the New England area. However, I also really enjoy Green Mountain Columbian coffee at work and home when I'm not drinking tea.

Flocks of flamingos take flight from the southern tip of Bonaire at sunset each day.

We are in a similar situation in that we are 4* and have booked/paid for 3 regular verandah cabins for ourselves, son, daughter-in-law, and 2 teenage granddaughters. Son and family are new to cruising so they will be earning their first stars on this cruise. I've been assuming that we'll need to check in, in the regular line so that we can all remain together throughout the process (unless the "red coats" tell us otherwise upon arrival at PE.) Since we're hosting them, we want to guide them through the check in process and make sure all goes smoothly.

I’ve sailed on the K. My question is a simple one. Since the NA went through a major refurb, I am hoping for new, truly clean carpeting in the cabins. After all the ship is 7 years old..

 

I would hope that someone recently off the NA could answer my question.

 

Thank you in advance.

I'm with you! I'll try to provide some feedback on the NA after our cruise in February, if there are still inquiries then about the changes/updates. Hopefully we'll get some additional information as more people return from the NA in the coming weeks. We've been on the NA twice previously and look forward to seeing things freshened up.

Pauly - Many thanks for the updates on the NA. Very much appreciated.

Just got off today. Here is what is new:

 

Billboard has been added directly across from the casino.

Northern Lights is wholly transformed into a Gallery bar, which is a combo lounge/bar, etc. with lots of art to view.

Explorations Cafe is gone. Crows nest is gone. It is now Explorations Central with large table-sized interactive displays. It is also the explorations office and desk. There are lots of tables and chairs to sit/read/play. It takes up the space of the old exploration cafe. The cafe/bar is in the old crow's nest, still serving coffee drinks and alcohol, but no finger sandwiches, cookies, etc.

All new carpet and furniture in public areas.

Brand new sofa bed in the cabin.

The casino is smoke-free.

 

Paul

Many thanks for the update on the NA. Wondering if the new sofa bed was in a regular verandah cabin? New flat screen TV? Love that the casino is now smoke free - yay!

I believe the OP was referring to $500 pp excursions, not cruises.

Sorry that didn't work and it is too bad that HAL has changed their transfers policy.

You can also check out the "Roll Call" forum for your particular cruise on this site, and see if there are fellow cruisers setting up smaller, private excursions that might appeal to you.

When we first flew with Southwest many years ago, they were usually on time, or even early. However, the last few times we've flown home from FLL, there have been delays, have been switched to another plane/flight, switched to another connecting city, have had to deplane and switch to another flight even though it was supposed to be a one stop/no change flight, have waited for crew to arrive to fly the plane that was substituted, etc. However, (so far, for us) the advantages still outweigh the inconveniences since we can change a flight without penalty, and retain a credit for a canceled flight for up to a year, do not have to pay for checked bags (unless more than 2 checked bags each, which never happens in our case.)

Regarding ATL, I've always experienced problems and delays when connecting through Atlanta, and now avoid it whenever possible.

Go to the Holland America Line web site and click on "Already Booked", then click on "Personalize Your Cruise", log in to your account and click on your cruise booking number. Then look for the "Travel Planning" tab and click on that, then the Pre- & Post-Cruise Travel tab. Hopefully that way you can then just book your Pre-Cruise Travel transfer yourself.

1/7/18 Southwest flight STL/TPA/FLL departs 6:30 a.m./arrives 11:20 a.m.

If you're returning on 1/14/18, there's a nonstop from FLL to STL at 12:20 p.m. that arrives STL at 2:20 p.m.

Have a great trip!

Hope you can avoid an ATL connection going to FLL.

I would also pay the $15 "Early Bird" check in option with Southwest for your flight home, which will save you some time as well.

Thanks for the news on the Retreat and Lido Cabanas. I was hoping that the Verandah cabins were refurbished as well, but it sounds like they were not. Darn.

I would elect to take a backpack and 1 carry on bag, and select the HAL option to disembark carrying your own luggage which would be the first group off the ship. I would not wait for the HAL transfer bus to fill. I would grab a cab to FLL. Since you will not have to check a bag, you could go directly to the security line.

Thank you - so glad to hear how nice everything looks since the dry dock. We really liked the NA before and look forward to seeing how she looks now. Do you know if anything was changed/updated in the Cabana Club (Retreat Cabanas) area of the ship? Were the Lido Cabanas by the pool refreshed/updated?

Many thanks for the information on the updates. I'm also interested to know if they've updated/refurbished the verandah cabins as I've booked three in a row for our family in February.

I think that the OP is referring to the Zuiderdam cruise named "14 Day Stonehenge Solstice" round trip Copenhagen, sailing on June 13th? There is also a longer version of it which adds another 10 days in the Baltics. Looks like a great itinerary!

Following along and wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Following.......thank you for posting photos and your impressions.

Just catching up here - many thanks for your time and effort to post such great information here. I often go to your site to look up information, view your photos, etc. and appreciate how you have made it so easy to link to it.

Glad you enjoyed your birthday week and are looking forward to future HAL cruises! Thank you for all the time and effort it took to post your blog and photos - it was a fun read!

I'll be interested to hear how the NA looks post dry dock, and your thoughts on any changes made to the layout - especially the Crow's Nest.

Thanks for the clarification. I'd just found something to that effect on the Key West "Ports of Call" section of these boards. Many thanks to all for your replies.