First time Cruiser, looking at HAL with some questions

[excaluber]

Hi,

My fiance and I have both never been on a cruise of any sort. However, we're thinking of taking one in the mediterranean for our Honeymoon next year.

With that said, we started looking around at different itineraries and really liked the HAL 12 night cruise from Venice to Barcelona on the neuw Amsterdam. It departs on June 27th and seems to hit up all the places we'd really like to see. Our main points of interest are Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Santorini. We considered trying to do this adventure on our own, but it seems to be way more difficult to get from Venice to Santorini then I imagined, which led us to this particular cruise.

This website and forum has been tremendously helpful in providing us information. But there's so much information here its also a bit overwhelming. So with that said, I apologize if any of these are redundant questions, and if there's already a good place to read answers, please feel free to link me to a thread/post instead of retyping anything.


Here's some background on us.

-This will be our honeymoon, so we're hoping to pick a cabin a little more private, and most definitely quiet.
-We're both 30, and don't mind walking.
-We both really want a private balcony.
-Both of us really don't like seafood. (i only mention that in terms of ship restaurants).
-We really would like a table for 2 as often as possible.
-We're mostly interested in exploring the ports, and the concept of not having to unpack and travel from place to place.
-I've been to many of the Italian cities we're stopping in already. (My fiance has no been to any of them). The greek stops will all be new.
-I get seasick sometimes....and i'm a little concerned about this.
-We haven't booked anything yet.

So with that said, i had a few questions.

1. Is Holland America (specifically the new Amsterdam) suited for couples honeymooning? Or is it more for families?

2. Is there any advantage to booking the cruise directly through Holland America? I've read about upgrades sometimes when a cabin type fills up. Does that not happen when booked through a travel agent?

3. Has anyone had any experience booking flights directly through HAL? Is there any advantage? Currently it seems the same price as online places. Which is to say its crazy expensive everywhere.

4. Has anyone had any experience booking pre/post cruise hotel stays directly through Holland America? If so, do they really charge the same amount per person for hotel rooms? It seemed odd that a hotel room would be $300 per night per person. I could certainly do much cheaper on my own.

5. With what i said above about wanting a quiet/private room with a balcony, what area of the ship do you guys recommend? I read the middle is pretty desirable due to lack of motion and being central to everything. But would that make it the most active and loud as well? For instance is it loud in rooms that are very close to the elevators?

6. Is it true that its better to book a cruise ASAP?

7. I've read about 'Gaurenteed' rooms as opposed to specific cabins. How do you go about booking those if we decide that? Also, is it cheaper to do so in most cases?

8. I've also read about some extras, like unlimited laundry, pre-paid gratuity, pre-paid drink coupons, pre-paid internet. Pre-purchase cabanas...etc etc. Where can you get a list of available options and pricing? I can't seem to find these anywhere, and have only heard about them through CC posts.

Thats all I can think of at the moment, but i'm sure i'll have more as we plan more.

Any other general advice or thoughts you guys have is absolutely welcome.

Thank you very much in advance, and sorry for the lengthy post!

-James

[grammie2maddie]

I've only cruised once before, and we will cruise again in November on Nieuw Amsterdam. We went through a cruise agent who booked our cruise with Holland America - the total is about $6000. Then I went to a cruise site - Smartcruiser (am I allowed to say that? I do not work for them.) and booked the exact same cruise for $2300 - and we have a balcony. I am certainly not an expert, but if you do your homework, there are better deals out there.

ps - we canceled the cruise with the travel agent - obviously!

Also, my son and girlfriend will meet us halfway through the cruise and cruise with us. When he talked to the person to book the cruise - same site - he asked if there were any discounts available. He received $150 off the cruise and $150 shipboard credit.

[taxmantoo]

1. Is Holland America (specifically the new Amsterdam) suited for couples honeymooning? Or is it more for families?

HAL would be a very good line for a honeymoon. There will be families on the ship but they will represent a minimal percentage of passengers. Most will be couples of varying ages from very young to very old.

