AKJonesy

Only finding 7073 on YT which says 5 months ago...idk. Might help. Nothing on halfacts.

Here are some menus. I love all the restaurants on the Pinnacle Class HAL ships. The Pinnacle restaurants would probably have the "heaviest" meals. https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/hal-specialty-restaurant-menus/ In terms of activities, look at some of the Live From posts as mentioned, but don't get your hopes up. This is where HAL falls short in my opinion with exception of the Music Walk. Bring earplugs for Music Walk. It's fun but a bit loud!

We have several of those foldable coolers with a side pocket. If you bring a plastic baggie, you could grab ice from the Lido each day. Just mentioning because it might be a hassle to get a mini fridge...if they still have them.

Be careful booking any triples and quads. It is possible that HAL could bump you from a stateroom that has capacity of greater than 2. Look at halfacts.com and read some of the reviews for main cabin (1) staterooms. I noticed both comments that people heard the Music Walk and didn't hear Music Walk. You don't want to be near the World Stage either. We were on 4 forward of the second set of elevators and we could hear the boom boom boom of Music Walk late into the night. We were also in an OV on Main just aft of the second set of stairs under the Ocean Bar and that was fine...BUT that was a number of years ago before hearing any complaints about being bumped from a triple or quad. Here is a pdf of the HAL staterooms: https://www.hollandamerica.com/content/dam/hal/inventory-assets/ships/at-a-glance/hal-all-deck-plans.pdf and also go to halfacts.com and read about the staterooms. Stay away from areas that can be potentially noisy. I'm not really sure about the issue of being bumped out of a room. You would think if you book ON HAL website, there would not be an issue. I am just raising it as an FYI. Maybe other people know more about this.

Here is 5162 on WE one floor up which is a connecting room. The door is right next to the tv. I don't think there is any less space due to the door. Try to look at halfacts.com and compare the staterooms with connecting doors and without. https://halfacts.com/vista-class/5162-westerdam/ and here is the HAL Stateroom pdf for WD: https://www.hollandamerica.com/content/dam/hal/inventory-assets/ships/WE/pdf/hal-we-deckplan-011124.pdf

Thanks a lot...now it's in my head and I have to figure it out!😆

I meant to include in my #18 post that our HOHO included a 90 minute walking tour with a local guide. It was very good. Bring water. It's hot.

We used the Hop on Hop Off bus to get around and it was great. We got on and off at several stops which were convenient to many sites. The busses were on time. Just double check to know where the bus picks you up and drops you off at the port.

I just double checked my old reservations and payments. Our difference was credited back to credit card. Interesting.

I want to say we paid full price but got the discount to the credit card. I don't ever recall getting the discount as OBC. Either way, you are getting the difference in price back to you.

Yes, you can bring food off here.

@ceilidh1 Could you post your stateroom pics on halfacts.com? There is such a difference between those inside staterooms, and it would be good to know where that stateroom is with that big curved sofa. I'm enjoying your posts. I like the 5 beers for 4 comment 🙂

I always bring paper copies of boarding passes just for this reason. Technology is great when it works, but...

@Presentation You could try talking to some of your people on your roll call also and see if anyone else is having problems making reservations. At least they are on the same voyage.

Sorry, did not mean that for @CruiserBruce but instead for the OP @LAKaye Here is 4025. https://halfacts.com/pinnacle-class/4025-rotterdam/ BUT, I would NOT book those cabins. They are right above the World Stage. If any productions have music, you will hear it. The VB cabins aft and on the right side would be best. You have to stay away from the noise areas on Rotterdam when you book a cabin on 4. Even though Music Walk is on 2, you will hear it on 4 anywhere forward of the central elevators. Been there, done that! https://www.hollandamerica.com/content/dam/hal/inventory-assets/ships/RN/pdf/hal-rn-deckplan.pdf

It's hard to know what your kids would like but clothing would be easy. Do they like hoodies or tees? Most teens wear hoodies or zip ups...but something really nice and not some of those cheap ones they sell in the stores at the cruise stops. Socks are easy and can be put in stockings. Personalized themed luggage tags can be found on Amazon or Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/gift-mode?ref=gm_search_banner Then since you are on a cruise, how about some kind of card game... like Phase 10, Uno, etc., which could be played by the whole family or just your kids. You can fold up some Christmas paper and pack that flat and bring some scotch tape. You could ask at Customer Service desk to use a scissors.

I would not like 4046 because you could hear noise from the World Stage.

IMO Two rooms. I just can't see an 18 and 17 year old sharing the couch bed. Sure, if they were young kids it would be different.

We were on 4 above the dining room on the edge of it and never heard a sound. Don't know which ship you chose. I do like ED over WD, but as you can see others like the opposite. I prefer ISP and Sitka. Sitka is one of my favorite towns in AK. I could do without Juneau and Ketchikan. Both are bigger and no character IMO. But, if you have a chance, don't just wander in the town; take an excursion.

I hope you don't get the Westmark in Anchorage. It is a dump, noisy and they use like 40 watt bulbs in the place. I doubt they will tell you in advance which hotel you are going to get. Sorry to give you this news, but others have complained on this forum, and we that live here, would like to see it tore down.

Heading to Athens next month staying 5 days then boarding NS for FLL. In Athens, what neighborhood did you stay in and would you recommend it AND how did you get around in the city? We did Oosterdam last fall and still love the ship. We also had some hot water issues, but resolved quickly. Have fun. Thanks for any input.

I would like to do the Northwest Passage but ouch $.

Are these complimentary in CO Dining for breakfast also?

For sure but sometimes the hassle is not worth it. In this case she mentioned the flight is in the evening so there is time to get it all figured out. How much luggage being dragged around could be an issue. I took the Keikyu bus, but the opposite so it worked slick. First on, but the bus filled up at the second stop. If it had been from Shinko Pier it would be much easier.

Assuming you have a lot of time getting to HND airport, you can make this work, but you may have to stand around for awhile. Trying to estimate the times is going to be tough from that pier IMO. As mentioned, the bus fills up fast and Yokohama Doll House is last stop before it heads to HND. I guess you don't want to take the cruise ship transfer which would be easiest?