NC_Traveller

This video is amazing!!! What a wonderful bucket list trip -- I cannot believe how much wild life he saw -- so thankful he posted the video so we all could enjoy!! THANK YOU 

The itinerary is FANTASTIC!!! You will love going to the Arctic Circle -- Norway is VERY EXPENSIVE but you can save some money by walking around on your own and using public transportation to some places you have researched. Seeing Norway from a cruise ship is the best way to do it --- such a large country. You will ENJOY the cruise and I would go to Norway every year if I could -- it is a beautiful country and the people are wonderful! Have a great time!

Kazu - THANK YOU for coming to my rescue. I appreciate your help and I hope to meet you on a cruise one day -- I had hoped that I would be able to sail on one of your favorites -- the Prinsendam -- but will settle for the Rotterdam. She is lovely and I sailed on her in 2016. Have a great holiday season!

Does anyone know where the Rotterdam Roll Call for the July 1, 2019 cruise disappeared to -- it is Baltic and Spitsbergen 34 day trip? The Baltic trip was supposed to be on the Prinsendam but since it was sold.....it moved to the Rotterdam. Please help! Thanks

I did the Viking Passage in 2016 starting from Rotterdam so heading west -- It was the BEST vacation and cruise I have ever been on. The photos in the thread are exactly what you will be seeing -- I still go and look at my photos from that cruise --- Iceland and Greenland are breath-taking. I would do this cruise every year if I could afford it. My advice is to go to ALL the enrichment lectures and port talks -- you can pick up tidbits that will help you plan your days in port. You do not have to do the ships tours and can just walk around the small towns --- The Prince Christian Sound was amazing -- be sure to go outside all through the day because the weather and sights change -- I got some of the best photos after dinner and as we were leaving the sound in the evening -- people are amazed when I show them to them.

I enjoyed the Rotterdam - -the entertainment was great but I have heard that has changed -- the singers were with the British agency and I think this has changed and also the BB Kings was the best!!! So sorry that is gone now.

You will have a wonderful time and be sure to buy some Serious chocolate bars in Iceland --- just get them at the grocery store -- best chocolate ever!!!!

Enjoy!!!!!!

I stayed in Vancouver an extra day after leaving a HAL cruise. I rode the HOHO bus and stopped at the Market (can't remember the exact name), you must see the Gas light district (fun to walk around) and Stanley Park. So much to do and a great city--- I wish I had more time there. Have a great trip!

Kazu - This thread is truly amazing. I look forward to reading it each day -- THANK YOU. Keep the photos coming because I am truly excited about my Spitsbergen/Iceland trip on her in July!!!!!

Kazu - THANK YOU so much for all the updates and the photos. I am getting excited to sail on the Prinsendam in July to Spitsbergen and Iceland. It is great getting the live scoop from this thread. I think some of the folks on your current trip will still be on board then --- if you or anyone can find out who the Captain and Cruise Director are for the 20 day Arctic Circle Cruise that would be WONDERFUL information. I hope you and everyone have a FANTASTIC trip!

Ruth C and Kazu - Thanks to you both for all your responses here on this board -- I hope to one day sail with each of you!!!! I am super excited to sail on the Prinsendam in July (Spitsbergen and Arctic) -- I know it is more $$$ but life is short and I can't wait to meet the crew and experience what MANY HAL fans have enjoyed through the years!!!!! Happy Sailing to all.

I was on Koningsdam in July -- great ship! The productions in the World Stage last about an hour -- get there a few minutes early because it FILLS UP quickly on the popular ones. Most of the venue music sets are about 45 minutes and the Koningsdam times them so you can walk from one to the other and listen to music all night long if you want too. Have a great time!!!!!!

I went on Transatlantic Viking Voyage in 2016 -- both Greenland ports were amazing as others indicated. Cruising through Prince Christian Sund was really fantastic -- the morning was cloudy/rainy but by afternoon it cleared up --- stay outside on the upper decks and you will see some fantastic scenery -- some of the best photos of the sund were in the later afternoon as we were exiting. I loved both ports in Greenland -- it was just great walking around, talking with the locals, visiting grocery stores and looking at the towns. Even if you only see one -- it is more than many people get to see. Go for it and ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was on the ship in July --- Frozen Planet was a great show but the shows the HAL singers and dancers did were good -- the best one was called One World -- I went and saw it twice!!! The showroom with the wrap around screens are FANTASTIC!!!!!

I was on the Koningsdam in July for the 14 night Norway Midnight Sun Cruise (It was wonderful BTW) and we docked in Flam. As far as tendering you usually get your tickets in a common area when EVERYONE in your party is ready to leave the ship. Remember with the Koningsdam there are a lot of people so it does take a while if you tender. Overall the tenders were run very efficiently in my opinion on the Norway cruise.

On my past 2 HAL cruises, I went ahead and talked with the cruise consultant NOT intending to book anything. It was fun talking with them on a sea day and they gave me a ton of "extra" information about varying itineraries and cabin selection tips. Many cruise consultants have sailed on a lot of the ships. It is an easy way to guarantee a good cabin and a spot on some of the more popular trips --- it is only $100 and you are guaranteed to get it back should you change your mind. I have gone ahead and booked both trips!!! It is worth your time in my opinion.

I sailed the Koningsdam in July to Norway for 14 days and it was $30 a bag. You can stuff A LOT in the bag. It comes back perfect too!!!! This is the first time I did a bag on a cruise and it was so easy -- you did not have to worry about it at all. More time for vacation fun.

Debsjc - THANK YOU for your postings about the Koningdam!!! I am super excited to see her in person next month. You take great ship photos too.

Thanks so much for the video -- I am SUPER excited about my Koningsdam journey in July. I appreciated you pointing out the unique features that this ship had compared to others in the HAL family.

I have been on several other cruise lines and my last 3 cruises have been on HAL. The service is outstanding and the itineraries are why I have selected this cruise line --- My First HAL cruise was to Alaska on the Zaandam, last summer I did the Viking Voyage on the Rotterdam and in July I will be going to Norway on the Koningsdam. I can say that the Rotterdam had outstanding entertainment last summer and the Dive In and Pizza place were outstanding -- especially if you wanted lunch on the ship or a quick snack upon returning from sight-seeing. The only negative is that the excursions on HAL are super expensive. I have also seen that a younger mix of people are starting to travel on HAL. Do not miss the BB King Blues Band!!!!! I really love the stateroom size and the beds are super comfortable!!!! I hope HAL continues to marker to all age travelers -- they are my new preferred cruise line.