singleflyer

On the Oosterdam now. Park West used the former Lincoln Center space for their auction. I haven't seen Crows Nest closed at all this sailing.

Your 3rd photo down is actually Canaletto I believe. I've had CO on both Koningsdam and N Statendam and I am about to have it on Oosterdam (no separate dining room). Totally worth it to me for the upgraded room alone; though on my recent (April 2024) sailing on K'dam, CO dining room was pretty crowded and had to wait a couple of times for breakfast and dinner. The current Club Orange hosts (Cas and can't remember the other gentleman's name) are fantastic (though I'm sure they'll change by next summer), however my experience is the put the best staff in CO. Here is a more detailed post if you want to learn more: https://singleflyer.com/2023/08/07/holland-americas-club-orange-explained/

Booked $500 OBC over the phone. Got my $100 back within a couple of days.

I stayed in 5048 on Nieuw Statendam (I believe it is the exact same as on K'dam). I loved the room; but way more space than I needed! I liked that it was at a slant so you could see to the side as well as in front of you. The extra window in the stateroom also was appreciated. https://singleflyer.com/2023/08/02/hal-nieuw-statendam-verandah-stateroom-review/

Ship: Edge Length of Cruise: 7 nights Cruise Sail Date: August 2-9 - Alaska - RT from Seattle Date email offer received: None Captain’s Club Tier: Classic Booked through Celebrity Direct OR via TA: Celebrity Direct Current Cabin: Single Infinite Veranda Bid? Yes/No: No. Booked a solo cabin; don't really need the extra space for just one. Edge Villa: $2,550-$12,750 pp Royal Suite: $2,500-$12,500 pp Celebrity Suite: $1,300-$6,500 pp AquaClass Sky Suite: $850-$4,250 pp Sunset Sky Suite: $850-$4,250 pp Sky Suite: $650-$3,250 pp AquaClass Stateroom with Infinite Veranda: $250-$850 pp Concierge Class Stateroom with Infinite Veranda: $100-$350 pp Sailing appears completely sold out.

If you want true Beecher's Mac & Cheese, you can get it in Seattle at either Seatac or Paine Field airports. Also their headquarters at Pike Place Market. The stuff they serve(d) on Holland America is horrible in comparison.

Did you eat at any of the speciality (upcharge) restaurants? What did you think? I'm going on this same itinerary in August.

Anyway to go the other way? Status match my MGM level to Celebrity? Currently I have no status with Celebrity.

Did you do the $25 x 9 three times? https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-gifts/items-results?category=ONBDCR&collection=ONBDCR

Many AMEX Offers are targeted. Meaning they have a profile on you based on your spending. HAL then decides who they want to target. It could be "target anyone that has never spent a dime on HAL". Or "target anyone that has spent money in the past on Royal Caribbean". Or "target anyone that has an Amex Business Platinum that has purchased at least three airline tickets in the past 6 months and has eaten out at least four times in the month of April". Yes, there is a limit to 100 offers. In my experience, the cruise offers always go straight to the top and will bump down "lower" offers. My guess is that is because cruise lines pay AMEX more to get their offers listed than say that strange hair care company you have never heard of. So I doubt adding a bunch of offers is going to reveal the HAL offer. If you find otherwise with this offer, please report back.

Sailing 6 weeks from today on Oosterdam. Just got an email offering upgrade from Signature Suite to Neptune Suite for $749 per person on a 14 day sailing. Called and was told there are not upgrades available... Not sure why they would send us the email saying there was! I was able to get on a waitlist. It looks like our sailing is listed as sold out online, so maybe they just send that upgrade offer out to everyone even if there isn't space available. Had already purchased Club Orange ($210 per person) and laundry ($147 for the room), so assuming I could remove those, that would mean it would only be $466 per person for the upgrade.

Anyone yet tried purchasing on board credit in advance of their cruise to see if it triggers?

Nearly double the cost as last summer, but still a good deal. Especially with some of the transfer bonuses available.

Moving on to Seattle for Alaska season on May 3, 2026...

Going to be on the Oosterdam this July. Are Pinnacle lunches an up-charge or included? What exactly is a Pinnacle lunch?

Scenario: Two adults sailing in the same stateroom. Neither wants either of the alcohol packages. If one passenger wants Quench or Unlimited Coca Cola Package, do both have to get it? There is conflicting info on the page. The top part makes it seem like only if an alcohol package is booked do both people have to book it. But then down below it says that all guests must book it. When I go to actually book it, it gives me the option to book for just one passenger, where if booking the alcohol package it forces me to book a package for both. This makes me think I can book for just one passenger.

Hey neighbor! I don't know the full story; what she said is that the casino was unexpectedly closed on the last night of the cruise (maybe an IT problem or a delay leaving the port?). Definitely could have been on her -- don't know the full story.

I would also recommend you cash out most of your money at least two days before the end of the sailing. I spoke to a passenger that didn't do that on a previous cruise; only to have the casino not open the final night and her money was "stuck" in the casino. She had to fill out a bunch of paperwork online and is still waiting 6 months later to get a check.

Since the Freestyle machines were broken (and then removed completely half way into the cruise), there was no need to have the plastic cup at any time on my sailing. Instead I just showed my "Coke" sticker on my room key and was given soda at the bars. I did sometimes use my Coke cup, but often the bartenders wouldn't serve the drink in the plastic cup (probably because of germs) and instead would pour it in a fresh glass and have me pour it into the plastic Coke cup if I wanted to do so. I agree, if there were Freestyle machines all over the ship (or at least Lido and Promenade decks), it would be much better (and I would have carried around my cup). I'm guessing you are right, there is probably a chip in the bottom of the cup. I've seen much smaller Freestyle machines now so they could place them around the ship without it being an eyesore.

Check out Cedarbrook Lodge if you want to stay by the airport.

Some of the Verandah rooms on Deck 4 have the extra large balcony; if that's your thing... I was in Stateroom 4034 last week. https://singleflyer.com/2024/04/06/hal-koningsdam-verandah-vb-stateroom-review/

West Coast, Best Coast!

You don't have to carry the cup. You get a "Coke" sticker on your keycard and can show it at any bar to get a soda of your choice (from the "gun", not cans).

On Koningsdam now. This morning they removed the Coke Freestyle machines (that hadn't worked at all this trip... or probably most any other sailing). Bar tender told me they were sending them back to Coke... Not sure what that means!

I'm curious why Oosterdam is in last. I have a sailing on the Oosterdam coming up... is it really the worst ship?