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maysdot

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    Random Questions

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    I am sailing on the Nieuw Statendam out of Quebec City and have just heard that HAL charges $20 US per bottle of wine no matter where you drink it.  My understanding was that every person is allowed 1 750 ml bottle for consuming in your room without fee.  Do they apply this fee????

    Nieuw Amsterdam Dry Dock

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Thanks very much for the information on the N.A. updates. You mentioned the TV's in the new Gallery Bar - curious to know what types of programming they carry? Is there any sort of venue that would show major U.S. sports (MLB, NFL, etc.?) I had envisioned The Gallery Bar as a quiet venue, but with TV's on the walls, I wonder what type of bar it is intended to be now that it has replaced the underused Northern Lights?

    The TV's in the Gallary Bar are all set to the sports channel....that's where everyone gathers for the football games, golf, etc. It looks more like a gentlemen's club with wing chairs and sofas than a sports bar. They had the satellite feed for the football games on Sunday and Monday...and I think that they came through on the TV in the cabin as well. The cabin TV is very interactive....look up the menus for the day, etc. You can even download the HAL Navigator app on you devices. Ask at the desk how to do it.

    Nieuw Amsterdam Dry Dock

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    I have a number of photos of the Nieuw Amsterdam taken this past week....unfortunately I'm unable to post them as I am told by CC that they are too large and I don't know how to resize them (they have to be much smaller). Just to let you know, the carpeting is beautiful especially up on the 11th floor by the Tamarind and Tamarind bar (purple my favorite) The glass staircase has been removed from the Atrium totally, but the glass NY skyline is still there. The new Gallery Bar (replacing Northern Lights) is beautiful....like a warm living room...with large TV's on the walls and over the bar. All cabins have new furniture on the balconies and updated sofas in the cabins....as well as wall mounted TV's. The new Billboard area is well received...two pianos replacing the Piano Bar located open to the Casino on the new Music Walk area. Will and Ivy are amazing. Check out other ships on You Tube under "Billboard on Board on Holland America". Elevators are also nicely redone...still have day of the week carpets. The screening theater has been renovated with 35 large leather theater style chairs....never got to try them out as I had planned to watch a movie on the last 2 sea days, but nothing was scheduled.

     

    I don't know if this is HAL's new policy or just the CD Andy's style, but he made very, very few announcements....never knew when we had been cleared at a port, where the gangway was located or when all aboard time was. Apparently it is now up to the passengers to find all of this out for themselves. There were very few organized activities outside of the usual Digital Workshops and EXC talks and bingo. There were lots of events listed for how to relieve stress (this girl was basically there to set up appointments for massages) have your foot analysis done, etc....you get the picture. We had to miss Half Moon Cay so ended up with 4 sea days on this cruise....most boring cruise I have ever been on. Unfortunately I had to miss the CC Meet and Greet as it was the same day and time as the Mariner's lunch....should have gone to the CC as the lunch was a waste of time.

    Nieuw Amsterdam post dry dock 3 day cruise review

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Thanks for the great review. I am on the Jan 13th departure so look forward to seeing all the changes. One thing you mentioned about HMC was that your favorite beach spot is the hammocks further down the beach. I have been to HMC many times and don't recall ever seeing them.....are they new, and available to anyone? If so, I'm sure that will be my favorite spot as well as they will give much needed shade (hopefully)

    What to do when your travel agent makes a mistake and says she'll get fired for it?

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    This is exactly why travel agencies pay for Errors and Omissions (E and O) Insurance. It is a cost of doing business. Employees make mistakes. I remember a time when a travel agent did not tell a client that Brazil required a visa to enter the country on business. The client missed a meeting that caused his company a multi million dollar contract!! No travel agency operates (or should operate) without E&O Insurance!!

    Questions for recent Masdamn cruisers

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Well, thanks for speaking on my behalf. I guess someone could have also thought I meant Sydney Florida (but probably not Sydney North Dakota).

     

    But I appreciate the other replies. As a result of your suggestions, we've decided to leave the real dressy stuff behind and to rent a car in Sydney (Canada). That seems like the absolute best option to get out and see the sights.

     

    Once again, thanks.

     

    Check out Toms Port Guides for Sydney, NS....excellent information there especially his Driving Tour Guide...http://www.tomsportguides.com/CapeBretonTours-02-05-2013.pdf

    HAL no longer requires formal dress

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    I'm sorry to see formal attire go. I like to dress up. Wish they would ban baseball hats or any other hat on a man in the dining room.

     

    I totally agree with your comment about baseball hats in the dining room. RCCL does state in their dress code, no caps in the dining room and on a cruise last winter I did see one man asked to take his off as he entered the MDR.:):)

    First time Aboard HAL ms Maasdam

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Hello fellow cruisers!

