Iris5383

I'm thinking of booking a cruise where HAL is still selling ocean-view partially obstructed but the website shows there are none available. There are only two Full Ocean View left (the next step up) but lots of verandas still vacant for lots more money. We (DH & I) are 4-star. If we book a guarantee partially obstructed, what are our chances of a free or small-additional-fee upgrade to a veranda? Has it happened to you? 

We went to Coconut Cove last October on a HAL excursion. We were in an open air vehicle, it was a truck with seats built into the back. There was an awning. Beware,  the ride is very long and most of it is on dirt roads. I don't remember how long the ride was, but at least an hour, possibly more. It was dusty. My DH and I were seated in the very back. The dust didn't bother me, but my husband had a very hard time of it because he has asthma and COPD. It was a very bumpy ride also. Don't even think of going on this excursion if you have breathing problems, or if you have back problems that a bumpy ride would aggravate. We were able to ride in the cab with the driver on the way back after we told the excursion hosts what happened. It's not bumpy in the cab, by the way! It was interesting trying to have a conversation with the driver. He only spoke Spanish and my high-school Spanish isn't so great. The beach is an average beach, windier than some, water not as clear because of the waves from the wind. When we walked along the beach, once we got past a certain point, we were whistled back as we had gone too far. The included lunch was really good, there were lots of choices and you could get seconds. Unlimited drinks were included - either beer, rum & coke, or rum punch, and I suppose non-alcoholic choices.

During Happy Hour, you can buy bottled water. Same as for bar drinks, the second drink or bottle of water is $2. If you have the drink card, bottled water is free at the bars.

Laura, I see you're headed to Cuba... That has piqued my interest as a 'new' possible itinerary; I'll be interested to hear your experiences.

We're looking forward to it. There are lots of rules with Americans visiting Cuba, but we'll figure it all out.

I will hopefully post a review after we return, so check in the Veendam reviews of Cuba within a month or two after our return at the end of October. We're leaving in about 2-1/2 weeks!

In fact I just read a comment from 'iris5383' that the drawers under the beds are significantly smaller than in previous or other beds' drawers, and we had room with those.

We had plenty of room in the drawers, but in case everything won't fit, we have used one of our smaller suitcases kept within easy access under the bed. We put stuff in there that we didn't need to get to everyday, like the souvenirs purchased along the way.

They added a bank of aft cabins a few years ago which meant there could no longer be an aft pool. They replaced it with four very large hot tubs, almost paddle pools, and a raised sun lounger area.

 

Better than when they added a bank of aft deck cabins to the Rotterdam an replaced it with a silly splash pond. But it now is what it is and glad they did not do this to all their aft-pool ships. So no two full pools - just the main one under the Lido glass cover, and these four hot tubs with amazing views out the back.

Maybe it's not for everyone, but I love that "silly splash pond" on the Rotterdam!:):)

And looking forward to boarding the Veendam in October bound for Cuba and beyond.

I appreciate the comments, thanks!

I'm also looking for information on Prickly Pear Island. The excursion offered by the ship is 3.25 hours for $70. It doesn't include lunch. Could you tell me if lunch can be bought separately on the island? We're just looking for a nice beach getaway for the day. How would the Prickly Pear excursion compare to taking a taxi from the cruise port to Dickenson Bay Beach? (Besides being so much less money.)Thanks!

Not a huge party mega ship. Toilets work . Water hot. Great room stewards. Friendly crew. Great food. From hogs breath saloon key west

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Hardly. HAL is noted for their gracious and helpful crew.

Totally agree with this post. HAL crews are the best!

I am sorry people had a bad experience on the Rotterdam during Thanksgiving cruise. Our family loved it!

That is so good to know. :cool:

CruiserBill - thanks for the photos! I'm looking forward to boarding in January.

We were on the Rotterdam 4 - 19 November and the removal of the self-service laundry a bit of a nuisance but we used the 'stuff it in a bag for $20', the clothes were back within 24 hours. Shirts etc. on hangers, underclothes folded and in wicker baskets. I managed to get 29 item in our bag.

