madera1

Good morning from central CA. My DH and I will be joining you in 13days and can’t wait. We have sailed once before on the Konningsdam and you just have to get used to the longer walks on board. Our favorite ships were the Prinsendam and Masdam. We just recourse boarding assignment for the 29th. We are in group D and are 4 star mariners but friends who have never been on HAL and are also in verandas board in group B. Not sure how they determine these times. Well hope your boarding goes smoothly and look forward to meeting you. Bon Voyage

Just read your reports as haven’t been on the internet much last week while in Cabo on vacation. Your photos are wonderful. So sorry about your injury and other family issues that have complicated your trip but glad you have trooped ahead. Glad that HAL helped you arrange the distribution of your husband’s ashes at sea.Enjoy the remaining days at sea. Looking forward to meeting you on the Konningsdam.

We will be on the Konningsdam next month and are hoping for an updated policy before then.

I read in another thread that someone reported that HAL was changing its drink policy on Nov 1 fleet wide to allow someone to just pay the difference in cost for the drink. I was hoping that someone currently on a ship and can report if this is in face the case. We are taking our next cruise the end of December.

We attended the wine tasting before dinner a couple of times during our transatlantic crossing on the Marina. Our next O cruise will be on the smaller Regatta so not sure if it will offer this feature.

When our children were elementary school age we took them on several cruises sharing one cabin. That was 30 years ago and our daughters still recall the good times. They both now continue to enjoy cruising.

We also discovered this new feature on our June cruise on the Oosterdam. I happened to go in one late afternoon and saw others getting drinks. I asked the concierge and he told me that they were offering the beverages for free. There was no written notice and I think others were probably unaware that they could get drinks at the lounge.

Aft balconies are our favorite. On a few special occasions we have booked the corner wrap around balcony cabins! We loved these and if money was no object I would stay in one of these cabins every cruise. The views are amazing and we have little wind issues. The size of the balcony allows plenty of solace and seating to host friends!

Clay thank you so much for your reports from the Konningsdam. It looks like a fabulous cruise. I never read of your thoughts about eating at the Tamarind. We have only eaten there once but enjoyed it. Love all your photos!

Glad the the passengers returned to the ship today.

Contact caboground services. Ubiel villa is a great driver.

Please add madera1 to the following: 9 night Mexico on Konningsdam 12/29/22-1/7/23 Zuiderdam 10;day Atlantic cruise 9/30/23 Thank you

Same here!

I received a new offer yesterday and the list of sailings is different from the offer I received last week. The latest offer no longer lists the Konningsdam New Years cruise so happy that I booked it last weekend!

When we booked our holiday sailing this week we were able to move from an inside room to a verandah by just asking. It was an additional cost of $700pp for a 9 night cruise.

I gambled about $20 at casino over last 11 years. This summer played bingo once. We too are 4 star but have no idea why I get these offers. My 101 yr old mom gets them too but none for my husband.

Does anyone know whether Holland America still offers an option to have your luggage taken directly to airport and checked in for you when leaving from San Diego, CA? I recall having this option out of Seattle.

We were able to add the Have it All promo to this offer today.

Hmm… Would you mind direct messaging me? dpspoiler@gmail.com…I would like to get the Have it all added if possible.

i just went through Big Box company and was able to book the 12/29 9 night Mexico cruise with the free inside stateroom but upgraded to guarantee balcony. They said it could not be combined with the Have it All but said if someone else got it perhaps could tell Holland Agent. Got the room for $1878 for 2 persons.

Did you go through a travel agent?

We used emed several times with no problems. Our daughters also used emed while at a hotel in Europe.

Hoping you were able to obtain your tear and are on the ship.

Enjoying your descriptions and taking notes as we have a Sept 2023 Atlantic coast cruise booked and will be stopping at some of these ports.

We used ours both in CA and while on a hotel in Venice. We had no issues.