SusieKay

We found the entire seaview deck mostly unusable due to the large smoking area. You could smell it as soon as the doors opened to the outside. The non smoking side felt very tight and cluttered with more of the furniture placed there. It was usually quite crowded. Not a very pleasant place to be whatever side of the ship one is on.

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I have never taken more than three.

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Perhaps, but other passengers that we observed appeared to be more than mildly annoyed and just got up and moved. So these guys did not seem to be generating much income.

We were there in March and this was not going on then.

The complimentary cruise center chairs and umbrellas are plentiful and much nicer anyway.

We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott FLL Beach the nights pre and post our Thanksgiving week cruise. Like you, we found the flights home on the day of disembarkation either too early, or terribly expensive later in the day, especially since it was a holiday weekend. We actually saved money by spending an extra night😊.

We found this hotel extremely accommodating to our requested early check-in on the day we left the ship- we had a room by 1030am!! So we had the entire day to enjoy FLL.

It's a great location, right next to Bubba Gumps and across the street from Coconuts. There is also a casual Bistro in the hotel.

The helpful concierge arranged a private car to make sure we got to the airport for our 7am flight.

We would definitely stay there again.

How do you get these offers? Do they come in an email? Or does it pop up somewhere on the Holland website? Just curious, thank you

Ours came as an email entitled

"casino offers" just a month or two before sailing, offering several ships and dates during the mid Nov-mid Dec time period.

Flexibility and being able to make a quick decision is the key if you ever receive one.

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We got an amazing casino offer for Thanksgiving week this year, and we are not gamblers either. We jumped on it right away and ended up in a Neptune suite on the Nieuw Amsterdam. It was our best cruise ever!

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We had a complimentary bottle of champagne from the captain in our Neptune Suite when we arrived. Glasses were also offered to suite guests in the Neptune Lounge upon embarkation. We sailed the Nieuw Amsterdam at Thanksgiving.

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We were there at Thanksgiving. All looked great. No different from our March visit.

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We have been to HMC multiple times and never found much shade on the beach after 12 noon. We just go early, enjoy the beach till it gets too hot, have lunch in the shaded picnic area, then head back to the ship.

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Amber Cove has a zip line right in the port that offers unlimited all day use for a flat fee ($20 ?). I did not use it, but many did and seemed to be having a great time.

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We love HAL laundry! We prefer the daily service. On our Thankagiving cruise I left it on the bed when we went to dinner and it was returned the next morning before noon.

Even at the $9/day charge for your 24 day cruise it would be just over $200. You could pack sooo much less and not have to save up all those dirty clothes to see if you could fit it in one small bag just to save a few $$. Plus it's fun getting you clean undies and socks folded and wrapped in tissue paper returned daily.😊

There are some things we probably do not remember about our HAL cruises, but the laundry service is definitely not one of them !! We just figure it into the cost and plan accordingly.

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The Grand Turk port had re-opened about two to three weeks before we arrived. The dock, buildings and beach were in good shape. Most noticeable is the loss of the lovely tall palms that provided such abundant shade over the beachfront in front of Margaritaville. Many have been replanted, but it will take a long time for them to grow.

The cruise center complimentary umbrellas and chairs remain available, however local, somewhat aggressive vendors are now renting theirs on the first 3-4 rows closest to the water in the same beach area. It is easy to tell the difference, just be aware before you sit down or be prepared to pay them $20 !!

The Med!! From Barcelona to Athens, with overnights on each end.

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We really liked the Courtyard Ft. Lauderdale Beach. Just stayed there pre and post Thanksgiving week cruise.

Loved being a few steps across the street from the beach.

Coconuts (make reservations) is just behind on intracostal waterway and Bubba Gumps next door.

Liquor store less than a block away.

Awesome hotel, great staff, and spotlessly clean. The Bistro serves BLD, there is an oceanfront bar and a large pool deck.

We had no problem getting our10 am requested check-in time after getting off the ship.

No free shuttles but we prefer taxis anyway.

We would definitely return 😊

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Cabs are plentiful and easy to identify. Why not just grab one and go and forget the hassle of running around to locate a shuttle?

You will arrive at your hotel much sooner and much more relaxed.

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We were there last week and docked at the Navy pier. You cannot walk out as this is an active military base. You are required to take the shuttle -they run continously in both directions, open air trams mostly. Takes about five minutes or so to reach the drop off area in the center of town near Mallory Square and across from the biggest CVS I have ever seen. Return to the same place when you are ready to go back to the ship.

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There are now nine countries in the vicinity of Madagascar on high alert for possible spread of the plague. Perhaps you should be grateful to Costa for not taking you to any of them.

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Could someone who has visited recently comment please.

We were there in March and wifi connection was poor to non existent in the pool area.

We were told we had to buy a drink to get the code ( ok, no problem). Except it did not work. Server put in another code. Worked very slowly for about 5 minutes at a time, then disconnected and it took forever to get back on.

Has anything changed?

How reliable is cell service there? I have an international plan with AT & T and the Dominican Republic is in their coverage area, but I am thinking it is probably spotty.

Thanks.

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We have been there multiple times ( last in March of this year) and have never seen them in Grand Turk.

We thought them great in Amber Cove. That pier seemed incredibly long on the brutally hot day were there. No charge

just "tip whatever you think it is worth"

Best $10 we spent on the cruise!

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We will be on this ship soon and glad to read the mostly positive comments. We were very disappointed in the Koningsdam and decided to give HAL another chance.

We have not been notified of any changes to our itinerary: Key West, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, and Half Moon Cay, but know that is always a possibility.

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We were on the Koningsdam in March and were in Amber Cove with a Carnival ship.

Passengers from both ships were accommodated in the entire port area with no problems.

I wonder if a slow recovery from the hurricane is to blame?

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Avoid cabins at the front of the ship.

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There is also a large bar/restaurant beside the pool and an area where live entertainment was provided when we were there in March.

Sun loungers are free and plentiful, but there is minimal shade around the pool.

Umbrellas are available to rent-$25/day.

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We were in V6128 ( top category verandah) with a huge angled extended balcony. While the spacious balcony was nice, it was very disappointing that there was no additional furniture provided other than the standard upright two chairs, one footstool, and one low side table about 12 inches in diameter. It was really just a lot of wasted space since we were told we were not "allowed" to receive any additional furniture, even though this space could have easily seated a dozen people.

The cabin was the smallest and most cramped we have ever had on a HAL ship.

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Don't be in a big hurry to be first on a tender. You will then have to sit there and wait until it is fully loaded before it leaves. First on is often last off.

If life boats are used they can be hot, crowded, poorly ventilated and smell of fuel. They also can bounce around a bit in choppy seas when getting on and off at the ship.

Port provided tenders are usually larger and much more comfortable.