Augie's mom

I often book my excursions the night before on the ship as I can't make decisions. I ask which is a near sell out and then book it.

 

The first to sell out is the flight and marine excursions.

 

There is one excursion you want to book early when it's first available. If the ship makes a Tracy Arm and Juneau stop the same day.... check if this excursion is running. It will be the first excursion to sell out and you must act fast if it's important for you.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-destinations/ExcursionDetails.action?excursionCode=100030935

Checked and unfortunately this excursion isn't offered on our cruise,but I've made note,as I may get back there,or if they open it up.

Thanks

Terri

I often book my excursions the night before on the ship as I can't make decisions. I ask which is a near sell out and then book it.

 

The first to sell out is the flight and marine excursions.

 

There is one excursion you want to book early when it's first available. If the ship makes a Tracy Arm and Juneau stop the same day.... check if this excursion is running. It will be the first excursion to sell out and you must act fast if it's important for you.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-destinations/ExcursionDetails.action?excursionCode=100030935

Thanks so much, in Europe we did a lot of non ship excursions, and had no problems, we did plan early enough on those, but since Alaska looks like a hot ticket this year, with HAL having at least one of the European ships being sent over for Alaskan cruises thought I should find out info. I will look at this excursion and appreciate the link.

All the best

Terri

Thanks for the information , will start making a list of the ones we may want to book early.

Terri

We are traveling in July on 14 day Amsterdam cruise. How early do the ships excursions sell out? Can we wait to buy on the ship? Also if you did private excursions was early buying needed? Any info would be helpful fist time doing an Alaskan cruise.

thanks

Terri, aka Augie'smom

I know when you book on board you get double the obc, for booking then. If the obc for booking when you get home and book within the specified time in welcome back email,is 100 dollars booking on line is usually 200. I would call Hal, and see what they say. If you loose half the obc,but pick up hotel charges credit,might be worth it. Then transfer to that Big Box Store,starting with C,and get obc from them

A few years ago I had a bad cabin on the Oosterdam too:

Thanks,I have noted your cabin warning.

Oh gosh.....as much as I enjoy the BB King group I find them very loud and sit in the hallway to listen to them-I would hate to have had your room too....and for your PCC to recommend it, ugh. Guess she/he didn't know?

 

I do make a point of checking the deck plans to see what is below/above and around me before I pick a cabin. Thanks for sharing the reminder to always do that and sorry for the noise you experienced during the evening in your cabin.

I hope you managed to still have an enjoyable time most of your cruise.

The ports and the rest of the cruise was outstanding. We took this one because of the ports, and they didn't disappoint us in the least. It was The Adriatic Dream Rome to Venice (12 days visiting Italy, Greece, Croatia and Montenegro) If you get a chance to visit Montenegro go for it, absolutely lovely port.

Augie's mom

Yes the credit did cover the extra cost, but it still is something they should think about changing, use that as a storage area, not passenger cabins, I think it was poor planning they could have an area not used for loud music venues over passenger cabins.

Augie's mom

"Extra money" from what starting point? It's the same price as all the other, much smaller, J-cabins elsewhere on the ship.

 

Not saying it's a good cabin, if only because of the lounge above, but there's only about 3-5 of them that are badly impacted. For people who like to stay out at night, and maybe go to enjoy BB King, they could be considered perfect cabins.

Ruth I agree if we weren't looking to get up early, and didn't mind the boom boom boom overhead, fine, but since we when we booked paid the extra to have this cabin over a guarantee or smaller cabin, I was disappointed in the expertise of the PCC, who boasted about her many years working for HAL. It is definitely buyer beware , and I have to say other than that we loved the cruise and the wonderful ports. We will be savvier next time picking a room.

Augie's mom

A few cruise lines would call that a "Night Owl" cabin and sell it at a discount. On the other hand, we are talking about HAL where a Night Owl is probably anyone who stays up past 9pm :). But seriously, I believe that the BB King group does their last set at 10:15 and normally ends around 11. If we had that cabin we would not even realize there was a noise problem since we seldom head to our cabin until 11:30 - 12. But on HAL it is truly an issue.

 

Most frequent cruisers who choose their cabin do pay attention to location. Personally, we look for cabins that have other passenger cabins above, below and around. On some HAL ships we are OK with the Main Deck...knowing that he crew space is below...and that area is pretty quiet 24 hrs a day (unless you are over the crew bar or lounge). Many years ago (probably at least forty) we learned to use Travel/Cruise agents (because it saves us 7-10% and more over booking direct with HAL or any cruise line)...but never to be dependent on the agent. Most of them have spent very little (or any) time on cruise ships and although they project lots of knowledge....it is suspect. Having spent more then 1000 nights on many ships...we figure that we know more about being on a ship then a clerk housed in some cubicle. While we do listen to our cruise agents (and sometimes take their advice) it is with lots of caution. In the end we usually go with our own experience (and instincts). And getting a cabin over or under a late night club venue...would not be our choice.

 

Hank

We were not that early to bed, but on a port intensive cruise which this was, and early tours a last BB King set ending at 11:45 with more music, though not rocking like BB King after that is a bit much. I take full responsibility as I didn't do all my room home work, I just posted so other folks would avoid this problem.

Augie's mom

I'm not sure what the starting point was for the OP, she just mentioned that she paid extra for the cabin. Perhaps an interior guarantee or lower level interior?

 

I like OVgirl's suggestion to downgrade those specific cabins a bit. Or Hlitner's "Nightowl" designation. We were sailing with little ones and the last set ended around midnight- our preschoolers (at the time) turned into night owl's on that sailing!

We got this room when we booked, not a guarantee cabin. When PCC was doing our booking, she suggested this room, though it was a higher priced inside cabin. It was our fault for not checking the floor plans which we will do.

