scluvsrain Posted December 15, 2018 #901 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I think the Retreat is open. I’ve been up there twice and have seen people im their relaxing in their cabanas as well as sitting in the jacuzzi there. And when I inquired as to the cost I was given a price of $55 a day on port days and $80 on sea days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philbob84 Posted December 15, 2018 #902 Share Posted December 15, 2018 On 12/6/2018 at 1:43 PM, scluvsrain said: All of the photos I’m taking are with my iPhone 8+. Orlando Ashford held a town hall this afternoon and we learned a bit more about the direction HAL is going - new ideas and how they’ve been implemented both on the Nieuw Statendam as well as fleet-wide. 1 What are some of the ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCnurse Posted December 15, 2018 #903 Share Posted December 15, 2018 20 hours ago, Tutpug said: I am truly enjoying all the work folks are doing on this thread keeping us up to date on the lovely aspects of this new ship. I’m a novice on cruising so this question may seem odd to the veterans here, but I’ve read on several sites about brining ones’ own favorite pillow as the ships pillows may be a bit ‘lacking’. Can anyone attest to the need to do so on NS? I’m booked in a Spay Veranda room and assume the bedding and pillows will be adequate but can anyone speak to that? Many Thanks Peter We are in a verandah, but only difference between a regular verandah and spa is that the spa comes with two yoga mats and a Bose speaker system. Pillows are not thick enough to my liking. Then again, I usually use a special one made to maintain the curve in your neck. If you have strong preferences (and room to pack one), I’d bring one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCnurse Posted December 15, 2018 #904 Share Posted December 15, 2018 21 minutes ago, scluvsrain said: Came back to my cabin after dinner to find this nice gift. So beautiful. I’m very excited to have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scluvsrain Posted December 15, 2018 #905 Share Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) Re new ideas: I believe I posted them - new art gallery concept, photo shop interactive and expanded offerings using your own photos, Rolling Stone Rock Legends addition to the music walk, creating more interactive itineraries with the launch of the Maasdam’s journeys. Edited December 15, 2018 by scluvsrain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCnurse Posted December 15, 2018 #906 Share Posted December 15, 2018 3 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said: Thanks to scluvsrain, VictOriann and MarkWiltonM for your quick replies. All were a big help. We normally enjoy playing roulette, and have been doing Celebrity, where there is no indoor smoking, so we have become spoiled being in a casino where there is never a smoking issue and no concerns about people with cigarettes wandering a casino where there is supposedly a smoking and non smoking section— an impossibility that always leaves me SMH. if we keep this cruise I think we would just avoid the casino...and that one thing alone would save us money! 😘. On a TA, if HAL operates like Celebrity, the casino would be open a lot due to the increased number of sea days, so that might increase the likelihood of smoke traveling. But after so many Celebrity cruises, where we know the ships well and there’s nothing new (until they are all Edged), we really want to have the fun of discovering all a new ship has to offer. Thanks again for your helpful replies. CC folks are the BEST! We have ventured into the casino a couple of times, but I admit the smoke bothered me. In fact, the area the have designated “smoking” has some of my favorite slots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fighterone Posted December 15, 2018 #907 Share Posted December 15, 2018 14 hours ago, Vict0riann said: Last night at dinner, we were informed that they have run out of the wine we had picked - the wine steward brought a different Italian Pinot Grigio. I imagine they will be restocking in Fort Lauderdale. We must be drinking a lot! Czaba said that that at the Cellar Master dinner he had brought in some of the “new” wines. There will be changes to the packages, I guess. We’re rocking and rolling this morning. I wonder how many will be at breakfast! What brand of Pinot Grigio did they run out of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCnurse Posted December 15, 2018 #908 Share Posted December 15, 2018 5 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said: Hello, and thanks so much for this detailed review. What a wonderful job you are doing, and I appreciate so much the time you are taking to give so much info to those of us who are booked on this ship! We are booked on this ship for a TA next year but have some concerns about the smoking on the ship. Previous comments on reviews of the Koningsdam noted smoke coming out of the casino into the adjacent areas and stairwells. Is that the case on this new ship? Having been on neither, it is hard for me to picture the casino and surrounding areas. It would be really helpful if you could weigh in with firsthand observations. i also saw in yesterday’s posting of the daily that they had a non smoking evening in the casino. Do you have any idea how often that occurs and if it is in effect for the whole day or just the evening? I know smoking is a hot button topic and do not want to hijack your great thread with a big discussion, but your input will help us determine if we keep or ultimately cancel our cruise. Any info you can provide will be much appreciated! They have had two non-smoking evenings so far on the cruise. This is Saturday and we disembark on Wed. morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCnurse Posted December 15, 2018 #909 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Just now, Fighterone said: What brand of Pinot Grigio did they run out of? Not sure, but they also ran out of Pellegrino and people who don’t want still water are peeved! