3rdGenCunarder

Glad to hear your symptoms are mild. I know that the number of drinks you can order is limited to keep people from sharing the beverage plan, but who are you going to share with when you're quarantined?????

Drinks on a package do not show up on the app. I doubt that a server will know if you've reached your limit. But do people really get to 15 in a single day? I never get close to that cap. Interesting about the price increase. I was on Eurodam last week and found plenty of cocktails at $11 or under. I wonder what they've gone up to? I did see signs at the bars saying that you now only pay the difference if you go over the $11 limit on the signature package. That makes the package more reasonable. I don't mind paying a few dollars extra for a better glass of wine now and then, but I always thought it was very cheap on HAL's part to charge the full amount if you went over the price cap on a drink.

Wow, that's outrageous! Before I booked the fare with HIA I did the math to make sure HAL didn't double the HIA.

The aft cabins that are not on the corners are verandah cabins, not Neptunes. The balconies definitely vary in size. Most of my corner afts have been on 7. One time on 5 on Zuiderdam and it was huge. It's also fully covered. I like a little open area near the rail so at night I can stand at the corner and all I see is the sea and the sky, no roof overhead. The deck 5 balcony was a little enclosed for me. Also loud when I was outside because of being close to the wake and having the sound captured in the covered space. Cabins can vary in size, too. Deck 6 corner aft on Zuiderdam was a smaller cabin than the deck 5 or 7 corner aft. It didn't have the row of closets in the room by the side of the bed. All closet space was in the dressing area. Corner aft on 7 7142 – Zuiderdam | HAL Cruiser Information (halfacts.com) Smaller cabin on 6 6166 – Oosterdam | HAL Cruiser Information (halfacts.com) Deck finve with the huge balcony 5191 – Oosterdam | HAL Cruiser Information (halfacts.com)

It sounds like the early booking deal that ends today (unless they extend it). I booked a 2024 cruise on that deal, and the basic fare was double but the HIA was not double. Sometimes when they mention double occupancy, they're referring to how the displayed ("from") cost is calculated.

One of the good things (for residents) about a tender port is that people come ashore in smaller groups instead of all spilling out the gangway at once.

Service. This is where HAL always shines. Everyone smiles. Stewards say good morning, good afternoon, how are you, did you have a good time in port (this one usually if someone is rather tired and bedraggled looking). I love that this spills over to the passengers, who usually say good morning or good afternoon in the hallways, chat in the elevators. It makes for a happy ship. My steward was excellent, always asking how I was doing, was I having a good day, did I need anything? After talking to other women traveling along, we agreed that they seem to watch out for solos a bit more. NOT in a creepy way! But I always felt well cared for. On the first dressy night, my towel animal was the dog. His eyes were my chocolates. I wanted the chocolate, but I didn't want to leave the dog without his eyes, so I put my sunglasses on him. The next morning, when I returned from breakfast, the room was dark. The drapes were always closed because of the bright sun, but Darma usually left a light on. So did he think Puppy had a hangover? Later, when I was sitting on the balcony, he looked around the divider and asked how I was. I said that I was just fine, but Puppy was a bit hung over and appreciated the darkened room. When the letter came about the tiles, he asked if I had a Eurodam tile. I said no, but I have Zuiderdam, Veendam, Amsterdam... He said he would find a Eurodam for me. And he did! And yes, that upped his tip. I always tip my steward. I often pick up lunch or a snack in the Lido and take it to my balcony to eat in peace. My poor steward ends up having to harvest my dirty dishes, and I think that's worth a tip. Entertainment. Sigh, this is where HAL gets low marks. Thank God for Lincoln Center or I would have no evening entertainment. They were excellent, as always, and the early performance was always standing room only. I think people went to LC first, before Billboard or BBK started. The later shows were not full, but still well attended. Afternoon sets were well attended, too. BB King is too loud for me. Billboard is also loud. On top of that, the woman had a screechy voice. The man had a nice voice, but the overall loudness is not for me. Step One are very good, but four times in 10 days? (And I had already seen the first two shows before) Three nature videos, two performances by a steel drum group, and the "origin story" video made up the rest of the mainstage entertainment. Daytime "enrichment" was mostly spa infomercials, trivia, bingo, games. We did get some good documentaries about the Panama Canal. Somewhere in the literature about Eurodam, it says there is "one of the most extensive libraries at sea." No, not even close. Just that stupid wall of cubes where a few books are stacked. I was glad I had my own reading materials with me. Miscellaneous things. Tea was Bigelow. Okay for the herbals, I guess, but their black tea is vile. I tried their Darjeeling. It was bitter. Darjeeling is never bitter!!! I swear, they buy the floor sweepings of other tea companies and it's all the same, just in different packets. HAL does have PG Tips, fortunately. Next time, I will remember to take my own Twinings. Shut up, Stephanie!!!! The ED read the daily program around 9:30, 12:30, and 5:00. This bugs me. There's a printed program, they encourage people to use Navigator. We're adults, we can read. Chair hogs. Oh yeah, they're back. I had breakfast one morning right when the Lido opened at 6:30, and took my food to the pool area. Before 7 AM, there were 8 claimed loungers and nobody in sight. One pair had those clamps that hold your towel in place, as if to say "Don't you DARE move these towels." Four loungers had hats, books, etc. But the best were the loungers that had monogrammed towels on them. I do hope Chrissy and Geoff had a nice cruise. Their towels appeared to be enjoying their time in the sun. By the time I finished breakfast and another cup of coffee, probably around 8:00, the 8 claimed loungers were still unoccupied. Other people were arriving, claiming chairs and actually sitting in them! The hydropool was good, and rarely empty. This is the first hydropool I can remember that didn't have a shower in the room. That does encourage people to rinse off before going in. And I like to rinse off after, too. I had to drip my way to the showers in the thermal suite to rinse. HAL should take out the unused spiral staircase and put in a shower. So that's my review. Overall, it was a good cruise. It was nice to be back on HAL after 3 years.

