canadianbear

5 minutes ago, Crew News said:

I have had these for my last three cruises and finally discovered them in my emergency kit. What a game changer!!  It is remarkable how many hings can be hung on the ship walls.

Exactly!!!  We’ve never really needed them before but I figured with such a long cruise we’d need them & I loved having them.  Worked like a charm. 

We purchased magnetic hooks for our 35 day South Pacific cruise-they worked great.  

1 minute ago, kazu said:

That’s my understanding - one time purchase

 

Thanks…I seemed to recall a thread quite awhile ago about someone saying that.  We are not 5* quite yet. 
 

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

So can you buy a week at a time and get the $30 discount weekly on a long cruise.  
 

I agree with @canadianbear the internet surf package should be free or half price 

Not positive but I think you can only get the $30 discount once on the ship no matter how long. 

I’ve put that in reviews to HAL about the 5* discount for wifi and they should make it 50% off or give it free.  Doesn’t seem like many more perks than a 4* in my opinion. 

We bought ours at Costco several years ago.  Then I went to a dive shop & they put a prescription in my mask.  We always take our own equipment.  You could get away with using vendors fins depending on your foot size or where you are going to.  Our recent South Pacific cruise most vendors requested you bring your own gear.  We bring our fins too as my husband has large feet & no one carries over a size 12 that we’ve ever found. 
 

Just to add we’ve used our Costco equipment many, many times & no issue.  Since you’re not sure if you will snorkel again I would not buy expensive mask/snorkel.  

I have no idea but I purchased 2 on our South Pacific cruise when I ordered flowers for our cabin as we were on for 35 days.  I also ordered 2 for friends on the ship.  I found it difficult to decide which vase as they were all so pretty! 

Bon Voyage & have a great birthday!

Always look forward to all the information you provide.

Have a great time…enjoy researching the cookies! 

Great cruises-have fun & Bon Voyage to all! 

Just now, kazu said:

It is really weird.  Never had bad ones before no matter the length of the cruise.

 

I think she was doing them in oil originally.

 

 

 

I hope she changes the way they’re made now.  We love escargot.  

That’s so strange about the escargot @kazu 

 Ours  have been great on our November & February cruises. Wonder what they are doing wrong on your ship.  I sure hope the chef figures it out.  

@kazu

That is a sad towel animal.  I take eyes for mine now as I find eyes make them.  I know they don’t use them any longer so I make sure I pack some & bring the eyes home again for our next cruise. This towel animal photo from our last cruise was pretty sad before the eyes were added. 

50 minutes ago, BetsyS. said:

The "suits" in Seattle should realize that this is a very serious problem. They need to do something about it.

Absolutely…no way I’d go to the spa now until we hear how it is resolved for this person. 

14 minutes ago, debway said:

Disappointed that it looks like Moorea Ocean Adventures now only does private boat snorkeling tours and is out of my price range for 2 people!

We used Albert Transport in March.  Cash day of.  Bring own snorkel gear.  

26 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

It would be beyond disappointing to be on a ship w/o GDC and have the Crow's Nest closed off each afternoon/evening so I could not get my favorite lattes as being reported on another thread.

That seriously would bite.

I’d be choked too!  Love my fix.  

13 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Mine too! Grand Dutch Cafe is an excellent alternative for lunch and convenient for special coffee.

I think I used my HIA for their lattes more than boozy drinks 😁

8 hours ago, shipmeoff! said:

Most of my HAL time has been on Zaandam so I was a little scared size wise for sure but this has been a great reintroduction…

We were used to the “smaller” ships on HAL and our first time on the Koningsdam was years back when she was fairly new.  I was nervous about getting on such a “large” ship but loved her.  (We had originally been booked on the NA for 21 days but it was charted out so we were switched at no extra cost to the Koningsdam). 
 

We also were on her for 35 days in February and it was excellent.  Totally agree the staff are happy, the food was great including the pay restaurants.  
 

So happy to hear you’re back cruising & enjoying the ship.  My favourite spot is the Dutch Cafe.  

2 minutes ago, ljgordon54 said:

I hate to say it, but black tip shark is a great dinner too!

Just glad none of us was their dinner!

The last couple of times we’ve seen them in Curacao.  I can’t remember the name of the area but basically the fishermen are cleaning their fish at the pier & the turtles are all around there, 

Just now, oakridger said:

Your pictures are getting me so excited to go there but I have to wait until May 2025!!!  I'm happy to look at anything you have videos and pictures of!!  Thank you!

 

~Nancy

 

We loved the cruise-I want to do it again in 2025 (shh…Mr Bear still doesn’t know I have a deposit already down on it!!)   The water is spectacular and we both loved our snorkel excursions.  I’m still in awe of the sharks-I had one coming straight at me & wasn’t quite sure what to do-move or stay-since I had my camera in front of me figured it would hit that first but he veered off! 

@kazu

I am glad you could get reservations again.  I was actually concerned on our 35 day cruise thinking we wouldn’t be able to get several specialty reservations because of people with HIA.  We were pleasantly surprised we could get lots if we wanted. 
 

Guess we are in the minority with you & the bacon.  One and done too. 
 

So happy to hear you have a new table & servers who are great-exactly how they should be.  

I think my husband & I are two of the few that do not like the candied bacon.  We ordered it on our November cruise for the first time.  The waiter brought 2 orders (we only ordered 1) and our friends loved it but we didn’t.

Shhh…don’t say the lunch at Pinnacle is the best bargain or HAL will raise the price again!

Totally agree though-we hadn’t had lunch there in a very long time but treated our friends in November when we were on the Eurodam.  The food & service were top notch.  We also had lunch when on the Koningsdam in the Pinnacle on our South Pacific cruise in February and prefer lunch to the supper.  
 

@kazu

What a shame about your dinner being sub par.  Our escargot on our recent cruise was delicious & we had it several times.  
 

We had late dining & our waiters were fantastic.  I hope you will report to maître de or do a report on the App.  Do you think the waiter maybe was sea sick?  If not he has no excuse.