Why is Holland America so much less expensive?

[bUU]

I'm a bit confused: What do I need to do to ensure that I can get a reduction if the price decreases? (We're being quoted pretty much what you were quoted originally for the Noordam last year and for your upcoming Jan 5 cruise, for early February.)

[xpcdoojk]

Wow, I thought you had given up cruising?

 

For what it is worth we had a very good experience on the Rotterdam in 2006. A nice low key experience.

 

Good luck.

 

My wife forbids me to allow my mother or her mother to go on a cruise with us ever again!:D

 

jc

[bUU]

We surely didn't intend to do another cruise so soon, but this is really a chance to spend a good bit of "quality time" with my mother (and her husband), and it is something Mom very much wants. We recently had a scare with my father (triple bypass) which has underscored the importance of spending time with my parents while we can.

[ittibit]

Not to my knowledge, but with a few exceptions all SA/SB/SC are the same size, all SS/SY/SZ are the same size, all VA to VF are the same size, etc. The variations occur in the HC cabins, "at the bends", at the stern, and so on. If you're considering any of these, ask by cabin number and someone will likely come up with an answer or comment.

 

 

Cabin numbers 4043-4050

Thanks

[happycat Bainbridge Is]

I think it's a great idea, and I can't imagine you won't love the Noordam and HAL's low-key, elegant service and style. Won't find the big production shows to be a strong suit, some entrees and desserts a little less fancy than X but very good quality, not the same wild-and-crazy nightlife 'til the wee sodden hours that some lines are famous for and some people inexplicably crave ...

 

My only caveat to you would be -- check the school break schedule. Elsewhere on these board there were reports of some EXCEEDINGLY unhappy cruisers who were on HAL sailings from NYC during school holidays with way too many unsupervised and out of control children. There is only so much the crew can do if parents abdicate their responsibilities, so I wouldn't fault HAL, but I would surely avoid booking during a school holiday!

[helenp2]

Cabin numbers 4043-4050

Thanks

 

We have stayed in these VD Cat cabins and love them. For us they are in a great location. Close to the elevator, very easy access to the casino, explorers lounge, crows nest, spa & pool, and lido deck. The only long walk for you will be to the dining room for dinner, but the pluses far outweight the minus. Also, these VD cabins have a slightly larger veranda than other V cat cabins. If you call HAL's 800 reservations they will be happy to give you exact sq footage of both of these cabins and also sq ft of verandas. Hope you book the Noordam it is truly a beautiful ship, and your choice of cabins is excellent.

[bUU]

Won't find the big production shows to be a strong suit ... not the same wild-and-crazy nightlife 'til the wee sodden hours that some lines are famous for and some people inexplicably crave ...

I'm not sure if you were replying to me or not... :) ... but just for calibration, we have actually never managed to stay awake long enough to make it to a show on either of the two Royal Caribbean cruises we were on, and we only caught one of the two "shows" on board the Shehrayar, and (1) it wasn't really a show, and (2) we only stayed a few minutes because we were too tired. We are very much early birds. We tend to wake at dawn, maybe catch the sun going up over the horizon if our balcony is facing in that direction, or perhaps we go up to the top deck to watch, cup of coffee in-hand. On port days, we almost always pick something thoroughly exhausting (hiking, kayaking, spelunking, snorkeling, etc.), so by the time we get back to the ship, we're ready to shower, have dinner, and then quietly unwind from the excitement of the day.

 

Of course, this is the first time we'll have two days at sea in a row (twice!) so we'll probably check out some of the shows...

 

some entrees and desserts a little less fancy

That probably won't affect us much. We're pretty health-conscious and find that often more fancy food is richer than we'd like it. Lower quality fish would disappoint us; lower grades of beef won't.

 

My only caveat to you would be -- check the school break schedule. Elsewhere on these board there were reports of some EXCEEDINGLY unhappy cruisers who were on HAL sailings from NYC during school holidays with way too many unsupervised and out of control children.

I hope school holidays in the Northeast start the week after the 2/6 cruise (if not two weeks). I would hope if parents are aiming to capitalize on the entirety of mid-winter break, they'll aim for the 2/16 cruise. The NYC school district has their Midwinter Recess from 2/18-22, and one upstate NY high school I checked at random has their break from 2/18-22 as well. Newark has one day off 2/12 and the afternoon of 2/13 off for parent conferences (as well as 2/18 off). Hmmm...

[happycat Bainbridge Is]

Hi Bicker,

 

Yes, that was supposed to be a reply for you. Just trying to give you a quick feel for the HAL experience. Sounds like it would be right up your alley. We were on the Volendam last year and didn't do the nightlife much either because of similiar habits and interests -- we love to hike and snorkel so we're usually ready to call it a night fairly early too.

 

The food is really very good -- I don't think you'll encounter a low-quality anything, and if you do get the odd klinker, by all means tell your server it's not to you taste and ask them to bring you something else - they really REALLY want you to be happy.

