rocsailor

My bad!!! Thanks for the correction am better for the schooling.

It is not the porter you have to be weary of it's the ships crew who load it onto the pallets, Have watched from the gang plank while boarding and they are piled on in no order, This is were the damage is done IMO. Seen this often while sailing. And yes I tip any and all who handle my bags.

Sailed Her in February and all was fine! no problems wonderful crew and found Her to be a great ship.

My husband and I are 'shopping' for cruises in January/February 2019. A little about us:

 

• We've been on Celebrity and Carnival cruises before and have really enjoyed both. We've enjoyed the activities, music, and entertainment that seems to be going on constantly. It gives us the option to participate, sit back and observe, or do our own thing!
  
• We're 30 years old and are leaving the 2 kiddos behind for a week or fun and relaxation!
  
• While we're not big 'party animals' (usually in bed by 11 pm), we do enjoy some nightlife and enjoying a few cocktails.
  

With that being said, the perfect itinerary for us happens to be on HAL Oosterdam. We've never been on HAL and I've read a few reviews that seem to say that there's not much going on and the ship is a bit run down.

 

 

Can anyone speak to your onboard experience on HAL, maybe specifically the Oosterdam. What's the nightlife and activities like? General demographics of couples/people on board? Anything else we should know about?

 

 

Thank you!

Have sailed MS Oosterdam several times and I can assure you you will love the ship:) she is better than before IMO. night life is much better than some HAL venues and the crew always seems topnotch. She is a beauty so enjoy

I will be sailing on MS Rotterdam in Nov. trying to find what music is on board, Billboard or dueling pianos. Hal web site is not that helpful. any help would be welcomed. Thanks. many hal cruises but new to Rotterdam

Have been on three different Hal dam ships with 'O' shops and the general opinion is they are too expensive, lack of sales force and people really do not see that this is a betterment for the cruise line, And I am one of those.

Yes there are shows each night however it changes per cruise as to what was on last cruise may not be the same as the cruise you will be on. The entertainment changes as to the contract they offer. Some are for weeks and others are for just for that one cruise, Lots of entertainment in other venues on ship if you are inclined to be open minded. Just enjoy sailing the best medicine there is

I have sailed with Hal and have always selected a cabin when booking, Many times I have received an offer for an up grade and have rejected some but also have taken what is offered so my question is why book a guarantee to start with?

We did 14 days on Veendam in December. Spent a lot of time in the Ocean Bar (happy hour and beyond) and I sorta watched that O shop across the way and rarely saw anyone even browsing. Of course there was no clerk there anyway.

 

I wonder what that vendor will do with all that clothing merchandise that has HAL logos. Toss them? Sell for less than they paid for them? Could be interesting situation.

 

Jim

Was on the same cruise and same bar and I agree too much "O" and one clerk for all stores it seemed;)

Just sailed Hal Middle December at check in no passport scan or picture they both were in there data base. Check in was a breeze

I got off the Oosterdam on Feb. 11, and it's still not showing up on my account. Final charges to my credit card have been posted for days. How long does it take to update my Mariner status to show the days from my recent cruise?

 

Roz

I sailed the Veendam middle December received my status two days after cruise maybe I'm just lucky? But I am now three sailing days short of four star status so booked another cruise for March:)

I think you nailed it. The guarantee bookings are an unknown variable and make it nearly impossible to predict.

 

I guess my question to the OP is, what does it matter? Will you convince yourself you will have a better or worse time if it is (not) at capacity? Will you do anything differently? I'm not being rude, I really want to know what the advantage of knowing this information is. In my opinion, some things are best to remain unknown.

I agree sailed December on the Veendam and found out it was only 80% of capacity I guess that is why no long lines but it felt full anyway. Meet great people and all venues seemed to be not crowded. 14 days of great sailing really enjoyed:)

My question was why Hal sent me an e-mail stating I needed a passport (there words) to enter Costa Rica when you need a passport to be on this cruise? Does not make sense!!!

Just received a e-mail from Hal about stating that all passengers need a Visa (passport) to enter Costa Rica even if you are not going on shore, It is my understanding that you need a passport just to board this cruise which is the Panama sunfarer in March 11th. So why is this needed just wondered:(

TA called today saying Holland America e-mailed for an upgrade from inside cabin to VB, This is the December 9th sailing from Tampa which I thought was sold out. Took advantage and grabbed Aft suite which I prefer as a solo cruiser I thought the upgrade of $198.00 was just fine. This is the Oosterdam and I have sailed on her and I am happy to be on her again:)

My sister is booked as the third passenger in our cabin, but will actually be staying in a cabin with a friend of ours who booked as a single. Will it be a problem for our friend to get an extra key for my sister so she can come and go without depending on our friend to let her in?

 

And if so, do we tell them at Guest Relations that she is sharing the room with our friend? Will that present a problem. I'm guessing they don't care where someone sleeps?

