CNSJ

Talk to your fellow travelers (face to face on ship) about who they use. Unlike the "old days" your TA doesn't need to be geographically nearby you (but keep in mind timezone differences). Just the same country in most cases. If you are referred to them by someone, mention that person's name. TAs live on repeat business. Try a TA, if you don't like their service, switch. Easy.

Drcody - Welcome to Cruise Critic, you should post and find others who have similar tour ideas in the Roll Call for your cruise. Look under Roll Calls - Holland America Line - Oosterdam - April. Enjoy your Transatlantic Cruise,

So basically, the price really is about the same. You just had a better selection of cabins.

I agree with Kazu that demand seems strong, and that even with higher prices cruises are a relative bargain. Hotel prices are up, food and drink prices have skyrocketed. A cruise presents some good value plus a journey. I think the rate of price increase may slow, but doubt you s=will see large decreases. Much of HAL's demographic I would think are reasonably well to do retirees - mostly baby boomers that didn't suck up a great deal of COVID funds.

I vote for the one that ends in "dam"

The island is just that, a beach and amazing snorkeling. No tours that I know of, just bliss. There is a floating dock for tenders and the island. Unspoiled,

Sorry, but that price list, including $11.00 for a turkey sandwich (plus 2.20 gratuity) at the "Craft Beer" joint, makes me think twice. I think HAL has the right balance on these things, soupy for drinks, but things like food Grand Dutch Cafe, NY Pizza & Deli, and Dive In are included. As other have stated, and I agree, priorities are simple when choosing a cruise line: 1. SAFETY 2. SERVICE 3. FOOD 4. ITINERARIES 5. STATEROOMS 6. WATERSLIDES (NOT HAVING ANY!) I saw today pricing for mid-Jan 2025 on ICON of the SEAs for balcony cabins on a 7 day cruise in/out of Miami, with stops in St. Maarten, St. Thomas and there CoCo Cay island. Cheapest balcony over $3,200 a person. Thats $1000+ a day after taxes, fees, and gratuities - before drinks and other options. Pick your own term: C R A Z Y , N U T S, ???

That best describes the pictures you sent! Wow! Looks much like the "best island stop ever" we visited on the 2022 Westerdam Fall Transpacific, at Papua New Guinea's Conflict Islands. Two days there of essentially untouched South Pacific perfection! I wish HAL would stop there more frequently on its Transpacific trips, we got lucky! Keep up your great photos!

Thank you for a superb report. Your photos are wonderful and to be honest, I am hungry after looking at them. We love Rotterdam. It's our favorite ship.

Have not had the luxury of excess onboard credit in the past, but expect to have a large amount of non-Casino/non-refundable OBC on an upcoming cruise. I will pre-book some shore excursions where I think they are must do's, and want a ship excursion for return guarantee, but only HIA OBC can be used for them in advance. My main question is (1) How do I go about (assuming you can) get sure-booked with credit card shore excursions refunded (or a thermal spa pass for that matter) and recharged to my OBC? I realized I could cancel and rebook, but that may cause me to loose a spot due to waitlisters. (2) How successful have people been in recent years at getting this done? Thanks in advance.

But on that fancy Winter ship you don't have a "Johnny Rockets" burger joint, nine water slides, bumper cars, nor a robot that mixes your drink. The big Mega Ships are NOT for us.

We tried Celebrity last year after many great cruises with HAL. Our one data point from Celebrity was a thumbs down. We will stick with HAL. Celebrity had poor service, mediocre food (buffet was horrible IMHO), and this ships, although not an Edge class was in poor shape.

Assuming they won't blow away in wind....Could leave cards on the chairs that say "LAST OCCUPIED at 7:30 AM. FEEL FREE TO MOVE PERSONAL ITEMS AND USE CHAIR AFTER 8 AM, PER SHIP'S POSTED POLICY PLACARDS."

And people thought I was joking in another topic on teh danger son having teh Knitting Group on a cruise. They have long needles.....and don't mess round!

