Mary229

It was clear that prices were going to go up everywhere so we bought cruises for 2 years out to lock in the old rates.  Now I have a twofold strategy, I either buy when it is first published to take advantage of the early booking bonus and the early Mariner bonus or I wait until it is close to sailing and try to get a last minute deal.  Worse than the cruise fares are the international airfares. 

10 minutes ago, jeh10641 said:

To Mary229,

I found the link (below) to my Rotterdam review. I hope you can open it. Let me know. Thanks.

Jim

 

Holland America Rotterdam Cruise Ship: Review, Photos & Departure Ports on Cruise Critic

Thank you so much.  My DH tried the Ruben twice and said never again.  He also tried the pretzel (New Jersey guy) he said never again but I agree with your other food choices though I think the Canaletto has gone down.  My new favorite is the Pinnacle lunch.  I was happy to see your comments about your room 1146, we chose room 1154 just 3 or 4 doors down.  We were originally 3 but dear sis cannot make it.   We have a habit of picking long cruises with few rooms housing more than 2  so HAL said we can keep the family room (so far)

One overlooked aspect in our online discussions of HAL is their commitment to religious services. I am glad you detailed that aspect. 

24 minutes ago, jeh10641 said:

Hi, Mary,

Our only other Pinnacle class cruise was on Rotterdam in December 2021 when she was only six weeks old. Koningsdam will be our second trip on this class. My only complaint on Rotterdam was the smoke from the casino rising up into the Music Walk, at times almost overwhelming. Now, I am complaining about the lack of Lincoln Center and country music (the latter may be baseless according to some comments I have on another thread). As always your comments are most welcome.

Jim

We will have to compare notes.  I loved the NStatendam, I still don’t like the K and I will be sailing the R in September.   On my K journey we did have a classical music trio performing often and I found these musicians far superior to the run of the mill LCS musicians.  We also had a fantastic concert pianist on stage.  He was the very first performer I have ever made a point of thanking heartily for his performance.  He was old school, loved sailing and came direct to HAL by his own efforts not through a talent agency. 

1 hour ago, donaldsc said:

Unless you are taking a prescribed narcotic I can't understand what all this fuss is about pills.  I take several of them a day.  I put them in small ziplocks in my rucksack and carry them on board and on airplanes as necessary.  Nobody has ever looked at them ever.  Seems to me that everyone is overreacting about this issue or perhaps I should say non-issue.  

 

DON

For most countries and certainly for domestic problem it is not an issue but there are countries who are very particular.  As travelers we find it simpler to follow the strictest guidelines instead of not and finding out the hard way. And yes, I review our few medications periodically to be sure they are not on some country’s not allowed list. 

I so agree @maggiev  the small luxuries are so worth it.  Unless I have a favorite hotel in a town I click that button on my Manage my cruise page.  My TA has gotten wise and now books it when she books the cruise and asks me later😉. Of course I can cancel later 

3 hours ago, maggiev said:

I have a less than helpful (not only about this but other things) TA.  I was wondering if there was a way I could talk to Holland & try to get a room. Wasn’t sure if they ever tried to get more rooms once their allotment was gone. 

If there are any left you can go to the “manage my Cruise” page, then travel, then transfers and stays.   Select pre cruise if there is anything available it will be there.  You could call also.  This is one thing your TA does not have to do for you, you can take full charge of hotels and air yourself.  

1 hour ago, mawvkysc said:

I forgot to screenshot the flyer with the unlimited laundry prices. 
 

We will send out a full bag around day 10. I had to send out a dress and sweater yesterday late morning. They came back that night. 

The dry cleaning fees are very cheap.  They use eco dry clean so there are no harsh chemical smells. I have DH’s dinner jackets freshened first thing once onboard 

5 hours ago, martincath said:

It sounds like it's a HAL PCC rather than an independent agent

That is an interesting conclusion since the OP said her TA.  

15 minutes ago, jeh10641 said:

I heard that HAL is still offering twice a day cabin service. Is that true? Or does it vary by ship/ market?

Jim

It seems to be ship dependent.Some ships ask, some don’t , twice is always available .  This started back in 2019.   I prefer once a day but I get twice no matter how I respond. 

@TheMichael  I understand your POV but I think HAL has set a bifurcated course.  If you sail their grands or new “legendary voyages” which do cost more per diem you will get much of the old standards of food, service and entertainment .  Their other sailings with a few exceptions (Antartica journey spring to mind) you are going to get very main stream mass market.  Why not? In popular markets they are charging the same as Carnival or Norwegian on their 7-10 day sailings. The only differentiation are the slight cultural differences you see between mass markets.  They can use that market to pay the bills and expand their reach. When I was in business I had 3 streams of revenue and each was treated differently according to service needs and profit.  It was the profitable method, it allows quick nimble moves as when the market changes.   The business is  already playing in different fields and doesn’t need to invent a program for each new trend. 
 

PS. The savvy consumer figures out where to buy.  

@TheMichael  I absolutely agree that discerning travelers are waiting.  We have done most of my husband’s list which we bought at great rates months if not years ago.  Besides our hot weather getaways we are watching and waiting.  Road travel has already slowed down and that is our direction while we wait it out. 

26 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

These cruises both happened in May.  If ice is the issue (unlikely) why would this not be disclosed?  We have been on other HAL cruises where ice was an issue (Prince Christian Sound) and the ice situation was fully explained.  Besides, the Inside Passage remains ice free, year-round, due to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean and relatively warm Japan Current.

 

Hank

Knowing it is May does clarify.  The traditional inside passage season does start in late April.  

