-
Posts
4,276 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Everything posted by iflyrc5
-
They did have pickleball tourneys on the NA in November - it was listed on the Navigator app on sea days and there are a few exercise classes that are free and at least one free craft class. The contract with with MS for the computer classes ended with the pause as did the Americas Test Kitchen classes.
-
We spent the month of Nov on the NA and I thought Erin, the Cruise and Travel director did an excellent job. She was always out and about the ship and before the shows on the main stage was walking around the audience talking to the guests. She presented the EXC talks and did the noon announcements.
-
Yes - Chrome will not let me print the boarding pass or luggage tag but Edge works fine.
-
Yea - the same ESPN commercials over and over and over. On the pinnacle ships they also show it on the big screen by the pool.
-
Recently off the Nieuw Amsterdam - A quick review with my views!
iflyrc5 replied to sayvan's topic in Holland America Line
We were on the NA with you and will be on the Rotterdam from Jan 14-Feb 25 so hope to meet you on the R-Dam. -
Recently off the Nieuw Amsterdam - A quick review with my views!
iflyrc5 replied to sayvan's topic in Holland America Line
ATKs contract ended in January 2020 -
Pickelball is the faster growing sport especially for seniors. Think tennis with a paddle/wiffil ball and a much smaller court and net.
-
They had bananas on the NA the last month. I only remember seeing them in the mornings. I think it is a supply chain issue. At a chat with the Executive Chef he said they have to order food 6 weeks before needed and then they don't get about 20% of what they order so it can make preparing some of the meals a challenge.
-
We were on for 4 weeks. Had Riden and David the first 2 weeks then David went home - the last 2 weeks we had Riden and then either Tomy, Achmed, or ??? Yes, management was moving people around to try and fill holes. Also, talked to a couple of the MDR waiters and they are also moving crew members back and forth between Carnival ships and HAL ships. One of our waiters had recently returned to the NA from a stint on a Carnival ship. He said he hated working on the Carnival ship and was very happy to be back on a DAM ship.
-
I my feeling is if you have a dress policy in the MDR then enforce it. If you are not going to enforce it then don't have the policy. If you don't enforce a written policy, then what other policies will guests ignore? Smoking on their veranda or in their cabin? Sneaking in an Iron, etc.... (on that note when leaving pier 26 terminal on Dec 4 there was a table as you exited the building with confiscated items to collect - there were at least 6 travel irons and several power strips on the table for guests to pickup with they left the ship.)
-
We were on the NA from Nov 4 - Dec 4. I saw each of the 4 Dance One shows several times and enjoyed each one. The show Humanity I enjoyed the most. I will agree that there is not a real story line but then that is not this type of performance.
-
10% bonus on Holland America Gift cards
iflyrc5 replied to Gail & Marty sailing away's topic in Holland America Line
Yes - I did it for my Jan/Feb cruise on the Rotterdam -
That is the policy but on our 4 weeks on the NA in Nov 2022 there were guests in the MDR on Dressy nights in shorts and T-shirt with writing and baseball hats and also guests in Tux - go figure.
-
We got our tiles on the Nieuw Amsterdam last week
-
I have had to use it twice. Once to replace a camera that we lost on an excursion and for a night in a hotel during a trip delay. This we not insurance from the cruise line. We have spent much more on insurance over our 40 cruises than I have gotten back. What I am mostly concerned about is medical evacuation which could be very expensive.
-
ms Nieuw Amsterdam in Port Everglades December 4, 2022
iflyrc5 replied to Scrapnana's topic in Holland America Line
We just got off this morning. Tell Erin the Cruise and Travel director, Princess at guest services and Alvin at the lido pool that Ted and Barb miss already miss them. -
10% bonus on Holland America Gift cards
iflyrc5 replied to Gail & Marty sailing away's topic in Holland America Line
It is my understanding that if you don't use all the $250 and it will be refunded to that gift card and can be used later. -
10% bonus on Holland America Gift cards
iflyrc5 replied to Gail & Marty sailing away's topic in Holland America Line
You can use both the jAARP and HAL give cards to pay for your cruise - did it for our upcoming cruise in Jan/Feb -
Do they serve lunch in the dining room on day of embarkment
iflyrc5 replied to uncleboo's topic in Holland America Line
On the Nov 6, 13, and 20 sailing on the NA it has been open from noon to 1pm -
I just talked to the dining room manager about my concerns of guests serving themselves. He said that because of staffing, the ships returning to near full capacity and far fewer cases of Covid that the move to more self service was a HAL corporate decision. I guess we will continue to wash our hands frequently and hope for the best.
-
As of a couple days ago on the Nieuw Amsterdam in the Lido they have changed the serving process and now have tongs out (which some people don't use) and are allowing guests to get their own cookies, sandwiches, rolls, shrimp cocktail, etc.. Not really a fan of this. We have lots of kids on this week and have personally witnessed hands and not tongs being use and things being taken and put back. Not a good practice.
-
In Covid isolation on the Nieuw Amsterdam
iflyrc5 replied to birdie16's topic in Holland America Line
We are on this cruise of the NA that started Jan 6 and will be staying on until Dec 4. We were also on the NS for 42 days in Feb/Mar 2022. On the NS cruise we had to wear masks indoors, vaccination was required and we had to be tested within 3 days of boarding and every time we did the turn around in FLL. This trip no vaccination required (we have had the 2 original plus 3 boosters plus our fall flu shot), no testing required. My wife developed her semi-annual sinus infection early on this cruise. We used one of the Covid tests we brought from home and she was negative. She called medical to see the doctor to get some medication (have done this on several of our previous cruises over the last 20 years). The med center told us to stay in the cabin. They sent a med tech that arrived within 20 minutes and did the antigen test on both of us and we were both Covid negative. Even though my wife was negative she was told to remain in the cabin until the next day and they would come again and do the PCR test and if that we negative she could go out. I was allowed to go out. She received the medication after talking to the doctor on the phone and after 2 days is feeling much better. The med tech came the next morning and did the PCR test which was negative and so we are both again now out and about. I got Covid back in late April (2 both vaccination and 2 boosters at the time) and have no idea where I picked it up and had only a slight cough. Would not have known I had it if I had not tested. I personally believe that Covid is here to stay just like the Flu. We will be getting our Flu shots every fall and periodically, Covid boosters as variants appear. Some people will have a more severe case than others depending on their situation. We plan to continue cruising (have 4 more currently booked) and will just be careful and take precautions. We are not going to stop doing what we enjoy. We did wear masks on the plane and try and stay distant from folks while on the ship. As far as currently on the ship I see about 2% of guests wearing masks and about 5% of the crew wearing masks. Masks recommended signs are all around the ship. As an aside - we had a medical debark last night before we left San Juan and another today just before leaving St Thomas.