crystalspin

The Pinnacle Class including the K'dam, are not "new monsters". We did a 16-day B2B and promptly booked (and subsequently re-booked) a 35-day on the Koningsdam. She has the perfect selection of venues so that rarely does anyplace seem crowded.

I stand corrected! I thought the Disneys were mega-ships.

Try to get a balcony room (Verandah in HAL terminology) near midships if on the Koningsdam. You may still have occasion to walk the length of the ship, say from the Crows Nest to the Main Dining Room, but most treks will be only half the length or less! The K'dam is one of three of HAL's largest ships, but still smaller than I believe ANY Disney ship. She has added venues over the smaller HAL ships. I say go in September and then go back in June for the long hours of daylight!

You know you will have a window in your Inside cabin? If you want a second chair, ask your stewards (we had three in 10021 on Zuidy!). There are only the two nightstand drawers in the whole cabin (if you don't count the large drawers under the end of the beds). We packed collapsible closet-organizing boxes and used them as drawers on the closet shelves. ETA: it is the left-right opposite of this cabin: https://halfacts.com/vista-class/10024-oosterdam/ PS, the window looks over the roof of the pool, but you get light and can check the weather!

I would not count on them automatically doing the obvious thing! I think Mary has the right advice and you will have to pay for a toll call to work this out the simplest way.

I don't think we are in disagreement. Viator can add a fee AND steal most of the vendor's profit.

https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Pinnacle-Grill-Lunch-2023-24.pdf Quite a few no-upcharge options by leaving off the rice or potato etc. Making me hungry!

1- We cancelled with the standard CCP, last February, a day and a night early. 80% of fare and the whole of taxes+fees plus 100% of excursions and even a pre-paid floral arrangement were all refunded within a week. (I cancelled on the computer/website AND wrote my PCC.) 2- If it could be changed, one pax would have to be the same.

You don't get other "suite perks" in a Vista Suite* on either Z'dam or K'dam, just more room and on the Zaandam MUCH more storage. And the double Mariner points if booked at published rate (not an upsell or upgrade). But they are lovely cabins. * This is also true of the Signature Suites.

On top of the good advice you've received above, the 5-day/4-night description is disingenuous: Cruises do not have a day without a night -- guests must be off the ship by 9:30-10am on final "day". And rarely get to board in time for lunch on Day 1. So a 4-night cruise is almost a 3-day/4-night cruise. So right off the certificate is taking license with the truth.

June definitely still works. Two of our AK cruises were in early to mid-June. The earlier one we did not do whale-watching in Juneau, because I had booked it for Seward (we went on to do two weeks self-driving in Alaska). The whales around the Kenai peninsula were SO active -- happy to be back in plankton-rich waters of the north! The second we did a 7-day R/T Vancouver and did a three-part Mendenhall/whale/salmon dinner ship's excursion. Whales were also very active with many breaches. FWIW -- the third cruise was mid-July and we did the ship's "scientific" whale watch which was interesting, but the whales were not as active nor did the boat try to get near them. However, on the otter-watching boat trip in Sitka, a whale surfaced VERY close to the boat and spouted!

The medical part of HAL's Platinum Cancellation Protection Policy does waive pre-existing conditions and only needs to be purchased before penalties begin to accrue. If the fare has a non-refundable deposit, that is immediately. With most refundable fares, it is Final Payment Date. For some longer cruises, the penalties start sooner than FPD. HAL is very good with special diets. I agree that you should select Fixed Seating, so that they can find you with tomorrow's menu to select what courses are wanted that CAN be prepared safely.

I have seen that too, but not explored the reason. Your theory is as good as any! When you see HIA more expensive than Bare-bones then $55pd, it is because it also includes a refundable deposit.

Here is the second half? https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2956193-zuiderdam-june-29-2024-july-20-2024-viking-passage-from-ijmuiden-amsterdam-to-boston-21-days/#comment-65882247

CruiseDeckPlans says: Cabin: 174 sqft (16 m2) Balcony: 46 sqft (4 m2) The balcony may vary, as can be seen on the deckplan, and I believe the aft Verandahs gain a couple internal feet for the curvature.