RuthC

If you otherwise like the HAL CFAR insurance, you can purchase medical/evacuation insurance separately to increase your medical coverage. The two coverages don't need to be bundled.

No. If you reach the 100 days aboard level on a given cruise, you should be awarded the copper medallion during that cruise. That is the way the medallion program has worked since the present medallion program began over 2 decades ago.

I have had my TA do it, and I have also done it online, but it was so long ago I don't remember how. I haven't booked online in years. Perhaps someone else will jump in with up to date info on that.

There are three fares, two of which are refundable. If you choose one of those fares you can cancel for full refund up until (usually) the day before final payment date. Some of the longer cruises have an earlier cancel by date. If you book using a non-refundable fare, you are normally out of luck. Another thing you can do is put a 'hold' on a cabin. That will last for a few days only. My experience has been one day, but I have read posts where some people have gotten 5-day holds.

A J-category on Main Deck, starboard side, as close as possible to the atrium. I've been in most of those cabins on all the Vista and Signature classes of ships. Those are the largest inside cabins on the ship, and larger than outside cabins. There is more open floor space than the Neptune Suites. Starboard side puts you further away from the bandstand in BB King's. Closer to the atrium is further away from the entertainment areas on the deck above.

Depends on which deck you are on. If on Main Deck, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. If any other J-category inside, you have my sympathies.

I would always choose the Zaandam over the Nieuw Statendam, or any other Pinnacle class ship. Bigger doesn't necessarily make something better! The Zaandam has everything I want or need in a ship, and offers it in a compact form. So much easier to get around! One can actually sit in a lounger on Lower Promenade and be mesmerized by the sea. Cabins are larger in a comparable category, and you can sit on the couch/love seat and watch television! Imagine that. You don't have to get into bed to catch a TV show, if you care to watch. The Zaandam may not have as much variety of entertainment as the Nieuw Statendam, but it does have what I am interested in seeing, so that's enough. Especially if the Zaandam had the preferred itinerary I would choose that ship, but all else being equal, I still would sail on the Zaandam while I still can.

I was already 4* (top star level at the time) when that recognition system was introduced. When the 5* category was introduced I was well past that level. I have no idea what age I was when either of those levels were introduced. I reached platinum level under the previous/simultaneous Mariner recognition plan a few years ago.

One thing to consider is if your ship is being fully resupplied for your cruise, and if there are likely to be any delays in beginning the restocking and boarding processes. On my recent cruise both were delayed until 1:30, and sailing was delayed to allow for restocking to be as completed as it was going to get. Unfortunately, that also meant that new stocks were not delivered to their intended venues and passengers that day (or night). There was no distilled water until the next day. Additional tip: if you are taking a longer cruise and will need another gallon, order enough in advance for the full cruise. I needed a second gallon during my cruise and wasn't able to get it as they had run out and there was none restocked anywhere along the itinerary.

No 'may be' about it; there is absolutely no 'formalness' in the main dining room. It hasn't been called 'formal' night in a long time; it was dropped to 'Gala' night. Now it has been dropped again to 'dressy' night. There will be (very) few people dressed formally, and a few more dressed up. On my recent cruise, which was a long one on which people usually do dress up, many people didn't even bother to change out of what they had been wearing all day. As to the menu on 'dressy' night, I find them good ones to avoid. Those are usually good nights to go to a specialty restaurant.

That's a Pinnacle class ship, so expect the insides to be very small. I have visited in one, and there wasn't a lot of room to move around, however the couple who were staying in it had no complaints.

As the classes of ships get newer, the sizes of cabins in comparable categories get smaller. If the ship you are considering has both 'inside' and 'large inside', go for the 'large'. Those cabins are quite comfortable. Handicapped cabins are larger than others in the same category, frequently by a lot. On the oldest ships, the R-class, the large inside cabins are 186 sq. ft., with a couple odd sized ones that are quite a bit larger. Vista and Signature class inside cabins tend to be smaller than on the R-class, except for those on Main Deck (and Main Deck only). Those cabins are huge. Insides on the Pinnacle ships are tiny. There is barely enough room to change your mind. Not knowing which ship you are considering makes it hard to be more helpful.

Yes, you allowed to carry it on board, if you are sure you want to lug a heavy gallon of water along with your carry-ons. I have never seen distilled water in anything except a plastic jug, and plastic is no longer allowed. However, should you decide to buy it on board it will come in a plastic jug! So, if given any grief about the plastic bottle you are bringing aboard, I would argue the point.

This is the story I heard from one of the entertainment staff when I was aboard the ship a year later. He was also on board for the Dutch Harbor incident.

I didn't have HIA nor the Signature Beverage Package on my recent cruise, and I didn't have to sign for my drinks, either. I didn't get a slip confirming my purchase, which I miss getting. I like to keep them to proof out my bill at the end of the cruise. Now I have to keep up with it almost daily.

There was on my cruise in August.

I have my ice bucket filled at both morning and evening cabin service. By the time I need cold, icy water (and lots of it) for morning and evening meds, the ice has melted enough to provide more than enough water to wash down about 10 pills. The water from the bathroom sink is also fine to drink. Add a few ice cubes and you get a nice cold glass of water. Remember: the ice that chills all those drinks on board is made from the same water that comes from the tap, or is served in the dining venues.

They are all what you refer to as 'big sales pitches'. Now, that doesn't mean some can't be good for you, if one is something of interest to you, or could be beneficial to you. For example, I went to one about acupuncture on a cruise and decided to try it. It helped me a LOT! I continued with it after I got home, until I could have surgery to relieve my pain. So, that presentation was worth it for me. If there is some gemstone you are interested in, or just like to see pretty jewelry, and have the time, sure---go to one of the jewelry talks. You don't have to buy, and the pressure isn't as great as it is when you try to take a stroll through the store.

Since you are traveling a long distance to get to Amsterdam, I would take the longest trip possible. At minimum, I would take the 14 days and do a back to back, or Collector's Cruise if offered that way. If you really only want to do one of them, then flip a coin. Both are great itineraries. I'm partial to Alesund and Bergen, but also love Oslo and Stavenger.

I've been all over Norway, and the rest of the north country, many times in various months. The weather can be as variable as possible. I have worn sundresses some days, and sweatshirts with a jacket over the next. One just cannot predict. The rain can be cold; the sun can be hot. Best to pack for both, and have plenty of layers to choose from. You can always sit by the Lido pool, as the roof can be opened/closed as needed. You may (or may not) need to bundle up around the aft pool, but the views can be worth it.

On the Zaandam (and her sister, the Volendam). There are cabins directly under the Lower Promenade Deck. People in those cabins may be sleeping, or napping, or just trying to relax quietly, and the running overhead definitely disturbs any of those activities. If the 'no running' rule isn't for noise as well as safety, it should be.

I disembarked the Nieuw Statendam when you did. My survey arrived early that same afternoon.

Yes, you need a smart phone to use Verifly. If you don't have one, bring the paperwork verifications of everything Verifly would normally contain.

Your first meal after boarding was a lunch. The people boarding on your last day would like the same courtesy. Last call to leave the ship normally happens sometime between 9:30 and 10:00 AM, which leaves little time for the ship to register a zero count, and the cabins thoroughly cleaned, before the next passengers are boarded.

If you send items out to be washed, they are also pressed. If you need pressing only, then you need to pay extra for the pressing package, but then you don't need the laundry package.