terrydtx

In January we went from Sydney to New Zealand and we crossed 2 time zones on the way to NZ in 2 days. Each night we advanced 1 hour so that when we got to our first port we were on local time.

18 hours ago, julia said:

That's because it's NCL... HAL does not allow shorts in the MDR at dinner (after embarkation day), thank goodness.  As for backward ball caps?  If guys only knew how INCREDIBLY STUPID they look wearing them, they might think twice.

Only if the Maitre'd enforces the no shorts when people enter the MDR, on the Koningsdam last November I saw shorts in the MDR every night including dressy nights.

I have the same issue when I do a mock booking on our Aug 20th cruise from Boston on the Volendam. HAL has a history of IT issues with their website.

Looks like the chefs know how to "sear" tuna steaks, something HAL and Celebrity has problems with.

2 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

We just got back on the ship from the Beaxh BBQ party. Excellent great selection of food, they had a nice set up for the 300 passengers with live music playing steel drum.
Here are a few of the pictures

Was it better than the horrible BBQ served on Half Moon Cay by HAL?

4 minutes ago, ONCRUISEMODE said:

What is Dive In?

Dive In is the included hot dogs, Hamburgers and tacos on the pool deck similar to Mast Grill on Celebrity.

You can go to guest services or the shore excursions desk once onboard to do this. We have done it for specialty restaurants booked prior to boarding.

26 minutes ago, ONCRUISEMODE said:

Questions about the coffee:  We love strong, hot coffee.  How is the coffie on the Lido?  I know I can buy it from their coffee counter for a price but its about $6 per day for 30 days.  Please advise.

Not strong at all, I have to get my coffee from the Lido specialty coffee. Some days the Lido coffee is almost like dishwater in strength. I always have a drinks package so I get the specialty coffee for free.

14 minutes ago, sandiego1 said:

Does the refrig plug into the US outlet or European? I don’t want to lose the 1 US outlet by renting a refrig.

Not sure as I have never had to rent one. You could always get a 3 way plug just in case.

On the K'Dam last November I heard nothing but complaints from passengers who dined there about slow service and food quality.  It was enough for us to cancel our reservation later in the cruise.

Last November on the Koningsdam which was 100% sold out we had to wait about 20 minutes a couple of nights around 6-6:30pm, but the wait was worth it for the much-improved dining experience and nightly chef specials. We saw lines to get into the MDR at the same times that were down the halls waiting to get seated. They do not take reservations but the hostess does a good job of turning tables. On the K'Dam the Club Orange is very small with only 19 tables.

I upgraded my HIA surf to Premium last November on the Koningsdam which worked great for Wi-Fi calls and streaming. We have the Premium early booking HIA package on our August Volendam cruise, is the premium wi-fi going to something less now that HAL has added a third streaming tier of internet?

On 2/22/2024 at 6:16 PM, bundtkate said:

I would disagree with this ever so slightly because it does make dealing with flight changes more difficult. When booking direct, you can make changes on the airline's website if the new flight doesn't work and can even cancel the whole thing if nothing to your liking is available. If you book through Flight Ease, it seems Air Canada at least wants you to contact HAL if you need to cancel and rebook. Hopefully that's just an extra phone call in most cases and no big deal, but in my case it also turned into a small battle over change fees I knew I shouldn't have to pay as well tacking a few extra days onto the resolution. My TA sorted it for me and the flights I got through Flight Ease saved me enough I don't regret my decision, but if I didn't have a TA, I'd probably be singing a different tune and may still be booked on a flight that guaranteed a missed connection.

We have used HAL FE for years with zero problems. It is so easy to go online and book flights, seats and class all in one place. No phone calls are needed as it can all be done online in your HAL account. Always been able to make changes without fees if prices drop or I find better connections up to final payment. I have canceled and rebooked flights many times to save money. Best advantage is being able to book multiple airlines, we are flying to Boston in August for our Volendam cruise on United and returning from Quebec city on American. We booked on FE and we are in first class seats. 3 days after we booked online, our flights were even ticketed by HAL, but I can still make any changes.

My best testament to FE is in 2021 were had to Covid quarantine for 4 days post cruise in Venice and we missed our flights home in BC. FE worked with us by canceling our booked flights and then rebooking us in BC 4 days later at no extra charge to us, this is something no US airline would do if we booked directly.

