crystalspin

4 hours ago, scooter6139 said:

Any suggestions?  (no issues with wife but I am Diabetic so need to keep the carb count down)

https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Pinnacle-Grill-Lunch-2023-24.pdf

Quite a few no-upcharge options by leaving off the rice or potato etc. Making me hungry!

On 4/26/2024 at 10:37 AM, booms said:

1. 1. Has anyone cancelled theirs before? I see that written cancellation is required in advance, but I can't see details of where that is. The URL to more details on CCP from my booking goes to a 404 page. Also, is 80% of the non CCP fee what is refunded?

2. I presume it's not possible to change the 2 passenger names on the cruise? My mother and her friend would happily go, as they were planning to book something later in the summer but are interested in going on my cruise, if it were possible. I searched HALs FAQ but cannot find anything on it.

1- We cancelled with the standard CCP, last February, a day and a night early. 80% of fare and the whole of taxes+fees plus 100% of excursions and even a pre-paid floral arrangement were all refunded within a week. (I cancelled on the computer/website AND wrote my PCC.)

2- If it could be changed, one pax would have to be the same.

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

But the last time we were on the Zaandam in 2018 in one of their Vista Suites, they were basically just regular verandas located on decks 6 or 7, other than you get double Loyalty cruise day points

You don't get other "suite perks" in a Vista Suite* on either Z'dam or K'dam, just more room and on the Zaandam MUCH more storage. And the double Mariner points if booked at published rate (not an upsell or upgrade). But they are lovely cabins.

* This is also true of the Signature Suites.

On 4/22/2024 at 3:03 PM, Ebony & Ivory said:

So I attended this webinar and received a certificate for a free 5 day/4 night cruise to Ensenada, Nassau or Cozumel with Princess, Carnival, Royal or Norweigan.

On top of the good advice you've received above, the 5-day/4-night description is disingenuous: Cruises do not have a day without a night -- guests must be off the ship by 9:30-10am on final "day". And rarely get to board in time for lunch on Day 1. So a 4-night cruise is almost a 3-day/4-night cruise.

So right off the certificate is taking license with the truth.

3 hours ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

Good to know that June works, also.

June definitely still works. Two of our AK cruises were in early to mid-June. The earlier one we did not do whale-watching in Juneau, because I had booked it for Seward (we went on to do two weeks self-driving in Alaska). The whales around the Kenai peninsula were SO active -- happy to be back in plankton-rich waters of the north! 

The second we did a 7-day R/T Vancouver and did a three-part Mendenhall/whale/salmon dinner ship's excursion. Whales were also very active with many breaches.

FWIW -- the third cruise was mid-July and we did the ship's "scientific" whale watch which was interesting, but the whales were not as active nor did the boat try to get near them. However, on the otter-watching boat trip in Sitka, a whale surfaced VERY close to the boat and spouted!

The medical part of HAL's Platinum Cancellation Protection Policy does waive pre-existing conditions and only needs to be purchased before penalties begin to accrue. If the fare has a non-refundable deposit, that is immediately. With most refundable fares, it is Final Payment Date. For some longer cruises, the penalties start sooner than FPD. 

HAL is very good with special diets. I agree that you should select Fixed Seating, so that they can find you with tomorrow's menu to select what courses are wanted that CAN be prepared safely.

3 hours ago, Steerpike58 said:

I've since been looking at lots of cruises, and the premium for choosing your own room seems to vary wildly,

I have seen that too, but not explored the reason. Your theory is as good as any!

When you see HIA more expensive than Bare-bones then $55pd, it is because it also includes a refundable deposit.

Here is the second half?

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2956193-zuiderdam-june-29-2024-july-20-2024-viking-passage-from-ijmuiden-amsterdam-to-boston-21-days/#comment-65882247

1 hour ago, Vineyard View said:

Thank you. So basically all the verandah cabins are 216 sq ft? Including balcony? 

CruiseDeckPlans says:

Cabin: 174 sqft (16 m2)
Balcony: 46 sqft (4 m2)

The balcony may vary, as can be seen on the deckplan, and I believe the aft Verandahs gain a couple internal feet for the curvature.

Scopalamine patches are still available in USA by prescription only. As far as Dr.Spin knows, they are not generic and the trade name is TransDermScope. They are quite expensive and have significant side-effects.

If the infirmary on ship has them, you would have to be seen by the ship's doc and be prescribed to receive them. They would not be for "purchase on board" by just anyone. Also, I have never heard of anyone receiving such an Rx on board.  

