CNSJ

8 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Is it really a "double circle" or is it a southern loop and a northern loop, similar to what I am doing on the Westerdam starting March 27 for 28 days?

 

There are two 28 day Japan runs in 2025.  One is a southern trip and a northern circle, the other is two circles. They have 14 day chunks of each.

When looking at the "Legendary Voyages" recently announced, I saw a 28 day double circle of Japan for Spring 2025.  Although I have not seen standard Japan Spring 2025 released before now, the 14 day chunks of the Legendary 28 day trip were in fact bookable, in the standard cruise search.  Just booked 30 March to 13 April 2025 to circle Japan on the Noordam.  Had been waiting for them to open Spring 2025, glad I poked around a bit.

Although I am not a fan of the Have it All Plan:  The Have it all Plus offer at $50 more a day ($700 a head) was not a bad deal.  Since it includes Crew Appreciation, and the $200 a person shorex credit, that's about worth about $425 off the $700 a head tab, so assuming two speciality dinners (worth at least $40 even to a 4 star mariner), that gives you the elite beverage package, and premium wifi, for about $17 dollars a day.  

Looking forward to the Cherry Blossoms.

On 2/6/2023 at 4:13 PM, Crew News said:

I cannot answer your first question.  Within days of your returning from a cruise, HAL will send you an email with the  60 days bonus OBC notice.  There will also be a number to contact to redeem the bonus (it has always been my HAL personal cruise consultant (PCC)).  Approximately 30 days later, you will receive another notice about the bonus.

 

When I contact my HAL PCC to book within that 60 day limit, I reminder her that early return ZPM? code applies as well as applying my military/educator/first responder OBC.

Thanks for the tip with respect to 60 days post cruise.

12 minutes ago, robotpony said:

I'll offer some non-cruiser perspective. We didn't start cruising until fairly recently, so most of our vacations have been the typical resort or hotel experience.

 

Our cruises so far have been comparable to Allcor/Fairmont level resort stays ($300/night) and better than our Bovoy/Marriott stays, but at more modest prices (sometimes better than Marriott-level prices). There are several huge plusses to cruising compared to resort stays:

 

• The hotel magically appears in different ports every few days
• The hotel moves up and down and I sleep like a dream
• Views change regularly, and lots of chill spaces
• Regular entertainment, and good value for basic nightlife
• Several food choices, and even more in port
• Low stress overall, compared to booking multiple legs and navigating various transit/road systems on our own

 

It's worth noting that service at most of our favourite hotels has evolved over the pandemic and over time, and it roughly matches the changes we've seen in our few years with HA. Most of the changes aren't only penny-pinching, but also driven by how difficult the supply chain is, and how many employees need to be hired and approved for immigration. These problems are affecting hotels and restaurants too, quite significantly in some cases.

 

I expect (and will be vocal with HAL) that food quality should improve as supply chains and cost increases slow down. The food on our November/December cruise was generally good to great, but had room for improvement. Service was good, but sometimes stretched thin (compared to previous experiences). We were also guests at Fairmont Whistler in the Fall and a Disney hotel in September, and both had similar food and staffing issues, so to us it feels like HAL is navigating the same set of challenges as other similar land-based businesses. 

 

 

 

 

Very well put!

On 2/27/2023 at 6:32 PM, 3rdGenCunarder said:

It would be nice to see a Dutch cafe on more ships. I don't know if that will happen, but I wouldn't bet on a library. HAL has pretty much given up on that idea.

Just read on line changes for HAL in 2023-2024, adding a full time arts and crafts instructor as well as renewed libraries...

"The art and craft instructor’s job will be to lead painting, drawing, and coloring in a new art studio. The program will also include sessions in crafting and needlework as well as painting classes to encourage artistic expression."

"Holland America Line is also adding modern libraries throughout the fleet in 2023 and 2024. The collection includes over 250 titles featuring a variety of genres such as contemporary popular fiction, mystery, young adult and short stories. The cruise line is also expanding board and card game rooms to include a selection of games and puzzles."

11 hours ago, REOVA said:

It will probably be a library retrofit and other changes outlined in HALs new plan....

 

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/03/holland-america-expands-shipboard-enrichment-program/

The link indicates new emphasis on arts and crafts and library rooms!:

"The art and craft instructor’s job will be to lead painting, drawing, and coloring in a new art studio. The program will also include sessions in crafting and needlework as well as painting classes to encourage artistic expression."

"Holland America Line is also adding modern libraries throughout the fleet in 2023 and 2024. The collection includes over 250 titles featuring a variety of genres such as contemporary popular fiction, mystery, young adult and short stories. The cruise line is also expanding board and card game rooms to include a selection of games and puzzles."

