Eurodam Questions

[wendy881]

Is it possible to pre-book a pool cabana and do those who have used them think it was worth the cost (and what is the cost)?

Does the Italian restaurant bookup quickly and can you reserve prior to boarding?

And does Eurodam out of Fort Lauderdale offer luggage valet?

Thanks.

[Megsie1000]

You can reserve a Lido cabana (near the Lido pool) ahead of the cruise if you want to reserve it for the whole week. We booked for our January cruise and it was $199 for the week.

If you want to just book one for a day here or there, you have to do it onboard. I don't know the cost of that.

I'll report back after we use it! :D When are you going?

[Nasmas]

We were on the Eurodam last year. We didn't do the cabana but I'm pretty sure you can reserve them before you go. I'm not sure of the price either, but they were pricey (I thought). The Italian restaurant was good and it didn't seem to be very busy the first time we ate there which was early in week. We called for the last night and they said they were busy early but we got in about 8:00. The last night the food wasn't as good as it was earlier, but that seems to be the case in the dining room, too. The luggage valet was available for some airlines but not Southwest. I read on here that it is now available for Southwest.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Lido Cabanas

Rental Period: Full day, 09:00am to 05:00pm
Price: $30 for port days and $50 for sea days, $199 for our 7 day cruise.
Occupancy: 2 adults + 2 children up to 18 years

Includes following services:

Towel Setup
Bathrobes
Handheld fans
I-Pod with preloaded music selection
Discount on selected spa services for days in port only
1 Evian Mister per cabana
Chilled water bottles setup
Chilled fruit skewers served at 10:00 am
Fruit Basket
Small menu for lunch service: we will serve poolside favorites in the cabanas as requested from either the Lido and the pool grill during regular opening hours
Ice-cream tray silver service at 02:00 pm: tray with assortment of ice-cream and favorite condiments
Frozen grapes, chocolate covered strawberries and a glass of house champagne at 03:00 pm
The Retreat Cabanas

Rental Period: Full day, 09:00am to 05:00pm
Price: $45 for port days and $75 for sea days, $299 for our 7 day cruise.
Occupancy: 2 adults + 2 children up to 18 years


Includes following services:

Towel Setup
Bathrobes
Handheld fans - in case no ceiling fans will be installed
I-Pod with preloaded music selection
Discount on selected spa services for days in port only
1 Evian Mister per cabana
Chilled water bottles setup
Frozen grapes, chocolate covered strawberries and a glass of champagne at 03:00pm
Food service Island with following offerings: all food items will be served in small glass or porcelain cups. Healthy breakfast options like yogurts, cereal and muesli, fresh sliced fruit, a variety of "healthy bites" sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit juices and yogurt/buttermilk drinks at lunch and afternoon
FAMILY RETREAT Cabana - FOR 4 ADULTS with 4 loungers
$65 port days, $115 sea days
up to 7 days - $449
up to 10 days $599
up to 15 days $799
up to 20 days $899
more than 20 days $59/day
__________________

[Krazy Kruizers]

Luggage Direct:
Flight after 11:30 AM for Ft Lauderdale
Flight after 2 PM for Miami

$19 per person up to bags

You must disembark and proceed to the terminal between 7:30 and 8:15 AM.

AirTran Airways
American
Delta
United
Jet Blue
Continental
US Airways
Southwest

Of course you still have to pay whatever your airline charges for each piece of luggage you check in with them.

And now keep in mind that US Airways will be charging an extra $90 for each piece of luggage that is over 50 pounds.

from HAL's web site:
Holland America Line is offering Luggage Direct in:




Fort Lauderdale
Los Angeles
Seattle
San Diego
Vancouver (on select dates only)
Tampa


On the following fourteen (14) vessels only:



ms Amsterdam
ms Eurodam
ms Oosterdam
ms Maasdam
ms Nieuw Amsterdam
ms Noordam
ms Ryndam
ms Rotterdam
ms Statendam
ms Veendam
ms Volendam
ms Westerdam
ms Zaandam
ms Zuiderdam


