djhsolara

Not an upsell, but we received an upgrade from SC guarantee to SA which was just two doors forward of the Neptune Lounge. After that suite was assigned there was an upsell offer for a PS. It was about $850 pp (that was Canadian $) but we decided we had enough space in the Neptune suite.

I would LOVE to get an offer like that for the PS. I've never had a PS offer, but would love to get one. It's all about the real estate. [emoji2]

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Someone will probably have a better answer, but aren't they both Signature Suites? If so, I don't believe that would be an "upsell".

SC and SA are both Neptune Suite categories.

When we've gotten the call for an upsell, we've experienced that it isn't really differentiated by category but rather just what is available. When we got the call this last time, they had about 5 or 6 that were available for our choice. It was the same price no matter the letter differentiation.

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I'm not sure I understand the reason people want an up sell email. I went around many, many reviews of cabins on our ship. Prior to our booking we talked it over with our PCC who was on our ship last year. Once we decided on our specific cabin type, deck and location we booked with a specific cabin room #. We have also checked that we do not want any upgrades since they can assign you an upgrade in a not so desirable location. While speaking with our PCC we purchased the room we wanted so what is the reason you want an up-sell when you could have already selected the cabin you would like months ago? this is our first cruise and this topic is pretty confusing to us.

Booking a room is a two-round process for us. On the first round, we book what we'll accept (or what we want if, in fact, it is something specific)...and then the second round is when we play the upsell game.

I can only think of a few times that we have actually chosen our specific stateroom on the first round (and they were mostly when did actually book a suite first round). We often book Verandah Guarantee knowing that we will be satisfied with any verandah stateroom that is assigned. That being said, we are always looking for an upsell.

Honestly, generally Neptune Suites are book-priced much higher than we are willing to pay. Looking for an upsell gives us the opportunity to have a Neptune Suite for much less than the book price. Two months ago on Koningsdam, they came to us several times with an offer on a Vista Suite, which has no real suite perks. We kept turning it down and eventually we ended up in an SQ Spa Suite (one step down from the Pinnacle Suite...only 2 of these onboard) and paid less for the two of us than the book price for one guest.

We know it's a game, but it is a game that we're willing to play. Our PCC is awesome and works so well with us. She expects calls from us during the last few weeks prior to sailing. Last cruise, we sailed on Sunday and got the upsell on either the Wednesday or Thursday prior to sailing. It was almost like an auction...they came to us with a price, we counter-offered and then actually came back with a price better than the initial offer.

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The rule doesn't say "dress up shoes." It says "no sandals' date='" and from what I've witnessed, dressy sandals are allowed. My suspicion is that the manager wouldn't say a word about her solid black sneakers for all the same reasons that he'd better not say a word about my disabled cruising buddy's shoes. Sorry, shoes that fit over braces are really hard to come by.

 

 

 

Seriously, no one is going to say anything about what her shoes look like.[/quote']

 

 

Thanks for the info!!

 

 

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So what would happen if we bring my 80-year-old Mother along who can only wear flats and is supposed to only wear sneakers? She wears solid black sneakers and that is generally her attire on a cruise so that she has better footing.

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Maybe we had a really good deal, but when we cruised last year, we found that it was less expensive to rent the car for a week, pay for parking at the cruise terminal and let the car sit while we cruised rather than doing two one-way rentals.

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I don't recall seeing anything posted on this app, but wanted to share my experience.

 

 

 

When we received our disembarkation packet for the Zuiderdam there was a flyer included on the Mobile Passport App which can be downloaded on GooglePlay or for Apple products. It was suggested that this app could 'speed' our disembarkation. Note that it appears this app will only work for passengers with passports; if you are relying on a birth certificate and photo ID you cannot use this app.

 

 

 

I had internet minutes to burn (Explore 4 Package perk) so I downloaded the app and took the steps to set it up. It appears to eliminate the need to complete the paper form as all the information is entered into the app.

 

 

 

You scan the passports of each member of your party and then take a photo to match to the passport information. Its very simple to accomplish with your device's phone as it clearly shows you where your face should be positioned to get the right picture.

 

 

 

Once the information is set up, you then 'create' a trip and answer the questions that are normally found on the form. You don't actually complete the form until the morning of arrival as once finished, the app produces your electronic receipt with barcodes that will be scanned right from your device. The receipt is only good for four hours, so you will want to complete it the morning of arrival.

 

 

 

This means that if you download and set up the app at home before your trip, you shouldn't need any internet minutes to use the app. You can use available wifi or network data after arrival at Port Everglades to complete the trip information and create the receipt.

 

 

 

The beauty of this app isn't so much the time it saves once you get to the customs agent. For us, it saved waiting in the long lines to actually GET to the agent. There is a separate line for those with Mobile Passport. We had to show our device with the receipt complete to gain access...and we were the ONLY ones in that line which takes you directly to the front, and the next available agent. The customs lines had a good 45-50 minute wait when we disembarked at 9am but we literally breezed from luggage pickup to the terminal exit in less than 5 minutes.

 

 

 

The app is only available to use at select airports and the only cruise port it can be used at right now is Port Everglades.

