regnig

As of 500p 7/27/15 there have been postings by 80 individual CC members.

Of those 80 CC members, 69 responded with YES, 3 responded with NO, and 8 were unresponsive to the OP choosing to use their post(s) for personal agendas.

Of those 69 who responded with YES - 35 stated they were nonsmokers and had never been bothered by smoke of their veranda.

Another Thank You to the OP for starting this thread. Since I've already stated yes for myself, how about adding hubby to the "YES" only as long as the policy stays as is.

Joanie

Joanie I've got you tallied as a YES but if I were to add your hubby to the count I'd have to go back and see who else responded with the implication that there were 2 of them. Guess it goes without saying that the majority (or close to that) of CC members sail with partner/friend.

Since a few have implied that this thread is slanted to only show those who "smoke" I'm going to give a try at compiling data off sails' thread that asks "Have you or are you planning to switch to HAL because you can no longer smoke on your favorite cruise line's verandah?

Have you or are you planning to switch cruise lines because you do not like that HAL continues to permit smoking on verandahs?

Do you have friends or family who are doing one or the other?"

It's going to take me a bit of time though as I'm going to have to read through post much longer that the ones here but figure it will make for interesting comparison.

We are booked with Nieuw Amsterdam for the 14 day Western/Eastern Caribbean Cruise. I just saw the Explore 4 program. We placed a deposit almost a yr. ago on this cruise, have a balcony and last week I ck daily for price reductions and since I booked it has never gone down, and it jumped $200.00 PP.

Question? We are 3 Star Mariners does't make a difference, but can I call and ask for the Promo? Or is it for new bookings only?

Thanks to anyone who can tell me:)

Denise

Denise it never hurts to call and ask. We booked our 2015 while onboard this March and had it immediately assigned to our TA. Last week she informed us that we could get the Exp4 (just as this past year) but that it couldn't be "confirmed" until the launch date 7/26. Yesterday (7/26) the price of our cruise went up on HAL's site so I guess in our case the jury is still out. The "Terms" do say for New Bookings so if HAL makes her "rebook" us at the higher cost it's a NO as we just don't drink enough booze for the cost difference.

Oh and I don't believe the Mariner status has any bearing. If you call them please come back and let us know the outcome.

As statistics intrigue me somewhat I thought I’d compile some from this thread.

As of 1015pm there have been 122 posting on this thread.

Of those 122 posts, there have been 73 individual CC members.

Of those 73 CC members, 61 responded with YES, 3 responded with NO, and 9 were unresponsive to the OP choosing to use their post for personal agendas.

Of those 61 who responded with YES 31 stated they were nonsmokers and had never been bothered by smoke of their veranda.

As someone already implied earlier on this thread the “silent” have finally been given a chance to voice their opinion.

Diane many thanks for starting this thread.

Yes.

And, if you are keeping count please add in an additional 2 yeses for the two couples we travel with as neither is a CC member.

I'd suggest your dress selections would be fine except on Formal Nights. Why not just go up to the Lido on Formal Night and join the rest of us who got rid of those "once a year" formal things years ago?

Larsen - Noordam 3/9/15 11-Day Southern Caribbean Wayfarer

Thanks!

We routinely stay at the Hampton Inn in Plantation, .........................

Ditto all that take us away said. Additionally there is a little deli right across the parking lot with very good food. The pool is also very nice. The staff is the greatest!

Simply because they put a "hold" on your credit card I don't believe they make any interest off it. A lot of people provide their CC number and then on the last day of the cruise pay in cash. HAL has no problem with that.

And yes, you assumed :o correctly ALL your meals, MDR- LIDO - or Room Service are included. Only food you would pay for is if you go to the Pinnacle for which there is a charge. Now, booze and soda is another story, that you would be billed for.

Hope you enjoy your HAL cruise! Any other questions just ask away.

Sailingpeace...

Depending on how much tea you want from room service be aware that they use small carafes that hold about 2 cups worth of hot water with the tea bags on the side. If you want more that 2 cups simply indicate 4 on your door order sheet (or verbally if you are calling in your order) and you will get two carafes. You can also write in what kind of tea you want if you desire something other that black tea.

Additionally one great difference with HAL is that on disembarkation day you can order room service for breakfast (best done with door card) and HAL really wants you to stay in your stateroom until you color disembarkation group is called.

