Jane1614

Hi Linda! I see you have been on many cruises! We tend to like the smaller ships, and slower pace. So I think the river cruise will be perfect.

My husband and I live in Florida. We are looking forward to meeting you and others.

We're booked on the Amakristina. The Rhine Basel to Amsterdam departing Basel on May 6th. First River cruise!!!

We just got back from a 12 day Baltic cruise on the Zuiderdam. In Copenhagen we purchased 6 bottles of wine to bring on board at Embarkation. We did this because there are certain wines we like that we cannot get on board, not that we were trying to save any money. We were not trying to smuggle them on. We knew we could bring one bottle per person without corkage charge, and the rest were subject to the $18 fee per bottle. We had no problem with that. We had it in our carry on. At the terminal security they asked us how many bottles we had in there (after viewing it in the x ray machine) We said 6. They told us only 2 were allowed and we had to show proof that we could bring more. So I did show them proof. Its written on the back of the luggage tags the specific instructions. So they said ok and let us through. We checked in and told them we had wine, and would pay the corkage, they said ok, and proceeded to give us our boarding cards, We walked on board, wondering when they would ask about the wine, and no one ever did. So we were never charged. It was our first time on HAL so we didn't know the procedure. But we were willing to pay the corkage charge. We drank a few bottles in our room. We brought a bottle to dinner with us at Caneletto one night and no one said a word. We were never charged! And no intention of sneaking it on!

We just got off the Zuiderdam on Tuesday this week, and for the entire cruise we had the same table. We liked the table we got the first night and told the maître d and he always accommodated us with that specific table every night. We had open seating and made reservations each night and always asked and was given our request.

Whoops... I meant to do that.

Any one on this cruise that might like to play Mah Jongg? Bring your card.

I'm in. Will look for a sign up sheet? Would like to play at least once.?

We plan on purchasing several bottles of wine before we get on board, and willing to pay the corkage charge. Worth it for us, wine drinkers... I think that's a lot to pay onboard. I got spoiled on my last 2 cruises where everything was included, and it was good stuff.

Its our first time on HAL, and never had paper luggage tags printed out by us, so how do they stay on the luggage? Paper will tear. Does anyone laminate? Or put them into a holder?

Our Zuiderdam cruise for July 2016 went down last week by 400 per person. We saw this on their website, so my husband called our Travel agent, and within an hour we had the 800 dollar credit plus OB credit of 150 each... Saving us 1100. We had only made the initial deposit, and our total is not due till May.

Just wondering if we get the 7 bottle package delivered to the room deal, can we take one of these bottles out to the dining room with us? Or will we be charged another corkage fee? What if we open it ourselves, and bring it half full?

Thanks for those links. The wine bottle package in room looks doable for husband and I . We love wine. Great.

Is this sort of like purchasing a gift card? Like you use it on any beverage, but there is no discount? They just deduct it from the amount on the card after each use? Curious.

Thanks for the menus!

Thanks. Good to know about the water. I drink lots of it!

I'm going on HAL for the first time and wondering what the policy was on Water, coffee and soft drinks. Do we have to pay for these? If so what do they charge? My last two cruises all was included, so that's why I ask this question. Is bottled water available? Can we get it any time?

Thanks for the information. Sapper1, that was good to know.

Ok, we booked a tour (outside HAL) (ALLA tours) and we have printed tickets .

So with that and the passport we should be ok? They say we are covered with the tour for the visa.

So if you port in St Petersburg Russia, does HAL give you your passport to take on a tour? I am told this is required. Wondering.

Thank you! I'm glad you told me. :)

We will be on a Baltic cruise, zuiderdam in July. We booked two of the "other" restaurants for sea day, assuming those were the dress up days, which we do not want to do. My question is, on these other restuarants, can we sit just two of us?

Thank you everyone! What a great forum! :)

Is it possible to get extra pillows? I have a back problem, and have to put pillows under my knees during my sleep. Can the extra pillows be pre arranged? Also, are they feather or synthetic? I know, I'm fussy about my pillows. Just wondering.

We will be on the Zuiderdam Baltic cruise this summer, stopping in St Petersburg. Can anyone that has been there recommend a reputable good tour company, not a HAL tour, that would be easy, less walking and still see all the highlights. I have a problem walking, but of course want to see all.

Thank you. This is exactly what I wanted to know.

I have never been on Holland America, and would like to know if when you dine, you can eat with just two people or do they put you at tables with other people? We would like the option to dine alone, and go when we want, or do we have to pick a specific time?