A new HAL Blog! (Yes, I'm a HAL employee!)

[world~citizen]

DBA:

 

Too bad you can't change the name of your blog, its not so NEW anymore.:D

 

Smooth sailing...

[Karadad]

We are cruising the Caribbean and were wondering if the ship time on the itinerary is posted in EST or Atlantic time? We have booked a private tour and want to make sure we tell the operator the correct time to get us back. As much as I love the Caribbean I'm not sure we can retire there yet (or ever).

[Gerd]

...

 

Hello "Dutch"

 

I understand, that I never will get an helpful behavior here in Europe…

 

Could you please answer the questions concerning Seattle

 

Some other questions :

 

- why some reservations we cannot do in advance, but only ones we are on board

– and then, we detect, that the list is already full or closet (two kind of clients ?)

- and finally, why I hear everywhere around that they could bring visitors on board on the embarkation day (and myself have seen a lot on board), but Seattle does not grant my request => telling me about a strict rule > fleet wide (two kind of clients treatment) ???

 

 

Happy cruising

 

G E R D

 

...

[sansterre]

We are cruising into Murmansk in June.

Would you happen to know when the excursions will be published for this cruise? Since January, they keep saying "soon", so I call every week. We are concerned because often, in Russia, you need a Visa unless you are on a tour.

[DutchByAssociation]

DBA:

 

Too bad you can't change the name of your blog, its not so NEW anymore.:D

 

Smooth sailing...

 

Yeah, been going for a couple years now...

 

Oh well.. :D

[DutchByAssociation]

We are cruising the Caribbean and were wondering if the ship time on the itinerary is posted in EST or Atlantic time? We have booked a private tour and want to make sure we tell the operator the correct time to get us back. As much as I love the Caribbean I'm not sure we can retire there yet (or ever).

 

Might be best to check with SHip Services on that one. I'm not exactly sure if everything lines up with local time or not. I BELIEVE it does, but obviously would want to make sure in a situation like this that you can get an accurate answer.

 

Give them a call. They can contact the ship and find out

[DutchByAssociation]

...

 

Hello "Dutch"

 

I understand, that I never will get an helpful behavior here in Europe…

 

Could you please answer the questions concerning Seattle

 

Some other questions :

 

- why some reservations we cannot do in advance, but only ones we are on board

– and then, we detect, that the list is already full or closet (two kind of clients ?)

- and finally, why I hear everywhere around that they could bring visitors on board on the embarkation day (and myself have seen a lot on board), but Seattle does not grant my request => telling me about a strict rule > fleet wide (two kind of clients treatment) ???

 

 

Happy cruising

 

G E R D

 

...

 

I'm not entirely understanding your questions Gerd.

 

Visitors are not allowed, although the ships and corporate office will occasionally allow travel agents to tour, sometimes with a few of their clients.

 

Regarding the reservaions, do you mean things like Canaletto and the Culinary Classes? We typically do not allow things with VERY low guest counts to be reserved before the cruise as it's simply not fair to the rest of the guests.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Sorry you're always so upset in your posts (or at least it seems that way since you always use the angry face)

[DutchByAssociation]

We are cruising into Murmansk in June.

Would you happen to know when the excursions will be published for this cruise? Since January, they keep saying "soon", so I call every week. We are concerned because often, in Russia, you need a Visa unless you are on a tour.

 

Have you tried calling Shore Excursions? They might have additional information.

 

I can't imagine us going to a port where there are zero excursion options...

[innlady1]

Dutch,

We're just off the Maasdam and we're booking the same cruise next year....cutting back so am booking an outside instead of a verandah. Have 420 on hold with my TA and am wondering if, after the refit, HAL will add more deck chairs to the Lower Promenade deck?

I called HAL a little while ago and the woman I talked with suggested asking the cabin steward...not sure that'll fly!

Thanks for any input!

[DutchByAssociation]

Dutch,

 

We're just off the Maasdam and we're booking the same cruise next year....cutting back so am booking an outside instead of a verandah. Have 420 on hold with my TA and am wondering if, after the refit, HAL will add more deck chairs to the Lower Promenade deck?

 

I called HAL a little while ago and the woman I talked with suggested asking the cabin steward...not sure that'll fly!

 

Thanks for any input!

 

I know in the case of Veendam some questions had come up about how many chairs are not the dedicated chairs for lanai rooms, and the total the ship provided was, I BELIEVE in the range of 180-200. Figure 2 for each lanai room and the remainder are for anyone (as are any other loungers in any other public area) :)

 

If Maasdam follows the example of Veendam in THAT regard, I think that's about as close as we'll get to an answer :)

[erewhon]

I'm not entirely understanding your questions Gerd.

 

Visitors are not allowed, although the ships and corporate office will occasionally allow travel agents to tour, sometimes with a few of their clients.

 

Regarding the reservaions, do you mean things like Canaletto and the Culinary Classes? We typically do not allow things with VERY low guest counts to be reserved before the cruise as it's simply not fair to the rest of the guests.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Sorry you're always so upset in your posts (or at least it seems that way since you always use the angry face)

 

DBA,

I wish query your response to the question about visitors on board ship.