     

    I have never sailed on HAL and exciting for my upcoming voyage aboard the Ms Maasdam for 7 days along Canada/New England at the the end of September from Montreal to Boston!

     

    Looking for any tips, secrets, suggestions, excitement, and expert advice from people who have called ms Maasdam "home!"

     

    Anything from cool hangouts, food, port advice, stateroom advice, and anything else!

     

    Thanks so much! So excited!

     

    I suggest that you search out the excellent review of the Maasdam done by coka under the heading My New Favorite Ship: MS Maasdam 06/27/15..you will find it on Page 3 of this thread. She has done a wonderful review of both the Maasdam and the Canada/New England cruise. There are many, many tips and expert advice for you to follow. I am sure that you will be even more excited about your upcoming cruise than you are now after you read her review.

     

    I am doing this same cruise leaving from Montreal on Sept 5 so if there is something specific you have questions about I will try to answer them, or at least find out for you. The Maasdam is my favourite (Canadian spelling) ship...have spent over 30 days on her so looking forward to this cruise.:)

     

    Jane

    Canada-New England

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Will do!

     

    coka

     

    Looking forward to your review when you return as well. I will be taking a small group on this cruise in September. Would you please check out one thing for me......how long did it take to get to shore in Bar Harbor? It shows arrival at 8 am. As this is the first US port everyone has to pass through US customs before getting on the tenders. I'm trying to plan what time to start the tour of Bar Harbor. Many thanks for helping with my research for this cruise. Bon Voyage coka!:):)

    Lobster

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    The lobster roll is the one thing that makes people go, "What? That's it???"

     

    Yep. It's lobster. On a roll. And a "funny roll" if you're not from New England.

     

    IMO, the best ones are made with fresh, not previously frozen lobster meat. You want tail, knuckle, and claw meat. A brioche New England style roll is a plus. A toasted roll is a must. Simply dressed lobster with a little mayo or drawn butter is all you need. Skip the chopped celery and other filler.

     

    The lobster pizza, on the other hand, is a thing of beauty. I can pretty much guarantee you we'll have at least 3 during our 5 days in Maine. (They're not really big... And we share.)

     

    Oprah-Winfreys-Favorite-Things.jpg

     

    That's the lobster pot pie in the background. It was featured on the Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate. '

     

    POA1 Do you know if there is a place in Bar Harbor to get the lobster pizza?

    4* Mariner Pin

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    If one becomes a 4* Mariner during a cruise does he/she receive a 4* Mariner pin during the cruise or in the mail sometime after he/she returns home?

     

    On my last cruise I reached 204 days...so 4* status. A couple of weeks after I got home I checked my status on the HAL website and it showed the number of days, but still only 3*. I phoned the Mariner's Society and they mailed me my 4* pin. At that time I also went into the website and subscribed to the Travel + Leisure magazine.....that was in Feb....I received my first copy this week.

     

    On another CC posting I read that one member told another that after receiving your bronze medal you would be invited to all other medal ceremonies. I have never been invited to one since receiving my bronze medal. I just checked the HAL mariner's website and see that the silver medal is only presented to passengers who have sailed over 300 days, so guess I will never get invited to another pre-Mariner's lunch. It also says that you will be mailed your 4* pin after you achieve that status.

    My First Solo Trip/Received Bronze Medallion

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Crew News, Thank you. Yes thats what I was told too that I would be invited to other ceremonies. :D

     

    Really?? I hit the 204 day mark on my last cruise and have never been invited to a medal ceremony since the one when I received my bronze medal. I just assumed that they didn't have medals any more. I did receive a 4* mariner's pin in the mail after my last cruise. We'll see if I get invited to anything other than the regular mariner's lunch on my next HAL cruise. In fact I had to ask for an invitation to the last mariner's lunch on the NA after my DD got an invite and she is only a 1* Think that HAL prefers to give perks to members who are lower star status....I know that I get a better price if I travel with someone with a lower mariner status....1 or 2* are usually cheaper, or at the least the same as a 3 or 4*..at least on the many cruises I have been on.

    Purchasing Bonine in San Juan or on Board AOS

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    We are cruising on the Adventure of the Seas on March 29

    we are from newfoundland and they do not sell bonine or anything similar in our pharmacies.... Due to Air Canada flights we can not fly in the day before, we have to fly in the day of the cruise. Just wondering where can I purchase Bonine prior to boarding the ship or if it will be available on board. I cruised last year for the first time and I am sure I am going to require it. We do not land until around 2 pm that day so we will not have a lot of time for exploring San Juan sadly. Thanks in advance

     

    Don't know if they sell Bonine on the ship but there is a CVS pharmacy on the street across from the cruise terminals. When you are facing the Sheraton Hotel just walk left a block or two. I will be in San Juan next week on the Grandeur. If I get the chance I will check out CVS to see if they have Bonine....will let you know when I'm back mid-February.

    Jane:)

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