senorjim

I met 2 Gentlemen onboard at a Mariner medal presentation a few years ago. They were recognized for over 3500 days on board.(That's almost 10 years!). We had a really nice visit. They both seemed kind and humble to me. I asked what kind of perks Presidents Club provided them and I was only told with a big smile that they were very well looked after. I forget what ship we were on but when I asked which was their favourite ship they said Maasdam. They had a corner table reserved for them in the Lido on our sailing and that's where they preferred to dine. With that kind of loyalty I believe they deserve special treatment although to me they didn't seem like they were special. Just 2 nice guys.

You can call the upsell department directly and ask. 1-888-628-8107 or 1-206-626-7381 Jim

I call the upsell department directly and ask. The last time was for our October 2022 51 day cruise aboard Westerdam. I started calling about 6 weeks before sailing about once a week. About 2 weeks before sailing when I called I was told my timing was good as the offers just became available and hadn't been sent out yet. I upgraded from a VA verandah to a Signature Suite. We were very happy with the price and the extra room for that cruise! The direct numbers I have for the upsell department are 1-888-628-8107 or 1-206-626-7381. Jim

Good Morning! It's interesting to see according to Cruise Timetables that the Zaandam is spending the night here in Puerto Vallarta. Departing tomorrow 17:00 local time.We've been here for the last 3 months with a view of the entrance to the harbour and have not seen many overnight calls. Most mornings we walk over to Puerto Magico to see the ships and all the action around them.

You can use this link to look up the requirements for your cruise. https://book2.hollandamerica.com/protocols/ Jim

May I suggest that you use this tool from HAL to make sure. https://book2.hollandamerica.com/protocols/ Jim

We spent 51 days recently on her. Seattle to Sydney. Found the ship to be in good shape and the crew overall to be outstanding! We received our 5 star pins part way through the cruise. I hope you enjoy sailing on Westerdam as much as we did! Jim

Best description is what a waiter at breakfast in the MDR once asked. "Coffee from the engine room?"

Jacket and/or tie are not required. for men. A shirt with a collar and pants that aren't jeans. I'm not qualified to comment on dresses and shoes! Enjoy your cruise. Jim

Sorry to hear of your troubles. We recently completed a 51 day Seattle to Sydney cruise on Westerdam. This was our first cruise since November 2019. We had several itinerary changes before departing and we went into the cruise with the attitude that we would "go with the flow". We then had a few medical evacuations which caused some delays and we had more itinerary changes, most of which were beyond HAL's control. We were one of the first ships returning to some of these ports since COVID.We received a $250 OBC per person and 10% of our base cruise fare in future cruise credits which were unexpected but appreciated because of the changes. Port fees were also refunded. We found the captain was very transparent about every change we made. For us it felt good to be back cruising again! I expect there will be more hiccups in the post COVID cruising world for the foreseeable future and we will continue to go with the flow. Please let us know if they do something for you to make up for the lost ports! I hope they do! Jim

I scan my letter to them along with the redacted brokerage statement and use this free faxing website to send it. I always ask for an email confirmation. They have been a little slow lately with email replies but they eventually arrive. https://faxzero.com Jim

We did a behind the scenes tour on a Princess ship and the Medical Doctor suggested to check our travel health insurance to see if we are covered for evacuation from sea. HE is the one that quoted the $50,000 for a helicopter evacuation. Likely just a ballpark and I have no idea what currency. At the time we used Blue Cross Travel Health and our policy at that time there was an exclusion. Jim

Whoever you choose I suggest you read the fine print and especially the exclusions. Some insurance providers may exclude medical evacuation from sea. A helicopter lift from the ship could cost you +- $50,000 Jim