rodndonna

We've added HIA to both "discounted" Casino rates and to "free stateroom" Casino offers at the standard $50US pp/pd as recently as last month (on a "free stateroom" offer). I know on our offer it appeared for us to purchase sporadically ...so I think that was just a website issue. When we did the initial booking with our PCC, she confirmed we could add it (which we had done in the past - a year ago so we expected as much) The only exception should be short cruises (less than 4 or 5 days maybe - not sure of the number) I'd keep trying ...

Thanks for posting this. Great timing as it looks like our next HAL cruise this fall should "make the cut" (Oosterdam from Trieste) but don't see anything yet. Will be keeping watch closely though as this is right up hubby's alley.

We would have enjoyed the Officers vs Passengers trivia, but it (and the other evening trivia rounds) typically conflicted with our dinner time. It was the first time we had seen that on a HAL cruise.

OK - now I remember why I am confused. On HAL, they have "smoothies" at the bars. They are not really what I consider smoothies - they are those frost ice things that come out of a machine (like at the 7-11). Somewhere (I do not know where but I think the Gelato place?) you can get proper made smoothies but you have to pay for those. I spent 3 years in adult braces where smoothies were my life. I still love them, but what HAL calls "smoothies" at the bars are not actually 'real' smoothies 😢

As a few have corrected my mis post - the milkshakes are indeed included, but not smoothies.

Also - 😥 no to milkshakes and smoothies

From where we are getting to the port.. any port... is typically the long pole requiring flights and really limits making any last minute deals ever work. 😢 You European's have it made in that regard, or at least it would seem that way. Maybe just a grass is greener scenario.

I don't think it is bookable because it is designated as an "accesible" cabin, BUT, if it is bookable or available at embarkation and you want a spacious inside option - 2554 on the Zaandam is HUGE. We had an inside GTY cabin and were assigned 2554 about 2 days before sailing. It is the largest (by far) of any cabin (non-suites) we have been in - by ALOT. It was a magical experience for us - not requiring the typical "which door open" decision tree process we typically go through in our cabins. You could leave EVERY closet door AND the EXRA WIDE bathroom door open AT THE SAME TME and still dance about your room - that's how big it is. And there is another set of closets in the corner closest to the end of bed - which can be also just left open all the time as they impede nothing. Edit: Not saying we leave all our doors open .. just that there is that much space ...🙃

We did that cruise Jun 3 and had a later boarding time. We were at the port before 11:00 and dropped off our luggage and then wondered around until 3:00 to board (just walked on). Had we wanted to, pretty sure we could have just boarded earlier (our cruise was not fully booked so not sure if that is why). Either way, I think if possible to drop your luggage off earlier and your luggage will likely be at your room before 4:00. You are basically in the heart of things (Old Montreal) at the cruise port, so lots to see and do very close if you just want to arrive early bit can't board yet (but still drop your luggage off).

And I forgot using the on-board purchased Future Cruise Deposit for that additional OBC - so possibly It would be a newly invented "QUADdrafecta" ! 😀

How do you call the HAL inventory department? If you call in is that one of the options? We've booked through a PCC, not sure if that means any upgrade inquiries have to go through her.

There were pins on at least one of the Zaandam trivia's a couple of weeks ago! I don't recall any prizes beyond that, but maybe because we never won or were ever even in the running .to win...😗

That is our similar to our experience. When we upgrade the room and/or add HIA we can do as well or better booking in advance with the Casino discount (we have had as much as 30% off the cabin rate) We seem to do best when we can book in advance (just after release) with the upgraded early HIA along with extra OBC from Mariner early bonus and stockholder bonus which is not applicable for Casino "free" rooms. The other factor for us is flights. Casino offers for us have been short notice cruises, so getting pricing on flights always adds more money into the equation and can be quite significant in some cases.