I did use the internet on my phone, but I have no patience for typing long messages or reading websites on a phone, so the way I like to use the internet was definitely affected. I hope the electrical problems were unique to my room. I'm only sorry that I figured out the problem too late to leave a note. I have to say, HAL was pretty good about things that were reported. One of the spa showers was too hot. The thermostat in the water mixer wouldn't let in any cold water. I reported it at the spa desk, and others probably did, too. A few days later, they had the whole thing pulled apart. And when they were done, it worked properly.

To go back to the original complaint about booking the specialty restaurants, I have no memory of seeing the special dinners listed when I made my booking on the website. I just looked back at the daily programs for my recent cruise, and the hours for Pinnacle are listed every day, but there's no mention of a special dinner. Don't they show those in the daily program? Or is it possible that so many people had HIA on my cruise that they didn't do the special nights in Pinnacle?

I didn't know you could use your cruise card. That's so easy! I wish I'd been told. The cruise department on this ship wasn't on top of things. Or maybe it was the shoreside-ship disconnect. I had booked the snorkel by boat at HMC. Three weeks before the cruise, it was cancelled. That was the thing I was most looking forward to, so I was disappointed. On Embarkation day, there was a sheet of paper welcoming me and thanking me for booking at one of the ports and listing possibilities where I hadn't booked. And there was snorkel by boat! So I stood in line for a half hour only to learn that the tour was, indeed cancelled, and would be cancelled for the remainder of the season. So WHY was it on that paper addressed specifically to me? It wasn't a list of all excursions, just a few that some algorithm thought I might like. 🙄