I think they care very much as to where each passinger is at any given time, big brother wants to know in case there is any problems. Also friend has paid for solo cruise and second person would upset the apple cart as far as bookings go. Just a thought

Your second paragraph supplies information that I never knew. I assumed that there were separate Stewards who were part of the Room Service section and were not involved with Lido/MDR service. In the past, I have not recognized any who provided both Room Service and/or MDR/Lido service for me. Interesting!

 

Always, I offer a gratuity for Room Service! And, I have the money readily at hand when I open the door. The gentlemen are in and out so quickly that there is no time to be finding one's wallet.

On one our cruises we ordered room service and to our surprise our waiter from the MDR delivered it, He said he asked that he could could deliver our order as we had dined every night with him per request We were quit surprised and enjoyed the special attention given us.:)

Definitely ask the TA to whom you want to transfer the booking and also check with your HAL PCC. I have never lost perks in the two times I've done it nor have I heard that it had to be done within two weeks of booking. However, in both instances, I transferred to the large warehouse TA, I was advised that their final payment was two weeks PRIOR to HAL's final payment date. You do need to transfer before final payment.

I booked through HAL as I lost my TA due to retirement however I was able to connect with her company, It was almost 30 days after booking with HAL but my TA had it assigned to them without loss of perks. I had have used this agency for all my cruises and felt more at ease with the personal touch I receive from them:)

I'm looking at the 29 day Amazon cruise leaving Nov.19,2016. I don't want to get the Yellow fever vaccine and Holland America says, if I get a letter on the Doctor's letterhead stating she doesn't want us to have it because of age, that will be sufficient. My questions is has anyone had a problem using this exemption for the yellow fever vaccine. Thank you. I will also post this on roll call for that cruise.

I don't know your ages but we did the 65 day around South America and as we were in the 60-70 age group and felt it was wise to get the shots {no big deal} and felt it was the right thing to do:) I know this does not answer your question but hope it helps. What is the problem with not getting the vacanation? Hope you have a lovely cruise as it is quite a trip:)

OP: Seems you have a cabin assignment, assigned in May when you booked your December cruise. Right? You will most likely keep this cabin assignment although it rarely can happen that you could get re-assigned, possibly even upgraded; this is less likely if you have requested that you not receive a possible upgrade, usually called a request for "No Upgrade".

 

Usually people pick their cabin number when booking so they get a specific location; saying that you were "assigned" a cabin number when you booked sounds a bit unusual. Hope you like your assignment and have a good cruise. We've done a lot of inside cabins, never had a suite, it will be different but you will be on a cruise!! Enjoy, m--

I wasn't assigned a cabin as you stated but when i booked the CS agent implied this cabin was aviable if I would like it so I took it. My question was as I check daily for CC updates and find cruisers are waiting to get a cabin {assigned} to them did they not get a cabin when they booked:eek: Thats all I was after.

Not sure what you are asking but if you booked a guarentee you may not see a cabin assignment until 1-2 weeks b4 the cruise.

 

 

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I have a cabin number assigned 6158 at time of booking is this unusal? Everyone keeps posting that they are waiting to be assigned a cabin but I have One is this correct?

There has been questions about this subject and am curious as when I booked my cruise with Hal on the Oosterdam for December in may they assigned me a cabin at this point:) Does that mean I have it or will it change?:confused: It is a inside cabin as I am sailing solo:mad: for the first time and did not need the space of a suite but have always booked one for the space. Thanks all of you CCers for any help. Happy sailing to you all:)

Have always sailed in these suits and find the crew and the suits very to our liking, There is nothing that is more secure as to having all your problems handled in a most rewarding manner [ have had a few minor problems] but it is the only way to sail, The crew is well trained to make sure your cruise is perfect. Its like you are a member of a royal family:) All the perks are great as noted on the Hal web site. Enjoy your upgrade but beware you will never want to sail without being in one:eek:

Thank you all for your feedback. I really wish I had the drink pricelist but that may be out of date by the time we leave. It sounds like most of the things I like will be included.

Andrea

Johnny walker black is a top of the line scotch any where you order a scotch:eek: So keep that in mind!! But do enjoy your cruise and cocktails Happt sailing:)

I've never heard of this happening, so I'd have to say that this is not normal. It sounds to me like somebody in Seattle bumped a wrong key somewhere. Or maybe someone wanted to book your cabin for a special reason (like adjoining its neighbor) and instead of contacting you or giving you a nearby assignment, they tossed you into the guarantee pool when they gave away your cabin. Just guessing, trying to make sense of something that doesn't make sense.

 

I hope they can get your cabin back. Guarantee prices often drop after final payment. If they can't retrieve your choice of cabin, I think they should reprice your reservation at the current guarantee price (assuming it's lower) or give you a nice upgrade.

 

I prefer to choose my cabin and say "do not upgrade." If this happened to me, I'd keep calling until they make it right.

Could someone please help me to understand booking procedures to me? I made my deposit on a western Carribian cruse and they booked me in to a numbered cabin and this shows up on my website as the cabin I booked, am I to think that this will change after final payment. Have always been given the cabin I booked before on Hal?