5 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Terry, it has been but not quite the WOW we were expecting. Like all cruise lines they too have cut back is my understanding but I would say it  is more like Holland America use to be. Last night both our Scallops and Tom’s Beef Wellington were excellent. I can say the Scallops were better than any I have had in many years.

The scallops looked much bigger than what we had on our Celebrity cruise last month, the scallops served as an entree were 3 small ones about the size of a quarter. I had to order a double order to get enough. We will be on the Volendam in August for our Canada/NE cruise and I hope we get better scallops. Your beef Wellinton looked good.

12 hours ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Ok here is what we had… I had the Brie and pear Salad, and Lobster Bisque, then I also had the Scallops, I interestingly enough there was barely a taste of curry also the risotto did not have the coconut taste I was expecting more of a nutty risotto taste. I had mentioned to James my concern and he said not to worry about the curry taste. He knows what I like and he has never steered me wrong lol. It was a very good choice. Then I had the Chocolate Soufflé 
Tom had the Cesar Salad and the Beef Wellington and Vanilla Ice Cream.

Wow, the food looks so much better than what I have seen on HAL and Celebrity recently, how do they compare in taste and quality so far?

Hello Lisa,

I am following your cruise as Windstar is a cruise line on our radar for the future.  Read your issues in MIA and we had similar issues in 2022 trying to get to St Thomas, that is one of the worst airport we have had to connect through, seemed like we had to walk miles between gates. I hope you and Tom have a great week.

@VMax1700

The Volendam had a very extensive refurbishing during her 2022 drydocking. Do you know why she has another one in October so soon after the last one?  Is there a problem that needs addressing on her, we are on her in August?  TIA

On 1/30/2024 at 8:22 AM, Moriah said:

No, but if you act fast, you can usually rent one.  Bear in mind that if you are in any cabin except a neptune suite(which does have a fridge, anyway), the fridge you rent takes up valuable "real estate" - there aren't really any great places to put it, although it can work, if you really want one.

Vista Suites also have a mini fridge on Volendam, we are in one in August.

We had them in the Lido at lunch on the K'Dam last November, not impressed mostly veggie and cooked fish very limited raw fish sushi there. I do not consider a California Roll with all vegies to be sushi. I believe it was in the distant lands Asian section of the Lido.

1 hour ago, mamayer said:

If you put a box or a wine bladder in your checked bag, do they xray and find it?

Yes the scanners will find them and you will get an invite to the naughty room on embarkation day.

25 minutes ago, Ready2go11 said:

Just booked the fall Volendam repositioning from Montreal. This will be the first time in an ocean view cabin.

 

I think I read somewhere that on the Volendam and Zaandam ocean view cabins do not have a refrigerator in the room. Read that they can rented at a cost, and subject to availability. Is this true?

 

thank you in advance 

Yes you can rent a mini fridge on the Volendam for a small daily fee. The Vista suites and up all have mini fridges on the Volendam.  We are booked on the Aug 20th Boston to Montreal Volendam cruise in a Vista Suite.

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

3.  Fresh Squeezed -   Only available at Luminae, Retreat Lounge,  Blu and the CC Elite+ Breakfast.

Jim, on the Edge last month we also got the fresh squeezed OJ with our Retreat Room service menu for breakfast.  I know it was fresh because my wife complained about the amount of pulp in it, I prefer the pulp in my fresh OJ. We have an orange tree in our back yard and every fall we have fresh squeezed OJ every morning.😁

7 hours ago, oceanbear said:

I noticed all the whiskies from Macallan and Glenfiddich as well some higher end Bourbons are no longer on the Premium Beverage Package! 😞 The cuts continue!!!

We were on the Edge in a SS last month in Australia and Glenfiddich was available in the Retreat Lounge with no upcharge. For other whiskeys like Macallan, not in the PDP, I was told they not available in the Lounge when I asked for them. Most afternoons I had the Glenfiddich instead of Macallan as my before diner drink. I think the lounge managers decided to just say that something was not available rather than charge an upcharge.

On 2/23/2024 at 5:54 PM, Tyler414 said:

I ordered the cabin water package for my upcoming cruise, mainly for excursions.  

On the Edge last month, we were able to buy bottled water that was available for sale as we left the ship with our drink package.

We didn't have that available on the Edge last month, but they did have the Fever Tree Light (less sugar) available in most bars. The Fever Tree Light is what we use at home and really like it.