Oosterdam Dining Room question

[GirlInADaydream]

I have a question for anyone who remebers the dining room set up...
we have a table for two at the late/main 8:30 seating... my question is, are there any tables for two by the windows? is there anyway for me to get a table by the window?

Could i visit the maitre'd when we first get on board? is there anything else i could do? We are celebrating a special occasion and i told HAL that, but i dont know if it will make a difference!


I searched from past posts and couldnt find anything to answer my question! I appologize for asking a dumb question, but the last cruise we went on, we were lucky enough to be seated right next to a huge window. It really made dinner wonderful, so i am hoping to have that experience again!

thanks!

[Thoth]

You can look under the ship's map in the HAL travel guide and see a lay-out for the dining room. While I see plenty of tables by the window, I only see 2 tables for only 2 people by the window. (lower Promenade deck at very rear corners) I was on the Oosterdam back in July and i had a lovely window at a table for 6. Thing is the others showed up ONE night and resulted in me having a table of one. The point is I WANTED company and the Maitre'D wouldn't move me. They said "oh they must all be in the Lido tonight...they will be here tomorrow". To me it looks like you mightl need to decide which is of more importance, a table for 2 or a window.
By the way...it's a great ship. I loved her!!!

[the2ofus]

Where is your cruise? If it is in the Caribbean, you will find that it gets dark by about 6:00 p.m. so there won't be much to see out that window. Of course, if the ship is leaving port in the evening, the lights are fun to watch but once out at sea, it is hard to see out due to the reflections of the lighted dining room.

[x lindsay x]

I agree with the previous poster. We had the 8:30 seating on our recent Caribbean cruise, we were fairly close to the windows and could not see a darn thing through them.

[GirlInADaydream]

Where is your cruise? If it is in the Caribbean, you will find that it gets dark by about 6:00 p.m. so there won't be much to see out that window. Of course, if the ship is leaving port in the evening, the lights are fun to watch but once out at sea, it is hard to see out due to the reflections of the lighted dining room.you know, i never thought of that!! i guess that is true, i dunno, there is something about seeing even the dark ocean while eating!

thanks for the thoguht... i guess i am having a blonde day today!

[GirlInADaydream]

You can look under the ship's map in the HAL travel guide and see a lay-out for the dining room. While I see plenty of tables by the window, I only see 2 tables for only 2 people by the window. (lower Promenade deck at very rear corners) I was on the Oosterdam back in July and i had a lovely window at a table for 6. Thing is the others showed up ONE night and resulted in me having a table of one. The point is I WANTED company and the Maitre'D wouldn't move me. They said "oh they must all be in the Lido tonight...they will be here tomorrow". To me it looks like you mightl need to decide which is of more importance, a table for 2 or a window.
By the way...it's a great ship. I loved her!!!one more thing... can you tell me where i can find the hal travel guide? do i just get that when we get our docs or is it online too?

[the2ofus]

GirlInADaydream, I will bet, from reading your posts, that the most important scenery on this trip will be the person across the table from you. Hope you enjoy your table for two wherever it is situated. Have a great cruise.

[bepsf]

If your dinner table is one of the few against the aft windows in the lower dining room, the view of the wake in the evenings is mesmerizing.

But they are all tables for 6 or 8...

[Nautical Wheeler]

Unless you are seated where there happens to be light shining on the sea you won't be able to see much out the window at that time. We had a lovely table on the rail (upper dining room, Deck 3) which gives you a view of what's going on down below as well as the winding staircase.:)

[Thoth]

one more thing... can you tell me where i can find the hal travel guide? do i just get that when we get our docs or is it online too?
When I say travel guide I mean the thick sales brochure that they mail out.
When you see an ad for Holland America in a magazine such as November's National Geographic (open then turn page 8 times, next to "from the editor") and order information they send you their travel guide. Or order the booklet from the HAL website.
Of course any decent travel agent should have the same thing.