Have a wonderful 1st cruise on HAL! My guess is it won't be your last.

I agree with Carol, let them know the night before that you will be needing transportation to the port and at what time. The taxi/limo area is on the back side of the hotel across from the swimming pool.

I'd also suggest you contact them again and request a "tower" room. The rooms in the original part of the building are kind of dark and without any kind of view. Also if there is an event being held (ie., wedding reception) the music usually can be heard in a lot of the original rooms.

Breakfast street side is wonderful!

Enjoy your stay. :D

You will find the safe on the Westerdam almost identical in size and operation as those on Princess.

Welcome to the wonderful world of HAL. I'm sure you will love the Westerdam. Just think Princess's old Star, Crown and Regal as she shares much in common with them. Sorry to hear you were turned off by the Royal. I've followed most of what was written about her in the Princess board and certainly gleamed enough to know we have not missed a thing. Such a shame to put her and her sister in the water with so many quirks that turn passengers off. Lesson to be learned is "bigger" is not always "better".

BTB if you have not already read it here be aware that on HAL you can order room service for breakfast on disembarkation day and then stay in your stateroom until you "color/number" tag is called. Such civilization!! :D

Wishing you a wonderful cruise.

Princess went through this same debacle years ago when they started imposing the "fuel surcharge". Guess their memories are not long enough to remember that when they suddenly put it in place on those with existing reservations, many paid in full, that they ended up having to withdraw it since they had not given proper notice. Once "proper notice" was given it then went back into place and I think that will again happen with these "fees". While I see the charge for Alfredo’s being reasonable the room service fee is absurd.

As you can see in my signature below we are very familiar with the Noordam and almost all of the Princess ships. I wouldn't hesitate for one moment to sail the Noordam to Alaska or anywhere else for that matter. When others have asked me to describe her my most often repeated phrase is "understated elegance". We also like the Lido and food much better than the Horizon or Caribe eateries. While I'm sure you won't be sailing with the same staff we had in March (lucky you if you do) we have always found that HAL's staff out shown those on Princess by a bit.

Just had a look at the Room Service menu online and I notice there are no beverages mentioned.

We enjoy a cup of tea - can we order a pot of tea, jug of milk and cups and saucers from room service? If so, do we have to specify the type of tea?

We ordered tea after our meal at a 5* hotel in Canada last year and the waitress bought some flowery organic herb tea.

Word of caution here... HAL uses the smaller type (2 cups at the most) insulated carafes for the hot water for tea so if you want more than that make certain you either write it in on the door menu card or tell them when you call. On the door card I put a "4" next to the tea and that gets me 2 pots of the hot water and 4 tea bags.

It's part of my end of day routine to put the breakfast tip on the bar or counter closest to the door. It's almost always $2 for us. As DW mentioned, the room service waiter is usually in and out pretty quick. That's why we set the tip out somewhere we can quickly reach it on the way to answer the door.

hummm.... twins separated at birth perhaps as this is exactly the way I do it. :D In addition when getting cash for the trip I always calculated how many singles I will need to cover morning room service coffee, $2 a day, and make sure I get enough. They then go into my nightstand drawer to be used only for that purpose.

Is it at all possible that security confiscated her deadly :rolleyes: scissors prior to her boarding and then that led to her naming her newest ship “Meandam”? :confused:;)

Our last Panama Canal Cruise Nov 2013 had the laundry tags looped through button holes and belt loops before their ends being stapled together. We did not have to unpeel any tags from our collars. Prying the staples open did cause a few pokes of the fingers.

 

It would be interesting to have regular cc members report how many of those sticky tags are still in their closets.

Between HAL & Princess my "cruise closet" is full of them. :o:o

Kirk, Princess uses the same kind. Darn things can be difficult to remove if you don't take them off for any length of time. I've finally started removing them as soon as the clothes come back from the laundry in fear I'll resend the same item out with the old tag in it and boy would that cause them confusion! :o

I think you have been overcharged. A 14 day cruise should be $98. IIRC. Our 7 day Alaska cruise was $49 unlimited laundry package. $7 per day.

Nancy's cost is higher since she not only got the Unlimited Laundry Package but also the "press package" which also runs $7 a day. If it was just normal laundry she was sending it usually does come back pressed but since she wanted to also send out her dress clothes for just pressing she got the extra package. While it might have been cheaper to get just the laundry and then pay by the piece for "pressing only" the combination will probably just make life easier and she is on vacation. :D On the Noordam there were days when I sent items out by 900a and they came back that same afternoon.

