riverrat

Just completed 21 days on the NS. Our favorites:

Husband - seafood = swordfish, corvina and tuna (cooked perfectly), shrimp, fish cakes.

Me - beef = Crusted Prime rib, Rudi's bbq ribs, Rudi's brisket - not a fan of the strip.

Kristen Tish Croissant Pudding - amazing hot or cold (enough for two people)

Surf and Turf on Gala night was delicious.

French onion soup is my favorite, but I like all Holland soups

From the Lido - favorite night was three different curry options on the Far East Station

On 4/2/2022 at 10:07 AM, LewiLewi said:

Do you know what happened to the group of Covid positive in transit passengers that were quarantined in their cabins? Were they disembarked from the ship prior to reaching Bonaire? If so, any idea where they were relocated?

 

Hi LewiLewi,

I don’t know anything about anyone being disembarked. We are still here. So are all the neighbors we have met on the balconies. Many stories shared with new friends.

Beautiful view today….. we should write a blog “prime rib on a paper plate” 😆 

…if you look up from deck three aft starboard side…we are here…...right above  lifeboat 21 

HAL is taking excellent care of us. 

An onboard guest from Cruise Critic picked up herbal teas and had it delivered to us. Thank you so much Mr Lewi. You made my day.

12 hours ago, sailingdutchy said:

As one of the couples that had to be transported to the Covid Hotel after only having spend our first 11 days of our 21 day cruise I can really appreciate your commends that you are making today about people not wearing masks in crowded places like elevators , meeting rooms and crowded entertainment areas . 
 

I would have thought that HAL had learned a lesson after the explosion of positive Covid cases from the Mar 16 to Mar 27 cruise . 
 

Bill and Mary Ann mentioned that on turnover day they were waiting for the ship to reach zero occupancy . Well that point was never reached , while we were waiting to be transported off the ship to be taken to the Covid hotel  new guests were already climbing on board  . We only left around 1pm ! And there was a very large number of us infected guests . I am not sure of the exact number of us taken off but I am guessing at least 50 or 60 !
 

I do not like to hijack @WCB nice and important blog which I also have been reading for a couple of months , so my sincere apologies to them , I have learned a lot before we came on board from this .

 

So thank you for taking a stand @LewiLewi, please keep wearing your mask , we were one of the victims paying the price and having to miss a very nice part of our cruise . 
 

If people from Holland America are reading my post , please reinstate a tighter mask mandate , this is costing you too much ! 
 

Tony 

Tony, so sorry to hear about your experience. We tested negative on Friday and then rested Tuesday due to the large number of positive guests in the in-transit group. The retest was positive for us both and we were moved to a balcony on level five. There are at least 25 of us in quarantine within chattin distance on the starboard side aft on 4 and 5. Best story I have heard is a young couple in quarantine who were scheduled to disembark after the 11 day were informed to stay in the room and be escorted off. The horn sounded and away we sailed with them still on board. They will continue to test them and when negative HAL will fly them home.

I would love some herbal teabags from the tea bag wall in the lido (orange, apple, lemon) doesn't matter. I just can't get room service to understand. They keep sending me dark English tea. I have enough anxiety being in Q and don't need the caffeine. Wish i could just run up to the lido and get some. I'm in 5163.

I sat in the sauna loving the view of our sister ship out the window. We also laughed at the possibility of a race. Yesterday on the beach since both ships were pointed in same direction we played “spot the difference” and only thing I found was we had one lifeboat in the water. Loved the beautiful warmer day in HMC. ❤️ 

😃 Exactly right. I have so enjoyed your posts since December, I am elated I could bring you something on board you wanted. I tried to find you Weds night at dinner but missed you so housekeeping helped me out. I hope you like them!

Your pictures are so wonderful. Love the art, really enjoyed HMC photos as I have been looking for a picture of the Clamshells. Thank you! The morning chat sounds great. Love anything chef-ie and the cooking shows are so enjoyable.

Speaking of cooking... are there salt grinders or salt shakers in lido and MDR on the Nieuw Statendam? I do use a bit of salt... and the grinders last trip spit out salt chunks.

On 3/5/2022 at 8:19 PM, iflyrc5 said:

Half Moon Cay - Holland America Private Island - Saturday Mar 5 - Sunny - mid 80s with winds 25 to 30.  We arrived at HMC today with our sister ship Rotterdam right along side at the anchorage. 

 

 

That sure is a pretty sight. 🙂

omg ...that tunnel... you are brave souls. 

Have you noticed if sweet-n-low (pink package) is served in the lido or drink station? My last cruise my only choice for sweetener was stevia?

oh no, 😞 some of my gala outfits are simply not comfortable for extended wear..... I guess this means I'm not supposed to change after dinner and come back out in comfy clothes?  Maybe I just need better fitting gala wear. lol BTW, I really enjoy your wonderful reports and look forward to reading them daily. We board 3/16 so if there is anything we can bring you guys, just say the word  🙂

Do these offers show up in your Cruise Deals Tab?

It happens to me too. Take everything out of your cart then try again.

On 1/15/2022 at 1:41 PM, rkacruiser said:

There has been only once that I booked a pass for the Thermal Suite on a long cruise:  Statendam's final HAL sailing from Seattle to Singapore.  It was sold at one price for the cruise that was reasonable.  While I really enjoy the hydrotherapy pool and thermal suite on the Vista, Signature, and Pinnacle Class ships, the whirlpool in the Thermal Suite did not perform as I was told it would by the spa attendant when I did "the sales pitch tour" on embarkation day.  No bubbly-bubbly water!  The locker room for men was small and cramped; a small sauna and steam room was located there--clothing optional.  I only used that pass a few times.  

