Hawaiian Holiday 🎄🍾 LIVE from Koningsdam Dec 21-Jan 6: join me for my 1st solo cruise & 1st inside cabin!

[oldbluff]

10 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Thanks so much! The celebration on the ship continues with Mariner lunch today.

I know it's not for the holiday, but I like to think it's special. 😏

Good move to have a large number of officers and staff sit at tables with passengers at the Mariner lunch. I don’t recall seeing this before. It builds connections.

[Haljo1935]

Tomorrow's Daily

 

Steward says tomorrow is last day to send laundry - that means they're preparing to kick us off 😪

[Haljo1935]

4 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

 

I haven't gone to one in years either and the menus from 2022 were pretty bad too. It's great to see that HAL has upped their Mariner Luncheon game in the last six months based on postings I've seen on Cruise Critic!  I will attend on my next cruise in May.  🙂

 

~Nancy

The one last month on NS was also good.

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, BetsyS. said:

I'm sorry your Stars lost to the Canadiens tonight 4-3. Their next game is Thursday, 1/4 against Colorado Avalanche. 

        Thanks for all your reports, pictures and menus. I love pictures of the food!

Have fun at the Orange Party!

 

 

I do have more spa pictures for you, just need to get them posted. 

[Haljo1935]

19 minutes ago, oldbluff said:

Good move to have a large number of officers and staff sit at tables with passengers at the Mariner lunch. I don’t recall seeing this before. It builds connections.

Yes, I agree it's a good move even though we didn't have one at our table. I don't recall seeing it before either. 

[oldbluff]

18 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Yes, I agree it's a good move even though we didn't have one at our table. I don't recall seeing it before either. 

We didn’t have one either. But good to see.

[Haljo1935]

Cabin pictures - I did move a few things around before taking some pictures.

Outlets at the desk

Under the desk & drawers

Top drawer has blow dryer & mirror

"Dry bar" and home to my fruit bowl. This is to the left of the bed leading to the safe, fridge & closets. 

Table closest to the wall - side furthest from the door.

Left side of bed. There is space between the bed and the corner "dry bar" unit.

Distance between foot of bed and wall. TV does not pull out or swivel. The metal tension strings beneath the TV are great storage.

Farthest left closet has 2 shelves

Top portion of left closet

Bottom section of right closet has 4 shelves 

Top section of right closet

3 drawers under the fridge

Safe above fridge

Bathroom is shower only

 

 

 

[SonuvaBeach]

We are really enjoying YOUR cruise! 😄 I love all the photos. We may have to go the the Mariners Luncheon  this year, too!

One quick question: Is the safe big enough for a 15 inch lap top?

 

[Hogladyrider]

@Haljo1935  my apologies if this question has been covered earlier, senior moment of forgetfulness here.  Is the cabin door magnetic?

[waiting2retire]

Quick question re Mariner’s Lunch. I am 4 star but my travel companion is not. Can she attend with me or is the invitation restricted to me?  I have never attended, but this menu really appeals to me. 

[LSegars]

10 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Tomorrow's Daily

 

Steward says tomorrow is last day to send laundry - that means they're preparing to kick us off 😪

When did they move the World Stage Shows to 8:00pm? In previous cruises it has always been 9:00pm. We will be on the Jan 30 cruise. With an 8:00pm show one must eat by 6:30. Too early for me. So either show before dinner or no show.

[Desert Cruisers]

19 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Many officers and senior crew were lined up greeting passengers as we entered the MDR for the Mariners Lunch. They were lined up at both doors and into the dining room - very nice welcome. 

Numbers were for certain passengers to sit at specific tables.

Officers had reserved assigned seating; this is the Director of F&B.

Menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain gave a champagne toast🥂 thanking Mariners for helping them get through the pandemic - he's happy to see so many back on HAL cruising again and said he appreciates us saving their jobs. It was a nice toast and nice lunch.

At what level do passengers get invited to this luncheon?  Recently on the Oosterdam  TA crossing, there was a late afternoon cocktail party but it was for 4 stars and above.  No special lunch.  

[jeh10641]

16 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Not all these pictures are from today; they're misc pictures taken across the time onboard.

If there's something you want to see, just let me know - 3 days left.

 

 

Are we playing Mahjong or "Deal or No Deal?"🙄

The views up here are fabulous  - so is the coffee and, well - everything!

 

 

Hi, Haljo1935,

We love the Crows Nest for its peace and quiet (to read), the view, the food and the drinks. And not to forget, Trivia (on past cruises).

