curtdesilets

3 hours ago, crystalspin said:

Start a new thread? this one's title is unlikely to cause people to open it to answer your question...

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. 

On 5/8/2023 at 5:20 AM, ExpatBride said:

Seeing food waste onboard is something I struggle with while cruising, though I think it's slightly better on HAL where they serve in the buffet vs. what I've seen on other lines. 

I volunteer locally to help reduce food waste. We collect food from 30 or so grocery stores 7 days a week and then redistribute it to refugees and other people in need. We also use some of the food to run a community kitchen. I've been doing this for almost 3 years now and I'm still shocked at the amount (and quality) of food that would be thrown in dumpsters if we didn't rescue and reroute it.

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

On 5/8/2023 at 8:10 AM, DCThunder said:

It seems to me that the most wasted item on HAL ships would be bread and rolls of various varieties.  I'd be curious to know how much bread goes to waste when I see huge displays of focaccia, yeast rolls, croissants,, etc on the Lido buffet.

 

BTW, I told the Executive Chef on Oosterdam I'd kill for a good Southern buttermilk biscuit and asked if they could teach someone in the bakery department how to make them.  He laughed and said he'd work on it, and maybe have some redeye gravy too.

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

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Its never taken me hours and hours to get on the ship in San Diego.  I cruised out of there in Nov 2021, Mar 2022 and Nov 2022.  That said, I follow the time on my boarding pass and they were enforcing it on all those cruises.  In recent history did it take you hours to get on the ship there?  If so was it a cruise a couple of months in duration?  That is going to make a difference.

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 

18 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We will sail on the K'Dam in November from San Diego for the California Coastal and we are looking forward to our first Pinnacle Class ship, no matter the negative comments here.

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

2 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

That's odd....5-star and Neptune Suite and our boarding time was noon.  Just shows there's no rhyme or reason.  But yes, there WAS a priority boarding line and a woman at the entrance guiding people.   We were in our cabin by 12:30.   

 

Contrary to the OP and his friend, we had a great time. The OP says everyone was unhappy, nobody got off in the ports, etc. etc. And yet he said the line to re-board took forever....and yet nobody got off??   I saw the opposite.  These blanket statements just aren't true.  Was it our best cruise?  No, but a lot of that was because of the rude and pushy make-up of the passengers.  The crew was outstanding.  

 

There are so many choices for dining on the Koningsdam, I really don't know why anyone would stand in line for 90 minutes just to eat in the MDR. It isn't the only dining choice.  But I would see people lined up at 5 and the line would stretch past Orange Club.  Why weren't they checking out other dining choices?  At later times when we passed by there was no line at all.  

 

 

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! 

6 minutes ago, xlxo said:

 

Vancouver Embarkation would be a big yes to the workforce shortage.  There's discussion that May 1st was not the only day with issues.

• In addition to staff at the end of the lines, they need to have staff at the beginning of the lines to ensure people are in the right lines.  This was done at most lines, except for the elevator to P2 luggage drop.
• where was the longest wait?
  HAL check-in?  My first thought it's HAL's fault for not putting enough staff at the check-in area.  Was there empty space at that convention hall to make it bigger for more staff to process?
  Then I realize the biggest bottle-neck was US-customs not sending enough officers to Vancouver.  It's a problem at border land crossings on busy weekends as most resources are diverted to Southern borders.  In the old days, cruise ship check-in happens AFTER customs.  Today, cruise lines does their check-in BEFORE customs to not be held up by customs.  Many locals have Nexus/GE to use the priority lanes to speed the customs approval as a trusted traveler.

 

With regards to the ship...  The MDR line brought back why I hated sailing Princess pre-Covid on my Vancouver and California Pacific Coastals.  The MDR lines formed 90 minutes before the MDR officially opens.  If you are number 50 in line, by the time the door opens, it feels like you are number 250 in line as so many people were holding a spot for buddies and families who were not able (or willing) to wait in line.

 

I was on the Sapphire Princess a month a month earlier and I have to say the Medallion Class has totally eliminated the MDR lines.  I just needed to pick a 15 minute timeslot on when I'm arriving at the podium and there was hardly any wait to get a table.  So much smoother, less chaotic with line cutters, and felt so much more Covid safe without the crowding.

 

For those not familiar with Vancouverites, they have a very high tolerance for long lines compared to other cultures.  Border crossings, Black-Friday door crasher in-person deals, traffic, weekend Dim Sum restaurants, food lines, licensing office, etc...

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!  

2 hours ago, curtdesilets said:

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+. 

 

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+. 

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

The burger restaurant is The Dive In.

Thanks!

On 5/5/2023 at 11:52 AM, aa7yy said:

Spent 50 days on the Rotterdam last fall. Managed to avoid the MDR for the total. Twice in the Pinnacle and will never return, especially on the Pinnacle class ships. Will give it another try on the Vista Class ships this summer.

Tamarind I liked, the wife didn't. I lost out after three tries. Probably ate in the Canaletto 3 times a week. Had to cut back at the end as the staff were becoming "to friendly". Food and service were great. My "go to" was the New York Deli. Might grab something there for dinner or bring it up from the Lido. Usually empty and quite with a bar to ourselves.

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. 

9 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Ah that us interesting you brought  the   Dutch Cafe  into the picture . We have never had any food there just coffee & it was very good.Thanks for that add on .

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

17 hours ago, Destiny0315 said:

Well HAL may be having trouble restocking their bars but their parent company CCL is investing their money where the money is to be made, the casino. Here is a brand spanking new craps table being loaded on and set into place on the Carnival Luminosa this morning when it reached Seattle after crossing the Pacific Ocean form Brisbane, Australia. Thanks to @EnglceDave who has been reporting from this cruise on the CCL board.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2928013-live-the-worlds-longest-trip-report-luminosa-413-54/?do=findComment&comment=65321255

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.    

On 4/29/2023 at 7:21 AM, Florida_gal_50 said:

On the koningsdam in club orange there was one dude in his jammies complete with slippers.  It’s too hard to change footwear.  Lots of people in jammies on that cruise.  Thankfully no one like that on my recent cruise.

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. 

6 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

DH called them "warming trays."

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. 

38 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Just pay the difference.

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? 

15 hours ago, LuAnn said:

Can you tell me where the T Pool is located? Thanks!

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.