Okay, suitcases are in the attic, so the trip is officially over. One thing everyone notices is the cost cutting. Stewards have more cabins than ever. Their morning service goes well into the afternoon. I tend to be up early when I travel, so I always left the "please tidy up" sign on the door when I went to breakfast. The room was nearly always done when I got back. I was going to my room one morning when a supervisor was in the hall. He asked me if everything was all right with the room. I took advantage of the opportunity to tell him how good my steward was and to comment that I was aware that they have more cabins than they used to. He sighed and made a scissor gesture with his fingers. Chocolates only on "dressy" nights. Towel animals only on "dressy" nights. No slippers. The pen in my room said "STAPLES" instead of "Holland America." They're so behind on the tiles because of supply chain issues that they're suspending this program. I imagine that all the people who were promised that a tile would be mailed to them will cost a lot in postage. There are a lot of upsells. The only way to get lobster is by paying extra. Lobster roll in the MDR at lunch was $10 or $20, I forget which it was. Adding lobster tails to a dinner was a charge, so was a whole lobster. Traditional surf and turf could be had any night for a charge. The second dressy night was tenderloin and 2 grilled shrimp. Some fish portions seemed to be on the small side. Meat portions, especially beef, were larger. Overall, I found the MDR food to be good, with enough choices that I could always find something to eat. I never had to resort to the chicken or the rustic lasagna. One of my pet peeves with restaurant food is salt. HAL does not oversalt. I know this because my rings never got tight. Food is rather bland. The Lido salsa and guac were too mild for me. The Texans at my table at dinner said they will remember to bring their own hot sauce next time! Pinnacle dinner was good, as usual. The lamb chops were served with pureed beans, as they were in the MDR. A few other items had odd sides. The waiter said a lot of people order the lamb chops without the beans and get the mashed potatoes as a side. Much better idea. I can confirm that they do charge extra for a second starter and for a second main. I did not have the clothesline bacon, but a table near me did. It's three strips of bacon. I think it was once four? There's a $10 upcharge to add Beecher's mac and cheese to any meal. I do not understand this at all. That same mac and cheese was at the buffet every day at lunch, no extra fee. Tamarind. OMG, so fantastic!!! A big THANK YOU to all who made menu suggestions for me. I had the tempura shrimp (close call between that and the shrimp and lobster potstickers) and the crispy duck. Asian restaurants know how to cook duck so the skin is crisp but the meat isn't overcooked, and there isn't a lot of fat under the skin. I tried the wasabi cocktail the night I ate there. Went back another night to try the cucumber mojito. I don't know why they call it a mojito when nearly all the ingredients are different, but it was the best drink of the cruise. The Lido breakfast was good. Because I get up early, I didn't have to fight crowds to get breakfast. It did take multiple stations to put together fruit, egg& bacon, toast. There is NEVER raisin bread by the toaster. So I had to get bread and then take it to the toaster. I knew the ship had strawberries--they were a garnish on lots of desserts. it took until day 5 to discover that they were hidden at the back of the cold case where the juices are, and where people get yogurt and toppings. I didn't find the crepe station until day 7. My Texas friends were thrilled when I announced this discovery at dinner. They hadn't seen it, either. On day 8, I found the makings of an English breakfast at "foreign lands" with the Asian breakfast items. But I had to go to another station to get eggs. Note to self: next time, walk the ENTIRE Lido and look carefully at all the stations! Lunch at the Lido was easier because I generally got a salad and went to the taco station (no more taco bar) to add guac and chips. There was a lot of hot food that I ignored. I eat a good breakfast but a light lunch, so I didn't try any of that. Sandwiches continue to be poor. They will make a sandwich for you, but the choices are very limited, and the sandwiches are skimpy. I didn't try Dive In, but it was busy. I didn't try the pizza, either. They say it's thin crust, but what I saw was too thick for my liking. More later...

I don't carry my passport ashore unless a particular place on a tour wants to see passports for security reasons. I believe that the ship will get your passport out of your room safe and leave it with the port authorities, but I don't know if that's true. I do know that it's possible to get into a room safe without the combination you've entered. I had to ask for that in my FL hotel before my recent cruise. People before me locked the safe, even though it was empty, and I didn't know their combination.

Ohhhh, nooo! The arrival of the ships looked so ominous. I recognized Stavanger immediately. The street they show is near the Sardine Cannery Museum, which I still remember as one of the most fun museum visits of the trip. It's a lovely quiet neighborhood, and for them to have to look at those huge ships--and maybe listen to their blared music would be terrible.