Perhaps they do listen to guest inputs.  The arts and crafts program is nice for long voyages with sea days.

6 hours ago, terrydtx said:

What is more frustrating for me is that we can't even book our reservations yet for our November Koningsdam cruise.  I called HAL and was told about 4 months out they will open up online specialty restaurant bookings. This makes no sense whatsoever, considering we can book reservations on our Celebrity cruises over a year out.

I am willing to bet it allows any price increases to kick in first.  Many will complain (and they will....), but the way I see it is if I make a reservation three months in advance at restaraunt in the states, I get the menu price when I show up, not menu price when I book.

I have an October cruise that I wish to book to lock in Birthday dinners etc., not so much worried about price. 

4 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Fred Olson's business model is based on buying "pre-loved" ships. They've been successful for many years. Perhaps because their passengers know they'll be on an old (but well kept) ship, they don't expect too many bells and whistles. So many people want the newest and biggest with the most restaurants and amusement rides. I don't mind an older ship. I always said QE2 was the love of my traveling life, and she was nearly 40 when I said goodbye to her (and cried).

 

Fred Olsen's business model is also to charge UK passengers a hefty sum to enjoy the pre-loved ships.

1 hour ago, YXU AC*SE said:

If I were to hazard a guess, a slightly-upsized Pinnacle class. Fincantieri is delivering Queen Anne to Cunard in 2024 which is really a slightly-stretched Rotterdam by 75' with 2' added to the beam.  Tonnage would increase to 113k (https://www.cunard.com/content/dam/cunard/inventory-assets/ships/QA/0/decks/QA_accessible_deckplan_apr2022a.pdf) and pax count would be just under 3000 based on double lower berth occupancy.     Scott.

 

 

 

 

Appears the extra length is in the bump out section in the middle.  Queen Anne has same Promenade Deck width constraints aft near dining room.  Using same design saves a bunch of money in naval architecture costs. 

1 hour ago, PACD_JG said:

Wishful thinking.  I'll put a $5 spot that HAL sells a ship or two before they ever build a new one.

If they sold the remaining R-class and replaced it with a Pinnacle class they would have a net same amount of passengers with less operating costs.  1 Captain, 1 Chief Engineer, 1 Hotel Mgr.... etc.

Realize that many on this forum would jump off a bridge at the thought....

Paid rightfully to the shareholders of CCL (today) and HAL before that.

The same people who saw thier "ownership" of CCL value fall by 80%.

They are a for profit business. 

Paid rightfully to the shareholders of CCL (today) and HAL before that.

The same people who saw thier "ownership" of CCL value fall by 80%.

They are a for profit business. 

Many on this forum have complained about service standards dropping.  With inflation running at about 7%, HAL needs to consider what its costs will be as far as 18 month out when they price things today.  If not, service may drop even more.  They are running a for profit business. 

The cruise lines are sailing blind when it comes to costs in the fall of 2024.  I don't recall ever seeing them kick in the "permitted fuel surcharge" even when oil was really high last year.

I hope they can find the right balance.  Cruise travel is still a good deal if you ask me.  Look at cost to eat in a restaurant stateside today.  

During and in the immediate aftermath of COVID, cruise lines were not in a rush to get orders for new ships into shipyards.  Now that COVID is getting further behind us (I know its not over yet!) cruise lines may soon start thinking about the fleets they will need in 2025 and beyond.  That said:

1.  What size (tonnage and passengers) and special features do you think should be in the next HAL new Build?  Feel free to use an existing class as a basis.

2.  What do you predict that HAL will build when they next submit an order to Fincantieri?  This might not match your answer to question 1. 

Perhaps HAL executives monitor this site and will at least read your inputs. 

While some may tell you that you can get seasickness meds from the ship's medical department, my advice is to just bring it with you.  You don't want to go any where near the medical department unless you need to in the post-covid era!!

Murphy's Law says to bring them and you won't need them...

Murphy is a five star Mariner....

You will find very good variety and well=prepared hot food in the Lido at lunch and dinner.  Dinner often has the same entrees as the MDR, without the need to spend 90-100 minutes to eat!

HAl has a great buffet!  They put food on the plates for you for most items....which is  good.