The last show of BB King ended about 11:45, followed by DJ and dancing and other band music, poor planning of where the lounge is located.

Augie's mom

We were on Oosterdam for 12 days room 1060 main deck . It's under the Queens lounge. The wonderful BB KING group played 2 or 3 times nightly. Ridiculously noisy, they couldn't move us, they did give us each obc to compensate. I was disappointed since PCC recommended this room,and we paid extra for the larger room. So though they took money off the final bill, I was still a bit disappointed . I did mention all in survey. But avoid this room, and check deck plans.

Thanks

Augie's mom

I'm considering moving to one of the inside rooms on Main deck category J for my upcoming Zuiderdam cruise (We are currently in one of the "interior" Cat K rooms with fully obstructed window on Observation Deck) - any recommendations on which ones to avoid? Any particular ones that are very quiet? Some are listed at 207 sq ft and others are 194 sq ft - is there really any difference? As the Casino, Queens Lounge, etc are all above I worry that there may be quite a bit of noise.

 

I also looked at the same size cat K rooms aft on the same deck but worried about vibration in that area, even though I think these ships have azipod propulsion.

 

I'm traveling with Mum and she's a light sleeper, and earlier to bed than I am (midnightish) so want to make sure she's not kept up.

We just got back from Oosterdam, our room was below Queen's lounge, VERY noisy. BB KING band great music,but not over head. Don't take the room. We were 1060 main deck

Augie's mom

We are booked next October on a 48-day cruise which will be the longest cruise we have every taken. Even though it is almost a year away i am concerned how to make sure I have enough necessary drugs for the trip. I'm sure many of you have had the same problem and I was wondering how you handled this situation. We do have a drug plan. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Donna

on my 90 day refills I fill the earliest I can , usually after 60days. On 30 day refills my pharmacy suggested refilling 4-5 days early and do it for as many months to get the extra needed pills. They said that was usually easier than getting the insurance company to fill more and earlier.

Very Happy just booked Oosterdam for next September so I will experience the new things soon.

Terri:)

I'll be very happy with those changes, and since it still has small packages even better'

thanks for passing this along.

Tee

Anyone remember when the explore4 sale was last held?

I know when we booked our med trip in Feb.2014 Explore 4 was going on.

good luck

I'm very glad. Took too long, but I'm glad. Do you know if the ship is docking elsewhere or just going around in circles as we did?

We were on the Noordam in October, and it bypassed Tunisia, however we did stop at another lovely island. Sorry your ship did not make another stop.

How much does it cost to have your laundry done? We will be going on our 1st 11 day cruise hopefully in Feb. We have only gone on 7 days and now have "free" laundry through Carnival. We are now VIP with them. But know that will not be the case with Holland.

 

I normally wouldn't have a problem doing my own laundry, but for a 11 day I think I may just pay to have it done. We may probably at lest do one or tow loads laundry.

 

So wondering on the cost per "bag"?

I just got back from 11 days on the Noordam, and did a bag of laundry for $30. It was well worth it. If you roll your clothes you'll be surprised how much will fit into one of those bags.

Terri aka Augie's mom

I am booked ( with my in-laws) on the NOORDAM for Alaska this summer - CC offers many conflicting comments.

 

Any cruisers out there who have sailed in the Noordam recently: please submit a review and photos.

 

Nervous Nellie here!

We just got off the Noordam this past Saturday after an eleven day cruise. It was in wonderful shape, clean and no heating or cooling problems. Don't be apprehensive about travelling on it. I didn't take photos on the ship, but you will have a blast.

Terri aka Augie's mom

There is a website that tracks prices on a selected cruise and sends you an e-mail if the price drops. Unfortunately, they charge for this (but it is not much).

You can put a fare watch on cruise critic for free, it will usually come out once a week, and I have watched my upcoming cruise on the Noordam drop.

Terri

I booked a Holland America cruise through a TA for next year. It's my first Holland America cruise. Although it's almost a year away, I started to look at air fares and discovered that Holland America offers "flight ease" which appears to be similar to RCL/Celebrity/Azamara's "choice air"....with one big difference. The Royal Caribbean family allows you to look at prices and available flights (at their special rates). Holland America/Carnival Corp apparently doesn't have a web site that I can use...unless I booked directly with Holland America.

 

Net is that I can't even look at the Holland America's prices....the HAL phone rep tells me that I have to contact my TA who can look at the flights and prices...but I can't.

 

Is that true....and I guess the big question is "do I even care"? is there some value to the Holland America program? Do I save money by using the program or is it just a promise that they will get me to the cruise somehow, if they can (which doesn't matter to me since we always fly in a few days early).

We are 3 ladies doing the Rome to Barcelona on the Noordam OCT.8 I called HAL and the direct flights from JFK to Rome and Barcelona to JFK were about $500 to $550 less through HAL then various booking sites. Also it is Amer.Airlines not some off brand and it is direct. Worth calling and asking what they are offering. I did check when we picked our cruise (but hadn't booked yet) and they were comparable with on line prices. Checked back several months later and great air packages being offered. We had to book the cruise to lock in the air. We did it in Feb. Cruise came down $400 from booking time till before final payment. Called HAL got the lower fare, and it did not change the air fare. Worth a call to them.

Terri

I thought we would have 3 formal nights on our upcoming 11 nighter in the Med. (our Bermuda 7 night had 2 and that was two years ago) but our papers say 2 formal nights, so I guess they have changed. The little black dress will not go on this cruise.

Terri

Either cruise sounds great, but as far as air fare, have you checked HAL about air? We got a super deal from them for our upcoming Noordam in October, and I recently saw a post about someone getting a great fare for a late booking Transatlantic cruise. Call HAL and find out what they will offer

have fun

terri