2. Is there any advantage to booking the cruise directly through Holland America? I've read about upgrades sometimes when a cabin type fills up. Does that not happen when booked through a travel agent?

Upgrades can happen whether you book directly through HAL or use a travel agent. You will normally be able to find a better price by dealing with a travel agent you can trust.

3. Has anyone had any experience booking flights directly through HAL? Is there any advantage? Currently it seems the same price as online places. Which is to say its crazy expensive everywhere.

Take the everywhere else option! You keep the flexibility to change the flights easily and you control the booking.

4. Has anyone had any experience booking pre/post cruise hotel stays directly through Holland America? If so, do they really charge the same amount per person for hotel rooms? It seemed odd that a hotel room would be $300 per night per person. I could certainly do much cheaper on my own.

Much better again to do your own thing.

5. With what i said above about wanting a quiet/private room with a balcony, what area of the ship do you guys recommend? I read the middle is pretty desirable due to lack of motion and being central to everything. But would that make it the most active and loud as well? For instance is it loud in rooms that are very close to the elevators?

Although the middle of the ship is in fact smoother, the Mediterranean tends to be rather tame and you may prefer the stern of the ship (way at the back...) for more privacy and quiet. Elevators are usually not a noise problem anywhere.

6. Is it true that its better to book a cruise ASAP?

We think so :D

7. I've read about 'Gaurenteed' rooms as opposed to specific cabins. How do you go about booking those if we decide that? Also, is it cheaper to do so in most cases?

On HAL the price for a specific room in a specific category (for example, VA or SY) is usually the same as a guarantee. Given that fact, just book the room you want and let the HAL rep or your travel agent know that you would still consider an upgrade (or an upsell) if it became available.

8. I've also read about some extras, like unlimited laundry, pre-paid gratuity, pre-paid drink coupons, pre-paid internet. Pre-purchase cabanas...etc etc. Where can you get a list of available options and pricing? I can't seem to find these anywhere, and have only heard about them through CC posts.

Unfortunately, the HAL website was changed recently and now allows only booked guests to view these options. If you have one or two specific options in mind, I'm sure someone here could help you out.
https://book.hollandamerica.com/fe/secondaryBooking.action


Thats all I can think of at the moment, but i'm sure i'll have more as we plan more.

Any other general advice or thoughts you guys have is absolutely welcome.

Thank you very much in advance, and sorry for the lengthy post!

-James

Welcome to Cruuise Critic!

[Roz]

I think HAL would be great for a honeymoon cruise. And it's never too early to plan/book a cruise, especially one for you honeymoon.

Roz

[excaluber]

Thank you very much for the replies!

[excaluber]

Three other questions I thought of.


- Just on average, for say a 12 night cruise, how much extra should I anticipate having to pay in gratuities and on board expenses? I'm just trying to come up with a general budget for the trip.

-How much do drinks go for? Say a miller lite? Or a saphire (gin) & tonic?

-What other sorta extra expenses would i potentially incurr on the cruise besides laundry and alcohol?

[taxmantoo]

Three other questions I thought of.


- Just on average, for say a 12 night cruise, how much extra should I anticipate having to pay in gratuities and on board expenses? I'm just trying to come up with a general budget for the trip.

HAL adds an $11 per person per day Hotel Service Charge to your onboard account to cover tips. This includes those crew members who serve you directly, such as the dining room wait staff and the stewards who tend to your stateroom each day. There are also many others that tend to your care that you may never meet, such as galley and laundry staff.

If the service exceeds or fails to meet your expectations, you are free to adjust this amount at the end of the cruise.

You can also tip individual crew members if you feel they have given you extra service but this is certainly not obligatory.

A 15% service charge is also automatically added to bar charges and dining room wine purchases.

-How much do drinks go for? Say a miller lite? Or a saphire (gin) & tonic?

Wine drinkers here...no idea of drink prices!

-What other sorta extra expenses would i potentially incurr on the cruise besides laundry and alcohol?

Specialty restaurants (Pinnacle Grill & Tamarind)
Photographs
Shore excursions
Souvenirs
Spa services (massages, manicures, etc.)

etc...

