Volendam ... would appreciate any help

[BMW1100]

We're cruise novices, having only done a single 7 day Malacca Straits cruise last year with Star on the Gemini, but we loved everything about it. We've now booked a 29 night Singapore - Auckland cruise on Volendam for November this year in an ocean view cabin. Came across CC whilst on the net seeking more info on Volendam. From reading a lot of the reviews and the forum posts, it would seem cruising with HAL is quite a bit different than it was with Star. Would appreciate any tips that more experienced cruisers can give us in relation to keeping costs at a reasonable level, or anything that you feel we should be aware of before boarding. We're on it just for the enjoyment of the cruise rather than the ports we will be visiting, as we are familiar with most of them and will be doing our own thing ashore.

[CaliforniaAC]

I know this doesn't save on the costs, but we really love the Pinnacle Grill.

You can reserve all kinds of stuff ahead with HAL on their website. You can also reserve refridgerators for your cabin (if your cabin is lower than a balcony they don't automatically come with one) for a nominal fee.

We've been on the Volendam twice. She is a nice ship.

Have a wonderful trip!

[fann1sh]

Enjoy the complementary room service, with an extensive menu. If you order your breakfast delivered after the main dining room opens, you can write in regular menu items like "eggs Benedict".

I think at the ice cream station in the Lido, liqueurs can still be added, free.

Cappuccino in the main dining room after dinner is complementary.

Ask for fresh squeezed orange juice at breakfast - it's free.

You can bring an unlimited number of your own bottles of wine or champagne aboard, either at embarkation, or at any port of call. No charge to enjoy them in your cabin. In the dining room, a corkage fee of $18 per bottle is charged, which still makes most bottles a bargain. (I'm one of the lucky people who hasn't had to pay this fee when I let the sommelier taste the wine, and tipped well. However, I hear this rule is now being more strictly enforced.)

While many ship's activities are now "fee for use", team trivia is still free, and very popular. Those of us from Oz, UK and Canada are usually sought after team members. (Our education/knowledge skews differently than most Americans, giving the 6 people teams an edge by having wider experience to draw from. Or...err...more reason to fight over answers.) Turn out the first day, and establish yourself on a team, as your group will mostly stay together the entire voyage. Prizes are usually "dam" ship mugs and bragging rights.

While the ship's internet prices aren't cheap, I believe there's still a "free zone" of the New York Times available online, for some news and headlines. I'm sure someone will post later if I'm wrong about that.

I enjoy the free movies, and free popcorn, in the Wajang theatre on Promenade deck. I prefer this to watching (the same) movies on TV in my stateroom.

While your sailing isn't a world voyage, I think it's still classed as a "Grand" one. You might want to read some of the blogs of others who've done these longer trips. The 2 world voyages I'm currently reading are:

http://amazingvoyages.blogspot.com/

and

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=897906

That last link is for the first page of the thread, not the most recent one.

[BMW1100]

Thanks very much for the replies. This is exactly the kind of info that we are looking for.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Thanks very much for the replies. This is exactly the kind of info that we are looking for.


Hi BMW1100,
Welcome to Cruise Critic.
You will get lots of info about HAL on this board,but you could also check out the following CC boards.
P&O Australia....
This board covers all cruise lines down this way ,either full time, for the season, or just passing through.
HAL Roll Calls
Check out and meet up with those sailing with you.
Ports of Call.
Australia and New Zealand.

[aussiedisneyfan]

We really enjoyed the Volendam. We took our own wine onboard and drank some out on the decks and paid the cover charge in the restaurant. Also took a carton of coke cans onboard. Hired a bar fridge, it was $2 per day but our bill was only $28 for 17 nights, I guess they cap at 14 nights.

There is usually a happy hour on cocktails around 5pm which has 2 for 1.

They also had events like golf putting, shuffleboard etc which you could win dam dollars for showing up and more if you scored. We pooled ours and at the end of the cruise they have a "sale" and we bought sweaters, beach towel, coffe mugs.

I loved going to trivia but on ours the teams were 4 only and questions very US oriented. Still fun. Library also has a kind of trivia every morning at 9am. They hand out a sheet of questions on a specific topic and you have until 3pm to answer. First back with highest score wins a token gift. You can use internet etc. My research skills improved using all the library books.

[BMW1100]

Thanks again for all of the info. Think that the bar fridge is a 'must'. As suggested, went to the HAL website, however couldn't locate anywhere that would allow me to reserve this prior to the cruise. Can anybody help please ?

[jtl513]

Thanks again for all of the info. Think that the bar fridge is a 'must'. As suggested, went to the HAL website, however couldn't locate anywhere that would allow me to reserve this prior to the cruise. Can anybody help please ?If you were in the US you could call ship services, but in your case I'd say send them an email at hal_ship_services@hollandamerica.com (there are underscores before and after 'ship')

[boards]

If you have a cruise booked on the Volendam for March 2010 check Hal's website your cabin may be available for less. Ours has decreased, check yours. This may also be true of other dates, but I know for sure ours changed.

