syesmar

2 hours ago, Cruising-along said:

I was told you can ask for one. They probably don’t want to print off more than they need. 

Thanks. On my last sailing in 2019, they stopped giving ATK recipe cards mid-cruise. Previously, the host would keep a file drawer with printed cards for each show. I can still access the HAL page on ATK’s website and retrieve recipes featured onboard here.

On 1/22/2024 at 12:30 PM, Rinderoo said:

…Nothing should ever be done to a cruise reservation that has been booked without client consent….

Years ago, I was price shopping and was very surprised to find that a big box agency had put a booking on hold without my consent. I only found out when I called the next agency on my short list to check their price and perks, and they said, “we see you have a booking already!” I was not amused….

7 hours ago, Cruising-along said:

On the Volendam now and there have been a few cooking demos...No charge, and no samples. 

Are they giving out paper recipe cards?

2 hours ago, Mary229 said:

…I was given a lousy room but after 24 hours onboard I was able to move to a far better cabin, gratis….

@Mary229 how and when did you request to move once onboard? Which department did you speak with? Thanks!

On 1/13/2024 at 6:45 PM, ontheweb said:

👍, that really says it all. In general, those who are late are late because they do not care about anyone but themselves.

I realized a while back that with some who have serious time management problems, it doesn’t matter what the excuse is. There will ALWAYS be one for repeat offenders, as there is a consistent error on their part to properly plan for the unknown. A meeting time is kind of a joke to their loved ones and colleagues, who pad the start time just to get them there in a reasonable time-frame. There shouldn’t always have to be 2 sets of times: one for the punctual, and another for the habitually tardy.

I don’t know how it can be corrected! Can anyone give us a good news story of someone previously always running late, but are now reformed? What got through to you/them to change your/their habits?

3 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

And even if you ARE on vacation, you're not doing it wrong just because you're not doing it the way some internet jockey says you should.

In different seasons of my life, I may find various things relaxing over another. There have been trips where I just wanted to binge watch something, and that was relaxing to me at the time. Other trips, I didn’t want to miss a moment in a new port of call. On one land trip to the mountains, I found cooking my favorite foods relaxing.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks I should or shouldn’t do.😀

1 hour ago, richwmn said:

do you by chance have the itinerary?

It is not published anywhere I can find.

I don’t have the itinerary, but this entertainer is on board the charter January 14-21: https://karengrainger.com/appearances.html

There are replies at this Thread: 

you 

Is a Shore Excursions representative still at the gangway for a couple hours each day once the all clear is given to get off the ship? 

Another way to find a representative is in the World Stage (or other shore ex meeting places) if shore excursions are meeting there before departing the ship.

@3rdGenCunarder thank you for this excellent information! Before the pandemic, Iceland was next on our list—though no reservations had been made, just materials ordered and trip research begun—and our plans got stalled. I’m hoping we’ll go sooner than later! 

1 hour ago, lucymorgan said:

…we would not have access to a lounge or regular loyalty event unless we booked a high level suite, so  I am wondering about opportunities to chat with other cruisers when you don't have that sort of benefit.   Any suggestions?…

In addition to the suggestions above, requesting to be seated with others at dinner would likely give good opportunities to chat.

On 1/9/2024 at 8:28 PM, cbr663 said:

…Seven days prior and almost anyone in the world could get there and I don't think that is the intention.

The T&Cs also state that guests who want the option to not sail should opt to go on the cruise waitlist instead.  

If HAL doesn’t intend to notify people “approximately 7 days prior” then they need to update the wording to be more accurate, or have a “B” option for those who could sail in an even shorter window (I would imagine there would still be some willing to do so, though certainly not all).

There is a vast different between 2 days and 7 days when it comes to preparing for a trip. The customer should be able to depend on a common sense definition of “approximately” and in Raybit’s case, it was not.

7 hours ago, cruisinsince75 said:

…It is called no respect for others.  We missed our walking tour in Florence because they got back to our bus so late.  I warned them the first time in Pisa.  However, they did it again in Rome.  We left them outside of St. Peters and they had to find their own way back to the ship.  

I’m curious what their response / behavior was to you fellow travelers that they caused to miss the walking tour? Somehow, “oopsie! I’m sorry, how ‘bout that time!” just wouldn’t have cut it. Absolutely inexcusable. Good for you that they had to find their way back after St. Peter’s!

48 minutes ago, -The-True-North- said:

14-Day Fjords Of Norway & Iceland With Sognefjord.

May 31, 2025….

