Holland First timer, some questions!

[Yurita]

Hello everyone!

 

Thinking of booking our first Holland cruise. We have sailed with Royal, Princess, NCL, Carnival and Celebrity but never with Holland.

 

I do have some questions, and thank you all for taking the time read and answer!

 

1. How is the TV in-room entertainment (movies especially). Princess has an amazing variety with many recent titles; how about Holland?

 

2. Rooms, we are thinking of booking an interior, and see a big difference in space with categories J. Are they really much bigger than other interior cabins?

 

3. Spa pool. Is it free to use or is there a daily fee to use daily?

 

4. In case of price drop (after final payment) do they give you the difference back?

 

Again, thank you all!

[3rdGenCunarder]

1. I don't remember what the entertainment on TV was like, but cabins do have a DVD player and there's a library of DVDs you can borrow from.

 

2. I don't know about interior cabins, but you probably should say which ship(s) you're interested in, as these cabins may vary.

 

3. Yes, there is a charge for the spa pool. You can pay for the day or get a pass for the length of the voyage.

 

4. This varies, but I don't think I've heard of refunds. Upgrades or OBC are the usual result, but that isn't guaranteed to happen. We never seem to choose cruises where the price goes down, so I've never had to deal with this.

[CowPrincess]

Hello everyone!

 

Thinking of booking our first Holland cruise. We have sailed with Royal, Princess, NCL, Carnival and Celebrity but never with Holland.

 

I do have some questions, and thank you all for taking the time read and answer!

 

1. How is the TV in-room entertainment (movies especially). Princess has an amazing variety with many recent titles; how about Holland?

 

2. Rooms, we are thinking of booking an interior, and see a big difference in space with categories J. Are they really much bigger than other interior cabins?

 

3. Spa pool. Is it free to use or is there a daily fee to use daily?

 

4. In case of price drop (after final payment) do they give you the difference back?

 

Again, thank you all!

 

1. HAL shows movies each day onboard, and then re-plays them on the TV the next day. Usually new-to-DVD vintage.

 

2. Hopefully RuthC will see your question, she is the expert on the big interior cabins. What ship?

 

3. Sorry can't help :)

 

4. There have been some reports of some people getting some OBC. Not a cash refund. Also some reports that some people have been able to move up in cabin category.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Some ships have the thermo pool -- signature and vista class ships.

The R and S class ships do not a spa pool -- just a small whirlpool.

But none of them are free.

[Yurita]

Thank you everyone! I am booking the Eurodam, caribbean itinerary

[bonvoyagebites]

As mentioned by someone a little bit ago, there is a DVD player and video library available. I was surprised at how many DVDs were available for "rental" (free)...

 

The movies on the television at the end of May were "Taken 3", "A night at the museum" (the latest one), and "MacFarlane, USA" (if I recall properly). They were showed in the Wajang Theatre (MS Amsterdam) the day before, and then played again on the television the next day on repeat.

[RuthC]

2. Rooms, we are thinking of booking an interior, and see a big difference in space with categories J. Are they really much bigger than other interior cabins?

On the Vista and Signature class ships (I see in a later post you are looking at the E-dam; that's a Signature class ship) the J- & K-category cabins on MAIN DECK ONLY are much larger than most of the other inside cabins. The inside I-category cabins are also huge.

Yes, really. ;)

 

If you want some information about the Main Deck inside cabins, I'll be happy to discuss the pros & cons of the two categories.

I am a fan of the Main Deck J-cabins, and have been in several of them on the various ships.

[Yurita]

On the Vista and Signature class ships (I see in a later post you are looking at the E-dam; that's a Signature class ship) the J- & K-category cabins on MAIN DECK ONLY are much larger than most of the other inside cabins. The inside I-category cabins are also huge.

Yes, really. ;)

 

If you want some information about the Main Deck inside cabins, I'll be happy to discuss the pros & cons of the two categories.

I am a fan of the Main Deck J-cabins, and have been in several of them on the various ships.

 

Yes Ruth, please do!

 

I am concerned looking at the deck plans just realized J cabins are under public spaces so that leads me to think "noise issues".

 

I would be very happy if you tell me the pros and cons of the two categories you mentioned. Again, thank you!

