Smmessineo

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will use this info in the future ! I did book, and ended up picking a state room that showed as available on the 14 night. I-1115. It's a large inside, near the atrium .I was hesitant about the location but It's a good way to try out different state rooms as we book on this cruise line that's new to us.

Best wishes and strength to everyone here ❤. @Cruising-along our daughter is in Port Angles, WA. She said she felt the earthquake just barely. @marshhawkfascinating story about your dad's farm!

This quote is literal for me and my husband this year! In March we put our house on the market, with all intention of a quick sale and moving from Florida to Las Vegas. We donated and chucked a lot of extra stuff, polished up the house and completed projects. We were so excited! Then it didn't sell...week after week lots of showings and no one wanted it. And we realized that WE loved it more than anyone else did. After 10 weeks, removed it from the market , booked more cruises and bought a small travel trailer so we can travel the US with the pets! We're right where we need to be!

Good idea! She's on Tiktok too. I follow her for Bugnaked 😀. I met that cat on a bridge tour

@Baggy178 would you respond this way to any cuts on a cruise? We're not servicing staterooms anymore. Towel cart in hall if you need any. "that's fine. There's a bed to sleep in " Available beverages now only tap water ( cold and hot). "That's fine, flavoured beverages are for sissies". Live entertainment no longer available. " that's fine, I have my headphones and iTunes, and maybe someone can bring a kazoo ". 😋😆😁 I'm really enjoying your responses here.😀

I'm a New Yorker who retired to Florida and no one understands me😀 As for bookings, I have sailed a lot with Celebrity and had a great assigned cruise planner. I didn't even have to call, I could email him for bookings, changes etc. And they would match with the big box place by giving me obc equivalent to the gift card amount. But he left recently and now Celebrity has outsourced too. HAL won't match the big box , so I'm doing the same as you, book with the store and wait for the gift card after. They've been knowledgeable and helpful so far.

What an informative thread. I'm new to Holland America, have just booked 2 cruises and am getting a lot of great info !

Thanks @richwmnfor the daily report ! I've been watching the news all day, and checking the boards to see how the Nieuw Statendam is doing. There's a lot to read here every day! Being new, here I don't know many people's backstory, but I wish strength and best wishes to those who are on the care list. And I'm happy for those who are celebrating and enjoying this day ❤.

Thanks for posting these! I remember referring to them before every cruise , I'd always be so excited before a trip! Most of the items in these menus were available and free in the MDR right through December of 2022. The snarky responses on this thread ,that imply we are complaining over nothing or asking for extravagant choices, are unwarranted.

Last year the 2024 Canada/New England/ Iceland/Greenland cruises opened on December13. I was standing on line on the Equinox waiting for the future cruises department to open so I could book a b2b2b. I recall previous years being earlier than this , around the end of November.

Over the years when I have booked directly with Celebrity, it takes a week or 2 for the AI included tips to show up as paid on the booking. It leads to all sorts of screwy stuff like being prompted to prepay tips, or having an extra few hundred dollars showing due on your reservation. Definitely confusing if you don't know about this glitch. Of course, as of October4 they've solved the problem by not including tips in AI anymore 😂

The Pinnacle Raspberry Lemonade sounds quite refreshing! Best wishes and strength for all those on the care list. An exciting day for my husband and I , we booked another Holland America cruise! We're really looking forward to the two we've planned so far 😀 March 29 2024 9 nights on Rotterdam December 7 14 nights on Nieuw Statendam @aliaschief I think I'll celebrate that holiday tomorrow !

Several corrections to your assumptions. I'm not comparing Celebrity menus from many years ago, I'm comparing them from months ago. I sailed December 2022 on the Equinox. Ship was full, long after the return to sailing after COVID. And don't insult me and imply marketing has us hooked. The 8 cruises I have booked with them were at lower prices and better add-ons than offered now. I wouldn't book them in today's conditions. The 2 cruises I booked this past month are not with Celebrity. They are losing a lot of loyal cruisers and picking up new cruisers like you for their next era.

Your response to everything is similar. "It's ok. There's always something to eat" ....etc. You missed my entire point. If you are new to Celebrity, it looks fine. If you know from previous recent experience, you see what's missing. I understand higher fares or some cuts, but both?

I am definitely riff raff class, we sail in inside staterooms. As someone who cruises on Celebrity regularly, I expect to not lose options that have been there for years, while at the same time paying a lot more for a cruise. Yes, those menus look fine, but not fine compared to what they were mere months ago. Somehow, Celebrity always managed to make those mass catered meals seem a little fancy pants , and that was great . I'm concerned that regular cruisers are reporting back now that not only are options gone, but quality is declining.

Thanks, I'll try that tomorrow. Good suggestions from everyone!

Good to know about the shareholder Inc being adjusted. We're new to HAL and getting to know the good and bad locations on ships. I was wondering if it's worth taking a chance on one of these large interior state rooms showing available on the 14 night

Hi everyone! I am looking to book a cruise for December 2024 on the Nieuw Statendam.. It is available as a 14 night or 2 7 night cruises. The 14 night is about $150 cheaper in total, plus my shareholder Inc would be 250 instead of 200. Sounds great! But the stateroom availability is abyssmal ! Looking at insides, plenty are same room available on both legs, but they don't show in the 14 night, only these 7 cabins are bookable, they don't look to be great locations. J 1040 and 1041 K 11012-11011 IQ 10007 I 4104 I 1115 Any ideas? I'm new to HAL and appreciate any help!

Best wishes and strength to all those on the care list . @StLouisCruisers thanks for the Tromso info and pictures. I'll be looking for future cruises that go there! And thanks for the reminder to do something nice for someone today. That seems daunting until I remember that the smallest thing.....a thank you, a compliment, assisting with a task, just engaging with a smile and a short conversation, can be a turning point in a person's day. I know I've had times when I have been miserable and the smallest positive encounter with a neighbor, acquaintance or stranger in a store or a message board does worlds of good for me.

Thanks for the fleet report! Reading the ship locations brought back memories of our first HAL cruise, the almost new Westerdam back in 2005. That was a wonderful experience, through the Baltics and 2 days in St. Petersburg. Only our second cruise ever ( first was to Alaska). We had our teenage daughters with us, and it sparked their interest in world travel. @seagarsmoker Glad to hear no side effects! I just scheduled our shots for tomorrow!

Thanks for all the warm welcomes! Best wishes and strength to all those on the care list. I've already seen through reading posts that the HAL board has a lot of kind and helpful people. We live in central Florida and we're looking forward to cooler evenings this week. It's a relief after a historically hot summer. (But I consider myself lucky compared to some of the terrible weather events that have being happening around the globe this year.) I'm making tacos tonight and I didn't even know it was a taco holiday! Now I look like a culinary genius😁

@richwmn Thanks for the daily fleet report! I'm new to the Holland America board, this looks like a great post to read every day!

@JazzyV Happy Birthday! @Cruzin Terri Happy Anniversary !

What a joke! Looking just now on US pricing, the cost of going from cruise only to always included has not changed at all. The wording clearly states now that tips aren't included in the package but the cost for AI remains at around 550-580 for a week long cruise. No surprise, I guess. I'm really losing faith in a cruise line I've loved for years.

Steak prices are insane, and the quality available has gone down. Now my husband doesn't even want me to bother buying them, he says "I'll eat plenty of steaks on.our cruises". Well, from what people are saying, that strategy may not work on Celebrity any more😕. Like you, we just booked HAL( for the first time in 18 years).