SilvertoGold

Not sure about the books for Alaska but the Noordam had very few non-fiction books when we sailed in April this year. The Library was fantastic, a huge plus for cruisers, but it had mostly fiction. A lot of "coffee table" sized/type of books that I didn't pay attention to: wrong place, wrong time, but I read 7 older non-ficition books in 39 days and really loved this new Library.

I am not sure anyone has much time to read on an Alaska cruise, but I do hope HAL has some books on Alaska!

Order on board only. Right.

It "should" be handled like a wine package.

However, if I were going to do this, I would go to the Front Desk and ask that they order the package for you, reminding them of your Mariner status and confirming the pricing. Silly? Yes. But possibly an idea to consider 

Good luck!

Have a GREAT! cruise on the Noordam. Hope you have good weather and enjoy all aspects of your time on a HAL ship Thanks for the interesting info on the computer systems' latest wild characteristics :) Always a fun read to see how things can go wrong.

VMax:  Very helpful and well-done lists. I like the use of red, good spacing and dark print for headings!  List and notices are hard items to get "just right": you do a super job and it is much appreciated!

53 minutes ago, BigTeee said:

Same here.  I got emailed today for a cruise six weeks out.  I'll wait.

 

"Upgrade for select bookings from your Interior Stateroom
to the following best available:
Vista Suite for an additional $799pp USD/$1060pp Canadian
Verandah Stateroom for an additional $449pp USD/$595pp Canadian
Family Oceanview for an additional $199pp USD/$264pp Canadian
Oceanview for an additional $149pp USD/$198pp Canadian

It really makes a difference how long your cruise is: 7 days or ???

1 hour ago, mcrcruiser said:

We did find out that the cruise was in the 40K range price wise with 2 deposits one first $5000 & then a 2nd deposit of $10,000 b/4 final payment . This is for s HH category window blocked  201 sq ft handicap cabin . Not going to happen . although the cabin is in back of the ship lower promenade ,so walking outside is easy  ,still too high a price for that long cruise . Princess had one March 2026 for 54 days R/T San Pedro World  Cruise Center ,LA  but not a handicap cabin to be had   .That one was in the $20,000 range for  a balcony 

 

We may re entertain the 35 day cruise of & when Koningsdam or another Pinnacle class comes to SD  in the future & book it really early 

Fasinating numbers. Thanks for the info! The 35 day Koningsdam is a very nice cruise as is the 50 day extended one.  We have enjoyed them a lot a few times and would do them again.

2 hours ago, PDsquare said:

All the upgrades were on deck 2 and we like our deck 7 location so, no, we did not. 

Most interesting about your friend. The J is likely much better than what she would have received otherwise with the Stand-By. Thanks for all the interesting info!

37 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

If you pre-pay your Crew Incentive (as long as you do not have the promo) or if you pre purchase Spa treatments or purchase ship board credit or Purchase Casino Ship Board credit, or if you are gifted ship board credit those will all appear as refundable ship board credit.

This is excellent info. Thank you. We prepay crew incentive but forgot the OBC could also be purchased. I will look into this and appreciate your help!

1 hour ago, kelliebiz said:

hi, it was incredibly quick! My taxi dropped me about 10:40am, I handed my suitcase off to the porters and headed upstairs. We had to wind through several lines like at an amusement park but I never even sat down. Walked through all the photo, passport, boarding pass check stations and got straight on the ship. Sitting in the Lido having beef bulgogi by 11:25am! Might be the fastest boarding I’ve experienced. 

Great for you! We were down at Canada Place at am today and were surprised not many people were around.  Looks as if your timing was perfect! Did you get any specific instructions from HAL on when to show up for check-in? Your lunch looks excellent, too! Hope you will post a bit on this cruise or when you return home. Enjoy!!

2 hours ago, kelliebiz said:

Thanks so much to you Roger and all the other contributors for giving all of us your impressions. I’m boarding Nieuw Amsterdam later today, so your info has been very useful. I’m definitely going to make sure to try one (or more) of those tiny brownies. 

Could you let us know how the check-in and boarding goes?  Have a lovely cruise!

Welcome to Vancovuer, a grey day so far.

Thanks for all your help and a really over-the-top excellent thread. Your website is so helpful, I use it all the time and sincerely appreciate your prosfessional set-up and all the up-to-date info.  

My calendar now has your next cruise noted!

Hope your trip home is easy and quick. 

1 hour ago, BaileyMJ said:

Update on the pastries offered in Explorers Cafe noon carrot cake mini muffins & brownie bites

 

 

Thank you so much!! They look perfect!  Now we have to keep our fingers crossed that they won't change the recipe! The carrot cake muffins look reasonable too.

56 minutes ago, Crew News said:

The black olives offered by the Nieuw Amsterdam NY Pizza are "Kalamata-style" olives.  The brine is strong with an effective salty flavor. 

 

IMHO someone working in the Accounting Department of the packing company might have been of Greek ancestry.

This is good info and appreciated, Roger.  If not the "real" Kalamata ones, better than regular black olives. I think DH can live with these! 

19 minutes ago, BaileyMJ said:

Today May 18 Scenic Cruising Inside Passage

 

Today 11:30am Cake Away - never either had it on my only previous HAL cruise ot I didn’t attend.  I came down early but already a crowd gathering - so I shot pictures through the screen.  

 

 

Nice to look at but rather ordinary to taste we thought. I picked the chocolate cake with the thick cream cheese icing and it was rich,  heavy and very filling. No carrot cake, too bad as HAL does that one well

I know there was a thread about this, but find the Search function difficult to use to good effect.

