RuthC

3 hours ago, Ileneilene123 said:

(I cannot see onboard credits or our Club Orange purchase but HAL said there is no way to see this on the website at this point anyway).

If you have written confirmation of your onboard credits (I always receive a copy of this), and for your Club Orange purchase, why do you need to see it on the website? 

I always have a written copy of everything that's included in my booking, whether from the booking itself, or an add-on that I have purchased. That includes on-board credits, HIA inclusions, shore excursions I have purchased, specialty dinners, spa/salon purchases, and have never felt the need to see if they are listed on the website. 
It's the paperwork that matters, and is what is accepted as confirmation if something were ever to go wrong. 

3 minutes ago, TiogaCruiser said:

While I can’t say for sure, there was one very prominent member here with many, many cruises under his/her belt that made several comments (some 10+ years ago) that made it sound like they had “earned” it yet were not invited. This was before the PC was as widely known and before the star system.

I don't remember that, but I believe it happened. I did know one person who turned down the offer to join the group. Also, quite a few years ago. 

1 hour ago, cruisn71 said:

We have had cruises with late dining and late entertainment.  They usually do that on European itineraries since they tend to eat later.    I do prefer the 9:30 shows best.  9:00pm shows are too early s we rarely finish dinner before 9:00.

I haven't seen what I would call 'late' dining in a long time, and certainly not 'late' entertainment. Late dinner used to be at 8:15, now it is at 7:30. The late show was at 10:00, which gave a comfortable amount of time to come in from the day, shower and change for dinner, have some cocktail time, dine, and then see the show. The proper order to the end of the day! 

After the show there was still plenty of entertainment around the ship, including music and dancing in the Ocean Bar until 1:00 AM, and the Piano Bar closing as late as 2:00 AM (dropped to 1:00 AM shortly after I started closing that bar). Crow's Nest had music until at least 11:00, and then switched to disco for a couple of hours. 

I'm convinced HAL wants us all snuggled in our beds so the officers and crew can call it a night. 

1 hour ago, cruisn71 said:

If you have the late 7:30 seating, you go to the 6 pm show before dinner. 

Which defeats the purpose of choosing late dining. If you need to get to the show for 6:00 PM, then you still need to end your afternoon early, and come in to shower and dress for dinner. 

Then you are finished with dinner sometime around 9:00-ish, but much of the entertainment offered closes down not much later. 
It's as if HAL WANTS people to go to bed early so they can close down. 

Those of us who have been around HAL a while have met, or heard of, at least one passenger who is in the President's Club. 
I wonder how many people have the required number of nights aboard to qualify for this exclusive club, but never were invited to join? 

Anyone ever hear of that circumstance? I did once know one person who declined an invitation to join, but never heard of one who wasn't even asked. 

3 hours ago, Kay S said:

I have not heard that before.  I was under the impression the dress code was less formal than other lines.

In general, Oceania's dress code is not very dressy, however, people do tend to dress up to the code. They dress a lot better on a 'casual' scale than so many HAL passengers do. 

56 minutes ago, atexsix said:

The last couple of days have been tuff, I have had very little time to grieve, yesterday was taken up by an almost comic back and forth between the cemetery, funeral home, church, and relatives in order to agree on a date for the burial.  It would finally look like everything was going to work and I'd get an "oh, wait" out of somebody.  This went on for hours.  I finally picked what works for me, even if it meant disappointing someone.  I haven't had much of an appetite, every time I try I take 3 or 4 bites then push my plate away.  Nights are particularly lonesome, the last two I just sat in the dark reliving the events of the past week.  Still not sleeping much, but last night was a little better. 

All of this is normal. You are sailing in uncharted waters here, and it will take a while to get through this. 

Be kind to yourself, and take all the time you need before you start moving on. 

5 hours ago, Bostonjetset said:

I’ll be on the Volendam in June and can’t wait. I love the smaller ships. My first HAL ship was the Veendam and that size is great. However, looking at the deck plans it says the ocean view staterooms have a smaller square footage than the interior ones!  Is that correct?  Can anyone confirm that? I found it strange. We had an inside on Veendam and thought it was a great size but have an OV on Volendam

and expected it to be at least the same if not bigger. 

Cabin sizes on the Veendam and Volendam are the same in comparable categories. Identical. 

There are 'insides' and 'large' insides; the large insides are, well, larger! The large insides are normally 186 sq. ft., while the outsides on the Main and Dolphin Decks on the Volendam are 196 sq. ft. There are a few insides, not handicap accessible, that are larger still, but that isn't pertinent to your inquiry.
On the Lower Promenade Deck, yes, the outside cabins are smaller than the insides across the passageway. 

I've been in many inside cabins on many cruises, and a few outside cabins on all eight S- and R-class ships. I could unpack in any of them blindfolded! (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration)

7 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

I inquired with our PCC about the Voyage of the Vikings 35 day cruise out of Boston which shows as being offered on this standby program.  She said, after checking, that HAL has closed out this cruise and is no longer offering Standby for it.  It's strange that they do that since the cruise is far from sold out (albeit the current prices start at an eye-popping price of around $200PP/Day).

More likely is that there were one (or two---in any case, a small number of) cabins left, and a lot of guarantees to be placed. 
If so, then selling that one (or two) cabins would have the ship filled, and close off the cabins, as your PCC noted. 
The Standby bookings are in case someone has to forego the cruise at the last minute. It happens. 

Oh, Bruno, I am so sorry to read this news. He was so fortunate to have you, even to his last. I hope you can take comfort in knowing you did your best for him. 
May you both rest peacefully until you see each other again. 

