questions from a newbie

[mash1982]

Hi guys, I am thinking about Noordam Caribbean cruise. I have never sailed before. I would really appreciate your help and advices.

1) I heard that cruising is a best vacation value, but what exactly is included in your price?

2) I am on a budget, so what cruise expenses I should expect?How much do you usually spend?

3) Any advice on tipping?

4) How do I choose a cabin?I studied HA deck plan, but still unsure what cabins would make a good choice. Are higher decks better then lower? Why?

 

I know there are a lot of questions. I just really want to be prepared:)

THANK YOU!

[cdkempton]

Your cruise price will include your stateroom, all meals (except the additional fee if you want to eat in the specialty dining room) and entertainment. You will pay extra for any alcoholic beverages and sodas.

You will have a $10 per day per person "tip" added on to your shipboard account which is for your room steward, dining room waiter and bus boy. You will incur a 15% "tip" added on at any bar for alcoholic drinks or sodas at the time of purchase. These are all added on to you on-board account.

As far as room selection, you may want to see a travel agent for this. There are so many variables. If you're prone to sea-sickness, you may feel more secure in a room that is mid-ships. You actually feel less motion on the lower decks, but, again, this would depend on what waters you'll be in. I'm sure someone else will come up with much more detailed information about room selection. We are not prone to sea-sickness so we tend to get the least expensive room that we are willing to settle for and have a little more $$$ for shore excursions.

Also, you might want to check out the Holland America web site for tons of information.

Good Luck & Bon Voyage!!:)

[JimVrhovac]

Read back through the threads a couple pages. Most of your questions will be answered then.

 

Ruth & Jim

[osiebosie]

As far as cabin choices, we always look out for:

 

The gym. You do NOT want to be under the gym. We had friends who were once, and got woke up every morning by guys dropping weights.

 

The show theatre. It may be loud enough to wake you.

 

Elevators: some want to be near them, and others don't want to hear the traffic.

 

We like balconys, or at least a window, but some really like sleeping in a dark inside cabin.

 

We also like the motion of the ocean, so we gravitate towards the front or back of the ship.

 

Spending: your cabin and all meals are included. Things such as drinks, photos, massages, shopping, etc. all will be charged to your room. You could easily be surprised at the end of the cruise when you get your bill. However, you can also not spend much money at all and still have plenty to do. Give yourself a budget per day, and you can always check your account at the purser's desk to see where you are. Gambling is extra, and we gamble using cash only, not charging to the room. So we bring our gambling money.

 

You will spend money at ports. We do not do excursions, but go off on our own on islands. I would suggest that you do that at one port, and try an excursion on another. Then you can decide what you like best. We like being on our own timetable. We spend less money than excursions, and have never, ever been late getting back to the ship.

 

Technically, though, if you only purchase the cruise, and then don't spend any extra money anywhere else, it is a very economical vacation. Just be aware that you WILL spend some money somewhere else.

 

It's worth it!

 

Shay

[mash1982]

Thank you for all your replies. I have few more questions.

Do you book a flight to port together with a cruise or separately?

Is there a safe for money or other valuables in your cabin?

[WeLoveCruising]

Thank you for all your replies. I have few more questions.

Do you book a flight to port together with a cruise or separately?

Is there a safe for money or other valuables in your cabin?

 

You can do either for the flight. The advantages of booking with the cruise line is that they will take care of your transfers to the ship. Also, if you are on the cruiselines airfare and somehow delayed, they are responsible for getting you to the ship. All that said, however, the cruise lines air program will most likely be more expensive, and you will have their choice of flights, not your own. If you are making connections they might not be the most convenient.

 

Booking your own air will most likely save you money, and you can choose your flights. However, a BIG warning...if you can swing it you should plan to arrive at least a day early. Depending on the weather and how far you need to travel, there is a risk of delays/cancellation and you could literally "miss the boat" - or ship to be more accurate ;)

 

Yes, there is a safe in the cabin. You will need a magnetic stripe card of your own to lock and unlock it with. I use my grocery store card.