Please note the following general information about Luggage Direct:



Cost is $19 per person at all ports
Airline assessed baggage fees will be applied to guests' onboard account - fees vary by airline and all pricing is communicated directly from the airline to our partner company, BAGS, Inc. These fees are collected onboard and are then distributed to the airlines.
Guests are able to check no more than 2 pieces of luggage per person.
Upgrade Requests, Seat Assignment Requests, and Flight Changes cannot be accommodated onboard.
There are restrictions established for each homeport city.
Restrictions include: participating airlines, earliest and latest flight times, and citizenship requirements.
All flights must be Domestic (inclusive of U.S. Territories).
In Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada all flights must be bound for the U.S.

[Krazy Kruizers]

As soon as we get on the ship -- we book the Canaletto.

Some nights it is fully booked -- other nights -- little people there.

[wdw1972]

If you don't book the cabana (for the entire cruise) well before you sail, there's a chance you won't get one. I thought our Retreat Cabana was well worth the money and I don't want to ever sail without one when I'm on a ship that has them. I would never book a Lido Cabana....wouldn't use it even if they gave it to me for free...yuck!!

Canaletto must be booked on board. Some ships let you book any night (in advance, once you're on board) while others only let you book on the day of the meal (starting at 8am for that night's dinner). It's worth a visit - menu isn't extensive, but as long as they have something you'll eat it'll be a nice change from the dining room.

Sue/WDW1972
DCL Dream 11/10/11
Noordam 1/13/12

[Megsie1000]

If you don't book the cabana (for the entire cruise) well before you sail, there's a chance you won't get one. I thought our Retreat Cabana was well worth the money and I don't want to ever sail without one when I'm on a ship that has them. I would never book a Lido Cabana....wouldn't use it even if they gave it to me for free...yuck!!

They're that bad?

I have 3 small children, so I am thinking it will be ideal for us. The retreat is too far from the pool and I don't think I would feel comfortable bringing my kids into the retreat for fear they would destroy the peace and quiet. ;)

My kids will be in Club HAL a lot, but not all the time. I think the Lido cabana will a great place for the girls and I to hang out in the afternoon while my son and my DH take a nap together in our inside cabin. The girls and I can sit in a shaded, semi-private area where they can get away from the stimulation for a while, read a book, etc. Or maybe even snooze. I doubt the 3-year old would nap if his siblings were in the room with him, so this is perfect for us to have somewhere to "go."

[wdw1972]

No, for you the Lido Cabanas make alot more sense. I wouldn't ever cruise with kids - to ME cruising is for adults, although I started bringing my son when he was 10 & old enough for me to do what I enjoy. He loved Club HAL. The Retreat Cabanas allow kids but thankfully there weren't any on my cruise - I prefer the peace & quiet of just adults (and we had no noisy/rowdy adults up there). There were plenty of families with kids in the Lido Cabanas. I hate them because I find the Lido pool area rather stifling, and hate the chlorine smell PLUS that pool is for the kids and I don't want to be in that area at all. I like the open deck.

Since you'll be briinging kids, you have no choice but to be at the lido pool, so the cabanas make alot of sense for you. It'll be so nice having "your" reserved spot, regardless of what time you show up each day or how you come & go. Just be sure they have one that'll handle all of you. I'm not sure if they have any for a party of 5 (parents & 3 kids). HAL will know for sure, and whether it's available if there are a couple larger ones.

Sue/WDW1972
DCL Dream 11/10/11
Noordam 1/12/13

[rebbie123]

We sailed on the Eurodam this past March with our kids ages 5 and 9. We reserved a lido cabana for the entire week and loved it!!! We also traveled with four other people and had no problem using our one cabana for all of us. Our cabana attendants were wonderful. They provided us with excellent service and we made sure to tip them very well at the end of our cruise. If you have any specific questions regarding the cabana, I would be happy to try to answer them for you.

[Megsie1000]

The 3-year old likely won't be using it at all, so I'm not worried about the "party of 5" aspect. The most in it at once would be 3.