RuthC

The liquid soap dripped onto the towels/bathmat on the rod directly under it. I moved them to the side a little, so then it dripped on the floor---making a mess if you stepped in it. The lotion placed next to the sink can't be used when sitting on the bed, tending to details following a shower. Small bottles were so much better.

The set-up at the Sea View Bar will vary depending on the class of ship, but all have a smoking area (not the entire outdoors of the Lido aft), at least some of which will be under cover. There will be tables and chairs where one can eat, just like in the non-smoking area. On the Nieuw Statendam, and I am guessing the other Pinnacle class ships, there are padded chairs with side tables. Very nice there.

Of course. However, in recent years HAL has downgraded the dress code from Formal to Gala, and now 'dressy'. Although full formal dress can be seen, you really have to look for it. Many people don't even seem to be able to reach the level of 'dressy'. On my recent cruise there were people who didn't bother to change out of their daywear.

The Westerdam was running this as a test, presumably to see what the traffic would bear. IIRC, there is no extra charge for a second appetizer on the other ship.

I've sailed on most of the HAL ships, in every ship class, and can't think of one ship where you are required to go through the casino to get to the theatre. Sometimes you might have to go in the theatre on a different deck than your preference, or use the forward elevator, but that's not the same as being necessary. What ship are you looking at booking? I want to check the deck plans.

Wrong! I am not a smoker, and have not been for decades. I just believe in trying to be fair to all. I can avoid a small area of the ship (if I choose) if it allows others to have a place to enjoy themselves.

Your cruise went up because you moved to a more expensive area of the ship. Whether your cabin has a tub or shower only has nothing to do with it. It's location that makes the difference.

Holland America has a bad habit of using the same term for two different things. Often it's necessary to determine what someone is talking about from the entire context of the post.

Smokers have one small area on one very large ship. Hardly 'more privilege' by any standard.

You're not required to go there if the odor will bother you. You know where the smoking section is, so it should be very easy to avoid it.

It looks to me that it will be your choice every night. I believe that cabin is just outside the BB King range of influence.

I hope you are successful getting the shower only cabin. In case you are not, it may be helpful to know that the sides of the tub are about the same height as the usual tub in a home, and that there are grab bars getting into/out of the tub. Showers have grab bars, too.

Good point about the noise coming down from BB King's on some port side cabins! There are a few cabins very close to the atrium that are fine, as well as many others more forward; about 3-5 to stay away from to avoid BB King's sound. Unless you like to stay out late, of course! Don't be fooled that since the entrance to that lounge is on starboard, you should avoid that side. It doesn't work that way. The entrance may be on starboard, but the bandstand is on port side.

Yes, there are some super large I-cat cabins on the Vista and Signature ships; a friend was in one once. They are ever-so-slightly larger than the J- and K-cabins on Main Deck. The large I-cabins are on one particular deck; I just don't remember which deck he was on that cruise. One thing I have done on cruises is take a tour around some of the decks to look inside some cabins when the stewards have the doors open for cleaning. Sometimes you can get a really good idea of where you do (or don't) want to book next time.

The J- and K-category cabins on Main Deck are huge. Yes, they have a couch which comfortably seats 2 people; can probably seat three if they don't sprawl. There is a/are some I-category cabins that are as you describe, but I don't know which one(s) they may be.

No harm in trying! $250 OBC is nothing to sneeze it. Hope it can be processed in time. Perhaps you can put an alert at the top of the submittal, and plead for mercy that someone bumps it to the top.

No! Please don't do that just because someone wants to take the fun out of getting and wearing a medallion! Don't let anyone steal your joy.

When was that? Perhaps my memory is failing (no 'perhaps' about it; my memory is failing), but I simply don't remember that being a standard practice. I certainly don't remember (memory isn't failing THAT badly) wearing my medallion for embarkation or days other than the Mariners' Reception. Would it have been before I started sailing HAL regularly?

Is there an Explorers Lounge shown on the deck plans? That was always the venue for the classical performances on ships before the Lincoln Center affiliation.

Most of the ships in the fleet are mentioned in this overview. If you feel the ones that are missing should be added, please, feel free to do a comprehensive description as Doug did. It would be helpful.

Agreed, based on my experience on all four S-class and all 4 R-class ships. That includes one of them after the conversion to Lanai, when the desk became remarkably smaller.

I agree with regnig that connecting doors shouldn't be a problem. I have been on more than a few cabins with connecting doors and only heard it once---when the person next door was having a screaming meltdown. The immediate area could hear that, though, so it wasn't the doors that were the problem. But you won't necessarily have an SZ cabin, remember. You haven't been assigned a cabin yet, and the SZ cabins are only 2 possibilities out of a good deal more cabins. SZ is the default category for a guarantee Signature cabin.

Since you are on starboard side, you should be good. I have been in the next cabin aft (on one or the other ship in the same or similar class), and it was fine. Not so far forward that the piano duet should be heard, and on the opposite side from BB King's. Actually, I have been in several cabins up and down that entire passageway on all the Vista and Signature ships, and never heard a thing.

Inability to get late dining may have had as much to do with short staffing as anything. Also, if there were more Europeans on the cruise (considering the area), then they tend to dine later. In general, there are fewer diners at main/late seating the last several years. There was a time late seating was full every cruise.

I don't take bets I can't possibly win. 😉