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Live from Nieuw Statendam Premier Voyage, December 2018

Vict0riann

By Vict0riann,
in Holland America Line

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, goldengatecruisers said:

Thank you so much for posting the new beverage list.  Very thoughtful and extremely helpful in our planning.  I probably should know the answer to this but to all of you experienced HAL guests who enjoy an adult beverage, as we do, I have two specific questions.  I have not yet purchased my beverage package and having had Elite in the past I am wondering if I need it this cruise or whether I can get by with the Signature although I am concerned at the lack of wine choices with Signature.  Any and all advice welcomed.  

 

Here goes:  If I have an Elite Beverage Package and wish to enjoy a glass of Veuve Cliquot priced at $18 per glass, how am I billed?  Am I presented with a drink chit to sign for the additional $3 plus gratuity or because the drink is in excess of the allotted $15 am I charged the full amount?  Secondly, with regards to a classic martini I have the following question.   On a Signature Beverage Package you can get almost all vodka within the $9 limit.  How is a classic dry martini priced out and would that fall within the signature beverage package limit or by having a martini (which requires more than one single shot of spirit) is the price therefore higher and only available with the Elite?

 

EDITING: to add one more follow up question.  I realize the Signature is priced $5 per day less if purchased in advance of the sailing.   Is the Elite package charged the same pre-cruise as it is priced on board the ship?  Trying to work out if I should buy the Signature pre-cruise to take advantage of the savings and then simply upgrade once on board to the Elite if we decide to do so.

 

On a side note, thank you to all for the detailed posts from Nieuw Statendam. We board this coming weekend and are very excited about this new vessel.   Really do appreciate everyones insight and feedback 🙂

 

Ashley

 

I'm not on the cruise but I can help you a bit with this.

 

As to your first question, if you get the SPB and order a drink that is over the cost (ie. $12), you will be charged $12, not the difference between the SPB and the cost of the package.  So FULL price if you go over your $9 limit.  If you like wine and it is important to you, you might want to consider the Elite package.

 

There is no discount if you order the Elite Beverage package early - unlike the SPB.

 

Hope this helps.

 

I'm pretty sure our friends on board are busy packing 😞. Always a sad moment.

 

Great thread Ann & Sherita - you've been very informative and lots of fun. 🙂 

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

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40 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

Thanks for all your kind comments!  I think we have really enjoyed sharing all our experiences with our good friends on Cruise Critic.  Thanks to all of you.  

 

Just one one more day on the beautiful Nieuw Statendam and it will all be over for some of us, but others will sail on and others will be boarding for a wonderful cruise.  Bon voyage, all.

 

This has come to an end all to quickly Ann.  We'll miss your posts.

 

Hope you have a very nice flight home and best wishes for a very Merry Christmas to you and Pat 😄 

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bleacher04

bleacher04

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43 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

Thanks for all your kind comments!  I think we have really enjoyed sharing all our experiences with our good friends on Cruise Critic.  Thanks to all of you.  

 

Just one one more day on the beautiful Nieuw Statendam and it will all be over for some of us, but others will sail on and others will be boarding for a wonderful cruise.  Bon voyage, all.

 

Thanks so much for all of your efforts, Ann!  It's been a lot of fun!

 

Safe travels home!

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

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To all who've posted from N.S. live: Thanks for taking time from your cruise to share the experience with us.  All of us, I'm sure, now have a better gauge on whether N.S. is a ship we'd like to take or not.  We board Dec.23rd, and as I've previously said, all of your posts have added to our anticipation.  We can't wait!  

 

Safe journeys home and hope someday to meet you on one of the dam ships. 

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beachbunny6

beachbunny6

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Ann, Sherita, Tim, and everyone else on the Nieuw Statendam, THANK YOU! for sharing this wonderful voyage with all of us.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts, photos, information and especially for taking all the time you have spent to post it all here on CC so we all could enjoy your cruise, too.  I know it takes a lot of work and effort, and I want you all to know it is appreciated.  

 

To those of you returning home from Ft. Lauderdale, have a safe journey.  To those staying onboard, I look forward to meeting you in person.

 

I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season, and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year, full of Peace, Joy and Love.