 

Joanne

[O2cruise]

I would also suggest that when factoring in expenses you purchase trip insurance. Not only to protect you if you should miss the ship, or are delayed in transit, but just in case you need emergency medical treatment and need to be medi-vac'd from the ship or other such emergency. If you go to insuremytrip dot com you can compare plans and rates. Have fun planning your cruise!!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

mash1982

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

I don't know where you live, but you might consider flying in a day early - if you are taking the cruise during the winter months -- snow storms may delay you getting to the embarkation city.

 

You will find as you read that many of us book our own flights and if need be, our own hotels.

[jtl513]

The advantages of booking with the cruise line is that they will take care of your transfers to the ship.

For a price ... that won't be the cheapest way to do it.

Yes, there is a safe in the cabin. You will need a magnetic stripe card of your own to lock and unlock it with. I use my grocery store card.

On the Noordam you won't need a card - the safes have pushbutton combination locks.

[WeLoveCruising]

For a price ... that won't be the cheapest way to do it.

On the Noordam you won't need a card - the safes have pushbutton combination locks.

 

Thanks for the info on the Noordam safes. My first cruise on the Noordam will be next month. I'm glad they changed the way the safe works.

[cruise_4_me]

Hello All,

I've been searching for a good place to ask this question and hope this is it. We are a group of 8 that have cruised before but first time with HAL. We are all in our early 50's and very active. Next year we are taking the Noordam on an 11 day cruise from NY. One of the group is worried his wife will not like this ship because he has heard there is not much night life which is his wife's main interest on sea days. She loves late night activities. Is he correct? Thanks for any help.

 

Dennis

[INSIDERS CABIN]

Best travel insurance is to go 2 days early especially if weather or holidays can be a factor with your airport or connections. Several years ago we found out the hard way on Carnival that the cruiseline can book your airfare and can try to get you to the port, but once you miss the flight and the sailing, the overnight expenses become yours, and on a short cruise, with a couple of sea days at the outset and todays airline passenger loads, i would never rely on the "cruiseline getting you to the ship" again. We were traveling as chaperones with a band group and watched all of our plans dissolve. A large group is very inflexible. Since that time we have always done our own booking--get nonstops and much better schedules. We also look for hotel packages on line and have done very well, after doing a lot of research on these boards of course!

 

Re nightlife--your group of 8 can have a great time. There is the casino till 2, the Northern lights comes to life at midnight with a dj and dancing. Do late dinner seating and that will keep you all busy till 10 pm then go to the 10:15 show. The Crew show is at 11:15 one night and there will probably be an adult comedian at 11:15 one night as well. One of you will probably have a nice big cabin and you can entertain with the glasses and minibar!

[INSIDERS CABIN]

Just to clarify--the problem is that the airlines now have no excess capacity to book you on the next flight out to get you to the ship. If you've been around an airport lately, you will have heard the gate announcements and it seems all flights are overbooked now. When we were canceled off of our SD to Ohare flight last winter we had to wait 3 days for 2 seats to get home (not a bad place to be stranded)--or go to the airport and standby on every flight at the gate.

[the2ofus]

It can't be emphasized enough that if you can afford the overnight expense please try to fly in to the embarkation port a day early. You will be rested and will enjoy your first day and evening on board instead of being exhausted by an early wake-up and all the joys(?) of travel. It's not just the weather that can hold up a flight and it's not just the winter months you have to worry about, so try to minimize the risk of missing the boat.

 

Examples: (1) One group of six people - two flew in a day early, boarded well-rested and enjoyed dinner and the nightlife on the ship that first night, four got up at 3:00 a.m. for a 5:00 a.m. flight check-in. By dinnertime on the ship, those four all had queasy stomachs from their long tiring day and irregular eating schedules. They didn't enjoy dinner and went to bed soon after.

