FlaMariner

For us, we feel we have to use it everyday(and sometimes 2x a day) to make it worth it......So based on the type of cruise (port intensive no, sea days or Caribbean yes). We love it. The new prices (per person) seem much higher than the previous passes that were for two folks so we have been skipping it more.......Again, based on the type of cruise.

I am going to so do this....hilarious.....fun. I'm just all about going for free as a 4* Mariner and drinking free wine.....but I'm thinking Her Majesty and I are going to swirl our glasses and make these comments...."hint of kiwi" etc and have a blast. We've always been package #1 (the lowest priced Sommelier package) so this will fit us fine!

Exactly! ...and the way we HAL cruisers compare our stars makes me think about the sneetches......

Agree! The free laundry was the goal for us......and we thought of nothing else until I looked at the list today! We agree.....we have used the unlimited laundry and love it....but we will love it even more when FREE...as well as the other cool discounts/freebies.

Thanks Colbe.....I meant to click the thanks button and not the laugh. Thanks Crusin-Suzan! Looks like both of you responded at the same time......we look forward to our invite for wine tasting...and our free laundry....and our half off wine package......and the "special" line.....and Her Majesty is thinking she may partake of half off fancy coffee......Earning 4*s on Holland America Line is much more preferred to any "employee award" from work days!

We will have 4 stars on our belly when we cruise next...in October. Can those that have already earned their coveted 4th star, enlighten me on how one takes full advantage of the wine tasting? Do I sign up? Do I get an invite? The fine print says "James Suckling wine tasting".....Is that all of the wine tastings that I see on the daily program or just certain ones?

It is $299 for our upcoming 13 day cruise....per person.

Good info and thanks......

Here is the description of the spa verandah from the HAL website....there is a reference to "thoughtful amenities" but nothing specific or different from the regular verandah descriptions..... Spa Verandah APPROXIMATELY 228–405 SQ. FT. INCLUDING VERANDAH With floor-to-ceiling windows, sitting area and a private verandah, these light-infused staterooms feature two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our Signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, shower with premium massage showerheads and thoughtful amenities. The configuration of staterooms may vary from the images shown.

Would a yoga mat be considered special? We think not. We've sailed in them a few times when we got a "free" upgrade. We like the location....quiet and tucked away but no different for us than our favorite forward deck 8 VF verandah. Seems as though there might have been a yoga mat and maybe some "special" water but we experienced nothing different or noteworthy. For us, not worth the $$$ but OK if "free".

I keep seeing this type of post about the Oosterdam and do not understand.......and I keep responding..... We were on the Oosterdam in March/April 2023 in South America and had a fantastic cruise....spotless ship, engaged captain, top notch attentive crew, fun entertainment and educational stuff also, delicious food.... We enjoyed the Oosterdam so much that we booked her for a TA and a Mediterranean cruise this April.

Bumping this up to try again..... Any intel on Kushiro?

We use a very big internet TA....great prices...and we have a specific agent and she is fantastic. At first, we did not get upsells....and I did not even know such a thing existed until getting educated on here! When I inquired as to "how can I get upsell offers timely?" she had no problem making sure we got them pronto.....and she forwards the emails on.....Because she makes commission on the upsell (I'm assuming) and she knows that we will buy them on occasion, it is worth her effort. My suggestion: If you are not getting upsells, ask if you can.

All good this morning.....10:25am ET....safari browser.

I concur with the 2 to 3 week timeline......Our last cruise (March 2023), the upgrade offers were available 17 days before embarkation.

So based on what I read from the card website, if you have a purchase from Holland America Line that is $50 or more w/the Barclays's HAL card, you can redeems points to apply towards a statement credit. So yes. As far as "how" to redeem, you would log in to the card website, click "rewards and benefits center", click "redeem my points", click "statement credit" and then find the transaction that qualifies and apply the statement credit. This is from the website regarding redeeming points for "statement credit" but you may want to call Barclay's to confirm: Redeem your points for statement credits toward travel purchases of $50 or more made in the last 180 days on Holland America Line cruises,

We've sailed across the pond 3 times. (Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam (maiden voyage) and a Princess ship I'd rather forget about). The seas were no different than any other cruise. On one crossing, I do recall rough seas a day or two prior to arriving in Fort Lauderdale but nowhere near the roughest seas we have experienced from a Caribbean cruise in January on the K'dam. Rough seas can happen anywhere. We love TA's. Why? the price. the 7 days at sea. the ports. the ability to tour Europe prior and then jump on a ship to get home and rest...or rest up before wearing ourselves out touring Europe. And the most important benefit...no flight one way! There is a TA forum on cruise critic. Lots of helpful info regarding TA's. Enjoy the journey........

Our experience once with moving up to a vista suite from VH was that we could hardly tell the difference.....and was not worth any extra $$$. For us, an upgrade for extra $$$ means a Signature Suite or higher..... We would enjoy the VH and not take a vista....But ask about a paid upgrade to Signature.

We were on the Oosterdam this past March/April (2023) in South America and had a fantastic cruise......Awesome crew, excellent food, great captain, lots of activities, spotless ship.......In fact, enjoyed the Oosterdam so much we booked her for a TA and Mediterranean B2B cruise this April.

We've sailed on 4 HAL cruises since the unpleasantness (Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam included) and we are carnivors but I gravitate to the HAL fish dishes and find them to be quite a variety and excellent. We eat more fish when cruising that when at home...love the variety and the taste.....for sure.

We've grabbed what I think are two great international one way fares thru Holland America's Flight Ease and both are on Air Canada: October 2023 Tokyo to Orlando $486 May 2024 Athens, Greece to Orlando $518 Both ended up being on Air Canada with connections in Montreal. We are not picky flyers.....we are fine with steerage class. But I've been reading negative reviews about Air Canada. Is there a reason I should know as to why their flights are showing up as the "the deal"?

Nice! But I am curious as to what you expect Verifly will do for you when you board in August?

Last time I chimed in on this topic I spent time in cruise critic jail (solitary confinement) so I'll try to be very careful..... Isn't the sole purpose of Verifly to show Covid vaccination status and Covid test results? If that is the case and that is not required, what would be the purpose for fumbling around with Verifly? We have boarded HAL cruises 4 times since the "recent unpleasantness" (Amsterdam, Santiago/San Antonio, 2x Ft Lauderdale) and experienced no advantage for having successfully fumbled around with Verifly...of course, as they say YMMV based on Covid dictates....but that has to be rare now and last time I looked, is not required in Europe. And Verify was never required........no matter the Covid dance steps required to board. Enjoy the journey.......

good advice.....I did see a YouTube video with the bento boxes......and to grab one in the station before boarding.... We are early risers and the early am train out works well for us...... I've also found the "Official Japanese Travel App" and it is a great source for train schedules and what to see/do/dine in each town.

Adding Hakone....... So our plan to wear out our Japan Rail Pass......(one way travel times by train) Sunday: Debark, check in to Yokohama hotel, tour Yokohama Monday: Kyoto (3 hour) Tuesday: Tokyo (30 minutes) Wednesday: Kanazawa (3 hour) Thursday: Hakone (40 minutes) Friday: Yokohama/5pm flight from Narita (1.5 hour) I'd welcome comments on my plan especially regarding how to get the most out of our day in each city......(yes, I do know that I will not have much time in each place but this our chance to visit Japan and our plan is to make the most of it and rest once home!)