At least you seem to know where you want to cruise. We are hoping to book Fall 2025 after returning from our fall 2023 cruise. Hoping for a "come back" offer to combine with the "early booking bonus HIA " rates and early booking Mariner early booking bonus OBC . 😃

I think you probably did "spend" more from a Casino play perspective (slot points), if you were up and then played through those winnings. For example, on our last cruise we were given $100 free play and added $100 to it, so a start with $200. Over the week we were up and down through that $200 to get to 600 slot points and $0 cash. If we had really bad luck and just lost all that initial $200 without winning, we would have only got to 200 points. On our previous cruise when we reached the same 600 points (my target based on nothing) we were up by $350 .. so a negative "spend" to us on that one, but the play time and points at the Casino were the same as our last cruise 😃 Someone can correct me on that f I am wrong on that analysis as i've never just lost everything without winning (yet) thankfully.

There was a pianist on our Zaandam cruise last week as well as a piano/singing (like on person of Billboard), a guitar player/singer and a small band (mostly rock) for live music on that cruise rotating through longes in the evenings.

Related question - We have cruised 3 HAL free cabin offers, and on our last one (just last week) and for the first time we received a "Come back and play" offer delivered to our room before the end of the cruise. Unfortunately, it must be used within 30 days and good for cruises within the year, so pretty much no chance we can use it for us. Just wondering how common these are? Details: Ours was for $150 Freeplay, so no nothing huge but would have been a nice perk. We rolled just over 600 points in slots over a week as that is my typical goalpost to attempt to keep me on some magical list based on nothing .....😗

I assume this question is for me. In the last 12 months we have flown 6 return flights , 4 of which were cruises and none of those flights were late (beyond like 20 minutes or something that I would not remember). There have been many reschedules and we did have some VERY late luggage once though. We would also be upset if we miss a cruise, some more upsetting than others and this is taken into account as to whether we arrive early. We have had quite a number of holiday "disruptions" over the years for a variety of reasons. Heck one time we were disrupted for 2 years of holidays - lol, but we made it through them all. We fully anticipate and accept the fact that we will have more holiday disruptions with flights issues being just one of many components that can disrupt a holiday.

On our recent Canada/NE cruise, the walk was on the on the St Laurence seaway and we saw multiple whales (at least 3) which was an unexpected bonus for us on that cruise. We knew there were whales, but they never mention sightings or keeping an eye out for them, so didn't expect to see any. Another benefit from the Walk for a Cause. 🙃

We were on the follow up cruise, and the cushions were out for our cruise (the week before was cooler than our week). For our week (last week) there was a Comedian (main stage), a solo pianist performer, a piano/vocal performer, guitar/vocal performer and a small rock back rotating in the lounges , one BBC Earth show (stage), dance show(s?) (stage) and some trivia and games type shows (with passengers and/or crew) in the lounges. More than I expected for a small ship.

Risk assessment for a holiday has a very personal component in addition to the "what are the chances" analysis, i.e., how much of a hassle is it , extra cost, etc against how much will it impact me if I miss this particular cruise? if I miss the first port(s)? I'm not sure it is necessarily experience in cruising that is required to deem whether arriving day of is too risky (for me). My work career was as an electrical engineer and then as a project manager, so I like to think I have a pretty good handle on risk assessment, and we often choose to fly in day of a cruise.

I'm a "day-of-er" when it comes to pre cruise flights .. but would not be comfortable with that one. Quite a lot of potential extra delays in addition to potential flight delays - baggage claim, customs and transport to the port. Edit: are your flights through Fightease and is your second port in Italy? If yes, I'd reluctantly consider it 🤔

Thanks!

I don't think "happy hours" are ever off topic 🍹 Indeed they were - 4-5 in both Ocean and Crow's Nest and then 9-10 or 10-11 ? in Crows nest. In the Crow's nest at 4:00 it coincided with trivia - making it the most well-attended trivia I have ever witnessed. 😃

I agree. We were on the Zaandam last week had a great cruise and really enjoyed the ship. That being said - when I read the statement "My wife says next time "I want a newer ship" " I really don't think of the Zaandam. It's hard to imagine it feeling "newer" , although I have not been on the Oosterdam yet.