oakridger

@lakedweller64 That's fantastic! Thank you so much for letting us know that HAL corrected their mistake. Have a great trip! ~Nancy

Both beverage packages do include coca cola drinks in cans such as Diet Coke, Coke Zero, and I believe Caffeine Free Coke. The "Freestyle" machine with all the varied flavors is only on the Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam. The machine requires a special cup to be able to dispense. From Ocean Bar menu: ~Nancy

They sell some other waters listed on the Ocean Bar menu below provided by @Crew News. Do they work? You can't drink tap water? That's all I drink on board. Ocean-Bar-Menu.pdf (rogerjett-photography.com) ~Nancy

It's a beautiful sunset in Ft. Lauderdale today! 🌞 ~Nancy

I think @Haljo1935 may still be sleeping after her nasty flight ordeal!! If so, she deserves all the sleep she can get!! 😁 ~Nancy

No, I don't add extra tip for each drink, and guess what, I have always received excellent bar service on all my HAL cruises without upfront incentives!! I hate the receipts and have expressed my opinion to HAL several times since they started issuing them again last fall. I can't imagine how much extra time it takes to keep track of them all, if in fact they really do so! On a $10 drink I'm already paying $1.80 in tips. For a waiter to hand me a bottle of beer, I figure $1.40 is an adequate tip for the effort expended. I always have a favorite bartender/server...or two/three....at the end of the cruise I give them a nice cash gratuity. I'm saying this as a former bartender/waitress! Clearly, everyone has their own way of doing things. Cheers!! ~Nancy

@Heartfelttraveler Thank you for letting us know what is happening on Maud. I hope you and all aboard have safe travel to Germany then home. What a traumatic experience for everyone! You sound like you are in good spirits in spite of the problems. Take care of yourself, ~Nancy

I'll be reading every day! Sounds just fantastic! Thank you! ~Nancy

Gratuities are already included in the HIA beverage packages. You aren't required to pay any more unless you purchase something outside of or above the $15 maximum. If you get a drink higher than $15 you only pay the price difference plus 18% gratuity on the difference. Yes, sodas and specialty coffees in the MDR and at bars are included in the package. (room service and mini bar drinks are not included in your package) No limit per day of non alcoholic drinks with the Elite package. Have fun! ~Nancy

@POA1 Thanks for the menus but I know for sure that the Half Moon Bar prices are not current even with the other menus. (beers for example). Also a glass of Veuve Clicquot is listed as $18 but all the new menu's I've seen since last summer raised it to $28!!! I know this because I ordered it in November 2022 at $18 and was shocked to see that it's now $28!! Anyway, nothing seems to be clear or consistent at the moment. I do really feel that the packages will cover what most people usually drink. 😐 ~Nancy

As we have been discussing on a couple of the other current threads, "In the Past" when the drink prices for standard type drinks increased over the Beverage Package upper limit, HAL also raised the upper limit for the packages so most drinks such as martinis, margaritas, rum and cokes, etc. were within the Signature Beverage Package. As @kazu stated in another thread today, she thinks that this is what will happen also. If HAL does not raise the package upper limit, then I will be really angry!!! That said, the package limits and prices should occur at the same time, NOT raise the limit after the drink prices go up and current cruisers are caught in the middle!! Hopefully this gets straightened out ASAP!! ~Nancy

Are you at DFW? Decided to stay overnight?

Try and get some rest if possible.....you're doing a good job of keeping your eye on the prize of your cruise. Kudos for the positive attitude during a sucky situation. ~Nancy

Oh Crap! I'm so sorry. No other flight options tonight I take it? Do you have to get a hotel tonight? Good luck and please keep us posted on how it goes. Damn!!!! ~Nancy

It's possible that was written before Starlink was installed? Real life recent experience by the posters above say you can use WiFi calling for FaceTime and Facebook Messenger video chat, so I believe that's the most up to date info! HAL isn't known to be great at proofreading and keeping current their website.

@canadianbear Thank you so much for not video chatting out in public areas!! I have gotten pretty annoyed by people having extended FaceTime calls right next to me in public places. I really don't want to hear how their cat back at home vomited on the living room floor or that Little grandson Jimmy got an A in math class. 🙄 ~Nancy

@canadarocks Only two internet options now. Basic and Premium. Basic will let you FaceTime on Wi-Fi calling but no streaming of other types of videos such as YouTube. HIA has Basic Internet unless you have the HIA Early Booking Bonus which gives you the Premium Internet (among other things). ~Nancy

In my opinion, the Pinnacle Class SS would only be my choice if I was traveling with a child or adult who needs the extra privacy afforded by the separate vanity area where the single murphy bed is. Otherwise, the wall in the room cuts off the size of the main bedroom. The big shower is a plusll! Some people like them though, so check the pictures and layout and decide for yourself! 🙂 Signature Class Signature Class Cabin on halfacts.com contributed by Cruise Critic member ‘Mr and Mrs CIQ’. Photos taken in September 2017: 6090 – Eurodam | HAL Cruiser Information (halfacts.com) Pinnacle Class Signature Suite Cabin on halfacts.com provided by Cruise Critic member ‘Macaroon’. Photos taken in May 2023.: 7103 – Rotterdam | HAL Cruiser Information (halfacts.com)

As the others have mentioned, the Signature Suites on Pinnacle Class ships have a different, and in my opinion, inferior, layout and the balconies are smaller. Have a look at the picture on Halfacts.com to compare: Pinnacle Class veranda from Post #23 from @HappyInVan: Signature Class veranda from Kindly contributed to Halfacts.com by Cruise Critic member ‘VermeulT’. Photos taken in December 2016.

I sure hope you didn't lose anything from the bag! I can't imagine what had to be done to it to rip it to shreds like that!! Anyway, welcome back and now you can start preparing for the redo portion!! I just love your posts and blog. Thank you! ~Nancy

I guess we'll soon find out! ~Nancy

In the past, if I'm remembering correctly, when the drink prices were raised then the Beverage Package limits were raised as well to cover the standard drinks. Remember a few years ago the packages went from $9 max drinks to $11 when the drinks prices went up. ~Nancy

@crystalspin Koningsdam is mentioned in the thread title. ~Nancy

@bundtkate here is the discussion on December 11, 2023 about cabana opening times.... ~Nancy