Back to HAL--it's been two years!

[Keith Rita]

Our next HAL cruise is for New Years on the Zaandam and it will be almost two full years from our last HAL cruise--which was also on the Zaandam. It was kind of a somber mood when we boarded the ship at the space coast. It was the day the shuttle was supposed to return. It turned out to be a just as good of a cruise as our previous four HAL cruises, except for the very sad beginning.
We are just wondering what, if any, changes we may encounter. Apparently the auto tipping is now in place as well as the customary 15% added to drinks. Anything else?
We are assuming the service has not declined any in our two year absence from HAL. We cruised on Celebrity Horizon last year for New Years and the service was outstanding. We did not book until early Dec and looked for a HAL cruise first. The Horizon was the only thing we found over ten days for New Years and our obstructed view cabin was a bargain. This cruise is also eleven days and we have had it booked since March. :cool: :cool:

[jhannah]

Hard question because ships are different and crews are different and so much of what we expect in service is so subjective. That said, I believe you will find service levels are not quite up to where they were two years ago. We just got off the Prinsendam last week, and while dining room service was perfectly acceptable it wasn't (IMO) any better than a typical quality land-based restaurant. The wait staff is simply spread too thin. You should still have a great experience and good value for the dollar.

[grannynurse]

It's getting closer! Four of our summer cruise mates have also joined the cruise. Mickey and DH are CC posters also.
Are you flying in before day of sailing? We're coming in on 12/26 and staying at Radisson at the port. I love the early (11:30am) embarkation. Since this our first Zaandam, we'll have time to explore her, although we're so familiar with the Rotterdam after 3 cruises and 34 days this summer, that we probably won't have any problems.
Yes automatic gratuities (service charge IMHO) and 15% at the lounges are in place. Lounge staff stand in the doorways to greet their regulars (and for other reasons), it's hard to disappoint if you have more than 1 favorite server.

Dutch night entrees have changed slightly, on cruises shorter than 14 days, they have abandoned the dover sole. Dutch hats are still in, fewer choices in the shops; they were completely out of the "dam ship" merchandise on the R-dam, but REvNeal posted that he bought a new "dam-ship" hat this week on the Zaandam. Hope they don't sell out over Christmas.
Can't think of any other changes, except for robes in all rooms, new mattresses, lighted make-up mirrors and new hair dryers.

Are you planning a CC get-together on board? If so, 1st sea day is a good choice. If there are 10 or fewer of us, a dining room lunch would be nice, if numbers are large, we could ask for a room. Ruth did, and we got snacks and an audience with the food and beverage manager. Just a thought.
Sea you soon,
GN

[Keith Rita]

grannynurse,

I just booked us into the Radisson, as well. We are leaving early Christmas morning, after having our traditional family get together to exchange gifts, etc., on Christmas Eve. I talked my youngest daughter into hosting it at her house this year. We will spend Christmas night in Lake City, FL and drive on to Orlando the next day. We are spending one night with Rita's son and girlfriend, by the way, she is also a nurse. We should arrive at the hotel sometime in the evening of the 27th.

The dining room lunch sounds like a good idea. Maybe you could post something in the roll call thread and we will see how many we get. :) :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=blue]Welcome back to HAL.[/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff][/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff]Changes - a lot has happened in the last couple of years. Changes that some people like, others don't and vise versa.[/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff][/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff]Only you can be the judge to determine if the Zaandam and HAL are like you remembered it.[/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff][/color][/font][/b]

[Keith Rita]

[quote name='Krazy Kruizers'][b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=blue]Welcome back to HAL.[/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff][/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff]Changes - a lot has happened in the last couple of years. Changes that some people like, others don't and vise versa.[/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff][/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff]Only you can be the judge to determine if the Zaandam and HAL are like you remembered it.[/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff][/color][/font][/b][/QUOTE]

[color=red][b]Our attitude on any cruise is go with the flow. We don't expect everything to be perfect. Of the four different cruise lines we have been on HAL has been the closest to that perfect than the others. That doesn't mean we did not have good cruises on the others--we did! We have yet to meet a cruise we didn't like. We are hoping HAL remains a cut above the rest.[/color][/b]
:) :)