FlaMariner

Yes, and let's not forget the $$$ paid to Oprah during that time. LOL. What a waste of $$$. I think the new HAL management has realized that classical music does not require a tribute paid to Lincoln Center (great classical musicians are easily booked). A cooking demo does not require a tribute paid to America's Test Kitchen (HAL has the best chefs working onboard). And on and on....The new management seems to understand this.

My anecdotal experience.... Prices seem to be "very high" when itineraries first come out and then a few months later, they are reasonable and that is usually when we book.....like a around to a little less than 1.5 years out....and then I do watch them and rarely do the prices drop lower. YMMV. It varies. My advice is not FDIC insured and investment returns are not guaranteed....LOL Enjoy finding the Panama Canal cruise...going thru the locks is fascinating.

That's our plan....DIY in Bermuda....taking the public bus.

Are you on the 4/5/25 crossing? Go log in again....I can see 15 Bermuda tours and none sold out and most are less than a hundred bucks.....Perhaps they added more capacity.

Her Majesty and I are on that cruise also.... We never book HAL tours (unless it's the only game in town and something we want to see/do) and was surprised that there are only a couple of seats left for an independent tour (not a HAL excursion) from Dover port to Canterbury. It seems us TA cruisers are big into planning.....early planning....and it's quite an active roll call. I did see something about a private tour trying to get arranged for Bermuda but did not pay much attention to it. You may want to jump on the roll call if you have not already. You will be able to easily spend your $400 excursion credit on that cruise.....I am certain. See you onboard.....

Enjoyed the review....Thanks for taking the time to write that.....We love the Oosterdam.....Great size ship.

We tend to book 1.5 years in advance and no issues w/booking....but I do keep checking and rarely do the cruises have a price drop as it gets closer to sailing....That's been our experience for the past 2-3 years. I did a query for Jan - March 2025 Asia cruises with HAL and of the 14 listed cruises, 8 are already listed as SOLD OUT (57%) so lots of demand for Asia w/HAL. Of course, cabins will open up but overall, it's good business in Asia for HAL.

These lines charge much more than Holland America Line so I would agree with you....I would cruise on those over HAL if I had the travel budget for those lines....but we do not....Our retirement travel budget fits nicely with HAL.....HAL allows us to see the world and we love the ships, food, crew, destinations, entertainment, Dutch traditions, calmness, classiness and overall experience. If we did not like HAL, we would not book passage with them and I would not be posting on the HAL board about how much we enjoy cruising w/Holland America Line.