Wow! A very sensitive topic. You chair hogs know who you are! Expect people to call you out. The worst case are the double chair hogs! They have "reserved" using their personal stuff, two sets of chairs, one set in the sun, and another in the shade, that way they have either as they need it. Found this type of hog on a recent trip. Also bad are the "dead" hogs. These folks don't remove the ship's blue towels from the chairs when they leave the pool area and just assume the crew will pick them up and put them in the hampers. Problem is that no one knows they are gone! Since people only seem to care about themselves...Perhaps a parking meter type system could be used. You set the timer when you leave to use the toilet or to get a slice of pizza from NY Pizza etc. After hmmmmm..... 15 min your timer runs out and the crew takes secure control of your towels that might be monogrammed with "Geoff" or "Cindy" - I can call them by name later (See my last paragraph) Many will disagree, but if you want to have a full meal in the Lido, MDR, etc., or attend a scheduled event like Bingo or Trivia, you should vacate your seat. PERIOD. If everyone did this, there would be plenty of seats. The only seats you are "entitled" to are those on your balcony and in your cabin's bathroom. Unfortunately, in some marriages, there are chair hogs in the bathroom as well. I watched a couple set up their stuff next to me, and not return for over two hours. I asked them how the medical center was on the ship. They said, they hadn't been to the medical center. They said "We aren't sick" - I replied, that I figured you had some emergency since you left your stuff for two hours and were holding chairs when others would like to use them. (Note: They had a "spa treatment" and then had lunch.) They told me it wasn't my concern and they didn't care. Yes, it is wrong but I did tell them they should buy a private yacht, because this dam ship wasn't theirs.... and that they were inconsiderate "a-holes." They left the pool area. 🙂

I think a ship to tender transfer is safer for all involved. Glad to know they made it off ok. Our Transpacific in 2022 had a medical eval in the same spot, Helicopter evacuation. We had to steam (I know WESTERDAM is a diesel ship) at full speed to make it to Apia, Samoa.

As an earlier post mentioned, get on the HAL Shore Excursions Wait List. It costs you nothing upfront, and there is no obligation if seats open up.

Is this the first World Cruise with Antarctica?

Thank you for sharing the play by play!

Does motion of ship make a difference to you? Deck 7 allows amidships which will have less pitch motion. Just adds to the equation.

You won't be able to use it before you get onboard, but you can use it for pretty much anything aboard including gratuities, and pretty much anything else except the Casino or a refund. That said, book shore excursions that are "must do" outside the OBC.

Didn't open ours either.

Understand your point. Mine is that I am not doing what many consider "scamming" the system. Plus, why bother with the buying and selling - its not a great deal of money, and I cruise often.

Stocks tend to be priced to market within minutes of things that impact them becoming known. All of CCLs debt, the economy, demand, ships on order....is all factored into the stock price. At $15 a share, a $1500 investment (100 shares) may go up or down. I consider it a stock that will pay me a $250 payout each time a take a 14 day plus cruise, and a $100 for a 7 day. Oh, yeah.....tax free on Shareholder benefits...since they are non-refundable. Since I cruise at least twice a year, and usually for one cruise at least two weeks long, thats $350 a year. I think of it as a bank account that pays (assuming $15 a share buying in) 23% a year in tax free interest. Oh yeah, I bought the stock at about $10 a share.*** If I sell, I'll have to pay capital gains tax on it..... Based on what I see on the ships, people are cruising, and I think things will make a comeback in the next few years as well. *** That means I am getting a 35% return. JMHO.

I suggest booking a cabin that you would be happy with and NOT gambling on an upgrade. As Marty posted earlier, cruises are more popular than ever and are selling out earlier than ever. Book early. The savings of an oceanview over a balcony (on Volendam on suites are balcony cabins) could easily cover your drinks, shore excursions and other incidentals. The Canada/NE sailing has great ports to enjoy.