Bon Voyage!

~Barbara~

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scluvsrain

scluvsrain

Posted
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7 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Thanks for all your kind comments!  I think we have really enjoyed sharing all our experiences with our good friends on Cruise Critic.  Thanks to all of you.  

 

Just one one more day on the beautiful Nieuw Statendam and it will all be over for some of us, but others will sail on and others will be boarding for a wonderful cruise.  Bon voyage, all.

I echo Ann’s comments. I’ve enjoyed being able to share my experiences and providing photos of this lovely new ship with all of you. 

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scluvsrain

scluvsrain

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Many thanks to Tim too (btimmer) for his contributions as well as his own live thread. I think we all were able to share different perspectives which makes for a more comprehensive presentation for you. 

 

Oh, and LOTS of food porn!!!!

 

It’s a labor of love!

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

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1 hour ago, scluvsrain said:

I echo Ann’s comments. I’ve enjoyed being able to share my experiences and providing photos of this lovely new ship with all of you. 

 

Thank you Sherita for all of your fabulous posts and pics.  and thank you to Snort for sharing some of his moments with us 😉

 

Very safe travels to you and have a truly joyous holiday season 🙂 

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Krazy Kruizers

Krazy Kruizers

Posted
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11 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

I will try to look into all these questions tomorrow.  We had a lovely final gala dinner , and I am ready for a nap!  I do believe that if you purchase a drink that is beyond the price that is included in your package, then you are charged the full amount, but I may be wrong.C885F4FF-5F90-4E85-B4EC-12DE9941D955.thumb.jpeg.de71040d9360c30e1cde61a07409c908.jpeg7BCCC7B7-E1A4-4373-9453-5BCCFF5B9827.thumb.jpeg.f72386c0a00a1e2f476552232f2d51b3.jpeg

 

Looks yummy.

 

You are correct -- if you do order a drink that costs more than $9, you will be charged the full price to your shipboard account.

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Vict0riann "Live from...." Rare

Vict0riann

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The wonderful towel animal display just appeared around the pool.  I think the room stewards must have been up at three a.m. to make them all.  We have had them before on longer cruises, but I think this was the largest show ever.  Lucky Snort to be able to participate!

 

Last night was the Chocolate Surprise(no surprise!), but we must have missed it.  We were in the Dutch Cafe after dinner, they must not have come our way, or our timing was off.  The parade of special Dutch treats at the Orange Party was amazing, though.  They went all out for that.  

 

There was was a lot to do on the ship that we missed out on.  I did learn a few things.  First was to give myself more time before the cruise to get over my jetlag.  Two nights in Rome just wasn’t enough - should have had two weeks!  Second, (I have to admit) - drink less!  That won’t be hard if prices keep going up, but I think it added to my tiredness that I may have overindulged on occasion.  Of course just being on a ship rocking gently makes me sleepy, so maybe it wasn’t only the wine and Advocaat!

 

And third, an inaugural cruise is a real treat!  Special people on board, special things to do, gifts, only bad part is that the time just flies by.  When is the next new ship?

 

 

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Vict0riann "Live from...." Rare

Vict0riann

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11 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

Enjoy the last sea day and safe journey home to beautiful Victoria, BC Ann

Copper, thank you.  We are looking forward to going home, but torn as we are so enjoying being at sea.  I need a clone so I can be in two places at once.

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frankc98376

frankc98376

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1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

Copper, thank you.  We are looking forward to going home, but torn as we are so enjoying being at sea.  I need a clone so I can be in two places at once.

 

I'd like to add my thanks to everyone that took us with them on this very special voyage. Probably the best "live from" ever!

 

Safe trip home to all!   Has been a wild week for weather on our side of the strait Ann- hoping your side was spared a bit.  A lot of wind, sideways rain, and power failures over here. Definitely not a good week to be on the Coho 🙂

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

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2 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Thanks everyone for following along.  If you can take an inaugural cruise, just do it!  Another opportunity will occur in 2021 with the X-Dam.

 

We're on for 4 more days, and my semi-live  blog thread will continue.

Fantastic to hear we'll get more.  I'll miss reading all of your live posts, so this is a gift none of us expected.  Thanks.

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