TMJplus1

Took her to Alaska a few years back and I loved that it's a smaller ship and easy to make friends and get to know the staff and crew. I do prefer the additional dining options in the larger ships, but would not hesitate to sail on Volendam again if the itinerary was right. 

I love audio books, and am already an Audible subscriber - now to figure out how to join the HAL-related content.

I know this idea isn't for everyone, but I appreciate that HAL is trying to build community in a new and interesting way. I've worked in community management for 9 years, and it's important that companies cultivate and nurture their online community however they can. Well done HAL!

On 3/24/2024 at 4:16 AM, Nikita4 said:

We are looking forward to an Alaska cruise tour in Sommer 2025.

We have to teens (15 and 17 next year) and have a offer for a Neptune suite with HIA.
HIA is only for Person 1,2 but noch for the teens, right?

There is also no drink package for the kids?
And have the teen to pay the gratuities? I am a litte confused about our TA that don't have a lot of experience with the cruise tours and HAL.

When I cruised in 2018 with my then teen daughter, I purchased a beverage package for myself but was not required to purchase one for her because she was not of legal drinking age. (I did get her the soda package, but it wasn't required.)

On 3/26/2024 at 2:17 PM, 0106 said:

BB Kings is still available on the Rotterdam, Koningsdam and NS.  It was the best venue on the NS for the first two weeks in March.  The Billboard piano players couldn’t sing and the Rolling Stone band had no charisma.  Unfortunately, BBs is gone from all the other ships.

I'm so sad to hear this! Taking my boyfriend on his first ever cruise (Eurodam in May) and have been bragging to him about BB Kings. Why on earth did they get rid of it? And what's in its place? I'm feeling very disappointed. Especially after seeing a couple of recent reviews that Eurodam has become rundown. This will be my fourth cruise on her and she's always been my favorite ship. 

I'm concerned to hear that the entertainment might be lacking on Eurodam. We're sailing to Alaska in May and it will be my boyfriend's first cruise (my 8th, and 4th on Eurodam). He's been a little nervous, not knowing what to expect, but is a music lover and I've been gushing about live music by the pool, amazing band at BB King's, and the dueling piano bar. I hope they improve (or upgrade performers) before the Alaska cruise season!

On 2/23/2024 at 7:28 AM, Papaeagle said:

We just returned from a cruise on the Eurodam. Everything was great and we had no real complaints; however, I did make a suggestion on my review. I truly enjoy trying local beers on every port we visit. So I suggested that Holland should consider offering beers on the ship that reflect the itinerary. Our next cruise is October on the Rotterdam, so I would love to see them implement this plan.

On the two Alaska cruises I've been on, they had Alaskan Brewing beers available on rolling tap bar on the mid-pool deck. That's the only time I've seen a local or "craft" beer on HAL - but I agree it would be a nice addition for we beer lovers!

On 2/19/2024 at 12:46 PM, Haljo1935 said:

I have not seen the couples discount since the restart on Eurodam, K'dam, NA, NS or Westerdam.

Came here to ask this! We're going on Eurodam in May, and I was wondering if I should just buy my Thermal Suite pass online in advance or if there is still a couples discount. Guess I'll just grab it now - thanks!

Also a potentially controversial opinion on robes: I am an early riser, and usually tiptoe off to the spa in my cabin bathrobe (with swimsuit underneath) at the very moment they are scheduled to open. I also bring a change of clothes, stashing everything in a locker when I arrive and, of course, changing into the Greenhouse robe and slippers. After a luxurious 45 minutes or so enjoying the thermal suite, I shower, dress for the day, and return to the cabin just in time for room service to arrive with our coffee. I have never had a net thrown over me for wearing my robe. Though I *do* use the forward elevators and try to avoid being seen as much as possible. 😇

I'm in a similar cabin on our Eurodam cruise next week and I'm not excited about the daily chair scraping.  

We used Bonine with my son. It's supposed to be less drowsy.

Thank you.

I will definitely ask her tonight. I will let you know.

Yay! I'll do the same.

I hate to be that person.. My 14 yo hated it. But his was a combination of being super seasick, and WiFi withdrawal. 😂 We went to Alaska last summer, and he was a mess. He's never been motion sick before, and he's been traveling since he was a baby. None of us expected him to get so sick. He was miserable the whole trip. However, my 11 year old daughter had an amazing time. She made tons of friends, did all the activities, went to all the shows with my mother. She had more fun then the rest of us put together.

 

This year we are doing a 14 day cruise. I told my oldest to bring his scholarship essay to work on, and I bought him a bigger memory card for his phone for music and games. We are bringing books, cards, games and most importantly, meds. 😂

I didn't even think about seasickness - we did a Mexican Riviera cruise with her several years ago and she was fine. But lately she's been prone to carsickness on long rides. Was dramamine or anything else helpful to your son?

We are taking an almost 13 year old in July. I've told all three of my kids (7, 11, and the 13) that they need to go for at least an hour of the 7pm meet-up on the first night. While we haven't cruised HAL, we have cruised before and that first night is key. The counselors work hard to make a community quickly and if they skip that night, it's much harder to break into the group.

Thank you - I've told her the same so hopefully she'll go the first night at least for a bit. I figure the counselors have experience with icebreaker games and such. I did offer to go with her but of course that made her more horrified. :eek:

Curious to read the replies to this too. We have our 13 yr old daughter too. We will be on the eurodam on the 17th of June. She is too shy to go the teen club on her own so it will most likely be just the 3 of us together all the time. Which we enjoy anyways, I just hope she isn't too bored with us. I don't think it will be a problem since there is really only 1 true sea day. Glacier Bay should have us pretty busy and then the last day to Victoria I think we will be resting up from our intensive port days.

 

I did tell her we would go with her if she wanted to at least check out the Teen Club, so we shall see!

Cheeto - We're on the same exact cruise! I wonder if our daughters would be interested in meeting (FB or Snapchat?) before the trip...?

Hi all - we are heading to Alaska soon with our 13-year-old in tow and she is very nervous about making friends on the ship. I would love to hear from anyone who traveled with teens, and if you have any pics of the teen areas or even their scheduled activities please share. I'm encouraging her to at least go to the teen meet 'n greet which I hear is the first day of the cruise? Also any other tips for cruising with a teen - such as how to keep in touch with her on the ship, "rules" for personal safety, etc. Thank you so much!