mame42

34 minutes ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Not noise, but smoke filled the air going up the center stairs on Volendam. We got so we used the aft stairs to get to our deck 6 cabin instead of the closer amidship stairs. 
We just booked Zaandam on deck 6 and DH asked for an aft cabin just for that reason. And he gets motion sickness.

Yuck!  My cabin this time is closer to the aft stairs.  On the 2024 GAUS/NZ my cabin was practically in the midship elevator lobby; I never noticed any smoke, but I am an early riser/early to bed person, so I may have missed it later in the evening.  Thanks for the info.

18 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

I hve been in rhe casinos of Holland America ships & other cruise lines . I have never heard them very loud  . I play only craps & Texas holdem 'vut ,I never heard a loud group playing the slots rither ot black jack  Candidly the only decent odds games in any ships casino is craps & holdem  if you kbow the game & how to bet . hope this helps you on the noise issue  .I woud be more conderned if my cabin was under or over the music vemues on HAL's ships 

Thanks for the info.  I was worried about bells and whistles from the slots.

 I will be in a cabin on the Volendam above the casino.  Honestly, since this will be my 1st cabin in this location, I never thought of the possibility of noise from the casino when I selected the cabin.  Has anyone had any experience in a cabin above the casino on the Volendam or any of her sister ships?  Will appreciate any info offered.  Thanks.

On 7/24/2024 at 4:17 PM, Lunar Dragon said:

We will  just have to agree to disagree.  I think they provide an amazing service and I expect with a full ship they were just extremely busy. Perhaps HAL should just omit the option all together to make their lives easier.  Being home now, I would just  love to have clean laundry delivered folded or on hangers😁

NO, NO, NO, a thousand times no!  Rather than cancel the option, I would rather have slower service. I have arthritis in my hands and wrists, which makes folding a difficult, painful, time consuming chore.  Using hangers is not much easier.  Stacking folded laundry in drawers and on shelves is the perfect solution for me.  However, I do send out in a separate bag with a different laundry form garments which must be hung.

Comparing what is to what was:  My point of reference is the aborted 2020 GWV, which was my most fabulous cruise to date... until it wasn't.

I recently completed the 2024 Grand AUS/NZ on the Volendam.  Yes, there were glitches, particularly communication and scheduling between departments and with passengers.  Yet the cruise came very close to replicating most of the experiences and events that I enjoyed so much in 2020.  I credit the heroic efforts of the onboard staff and crew, rather than Seattle or other corporate entities. 

The most glaring denigration of the overall experience was the lack of decor and costuming which transformed the MDR into a different venue each evening.  However, a much appreciated effort was made by Wait Staff on Crew Night, and the magical Dinner under the Stars required no decor other than twinkle lights, a full moon, and the mountains of Moorea.

8 hours ago, DAllenTCY said:

When you enter the terminal, look to your left or ask for assistance to the ADA seating area.  A staff member will take your name and add you to a waiting list (if necessary).

 

Please be aware that on a typical 7 night voyage, somewhere between 40 and 50 guests require assistance. On the longer or Grand Voyages there are likely to be nearly 100 wheelchair requests.

 

That being said, a shore side helper can only take you through the check-in procedure.  You will be assigned a Group Number and then wait in a separate seating area closer to the gangway elevators.

 

A crew member from the ship will arrive to take you onward once your group number has been called.

 

David

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for the detailed info.

1 hour ago, Toad said:

See above “smoking thread”.

Thank you for your most helpful suggestion.  If I could have found a consistent answer, or any answer from personal experience, on the suggested thread, I would not have posted on this forum.  I have no strong feelings about the subject, nor do I want to participate in a discussion.  I merely want current information not available elsewhere on the possibility of odor intrusion into cabins.

I jumped on an upsell to a Vista on an upcoming cruise on the Volendam.  Belatedly, I realized that my cabin sits directly over the Casino, so I wonder if smoke from that venue may be a concern.  Has anyone experienced difficulty in that area?  Thanks for any info.

6 hours ago, Splinter said:

Do you know which pier your ship is leaving from? There are up to 3 different piers for cruise ships. If embarking from the north side of the Broadway pier, you take an elevator (with an escort if desired) to the level with the embarkation door. If on the south side of the Broadway pier you will have to go up a switchback ramp. If embarking from the B street pier terminal, you also take an elevator (with an optional escort) up to the level with the embarkation door.