OBC from HAL: 1. The OBC which comes with the FCD/FCC   2. The ZPM credit (Welcome Back) and 3. HAL's OBC when booking certain cruises as noted on the website  -- are all of these non-refundable?

Thanks very much for any info.

Roger or BaileyMJ: we love NY Pizza and are wondering if this ship actually has the kalamta olives the menu lists. In the past and even pre-Covid we have seen only regular black olives. No change in the sign to be true true to form, so it is always a question mark. If wither of you can find out, it would be much appreciated.  Thanks to both of you for the great photos and commentary.

15 minutes ago, BaileyMJ said:

Explorers/Crows Nest - its 3:25pm getting my caffeine fix here are the afternoon offerings.  Danny was just putting them out:

Mini Muffins

Raspberry 

Carrot Cake

and vanilla macarons 

Biscotti 

 

Delightful photo. We may need to make several visits. Thanks for posting!!

49 minutes ago, BaileyMJ said:

In the lido it is one barista and he makes the espresso just like in explorers cafe - no self serve machine - I am convinced that the cappuccino in the MDR or if ordered via room service is from a Nespresso press the button machine - not worth the $$ plus from room servuce it arrives warm not hot!   Of note in lido the coffee menu is limited - no iced latte just the hot drinks!

 

Here is offering this morning in Explores Cafe/ Crows Next.

 

Much better and more abundant offerings than I have seen in any Crow Nest area. A few stale macrons from a box is what theKoningsdam had! Thanks for your help!

Thanks for this photo. If by chance you see anything there photo-worthy in the afternoon I would be thrilled to see it.

1 minute ago, Crew News said:

I found the last brownie a bit after noon on a port day but learned that all items are refreshed at 2;00 PM. 

Excellent news!

8 minutes ago, Crew News said:

A search of the onboard menus showed no brownies in the dining venues.

 

Your brownie question prompted me to not only pose the question but take a large bite of a subject brownie when I discovered it in the Explorations Cafe glass-domed tray.  The top 1/3d of the 1-inch square brownie was creamy icing with a whole walnut on top and provided an instant chocolate and sugar surge.  At that moment, all was right in the world.

 

At opening, The Explorations Cafe has croissants available.  At 10:00 AM, and later at 2:00 PM, brownies, muffins, and biscotti are provided.  At 6:00 PM, various chocolates are provided.

 

When time permits, I will now start the "brownie" line at 10:00 AM at the Explorations Cafe for a daily chocolate "fix."

Perfect, Roger. Thank you!  One inch square is just right for me, but DH will require two of those 😉

11 hours ago, BaileyMJ said:

They seem to have biscottis most of the day.  In the morning regular croissants and chocolate croissants.  Yesterday afternoon I had what looked like a mini muffin - the staff wasn’t sure so I went for it - it was too dense to be a muffin and it definitely was almond so think madeleine but in shape of mini muffin- it was very good!  I try to avoid pastries.  I only have had 1 cookie and that was on day 2 at the CC Meet & Greet.

 

What I can report on is desserts in MDR and for this cruise I am pretty sure they have a fruit crisp with scoop of vanilla ice cream - I have ordered it when on the menu - they are all good but they all needed more baking to have a crisp brown topping and then they would be great!  

Ah, thank you, BaileyMJ!   My DH will go for the muffin/madelaine for sure!  We do like the fruit crisps in the MDR but we ask for two scoops of ice cream as they are so small :) Favs are apple, peach and since we don't do desserts often we save it for those ones.  Thanks for your help: much appreciated:)

4 hours ago, BaileyMJ said:

Explorations Cafe on Nieuw Amsterdam is on Deck 11 Forward.  It opens at 6am abd you can get coffee till 9pm - the bar section is open till 10pm.  You can get hot espresso drinks in lido but only during service hours for that day but exception is no espresso during that late night service 10:30 - 11:30pm. Espresso also available in Pinnacle Bar 7am to 4pm.

Any info about what edibles are available in this Explorations Cafe? I was asking Roger about brownies in particular.

2 hours ago, Crew News said:

Signature-class NY Pizza is a much smaller facility next to the Seaview Bar by the outdoor pool.  The menu is limited to pizza and salad.  Being so close to the Lido Market Buffet makes it easy to bring some of your own ingredients for custom pizzas.  In my case, Feta cheese and spinach makes a great pizza.

 

Breakfast is quite a secret and never a line on the Pinnacle-class ships.

 

Here is the latest menu (Note that only pizza and salads are available on Signature):  New York Deli & Pizza - 2024

Excellent info, thanks. Next up from DH: how about the brownies? On the Noordam the Explorations Cafe on 3 used to have the most luscious brownies with lots of chocolate icing. Now, 2 years in a row: disaster. Just cake with about a millimeter of icing! On the N Amstedam where is the Exporations Cafe? Any info about brownies would be appreciated.

Great info and lovely photos!  I may have missed this but how about NY Pizza? I see on the deck plan it is outside, aft of the Lido.  How does it compare with the one on the Koningsdam?  Any info would be appreciated.

Enjoy!

The Westerdam sails the Alaska season from Seattle (the Captain's "typically") and this particular repositioning cruise from Japan was apparently scheduled to sail the inside passage instead.  So who got this mixed up? Who orders the pilot (in advance by several days one would assume)?  Quite embarassing for HAL. The credit was a nice gesture.

Having sailed the inside passage more times than I can count I know the southbound sail is fantastic if the timing is right, so I can commiserate.