Colakid

Sitting at our motel waiting for a taxi to drive us to Port Everglades and start the voyage aboard the Oosterdam. Our travel agent forced us to stay on the ship for 21 days. We are in cabin 4180 at the stern of the ship and should be out for sailaway as always. Looking forward to seeing the canal again as well as San Diego. With over 25 cruises now with Holland America we never get tired of the moments we spend on one of the many Damm ships. 

Have a great cruise Bruce and Sue. Our paths almost cross again. We will be coming up from the Panama Canal as you head to SanFran on our way to Vancouver. Maybe some day again.

Congratulations on your 100 days @ sea. My wife and I take this very seriously and started in 1981. We are 4 stars now soon to be five stars. We have gone through four different rewards programs. We have a HAL shrine so to speak in our front hall. We have our medals hanging there along with other certificates framed and hung.(Been married twice by different captains) We did not want to lose our medals so I went on EBAY and bought two bronze medals. We take the "FAKES" with us every cruise and if we were to lose our suitcases we do not lose our original medals as they are still at home on the wall. I have the next set bought and ready ready once we reach #300 soon.  

There is one exception to the rules for HMC. If you rent the Oasis your group prearranged in advance is allowed to go to the head of the line when gathered. You are escorted by a HAL official. You pay almost $1400.00 for the day for your group it is a perk. You also get the Pinnacle Grill chef as your cook for the day. Did this once a couple years ago and had a blast. One of the best days we have ever had anywhere. Been to HMC 6 times now.

Congratulations on his retirement. Sailed with him twice both times on the Zuiderdam. He had a book signing session in the shops and got his signature and photo. Not sure where either are at this time.

My 2 cents worth on this subject is as follows. My wife and I have over 25 cruises with HAL and are 4 star and Bronze holders. We wear our 4 star pins on the day of the luncheon. Yes my wife likes the free drink and tiles very much. As far as the medallions goes I bought a fake pair off Ebay and put them in my cruise travel luggage and left them in there for ever. I did this so if our luggage was ever lost in transit we still have our real units at home. Then if we want them they are with us but not to lose our originals that are hung up on our HAL plaques in our front hall of our home. Colakid 

Great review. I too was on this with your family along my wife and daughter and her boyfriend. Our 25th cruise with HAL and the 6th cruise for our daughter. Her boyfriend was his first. We always choose late fixed dining since day one over 30 years ago. We noticed all the children.  Not too bad. Great excursions we took in Jamaica Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Having been to all before at least 3 times not much left to see or do. Best tours in years. We found the food up to par most meals but the service was definitely down.  The lettuce scare did hinder some meals. Our table mates at our large table for 8 were great. More new friends. Weather was great but each port had at least 6 ships each day made for busy days and heavy traffic and stress on the local tourist systems. Great cruise and look forward to the next three we have booked. Going to make 5 stars yet. Already have our free laundry.

I too have asked this question from a recent return cruise. Head office tells me they are using a new data management software and are having troubles switching over the files and this may take some time. Up to two more months is what I was quoted. Be patient I was told. On another note our PCC tells me the new software they are now using is far superior to the old system. She can see results already from her desk.

My DW and I will be taking a cruise leaving from Rotterdam in Aug 2019. We need accommodations for one night precruise. I see there is the old HAL headquarters building now the Hotel New York. I also see there is the nh hotel Rotterdam nearby as well. We have stayed one night previously on the former SS Rotterdam. This may be another option. Any thoughts about this for us would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Colakid.

Having recently finished a cruise I was looking up my numbers on the HAL official site on my profile. It was gone but scrambled. I called my PCC and was informed HAL have recently started a new data management software and it is causing much concern to everyone. They are hoping to get the bugs out of it asap. Be patient with them as they make the transition I was asked.

Just got a message from our cruise consultant @ HAL that she has been sold. Details to follow as they make the adjustments to everything.

Next time I see her I will be boarding her in Port Everglades this November for 7 days.

My 2 cents worth. Just back from 14 days on her from Amsterdam to Barcelona. So excited to be able to say I have sailed on her twice now and while on board we booked her again for 2019. She is elegant and takes us back to our earlier days of cruising. Glad to have her in the fleet for now. Sure there are cut backs of service but what is the hurry to eat your main meal in 28 minutes and get to the casino? Usually is sailing at sea when this is going on anyways. Stop and smell the air folks.

FYI. If one looks at the Main HAL corporate site and referrs to the Mariners button all the tiles are listed and posted from day one etc. with pictures and some stories. Also just back off the Prinsendam and we got our tiles. Colakid.

Thank You for the report. FYI the Prinsendam is about the enter the locks around 9pm est then travel down the canal.

https://www.portofamsterdam.com/en/webcam-sealock

https://www.portofamsterdam.com/en/webcam.

Takes about 3 hours so around midnight or so est she should arrive at port.

Dumb question. Why is the Prinsendam so late leaving tonight? I know it is scheduled but is there a simple reason. I have traveled on her in 2015 in Europe. Just wondering while I wait for her to leave for Europe. I will see her in September.

Great review. Just as if I was with you on this cruise. Oh - I was. Fortunately I was on aboard for 14 days. The M&G went well. Thank you for the wonderful words. Colakid

Looks like she is sailing. WOO WOO.

Just got off the Veendam this AM. Great cruise except normal issues with A/C, toilets and flooding.

 

One interesting thing happened today; no one seemed to want to leave the ship this AM. We were first color tag to be called at 7:50 am; waited 15 minutes to disembark and appeared very few had disembarked based on luggage remains in our colored area. Everything smooth getting out of port except cab driver tried to pull a fast one on me by not going direct to airport but by way of

Main entrance to port at Hwy 84. When are they going to stop this

Congratulations on your cruise. Anything else you wish to tell us about the ship. We board her in 13 days but have been on her 3 times already. Just out of dry dock must be some special changes. TV's or Lido for example?

Hope to catch her here today but have a busy schedule and it may be tight. Hope not that tight in 13 days as we board her for the 4th time for 14 days on our Collectors Cruise. Want to have one more cruise on her before she goes away from the fleet in the future. Colakid.

Please remove our listing for the Veendam May 07/2016. Thank You. Colakid

Does anyone know what is being done during dry dock this week? Remodel? Replace? Change to the deck plans?

Actually she is on for 14 days total. I would imagine the usual carpets and hull painting but understand maybe the lido will be renamed Marketplace and hope the new TV system will also being installed. We sail on her in 30 days and can hardly wait to see her having been on her 3 times before. Maybe somebody else can fill us in on more details.

Interesting thread going here but the funny part is they (HAL) does have another ship on order for 2018 and still no name or thoughts given out to the public yet. Maybe waiting for the new ship to be seen by more people and had a few reviews. FYI.

Please add myself Colakid and DW Polar Bear Mom to the Veendam May 07/2016 on a collectors cruise for 14 days. Montreal to Boston to Bermuda. Thank You.

We are booked at the Holiday Inn for a July 15th departure on the Prinsendam. I know I will be anxious about this until my wife and I get there and figure it out. We will be flying in two days before and staying in Rotterdam the first night on the SS Rotterdam as we sailed on her in 1989 and would like to see her again. We will then be taking the train back up to the airport and finding our way to the Holiday Inn. It will work. Our reservation to the Holiday Inn is prepaid and can not be cancelled.