whitford

Got upgraded and never got to stay in one of these forward  facing rooms. Thanks for the input.

Thanks for the post I hope to be on this same cruise in Jan 2021

It is simple for me not sales tax so not an issue. If you have a sales tax do the math as above.

Yellowstone Park is closed until further notice.

Worst Web site in the cruise lines. Must loose mega $$ a day.

Any updates on the unrest and safety of the island?

17 hours ago, gatour said:

Assuming you are currently employed in a salary job.  How much are you being paid on an annual basis?  How much is you company contributing for your health care premiums?  How much is your company contributing to your 401K/pension?

 

If you are an hourly employee where tips are not involved, see above.

 

If you are an hourly employee where tips are involved.  How much do you make per year?  How much do you declare for income tax purposes?

 

I worked by way through college in restaurants.  Server received the tips.  They were required to tip out a certain percentage of their tips to the busboys.  The Maitre'D got a very small percentage.  Everyone was happy.  If we weren't we would have moved on.

 

Don't quite understand this fascination about how the tip are distributed.  It pops up every few months or even more frequently.

 

I just tip the recommended about, and may give additional tips, if I experienced extremely good service.  However, if someone just wants to give the recommended amount, I think this is fair.

I do not have a job. Not sure about the  tone of this post. I wanted to know so I can adjust the large tip that we always leave in addition the the daily gratuity The fascination is for a good reason.

How is the room service gratuity distribution made for the crew and staff. Anyone know the approximate percentages? Does the Company take a cut of the gratuities? Nice to know who is getting what of the mandatory tips.

Damajagua Waterfalls is a must see. Book off the ship, I use Iguana Mama (Tour Company) our tour had 4 people total, eventually formed into a group of 8 with 10+ guides and helpers. So book private, the walk off the port is about 15 minutes. This is a can't miss adventure. Not many people are up for an adventure of this level. Early 70's and it almost wore me out. The 27 (upper falls) was closed but the bottom 12 were open and plenty for a normal person or family.

My DGF wants to look at other cruise lines for a future trip. I really like HAL but must look. What are options for couple in their later 60's fit and like to leave the ship at each port. Like good food and wine. Bring out own wine and pay the corkage fee. Love the staff on HAL and would like similar on alternative line. Price is not the most important consideration. I do not like roving bands of kids, booze cruises, water slides/attractions and really big crowded ships. Please let me know your first hand experiences both pro and con.

Brought our own, cheap enough to pay for it self in a couple of rentals. Snorkel right next to the ship is really nice.

Yes back in time to shop and walk, about 5 hours and 4 rum and cokes.  Iguana Mama tours are really the best. You might be pretty tired, so the walking and shopping might be limited.

HAL tour.

Gone on K-Dam Jan 2020

Took a HAL tour, nice tour guide and look at the country side. Cave minimal but still fun.  Back to city center and the main center park. Nice but the place is really messy, cups, papers and garbage most every place. Much more noticeable that any other island in our cruise. The island needs to hire someone to pick up the trash. Huge shopping area, which was nice. Floating market is done due to embargo from US on Venezuela, sad for many reasons. Lots of negative impact from the embargo on the locals. Had the best lunch, local, see picture, you must go, 1 1/2 grouper, beans, rice, plantains and a baked something for $10 US. Great do not miss lunch place next to the "new market" round building. The floating bridge is nice, as are the locks. The shopping is local across the bridge and corporate by the ship. All the history is across the bridge. Fun place. Ship left at 11 pm so we got to see all the late comers running to the ship, great sport, they all made it.

Did a HAL tour of the island. Started with the salt plant, and slave huts, interesting. Toured showed much of the island. 2+ hour stop to snorkel and lunch, very nice.

Nice island bigger than I thought. First ship could not maintain tend position and left. Koringsdam (HAL) was able to and we tendered to shore. Nice to have only one ship lots of room. Extremely nice beach, minimal snorkeling but need to try new equipment. Great buffet lunch. Tendering went better than I expected. Nice to begin or end a cruise on this island.

