curtdesilets

Not really a new thread, it is music. Any idea if there are any classical music on board? We just booked Koningsdam today. Thanks in advance.

Our local SPROUTS markets donates slightly bruised or otherwise unsightly produce to various churches that then distribute to the needy. It's important.

Have you ever heard of Bread Pudding? Waste not want not. They do serve a pretty good one on HAL ships.

No but our November California Coastal was during Navy Week. It did take some time. My wife is disabled though so we got a little bump forward. Out friends were in line for quite sone time, about 2 hours

We were on the same cruise last November. You will enjoy! This oddball "Pacific Coastal" on this review is not typical of HAL's product. Several reasons as discussed. You should have full staffing on the REAL Pacific Coastal in November, the R/T San Diego to SF one. Embarkation will still be a challenge as everyone shows up too early and creates chaos. San Diego embarkation rivals Vancouver. Just be patient. You will get on the ship!

So the trick to reducing food waste is to eat everything on board! Kidding. This was interesting. HAL is doing a lot to minimize the impact of all of that uneaten food. https://www.yahoo.com/news/happens-uneaten-food-cruises-lines-090716033.html

I had a feeling about the relative tone of the OP. Point counterpoint. We had a great time on two Koningsdam cruses in the past 6 months, so much so that we booked another HAL cruise to Alaska leaving next week. If you know the tricks you can still have a great vacation, at a relative bargain. Try staying @ a resort hotel for a week at a matched price. First of all that's impossible. Second of all chill people. Post pandemic cruising will never be as glorious as pre pandemic. Period. Deal with it and find your fun zone. Geez Louise!

Thanks for the info. It is in part due to these Vancouver nightmares that we choose to sail Alaska out of Seattle. But even that is no picnic these days. I talked to some top brass on our previous HAL cruises and for sure staffing and staff shortages are an issue. Cruise lines had been trimming staff before the pandemic as cost cutters and post-pandemic it is definitely worse. We tip the staff that go over and above during this patch, but we still love our cruises dearly. We never expect cruising to go back to the way it was, but it still beats the alternatives! The luxury lines like Viking, Regent and Oceania do not have these staffing problems, but you pay a lot more for "the good old days" experience. Oh and do not forget inflation. The fact that you can get a week on a ship for under a grand pp is still a miracle in my economic playbook! Sail away!

Quoting myself here...probably a staffing issue as I would imagine this is a brand new crew for the Alaska Season. Everywhere on this planet, we have an employment crisis. Even our best restaurants are extremely understaffed as very few people wan to work. It is the new ABNORMAL. Try running a small business these days and hiring somebody. Good luck!

Just as a counterpoint, we did a Pacific Coastal Cruise in November and a Mexican Riviera Cruise in January on Koningsdam. The service, food and cruise were all excellent. Embarkation did suck however. I usually write very long reviews, but did not as we have a lot of other things happening now. Enjoyment can be had. I would rate both of those cruises a B+.

Thanks!

NY Deli is great. The Corned Beef Sandwiches, Reubens, Salads and Pizza were all excellent. You are right, maybe because of it's location tucked around the corner on the upper level of the pool deck, the lines were rarely long unlike the Burger Joint (Daves).

Yes Yes Yes to the Library! I hope that rolls out system wide. Oceania Cruises has a great library as well. It is ESSENTIAL! Bravo HAL for this decision.

The captain and several top brass crew were there usually on port days after many got off the ship. The Pea Soup is great. I tried to test all of the samplings. It is DEFINITELY DUTCH food. In fact since it is free, I would go DUTCH on the bill. Sorry, bad jokes are my specialty.

Just so you know, 15 drinks per day seems like a lot to me. I am glad it is only the difference in price if a drink is over $11, which it seems a lot are. The smoking drinks in Ocean Bar are worth a try incidentally.

Tamarind was excellent. We went twice on our last cruise. The shining star is however not any specialty restaurant but the Dutch Cafe. Quick delicious bites are minutes away and the ladies staffing it are actually DUTCH! https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/dining/grand-dutch-cafe.html

I think they need more people to move that thing in. Reminds me of a light bulb joke.

Embarkation: Could be a bit of both for this ship, in terms of blame. We recently sailed with her twice out of San Diego again with a dreaded Princess ship simultaneously. The Port Staff and the HAL staff were overwhelmed. One of those sailings was also during "Navy Week", thus the port was uber crowded and a ton of Port staff were attending to other things. I say, pack your patience. Vancouver however is notoriously slow if there is more than one ship in port.

We saw that too on Koningsdam recently. I think there was one guy who was in public in his bath robe practically all of the time. Maybe they lost his luggage. I get squeamish just putting our luggage in the hallway on disembarkation eve while wearing my bathrobe. I dart out and back in again in a flash!

Something was curious on our last fully sold out cruise on Koningsdam. I am an early waker and like to explore the ship on my early morning walks. Surprised to find two people fully asleep with sheets and blankets on two of the upper level indoor pool lounges. (Not sleeping together, two separate mini beds) I am a bad snorer and my wife grills me on it all the time Is this an alternative? They seemed pretty comfortable sleeping there.

I liked them! Since about 99.9% of us experience some sort of back pain, this was quite unique. And it works! IMHO at least. I was considering bringing some marshmallows next time and cooking them while cooking my back.

Awesome. Thanks!!

We just took two cruises on Koningsdam this past year. The Aqua Therapy package is totally worth it. The best jacuzzi I've ever been in! Some other neat things like a barbeque for your back. No joke!

Question. On the classic (cheapie) package, if you order a drink over $11, do you pay the difference or the entire drink price?

It is on Deck 9, Lido Forward. Like most HAL ships, the pool is covered by draperies so the general public does not see it. Very new and sophisticated other rooms, including a large and small steam room, a horizontal shower thingy and back barbeques! Seriously weird but interesting. Also of course those heated chairs looking out to the sea playing spa music. Worth the money, believe me.