Madie and Jim 

Edited January 3 by jeh10641

[Haljo1935]

3 hours ago, waiting2retire said:

Quick question re Mariner’s Lunch. I am 4 star but my travel companion is not. Can she attend with me or is the invitation restricted to me?  I have never attended, but this menu really appeals to me. 

I was not asked to present the invitation or any verification of Mariner status, so, at least this lunch on this ship, could have brought a guest.

For the wine tastings on different ships, I've taken guests w/o issue.

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, LSegars said:

When did they move the World Stage Shows to 8:00pm? In previous cruises it has always been 9:00pm. We will be on the Jan 30 cruise. With an 8:00pm show one must eat by 6:30. Too early for me. So either show before dinner or no show.

Not sure when the show times were moved; that has been discussed at our dinner table a few times. It doesn't work well for late dining (730 on this ship), for sure, and the 6pm show time has an awkward gap between the end of the show and start of dinner.

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, Desert Cruisers said:

At what level do passengers get invited to this luncheon?  Recently on the Oosterdam  TA crossing, there was a late afternoon cocktail party but it was for 4 stars and above.  No special lunch.  

I've been receiving them since hitting 4*

[Haljo1935]

7 hours ago, SonuvaBeach said:

We are really enjoying YOUR cruise! 😄 I love all the photos. We may have to go the the Mariners Luncheon  this year, too!

One quick question: Is the safe big enough for a 15 inch lap top?

 

No ruler to measure, but took a couple pictures using the Daily as a "size guide." Note that the safe has about a 1" lip all the way around it so the opening is approx 1" narrower then the inside. See the screensot close-up of the backside of the Daily for reference on the size of the lip.

The edge of the page is touching the wall of the safe.

The Daily is longways in the safe w/the top edge touching the inside of the safe. You can see how much room is left - just remember the "lip" around the safe. If the computer just fits, you may have to angle it to clear the lip.

My laptop fits w/o issue but it's a baby 13"

[trishbk]

52 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

I was not asked to present the invitation or any verification of Mariner status, so, at least this lunch on this ship, could have brought a guest.

For the wine tastings on different ships, I've taken guests w/o issue.

HAL’s policies extend Mariner benefits to the passenger with the highest status so long as they are sharing a cabin. A little while back, when my husband was 4 star and I was 5 star, he would also get the complementary day in the thermal suite and 2 specialty dining benefits. 

Edited January 3 by trishbk

[pmjnh]

2 hours ago, Desert Cruisers said:

At what level do passengers get invited to this luncheon?  Recently on the Oosterdam  TA crossing, there was a late afternoon cocktail party but it was for 4 stars and above.  No special lunch.  

@Desert Cruisers we were on the Oosterdam TA and the cocktail party was for 3* and up. 

[cbr663]

19 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

 

 

The views up here are fabulous  - so is the coffee and, well - everything!

 

 

 

 

 

The Crow's Nest is a wonderful place to sit and relax.  I do wish though I could enjoy it more.  I am one of "those" people who hates sea days as I think to myself, "why pay $$ to sit and read a book or put a puzzle together when I can easily enjoy that at home?" 

[Haljo1935]

6 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

@Haljo1935  my apologies if this question has been covered earlier, senior moment of forgetfulness here.  Is the cabin door magnetic?

Yes, both the cabin door and bathroom doors are magnetic. In these pictures, I used magnetic hooks to demonstrate.

Cabin hall side

Cabin inside

Bathroom outside 

Bathroom inside

 

[Haljo1935]

Ok, here we go. Which to do first - talk about the most recent sighting of the 4 legged passengers or the incredibly adorable animal invasion at the Lido?

Or show breakfast? I'll do that first- it's quick cuz I didn't take pictures of anything except the menu (gotta see the daily specials) and Tablemate's food.

 

[Haljo1935]

I really wish they offered Luggage Direct in San Diego. 😪Brown 1 puts me in the 1st group to the airport.

 

[Hogladyrider]

@Haljo1935..thank you so much for the info on the doors.

I have a magnetic sign for our cabin door.  Will make it easier for us to find our cabin after out and about for the evening!

[VMax1700]

9 hours ago, SonuvaBeach said:

One quick question: Is the safe big enough for a 15 inch lap top?

 

Yes it will accept my Dell Inspiron 15 inch laptop.  You need to insert it at a 45° angle through the door and not flat, but it will sit flat on the floor of the safe