I’ve been to all the Norwegian ports in this itinerary except Kristiansund (though I have been to Kristiansand! Came within one click of renting a car in one, intending the other, without realizing how close the names were!) Absolutely loved these ports!

Skjolden is one of the most enchanting, beautiful places I have ever seen! And Sognefjord getting to/from there is so beautiful.

I so want to visit Iceland!

EDIT: HAL’s site lists Kristiansand for this itinerary, though perhaps some travel sites might have “-sund.” Just wanted to give a heads up about that, since I’ve had that happen to me.

39 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

…I've done a land tour driving all the way around Route 1 (the only highway!). We wanted to do a cruise around Iceland, but couldn't find one with enough ports, so we did a land cruise and it was the best way to see Iceland. A lot of the ports you would visit are small towns, so you would likely be taking a tour from the port….

@3rdGenCunarder How far in advance did you need to book lodging, car and other types of reservations? Would love to see Iceland someday!

9 hours ago, ikesyd said:

…would still prefer to board in Rotterdam and disembark in Dover if this is possible. 

I would call HAL and see if they can do your booking the way you’d like if it’s available. I say this because one Canary Islands cruise I took 8 years ago had a variety (4, maybe more, as I recall) of options with respect to boarding and disembarkation ports on different days.

I could see the option I wanted online (though the itineraries weren’t visible on every travel website), but my PCC almost argued with me about the variety of options, going as far as saying they didn’t even sail in Europe during December😉 I either got the code for the sailing or took a screenshot, I don’t recall, but finally she conceded and got me booked. Had an amazing time!

Happy Sailing!

My last cruise on Nieuw Statendam (summer of 2019), ATK was held in the World Stage. It was packed most sessions.

For whatever it’s worth, you can still access the HAL page on ATK’s website and retrieve recipes featured onboard: https://www.americastestkitchen.com/guides/america-s-test-kitchen-onboard-holland-america-line

On 1/5/2024 at 8:11 AM, publicpersona said:

“…HAL, which wrote the terms after all, basically said ...Are you willing to put money at risk that you can be flexible enough to make arrangements to cruise about a week before departure?

but what they are delivering is ...Are you willing to put money at risk that you can be flexible enough to make arrangements to cruise within 48 hours of departure?

That's very different….”

Very different, indeed! I don’t know anyone who would equate “approximately 7 days” with only 2 days. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Agree! I never imagined that we wouldn’t have sailed since Summer of 2019! Hopefully it won’t be much longer ‘til we’re cruising again….

I’m so grateful we took advantage of 21, 22 and 28 day sailings while we had the opportunity! Our once-flexible schedule has changed and with greater professional responsibilities comes less flexibility in our schedule. Glad we did what we could, while we could! I have no regrets, only that I wish I’d taken the 21 day option for my last Norway sailing instead of 14! 😃

48 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

…Hopefully we are back in the system again.

@DaveOKC happy for you! Might I ask: how does one get “in the system”?

I thought this post was insightful to this topic.

So, who does @cruise101 need to contact about a potential billing adjustment?

And which department at HAL should future cruisers contact for clarification on this policy?

14 hours ago, newtocruiseinblue said:

Just off the Nieuw Statendam…and wanted to share my experience with the new library on Deck 2 by the World Stage. It was bright, peaceful, and beautiful!…

Thank you for sharing! It looks lovely. Is there any noise overflow from the World Stage, or is it fairly sound proof?

6 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

Yes, it's been over a year since it's been available based on what I've read here.  My cruises in the Fall of 2022 I couldn't get debarkation day room service breakfast. I was in a Signature Suite and a Veranda cabin. I even specifically asked about it. It may be available for Neptune and Pinnacle Suites, but I don't travel in them so not sure.

Good to know, thanks. While on more recent cruises we’ve enjoyed the Lido’s buffet that last morning, I can remember a number of sailings where having the in-room option was quite helpful, especially when we needed to be the first ones off the ship.

On another note, it took us a cruise or two to realize how much food was available for breakfast in the Lido (we thought it would be too hectic, so didn’t give it much thought). We had always ordered room service at breakfast. But that changed when we finally visited the Lido during breakfast hours.😃

7 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

…The one thing I am begging HAL not to change is the ability to order room service from the MDR menu during those hours. It was one of the cut back/changes implemented by Celebrity last year and I did miss that...

I love being able to order from the MDR menu. I hope that doesn’t change.

28 minutes ago, oakridger said:

…Please HAL keep the included room service!  (Very sad that the debarkation breakfast room service is a thing of the past)

I didn’t realize that had been discontinued. We used to get room service on the final morning prior to our days of eating a final breakfast in the Lido. Very convenient.