[sail7seas]

Most cruise lines add an automatic service or hotel charge to shipboard accounts.

HAL's hotel charge is $11 pp per day. Many of us are so appreciative of the wonderful service we receive from HAL dining and cabin stewards/ bar steward and bartenders, we choose to tip a little something extra at the end of the cruise directly to the particular persons we wish to thank. This is totally voluntary and at your discretion.

As to other expenses, of course, any money spent in the casino should be factored in your budget, any purchases from the Shops on Board, spa or salon appointments, some exercisew classes though use of the gym is no additional cost. There is an additional charge for any shore excursions you choose to book and those can be booked and paid for in advance, alternative Restaurants (Pinnacle Grill and Tamarind are additional charge) can be booked and paid for in advance on the HAL site after you have booked your cruise. Any photos you purchase or Bingo. That covers most of what would be additional.... might be something here or there but remember all of this is voluntary. If you don't do those things, there is no charge and there is no requirement to do any of them.

If you happen to decide to book a Deluxe Veranda Suite(:) wonderful for a honeymoon), laundry and dry cleaning are included in the fare. If in a lower a different category cabin there are various laundry methods for paying such as 'all you can stuff in the bag' for a set sum or flat rate laundry for the whole cruise.

The sooner you book the better choice of cabins. Various ships and categories sell out faster than others. If the price drops before you make final payment, you get the difference but be sure whatever TA you use will not charge a cancellation fee. If you book with a TA, question them in advance all terms of their agency. On some of our more recently booked cruises, we have seen the price actually went up after we made our booking. HAL did not raise our price. They are obliged to honor the price at which they sold the cruise and they do so with no question about it.

Also...... speak with any TA about travel insurance for cancellation or illness/accident while traveling. Your choice what to do about that.

You are looking at HAL's newest ship and she is a beauty. We have sailed her two year old sister, Eurodam, four cruises and love that ship. HAL really did them right.

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.

[AlanAllyn]

We booked our pre-cruise hotel in Seattle through HAL. I thought it was a bargain. The $112 pp included transfers from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the ship. A big plus was that on the morning of the cruise, the bell staff picked up our luggage and we next saw it at our cabin. Consider what you get and what you pay each way before you reject booking through HAL.

[excaluber]

Thanks again everyone for all the replies. This is quite the helpful and impressive community you guys have built up here.




If you happen to decide to book a Deluxe Veranda Suite(:) wonderful for a honeymoon), laundry and dry cleaning are included in the fare.


....

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.




Thank you. And I would LOVE to go with a Veranda Suite, in fact i was set on getting one at first. But it seems like the cost of a flight out to Venice from Philadelphia is going to be close to 2x (roughly $1500 pp) what i was hoping for.... So that's probably going take away the suite option.

I even looked at flights to rome and figured we could get the train up to venice. But even those aren't much cheaper.

I checked dates roughly 4 months out from now to compare the cost, because i tend to find thats roughly when flights are about the cheapest. Even then they are still about the same. There was some cheaper, but there was 2-3 stops and about 20 hours of travel involved (nonstop flight is about 10 hours roughly).

Hopefully they come down quite a bit, but i wouldn't feel comfortable booking the suite without seeing the flights drop drasticly first.

[SwissMyst]

Hi,


1. Is Holland America (specifically the new Amsterdam) suited for couples honeymooning? Or is it more for families?

///////The ship is large enough that it won't be dominated by one group over another, but mainly HAL ships are quieter and more sedate both by passenger choice and ship policy. It will feel more private for you than other ships and I think this is a plus.

2. Is there any advantage to booking the cruise directly through Holland America? I've read about upgrades sometimes when a cabin type fills up. Does that not happen when booked through a travel agent?

//////////////We always book direct and I think we think secretly this might give us an advantage when upgrades come along since HAL got full price from us and did not have to pay a travel agent commission or for some of the perks travel agents often throw. But I have no basis for this belief, and that means we also miss out on any of the perks some travel agents do also offer, which I gather come from HAL to the agent, thereby reducing the amount of return HAL ultimately gets for these non-direct Long way of saying .... .I don't know. reservations.

