Bill B

That won't work. CNSJ will still only have an Obstructed Ocean View. To get the 'free' upgrade, you have to book an Obstructed Ocean View at the same price as a Verandah. It's genius marketing - they want to sell Verandas (Obstructed OVs can be flogged off when they drop the price after final payment as Guarantee bookings), so they put on a 'sale' with the price of Obstructed OVs increased to that of Verandas... and give a 'free' upgrade! 😂 LOL😂 Everyone's happy - HAL has sold another Veranda, and the passenger thinks they got a 'deal'.

CNSJ, I see what HAL has done - If you search your cruise under 'Find Cruises', Ocean Views are FROM $3,729 and Verandas are FROM $5,379. If you search your cruise under 'Time of Your Life Sale with Free Upgrade', Ocean Views and Verandas are both FROM $6,699. It reminds me of when I found out sometimes they charge past pax $1000 MORE per person! Always check the fare after deleting all HAL cookies and when NOT 'logged in'. P.S. If you want to book Veranda, 4166 is available. The balcony twice the size.

There are four beverage packages available under my 'Manage Your Booking', but certainly no HIA.

I guess your PCC just re-fared you with the HIA. I don't think it would be possible to do that once the HIA drops off as a booking option (as happens closer to sailing date).

I should read it again! 🫢😂

You're right! Lanais on the Volendam are Cat. CA.

Does sunviking90 have the Volendam confused with the old Rotterdam?

I wouldn't even have to consider it. At $16.52 per day for the SBP, just one large, latte 'double shot' coffee in the morning and one glass of wine with dinner and you essentially 'break even' (assuming the wine is $12), anything beyond those is a bonus. It's the deal of the century!

Read it again. The prices are not for HIA, but for the Signature Beverage Package and the Surf (I assume) Wi-Fi Package when purchased separately.

A double entendre? 😉

That's only $16.52 per day!!!

You seem to be a pretty good customer 😂. I hope it happens for you.

I've been on the Volendam twice: The first time, my room (3431) was NOT good - broken tiles, mould/mildew and ripped curtain in the shower The medicine cabinet door would not latch shut and kept banging with every wave. Several times I turned on the sink tap and BLACK stinking water came out. Yuck! The second time, 7071 been recently renovated and the bathroom was great (except for when the shower leaked and got the carpet by the desk soaked). Engineering fixed it pretty quickly and all was well. Both times the food and service were very good.

Same room on all four legs?

That's the best B2B-B2B I've seen!

Never eat anything with the words: 'free', 'light' or 'low' in the name or on the label.

Tell me about it! Last June, I was on a Princess, 'Norway' cruise up to North Cape and on to Longyearbyen, Svalbard (the port that 'clinched' me booking the cruise). After final payment they cancelled Longyearbyen - citing environmental regulations. Then, I found out they had done the same thing in the preceding two years! If they knew the ship couldn't go there why was it still on the itinerary? (rhetorical question) I felt duped and wrote an email to the CEO. To their credit, Princess responded by giving me an additional $300 OBC.

Your blog is bringing back memories of dong the same cruise (but from Rio) on the Amsterdam back in 2004/'05.

Log in >My Bookings>click on booking number and they're listed under Promotional credit.

You shouldn't. I did a Silversea (all suites and every suite has a butler) cruise and believe me - butlers are just glorified room stewards with a fancy title.

I've learned to make folders and save EVERYTHING to do with any online bookings or purchases in case something goes wrong. For example, if you dispute a credit card transaction the bank will want to know who said what and when.

The secret is to sit in your chair and put your feet up on the railing.

It doesn't say. I assume all the bottles are 750 ml.

They could adopt the Singapore to Cape Town itinerary from the 2025 world cruise.