OlsSalt

One of the other problems on the older ships is the linked ventilation systems when someone leaves their balcony door open "to get more cool night air", it sucks the cooling system air out of all the other cabins on the same circuit, which may not even be next to each other or on the same floor. That is also another way the A/C problems "get fixed". They track down the open balcony door culprit and make sure they know to keep it closed. Also, the cabin temperature range standards go up to 75 degrees as "normal", which may not feel like a guarantee of "cool air" when the outside weather swelters. Some times it just is, on these older ships which were designed when passengers followed the rules better and did not muck up either the plumbing systems tossing down things on the prohibited list, nor ignore the balcony door warnings about keeping them closed. So any time there are cabin temperature complaints, it becomes a swirl of competing causes and solutions. You did the right thing and let them know right away, when they could still try to find a solution for you. Sometimes there is no easy solution, and it does get steamy. One good thing about the newer ships is the HACV was very responsive. No unpleasant surprises. But maybe we did not really test it on a winter time Mexican Riviera cruise.

Panama Canal gets you close to the equator - that is when these older ship A/C systems do get stressed. Which is why it can appear to "get fixed" a few days later once back in a more temperate zone.

Absolutely HAL's best contribution to the cruise world - the R class ships. Perfection, classics, they got everything right in the R-class ships. How I love their libraries. Hope everyone can sail them whenever and wherever you can, because they will soon become part of cruise travel history for HAL. Already lost sister ships Amsterdam and Rotterdam to Fred Olson cruise lines. Only one thing I would change - the sight lines in the small multi-use theater for culinary and movie events. But I don't think that room was designed originally for those types of events in the first place. A good deal of group sleuthing on a thread a while back uncovered the name of the beloved Dutch ceramics artist, whose works are found throughout the R-class ships. His Zaandam contribution are the whimsical cows lounging at the aft-deck pool.

Isn't it also an issue of who pays/subsidizes special need services required by individual passengers?

Many countries in this part of the world float on "bakeesh" - bribes/tips to get even the smallest things done. Used be just offering a cigarette to help a clerk take a second look to "find" your airline reservation. Or a case of Coca Cola to get the ship to pass port arrival inspections. It is an art form in this part of the world - check with locals to see how, who, when, where and what makes "bureaucratic services" run more smoothly.

Alaska and Norway share the same weather joke: Don't like the weather? Then just wait a few moments and it will change again.

We did the May 14-day one and it was wonderful - everything was so fresh, green and uncrowded. We are now signed up for the September one, which can also include a good chance of Northern Lights viewing being later in the season. And yes, a higher chance of rain too. Each Alaska cruise has its own rewards and weather chances. We were on a mid June cruise and it was cold rained a lot, The later early July cruise right after that, bragged about sunshine and wearing shorts. Mid-August we were denied landing Nome due to rough seas. The only "Alaska" we have avoided so far is mid-summer buggy Alaska. That almost matters more than rain and or cold.

You miss the point. Many of us sail to travel, the rest is just not that consequential. Why are most of the "service complaints" about not getting fast bar service? While HAL ships still sail clean, friendly and with adequate staffing support.

Death of a US Citizen in Angola - US State Dept specific to Angola - details and names of local services available: vvhttps://ao.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/death-of-a-u-s-citizen/

Can they contact the Lerwick port agent on your arrival day? Sometimes even planned port stops can change at the very last minute.

Nor is $3 much to ask from the passenger either. It is what it is.

A non-profit end of life organization provides a checklist to help bring order to this very unfortunate event. Best wishes to you. We are all learning, from your sharing. https://www.joincake.com/blog/body-repatriation/

Link to US State Department - on this topic: death in a foreign country https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/death-abroad1.html

No better photo op than looking across the azure blue waters from HMC to the HAL ship floating in the back ground, looking like it is almost suspended in air when the skies, water and sun are just right. Bonus points if the horses are passing through in the water at the same time.

Before the second item surcharge, I wonder what the record was ordering multiples of the Hanger Bacon appetizer? ❣️ (I know, I know, lots here do not like it, but for others unlimited amounts of this appetizer could have been... Died and gone to Bacon Heaven.)

They used to sell beverages from a small table in the departure deck foyer, on the way out of the ship before you gone in the gangway exit line. Don't know if that changed once they also got rid of so many onboard disposable cans. Do I also remember bar personnel wandering around the waiting excursions groups the show room lounge, also selling cans of soda and water before departing the ship?

Room service will deliver coffee. 24 hours a day.

Aha, those mysterious unmarked free sauna's onboard HAL ships with unmarked doors and total absence from any deck plans. Just ask, is always the answer. Ask whom - the spa front desk, the deck stewards? Near the ping pong tables is another standard response. I always do a cursory look when I am in that area, but have never seen anything even remotely that would indicate its location or availability. And no, I did not ask either. And hints on where to find this on the Vista ships - Noordam specifically? Plus protocol to follow - mens hours, women's hour or multi-use? Proper attire. Thanks.

On the Konigsdam Christmas/ NY 2020/23 cruise, late fixed MDR dining we had the opposite experience. Food was very good and dinner service was super speedy. Subjective, isn't it? In fact on the second leg, we canceled our Pinnacle and Sel de Mer reservations because we enjoyed the MDR more. Canaletto ($) was superb and the Gelato Cafe($) got many return visits. Glad you found a cruise line that better serves your own tastes and needs. We will stick with HAL ourselves.

But the GDC does not have peanut butter pie, which you can find at the Lido on most HAL ships, often on embarkation day.. So there is that. If you are really lucky the Lido also can offer Banoffee Pie. No Banoffee pie at the GDC. Keep your eyes open for both these non-GDC treats too.

Since Pinnacle ships are much larger, it seems like it is a long hike to get anywhere (we are small ship fans, can you tell?). This gives the Grand Dutch Cafe one very nice advantage. Easier access for those in the lower deck and mid leve deck cabins, when one want a quick snacks or beverages. Saves a trip up to the Lido where more food service is located. I do appreciate HAL showcasing its Dutch heritage. Also glad so many people do find it a very welcome addition to these larger ships, which do benefit from having snack destinations spread around the ship more than their older smaller ones have offered .

Cigar smoking was allowed on the back sea view pool area on the Konigdsdam. One cigar stank up the entire open air back deck -smoking area and non-smoking area.

One might assume from recent reports Carnival "fun ships" also require higher security staffing, than do HAL ships. Just numbers - staff to passenger ratio - only tells part of the story.

The growth of South East Asian economies in the past decades factors in as well. Going to sea is no longer a top employment option, after Asian high tech Tigers also started roaring. Learning to code, instead of learning to make hospital corners on cruise ship beds skewed the labor market too. Wonder also if declining birth rates in this part of the world are also affecting the available labor pool. It was a privilege to be under the care of such exceptional crew members that we consistently experienced on Holland America cruise ships - creating a very special Holland America value-added, as well as a feeling of genuine affection. One hopes for the very best for all future, present and past Holland American crew members. Wherever life's opportunities take them. Impossible to calculate the intangible value of the good will generated by HAL crew members. I hope in every way it was a mutual exchange. Yes, we were paying customers funding their employment. But the onboard atmosphere created by HAL staff and crew we felt, always exceeded the financial exchange. HAL ships truly are happy ships.

Second those who agree they would never changes a ship simply to get a Grand Dutch Cafe. It was one and done for us at the GDC on the Konigsdam. Not sure what the fuss is about. Some items were good, but most others were meh. There are plenty of other indulgences on the other ships if you want bonus snacks. Recent video posted here of dining options on the the Noordam also showed some of the same GDC items at their Explorations Cafe.