3. Has anyone had any experience booking flights directly through HAL? Is there any advantage? Currently it seems the same price as online places. Which is to say its crazy expensive everywhere.

/////////// In someways you may want to have your honeymoon as stress free about the details as possible so if HAL takes these over for you it is travel insurance that you will be cared from from your door to theirs in case there are any unforeseen disruptions, so if the prices are the same, I'd let HAL take care of your total trip as much as you can afford.

4. Has anyone had any experience booking pre/post cruise hotel stays directly through Holland America? If so, do they really charge the same amount per person for hotel rooms? It seemed odd that a hotel room would be $300 per night per person. I could certainly do much cheaper on my own.

/////////////Yes, again, very pricy but back to letting HAL do all the work and guaranteeing the arrangements in case there are any delays or unforeseen disruptions. Normally, it makes sense to make many of these arrangements on your own, but for this trip for you it might be worth the extra costs to let them do it for you. That being said however, this puts you into a "group" right off the bat as you will have to wait for the hotel shuttles as a "group" with different flights arriving and departing at different times. Not a big deal and you don't have to do anything with this "group" other than gahter, but if you want real independence and privacy, then making your own arrangements will assure that.

5. With what i said above about wanting a quiet/private room with a balcony, what area of the ship do you guys recommend? I read the middle is pretty desirable due to lack of motion and being central to everything. But would that make it the most active and loud as well? For instance is it loud in rooms that are very close to the elevators?

////////////We have been on a lot of different floors and different locations on HAL and other ships and I honestly could not find much difference. One of our worst experiences because the seas were so rough and so prolonged was our lower, center cabin that was right next to the medical dispensary which we assumed was placed in the very best and most stable part of that ship and if what we felt there was "good" I would have hated to know what the expensive cabins on the upper decks were like. All of our cabins have been quiet too, no matter if located close to stairs, elevators or under the Lido pool deck.

6. Is it true that its better to book a cruise ASAP?

//////////Depends. On our last cruise they did not sort out the cabin assignments until a few days before we left and we got a nice upgrade. So it appears they were still booking for that cruise and others will show a sold out sign for some categories before others. Maybe look at the refund terms and book early but know what your cut off date and penalties are. Many here book over a year in advance. We tend to book 4-6 months in advance but also have done it as late as one month for a holiday cruise.

7. I've read about 'Gaurenteed' rooms as opposed to specific cabins. How do you go about booking those if we decide that? Also, is it cheaper to do so in most cases?

//////////We found it best to book the lowest category in the class we want and then let HAL sort it out if there will be upgrades but remain willing to accept what we initially ordered which is usually a lesser cabin in that class for that lower price.

8. I've also read about some extras, like unlimited laundry, pre-paid gratuity, pre-paid drink coupons, pre-paid internet. Pre-purchase cabanas...etc etc. Where can you get a list of available options and pricing? I can't seem to find these anywhere, and have only heard about them through CC posts.

////////Those perks often come with the highest priced suites. Look at the very top cabin rates and they will explain what is also included.
Thats all I can think of at the moment, but i'm sure i'll have more as we plan more.

Any other general advice or thoughts you guys have is absolutely welcome.

Thank you very much in advance, and sorry for the lengthy post!

-James

//////////[I]We also like tables for two and have always been able to have one reserved at fixed dining times and get them when we request at the door for any other event.

Additionally, the cabins on HAL ships for the price are some of the largest and best laid out with lots of storage. They always feel every welcome and gracious. The beds are the most comfortable of all, so embracing with their extra top layer of "fluff" stuff that just holds you in if the ship is rocking around a bit. They are legendary and exceed the comfort standards on most other ships.

Seasickness is real - plan ahead because you need to be covered before you know you need it. (And you may not, but too late is too late to find this out) If this works for you, start taking Bonine the night before and have a tub of candied ginger in your room that you can get from Trader Joes and eat a few pieces every day. Try taking some Bonine before you go so you know if it has any side effects for you or if you stomach can handle the concentrated ginger.

