Cruise4food

Map of Montreal cruise port. Your cruise line might be able to advise which dock they typically use.  https://www.port-montreal.com/en/access-to-berths.html  

Schedule of ships. https://www.port-montreal.com/en/cruise-vessels-schedule.html 

On 10/15/2019 at 10:58 AM, garnetpalmetto said:

Perhaps an odd question, but is it possible to just walk up to the cruise terminal in Montreal? DW and I are going to be going on Empress of the Seas next year out of Montreal and were thinking about getting an AirBnB in walking distance of the port the night before. I know in some ports this wouldn't be feasible given either size or security concerns but given how relatively small Montreal's terminal area is, it looked like it might be possible.

Look at your dock assignment for the ship to verify that you board in the Old port dock. A third dock is away in the cargo terminal area, used for days with many ships or for a ship that will not fit under the last bridge. I will try to post the website link soon, but you can google montreal cruise port. I doubt they have the assignments for 2020 up yet. Look in the new year for their update. And Yes you can walk up to the regular dock, but not to the cargo terminal one. There are some steep up and down hill sections but only for one block or so, and the blocks are very short. 

We had a thread a while back about this. Not easy to search old threads now with my iPad. You should be able to find the thread. But I liked the height, great view, close to Crow’s Next, Bluetooth music player. There should be pics at HALfacts. The balcony had two chairs to sit, but a recliner/lounger will not fit. I liked the extra motion up high and front to rock to sleep at night.

2 hours ago, bevking1223 said:

 Do laundry bags hold much?

I got 5 shirts, 2 docker trousers, 1 denim (all 3 full length), 5 pair socks, 6 underwear in a blue bag. Just reviewed a picture, I am sure you do not want to see it. Could have fit in a bit more, but not much. Remember to itemize everything on the paper form.

4 hours ago, oceanmom said:

Upsells generally come out 2-4 weeks before sailing.

The timing of my experience in post #9 was unusual. That Maasdam MTL to Boston voyage was likely selling poorly to have such a price reduction so far out. 

1 hour ago, SAPMAN said:

I have heard both that you have not choice of cabins (only category) and also that you do before making your "offer".   Which is correct?

The one time that I did an "upsell" was from an Inside to Lanai on the Maasdam. Or as Holland America seems to say, a paid upgrade. I had an assigned interior room number and noticed major price drops about 10 days after final payment. I phoned in on a weekend, rather than wait till Monday for my PCC. An ocean view on same deck for zero extra cost (was CDN$800 less than what I paid, if booked brand new that day) was available but I decided for a paid upgrade to a Lanai. Both types of room upgrades were discussed over the phone by specific room number, using a deck plan at my side. 

2 minutes ago, Ichiban Nekko said:

And a switch would be drown

If the switch is "drowning", visit the lifeboats, not Guest Relations. Sorry, couldn't resist. I know it is just a typo.  😂

11 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

Have you travel agent of Hal Cruise consultant request one and it should be in your cabin when you board.  If it is not there just ask the cabin steward and they will get you one. 

The outlet extender should look like this one on the Maasdam, HAL logo included. This one is permanently in the stateroom with the orange cord powering the mini-fridge.

14 hours ago, MikeD4134 said:

Holland America has no policy on luggage size.

On my first cruise ever, I boarded and finished in my home city with no air travel. During a call to ask HAL about luggage size, after the rep realized no airline, he explained that some people on the world cruises bring on-board an old fashioned steamer trunk. Stored away deep in the ship until disembarkation. No worries about my two suitcases!

Comparing in the deck plan (from the cruise atlas) shows that staterooms 320 and 321 are under the showroom stairs. Your old room 322 seems to be a Lanai, under the Photo Gallery.  320 and 321 would be ocean view. The cruise atlas deck to deck alignment can be checked by looking at the stairs and elevators.

The at home use of this HAL Navigator app just got a slight boost in the recent update. You can now login with your Mariner ID and the world map of HAL ships works. Current location of each ship is shown with some details about the itinerary. Most of the other app sections just show a screenshot of how the page will work after you are onboard.

1 hour ago, ksmaxey said:

Just off the Veendam today. 

Thanks for your report. Veendam should make a couple Boston - Montreal runs now for the autumn leaves.

2 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

What was the configuration of seating?

Was it rows of chairs or sofas and chairs?

This youtube video of Veendam is from June 2018, based upon a When & Where depicted. Explorers Lounge is at 17:05, with classical musicians playing. The rest of the video is worth watching for a very thorough look at Veendam. I haven't even watched the video till the outdoor hottubs yet. Back to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqWe9TXFjTI

14 minutes ago, TiogaCruiser said:

What was the configuration of seating?

Was it rows of chairs or sofas and chairs?

I do not have a photo. Seats at windows were club type, 2 & 2 facing each other over a coffee table. In center of lounge, single seats, in pairs with a small drinks table between, all faced the musicians at the end. Finally, a long continuous sofa separated the lounge from the hallway leading to the dining room. Only at the windows did any seats face away from the Adagio players (describing the Maasdam here).