 

(2) One morning last APRIL, my Dear Sis was on one of the last flights out of Chicago as a freak snowstorm hit the area. The Chicago airport was closed but she was safe in the FLL sunshine, ready and rested to board the ship the next morning for our 10 day cruise.

[RuthC]

You're asking fine questions, but I'm concerned that you're asking them after you've picked an itinerary and ship. The itinerary may be a factor of the time of year you can cruise, but the choice of cruiseline/ship should be well-considered.

Are you aware that every cruiseline is at least a bit different than the others, and finding the one (or two, or three) that are the best fit for you, at this point in your life, can make a big difference in your enjoyment of a cruise? Some lines are fun!, Fun!, FUN!, while others are quiet and sedate. There's lots of variables.

I don't know anything about you, nor do I know how much research you may have done already. I just want you to be aware that

cruiselines aren't a "one size fits all" product.

I suggest you read the boards for several lines (if you haven't already started doing that), and perhaps sit down with a good TA who might be able to help in your decision-making.

Good luck, and have a great time on your first (of many, probably) cruise. :)

[NoNoNanette]

I suggest you read the boards for several lines (if you haven't already started doing that), and perhaps sit down with a good TA who might be able to help in your decision-making.

 

Ruthie makes a good point..... ALTHOUGH.....be aware.....

 

There are plenty of Travel Agents out there who will tell you that HAL is a "Geriatric" cruiseline. I'm 47. My husband is 62. We became HOOKED on HAL last December, with another one planned in a few months.

 

It's certainly not a non-stop party, but you can look forward to wonderful service and atmosphere.

 

Enjoy your first HAL Cruise! :)

[RuthC]

Ruthie makes a good point.....

Ruthie? Tsk, tsk. You know better. :rolleyes:

[hammybee]

Hello All,

I've been searching for a good place to ask this question and hope this is it. We are a group of 8 that have cruised before but first time with HAL. We are all in our early 50's and very active. Next year we are taking the Noordam on an 11 day cruise from NY. One of the group is worried his wife will not like this ship because he has heard there is not much night life which is his wife's main interest on sea days. She loves late night activities. Is he correct? Thanks for any help.

 

Dennis

 

Ah, the ole night life question.

 

I have been on Carnival sails where one was hard-pressed to find much of anything happening after 11:00 PM and I am aware of some HAL sails that have not shut down until the wee hours. So much is dependent upon your fellow passengers, a factor you cannot predict.

 

Fortunately, you group has some size and assuming all are inclined towards late evenings, I am sure you will make your own evening and probably attract others so inclined.

 

Is it me or have others noticed an abundance of men who tuck the wifey in and then hit the casino /bars?

[RuthC]

Is it me or have others noticed an abundance of men who tuck the wifey in and then hit the casino /bars?

Not my bar, hammybee. Not mine. :(

[mexico5]

Hi, Ruth's post is so important for new cruisers! My husband and I decided to go on our first cruise last December and did tons of research! We had it narrowed down to 2 cruiselines because of our one deal breaker was no tablemates. Princess or NCL had this. Now we are going to try HAL soon because they now offer this.

 

Then, the next thing was itinerary because we did not know if we were going to like cruising so we wanted a port intensive one so we could "get off the ship" as much as we could!

 

The third and final deal breaker was we had to have a balcony.

 

So in the end we did Princess and LOVED our first cruise. Now we don't even care how many sea days we have because we loved being on the ship.

 

You REALLY have to do your first cruise properly because it really will determine if you will ever cruise again...

 

So decide on the dining, itinerary and cabin and that will get a great start!

 

Sorry for the rant, but it is so important for our first cruise to be special...

[cruise_4_me]

Thanks everyone for the information. The fact is my DW and I booked this cruise first because it's exactly what we want. We are not into the night life as much as our one friend. We are early risers and like to walk the deck in the morning and relax on sea days and when in port do anything to do with the beautiful water. The other couples decided to book once they saw the wonderful ship and ports. I will pass this information to our night life friends and they can determine if they will cancel. Thanks again.

 

Dennis