falcon10156

Alaska cruises are out. Land and sea not yet but soon.

Koningsdam Nov 9, 2016 - 4 night Bahamas followed by B2b on the Koningsdam Nov 13, 2916 - 10 night Southern Caribbean

For those of you who have sailed on the Veendam, is it worth paying $400 dollars more to go from an E oceanview on lower promenade deck to a CA Lanai room? I know many of you don't like the lanais as people tend to use the designated chairs outside, but I do like the idea of the convenience. It is for a 13 day cruise. I am right next door to a CA Lanai now and the door outside is only a short distance away. Thanks for any input.

Yes it is a great room. We never had anyone use our chairs but once. He didn't stay long and we didn't need them. The person in the room beside always used theirs and when someone else Sat on them they asked them to move. No issues. It is nice to have access outside from your own but it depends on the itinerary. We did it in Antarctica. I would book smother one without hesitation.

ss Veracruz was my first cruise as well - 1983. - Unfortunately, I was not able to cruise again until 2010, but I am hoping to make up time :)

Cruising sure has changed and I also remember winning dimes in the slot machine. :)

I have heard that on this thread, but I don't recall ever hearing about it when I was sailing on other Carnival lines. How do you learn about it apart from this thread? :o

I have sailed all but Celebrity of the ones I listed. The daily programs all mention about seeing the Future Cruise Consultant on board.

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Hi I'm sure I read somewhere that you can convert your mini bar to coffee cards?

 

If this is correct would someone be so kind as to tell me how I go about doing this?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Simon.

We replaced it with soda cans and bottled water.

It was great.

Thanks for the information. Although I am new to Princess, I am not new to CCL having sailed with both Carnival and HAL. I have obtained the OBC for my upcoming Panama Canal transit cruise. That is the only thing that makes the stock worth owning IMHO. The Future Cruise Credit is something that only Princess has though. It is a great deal. Sort of like giving Princess a loan and getting it back with fun instead of interest.

All mainline cruise lines (HAL, Princess, Carnival, Cunard, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity to name a few) have some form of FCC/FCD.

Did you book and get OBC direct or through a travel agent - Just wondering if on my upcoming Princess cruise through a TA if I should try to get them to get me the credit or fax the info directly to Princess or both (that might be too confusing for even the sharpest ones there).

You can book through a TA to get the OBC. We have got it on Holland America, Carnival and Princess (all with 100 Carnival shares) all booked through a Travel Agent. We just fax in the share certificate prior to sailing.

Thanks for the information I'm booked on the June 4th 2015 cruise. I found your overview very helpful.

Debbie

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I love the Prinsendam. I have been on her twice and can't wait to sail on her again. IMO she is worth the additional price.

Debnie

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I got it looked into. Glad we have forums like this.

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I've heard that a charge in the amount of $25 will be applied to the onboard account for anyone who 'borrows' a HAL power strip/bar, & then it will be credited to the same account upon being returned to the Front Desk/Office at the completion of the cruise. Did this procedure/protocol apply in your experience? :confused:

No but if we didn't leave it or return it, I am sure we would hate been charged. If it did I didn't notice. I will be on the Volendam in a couple of weeks I'll let you know.

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Those might be the only 'real' suites and certainly the only ones with access to the Neptune Lounge (caveat - HAL can call them suites - some of us do not - the only ones that are close to it are on the Prinsendam).

 

All that aside, Seattle has given correct info for the Neptune Suites but not info on the double mariner credit for the others. Suites qualify. any room with the name Suite gets the double credit. They might not be 'real suites' as per the converstation you had - but whether they are real suites or not, they do get the credit. So Signature Suites get the double mariner points and on the smaller ships the Vista (Verandah) Suites do as well.

I booked in signature suite in July and was not given double points for it. When I checked I was advised that signature suites don't qualify. I am booked now in the same and again told I do not qualify. I talked to three different people one in mariner and was told that only Neptune Suites or higher count. I guess I have to call back a forth time.

If I did I would be 4 star now. Must check again.

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We were in a Signature Suite on Prinsendam, and I'm about 90% sure we got double days. I was trying to check in my account with HAL, but couldn't log on.