What advantage is there to this "stand by" program vs booking under current regular fares? If the "stand by" fare is $99 inside/night, when I look at, for example, the prices of HAL Caribbean cruises, the regular prices for many cruises today are less than $99 inside/night (also for the balcony rate of $129/night).......What am I not understanding? Here are prices that are less than $99 inside/night for this season.....(These are all the new "all in" prices that include tax/port"). 21 Nov 23 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Zuiderdam 4.5 $3,969 $1,610 59% $76 Per Night! #47779 14 Nov 30 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Statendam 5 $2,522 $1,065 58% $76 Per Night! #47733 14 Dec 8 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $2,437 $1,073 56% $76 Per Night! #18653 15 Dec 8 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Eurodam 5 $2,692 $1,140 58% $76 Per Night! #47728 14 Dec 1 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $2,432 $1,078 56% $77 Per Night! #47784 14 Dec 7 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Statendam 5 $2,519 $1,079 57% $77 Per Night! #47718 14 Nov 10 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $2,622 $1,102 58% $78 Per Night! #47714 14 Nov 3 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $2,619 $1,107 58% $79 Per Night! #47688 10 Nov 17 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Eurodam 5 $2,022 $809 60% $80 Per Night! #47689 21 Nov 17 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Eurodam 5 $4,697 $1,707 64% $81 Per Night! #47954 17 Dec 4 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Zuiderdam 4.5 $3,629 $1,387 62% $81 Per Night! #47948 14 Nov 9 Boston, MA Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Zuiderdam 4.5 $2,649 $1,149 57% $82 Per Night! #11698 21 Nov 27 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Eurodam 5 $4,597 $1,727 62% $82 Per Night! #47777 7 Nov 30 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Statendam 5 $1,302 $574 56% $82 Per Night! #12171 10 Dec 8 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Eurodam 5 $1,922 $829 57% $82 Per Night! #47870 9 Nov 29 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Rotterdam 5 $1,749 $761 56% $84 Per Night! #47727 7 Dec 1 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $1,254 $594 53% $84 Per Night! #47731 7 Dec 8 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $1,262 $589 53% $84 Per Night! #47735 7 Dec 15 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $1,254 $589 53% $84 Per Night! #47953 10 Dec 4 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Zuiderdam 4.5 $1,934 $854 56% $85 Per Night! #47782 7 Dec 7 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Statendam 5 $1,304 $595 54% $85 Per Night! #47785 7 Dec 14 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Statendam 5 $1,299 $595 54% $85 Per Night! #47716 7 Nov 10 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $1,354 $606 55% $86 Per Night! #47869 21 Nov 17 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Rotterdam 5 $4,174 $1,810 57% $86 Per Night! #19156 5 Dec 18 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Eurodam 5 $594 $430 28% $86 Per Night! #47721 14 Nov 17 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $2,977 $1,228 59% $87 Per Night! #47951 11 Nov 23 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Zuiderdam 4.5 $2,164 $966 55% $87 Per Night! #47872 21 Nov 29 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Rotterdam 5 $4,084 $1,833 55% $87 Per Night! #47720 7 Nov 17 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $1,362 $634 53% $90 Per Night! #47725 14 Nov 24 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $2,879 $1,262 56% $90 Per Night! #47679 7 Nov 3 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Amsterdam 5 $1,359 $639 53% $91 Per Night! #47955 7 Dec 14 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Zuiderdam 4.5 $906 $654 28% $93 Per Night! #47686 21 Nov 6 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Eurodam 5 $4,697 $1,979 58% $94 Per Night! #12126 11 Nov 27 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Eurodam 5 $2,499 $1,043 58% $94 Per Night! #47786 14 Dec 14 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Nieuw Statendam 5 $2,897 $1,349 53% $96 Per Night! #47857 21 Dec 8 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Rotterdam 5 $4,554 $2,064 55% $98 Per Night! #21901 12 Dec 18 Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Holland America / Eurodam 5 $2,429 $1,186 51% $98 Per Night!

We were there in April on the Oosterdam (awesome cruise, awesome port). We were a group of 8. We took a taxi. It was a van that took us up to Taormina. The taxi driver also agreed to pick us up where he dropped us off at a pre-decided pick up time. And he did and he was on time. He was fine with us not paying for the entire trip until we were back at the ship. I don't recall the price but I do not recall it being high or a big deal. There were plenty of taxis both at the ship and at the edge of Taormina. We had a fun time walking thru the town......Her Majesty enjoyed the shopping....I managed to enjoy a cappacchino and cannoli....fun times. Enjoy.

This...for medical.....we use whatever the credit card covers for the other non-essential stuff (lost baggage, interruption etc.).....but for medical....Geo Trekker Essential..annual policy. https://geobluetravelinsurance.com/products/multi-trip/trekker-compare-plans.cfm?TSPD_101_R0=086081c382ab2000bf689f0666e82879eca6f3ddb029044652431c48cf76bed28e2743c20f1c09a90875d0d3b6143000eb8318889a06a7bc0cf74c4d8b975f94e968053d4cb17efe7ac76b18b0acef5488c3adfb19298b33be20b9e3c66f8e56

Agree with the loud talking on all the ship hydro suites....It is not a frequent occurrence but when the party starts, it's very annoying and disapointing. We just label them "obnoxious Yankees" and move on......My previous efforts to "shush them" seem to be unsuccessful.

We enjoy drinking the surcharge free water onboard the ship that comes with ice and a cup....so far, it's worked out fine for us and does not require us hauling bottles, buying special bottles or buying water onboard. I'm glad we all have choices......Enjoy the water....no matter the source or the effort to haul it around.

Ice bucket is required at least once during cruise to see how well your heart is working.....LOL.