Thank you so much for the detailed info.  I believe the Volendam will be at the B Street terminal on 3 January.

1 hour ago, kazu said:

I think the opening page of the Sommelier packages covers the Mariner discount question.  (Circled in yellow).

 

 

I see that the same rule is there I saw on another cruise about not using the package in other bars or lounges.  I’m hoping that rule isn’t too strictly observed for when I join you on the Volendam 🤞 

 

Same here, although if one wanders into the Ocean Bar with a glass in hand, who is to know where it came from?  See ya'll on 3 January!

Thanks to you both for the info.  I will be sure to bring a book!  And maybe a wine-to-go!!

For those who have used the service or are familiar with current operations:  How does wheelchair assisted boarding work at the Port of San Diego?

Thanks for any info.

For those who have used the service or are familiar with current operations:  How does wheelchair assisted boarding work at the Port of San Diego?  Thanks for any info.

For those who have used the service or are familiar with current operations:  How does the service work at the Port of San Diego?

Thanks for any info.

4 minutes ago, Nickelpenny said:

If you hover over "Manage My Cruise", you can choose can choose what you want to do (I had to check in)

BUT you have to have your booking number to manage it and put it in "Lookup a Booking".  

 

It worked for me.

It did not work for me in any way, shape, or form.

1 hour ago, Floating_view said:

That does work, and the Navigator App works which has all my cruise history.   

Did not work for me.

1 hour ago, Floating_view said:

I just logged in and it shows I have no bookings (leave for one a week from Friday). It also shows that I have no cruise history with them (4 star).

Updating the website needed to be done, hopefully they work out the bugs soon.

Same here.  I am trying to check in!

44 minutes ago, kokopelli-az said:

We have used Uber numerous times out of Fort Lauderdale (and other towns) and have never had any issues.   They never seem to be very far away from where we need to be picked up.    

 

 

Thanks.

4 minutes ago, kokopelli-az said:

Have you considered Uber transportation?   See a dummy booking from the Wyndham Bayside to the San Diego Cruise Terminal (attached).   There will no doubt be other people staying at the hotel who will need transportation to the cruise terminal.   

Thank you.  I have only used Uber a few times, but it was unreliable in Europe this summer.

Since I am somewhat mobility challenged, I have real concerns about getting from the Wyndham Bayside to the cruise terminal.  I have read that most people walk since it is a very short distance and taxis are reluctant to pick up for such a minimal fare.  However, for this cruise I will be traveling with both a carryon and a checked bag.  Getting from point A to point B while managing 2 bags and a cane seems overwhelming.  Has anyone had any experience with this dilemma?  Thanks for any info.

11 hours ago, richwmn said:

I might be a bit more paranoid than most. Even though I only live 90 minutes (or so) from the airport I stay at an airport hotel the night before my flight, which is usually around 11am if I can arrange it. I also arrive in the port city at least the day before. For international travel, it is 2 -3 days before the cruise to get a feel for the embarkation city.

 

 

Although I live theoretically 45 minutes from the airport, I always book an airport hotel the night before a morning flight.  Many would be travelers are unaware that bridges and interstates in my area may be closed for hours at any time of year because of accidents and/or fog.

14 hours ago, cruising sister said:

After last years Holiday fiasco with flying. I am flying in 3 days early to San Diego for my Grand Australia cruise. Fingers crossed. 

Same here.

I always enjoy your blogs; however, in this case I will pay particular attention.  In January I will embark the Volendam on the 2024 GAUS/NZ out of San Diego, my 1st cruise since the 2020 GWV.  I am looking forward to your usual detailed descriptions of the ship and daily life aboard.

It was especially fun on Grand cruises because the guest chef would prepare the canapes and choose the wines.  Unfortunately, it did not appear on the Grands since covid. 

46 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

 

We must have missed this....do not recall this event....Could someone enlighten us on what was/is "sip and savor"?

This used to be presented by the Cellar Master and Pinnacle Grill chef, then devolved into a presentation by the wines stewards and a rep from the chef's staff.  On most sea day evenings before early seating one or two small canapes would be introduced along with their recipes, along with half glass tastings of a red and a white wine to compliment them.  The bar staff would introduce the wines and discuss why they were chosen for that particular offering from the Grill.  Since this usually occurred during the same time, but apart from Happy Hour, it was usually a small, devoted group would attending each evening.