FlaMariner

great example of "ports are not guaranteed" in the contract.

Us too, our favorite deck because of location to spa/gym and lido pool/food....And always find it very quiet....Also, the price point for the VF cabins is very good...and very quiet up there... Enjoy the Nieuw Statendam......

On our trans-pacific cruise in October (2023), I did not notice any difference in food choices from any other HAL cruise......(but we were on the Westerdam leaving Seattle and traveling to Asia so perhaps things might be different once the cruise originates in Asia). Enjoy the cruise....we loved our first time traveling to Japan.....

We agree. We always enjoy/choose the no surcharge coffee onboard.

That's a given....goes with the piano bar....So does "Piano Man"...... So much fun......

Going to one piano player/singer is fine with us....Billboard Onboard is our favorite evening venue.....But a couple of times one of the folks was "sick" and we had just as much fun as if there were two...The sets are so short.... As long as we can still hear (and sing along) to.....Sweet Home Alabama and Country Roads, we are good to go.

Be careful during spring break....My 83 year old Mother and her 79 year old friend are boarding the Nieuw Statendam 3/3 and are heading to Cozumel....... Should be a wild party ship....NOT.

For myself, I prefer the pronouns "cheapskate" or "tightwad" or "scrooge" instead of poor.....But I'm ok with whatever label you wish to call me if I can jump on a ship for $49 a day!

I agree with that! We are usually not "early adopters" (this example is a good reason why) so it's been great intel to see how this "new" program really rolls.......Now that we see that it is exactly as it states...a STANDBY program, it will not work for us.....Unless we move next door to the port....not a bad idea, actually. LOL. I'm glad HAL has a plan to fill up the ship with $$$ for situations when guests do not make it to the ship......but for us, planning is half the fun.

Seems like the Holland America Line STANDBY program works like one would think a STANDBY program would work.....It's for folks that are fine jumping on the ship at the last minute....All other folks need not apply...... ....I do appreciate all the first hand accounts.....It's helped us realize it is not for us.....but more power to those who are fine cruising STANDBY. (And it is a great way for HAL to max capacity....there is nothing worse for $$$$ than an empty cabin) Enjoy sailing STANDBY

We'd be on Brightline......

The Auto train is great...and fun. Once I rolled off the train, I'd continue driving down 95 and stop in the much more reasonably priced hotels in Port St. Lucie (or anywhere nearby)....enjoy some great seafood for dinner.....get to bed early and then the next morning get up and drive to Port Everglades......

That's been my experience as well....great prices on one way international.....much better than what I've ever been able to get searching individual airlines myself. Good luck.

Can anyone actually log in to their booked cruise and view and book flights (thru the Carnival site)? (I'd love to know where that option exists...I do not see it)

Yep, I can go there.....and it has this....and then when I go to "manage my booking" I can book a snorkel excursion, make a manicure appointment and buy wine....but there is nothing on the page to buy a flight. Once you’ve booked your perfect cruise, go to Manage My Booking to pick your travel dates, preferred airline and flight

Called Carnival today.....no talk to me without my TA.....Then got TA on phone with Carnival....Carnival rep put in cities for air....ATL to SIN....said computer not responding so would need to check later..... I asked if perhaps this was because Carnival was not selling flights to Singapore....She said if that was the case, Singapore would not have been able to be viewed.... Oh goodness....going to try tomorrow w/the agent and Carnival......in the meantime, I've got quotes and prepared to ditch Fly2Fun.... We use cruise air on Holland America Line and for international flights (especially one way) they have great prices so trying not to miss out on that.

Just did. Good suggestion but..... Singapore does not show a connection thru EWR.....from ATL United will fly ATL - EWR - SFO - SIN in 29 hours with same high United fare of $1200.

Agree except for the timing....I need to check again but the total travel time (because of JFK layover) was 5 hours longer than ATL - SFO - SIN Also, the $200 more fare was for Premium Economy.

Actually, today Singapore is lowest price.

Any intel on these choices??.....ATL - SIN.....all in Economy but one Turkish $932 23 hours (connect Istanbul) Singapore $940 24 hours (connect SFO) Singapore $1156 premium 29 hours (connect JFK) Singapore $870 28 hours (connect IAH and MAN) Delta $1231 26 hours (connect Seoul) American $1240 27 hours (connect Narita) United $1243 23 hours (connect SFO) I'm leaning towards the 2nd one....Why? Low price, short time, one connection, and I get to fly on Singapore Airlines......2nd choice is the first one. What says the air experts on here?

Good one....23 hours and $932....good price and not bad timing. Thanks

Right now, Singapore is the same price as American & Delta from ATL......

We are flying to Singapore in October from ATL.......(one way flight...cruising back to USA on Carnival) Advice needed on flights...... No cruise ship air seems to be available (thinking it's not the usual Carnival stomping ground so they aren't offering air) thinking I just want to get there and not do stopovers (but convince me otherwise) like the idea of flying Singapore Airlines (heard they are great and this would be the chance) Singapore has USA gateways out of LAX, San Fran and Seattle.....on the west coast...San Fran looks like the shortest flight and there are 2 flights a day vs 1 at the other airports....I could fly free (points) to the west coast and then connect w/Singapore or book w/Singapore all the way (w/their partners) we are fine with coach in the back of the bus I'm all about paying the lowest price What would you do? It's a long flight.....

We've boarded 3 times in the past 2 years at Port Everglades and never at the time listed as "boarding time". Always early. No-one has ever inquired about our boarding time and we've never seen anyone checking for such. We were always welcomed to come in and get checked in...... They are very efficient and eager to get you on your way at Port Everglades..... Enjoy cruising out of Port Everglades.......we do.

We've done several TA's....love them. Motion does not matter to us so we love the VF balcony cabins on deck 8 forward....Never really notice much of a difference no matter where are cabins have been located over the years.....tucked away only one deck away from the gym/spa which we frequent. And easy to get to the lido buffet which we also frequent...LOL. Why? Great price point. We like the balcony and get a lot of use out of it on the crossing....(we'd not do well in an inside for that cruise because of the many sea days....although we book insides on other cruises often). For TA's we follow the POSH rule.....Port Out Starboard Home rule as if in England....(where the "rule"/word first came about).....So agree w/above, Starboard side for the sun heading to Europe (Eastbound). As far as the weather....our experience (which can mean nothing because I've heard folks experience everything on a TA) shorts/Florida weather for the first couple of days....then cooler/long pants as you get closer to Europe...but never experienced jacket/cold weather....(I'm sure others have). We've experienced a sand storm from Africa a day away from the Europe mainland....And lots of rain....We've missed Ponta Delgado on 2 of 3 cruises because of high winds. Don't fret the weather because it will change often and you can't change it. We've sailed the Oosterdam in South America thru the canal and we are also doing the Eastbound TA on her this April....She's a great ship. Enjoy the crossing.......