There are 27 falls but all but the bottom 12 are closed due to low water. The bottom 12 are enough for anyone. 40 minute hike is really extreme, mud, heat and uphill. Finally get there and then the fun starts, one little jump first and the the big one (25 feet) nice but I took the "Chicken Way" around so did others. Slides, jumps and lots of MUST NOT MISS fun. I am old 70+ and survived it and had a great time would recommend the falls and Iguana Mama tours at a 10+ great small 4 people tour joined 6 others and had 6 guides. Only down side is the walk off port about a 1.5 mile trip put it went fast.  Great buffet lunch and all the Rum and Coke you wanted, yes ALL had 4 and that was plenty for the day.

This is a MUST DO attraction, hard but relatively safe. 8 years old and older, teens and young adults will love this.

Small island but nice to see once. Great guide and a nice stop at a local shopping area. Did the hop- on-hop-off never hopped not sure when the next might come by. Snorkeled next to the ship in the afternoon, nice swim.

Had a nice tour of the country side with a  nice guide. Went to 2 caves in the Arikok national park this is a must see. Tour of the California lighthouse was nice and the donkeys were every where. Miss the high rise stuff if possible on the north end of the island. Fresh water Tilapia fish can give you a pedicure. Nice island had a great time.

Trying the NS next Jan hope it is as good. Comments on the two ships?

More comments please? Has any one else been on this ship?

Yes and a nice one at that.

Just off the Koringsdam in mid January and I would like to share some of my impressions.

Embarkation – Smooth considering the number of passengers.  We did get an upgrade without notice but is was a nice one.  Would have been nice to know about it before trying the board.  The HAL Navigation app really is not good, just like their Web site, no or wrong information and did not work some times. The TV interface was much better.

Staterooms – Really nice, modern and ultra clean. Bathroom is a little weird with the angled toilet but you get used to it. The shower is possibly the best shower I have ever had the pleasure to use, perfect. Fantastic stewards were top notch as expected on HAL.  Service was always great with a nice full bucket of ice when returning to our stateroom, as requested. Great views from the 8 floor balcony.

Food – Top notch in the MDR, Waiters and Wine Steward are the best we have ever had on a cruise.  Décor is a nice modern interaction unlike other HAL ships. Liked it. We had the 8:15 fixed and I worried that would be too late, turned out to be just fine, went to the early show and then dinner. Menus had lots of variety and never felt like they did not have something interesting to try.  Lido twice for breakfast on early excursion days and it was as expected.  Breakfast in the MDR very nice but can be a little slow.  Had lunch at the Pinnacle on a sea day and were quit impressed.  At all restaurants food is great the staff is even better.  Did bring our own wine and paid the corkage fee, the selection on the ship is less that adequate and really too expensive.

Shore Excursions – Three of the ships and three of the local excursions all fabulous.  Half moon Kay was a tended port which was well done with little waiting.  Another ship could not make and maintain the tended position and had to skip the call, our nice new high teck K-dam work out just fine.  Ships excursions are more expensive but you do not have to walk out of the port, which can be miles. Every guide was interesting and had great insights into the local cultural.  Did the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua, Dominican Republic with Iguana Mama Tours, fantastic local tour.  The tour really was only 12 water falls due to low water issues but that was more than enough, you will never forget this excursion.  These excursions both on ship and off are the highlight of the trip.  If we ever get back to any of the islands we will be able to plan our own tour.

Sea Days – Enough to entertain on sea days.  Did bring our own wax for the scuffle board, they really do not maintain these at all.  We are not really the lay in the sun types and keep moving all the time.

Entertainment – The much maligned entertainment was really more than expected.  Went to the early show and had to be there 30 minutes be for the show to get two seats together, but met some nice people while waiting.  The One Step dance group (Humanity performance) was one of the best live show I have ever seen, with all the high teck of the theater if was fabulous. The other show were entertaining and a nice introduction to out 8:15 dinner.

Disembarkation – Very fast and very smooth considering the number of people on board.  The airport is boring so do not hurry to get there, screening time were minimal.

Overall – I was worried that the increase in passengers (1404 to 2650) would be an issue but it was not. Never felt crowded (Except at the Lido for breakfast, expected) plenty of room on the decks and venues. The show were crowded, perhaps an early show to supplement the current two show would help.  Great new ship, great staff and crew.  Look forward to choosing the K-dam again.

Change was on several I looked at yesterday.