 

 

 

Since the Zuiderdam arrived about an hour or so late on Wednesday (unscheduled stop in Grand Cayman for a medical evacuation) the app would have really helped out anyone trying to make an early flight. Ours wasn't until 12:15 so we made it to FLL with plenty of time to spare.

Happy to say we had the same type of experience after our Koningsdam sailing in February. We breezed right through customs. The entire process from ship to airport was less than 30 minutes.

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Regarding purchasing prior to cruise, we always did that up until a few years ago. One time, however, we discovered that the onboard price was less than what was paid prior to the cruise. Long story short, we talked with the Spa Manager and they refunded the original charge and re-billed us for the lesser amount. They didn't seem happy about doing it and we felt like we had to jump through hoops to get it done. Now we just book onboard to avoid any hassle.

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Is there a steam room in the men's locker room and is there an extra charge for it. I like to get ready for dinner in the spa locker room while my wife gets ready in the room. Thanks for the info!!

On the Vistas and Signatures there are gender-specific saunas located in the hall from the Lido Pool area into the spa reception area port side. On Koningsdam, there are gender-specific saunas located just outside of the entrance to the Thermal Suite port side. All of these are complimentary, however they are not in the locker rooms.

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You can do carry-off and get off as early as possible based on customs clearance. We ate in the buffet, were off the ship by 8:00 and were at Magic Kingdom in time for Rope Drop at 9:00.

Kennedy Space Center is great. Neither of us had been there since we were kids, so going as an adult was a great experience. I highly recommend it...especially the Atlantis Experience.

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Was in a bend sig suite on Eurodam...6113. It was a great room. Unfortunately I do not remember much about the wind on the balcony, but I do remember that we sat out there a lot and enjoyed the balcony.

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Take the midship elevator up to Lido Deck and you'll be able to go directly out to the pool.

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We always just walk around Old Town and shop with a stop at Barrachina (the birthplace of the Pina Colada) for an original Pina Colada and some lunch.

If you're there until nighttime, it's wonderful to be out on deck to watch sail away. The city is beautiful in the dark.

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Is there a couple's price, as on other ships? How does the hydropool compare to the pools on the Vistas?

Yes, you can purchase a couples package.

The hydropool is round on Koningsdam. On the Vistas it is square and only has the lounging area at one end. The lounging area goes almost the whole way around on Koningsdam. On the Vistas there is a round walled-in area in the middle where the jets are stronger. On Koningsdam there is a round area in the middle with stronger jets, but there is only a rail rather than a wall, so it doesn't feel as effective as on the Vistas.

I hope that helps. I can try to answer any other questions you may have about this.

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Tamarind is a favorite...agreed on the atmosphere and service. Those ladies are wonderful...we always feel like they're welcoming us right into their own home.

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Nice. We'll be on her in February...so it'll be nice and shiny again (not that it has ever been bad).

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It is well worth whatever price it is. We enjoy this feature on whichever ship we are cruising. We often went in the evening after dinner and had the entire place all to ourselves. Very nice.

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We've been on Westerdam twice and loved her. What were your issues?

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I love that I'm sitting here reading and posting about HAL when one of their new commercials came on tv. These are great spots. Savor the Journey.

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The link below is sort of a nice web site to get info on stateroom sizing/deck plans plus other information and cabin pictures. However, depending on the cruise line selected some of the information may be dated.

 

My internet TA always knows the difference (a few square feet here, a few square feet there) between various insides and OV's, etc. I don't know if the professional cruise TA's has some sort of tool that they might use for more specific information cabin-wise versus the information provided by the cruise line on their web sites.

 

Best of luck &, more importantly, have fun!

 

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/index.php

 

Be well.

Bob:)

Funny you posted this. I was just going to mention this site. I use it all the time. Actual photos of staterooms taken by travelers and submitted to the site.

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A bunch more info including menu is available at http://www.hollandamericablog.com/2017/03/13/rudis-sel-de-mer-french-brasserie-to-launch-as-a-pop-up-restaurant-on-six-hal-ships/.

 

It'll be on six ships. Menu looks fantastic.

 

It's a great spot, everyone should try it out.

Sel de Mer is awesome and this is great info.

I can't wrap my head around the set price of $49, unless the portions are pared-down from Koningsdam. The Fruits de Mer alone is $49 on the Koningsdam menu.

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While any kind of disappointment is unfortunate, I don't see this being any different than any other annoying fellow customers. Disney doesn't inform me when there are 5000 quinceneritas visiting the theme park the same day as I. Marriott doesn't inform me when the floor below mine is filled with high school cheerleaders.

This is no comparison. To do your comparison, you would have to say there was a group at Disney and because of them, Space Mountain, the monorail and Main Street USA were all closed. These are things you expect to be open at Disney but they were closed because of the group.

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I do not disagree.

My point is I do not go to a spa just for a massage. I go there to relax. Either they give me a pass for the facilities or they provide a comfortable place for pre-treatment and post- treatment relaxation. They gave me neither. Promising something and not delivering pissed me off. Sitting in a public hallway for over a half an hour with people walking through pissed me off. Starting a massage pissed off is never good.

 

 

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Yes. That Relaxation Room is nice and they should keep it just for that. Holding seminars in there is not Spa-friendly. Not a good way to start or end a treatment.

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