Only rooms that have access to Neptune lounge are considered real suites and get double day credits as per Holland when I called them on Thursday. I have always purchased either Vista or signature suite and no bonus suite days only bonus for purchases.

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I've never taken power strip, I just asked on board for one at the front desk and have got one on each and every cruise with HAL ( and Princess).

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I have stayed in Vista and Signature suites - no suite bonus. Only Neptune Suites and Pinnacle Suites get bonus days. In other words, those that pay and do not take upgrade or up sell for the suites that have access to Neptune lounge will be the only ones that get the suite bonus.

I just confirmed this with HAD for my upcoming sailing in April. (Also did not qualify on Prinsendam in July)

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There may be 'issues' related to the two loungers reserved outside of and for each lanai stateroom such that, apparantly, there may be persons who will 'occupy' the reserved loungers and 'may' have to be asked to relocate, presumeably without argument! ;) Also, there may be issues with smokers, who are occupying the lanai staterooms as the Promenade Deck outside their lanai staterooms would be, technically, considered their 'balcony' so to speak, where, of course, HAL still, unfortunately, permits smoking; (although, supposedly, smoking is no longer allowed on the Promenade Decks)! Go figure! :rolleyes:

I was advised that it is not considered a balcony and smoking is not allowed on that deck.

The reserved seats were marked and we never had an issue on our sailing. The staff would help if the person did not move if someone was sitting in your chair I suppose. There are other chairs not reserved on the same deck spread put in between some of the reserved ones. We never had anyone sit in our chairs.

I would stay in a Lanai again.

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Never having sailed on HAL, I have a couple of questions about the Lanai cabins:

1. Can passengers on the Promenade Deck look in? Would I have to keep my drapes closed for privacy?

2. Can the sliding glass door be locked from the outside? In other words, if I were sailing in a Lanai cabin, could I go out my door, lock it, and then go walking around the ship?

They can look in but it is hard for them to see anything. I used to laugh when I was in my room and people came by and used our door as a mirror.

You get a separate room card (one for each person) for the lanai door. You can go out and you need the card to get back in.

I was in a lanai on my Antarctica sailing on the Veendam.

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I wanted to send you all a big thank you to all of you!

I have just made a reservation for this summer.

I have another question about the checkin online. It says that it will block 660$ in my credit card for each passenger. Do you now if they make the block now or near the sailing date? I'd rather not have so much money tied up for more than 6 months.

Thanks another time!

They do that when you get on board.

Debbie

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The Bread pudding is a must try. :)

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1. I usually tip room service a little bit but always have it ready as they do not wait for or expect it.

2. Coffee at the specialty coffee shop (rather specialty coffee or not) has a charge. You should get coffee in the lido (or room service) if you do not want to be charged.

3. All afternoon teas are casual. They usually have a Dutch Tea and an Indonesian tea. Both are great.

Debbie

Im doing Japan to Vancouver in April. I can let you know how that goes.

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Neptune verandah is nice. We just got off the Prinsendam in July in Neptune suite. Smoking was not allowed on the balcony of the Lounge.

There was a smoking area on the lido deck just outside the entrance to the Neptune Suites.

Debbie

In St Malo we went to the Mont St Michel and than on to Dinan, a beautiful Brittany town were we ate mussels and crepes, yum. We used Westcapades.

 

As to the ship, we love the size, the ship is unique in many ways from the walk in closets to the different rooms. We also find a little different breed of cruiser aboard. Lots of very experienced cruisers with 100's of days on HAL. The cruisers are very friendly and due to small number you really get to start up friendships. The crew also appears a notch above other cruises, again probably part a size of ship issue. Now she is a little long in tooth and you see that in many places, that's not an issue for us but probably is for some.

I love the Prinsendam. Size, staff and staterooms are topnotch. Nice that it gets into ports some of the big ships can't as well.

We sailed the Jan 6, 2012 sailing. There were several kids and a couple of teens on board. The HAL childrens progamme was in full swing on the Veendam when we went although only a few kids but they did have a few staff.

Kids seemed to have a great time. Itinerary is awesome and a great opportunity for your kids. If they have travelled alot they will be fine. There is nothing like seeing penguins in the wild swimming beside your ship or whales breeching or seals "suntanning".

I would recommend it.

Debbie