On 4/23/2024 at 2:47 PM, Steerpike58 said:

(crystalspin said): 

The number of specialty dinners included in HIA depends on the length of the cruise, which you did not mention.

Duration would be 14 days. 

You will have one each included dinner in Canaletto and in Pinnacle Grill.

You will not be able to order a latte in the Lido during breakfast, but you can use the elevator! I may be wrong about the toaster... but no one has corrected me.

5 hours ago, Tom47 said:

I have read some posts on this board that the Lido on current Koningsdam  cruises is crowded and understaffed.

We sailed a B2B on the K'dam over New Years 2022-23. It was the MDR that was crowded! We ate all meals in the Lido (saving several specialty restaurant dinners), always able to find seats and mostly with lots of space between other diners (we were avoiding contagion even then). There were no circulating alcoholic beverage servers, but there was a small bar on each side of the ship where you could fetch your own. Stewards with pitchers did refill water/lemonade/iced tea. We also like the Tamarind upcharge restaurant, which is not on the Zaandam.

OTOH we sailed the Zaandam on a 14-day Alaska cruise, and it was just perfect for that. The Oceanviews on the Lower Promenade are just steps from the largest balcony on the ship -- the true promenade! Just be sure not to book under the MDR galley on Deck 4 as they cook all night!

8 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

In looking up cabin sizes the balcony cabins have a wide range in size. How does one go about finding the larger?  216 sq ft would feel pretty tight, but the larger end of the range is attractive?

The larger cabins in a category are almost always the handicapped version of the rooms. (Exception being the large J & K insides on the Main Deck.)

On 4/20/2024 at 11:09 AM, SongsInMyHead said:

I want to take a cruise to the Caribbean! I was thinking of HAL but that is mostly because my parents recently told me about their Japan cruise. I am not a “night life” kind of person and I don’t mind kids but would rather not be surrounded by them.

Hi again Jenni!

The cruise I mentioned booking for January 2026 is actually a B2B (back-to-back) combination of two cruises, both R/T (round-trip) out of FLL (Fort Lauderdale) on HAL. I think HAL will be a good fit for you by the criteria you mentioned.

Our cruise is comprised of a 12-day cruise plus a 9-day 'leg', first is partial transit of Panama Canal, second visits the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) AKA "southern Caribbean". Those destinations may not be what you are thinking of for a Caribbean cruise, but I would suggest you do look for something at least 7-days and preferably longer, and not during Spring Break times. The shorter later spring cruises sometimes attract a party-crowd, commonly called Booze Cruises.

Third-party travel agents lose commission $$ if your fare decreases, PCCs do not. Just saying.

I mentioned above my PCC getting me a lower fare when I upgraded to a Vista Suite; I did not mention that it was Launch Fare, months after launch, when the price had gone up significantly. And she did it without me asking -- I was expecting to pay the full and current fare.

4 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Your agent should have access to software that tracks changes and that software is more robust than what consumers have available.

Seems like that would qualify as "full-service" that OP doesn't want.

US$55 pppd for all days that have a night, i.e. the stated length of your cruise.

33 minutes ago, azcruise said:

Is there a limit to how many bottles you can bring on? I read someone saying that a change was made earlier this year. We are taking a 7 day Alaska to move us up a star level before our 58 day cruise later this year.

"A reasonable amount". Haha!

3 minutes ago, Sblibra said:

I recently was told that Holland America provides complimentary robes in all cabin categories. Is this true? If so, are there larger (plus) sizes available? 

Complimentary for use, not to take home, although you can purchase a brand new one for US$49 each, with three-initial embroidery included. When I log in to a booking and go to Extras/Collector Gifts -- there is no sizing choice. One might ask on the ship.

55 minutes ago, Steerpike58 said:

I prefer self-service for breakfast. All I want is toasted bread (toasted by me, to my darkness requirements 🙂 ), fresh fruit, and a few cafe lattes. Viking has a 'pretty decent' self-service espresso machine in the buffet - it's not perfect, but it's better than waiting in a long line for a custom-made latte. Does HA have anything like this available with the breakfast buffet?  If not, what are my options for a latte? As I understand it, the 'HIA' package includes specialty coffees so I guess that means Cafe Lattes are not free? I typically drink 2 or 3 of them in quick succession and don't like to wait, which is why the machine is such a good option. There are no self-service espresso machines on HAL, except maybe in the Neptune Lounge (?). There are Nespresso type machines IN neptune suites but I have not heard much good about them! Also I have no memory of seeing anyone toast their own bread in the Lido. The Exploration Cafe is on Deck 3 on the Noordam, starboard between midship and forward stairwells/elevators. Lattes are not free, but they are reasonable and probably not worth booking with HIA.

