QuattroRomeo

Ours also showed "none available" until they were suddenly there. So 3-4 months out. I would think they should show up for you soon. If you are keen to book a certain time or place you could always try calling HAL to see if they can place reservations yet, as they also do that over the phone.

Well if that's the case then it is probably important for you to get CO! See if it is available and then what cabins are available in your chosen category. Then you just book guarantee, pay for CO, and get upgraded to a better location that you choose, without having to do that expensive "choose your room" option, which costs more than just adding CO. Hope you are able to get something that you like!

What can you see so far when you log into your booking? Can you book shore excursions, spa, etc? Our specialty dining options started showing Jan 17 for a May 26 cruise, and a few more (pop up Morimoto, seafood boil) started in March. The shore ex etc showed up months earlier.

We've sailed from Vancouver in the past 2 years and there seemed to be a fair amount of latitude- nobody really checked the times on our boarding pass. But I haven't seen this type of instruction before by deck, maybe they are trying something new to keep the congestion down. When is your embarkation day?

Regardless of whether you have Club Orange or not, you can book a specialty restaurant. You can do this online prior to the cruise, or on board. Club Orange is a little trickier to describe. On only 3 ships is there a separate, private dining room just for CO. Noordam is not one of them. So far, we have only had CO on the private dining room ships. Therefore, you visit the MDR for dinner using the marked kiosk to go in right away. I do not know whether there is a special section within it or if you are seated wherever is empty. Hopefully someone who has had CO lately on Noordam will know! When is your cruise? We will be on Noordam the end of May and can describe what happens then if nobody else responds. CO has limited availability and you need to determine if it is still available. It costs $15 day x 14 = $210. I would say to follow Crystalspin's advice and call HAL, or ask your travel agent for the Advantage fare for a guarantee OV or balcony, and any other guidance they may have for booking. Then add CO for $210. Then be ready with a deck plan to choose the best one available according to your TA for no extra cost. Is there a "for purchase" espresso machine in the Lido? - I don't know yet, again maybe someone else does! Otherwise you are looking at going to Explorations Cafe.

Welcome to HAL! All specialty coffees incur a charge, as does sparkling water. If you don't drink alcohol, you might consider the Quench Beverage package instead. That will cover both lattes and Perrier, canned water and several other non-alcoholic drinks. There are no nifty espresso machines like you had on Viking for self-service in the Lido Market (buffet), only regular coffee. I'm not sure if Noordam has it but on our last cruise on Rotterdam there was a specialty coffee machine in the buffet, but you had to get a crew member to dispense it and there was a charge. It was never really busy though. There are lots of threads about Club Orange; in your case it might be worth it, because you are travelling with suite guests who get it automatically. That way, you get priority dining room access too, and can go at any time, not fixed seating. There is an extra entree choice on the menu, along with a few other perks. The nicest feature is the free upgrade to best available cabin in your category. All restaurants are available to you; you can make a reservation at Canaletto and Pinnacle Grill.

Thank you for the detail, especially Alicante and Cartagena. We have visited Malaga and Almeria, but not those two. The photos are so inviting!

The link that islandwoman provided takes you to this: https://www.buyatab.com/gcp/accessible/?id=5142&page=physical#customize Is that what you need?

Every once in a while, we run into some bizarre people on a cruise, and it does seem to be near a pool...! Haven't encountered the pool clip lady though!

The Pinnacle Grill specialty restaurant opens for lunch on sea days from 12-1. It has its own menu, different from the evening, and there is a charge- about half the price of the evening meal. Usually when you look at the back page of the daily program, it shows all of the dining venue hours and it should show Pinnacle Grill 12-1.

I had the Morimoto lobster and halibut xo on the Rotterdam and enjoyed them both. It made for a nice change and I'd have them again, too.

Definitely odd! I'm trying to imagine it as a combination, but just seems weird..🤪

pizza - yes! bat curry- NO!😝

Wow- looks like they packed up everything during Covid and never came back!?

There are a few, under HAL's "Savor My Catch" program. Here are a couple of them (pricey though !):