7 hours ago, 1of4 said:

My husband really did listen!

He's a keeper! 

Your cabin is on the port side. At least on the Nieuw Statendam, the smoking area is on starboard. 
I don't see how smoke could both cross over the entire Sea View area, AND drop down one deck to your balcony. 

I was picturing the Pinnacle ships when I posted that, as that was the class of the last ship I was on. Of course, you're right---on other classes, musicians don't have to break for an entire set so as not to conflict with another group. 

However, all else you posted about the procedure in the Westerdam Billboard Onboard still keeps it from being a piano bar, which is certainly my preference. Even if HAL would reintroduce Piano Bars on the remaining R-class ships, that would work for me. And it would leave a choice for HAL patrons. 

12 hours ago, Kay S said:

Anybody have a favorite from the old productions shows? 

I was always especially fond of 'Encore', as the music and the costumes were both gorgeous! 
I only got to see it twice, but could have seen it more times, had it been offered. 

I used to love 'Copacabana', but that was around a while, and I know others got kind of sick of it. I didn't, but then I only saw it 2-3 times. 

16 hours ago, REOVA said:

I thought someone posted recently a solo piano player did a few sets and the last set was audience choice. 2 years ago on VoV there was only 1 pianist and when she got sick, Glenn Michael (who used to be a pianist on ships) sat in and did sing alongs and audience selections. But that was Zaandam and a unique situation. 

I remember Glenn Michael from a stint he did as the musician in the Piano Lounge (it was a lounge on that ship, as opposed to a Piano Bar). He was really, really good in that role. 

Over the years I have found the requests that some of the musicians have are less spontaneous than formerly, when there were real Piano Bars, and being limited to (usually) the end of the evening, a lot less fun. 
Then, of course, the musician has to know the songs requested! The people Seattle is hiring these days do not tend to have extensive repertoires. 

7 minutes ago, POA1 said:

However, the piano performance was a whole lot more like the former piano bars.

That's good to hear. However, I am willing to bet that the revamped Billboard Onboard is still doing only sets, with breaks the length of sets in Rolling Stone Rock Room, and that those sets are mainly comprised of songs approved by Seattle. 
That's still not a Piano Bar. 

I would love for HAL to return to those intimate rooms of yore, where the musician took his cues from the passengers who were there all night, every night. 

A step in the right direction! The former production shows were so much better than the One Step Dance Company that replaced them. 

Now, if HAL can only return classical music and bring back Piano Bars! That would be wonderful. 

I wouldn't plan on it at all. 

First, the 7:00 AM time is more likely arrival time. The ship still needs to be cleared. The self-disembarking passengers usually leave around 7:30 +/- 15 minutes. 
Second, the ride up to Anchorage is at least an hour, depending on traffic. If there's an accident, add in a LOT of time. 
Third, you would need to check in at the tour company, which will also take a little time. 

I would either stay over an extra day, or plan on doing something else. 

2 minutes ago, Cruising Is Bliss said:

LOL wow Ruth you're fast 🙂

Right place at the right time?

A 7-night cruise should have 2 'dressy' nights. 

You can order as many dishes as you want. But please, if you order them, eat them (unless they are not fit to eat). 

18 hours ago, POA1 said:

One of the things I've always admired about Holland America's ships is that they have art that celebrates their heritage. There are a number of nicely detailed Rotterdam models located around the ship.

 

These two are located in the deck 7 forward and midship elevator areas.

 

As residents of Schubert Deck (7), we saw these two models quite often.

 

Despite passing these ships many times a day, we never saw any tiny people in the little pools

 

 

This is the largest of the Rotterdam models that I came across. It is located in the Crow's Nest area. (The area is currently labeled as "explorations central & cafe" except they omit the acute diacritical on the e in café. (Perhaps it's a nod to e. e. cummings.)

 

I will probably go to the grave calling this the Crow's Nest. After all, why call it explorations central? It's forward, and on a high deck. Nothing central about it.

 

In addition to the ship models, there are a number of paintings of former Rotterdams.

 

The ship's bell from the Rotterdam VI is also on display in the Crow's Nest. The current Rotterdam is the Rotterdam VI.

 

 

Quick correction on your typo (if you don't mind): The current Rotterdam is Rotterdam VII.
(I know my Rotterdam's going back to Rotterdam V) 

11 minutes ago, jmbstudios said:

 

Yes, I will be putting him in a wheel chair to get him situated on the ship.  I believe my mom has already requested one to be at the ready.

Problem solved. They each get a helper! 

There are coffee makers in the Neptune and Pinnacle suites. 
The rest of us either go to the Lido (which is open 24/7), or call for room service. 

12 minutes ago, jmbstudios said:

As far as priority boarding, we will be helping with my dad and getting him on the ship as best we can.    We just want to make sure they will allow this.  Not looking for a free ride.

Does your father need a wheelchair to board? Would it help him with standing, and sometimes a long walk? 
If so, he can bring an attendant along to assist him. As in you. 

I've never done what you propose in Amsterdam, but I have done it in several other cities. 
The big difference is that I have stayed near the airport, so getting back there was relatively easy. In Amsterdam, however, you are quite a ride away; I expect you would rather stay in Amsterdam itself, and be a tourist for those two days. 

The mechanics of returning to the airport are fairly easy. You let HAL think you are arriving that morning, giving your flight number and time, just two days after you actually did arrive. 
Your taxi will drop you off at departures, and you will have to make your way to arrivals to meet up with the HAL reps. 

If I were in Amsterdam, sailing from Rotterdam, I would find it easier to hire a car to drive me. Less moving from one transportation to another, and less time needed to accomplish the goal.