I was on the partial Panama Canal that sailed on Jan 15. It was my first time on this class of ship. I had an aft balcony, and even when we had at tail wind and "following seas," she rode well. We did have strong winds hitting the side of the ship one day, and there was a bit of a shimmy, but nothing strong. My cabin was comfortable, and overall, I'd have to say the ship looks to be in good shape. I know there's a drydock soon. I do hope they deal with the chairs. The desk chair was low to begin with, and it was so saggy, that I couldn't sit comfortably to use the desk. It's like that chair wasn't meant to be a desk chair. Dining room chairs also needed to have the seats rewebbed or reupholstered or something to stop the sag. Drains ran slow in some places--sink in my bathroom, showers in the spa. One of the ceramic loungers was out of order and others needed to have their thermostats checked. One was a frying pan, and another was barely tepid. The biggest issue, and I didn't recognize this until I was home, was the electrical system in my room. My laptop died. It's old, and I've been wondering how long it would last, so when it wouldn't charge or start when it was plugged in, I figured something inside died. Or maybe the charger. I had to do email on my phone, and I was disappointed that I couldn't do a preliminary sorting of my photos on the laptop. I have the charger from a previous laptop (yes, I save things "just in case.") so I tested that when I got home. Laptop is fine. So is the charger I had with meLooking back, I recall that my phone and camera batteries didn't charge as quickly as they do at home. So maybe the voltage was just high enough to push "juice" into them, but not into the laptop. There were two of the round European outlets, but when I plugged the hair dryer into one of them, the plug kept falling out. USB plugs wouldn't stay in the desk outlets, either. The USBs by the bed did work ok. Navigator and Internet. I liked that I could use the Navigator to check my account and check the times of activities that I wanted to do. I disliked having to use it to show tour tickets. I didn't really want to take my phone to the beach, but I had to because I hadn't taken the time to get a paper ticket printed in advance. I know you can do that, but I'm not sure how. I liked being able to check the Lido lunch menu to see what desserts they had. The best ones (anything chocolate) went quickly, so if there was something really good, I'd grab that right away. I snagged two opera cakes, my favorite dessert, right at 11:30 and put them in my fridge. By the time I had lunch at 1:00, they were all gone. Hey, I'm a chocoholic. Anything is fair game when it comes to chocolate! Internet (surf package) was the fastest I've seen on a ship. Or maybe that was because I was confined to short messages by the inability to write longer emails on my laptop. One of the difficult things was remembering to connect to the internet after the signal went out and came back. At home, if my wifi loses the interent, when it comes back, everything works. But with Navigator, you open Navigator and use your settings to get "Eurodam guest" but you may not be on the internet, even when the wifi icon on your device shows a wifi connection. Sometimes the internet comes back automatically and sometimes you have to do the additional step of hitting "connect" on the Navigator to get to the internet. Comments on food and entertainment to come...

On my recent Eurodam cruise, it was mostly infomercials by the spa, bingo, trivia, and games. Port "lectures" just tell you where to shop. HAL once had outstanding cooking classes, but now they are completely gone. As for crafts, I recall only one time, and that was origami. Because it was a Panama Canal cruise, we did get more enrichment than usual, in the form of some excellent films about the history and construction of the canal. I doubt there's anything like that on non-canal cruises.

Yes, a part of the problem is sheer numbers. The mega-ships dump 5000 or more passengers into a fairly small area. I've been in Bar Harbor when just one ship, under 2500 people was in port, and the sidewalks were so busy that you could barely get anywhere. I can understand why they start to limit the number of cruise passengers who can visit on any day. Yes, we pay port taxes and buy tours. But we don't buy hotel rooms and often don't eat ashore. And when a place gets a reputation for being overrun by cruisers, the people who do stay at hotels don't want to go any more. I couldn't agree more about the DelSol etc effect. You are funneled through a shopping mall if you want to go anywhere. I was doing some port research for next winter's cruise. I looked at Googlemaps street view in Aruba. There were three ships in port, but I couldn't see anyone. I think it could have been early in the morning (based on seeing long shadows) before people were out and about. But doing a virtual walk down a few streets, I saw many small local stores that had closed down--and these pictures were pre-covid. But they are behind the huge shopping mall, where Addidas, Nautica, Starbucks. et al are still in business.

Considering how many ways HAL combines cruises to make B2B (AND B2B2B) cruises, they should make sure their system serves those passengers as well as any others booking just one cruise. But look at other boards. It seems like no cruise line has good IT.

I have done a quick luggage drop in the past, but after the Covid break, I was out of practice and forgot that's usually possible. The only question now is if the key will be in the mailbox.

So true! And after I go to my "not ready yet" cabin, I'll go to the Embarkation Luncheon that they say isn't happening.

This time, as we boarded, we were told that cabins weren't ready yet. If that happens next time, I'll just go to my cabin and see what's what.

THANK YOU!!!!

On Eurodam recently, I enjoyed seeing the many B&W photos of HAL ships in the hallways. Many of them were credited to Captain Albert. I wish he would do a book of those photos. I found them fascinating.

The S should be sufficient to get you priority boarding. I looked back at the PDFs I saved of boarding passes for my last 2 cruises before Covid and they had the S for suites but did not say Priority. Have you printed luggage tags yet? That should say PRIORITY. Your boarding pass should also show how many mariner stars you have.

How soon do the special nights show up on the booking site? I don't remember seeing them for my recent cruise, although I didn't search every night.

I was on board before noon. A little after noon, I walked aft to look down to see if I could see my balcony. There were people on their balconies, although there had been no announcement, so I went down to my cabin. The key was there and the cabin was ready.