oakridger

Hi guys! Glad to see you covering the cruises since I was there too! I loved the Pacific Club (?) room up on top of the hotel. Best views and good service. I stayed there last in 2018 but tried the Fairmont Waterside across the street in September. It was very nice and great service but the views from the room and club room couldn’t compare with the Pan Pacific views!! PP is cheaper too. I’ll go there next time. ~ Nancy

I’m on Rotterdam now and the club orange dining room looks nice.

Sweet deal Dave!! It’s a matter of doing the math. When I got my HIA cruises this fall it worked out to me paying extra about $50/day. That included crew appreciation, beverage package, WiFi, one specialty restaurant per week(approximately -3on a 24 day cruise) and $300 excursion credit! The beverage package alone is ~$50 per day! If you don’t want any of that then it’s not a good deal but I want the beverage package, crew appreciations and WiFi for sure. Dinners were good. Didn’t end up doing any excursions but that was for a non related reason. ~Nancy

Details are on the HAL website too.

I suggest searching here on the HAL forum. There are many recent threads discussing it.

If you book on board you should get some OBC added. You can transfer it to your travel agent if you wish after booking within HALs timeframe. I forgot how long that is. They can tell you. Have fun! ~Nancy

Tim, I'm happy to be reading your posts about New Zealand because I am definitely planning on going back! You have already given me some good ideas on places to visit there. Unfortunately, on my cruise there in 2019 I wasn't feeling well for most of the ports then a bad storm kept us out of the Fiordland Park and Dusky Sound. I decided that I need to return! ~Nancy

That's a nice sunrise picture Roy! ~Nancy

There are types of sushi that use cooked fish. Two I like are California roll (crab, avocado and cucumber) and shrimp tempura roll. I think there are others too but I don't remember.

Yep they changed it mid-stream this year. I'm having trouble getting into the website at the moment, but the Elite package still says unlimited (which it didn't a couple of month ago) You can upgrade once on board with a bartender/supervisor but BEFORE you use your Signature package. Several posts on CC talk about this. Have a look in search if you can. ~Nancvy

I’ll have to switch over to my laptop to do that. Will get back in a while.

Yes, it’s changed. 15 drinks total. Not unlimited non alcoholic drinks. It’s on HAL site.

I’m in Rotterdam and before that Nieuw Amsterdam. I often order two diet cokes or two beers. No problem. ~Nancy

Tamarind's filet is the best steak I've had on a HAL ship! ~Nancy

Thanks again for your help @hallasm! I plan on trying to do this when I book a coastal voyage.....maybe 2024. Going to Norway for a cruise and land trip in 2020 was one of my cancelled trips. I was so sad, but I plan to try again! Last time I was in Norway was 2005 and Hurtigruten has changed a lot since then. ~Nancy

Rotterdam has shown several NFL games on the lido pool screen. Some were also on the stateroom tvs. I’m onboard now. ~Nancy

@*Miss G*I realized that as soon as I pushed send but couldn't correct it fast enough!! Thanks! ~Nancy

Mariner Society | Holland America

On Rotterdam they put the dollar credits for the cancelled excursion back into your HIA excursion balance automatically. You could then book something else later if you want.

Thanks to Jenny, Shadd and all for letting us know the firsthand story! Wow! 15 minutes later and it would have been too dark. It was very scary to watch. I am in 5160 port side. Excellent work to all of you. A story you can be proud to be a part of! ~Nancy

We are missing Sint Maarten which was to be on Sunday. We will go straight to Barbados on Monday. 🤞

As long as it's not under/over a noisy location....check the deck plans.

I don't keep copies of menus but will say other than the ones listed above there have been other types of fish, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, various pasta, lamb, vegetarian choice and some location specific items such as jerk chicken or other Caribbean style dishes. Dressy nights have not had included lobster at all as others have recently reported. I do feel the MDR menus generally don't have as high-end ingredients as pre covid. The Lido Buffet seems to have upped its game though! (My subjective impression!) Especially on the Rotterdam compared to Nieuw Amsterdam. @rafinmd is currently onboard Eurodam and blogging a live from. He posts the menus on his blog. ~Nancy

No. I got off in Ft Lauderdale for 5 days after the Panama Canal and have been on Rotterdam since October 30th.

Sorry to say that's not true anymore. They will charge for any bottle being brought on no matter where you drink it. Some say they have not been charged but that's not what the website states. Frequently Asked Cruise Questions - Know Before You Go (hollandamerica.com) "Revised Policy effective June 1st, 2021 Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages on board for consumption or any other use except as follows: Guests may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less). Limitations apply. Wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused. Wine purchased during company-sponsored shore excursions that visit local wineries are exempt from the on-board corkage fee (offer limited to one bottle of wine per person)." And it goes on from there. ~Nancy