 

I just touched on these subjects because I have seen posts from people who placed an extremely high value on big production number shows or super-elaborate desserts and were just devastated (I'm not exaggerating) to find that they don't measure up (and in the dessert category I would say it's close -- I had no trouble enjoying mine with one sort of flat exception -- and that was the only thing in a 10 day cruise that wasn't good to excellent btw) ... or that production numbers are more polished and elaborate on X and Princess (which they certainly are).

 

If you do go to one show, I recommend the Phillipine crew show. Not that it's some highly polished thing (although there are a lot of talented performers), but it is a really special experience, because it's the crew's chance to tell a few jokes and share their love of their homeland and culture with you. It is really touching -- on our sailing they stayed up until 2 a.m. to practice the night before, after working a long, hard day, and then stayed up to do the performances the next night. One man sang a love song to his wife (in spirit since she was at home) -- in honor of the shore to ship call he had gotten that morning to say their first child had arrived safe and healthy. I don't think there were too many dry eyes on stage or in the house.

 

So, it sounds like the sailing you are contemplating is early enough so that you won't have to worry about massive #s of children. Nothing against children, I like well-behaved ones as much as, if not more than, many adults, but you seemed to be looking for some R and R and a chance to spend quality time with your family, and people have said that a huge # of children did interfer with their ability to have the kind of elegant, relaxed and enjoyable experience one normally can count on HAL to deliver.

 

We are doing the Noordam to Alaska with my parents for all the same reasons, are are confident that it is a great choice. I will say that from what I've seen and understand, non-school break/summer sailings have relatively fewer children, and they tend to be quite well-behaved when with their families and engaged in fun but not obtrusive activities when in the HAL kids' club. Maybe it's some kind of tipping point thing. In any case, after reading the reviews I made a mental note to be sure to check the school calendar before booking another cruise, and thought I'd share what I gleaned with you.

 

I hope it works out for you, and that you have a terrific time!

 

HCBI

[bUU]

Thanks!

[1olddeadhead]

Hi Bicker,

I'm signed in on my husband's computer, but this is ittibit...

This February we went out of NY on the Dawn...during the school break, unfortunately. Between us we have 6 kids (ages 33-13) and 5 grandsons (ages 6-2), and, since we leave them all at home (not that they all live with us) we were seriously dissapointed with the number of unsupervised, unruly kids we had to deal with! :( We have gone on 3 with Carnival, 1 on RC and that one with NCL. Our group is booked on this one 2/6/08 Noordam, and I sure hope it's more like our first 4. I just don't understand anything about the Dawn. Built to go out of NY, with only one major pool w/o a sliding roof, Free Style dining, which as a group of 9 did not work, etc., etc. And, they had so many extra charges like to use the spa pool, the extra dining rooms, oh I was so dissapointed! This year we made sure it wasn't during the break, and we checked the ship to see what it had. So, we booked our cabin today, and if there is an upgrade to the same general area (port bow) we'll take it and be greatful. We TRY to stay up for the shows, but, like you, we get tired. I usually am up an hour later than DH, and he's up an hour earlier than I am. So, look for us on the roll call, we'll be checking in regularly now.....Last year was the first we were active on the roll call and thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot! The packing list I picked up off the main boards made mine pale in comparison!!!:)

[InTheWASide]

HAL gave us a discount as we've previously cruised on Princess and Celebrity - a nice suprise!

 

That would have been from Princess. HAL and Celebrity are in no way connected.

 

:D

[Lionelski]

That would have been from Princess. HAL and Celebrity are in no way connected.

 

:D

Right you are. I meant Princess and CARNIVAL

[barbels]

I check the online prices for cabins I have booked at least once a week. When there is a price reduction I call my TA and ask for the reduction. Up until final payment you can cancel and rebook so I've had no problem getting the reduction. On the Dawn I got the upgrade to the minsuite after I made full payment. It never hurts to ask and the savings can be substantial.

[CoolChile]

I check the online prices for cabins I have booked at least once a week. .

 

I found a g-r-e-a-t TA who said she would check once a week, but my OCD kicked in I guess ;) , and I want to do more frequent checking myself.

 

Please tell me HOW to go about checking the online prices after you book a cabin ... not asking for "rule-breaking" here, just don't know what process I go through to do it. Be specific folkies, I haven't done this before. :)

_______________

:cool: CoolChile

[mafig]

Here's what I do. After I book my cruise, I write down what the price for my category is on the cruisline's website. I also write down the price on a large cruise website. These prices don't have to be what you paid--it's just a comparison. Then I check periodically. If their price has gone down, yours probably has also.

 

I also write down the prices for categories above mine that I might be interested in upgrading to. Sometimes they have sales where the higher priced categories are going for less than what I originally paid.

 

There have been a few times I've caught a price drop. My heart felt like it stopped!!!! Both times it was over $200 per person!