Glad you are thinking of Holland America - we like it a lot, but we are old an are so grateful its more traditional sailing atmosphere still exists for those who want more quiet, than noise and trendy glitz. We have seen many happy younger couples who like those things too on HAL ships. This is not a ship for eye popping decor or extras, but it is new and the pride of the cruise line so everything should be at its best. Bon Voyage and I hope you become long time HAL fans for all the stages of your life. And you got it right, they always seem to have the best itineraries. I]

[Himself]

May your first cruise be the first of many cruises. Welcome to HAL and cruise critic!

[fortheloveofcruise]

You will really enjoy HAL for your honeymoon cruise. :) We are also in our late 20's early 30's and LOVE Holland. We really like the fact that there are not lots of young families, and children. :o

We are booked on the same cruise and same ship but reverse order departing Barcelona on April 18th, 2011. Should be a great time, we are really looking forward to it.

As for drinks, Beer is roughly $3.25 - $4.00 USD, and mixed drinks run anywhere from $5.25 - $8.00 USD. There is a "Signature Cocktail Card" that you can purchase before or on board, which can save you a bit of money in the long run. You can also purchase a Wine Card that will help save some cash.

Regardless, you will have a wonderful time, and what a great way to celebrate your wedding! Congratulations!

[Modern_Viking]

1. Is Holland America (specifically the new Amsterdam) suited for couples honeymooning? Or is it more for families?

HAL tends to have fewer children on board than the other main stream lines (such Princess, RCCL, NCL, Carnival) but still more than the uber-luxury lines (such as Crystal, Silversea, RSSL). The largest number of passengers will likely be Americans, but with many English, Kiwis, Aussies, Dutch, on board, plus a mix of others.

2. Is there any advantage to booking the cruise directly through Holland America? I've read about upgrades sometimes when a cabin type fills up. Does that not happen when booked through a travel agent?

Keep in mind that there are both upsells (where HAL, near departure time, asks if you could be willing to pay a bit more for a slightly higher category cabin). Upsells seem fairly common. I decline the free upgrades since they may upgrade people to cabins in poor locations (you might get a balcony instead of a window, or a bit bigger room, but I think location is more important). Thus, when I book, I decline the option of a free, automatic upgrade. You can also book a guarantee where you let HAL pick your room for you. I don't like to gamble, so I don't take that choice. Many people like to take the gamble, however.

I haven't really noticed a difference between using a travel agent and booking directly. But use someone you trust, can easily get a hold of, pays attention to the details, etc.

3. Has anyone had any experience booking flights directly through HAL? Is there any advantage? Currently it seems the same price as online places. Which is to say its crazy expensive everywhere.

I have never tried this since I like to control the booking process. To each his own. Sometimes for one-way cruises (especially those that start and end on different ends of an ocean, booking plane tickets through the cruise line is much cheaper). If you have frequent flier points or credit card points that can be used to buy a plane ticket, you should look into that. Barcelona seems to be an especially pricey city to fly in and out of, and Venice is not much better. By using FF miles, I figure I saved about 33% off the price of a cash ticket when I visited Europe last year.

4. Has anyone had any experience booking pre/post cruise hotel stays directly through Holland America? If so, do they really charge the same amount per person for hotel rooms? It seemed odd that a hotel room would be $300 per night per person. I could certainly do much cheaper on my own.

I do my own thing and save the money. But I would look into the costs of booking a private car from the airport to the ship in Venice and again at the end of the trip. You won't want to lug your luggage on your honeymoon. Also, keep in mind that the HAL hotel prices include ground transport and porters, so that might make the prices slightly less over the top. I used Hilton points in Europe and saved a bundle on a very nice hotel (if a bit isolated) in Venice.

5. With what i said above about wanting a quiet/private room with a balcony, what area of the ship do you guys recommend? I read the middle is pretty desirable due to lack of motion and being central to everything. But would that make it the most active and loud as well? For instance is it loud in rooms that are very close to the elevators?

