take us away

If you want a formal photo, have a set done at each photo station as the backdrops are different. Who knows, you may find a photo that is awesome!

It looks like the Amsterdam goes to Alaska after the world cruise.

hmm - any clue what she is doing between 28 April and her next available booking which is 10 May 2018: Ft Lauderdale to Seattle to start her Alaska season??

 

Agree, the hot soups are very salty including my beloved HAL french onion soup, though the lovely cold fruit soups are often sweet enough to order for dessert.

I drink tons of water (tap) and do not have swelling issues - just lucky I guess.

My past DH used to get the fruit soups for dessert and once the steward had a dollop of ice cream added, which my DH had frequently ordered. These became his new favorite desserts.

. If you decide to book, start a thread asking Copper10 8 for a recommendation of any area you might want to avoid. He seems to know loads about HAL ships, I think he works for HAL.

He is a security chief.

Have found it varies by ship (or by head chef) so I try the regular menu for a day or 2, then decide if I will order salt-free based on whether my hands and/or feet are swelling. Salt-free ordering is done the evening before - just ask your steward for the menu, add your table number to the top, and whatever else he asks for. Take heed about the soups as I find them VERY salty so avoid them almost totally.

Also love the Maasdam and agree with the recommendation for the D cabin on the lower deck.

Remember that people will complain about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING long before they say anything good.

Example: 1 person complained about frayed carpet edge (bet she asked for a refund due to 'safety concerns') on the stairs of a ship and another frequent poster was on that ship the following week and went searching - she found the frayed carpet edge on the stairs the crew uses to get to the A deck, which is below any passenger deck.

Yes the Maasdam is older and has a few 'hiccups' here and there but she is very refined with old world elegance and an awesome crew so enjoy your cruise!

Have heard of crew in the brig but the closest I have seen for passengers was 'cabin arrest' complete with a guard because they would not stay in their cabin as ordered. They were awful and throwing stuff overboard including deck chairs and they were put off at the next port, which was Aruba.

On the WC board, it was just noted that this will happen at the dry dock after the WC in late April, early May but we shall see.

IMO, it is only polite to let your table mates know in the event they would like to invite a guest and also your steward so he does not wait to take orders or your wine steward will not pour your wine.

Absolutely, retirement (so I guess that relates to age) had a huge impact on the length if cruises. Have figured out the 'hassles' so no longer an issue. The longer the cruise, the better!

Any clue what will happen to the Amsterdam after the world cruise next year as she has about a hiatus until her next cruise (28 April until 10 May)? Dry dock, charter, ??

Also agree about the photos. Read your cruise contract which will talk about damaged luggage and follow what they say, and also check with your travel insurance company.

HAL has replaced pieces of my luggage on more than 1 occasion after submitting a notice and what they asked for for documentation so you should get this settled.

Check here for additional information: http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Cruise+Preparation&contentMenu=Baggage,+Packing+%26+Dress+Code&WT.ac=PopTop_Luggage

Do know HAL brought back the Grand Asia after many requests after a few year hiatus. Anyone know how well this year's Grand Asia is selling?? - may speak to whether they repeat this on an annual basis??

Have you thought about cancelling and re-booking with another agency?

No need to cancel, just have your current TA release your booking back to HAL, then have HAL move this to your new TA, or leave it with HAL, your choice. Personally, I use a 'live' TA (and have since 1982) who gets me great deals and perks, and has been able to match most anything I can find for fares, plus he can work with HAL for whatever I need.

Have heard that captains can no longer conduct legal weddings while at sea. HAL does have clergy on board but not sure if they can marry anyone - send an email to HAL and ask. Have seen several destination weddings, i.e. the actual wedding was in St Thomas with the reception in a private venue on board complete with a small wedding cake.

Best to ask HAL directly and by email thru Contact Us on the website.

You have options: 1) DO NOT take your children, who are well below the minimum age, and get a babysitter if you take the HAL tour - come on - use a little common sense here, 2) take a different tour with no age restrictions, 3) book the private tour with no age restrictions.

Please know that your sister and your travel antics will be greatly missed! So sorry for your loss. Your postings were some of my very favorites as you 2 traveled the world. Hopefully you will continue to cruise and write your awesomely entertaining and so very literate chronicles.

Always believe that it is only polite when you will not be there for your assigned dinner seating to inform the rest of the table in the event they would like to invite a guest and also to tell the wait staff so no one waits for us.

Nope, PRDM is alive and well and continues to sail for HAL, currently proceeding upriver the Amazon

Every year someone asks at this meeting about HAL building smaller ships which may be where this continual rumor of the P'dam's demise may come from. She is currently booking the 2018 Grands so expect she will be here for quite a while. Remember when the president announced the Koningsdam with her specs and was totally taken aback when he was loudly booed for the number of passengers.

Now that we have hashed this topic - 1 question:

Has anyone recently emailed HAL and asked for an exemption to be allowed to bring their bicycle on board? Did you get a response?

have found calling is pointless as you may get several different answers but that a response via email is accurate.

Something seems to be missing. I thought TAs are allowed to give perks but not advertised at a lower rate than cruise lines.

Have seen lower fares (than the cruise line) advertised quite often on agency websites and even in my local paper, thankfully. This is one of the reasons I use a TA - plus the perks.

I'm not so sure they are crew or officers; personal bikes. I think the ship has a cerrtain number they keep for crew tro borrow if tth ey wish

Sorry but know for a fact many are personal bikes.

No need to do so anyway. Disney has been doing similar tracking of its guests for years, including by way of wearable tech, and we haven't suffered any physical or emotional maladies as a result.

for a cruise that is something like 70% children, makes a lot more sense

Wow - what a blow for many reasons! Some crew, including senior officers, have bikes on board - there is even a bike 'technician' who will fix your bike for a small fee plus I know several guests who travel with their folding bikes on the longer cruises. Know a HAL hotel director and his director wife who travel with their bicycle built for 2. They are entitled to 2 cabins so use 1 for storage and 'quiet' time.

Wonder if HAL will allow an exemption as they do for golf clubs - might be worth asking.

Thanks for the information., Do know Brazil does not require the vaccination but French Guinea (Devil's Island) does, which is usually a port on the Prinsedam's Amazon cruise.