2 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

As HAL and multiple other lines have cruises departing and/or returning to Vancouver at this time of year that use the inner passage, I doubt that the currents are the cause of the Westerdam's changed itinerary.

It is not clear to me when this occurrence took place but I agree it is not currents but sea ice could be an issue(?)

3 minutes ago, carnivaljunkie said:

That should say 2026.

I was wondering if HAL was proposing to build  a Starship Rotterdam 😉

15 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

On Zaandam last month, 4 and 5 star Mariners went to a separate location and got priority disembarkation tender tickets. No more just showing up at the tender platform and show your room key for priority.

Same on the Koningsdam but the instructions were not clear.  The cruise director never did announce nor publish the second location and only those who got the message by word of mouth used the priority system.  Some spent a lot of time in line only to be sent to the “special area”

1 hour ago, RedIguana said:

The Pan Pacific in 2023 was offering luggage service from room to the cruise port for $10.

I got mine free but we stayed in a suite 

17 minutes ago, Horizon chaser 1957 said:

People without a prearranged excursion and written proof that a guide will be waiting for them are NEVER allowed to go ashore. That’s not a cruise line rule, it’s an Indonesian rule. It’s not the captain’s call. 
Edit: I notice you DID have a prearranged tour, just not with HAL. The captain made a definite mistake there, and you should, indeed, have been compensated!

Maybe the guide did not follow the rules   It is a fairly recent rule and I can understand the confusion. I wonder if this was ever noted in port talks or daily programs 

1 minute ago, Sea-n-Ease said:

What’s the max capacity of the Crow’s Nest?

🤷‍♀️ but is spans the entire bow 

Call Holland your self but don’t expect results at a late date.  What I would do is tell the TA to book either (both nice hotels and very close to port) then have the TA gift you a professional airport transport.   She owes you 

The Pan PAC provides luggage service with reservation and likely the Fairmont does also 

10 hours ago, leerathje said:

It ends up there is an accessible cabin on deck 5 available.  Most of the accessible rooms are all the same size....the one available on deck 5 is a wedge, sister to the one on deck 4....except I understand the verandahs on deck 5 are shallower than other decks.

 

L.

 

5 is quieter.  4 is above all of the venues even the venues 2 floors down can be heard (muffled). I looked at your position on 4 and it looks fairly quiet. Last week I had my niece move up to 5 to insure a quiet ride.  I have stayed on 5 also - extremely quiet.  In your case I would still go for the largest room and if balcony is important then consider that also.  I only take the balcony on the pinnacles because I don’t like the first floor and the insides are extremely tiny (with a few exceptions)

6 hours ago, critical22 said:

What are the hours for the Crow’s Nest? First time on HAL, is is packed all the time or are there high / low points?

24 hours though beverage service, shore excursions have hours.  I often stay on the 10th floor (same floor) and from experience: on scenic cruising days it starts to fill around 7:30 and is usually full thereafter until either sunset or scenic cruising is completed.  On other days it ebbs and flows all day 

@leerathje when I look at cabins and there is no noise issue I always pick the one with the largest size in its category rather than moving to another category. On the a pinnacle class ship larger is better.  I was in an obstructed view on the Koningsdam and had to look over the lifeboat but could still see a full panorama even seated 

1 minute ago, oakridger said:

Trans Atlantic from Ft. Lauderdale to Ijmuiden Netherlands. 

I guess they want you in bed early😂

5 minutes ago, Khlela said:

For me an Alaskan cruise isn’t about those ports. I enjoy the open sea, the wildlife and Glacier Bay. I may be bias because I live in the PNW so the “amazing views” of the Canadian Inside Passage is no different than taking my boat up the Columbia Gorge. There is nothing special, it’s just calmer waters. It’s also why I don’t fall into “tourist traps” because I can get my own fresh Dungeness crab here. 
 

Either way, I personally found the inside passage to be lacking and less beautiful and less sea life than when I have taken the outer way back. But if others love it for some reason, more power to them. Everyone has different priorities. 

 

Feel free to continue to call ports “tourist traps” and completely disregard the thousands of people that enjoy the cruise every year. I would venture there are far more “tourist trap” ports in other regions. But whatever. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I was just sharing my opinion. 

People forget some of those ports are National Parks ; as much as Yellowstone and Yosemite are tourist traps I guess the ports  are too.  

3 hours ago, shandryl said:

I stay on the ship more than I used to. Get a nice comfy chair "people watch" or read a book. Look out to the ocean and just live in the moment and really appreciate just being there💖. A much slower pace for sure. 😉

 

"Cruise Addiction at it's best"  My Mother & I used to go on tours, get up first so we could grab/put the claimers to two lounge chairs.  Try & be the first in line to what ever there was & now I laugh bc of the ridiculousness of all of it.  At the time we honestly thought it was the best thing to do to get that full on "CRUISE EXPERIENCE" 😂 we would plan/book flights/hotels & go on line to book shore excursions. Talked all about what we were going to do (Non-Stop) my mother had a fridge magnet for every place/island we had been to. We had so many pictures of the ocean & sand and scenery that it was hard to tell at all what place/island the picture was taken from,  The pictures started looking all the same!  We made lots of friends and stayed InTouch through the years. My mother passed in 2015.  btw, I was trying to keep up with HER! .😂  

We still enjoy our outings or excursions but used to be first off, last on the ship. Now we set a more leisurely pace.  I realize now it is not a once in a lifetime opportunity and that I can come back and stay a while if I like it.  He recently made me take a beach type cruise and I was back on the ship for lunch most days only leaving the ship for an evening stroll prior to sail away