On the newest HAL ships, I would generally aim for a cabin behind the forward (interior) elevator bank and forward of the aft elevator bank. For a quieter cabin, I would generally consider a cabin no lower than the Upper Promenade deck and no higher than the Rotterdam deck. The obstructed view cabins on the Upper Promenade might be a bit noisier than others. A cabin on the Panorama Deck might also be a good choice, but you will likely feel more motion up there if the seas are rough.

6. Is it true that its better to book a cruise ASAP?

Sure! Do you want to have your trip all planned now, or wait until you have other wedding details to work on? Plus, if you book sooner, you will have a better chance at getting a confirmed, fixed seating dinner assignment. If you do that, you can request a table for two (at booking) for every night in the main dining room (a table for two is not guaranteed, but it is quite probable you could get one). People in the Deluxe Suites are also very likely to get their first choice dining plan. You can also opt for the "open" seating dining each night (meaning you make individual plans for each night); you can still ask for tables for 2 but will have to ask again for each day and might get it some nights but not others.

7. I've read about 'Gaurenteed' rooms as opposed to specific cabins. How do you go about booking those if we decide that? Also, is it cheaper to do so in most cases?

I don't think it is worth the gamble, but others do. I think I already covered this.

8. I've also read about some extras, like unlimited laundry, pre-paid gratuity, pre-paid drink coupons, pre-paid internet. Pre-purchase cabanas...etc etc. Where can you get a list of available options and pricing? I can't seem to find these anywhere, and have only heard about them through CC posts.

It is possible to pay for packages like laundry by the bag (note: there are no self-service laundries on the Nieuw Amsterdam), unlimited laundry (note: this is not dry-cleaning), unlimited pressing only. Also, you can buy drink packages (like 20 glasses of soda, 20 cocktails, 20 glasses of wine) which might give you a slight price advantage, but only if you drink all 20 drinks. There are no "all you can drink" packages on HAL. The lowest price (per minute) for internet access is 250 minutes for $106 (with specials, you might be able to turn that into around 300 minutes for the same price if you buy the package the day you board, look for daily half-time specials, etc.). Please note that this is satellite based internet and is more like a 3G or 4G smart phone than DSL/cable. The Exploration's Cafe has a good number of computer terminals, or you can bring/use your own laptop (same price either way).

Extra costs.

The default service charge for your cabin, dining room, laundry stewards will come to $264 for the two of you (2 x $11 x 12 nights). This is charged to the credit card you supply when you check-in or charged against a cash deposit you will be asked for when boarding (same basic rules as for a hotel in terms of the credit card or cash). Many people tip extra. All non-free drinks and spa treatments have a 15% tip added (the people working these activities do not participate in the $11 per day tip pool). Special coffees and tea in the Exploration Cafe cost extra, but coffee and tea drinks are no extra charge elsewhere including the buffet, dining room, and room service). Fruit juice is free at breakfast, and sometimes a fruit punch or lemonaid at lunch in the Lido. There is a library on board, books are free if you return them. There are generally 4 or so free movies shown each day in your cabin, others can be rented from the library. Alcohol is extra, as is gambling, the spa, renting private cabana areas on the top decks, shore excursions on land, two dining options (4 other options, including room service are no extra charge). Note: special room service items do cost extra (alcohol, party trays, sodas, etc.). I would assume $4.75 for each 12 oz beer and maybe $7-8 for each mixed drink (including tip) and $2 for a can of soda.

Seasickness

A big ship will be more stable than a 25' fishing boat, but I do tend to suffer as well. For me, the first 24 hours are the worst, but it normally gets much better after that when my body has adjusted a bit. I take 1 Bonnine (non-prescription) after lunch the day I board the ship, and that often gets me over the hump. Otherwise, you can take one every additional 12 hours if needed. Other people use other medication, but this works for me. If you tell yourself you will get sick, then you will, that is just human nature. Also, once you are sick, it is hard to feel better so take a pill before you feel sick. Many people find the (real) ginger helps as well, but it must be taken more often.

Some other suggestions are to be where fresh, cool air blows on your face (such as on deck or even an a/c vent), look out a window at the horizon, avoid reading, avoid looking at a computer screen or doing other things where you cannot see motion (often sickness is made worse when your inner-ear feels movement but your eyes do not see movement). Avoiding overly greasy or spicy foods can also help.

