ukpylot

Idk about the ballroom dancing, recently off the Oosterdam and there was ballroom dancing hour every night to a live band. Quite popular.

We just came off the Oosterdam, 14 days from Chile to Buenos Aires, what a fantastic trip and we lucked out by getting to visit all the ports, and all of our excursions came off (weather was bad in Punta Arenas and only one boat made it across the Strait to see the penguins). Anyway, you asked about embarkation and our experience in Valparaiso was awful. Got there at 11.20 for an 11am boarding (Uber drivers there have no idea how to get to the terminal, a 6 min ride took 40) and thanks to a computer malfunction and completely clueless staff we got on at 2.30. Others I am sure waited 4 hrs or more, it was a complete shambles, no communication as to what was going on, just a longer and longer line no matter what your boarding time or priority. btw If you do take the cruise in this direction, be on the port side. Everything was on the port side.

Curious which port that was - we just got off the Oosterdam and the embarkation process in Valparaiso was an absolute disaster. Took us about 2.5 hrs to check in (and we had an 11am time), others more like 3-4, and no one from HAL present to sort it out, tell people what was going on. We're on the NS in a month's time out of Barcelona, hoping for a much better experience.

Thanks all, been trying to do this cruise for 3 years so really looking forward to it.

We did a cruise last year and I was very disappointed to see that the "everyday" menu was no longer available. I'm a fussy eater so knowing that I could always get the strip steak if I didn't like the daily menu was important. On that cruise we skipped the MDR twice because there was nothing I liked. But, that said, someone in another thread on here said that you can still get the daily steak, you just have to ask for it, they don't put out a printed menu. We are about to go on a 14 day cruise on the Oosterdam and I very much hope this is correct, though I am probably not optimistic.

We did the open dining on the Koningsdam in Oct 2021 and I was surprised to find that they really wanted us to make a reservation every day which seemed to me against the spirit of "as I wish". Given the Covid situation then, the boat was not even half full so it was no trouble getting the time I wanted, and everyone was sat in their own groups, we weren't put with strangers. We have two cruises coming up this year and will be open seating again.

Thanks all for the replies. I went back and looked at my initial booking confirmation email and it is clear on there that it is one credit for each restaurant, I never noticed that at the time.

We’re going on the Oosterdam in February for the 14 day South America cruise out of Chile and this is the first time I’ve had specialty dining credits. But trying to make reservations it looks like I can’t book two Pinnacle Grill dates, one has to be in the Canaletto? Anyone know if can be “fixed” on board, or do I have to try to learn to like Italian?

Our Feb 24 14 day South America cruise is Standard but the other 5 cruises on the Oosterdam bracketing our trip are all in South America all require enhanced so we lucked out there. I was trying to work out why but I see the other trips are 22 days and include Antartica so maybe going to the ice requires a test?

Interesting, I'm waitlisted for the Torres Del Paine trip for the Feb 24 sailing and not sure if that will open up but if I never get a notification I will never know!

We did the Mexican cruise on Koningsdam last year and I was very disappointed to see the always available menu had gone. I have a very limited likes list for food but I could always rely on a steak if nothin else. On that cruise there were two nights there was nothing for me in the MDR so ended up at the lido bar, where it seemed to be the same selections repeated often. Fortunately for me, the eating experience isn’t something I care about, so long as I can get something. Interesting, Mary, you say you can still ask for the steak? Have two HAL cruises next year and that may well come in handy.

Surely it is the destination that determines this - right now South America cruises require testing but Chile eliminated their requirements last month so I'm hoping that next year's SA trips will go to the Standard protocol.

The flexible fare is another 100 each. Also, because I booked one of the "free inside cabin" deals I've already made full payment so I don't know that I could do the flexible fare anyway (or I can but not get the benefit). No nonstops from San Diego (or LAX), sadly. I'm not too worried about getting there and missing the cruise but I do see the benefit if the boat is late getting back and having to try and change flights from onboard.

I've double checked, they are definitely the exact same flights - maybe the Flight Ease ticket is a slightly better ticket. Both are regular economy main cabin, though. Checked again - AA total for 2 is $3733.17, Flight Ease is $4069.98 (restricted fare). They do have a cheaper fare with some latin american carriers but I want to go with ones I know.

I see this is a popular topic but thought I'd ask a direct question for those who have experience.... booking flights for the Feb South America cruise and my favourite itinerary is on AA through Dallas. We will arrive the day before departure so I kinda feel like we should be fine, and AA is a pretty good carrier. The Flightease cost is $350 more than if I book direct with AA, but I wonder if that is good insurance for HAL taking care of getting us to the ship if something goes wrong ? Any thoughts from people who know more about it than me?

Thanks for the recommendation, I contact them and they do a transfer that includes some wineries and lunch on the way to the port.

I looked them up too and was sad to see that. It would be a great if there was a scenic tour option for a transfer to the cruise port rather than just sitting in a taxi or a bus

I don't think mine is casino-based, I rarely spend more than 100 in the casino on a trip, nor do I ever play Bingo. I think mine is like someone said earlier, I've done a few cruises with them but don't have any on the horizon.

Well, got an email from HAL saying October 15th is the last day to book my free inside stateroom, so maybe I missed an email announcing that I had any offers, don't recall seeing one. The email had the list of offers in it - I could really get a 35 day Australia trip for 200???? I checked, I can! Too bad I don't have the time

Scored two $200 inside cabin offers (though for the S America one I instead went for the verandah at $1500 off pp), both too good to pass up. Feb 24 2023 14 day South America Passage Oosterdam Apr 22 2023 7-Day Mediterranean Rivieras (Barcelona to Rome) Nieuw Statendam I think our 8th and 9th cruises on HAL, but first time not leaving from a US port.

Thank you! I've done about 11 cruises all from domestic ports so now that I have a couple of foreign based ones I thought I'd get some wisdom from people who've been there before. And I've used this website for reviews and stuff in the past, been helpful.

Hmm so I wonder why I got offered these, then. Like I said I never got any email about them, was just browsing the website looking for an Italy cruise, picked one at random that looked good and boom there was the "from 200pp". I'd been looking at S America for a couple of years but it kept getting cancelled so on a whim I was checking that out a few days later and clicked on the only one that fit our plans and there again "from 200pp" came up. Just my good fortune, I guess.

My current thinking is to come the day before and stay in Valparaiso but looks like I should wait to book a hotel until we know for sure what our port will be.

Interesting, I didn't know there was such a thing as a casino offer. I'm not a big casino person though, maybe spend $20 a day tops, often nothing, when I'm on board. And I'm just a humble 2 star, knocking on 3.

Here are the two cruises https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/find-a-cruise/S2S14C/O314.html https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/find-a-cruise/E3M07A/J337.html Both still showing 200pp options for me.