Good to know, thanks!

To cruiserbill - you have the letter that offers $900. I believe HAL is obligated to honor the offer.

The thing that upsets me the most, laugh if you must, is that the self-service laundry was taken out. I'll be on the Rotterdam in January for three weeks and that's an important feature for us. Seems like problems are being taken care of as soon as the crew can get to them. Hope no one on board limits or takes away gratuities because Rotterdam is not perfect. That's not the crew's fault. I will post a review after we return in February, definitely at the review site, but somewhere on the boards, too. We chose our cruise because of the itinerary, and luckily that hasn't changed with the recent hurricanes.

Thanks for the updates! I'm booked on the Rotterdam in January and adding my request for photos when you return from your cruise.

The Kohunlich Mayan ruins were fantastic. We enjoyed it very much and my wife had a great time taking pictures there.

 

If your cruise line offers a shore excursion there, I highly recommend it.

 

Here's a link to a slide show my wife made for her website with the pictures she took.

 

Kohunlich Mayan Ruins Excursions

 

Happy cruising!

Thanks for the photos, they are beautiful. My DH and I will be in Costa Maya on Feb. 2, 2018. Your wife's photos are helping me to make an excursion decision!

Just booked an inside on the observation deck for a 2018 cruise. The virtual tour on Holland's site now seems to have a build in sofa in the K category on the observation deck. Has anybody stayed in this cabin recently? Would appreciate you feedback and experience. My thinking is that I would have easy access the outside deck and crows nest as this is a Panama Cruise. . . .

On our last two cruises, we have had cabin 10043 or 10044 (IQ category) on different HAL ships. In May we're booked in 10044 to AK. We love the location! There is a window in each although they are considered inside cabins. Not much of a view, but there is light. It was great for the Panama Canal in Feb 2016. You walk outside and you're on the panorama deck (I think on some ships it's called Observation Deck) with access to both sides of the ship at once. However the rooms are smaller than other inside cabins and there is no couch, there wouldn't be room for it. There is plenty of storage in closets and cupboards. The Crow's Nest and Explorations Cafe are a quick walk away. You can see which ships we were on in my signature.

Also - forgot to say - you can book the cruise through your travel agent once you get home. Don't have to go through HAL.

We do it on most of our cruises. Benefits are reduced deposit, amount depends on the number of days of the cruise; $100 per person for up to 21 days to $1,000 per person for over 50 days, which you pay when you sign up. Each person also gets an onboard credit, based on the room category and length of cruise, from $25 for an inside up to 10 days to $200 for a suite over 50 days.

You don't have to chose which cruise you will take. You can decide later, up to 4 years from the date you buy the future cruise deposit.

The deposit is per person. Say the person you're cruising with when you buy the future cruise deposit is not the one you want to take the next cruise with. You don't have to cruise with the same person. You buy the future cruise deposit, the other person buys one, you don't have to future-cruise together.

Stuart & John - my DH and I will also be sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam in two days! Maybe we will see you at the meet & greet.

Great info, Blue_Water. I copied this conversation and will use it when we're in Tortola. Also, thanks for the link.

I am convinced! This is where I want to go for my day at Tortola. Now to get my husband to agree . . .

Thanks for the info, Blue Water.

I'm considering a cruise ship excursion to Jost Van Dyke. I've seen the web cam in front of Soggy $. How about the rest of the beach? Is there space to get away from crowds if I walk a bit? Are there other sights to see within walking distance of White Bay Beach?

We paid $250 for 1,000 minutes of internet, that was the largest package. It lasted for 13 days. Then we spent another $175 for for 500 minutes. We used it all.

I bought the smallest package, $55 for 100 minutes. It was practically impossible to use in the daytime. A sign in the library said it had to do with the spring solstice and the sun. I guess that's why it worked at night. In retrospect, I would have just gone minute by minute at 75 cents per minute. It would have been cheaper for the small amount of time I really needed it. I ended up burning the remaining minutes on the last day on Facebook, just so I wouldn't leave any unused minutes.