This is what we do.....and we head out early in the morning and find the lounge chairs that are under the trees at the beach....pleasant....Also, it's been a 1.5 years since last at HMC but there were also some hammocks (w/no surcharge, LOL) under the trees at that area (Please do not tell anyone). Shady. My suggestion, go early, walk down the beach to the shady spots, go to lunch BBQ when it first opens and then head back to the ship....For us, it's too much of a visual paradise to miss...And you can manage/minimize the sun. Enjoy Half Moon Cay!

Agree.... The Pinnacle class ships (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam) have, IMO, the best hydro suite areas..Along with the pool, there's more stuff (the ice bucket, the horizontal shower) plus it is all in one area (you don't have to go out one area and into another area) to go between the sauna/steam/heated chairs/showers to get to/from the pool. Enjoy....it's a great splurge and Her Majesty requires her spa pass if we are on for lots of sea days.

Good point also......That's another reason to load up on the $100 FCD's when onboard.....If needed, that's not a huge sum to lose.

Good info....That's the key....We are also booking longer cruises and going to "once in a lifetime" bucket list trips so I think I am better off booking early and forgoing the "last minute" route.....Yea, if I was heading to the Caribbean/Alaska for a week, there is not much serious planning to those trips and I'd be fine with last minute booking. Let the early trip planning resume.......

I'd really like to be more like that.... ....we are fine with guarantee cabins but.....do you find that you lose out on: lower airfares booking tours getting tickets to "must see" venues/museums etc? getting the preferred fixed seating other issues because of booking late?

off the top of my head........I'm sure others can add..... faster (don't have to point, explain, say "more", say "that enough", say "thank you") skip certain side items (sometimes they auto add them) get the piece I want get the amount I want place it where I want on my plate less line skippers (it's more obvious with a self service line where to start) don't have to wait for the lady in front of me to customize and discuss everything about their food request w/the lido server...I can be "one and done" and eating before she has even figured out what to ask to order.....LOL

For those like me that did not know......I asked Mr. Internet about Vegemite: Vegemite is a thick, dark brown[3] Australian food spread made from leftover brewers' yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives.

Self service is preferred but I understand the need for lido servers for certain items either because of price (bacon for example) or the way it has to be served (cutting meat for example)....Noro virus does not bother me....otherwise I would never book passage on a ship if that was my fear. I know it's a germ factory and tight quarters.

A HAL sale is rarely of any value to us.... I do compute the "price per day" no matter whether there is a sale or whatever.....So if there is a supposed "sale" say, with "free tips" then we compute that into the "price per day" and see how it changes the price per day....but usually "sales" only mean they increase the price of the cruise and toss in the benefit....as mentioned earlier "smoke and mirrors". I still do the math when there is a "deal" on HIA but we have yet to conclude that booking HIA is worth it to us. YMMV based on whether you would buy the benefits in HIA in the first place. Not us. We have found, over the years, that booking early gives us the best prices....and the ability to cancel/rebook if the math turns out more beneficial later as long as it is before final payment.

I noticed that also...... I guess they have figure out that if folks are choosing a TA, they are fine with/enjoy sea days.... We go on many TA's and have two booked next year.....We like them because: we go to a few ports along the way (few is fine) we enjoy sea days we are glad we are not flying the price per day is a deal we arrive either home/Europe rested and ready to hit the ground running I'm fine with fewer ports on a TA...just keep changing up the offering....We've seen Port Delgado switched out for Bermuda, the shuffle of Gibraltar mixed in with the Spanish ports and different ports switched out in southern England. It seems each TA has some minor port changes so that keeps us happy...wether 3, 4 or 5 ports we are fine w/that on a TA....If we wanted more ports, we would not choose a TA in the first place. We missed Port Delgado twice over the years...and it made for 9 days at sea....not a problem. This past April, we did the Oosterdam TA to Barcelona and then the next cruise which was 10 ports in 11 days. LOL. We are glad we had the TA prior to being "off to the races". Enjoy the TA's......no matter the port stops!

Agree w/above.... That's the way we roll also....plus, after dinner, you can ask for a bottle "to go" and take it back to your cabin yourself.