[HALFans]

Specialty coffee drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, etc. can be ordered free of charge in the Dining Room during dinner service.

As others have said - do join the Trivia contests early in the cruise. They're lots of fun and you might win free drinks, Dam Dollars, etc.

Ordering bottles of 'spirits' such as Scotch or Vodka from room service is relatively inexpensive... i.e. a full 1 litre bottle of Cutty Sark is less than $33.

I'm sure there are more great tips floating around out there... :D

[jtl513]

BTW, about that refrigerator: think of it more as a cooler. It will only chill to about 25 degrees (F) below room temperature, so it won't make or keep ice.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

BTW, about that refrigerator: think of it more as a cooler. It will only chill to about 25 degrees (F) below room temperature, so it won't make or keep ice.

and if you move the shelves
it will chill a bottle of wine.:D

[onthegogirl]

Just got off the Volendam and she is a wonderful ship. The library is great and if you're a jigsaw fan, there is always one or two going. Happy hour in the Crow's Nest is a real bargin and there are usually hot appetizers offered. Sometimes there is a sign-up sheet in the library so you can find people who play canasta or cribbage or other board or card games. Wish I was still aboard.

[Down-Unders]

We're cruise novices, having only done a single 7 day Malacca Straits cruise last year with Star on the Gemini, but we loved everything about it. We've now booked a 29 night Singapore - Auckland cruise on Volendam for November this year in an ocean view cabin. Came across CC whilst on the net seeking more info on Volendam. From reading a lot of the reviews and the forum posts, it would seem cruising with HAL is quite a bit different than it was with Star. Would appreciate any tips that more experienced cruisers can give us in relation to keeping costs at a reasonable level, or anything that you feel we should be aware of before boarding. We're on it just for the enjoyment of the cruise rather than the ports we will be visiting, as we are familiar with most of them and will be doing our own thing ashore.


Change your currency on land not on the ship you will get a better rate, although the ship's currency is in US dollars if you feel like tipping a little extra to the staff this can be done in any currency that you are traveling with. You may take as much wine, champagne and soft drinks on board and if you take it to the dining room there is a surcharge on the wine. Check your account at the front office on a regular basis especially on a longer cruise and as always little issues arise deal with them on the spot as it can make or break a cruise. There is a guest laundry operated by coins I think it uses only a couple of dollars this will save on your laundry bill over the 29 days.

Fresh flowers,friendly staff, and a flair of Dutch culture, great library and and tasteful lounges make for a pleasant cruising experience.

[BMW1100]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Have had a lot more time to browse the boards and have picked up quite a bit of info. My 'better half' (?) has a question tho - noticed that 'gym packages' are advertised, is it necessary to purchase one of these or is the gym and equipment free to use ?

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Have had a lot more time to browse the boards and have picked up quite a bit of info. My 'better half' (?) has a question tho - noticed that 'gym packages' are advertised, is it necessary to purchase one of these or is the gym and equipment free to use ?

The gym and equipment is free to use. The packages probably refer to "courses" you can sign up for that have an instructor either giving lessons or supervising. They also offer classes,that will incur a charge. Each ship, and probably each cruise, will differ depending on the talents of the staff who are on board.

[aussiedisneyfan]

Just checked back into this thread. Thought I would mention our fridge was cold not cool. I froze my beer. :o We asked our t/a to organise it, which she claimed she did but when we got onboard it wasn't there. Asked at the pursers desk and they had no record but delivered one that night.

[ConnMom]

We enjoyed the Volendam for our Australia/New Zealand cruise last fall. Service is gracious, the ship is well maintained, and activities are low key, which was fine for us, since we filled our port days with sightseeing. Drink prices are reasonable, and the lounges are lovely, especially the Crow's Nest.
In addition to using the self-service laundry, we loved the laundry special that was available throughout the cruise: for $12, we could fill a bag that was available in the room, and it would be returned the next day washed, pressed and on hangers. We liked the challenge of seeing how much we could fit into the bag - managed about 13-14 items (polo shirts, dress shirts, pants, shorts, etc). This did not cost much more than using the self service laundry and saved lots of time waiting in the laundry room and then ironing everything.
You might also enjoy the piano bar in the evenings. There is usually some kind of contest going on, and it is entertaining.
I hope you have a great trip.

[papadave]

Laundry -- if they have not changed things you should go to the front desk the first day and ask about the price for unlimited laundry for the cruise. We found it very reasonable. It won't include dry clearing, but it may be well worth it.

[Queen of DaNile]

Great tip on the laundry special!