I agree Nancy, money well spent! :D

Just got off the phone with Ship's Services and pre-purchased the Unlimited Laundry Package. I got the wash, fold and press package and total cost for our 14-day cruise was $154.00. We will have laundry from a three day pre-cruise so will have a load to send out the first day.

It may sound like a lot dollar-wise, but it's worth it to me not to have to spend my vacation time sitting in a laundromat waiting for a machine, then waiting for clothes to wash & dry. Turn-around time for your items to be laundered, folded/pressed is 24 hours. We get back on board from a day of sightseeing, and our clothes are back in our cabin ready to be put away.

Ships Service rep told me that this would also include pressing only service that will be needed for our dress clothes for formal nights.

Nancy

They still offered the unlimited laundry on the Noordam 3/10/2014 sailing for a cost of $7 a day for a total of $77 for the cruise. I suggest you call Ship Services at 1-800-541-1576 to verify and if you want you can provide them a credit card number at that time to set up the service. You will have a card in your cabin upon embarkation indicating that the service has been paid for.

BTB, this is the 3rd time we've used the service and couldn't be happier.

...... Do I need to bring a sports jacket or suit? We always "play by the rules".. Thanks all, happy crusin'.:confused:

If you would like not to bother at all with any kind or Jacket or suit just plan on dining at the Lido on Formal nights. Dress there will be casual and often times they will be serving the same foods as the dining room just with a different presentation. And, when all else fails you can even do room service including ordering off the MDR's menu.

Maitre D’: Silvio Zampieri

Pia, is he a bit on the short side with reddish colored hair that probably now has some gray in it? If so (we never knew his last name) he was our 1st table waiter way back in '93 aboard the old Crown. We knew he had made Maitre D' but thought he had left Princess to work on "terra firma". In fact he was the subject of conversation just last week as we were reliving the dining experience while sailing with another couple who were with us then. Still remember him serving the "Pasta Course" (yep they used to do that) on top of a turned over plate while giving direction "you will eat the pasta". :D

Congratulations on your 75th! You and Mike deserve all the extras Princess sees fit to throw your direction.

Barb

OP, let me quote from one of your prior posts "........ We do not cruise often. This will be our 2nd. My wife recently beat cancer, our 40th anniversary is about this time. So are our both of our Birthdays! ......................".

While not one of your other fellow cruisers will care in the least what you wear in the MDR since you've stated "my wife LOVES to play dress up" what a wonderful anniversary, birthday and Congratulation on beating breast cancer gift you could give her. Go ahead, surprise her, suffer through one evening and make HER feel special.

While I have no reason to doubt OP's experience I guess there are always two sides to any coin. The following is what I posted in a separate thread the other day. Wish I'd know Gary & DW were having problems, they could have joined us.

"Just back from a wonderful 11 day cruise on the Noordam and wanted to advise that our Pinnacle experience was wonderful. We were a group of 8 traveling with 4 linked bookings. When we arrived in our staterooms there was nothing there indicating when our reservations were for our Pinnacle dinner so I immediately called the Dining line and was advised the time (600pm) and date of our reservations. And yes, he had all the linked staterooms together. We had a wonderfully roomy table and the service and food could not have been better. I doubt anyone else dining in there had any idea we were using our "free" Explore4 meal. Another JOB WELL DONE for HAL and their staff."

As always I checked our stateroom charges every other day and never experienced any billing errors. Final billing to our CC was exactly what our departure statement showed.

While I totally understand OP's position our experience sure demonstrates the old statement "were they on the same ship I was??". I can only hope that more of the passengers had an experience similar to ours and not rothbury's.

Just back from a wonderful 11 day cruise on the Noordam and wanted to advise that our Pinnacle experience was wonderful. We were a group of 8 traveling with 4 linked bookings. When we arrived in our staterooms there was nothing there indicating when our reservations were for our Pinnacle dinner so I immediately called the Dining line and was advised the time (600pm) and date of our reservations. And yes, he had all the linked staterooms together. We had a wonderfully roomy table and the service and food could not have been better. I doubt anyone else dining in there had any idea we were using our "free" Explore4 meal. Another JOB WELL DONE for HAL and their staff.