<<snip>>

I'll let someone else answer about Club Orange. 

 

The 'Have It All' package refers to: ‘Specialty dining: Dinner at a fine dining restaurant’, and 'Enhance your cruise with award-winning specialty dining at Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto or Tamarind' - does that just mean ONE dinner at one of the specialty restaurants is included in HIA? (1) The number of specialty dinners included in HIA depends on the length of the cruise, which you did not mention. (2) There is no Tamarind on the Noordam.  

 

I don't drink alcohol so have no real need for a 'beverage' package, other than for the 'specialty coffees' (which I can't live without).  I also drink a lot of sparkling water with meals - is that included? Sparkling water is not included, AFAIK. Specialty coffees and sparkling water can be bought without any beverage package.

 

Also - if I don't purchase the HIA package, do I get any internet access at all - is there a basic level of access provided for all? There is no included internet access. There are three levels of WiFi available: Surf which is only part of standard (not Early Booking Bonus) HIA, and is good for limited sites and capabilities. Premium good for anything except Streaming sites. And Streaming level (self-explanatory?). The internet is very good (usually) as the whole fleet has StarLink. It is all the same "speed" just fewer sites blocked as you buy up. You can upgrade on board if you find you need blocked sites. You can buy one or four concurrent devices, but you can sign onto the one-device plan with different devices, just not at the same time. 

 

Edit to add: One final thing - I saw in this thread some mention of 'open seating' and 'designated seating' (or similar).  We tend to eat later (7pm or later). How exactly does designated seating work? Neptune suites do not get their own restaurant on Noordam, so if you and your friends choose Fixed Late (or Main) Dining, and link your bookings, you will have an assigned table and can even seat yourselves once you know where it is.

 

One more thing - if I don't dine with them some evenings, will I have trouble eating alone? You are not supposed to eat in the Open Dining Main Dining Room if you are assigned to a Fixed level table. You will have no trouble eating in the Lido Market (buffet), esp. at that later time you prefer. It is good manners to let your Fixed Dining waiter know you are not coming, but your friends can inform at the time.

There is a fare option you have to call HAL (or use a PCC) to book with. It is called Advantage and has a refundable deposit, but none of the perks of HIA. Then you can purchase just the perks you want.

ETA: do expand my quoted selection of your post, above. I've answered individual questions in RED!

8 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Strangely enough, I can't get your link above to work - and I used to find it on the HAL site at the bottom of the home page under "Cruise Deals", but it is no longer there.  I wonder what's going on...

(1) It is working for me; maybe they just had a glitch today?

(2) It's now found under the DEALS menu in the top blue banner; in the first column (also Deals), second from the bottom.

8 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

How do they know you are still a member a year from now?

Ya I know, rite? And yet they do apply it -- maybe the confirmation is easier/automatic once it is done the first time?

45 minutes ago, acctgtogo said:

How do I know if the credit is being applied to this booking (I booked online).

Why not deal with and phone the PCC that has been assigned to you?

You should have been emailed a Booking Confirmation. It has more information than you can see online. I don't think it shows the source of OBC -- but it will show OBC totals and one person's will be more than the other by the amount of the AARP (and any other Community Appreciation OBC offers applied).

On 4/20/2024 at 3:18 PM, cruisepro19 said:

My mom (senior), is looking for a new lightweight travel backpack that she can use as her carry-on for the airplane.

Note, just in case you end up looking at eBags backpacks, such as the "Professional Slim" line, they are NOT lightweight! We own both sizes and never use them. They are bomb-proof for protection, but weigh about half as much empty as full! (Well, maybe 1/3, but way too much.)

https://www.ebags.com/backpacks/travel/pro-slim-weekender/117783XXXX.html?dwvar_117783XXXX_color=Black&cgid=travel-backpacks

1 hour ago, crystalspin said:

She drydocked (is that a verb?) in Feb 2022 so I don't think this year at all.

I stand corrected, 

PLANNED DRY DOCKS

Noordam 24 November 2024 – 08 December 2024

Understand that drydocks are for scheduled maintenance like hull-scraping etc; interior refurbs are almost incidental although planned just as well to happen like clockwork.