 

Anyone reading cruise critic and following the travel blog of "Kween Karen" last year will be aware that sometimes visitors are permitted on board the ships. "Kween Karen" actually posted photos of her visitors on board the Amsterdam, while in ?Vancouver? and definetly in Sydney.

[DutchByAssociation]

DBA,

I wish query your response to the question about visitors on board ship.

 

Anyone reading cruise critic and following the travel blog of "Kween Karen" last year will be aware that sometimes visitors are permitted on board the ships. "Kween Karen" actually posted photos of her visitors on board the Amsterdam, while in ?Vancouver? and definetly in Sydney.

 

Gotcha. Thanks.

 

Not sure what comes into play for that. It could be that it was a Grand Voyage and maybe the rules are a little different. Could have just been requested onboard and the Captain or another officer gave the okay. Not sure what goes into the decisions but I would imagine they all have to be run through Fleet Security

[erewhon]

DBA,

Thank you for your response.

[jean95404]

Do the windows open at all in the oceanview cabins? Thanks in advance for an answer.

[DutchByAssociation]

Do the windows open at all in the oceanview cabins? Thanks in advance for an answer.

 

They do not.

 

To have something that opens, you would want a Lanai room (select ships only) or anything with a verandah

[kazu]

Gotcha. Thanks.

 

Not sure what comes into play for that. It could be that it was a Grand Voyage and maybe the rules are a little different. Could have just been requested onboard and the Captain or another officer gave the okay. Not sure what goes into the decisions but I would imagine they all have to be run through Fleet Security

 

 

Kween Karen was indeed on a Grand Voyage and is on another one right now. :D

[DutchByAssociation]

Kween Karen was indeed on a Grand Voyage and is on another one right now. :D

 

I know. I've been following her blog daily. :)

[catl331]

We are cruising the Caribbean and were wondering if the ship time on the itinerary is posted in EST or Atlantic time?

HAL is just like the airlines: schedule times are local times.

 

We have yet to be in any port in the world where the ship did not adjust its time to match local time. Therefore, the time on the itinerary is both ship time and local time. (I know Puerto Vallarta is one place where it's not done, but we haven't been there yet.)

[micarda]

Will be on the Rotterdam October 1 for 24 days and would like to know if HAL has become more aware of the dangers of second hand smoke. Except for the casino and smoking areas, is smoking still allowed on the verandah and in rooms? Would like to add my vote for limiting smoking on all the ships.

[innlady1]

I know in the case of Veendam some questions had come up about how many chairs are not the dedicated chairs for lanai rooms, and the total the ship provided was, I BELIEVE in the range of 180-200. Figure 2 for each lanai room and the remainder are for anyone (as are any other loungers in any other public area) :)

 

If Maasdam follows the example of Veendam in THAT regard, I think that's about as close as we'll get to an answer :)

 

Thanks Dutch!

Since there will be 29 CA's, 58 will be reserved for those staterooms, leaving 122 to 142 remaining? Or, 61 to 71 each for Port and Starboard? If that's the case, I think they must be adding some! I don't think there were 90-100 Port & Starboard on the Maasdam recently.

I'm hoping that's correct!

[Cruisinetta]

DBA, if you have any pull with the big wigs, please ask them to reinstate the activities staff. I just returned from a Celebrity cruise and it brought back all the fun memories of HAL cruises past. I miss all the fun stuff. PLEASE!!!!

[cruzisme]

I agree re above. Other than trivia or bingo I find

very little being offered on HAL ships.

Will be on Princess next & seeing what they offer.

Miss the Dam dollars.

DBA: relay this if possible to management.

Thanks

[SilvertoGold]

DBA

 

Could you please clarify Self-Disembarkation for me?

 

We will carry off all our bags ourselves.

I have read on the other thread about the new disembarkation that we would be given an early time (first off) and would have to be ready to go and be off the ship within that window. Alternately, another person has said that you can be off anytime after the first call.

 

Thanks for your help.

[erewhon]

Will be on the Rotterdam October 1 for 24 days and would like to know if HAL has become more aware of the dangers of second hand smoke. Except for the casino and smoking areas, is smoking still allowed on the verandah and in rooms? Would like to add my vote for limiting smoking on all the ships.

 

Unfortunately Holland America have an antiquated smoking policy which allows smoking in cabins and balconies.

[DutchByAssociation]

Will be on the Rotterdam October 1 for 24 days and would like to know if HAL has become more aware of the dangers of second hand smoke. Except for the casino and smoking areas, is smoking still allowed on the verandah and in rooms? Would like to add my vote for limiting smoking on all the ships.

 

Besides all outdoor areas, smoking is only allowed:

 

In staterooms

Casino (if interest is expressed to the CD there will usually be a smoke free night)

Bar adjacent to the Casino (and this isn't even the case on all ships as those with Mix, all Mix bars are smoke free)

A portion of the night club venue (the venue varies by ship)

 

Everything else on the entire ship is non smoking.

 

There will be a survey provided at theend of your cruise that will allow you to officially register your thoughts on the smoking topic. Right now, based on the feedback from those forms, the policy reflects a balance for all of our guests.