1 hour ago, TiogaCruiser said:

The chart shows  Veendam does not have Lincoln Center, but I would not be surprised if they changed the Explorers Lounge from comfy sofas and chairs in groupings into chairs in rows like they did Zaandam. Maybe someone with recent experience can chime in.

In July 2019, Maasdam, sister ship of Veendam, had the Adagio classical music duo playing in Explorers Lounge. A violinist and pianist performed regularly to large audiences. You can expect that Veendam has her own Adagio players, even though they are not on the chart.

On 9/5/2019 at 4:37 PM, lizzies_mom said:

This thread makes me feel better as well. Lizzie's dad and I will be on the Veendam for a 17 day transatlantic next April. Last year we did a similar itinerary on the Royal Princess, but we are looking forward to being back on a real ship. 

 

For the last few years, our HAL cruises have been on larger ships which have the Lincoln Center Stage. Is there anything similar on the Veendam? It's difficult to find the on website. (Okay, everything is difficult to find on the website.)

This direct path to a chart of HAL ships should work to get a PDF you can save locally.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/content/dam/hal/inventory-assets/ships/pdf-files/HAL_Ships_at_a_Glance_Chart.pdf

On 8/25/2019 at 7:44 PM, rafinmd said:

Let me add that I've sailed the Veendam twice and was very happy with here.  She had some real serious problems after they did their number on the aft pool.  Those problems have long been corrected but I don't think people will ever stop reporting on them.

That “time problem” is a very important element to watch for in the CC forums. Some info is timeless, but much is time sensitive. The key is guessing which is applicable to a given post.

3 hours ago, LoveHAL said:

My question is, if it is so bad, why complain so much? Why not just spend your travel dollars elsewhere? Or, is it just fun to complain? 

A plausible explanation is that the relentless posts are made by personas of political action groups. It is completely irrational for a person to continue cruising on a line after all the bad experiences they claim in the stories. Here is hoping that my CC filter settings will ensure that none of their replies appear in my feed. 💦 😀 

1 hour ago, RuthC said:

I wonder when the paper version will be available. That's the format I prefer, so that's the one I use.

Last Saturday they had a HAL rep set up at a table in the Montreal Cruise Port distributing various cruise brochures including the paper version of this 2020-2021 Cruise Atlas. The table was in a public access section as part of the celebration for 500,000 HAL passengers boarding through the port. So, the paper version is out there.

The new Holland America Cruise Atlas for 2020-2021 is on-line. Select Travel Resources at the bottom of the main HAL page and then E-Brochures. As per the last couple of years, it is available to be read on-line in cenveomobile format or download as a PDF. This link is for the US website. You may be redirected for other nations.

Note that they no longer have a link to the 2019-2020 version of the Cruise Atlas. it is always a good idea to download that PDF version.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/ebrochures.html

25 minutes ago, jez1967 said:

On HALfacts I saw pictures of a K category interior cabin on the Nieuw Statendam that actually had a window. This cabin number was 11058 with outside wall on jogging track. I believe that if this is correct the other cabin on the end with outside wall on the jogging track would be 11057.

 

Thanks,

Jamie

This thread discusses Nieuw Statendam room 11058. No picture of the TV but it is on the wall next to the window. I had no trouble watching TV from the bed, just a slight angle to see it. Laundry hamper is the desk chair, not comfortable to watch TV with no back. The room numbers appear to be identical for K and NS ships. Location is great with quick access to Crow's Nest, Lido deck and sky views on either side of the ship.

Never been on Koningsdam, but I have seen a youtube drone video of Koningsdam which shows the same two windows next to the jogging track.

On 4/5/2019 at 12:15 PM, Cruise4food said:

I hope that this new app can do one thing that the browser- based technique cannot do. Namely, place reminders and appointments directly into my iPhone system.  

If the app cannot do that, I prefer to stay with the browser access. Will test it this July on Maasdam.

I confirm that the Navigator app can trigger alerts on an iPhone, based upon selecting an event. For example, select Adagio playing at 5:30 and an alert will appear on screen without any extra effort. My default alert is 15 minutes before the event which is adequate time to walk from anywhere on Maasdam. 

Also, the Navigator app has a world map that depicts current position of every HAL ship. 

1 hour ago, dada.mv said:

Same experience for a cruise next January in carribean, price drop by 40%. I called HAL and i've been upgraded from an interior to a verandah.

From what i understand is the fact that you made the final payment or not that make the difference.

Some trips are in big demand, such as Voyage of the Vikings and do not see price drops. For the rest, keep watching those prices. I have a Vista class ship booked fully obstructed ocean view for New Years and hope that the larger availability of verandas on that class will help make a later upgrade more affordable.

On my 2018 cruise Montreal to Boston, 7 days, we had a significant price drop just after final payment. Ocean view, as an example, was $800 less than my interior.  I called in and upgraded for  $550 to Lanai from interior. Those prices in CDN$, solo pricing.

On 7/19/2019 at 10:18 AM, Copper10-8 said:

 

I still like "All about that bass" the best

That moment when Morgan James kicks in for her turn at the mic!