23 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

I'll try to be nice but we are 3 star HAL Mariners and cruised Princess (Sky, TA) for the first time last March and we are not going back.....some of the differences we noticed:

 

• no fixed dining (we had to beg every evening to be seated at our preferred table/servers at the same time every evening)
• no retractable roof over lido (so this area is of no use in inclement weather)
• loud lido pool deck with gambling on the TV screen and other loud events/annoyances
• atrium/decor was more like being at the mall food court than on a ship 
• no furniture to sit on in the balcony cabin/closet is open like motel 6
• pizza restaurant required 11am line up on sea days or long wait (no reservations taken)
• lido was difficult for us to figure out....salad bar was hidden in an alcove area, orange juice glasses were shot glass size, lots of going "here and there" to fill the plate...difficult to get a cup of "free" coffee.  wait in line for them to serve or perhaps someone may come by after finished with eggs. 
• reliance on the medallion thing (size of quarter, lost in day 2) but it did not work for fetching drinks or whatever. 
• no reasonable "wine package" at dinner
• not much live music....jazz club was more like "brunch jazz" nothing like Music Walk choices.
• no reasonable laundry package....did clothes dorm room style down the hall.
• Thermal suite hidden in inside windowless area of ship....not as nice as HAL
• no shaded walking area around the ship

 

 

Food was fine. Staff was great. But Holland America Line has spoiled us w/the way they roll and it more fits us.  

 

Disclaimers:  These bullet points are my personal views and experiences and I understand others see things much differently.  I am open to other cruise lines as we have sailed Carnival, Celebrity, NCL other the years (with a Carnival cruise booked next year) but we are not interested in cruising Princess again.  And I understand YMMV. 

 

 

 

 

 

The lack of a promenade deck (Pinnacle class is still better than nothing!), lack of a small loveseat in non-suites, and the loud music/party on lido deck areas are enough to keep me on HAL.  Plus I don't want much bigger than Pinnacle class is today.

I'll sail with HAL.  May try Oceania, but price compares seem high, especially since we hit 4 star with HAL. 

Out of Rye?  Is that mutiny worthy?

 There are so few 14 day cruises....assuming a seven day gig:   I suggest Vancouver as embark/debark port.  The cruises that use Vancouver will transit the scenic inside passage and have less time in what may be rougher seas if that is an issue.  

As for specific ships, the Vista Class (Noordam/Westerdam/Zuiderdam/Oosterdam) and Signature Class (Eurodam and N. Amsterdam) have the most open public areas for viewing Glaciers and wildlife.  

On last cruise (Rotterdam in January at 80% full) Grand Dutch Cafe was open by 6 AM, with the Crows Nest "Exploration Cafe" opening at 7 AM.  Perhaps its was just the sailing, but lines were minimal.

As a general rule my TA says not to buy Platinum coverage until time of final payment for this very reason. 

5 hours ago, montythecat said:

We tried HAL last year, attracted by the music offerings which seemed

to be a lot more adventurous than those offered on Celebrity which used

to be our first choice cruise line. Not any more !  Oosterdam was very

enjoyable but NS was, for us, truly exceptional. It is now my

favourite ship (27 cruises). Subject to appropriate itineraries we will

look for Pinnacle Class ships above all others. The Dutch Cafe is also

another very good reason for this choice.

We went the other way....after many HAL cruises we tried Celebrity and found ourselves back on HAL.

Signatures provide all that Vista class has plus Tamarind.  I also prefer the layout of the Lido Market restaurant. These classes (to me)  get the nod because of the great promenade deck for walking.  That said, the Grand Dutch Cafe and expanded amidships pool area do make the Pinnacles appealing.

Whats next?

As for future builds, I think we will find that the next HAL build will be another Pinnacle or perhaps a Pinnacle plus based on the new Cunard Queen Anne.  She is 10% larger than Rotterdam VI, but would still be smaller than most of the Princess fleet and RC fleet.  Personally id prefer they stayed with the current Pinnacles. 

As for Captain van Hoogdalem, it makes me wish HAL would publish which Captain will master which ships as a schedule so we can use that as a booking consideration.  But then again, that would give some another thing complain about when the Captain plan changes....

1 hour ago, Iamthesea said:

Thank you, that's what I was thinking, but wanted to make sure. 

 

We picked a stateroom that did not have that empty space across from the room.  Never know if your stateroom will be opposite a door going into a storage room, crew mechanics, or crew stairwell.  That happened to us on the Eurodam where we have a lovely Signature Suite with a crew cleaning area directly across from us. We could hear everything! 

 

We also picked our stateroom in an area across from the back of an Inside staterooms.  Those stateroom doors open up into the hallway on the opposite side of the ship.  So we will not have the banging door across from us. 

Choose your cabin, choose how much you enjoy the trip!  I am not enough of a gambler to book gurantees!