expectGREATthings

I'm really enjoying your ongoing review and truly appreciate you sharing your adventure and time with us all. We're departing on a collectors B2B February 7th 2016 and you have been giving us a great preview. We also have the SBP and will surley be closing out some of our days at the Silk Den as you seem to enjoy it so much. I hope the rest of your cruise is as wonderful as it has been so far.

Thanks,

Michael

I've never been in the SPA pool but have been using my cane & heating pad lately due to backaches... Last time I had this problem when planning a cruise I had a couple of massages on board, but it really did not help much.. Wonder if the pool would be better for me? Also if I buy a day pass is there a time limit for staying in the pool?

Hello Betty,

On our last cruise aboard the Niew Amsterdam I had such a bad back I thought about not going on the cruise at all. Then like you I thought I'll get a couple of deep tissue massage treatments and hope for the best. I went with my wife and daughter to the introduction for the spa/gym area, and one of the places we visited was the hydro pool area and the heated tile lounges. I signed up and was really glad I did. These two relaxation/treatment areas gave me the opportunity to enjoy the cruise. There are also some scented steam rooms, and showers that you can adjust to mimic a rain forest and several other things like a glacial mist. I think you'd enjoy it. I did have to have spinal surgery about six moths later. The surgery went perfectly and now I'm in the peach orchard.

Thanks,

Michael

Hello,

You have to keep in mind that let's say between the SA-SB-SC cabins the website shows 20 open cabins. Lets say 17 people have booked an SC guarantee. Really only three cabins are available and once somebody books those 3 they all disappear from the website. So in essence it's supply and demand and we have no real way of knowing what's actually there until they're gone.

Thanks,

Michael

I have heard people talk about their gty assignment and was wondering to myself. "What is a "crappy" /bad cabin assignment?

 

I have cruised on ships in the front, back, on the very top deck and the very bottom deck, or as my sis says "in the bowels". I have felt vibrations, anchors being let down at dawn, hit a wave so hard that it knocked dh and I out of bed that night, had a cabin over something that sounded like metal bowling balls rolling around under the floor. We have been under the pool area, over the theatre and down the hall from the dr's office. None of these cabins I would consider "crappy"/bad cabin I guess if I think back the only "crappy" one was one that didn't have a/c for about one week of a 2.5 week cruise. At the end we got a big surprise in our mailbox. Hal sent us a letter of apology and a very large part of our cruise fare refunded.

 

So I turn to my CC friends what do you consider a "crappy"/bad cabin assignment?

If you were happy with the cabins that you mentioned get a guarantee as the ones you had are as bad as they get.

Michael

I just want to thank you for sharing your wonderful photo/video journal with us. You had the perfect cabin for capturing the action. The sunsets were breathtaking. I appreciate the effort, time and cost that goes into a journal like yours. In this case the results are truly priceless.

Thanks again.

Michael

The cruise lines don't WANT to have such a program to advise everyone who registers on line they meet all travel document requirements. Were they to have such a thing, they would be held responsible if the traveler appears without all appropriate visas etc It is an accepted position in international travel the final responsibility falls to the traveler. Why would a cruise line want to put themselves at risk for providing wrong advice that is personalized to each cruiser?

 

Sail7Seas answer makes perfect sense to me. I think the thousands of travelers that sail Holland America myself included every year without problem are proof the system works. I am however very sorry for and understand the frustration the OP must feel.

Michael

Sometimes it's more fun to watch the entertainment that's off the field.

as we have X4 on the cruise. Wish they showed the commercials and blacked the game.

With explore 4 you might be blacked out. [emoji56]

Michael

Although I've never been lucky enough to meet Ruth C. I would say as wonderful as she is through her helpful and kind posts that the sun might come out just to see her. [emoji274] Sail - I appreciate all of your helpful and well informed posts as well. Thanks

Michael

Talk about a large market, how about New York? Were the 10 day cruises really a financial loss? We sailed to the Caribbean twice from NY on the wonderful Noordam. I am sure both cruises were at or near to maximum capacity.

 

bosco

We did the Noordam out of New York twice as well and both times were during the winter. We were unable to enjoy the veranda for two or three days due to the weather. The seas also could be very rough in the Atlantic. The weather can get really bad in NYC as well and if people can't get to the ship because of a blizzard you have a major problem. The reason the ships were going out full was because of the sale prices HAL had to offer in order to fill them. So I wouldn't look to New York as something on the horizon.

Michael

The Zuiderdam used to go out of Port Canaveral and as I recall HAL had a hard time filling it. There were almost always fire sale pricing deals. In regards to air availability it doesn't get much better as everybody flies into MCO with it's proximity to WDW while Tampa is available as well. However your in for a ride using either of these. You can't beat FLL for a short hop to the port.

Michael

Amen to that. The Patriots know how to win. A lot of things have to go right just to get into the Superbowl winning is the frosting on the cake. I'm getting pretty excited for the upcoming season.

Michael

Let's not forget about the 'reigning' Super Bowl Champs.........

