Kassandra

We recently returned from a 12 day cruise of the Med on Nieuw Amsterdam, Venice to Venice.

My sister's luggage was delayed by the airline, and despite arriving two days prior to the cruise, both the travel insurance folks and airlines were not able to get the luggage tracked down.

Once we embarked, sis went to the front desk and HAL took over. They gave her (our cabin) free laundry service for the cruise, and a few days later in Athens, her suitcase was in the room for her!

Kudos for making all that happen!

Just got home from 24 days on Nieuw Amsterdam. There was a really bad URI going around the ship from when we boarded in Barcelona. managed to pick it up on my last few days. This is the HAL doctors diagnosis not mine. You could hear the hacking coughs all over the ship. I knew it was inevitable to catch it as there was just too many people that were sick.

We just returned home from Nieuw Amsterdam 12 day Med cruise. My mother developed URI 4 days into the cruise. By the last 5 days, you could hear MANY coughs on the ship, and myself and other roll call people had it too. Ship nurse said there was a big uptick in coughing stuff the last week.

Even in the airport (and flight home) there was a LOT of coughing. So I know it wasn't just cruise related but travel related.

You too!! Enjoy!

I know we will still enjoy it. But to have it right at your fingertips....sigh!

Hey Kassandra whihc sailing were you on? I haven't gotten a cabin assignment yet (inside like you) and was hoping i might see an upgrade offer.

Nieuw Amsterdam May 24 out of Venice.

Good luck!

Not shocked.

I got a call from them this morning. Apparently some pretty big hiccups/mistakes. They did an upsell for me last week, only to find this morning that they have oversold verandahs on my cruise, and we were bumped back to our inside. :( We were all so excited too.

They did give us $300 OBC. But she made it sound like it was a huge mistake and they had a lot to get worked out. So website down might be part of it.

Yep, it was a "C" cabin on main deck with ocean view for $99 more. Less square feet. I said no thanks.

They did offer verandah for $299 more per person, but also less square feet. Not worth the money for us, so we declined that as well.

Thanks for all the help!!!

Let us know what you guys book! Enjoy your cruise. Sometimes the specials give you 50% off second person! Not sure if HAL is offering this now-but ask.

We are booked at 3rd/4th passenger sail for $50, which is making this affordable for all 4 of us. ;) Even if we end up being a little comfy!

Calling in a few, and will let you all know what we do!

Ok CowPrincess, that makes sense!

What is funny, IMO, is that my current category I is better than the IQ-N range they state.

And looking at CQ (no quad), H (no quad) and HH (no quad) the upgrade still makes no sense.

:)

But if we can get two insides instead of a quad...THAT would be great.:D

I agree! Why settle for an inside when you can have an outside cabin with natural light and the ability to see day, night and the ports!

 

Do it- a small amount of money for a better cabin.

 

Enjoy

If it is an outside "C" cabin (instead of our inside "I" cabin) (I am trying to use what letters make sense in their 'offer', LOL) we would be on the main deck, so window would be just above water level. Cabin may be smaller too, based on looking at deck plans. Quick off the ship, but longer walk to the spa (where we plan on taking advantage of showers since we are packed 4 in a cabin!) and food (oh no! :D)

I think they are offering me someone else's upsell!

:p

IQ to CQ spa does seem like an upsell.

This is why I am so confused. We booked specific cabin, interior I category quad. Not a spa, not an N, or an H. We need for 4 people and the IQ and the CQ Spa staterooms are not quad cabins.

Hence my confusion!

So, if it is an "I" category quad to a "C" category quad, unsure if I want to take that, as all C cabins are main deck and do look smaller than the cabin we booked I-6079.

We are on the 12 day cruise.

We are sailing ms Nieuw Amsterdam, and have cabin I-6079 (quad interior)

Got an email with this upgrade offer:

Upgrade from category IQ-N to CQ-H for an additional $99pp USD/CDN

Trying to 'translate' and look at the Deck Plans:

Is IQ meaning I-Quad, thus CQ is C-Quad? They certainly cannot be talking about the Spa Staterooms cause we didn't book it.

What is the N or the H?

Any enlightenment on this would be greatly appreciated. I have several hours before I can call them due to Pacific time. I want to make sure we make the right decision!

Thanks, oh wise and great minds of Cruise Critics!

This makes me very sad. :(

I guess I can hope there will be a new entertainer for the Crow's Nest when I board next month. I loved going up there on my last cruise, and the guitarist was quite good, and funny and entertaining. A bunch of us became 'regulars'

We were upgraded to a handicap balcony room our last cruise. It was a bit roomier, and the bathroom had a roll in shower. It was quite nice for couple showering, lots of room. :D

I know maxi dresses are really popular. I have a purple velvet cocktail dress (with a little cute shrug to go with it) that is years old. I did take it on one of our first cruises, but wondering what you all thought. I will see if I can dig up a picture of it..

I just googled KCCC and reviews... I think I'm going to buy some today to try, looks like they sell it at Walgreens! Thanks for posting about it! =D I have extremely curly hair that all I can do w/ is put in a bun when I wear it natural. My normal routine is flat ironing. I, like everyone else, have been fretting on what to do w/ my mess on my upcoming cruise. I just purchased Mixed Chicks leave in conditioner as well because my hair tends to dry out easily in the summer.

You have just described what I use.

:)

Mixed Chicks and KCCC. Love it!

for all the feedback and tips!

Appreciate it! :)

This falls under the general heading of Passengers with Disabilities. You should contact HAL for guidance. They may be able to offer you a solution that meets your needs. You may also wish to read the Know Before You Go document on HAL's website.

Thanks cbr; I did a search and read documents and the disabilities form (which is more for wheelchair/service animal/oxygen needs) and didn't find anything, so thought I would ask here first to see if any had experience.

I will likely contact HAL if mom decides to pack the gel sleeve. Thanks!

How about an ice pack made from fresh ice regularly? DW was 10 weeks post knee replacement on our cruise last month, and working with the cabin steward for regular fresh ice worked well. Two, sometimes three times a day.

I am trying to convince her that this is a viable option. She really likes her gel sleeve thingy. Maybe I will tell her she won't have room enough to pack it. Or the weight allowance (it is heavy!)

My mom is going with us on her first cruise (wish me luck, sharing a cabin!) on the NA this spring.

She has a gel knee icing sleeve that she would like to pack, as she knows all the walking will likely aggrevate her knee a bit. I know the room fridge will not be sufficiently cold to chill it well enough. Is there a way to contact the ship medical facility to see if they can keep it cold and we can pick it up/drop it off daily? I cannot imagine she is the first person needing this. I tried, without success, to use the Search function for an answer..

Thanks

Yes, you can ask. We once requested and got an upgrade for no price change, and we were once refused an upgrade where we would have added money.

Thanks Carol!

I am afraid they will likely deny any request, as we booked an I-quad interior. But it cannot hurt, I suppose, to ask!

Can one 'request' an upgrade? If I see verandah going for same price as what my final payment was for an inside, can I call HAL (booked through them) or just have to sit on my hands hoping they will contact me?

If I see our current cabin drop in price, I will call and see if we can get OBC or upgrade. But if my cabin price doesn't drop, can I make the above request?

Thanks!

"Cruise" and "Fish" to "net" great information on prices.

My husband and I met Hunky Dory on our first cruise on the Noordam in 2006! Amazed us!!

Oooh, thanks for that info! I am afraid that our caddy will be too heavy for the 3M hooks; there are 4 of us, and I got a big caddy!

But I will toss in something so the metal hooks (if they fit) will not scratch!