VTcruisenut

We thought it was just right! could stop where we wanted to and had time to drive around the town and get lobster rolls! The visitor center/gift shop was very busy, I wanted to go into the restaurant and get a famous popover, but it was too busy!

WE did the GEM car last August! rented a 2 seater for 4 hours, took the Acadia National Park loop at our leisure and all over Bar Harbor! It was the best part of our entire cruise!

I was on the Nieuw Statendam 2X in February/March cruises to Caribbean. Ship was full. Under staffed, they do all they can, but way understaffed. MDR was very slow for breakfast and some dinner time slots. Ended up missing the shows due to dinner taking so long. It is a beautiful ship, but there is a distinct lack of seating for those with mobility issues in the areas you have to wait ~ Guest Services, MDR, at elevators. no benches or seating. long lines for everthing it seems. The tender process in Cayman was horrendous due to the rough water, we decided to just not get off the ship as our excursion was cancelled. They are doing the best they can, but I still prefer the smaller ships!

looks like it is going to be tight!

my daughter just got off yesterday as well, their statement said $419 (common theme) and then she got an alert for a charge 3X that on her credit card statement!

Thank you!

my daughter is on the Nieuw Amsterdam and they were told the ship was leaving at 3:00..............

why is the web cam not showing the ships just that yacht?

me Too! on it 2/25 - 3/4 and 3/18- 3/25............it is the ONLY pool area I try to go to as the Lido pool is always so crowded

loved reading this thread! as an FYI, there is a FB group of Holland America Cruisers and someone there lost his Air tag on the ship and he is now tracking it to see where it is cruising next! It's hilarious! He named him Artie....................

not a deal breaker for me, the "lobster" we had on previous cruises wasn't that great. save your $$ and order a Maine Lobster!

Me too! I'm an over planner and don't rely on my phone 100% for everything!

Thank you all! found it under itinerary!

Thank you! someone on FB told me about checking the Itinerary day by day, and the purchases do show up there. We never use a TA, we do everything on our own. I just wanted to be sure my daughter used the correct account and Mariner numbers as we both have cruises booked!

We didn't get an emailed invoice......................

How do we see our on-board credits, internet package purchase, pre-paid gratuities, etc. once we have paid for them? I can't find this info anywhere on the HAL website. My kids bought on-board credits for our February cruise and are concerned they didn't go to the correct account as they are Mariners as well!

When I first read this, I too was very disappointed, but then realized how else would they know who we had as wait staff with open seating? Or the bar staff? I think the tips should be distributed amongst the staff each cruise, not utilized for bonuses. But, they don't ask us do they? Like any large corporation, they set policy and the employees must abide by their contracts and compensation. I do leave cash for my cabins stewards as they work very hard and I know the daily gratuity just isn't enough. To not pay the daily gratuities sends a message to Corporate headquarters yes, but what does it say to those hard working individuals that we see and interact with daily? Not their fault by any means..............

Oh she knows! This is a Casino offer cruise, and I asked them to come along, paid just port fees and taxes. They will be fine with the activities, and the pool, beaches etc.

Not sure how their parents will feel about them being out and about on their own, but I feel the ship's crew/staff and passengers are pretty observant! We have to trust them at some point..............they are really good kids. One has traveled and cruised, the other hasn't. It's my grand daughter who has been on Norwegian and Princess with all the bells and whistles that I am afraid will be bored.

Thank you! glad to know there will some things their age, they will be 13 and 13 1/2 - cousins!

We are on the Nieuw Statendam in February for the school break time, the 25th- March 4th. Wondering if anyone can share the current schedule for sea days that would occupy 13 year olds? I'm cruising with my two grandkids (cousins) and hope they won't be bored to tears!

the box the tests come in were crushed in shipping and the little plastic seal on the box popped................the contents are still sealed. hopefully we can still use these?

Thank you all! We are very excited to be cruising, our first that isn't a Caribbean cruise! Also a bit nervous about doing the proctored COVID testing, but everyone assures us it is easy peasy!

I have submitted it twice now for our cruise in August, and gotten no reply. Have now contacted my HAL cruise advisor................

Zaandam - Boston to Montreal August 13, 2022 - August 20, 2022, VTCruisenut - Robin & Al