grsnovi

14 hours ago, matt'smom said:

So I filled it all out and cannot find how to print them

There has been a never ending list of problems with the HAL web site. I seem to recall there was a warning about not having pop-up blocking active which apparently interferes with the ability on their web site to allow printing.

My "over sold" experience: We had booked a round trip out of Seattle Alaska cruise during the first 2 weeks of the season. We live in Portland and would drive up to Seattle and park. The early weeks of the Alaska season often have "spotty" weather and are usually somewhat less expensive. HAL makes money from airfare - which we wouldn't use. They had east coast (or foreign) passengers who also booked that cruise who also booked airfare with HAL. HAL asked us if we would sail 2 weeks later and offered us an upgrade to a suite as well as $1000.00. As it turned out the later sailing worked for both of us (we both were still working at the time) and we accepted.

It doesn't sound like you tried Tamarind? Lately we've not bothered with Pinnacle in favor of Tamarind. Thanks for your review!

Can't say enough good things about Tamarind. We were on K'dam the last week of June and loved the ship. Tamarind is billed as "Asian Fusion" (whatever that means) and we like it much better than The Pinnacle Grill - that said, since you've never cruised with HAL, please also enjoy a meal in the Pinnacle.

DW has been eating GF for the last several cruises. HAL is pretty good in general. We had a wonderful evening in Tamarind this last time out. We noted that we would want a GF meal when we made the reservation and they went over the options when the menu was presented.

We've done kitchen tours on Eurodam and Konigsdam that were interesting (albeit mobbed).

We watched this program last night and found it very interesting. As far as ever being able to afford a cruise on the ship shown, I don't think that's ever going to happen but it looks like a great ship. I'd be curious about how their whole propeller design ended up contributing to zero vibration.

We always print ours. I laminate them using some adhesive-backed clear film and then I fold and staple them. This last time out at some point between leaving our luggage outside of our hotel room door the morning of departure and arriving in our cabin the tags that I had applied to one of our bags disappeared however all of our bags made it to our room in time for us to be un-packed and ready for muster.

We rec'd the staggered boarding email prior to embarking in June on K'dam for Norway. We had spent the night prior in Amsterdam at the port - a half block from the boarding lounge. I think we arrived at the lounge at 9:30 or 10 and waited less than an hour. We did indeed have lunch in the MDR (although the MDR was virtually empty). It was a great cruise! We were the only ship departing that day.

We've done Alaska 3x with HAL and will be doing it again summer of 2019. We've been on the O'dam 2x. It isn't clear if you have already booked or if you're soliciting opinions before you decide. HAL has a show lounge and it will have something going on there every night - typically with an early show and a repeat later in the evening. These are usually timed to allow those with the early and late fixed seating to make the show. As far as daily activity, we typically do shore excursions but there are shipboard activities on sea days. Yes, you can wear khaki's and a polo shirt. The Oosterdam isn't small - maybe compared to NCL Bliss but you're not going to feel crowded. HAL is generally viewed as having an older clientele but in the summer in Alaska you'll see families. We sailed on a Carnival western Caribbean cruise several years ago and I was expecting a "booze cruise" but it wasn't however the dining room dress did seem slightly more relaxed than HAL. You can bring water on for the room. One thing that we've found helpful: we bring one of those closet shoe organizers that hang on the closet door. We use it to keep toiletries/sundries in an easy to find location. It has been a great tip that we're be grateful to have found out (right here on CC). Whoever you sail with - enjoy Alaska!

We've sailed on Oosterdam, Westerdam, Eurodam and Konigsdam - all larger than Ryndam. We're early 60's. Our last cruise was out of Amsterdam on K'dam to Norway. We loved it. Do try the Tamarind. If you enjoyed doing walking (or running) loops on Ryndam, many have opined that the promenade on K'dam's deck 3 can be constricted in places. Although we used to love doing laps - DW's mobility issues prevented doing so the last couple of times out. Some complain about the angled toilet - I'm 5'-11" and I don't see the problem. Although it was the newest in the fleet, I believe K'dam has just come out of its first dry dock. There were going to be some changes. 

It would seem that as long as you have your card, they would put you through the same scan on getting off in any port.

Go here CatBelle.

Here is the one that POA1 initially posted with his great tutorial.

POA1 (Brian) has posted several threads exploring the ins and outs of fixing signatures. You might find a link within this thread but this wasn't his initially posted tutorial.

This was recently discussed here. A lot of us use a water-proof container/envelope that you can wear around your neck.

If they were smart, they'd offer a discount for cruisers UNDER 30. Then they could build that next demographic.

I have to admit: I don't watch a lot of TV at home - let alone while on a cruise. I'll sometimes turn it on to look at the forward and aft cameras and I'll agree that the positioning on the wall across from the bed isn't great. This last time out I think I browsed the photos on our account - but you can do that from your phone too.

On 11/17/2018 at 1:44 PM, isanbeto said:

...don't get complacent

This is the key! - it is so easy to forget when you get in a hurry.

Glad your son was OK.

19 hours ago, catl331 said:

wok seared lobster with ginger and garlic

I had this in Tamarind on K'dam this past summer. It was awesome!

9 hours ago, boards said:

the position of them on the Koningsdam didn't bother us.

...us either.

We thoroughly enjoyed our journey on the K. Looking forward to my next meal in Tamarind (which won't be until next August).

It's always interesting to see how defensive some need to get on these kinds of message boards.

For $20 you get 2 glass tree ornaments, some ribbon and a special aromatic green salad (pine bough). Enjoy!

As CruiserBruce said: there is a difference between an upgrade and an upsell. On an early season Alaska cruise several years ago we had booked early because the rates were less. We live in Portland and would drive to Seattle. HAL makes money if they sell an airfare. They had a lot of people who wanted the early season fare but who wanted to fly in - we were asked if we could sail on a later sailing and offered a QUITE nice upgrade - that cost us nothing AND that put money in our pockets!

17 hours ago, catl331 said:

What I miss is the ability to

...read without glasses and eat without worrying about my weight 

OH, you meant using CC...

4 minutes ago, Iamthesea said:

Could someone please point me in the right direction

This should get you there.