[RuthC]

I have never stayed in the K-cabins on Main Deck, as the distance home at night was too far. But, they are under the dining room, so should be quiet. They are the same size as the cabins forward of the mid-ship elevators.

 

I have stayed in several of the J-cabins, mostly on starboard all up and down the passageway. The time I was on port side I was under the Northern Lights/Casino. I didn't hear anything, but I sleep like the dead. Had no trouble falling asleep, though.

 

Usually I get a cabin closer to the atrium than further forward. I am generally under the Queens Lounge area, and again, have never heard a thing. IF there's a show in there, it is usually over by 11:30 (or so), so really isn't too late.

 

I've also been in the cabin that has service areas on both sides. Never heard a thing through the walls.

 

The connecting cabins have a huge amount of walking space on one side of the bed; the other side is normal spacing. Non-connecting cabins have the normal (width of the nightstand) spacing.

 

One thing is shore excursions gather in the show lounge, and people drift in via starboard, but leave as a group on port side. So, if you're trying to get back to your cabin after breakfast, starboard can be easier to get to.

 

Hope this helps. Any specific questions, please ask.

[Hunwolf]

Is there a self service laundry on the Eurodam?

 

If not, how reasonable is the laundry and ironing service?

 

We are booked in 4119 on the Christmas cruise (our first with HAL). The HAL agent hinted that there might be a sale in a few weeks that would give us the option to upgrade but we would lose ours current OBC ($200) and dining package. Just curious how obstructed the view might really be.

[RuthC]

Is there a self service laundry on the Eurodam?

 

If not, how reasonable is the laundry and ironing service?

There's no self-service laundry on the E-dam.

 

You can send laundry out to be washed & pressed for $20 for a bagful. Or, you can send it on an "unlimited" basis for the price of $7 times the number of days in your cruise.

You can also send pieces for pressing-only, if that's all they need.

 

There is also a dry cleaning service available, paid by the piece I believe.

[Hunwolf]

Great. Thanks Ruth!

[cynalan]

1. How is the TV in-room entertainment (movies especially). Princess has an amazing variety with many recent titles; how about Holland?

2. Rooms, we are thinking of booking an interior, and see a big difference in space with categories J. Are they really much bigger than other interior cabins?

3. Spa pool. Is it free to use or is there a daily fee to use daily?

4. In case of price drop (after final payment) do they give you the difference back?

 

I will respond to your questions based upon my experience on three HAL ships: Noordam, Niew Amsterdam and most recently the Oosterdam.

 

1. I found the TV entertainment to be inferior to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Have not been on Princess recently so cannot comment. The TVs are old and are not interactive. On Celeb and RCCL, for example, one could surf on them from your stateroom. Not so on HAL. TV channels are limited and the previous day's movie from the theatre can be watched in-room. Unable to view your account from the TV. Major shows and entertainment from the ship are not recorded and broadcast on the TV.

 

2. Can't comment.

 

3. Spa pool (thalassotherapy) has a charge.

 

4. No refund if price drops.

Edited July 19, 2015 by cynalan

[Yurita]

Thank you all the responses! you've been very helpful.

 

P.S: Ruth, thank you for the detailed comments about J and K cabins on main deck. I will book tomorrow since there seems to be a sale coming up and would like to see if my sailing qualifies... there's still lots of availability!

[Kerry&LuAnn]

In case of price drop (after final payment) do they give you the difference back?

 

Our price dropped one week before sailing, and we were offered either a room upgrade or onboard credit.

[Yurita]

Our price dropped one week before sailing, and we were offered either a room upgrade or onboard credit.

 

Great to know! at least they do something for u! other lines tell you to simply forget it.

 

Ruth, the Holland american agent I spoke to had your name. I even asked her if she was a member of CC, she said no. I really wished it would have been you. She was extremely helpful.

 

Very excited now...Eurodam, here we come!

[RuthC]

Ruth, the Holland american agent I spoke to had your name. I even asked her if she was a member of CC, she said no.

You're kidding! I don't know whether to be pleased, or a little afraid. ;)

 

Glad it all worked out well for you. Have a great time on your cruise.