You mentioned not liking seafood. You can certainly be well fed on HAL while never eating fish or shellfish. There will, however, be seafood at most buffets (even breakfast) and being served in the dining room all the time. So if you don't like to be around it, you could have a problem, but if you are OK with others eating it as long as you aren't, then you will be just fine. Always available items include things like a chicken breast, sirloin steak, Caesar salad, cheese omelet, icecream, cookies, burgers, pasta with tomato sauce, among other things. Additional dinner options often include pork and lamb, and sometimes veal and duck.

I hope you find this helpful! Good luck to you both and enjoy your trip wherever you may travel together!

[excaluber]

Thanks for the great responses everyone! They were very helpful, and I think they've helped convince us this is the right choice for our honeymoon.

I'm sure i'll have a few more questions as I go along, but I think we're going to start shopping around and seeing what kind of offers we can find on this cruise.

And it sounds like something towards the rear elevators is the general place we should be cabin wise. I think i've also read its a good idea to book what ever side land is going to be on most of the trip, that way you can see it from your room for better views.


Oh I guess one question i did have is, on the itinerary it has "Cruise the Straight of Messini" , I assume that means just what it sounds like. But does it mean its just going slower then normal and theres sights to be seen from the boat or something?

And lastly, how do I find out which nights are formal nights? And how much is it to rent a tux typically?

@modern_viking

I don't mind being around seafood, just don't like to eat it. And I was just a little concerned because thats about all I saw people writing about eating while on board :)

[AZNative2000]

And how much is it to rent a tux typically?

You can rent a tux and it will be in your cabin when you arrive. One price for the whole cruise. Go here:

http://www.cruiselineformal.com/cf_pages/packages.php?c=hal

I did that for our last cruise. It was easy even for me:).

Welcome to Cruise Critic, Congratulations, and BTW you picked a great new ship!

Cheers!

[kalliekae]

You will really enjoy HAL for your honeymoon cruise. :) We are also in our late 20's early 30's and LOVE Holland. We really like the fact that there are not lots of young families, and children. :o

Regardless, you will have a wonderful time, and what a great way to celebrate your wedding! Congratulations!

I also think you will enjoy HAL for your honeymoon cruise. My 28 year old son and his fiance were just married and they really wanted a Caribbean cruise for their honeymoon. However, HAL does not offer that cruise in July so they opted for Carnival. Since ds had been on previous HAL cruises, he was familiar with HAL's services. Their Carnival cruise was fun, but they noticed how noisy it was, the large quantity of children on board, and the different atmosphere. Given a choice, ds said HAL would have been their choice for a honeymoon cruise. Go and Enjoy!

[ariawoman]

Thanks again everyone for all the replies. This is quite the helpful and impressive community you guys have built up here.

Thank you. And I would LOVE to go with a Veranda Suite, in fact i was set on getting one at first. But it seems like the cost of a flight out to Venice from Philadelphia is going to be close to 2x (roughly $1500 pp) what i was hoping for.... So that's probably going take away the suite option.

I even looked at flights to rome and figured we could get the train up to venice. But even those aren't much cheaper.

I checked dates roughly 4 months out from now to compare the cost, because i tend to find thats roughly when flights are about the cheapest. Even then they are still about the same. There was some cheaper, but there was 2-3 stops and about 20 hours of travel involved (nonstop flight is about 10 hours roughly).

Hopefully they come down quite a bit, but i wouldn't feel comfortable booking the suite without seeing the flights drop drasticly first.

I'm taking the exact same cruise that you mentioned (venice to barcelona on the nieuw amsterdam) on 10/6 of this year, so far i'm in a VF (balcony) so we'll see where i end up. I can't offer any more information than others already did, but i will say it's my 1st cruise on HAL, and i'm 36, so I might be able to at least tell you how it was when I get back :-)

Be prepared to get addicted to the following things while planning for your cruise:
1.) this board
2.) doing research into your various ports of call
3.) shopping for miscellaneous things you'll "need" for the cruise (read: new clothes/shoes/purses/duct tape, whatever lol).
4.) this board!! :-)

Everyone on here has a wealth of information.

