Loreto

The carpets are beautiful, Dave, thanks for the pics! I was on the Westerdam 2 years ago and don't remember that...as an artist I would have noticed! I always loved the art deco elevator doors...very elegant.

I have done many cruise lengths and am surprised by mass attendance. When HAL has used the Hudson Room it’s been full. I have also been pleasantly surprised to see younger cruisers attend.

I wrote a personal letter a few weeks back and did receive an email reply similar to the one others have posted. I did play on my status with HAL:well over 5* and will receive a 500 day medallion in November, for what it might be worth🙁 . I have enjoyed the opportunity to attend mass on board and be a Lector as well. I am not a religious fanatic, though, and feel God will cut me some slack when I am on vacation.

I am on the Ultimate Mediterranean and Atlantic Adventurer Nov. 9/ Volendam and the ship is overnighting in Alexandria, Egypt.

I am not happy to hear of this change in policy! I have always mentioned that I appreciated having a priest onboard in my survey. I will be letting HAL know.

I appreciate this program and am grateful that HAL has a priest on board and I always mention it in my end of cruise survey!

We have used it many times when cruising out of Seattle...makes disembarkation easy!

I agree completely! We were on a Hawaii/Mexico cruise...Hawaii part was upstairs, which was fine, then for the 7day Mexico itinerary we were moved downstairs and the acoustics indeed were terrible! also ate there for lunch once where we were seated behind a pillar and ignored. I had to find a manager. We were on the Koningsdam again last December for 11 days and never went to the MDR. We ate in the Grand Dutch Cafe, specialty dining or the Lido ( which was actually enjoyable!) DH said he is done with Pinnacle Class ships🙁.

I submitted my request for OBC for my Nov. 9 transatlantic at stockperks this morning. Message said 5 days for approval, but by 7 pm I had been approved and OBC deposited. I was sure I would have to submit an updated brokerage statement, but apparently the one I submitted when I created an account earlier this year was still good. I am impressed...very easy to do!

Hi Jacqui, I have been following your Volendam cruise and hope you are enjoying it🙂! Please add Loreto Noordam 05-Oct-25 7 day Great Bear Rainforest This sounds like a unique itinerary...I booked on board the Zaandam last month and it appears to be selling well!. Thanks, Karen

We occupied #7033, a Neptune Suite on the Zaandam this month facing the hall opening for the elevators and stairs. It was never noisy in the area and very convenient for stairs to the Lido.

We were parked next to her in Huatulco Mexico in March 2023...she looks good!

Hi islandwoman! I am with you on the 42 day in November🙂. My past Koningsdam experiences have been terrible. Acoustics in the MDR are awful and we never went there on a coastal cruise (which resembled Carnival.) The only thing we like is Gelato and Grand Dutch Cafe. We ate most meals in specialty restaurants. Like Cruiser Bruce We are just off the sister ship, Zaandam, which was sold out. I never felt crowded anywhere, and marveled at how many times we got in an elevator and were the ONLY ones! I have sailed the Volendam a number of times and it never felt crowded. You will love the Volendam! Karen

We're in 7033 Zaandam....sister ship of Volendam thought it would be quiet under the Canaletto...wrong! since they tiled the lido area the rolling carts are really loud, but stop by around 10pm so it isn't that bad and no early am rolling carts. We were in an SB Volendam for the Amazon and it was great..I think it was 7004 which was under the beauty salon at the forward stairs opposite the Pinnacle Suite. We get off the solar eclipse cruise tomorrow. Great cruise 😀! Karen

Our experience on the Zaandam was great today! Many thanks to the first time HAL cruisers who shared the 2 unused chairs at their table😀! I was surprised that there was a lot of open deck space, but not enough chairs. I don't know how many people used the bow, but the lido pool area was a perfect spot.

Hope you get your Neptune GTY!

We have a Neptune which we are not giving up!....love the bigger verandah on this ship🙂. That was a fair offer to downgrade. You are on my Nov. 9th 42 day cruise...I have a vista for that one, going as a single. Hope to meet you onboard.

We will be there too! Have had our cabin since Nov. 2022. We will have a meet and greet Sunday around 11:15 crows nest after the astronomy talk at 10am. Speaker is supposed to come to our m&g. Our checkin is at 11, I have my umbrella ready!

I was going to suggest that, too☺️! The gelato stand by the pool on Pinnacle Class ships is very popular, and I have suggested that it be implemented on other ships, but so far, no.

we stayed in SB 2004 on the identical sister ship Volendam for 28 days....very quiet, under the beauty shop. Great location! We are in SA 7033 Zaandam March 30th, under the Canaletto and hope it will be a good choice. Verandahs are large on both ships. The Zaandam is a favorite ship!

So glad I found these posts! I have sailed to Alaska many times,( including 4 14 day cruises...best ever!) but Great Bear Rain Forest Cruise is unique and I may book it onboard later this month. Being from the desert, rain is always welcomed!

The police at the pyramids in Egypt offered to take pictures of tourists...they didn't was dollars as a tip, they wanted Euros!

My husband will need wheelchair at embarkation. I let my ta know and I received an email from Guest Accessibility and filled out the required form. I received a follow up email from them and a wheelchair symbol appeared on his boarding pass.

Thanks Lisa! It seems to me that the world cruise participants this year stayed and gathered at the Rennaissance close to the pier. My cruise is 42 days and I must be on the ship for the transatlantic. The itinerary was amazing until the tragic conflict in Israel. There have been a number if itinerary changes.

Hi Lisa, I am hoping the Marriott close to the cruise pier is offered as I plan to fly in 2 days early just to be safe.. If it is the one in Plantation I looked at the hotel online and the dining options are limited at the hotel, and I am not getting in an Uber alone to go to lunch. Karen