The PATRIOTS. :)

 

The Seahawks are a great team but now that they have to start paying Wilson what he deserves we shall see what we shall see. Or you could say this year we'll see what we shall see at sea:). I wish good luck and good health to all the teams in the NFL for the 2015/season. May the best team win it all whoever that may be.

I hate to burst your bubble but for the Packers to get to the Super Bowl they would have to beat the Seahawks and that's not going to happen =P

 

I was wondering if anyone knows whether they do anything for the games during the regular season, as I am leaving on the first sunday of the NFL season this year?

I'd say don't worry. On our last cruise which departed on a Suberbowl Sunday they showed the game and had a lot of fun activities. There was a full tailgate dinner in the showroom and various drink packages available from buckets of beer to an all you can drink deal at special pricing some even came with VIP lounge chair seating as well. There were also some themed sheet cakes and lots of decorations. Being as it's a Florida departure satellite reception should be no problem. The satellite feed probably won't include the commercials we all love however you can watch them when you get home on you tube. As far as departure day duties for the crew it's all pretty much over by game time no problems there. So in closing I say GO PACK GO!!!!! and see you onboard as my Wife and I will be sailing on the Eurodam for the Superbowl as well.

Michael

My now gone DH had the same thing as they had his on file but always retook my photo. He was definitely not a complainer. His was a great photo but I never seemed to look any better though.....

No. I think you haven't changed enough to require a new photo. Same thing was happening to me until I lost 100 pounds then the rep said this can't be you, and a new photo was required.

Michael

Hello all,

This is taken from the HAL website in regards to pricing for signature beverage program. "Offers are applicable on select 2015, 2016 and 2017 departures. The Signature Beverage Package value of US$1,400 is based on a 14 day cruise and has a daily limit of 15 beverages, which includes all beverages priced $7.00USD or lower including service charges with the exception of wines priced at $8.00USD or lower."

Thanks,

Michael

Dear Crew News,

I just wanted to say a very special thank you for all of the information you provide to all of us here on cruise critic. Speaking for myself and I'm sure countless others that are planning future Holland America cruises. Your web sight is a boon for us HAL fact finders. I really appreciate the time and effort you've put in to help others. Most people go on a cruise and worry about having a good time for themselves, you however thought about helping others have a good time on their cruises as well.

Thanks again,

Michael

Hello,

I'd like to start out by saying thanks Lisa for all of your help. Your keeping us all informed regarding the Explore4 program and the availability of it is a true help to all. I'm wondering if the program applies to the 14 day back to back sailing of the Eurodam departing February 7th 2016.

Thanks in advance,

Michael

ExpectGREATthings & Beyondthe7seas will be onboard the Eurodam sailing February 7th for a 14 day collectors cruise. Watching the Super Bowl at sea. Go Packers!

Very nice, you'll love your cabin. Congratulations to your Daughter on her achievement. I'm sure you'll have a most enjoyable time.

Michael

If you're shopping for bargains right now, log in and you will be surprised to see much lower prices. Because of the Mariner sale, I just booked an ocean-view cabin on Nieuw Amsterdam for a Caribbean sailing next February at $739 per person versus the Anniversary Sale price of $949. Of course I don't get the cabin upgrade or the shore excursion and dining credits, but I'd rather have the lower price. Mariner sale ends on June 25, according to the rep I spoke with.

I agree with John aka CruiserBruiser. I had gotten a price for the anniversary sale and now I've received one with the Mariner rate. Low and behold they are virtually the same in essence. I just get a lower rate with no tour OBC, no drink card, no dine around and no internet time with the Mariner rate. I did get a $200 OBC but that was it. This I like as I can spend my money my way. We love HAL. My Wife and I have been pretty much been cruising it exclusively since our first cruise which I believe was in 1985 aboard the previous Noordam from San Fransisco to Acapulco and back for two weeks. So if you want a price for just the cruise check out the Mariner rate.

Thanks,

Michael

Is the $1800 per person or for two (or more)?

It's actually for three of us my Wife Daughter and I.

Thanks,

Michael

Hello again,

Earlier today I posted concerning which of two SS cabins would be best for us, and as always I got some great answers. When I called my travel agent I was in formed that some SB cabins had now opened up and was I interested in one of them. They are located near the SS cabins they are SB6061 and SB6064 the up-charge would be $1800 this is for a 14 day cruise on the Eurodam. My dilemma now is which way should I go SS or SB? I appreciate all of the help I get here on CC.

Thanks in advance,

Michael

Hello,

We have our choice of cabin SS6058 or SS6092 on the Eurodam. I know 6092 is a connecting cabin but the location seems very nice, and I don't know if having a connecting cabin really matters. If anyone has any suggestions I'd deeply appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks,

Michael

Let me ask this question. Do you see a trend unfolding here? It's just a matter of time before HAL and NCL ban veranda smoking as well. I give it a year max on HAL. Next it'll be smoke free cruise ships overall. I live in Wisconsin and you can no longer smoke in any public restaurants or taverns. Ten years ago I would have bet a thousand dollars that would never happen here. It is what it is and the clock is ticking.

Michael