Oh and for the record, I'm flying out of Newark, but they aren't direct flights, but I can tell you we got our flight about 3 months out from the cruise date, and the flight was retailed at i believe 850 per person when we booked even with the layovers. We looked into USAir out of PHL but it wasn't much better, so we ended up using miles on continental. it's tough to get nonstops into venice. Continental does do nonstops to barcelona so you could look into pricing that out, round trip from EWR to BCN and then just take 1 puddle jumper over to Venice to board. Of course, we'd always recommend not flying in the same day as your cruise :-)

Either way, enjoy the planning. :-) It's fun!

~Jennifer

[ariawoman]

Specialty restaurants (Pinnacle Grill & Tamarind)
Photographs
Shore excursions
Souvenirs
Spa services (massages, manicures, etc.)

etc...

Don't forget playing Bingo :-) Hey, I'm in my 30s and i want to play! :-)

[ariawoman]

Oh and I forgot to mention, a couple of other "hidden" fees you might not think about when planning a vacation...1.) the airline fees for baggage - make sure you take this into account when deciding on who to fly. 2.) the "fee" you pay if you buy Euros here in the states. Today we bought 1000 euro for 1386 with fees from bank of america. The fees weren't high by any means, it's just something that some people might not think about when financially planning. Also think about what credit card you'd bring with you as most have foreign transaction fees. You'll find several threads on CC about this, but my preferred card is Capital One, no fees! :-) Just alert them that you'll be traveling so you're not declined thinking your card has been swiped. :D

Planning is fun! I've got 56 days of planning to go. I'm not sure what I'm going to obsess about when I come home....LOL.

[SwissMyst]

There is a direct train line from Milan to Venice and it might be cheaper to get flights to Milan.

Take the airbus to the train station ( Malpensa Aeroporto to Milano Centrale Ferrovia) and then enjoy the countryside across northern Italy for about 3 hours and land right in the heart of Venice, take a vaporetto water ferry to your dock and climb on board.

There are no direct flights to Venice but there are usually many to Milan. And you do have to add the costs of the airbus, train and vaparetto.

You can find most of these extra costs online to see if this is a better alternative if you have the time and sense of adventure to do it this way - the Italian train system has a good online booking website "Trenitalia" (Go directly to them and not use any of the more expensive european train booking agencies you will also find online)

You want a train from Milano Centrale to Venezia Santa Lucia They run about every hour and there are plenty that are direct and do not require a change of trains at the last land stop on the Italian mainland Mestre, before you go across the water causeway to Venice it self and get off the train. The first sight you see leaving the train station are the canals and gorgeous buildings. Coming into Venice by train is one of travels great delights. I would doubt you even need reservations and there is a good information booth with English speakers at the Milano trainstation. Plus you know when to get off because the train stops at the water's edge.

[excaluber]

@ariawoman

Thanks! And i'd really love to hear what you think about the cruise after you get back. Any and all suggestions/tips regarding the boats or even the ports will be very much welcomed!


@swissmyst

Thats a great idea actually. I studied abroad in italy during college, and they do indeed have a great/easy train system. I'd have to look into it a bit further, but I could imagine that the flight to milan + train, isn't any slower then a flight + connecting flight.

@aznaitive

Thanks for the link, that's perfect.

@all

Thanks for the info on drinks and everything else. This has really been very helpful.

[excaluber]

Also, based on some suggestions I was looking at VF5053. Anyone have any thoughts on that particular cabin good or bad?

Lastly, None of the websites give me the option to book any of the VF rooms on floor 5. Even if I type that cabin number (5053) in on HAL's website, it says there is no cabin found in the VF category with that number. Does that mean they're probably sold out? Or are they just trying to get rid of the level 4 ones first? Is my best bet to call and ask for that one specifically?

EDIT: I just realized thats towards the front of the ship, and I was looking for something towards the back. So I think we want something more like VF5133