 

For me, on one of the newer vessels, whatever the pass might cost during a long cruise, it would be money well spent.  

October on the Kdam the Spa folks told us that the two very nice men and women's saunas are the ships - not theirs to keep operational, and they never worked. They showed us Thermal spa operations are after the locked door. Sorry you had no bubbles on your cruise. We really like the hydro pool on Pinnacle class ships too. Just two buttons in there....bubbles and power jet. We took the Amsterdam to Alaska and thermal spa only had a "lobster pot" but what a view! right off the front windows. 

Just wondering if anyone has ever seen the "rain" if that is what is supposed to come from the ceiling in the hydrotherapy pool?

Maybe we will buy thermal spa prior to boarding for first segment of the b2b and then do other things the second half.  🙂

19 hours ago, Jolly Mon Sings said:

Don’t Waste Your Money!!!

 

Signed up for the catamaran cruise and snorkel in Bonaire on Nieuw Statendam. Very disappointed. What we saw was mostly dead coral and occasional fish. Registered complaint with HAL and they said  it’s a big park —-SOL.  Save your money and take the Sea Cow excursion—100% better.

Just to clairify...which one

Samur Sail & Beach Snorkel Adventure/authentic Siamese junk 

Catamaran sail and Bonaire marine park/Mushi Mushi  

Bonaire’s best snorkel sites/seacow

7 hours ago, Mary229 said:

....  They need to drop the testing requirement for full vaccinated passengers.  It is an unnecessary hardship.  

 

I wish everyone would write the HAL and express their opinion.  I write them monthly with my opinion. 

absolutely..... Drop the test for fully vaccinated guests

We are booked on a 21 day .... we usually book couple's thermal suite ...so website says $339 for 11 days. 

I called yesterday and confirmed this would be doubled to have access for 21 days.

How does pricing work on longer itineraries..... say a 35 day or a world cruise. 

at this rate could thermal suite alone be $3000 for a world cruise?

Thanks for advice. Diana

10 hours ago, madera1 said:

 

On 10/20/2021 at 7:05 PM, san diego spartan said:

This is one reason I'm  preferring HAL over Celebrity  right now.  With all these breakthrough cases it seems reasonable to have this policy. 

agree! Just spent two weeks onboard and came home healthy!

Internet:

We bought premium internet the week PRIOR to boarding at ~$110 a week and it worked perfectly. We live streamed two VA one hour classes we needed to attend from Phoenix.

On 10/4/2021 at 6:56 AM, igraf said:

The final milestone of the reopening in San Diego is the embarkation of HAL passengers.  This is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, Oct 6th, when the Nieuw Amsterdam reloads with passengers.  This will be followed afterwards by the Koningsdam later this month.

 

Here is the link to the San Diego port schedule, which was last updated Oct 3rd.  The October 10th restart of the Koningsdam remains a mystery.

 

https://pantheonstorage.blob.core.windows.net/maritime/Ship.pdf

 

igraf

 

Is there an update to this port schedule showing the Koningsdam now?

Found this...     Cruising into Fall | Port of San Diego

• October 2 to 5: Holland America’s Koningsdam will be at the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal for crew and operational support.
• October 5: Disney Wonder will be in port for a passenger sailing.
• October 6: Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam is scheduled for its first passenger sailing out of San Diego since spring 2020.
• October 8: Disney Wonder
• October 10: Holland America's Koningsdam will be in port for its first sailing out of San Diego.

I have read that on newer ships the key cards go in the wall receiver when cruiser is in the room. If you use a Lanyard for your card, is that too much of a pain taking it on and off? Or maybe there is a new way to keep up with the ship card.

1 hour ago, Himself said:

Perhaps to New Orleans or  the Port of Galveston, Texas  with the Rotterdam going to Port Everglades.

Port of Galveston is a good choice and my guess. International airport and top medical care. Ellington AF base is close as well. 
Praying for all affected esp those on board the ships. 

2 hours ago, Pla001 said:

I get offers 3 options room OV, BL and SBL start from 25,50 and 125. and I book a thermal spa for 199$.I just put the poor bid start for SBL @125 because if I won will be wonderful for our vacation if not I still have the thermal spa to use for this trip anyway. After I get the confirmed yesterday(still happy) I call my PCC to cancel my original thermal spa and now I still get to use thermal spa and a new room for 250$. I think it pretty good deal. Thanks NCL.

 

and sorry I'm not answer before because Im driving.

Spa room comes with thermal spa access pass?

10 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

So, on your 7 night cruise, what entertainment did they offer each night in the main theater if you can remember? On a sea day, if you had one, do you remember if HAL offered anything fun to do during the day other than maybe trivia?

We also just returned from this cruise.  I like to stay busy so I filled my sea days with Americas test kitchen 2X daily, EXC talks and demonstrations of Mexican culture on the trip to Mexico and back, thermal spa, attended a class on Microsoft ink, a talk on colored diamonds and a movie or two in the BB King showroom. Lots of great movies available in the room too. We were very entertained. The Comedian and the Humanity One Step dance show last night was amazing. A mix of dance and coding produced a very entertaining show. WTG Holland!

My only complaint was the SPA. Water to maintain hydration was not available throughout the thermal spa and the layout was terrible. Did not like having to walk through the halls mixing with other cruise passengers in my robe.

After living onboard for several weeks any suggestions or wish you had known about the Eurodam? (other than the cabin)

Are you ready to get off or stay on board and go with us to Mexico this week?

Zoorodam Towel Critters!!!! wow....such talent. Love this, the lion and …..is that gonzo? LOL