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbunny6 Posted December 15, 2018 #910 Share Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) 4 minutes ago, NCnurse said: We have ventured into the casino a couple of times, but I admit the smoke bothered me. In fact, the area the have designated “smoking” has some of my favorite slots. I have found that to be true every time I was on a HAL ship with smoking allowed in the casino. As far as I am concerned, if they are going to allow smoking, I will just have to stay out of there. Why can't they have a completely separate casino room with a better air filtration system for the smokers? That would solve everyone's problem with it, and no one would have to "do without." Having non-smoking evenings is useless, because in an area with carpeting, draperies and upholstered chairs, the smoke smell has gotten into the fabrics and just because no one is actively smoking in there, it will still smell of smoke. I agree with GeorgiaPeach51... I will just stay out of the casino and save a LOT of money! But also miss a lot of fun. Edited December 15, 2018 by beachbunny6 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted December 15, 2018 #911 Share Posted December 15, 2018 10 minutes ago, NCnurse said: Not sure, but they also ran out of Pellegrino and people who don’t want still water are peeved! Another First World problem. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCnurse Posted December 15, 2018 #912 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Just now, beachbunny6 said: I have found that to be true every time I was on a HAL ship with smoking allowed in the casino. As far as I am concerned, if they are going to allow smoking, I will just have to stay out of there. Why can't they have a completely separate casino room with a better air filtration system for the smokers? That would solve everyone's problem with it, and no one would have to "do without." Having non-smoking evenings is useless, because in an area with carpeting, draperies and upholstered chairs, the smoke smell has gotten into the fabrics and just because no one is actively smoking in there, it will still smell of smoke. I agree with GeorgiaPeach51... I will just stay out of the casino and save a LOT of money! But also miss a lot of fun. And Holland America will miss a lot of our money! Norwegian’s new Bliss has a totally enclosed smoking room. Much better. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCnurse Posted December 15, 2018 #913 Share Posted December 15, 2018 15 hours ago, scluvsrain said: My stateroom door is metal and will hold magnets. Both front and back. I just tested it. The stateroom beds come with 2 or 3 pillows for each person. I like soft pillows and one of mine is soft yet supportive; the other is long (king size) and more firm. But a pillow is a very personal thing - what one person likes, another doesn’t. I havent seen or heard heard of any karaoke. They must vary, since my magnet would not stick to my door (Deck 7-Schubert-verandah cabin on the starboard side.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fighterone Posted December 15, 2018 #914 Share Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) 20 minutes ago, NCnurse said: Not sure, but they also ran out of Pellegrino and people who don’t want still water are peeved! Thank you for posting this. I will pack small cans of Perrier. Cannot be without my sparkling water. First world problem easily corrected, LOL. Edited December 15, 2018 by Fighterone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted December 15, 2018 Author #915 Share Posted December 15, 2018 23 minutes ago, Fighterone said: What brand of Pinot Grigio did they run out of? Estancia is the one they ran out of - I forget the name of the replacement. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCnurse Posted December 15, 2018 #916 Share Posted December 15, 2018 13 hours ago, Vict0riann said: Last night at dinner, we were informed that they have run out of the wine we had picked - the wine steward brought a different Italian Pinot Grigio. I imagine they will be restocking in Fort Lauderdale. We must be drinking a lot! Czaba said that that at the Cellar Master dinner he had brought in some of the “new” wines. There will be changes to the packages, I guess. We’re rocking and rolling this morning. I wonder how many will be at breakfast! Last night, for the first time, we noticed a dispenser of “sea sick” bags next to the elevator bank. Tonight we have found much smoother water! Thank you, Captain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted December 15, 2018 #917 Share Posted December 15, 2018 2 minutes ago, Vict0riann said: Estancia This is a locally popular Pinot Grigio locally that many restaurants offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCnurse Posted December 15, 2018 #918 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Just now, Fighterone said: Thank you for posting this. I will pack small cans of Perrier. Cannot be without my sparkling water. First world problem easily corrected, LOL. I think they’ll be restocking in Ft. Lauderdale. Not sure you can bring on any drinks besides one bottle of wine per person to be consumed in your cabin. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted December 15, 2018 Author #919 Share Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) 10 minutes ago, NCnurse said: They must vary, since my magnet would not stick to my door (Deck 7-Schubert-verandah cabin on the starboard side.) I think so too, our magnet sticks on some of the walls, but not the doors. We are forward on deck 11, port side. Edited December 15, 2018 by Vict0riann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Goalie Posted December 15, 2018 #920 Share Posted December 15, 2018 On 12/14/2018 at 1:49 PM, rafinmd said: Has the internet and/or Cruise Critic performance gotten better in the last few days? Roy We are going on 10 day on NS this winter. How much do the internet plans cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scluvsrain Posted December 15, 2018 #921 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Must be my magnetic personality, hahahahaha!! im in an aft veranda on deck 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutpug Posted December 15, 2018 #922 Share Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) Thanks for the tips on pillows and beddings all! Edited December 15, 2018 by Tutpug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted December 15, 2018 #923 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Thank you for all the reports and food pictures. Dinner looks great -- Hard to choose which entree I want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted December 15, 2018 #924 Share Posted December 15, 2018 2 hours ago, scluvsrain said: Came back to my cabin after dinner to find this nice gift. Beautiful plate!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted December 15, 2018 Author #925 Share Posted December 15, 2018 11 minutes ago, scluvsrain said: Must be my magnetic personality, hahahahaha!! im in an aft veranda on deck 6 I figured it was because you were at the aft, it was all metal. But it may be your magnetic personality!😀🧲 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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