pschweig

Thank you. Always nice to know where to find gf food onboard. 

Sorry - clicked wrong button. I was trying to ask a question about a specific post.

i am also gf. What are biccies and did you find then in the Dutch Cafe? Are there other gf options in the Dutch Cafe?

On 12/22/2023 at 11:23 AM, NorbertsNiece said:

Loving hot mocha and GF biccies in the café

 

 

Thanks for your suggestions. The tour we are considering is a private minivan tour which states it begins and ends at the cruise ship terminal. Since posting, I’ve emailed asking if we can be picked up at our hotel (claims to be 12 min from terminal) with our luggage and be dropped off at the cruise ship terminal at the end of the tour. 

Good point - I did not consider that. There are 7 of us, booking a private vehicle. 

We are leaving from Reykjavik on July 10 with a cruise departure of 7 pm. Can we drop off our luggage at the cruise terminal (around 8 am) and leave on a tour which picks up and drops off at the cruise terminal (app 4:30 pm) before we check-in and board the ship?

I want to thank everyone for their advice. After talking to the other family members, we have decided to follow your advice, book the 4 available and book the other 3 at whatever price is quoted. I will then keep checking for any price drop. I knew I would get answers here! Many thanks

Thank you so much for your response - especially checking ahead of time to see availability. Cruise isn’t until July 2024 and FE just opened for booking less than 2 weeks ago. I like your advice - book all 7 tickets and then keep checking for price drops. 

Off my original topic but my responders are very experienced. When I look at FE, an itinerary might say “4 tickets available” at this price. According to your experience, does that mean when those 4 tickets sell the 1) itinerary disappears or 2) the price for that itinerary increases? I am asking because my family group is trying to purchase a total of 7 tickets and wish to have the same flights. We don’t mind buying 4 tickets at one price and the other 3 at a slightly higher price. 
 

I thank you in advance for your advice. I have NO experience with FE!

Exactly the info I needed! I’ve been very scared to try anything. Thanks again!

I’ve read several posts describing that you can continue to check prices and routes on Flight Ease after reserving flights. Could someone please tell me how to do that without canceling your existing flights? Please pardon my ignorance and thank you in advance for your replies. 

Sorry - you should only be able to apply one shore excursion credit. The minivan was rented in my husband’s name. We could add as many people as we wanted up to the stated capacity of the minivan. All HAL asked was that he provide a list of those who would be on the van other than himself once we were onboard. 

I searched the forum and did not find an answer to this question: When is the best time to book flights to Europe through Flight Ease? Is it better to book flights as soon as Flight Ease shows available flights or is it better to wait? We are flying from Houston to Reykjavik and returning from Amsterdam to Houston. What has been your experience for the best timing prior to your cruise to book European multi-city flights?

Thank you in advance. 

I agree - eating gf in the Lido is difficult. One option which worked for me on an 2022 Oosterdam cruise - ask for gf pasta and red sauce at the pasta/taco station. Cook will use a clean pan to cook your pasta. I sat at a table in his view and he brought my plate to me when finished. I also safely ate tacos from this station. To reassure you, I was never sick and am very sensitive. 

Sorry, I do not remember the cancellation policy. My best guess - it was the same. 

On our 2022 14-day eastern Mediterranean cruise, our family of 6 used a HAL minivan tour for our stop in Istanbul. It was the first and only time we have done so. We found it cost only slightly more than six all-day HAL tours of Istanbul ($999 for 8 h). Sorry - I do not remember the cancellation policy.
 

Everything was handled so professionally, I was contacted approximately 3 weeks before the date of the tour, requesting a list of sights which we would like to visit. When we met our guide the day of the tour, he confirmed these stops. At all times, our guide was very professional and informative. He was solicitous of all members of our group, adjusting his pace for our elderly members, while keeping a very watchful eye on the 2 teenagers! He even helped our group member with a food allergy order at a local Turkish restaurant. 
 

I would not hesitate to book a HAL minivan tour again if cost effective. 

I sent an image of my faculty ID.

I definitely would fill out the SRI form. Makes things so much easier. 

I will answer with my personal experiences with gf dining on HAL. Our last cruise was a 14-day one on the Oosterdam July 2022 but I’ve taken many HAL cruises on different ships since being required to eat gf. 
 

I fill out the SRI form mentioned below prior to every cruise. From HAL website: 

For guests with food intolerances or allergies that are not life-threatening, please contact our Ship Services Department at (800) 541-1576. For guests with life-threatening food allergies, we ask that guests provide detailed information to our Guest Accessibility Department by completing a Special Requirements Information (SRI) Form. Guests should indicate on this form which foods may potentially cause a severe reaction.

Guests with a variety of severe food allergies sail with Holland America Line regularly. Our galley staff on board is accustomed to and experienced in dealing with these types of needs. The galley itself has many different areas of food preparation, which can help reduce the possibility of cross-contamination. It is important to note, however, that meals are prepared in mass quantities on board, thus there is always the possibility of some cross-contamination. As such, Holland America Line cannot guarantee that a guest will not come in contact with those items. Although our Guest Accessibility Department will provide the ship with an advance notice of all food allergies detailed on an SRI submitted to them, it is recommended that guests also contact the Dining Room Manager upon boarding to review the details of these special dietary needs.

MDR - we always sit with the same waiters. They knew about my dietary requirements on the first day. You are given a menu at the conclusion of your meal for the next night upon which you make your selections with your cabin number. Waiter is able to answer any of your questions. Also, sometimes with advanced notice, they are able to modify dishes to meet your gf requirements. 
 

I am served gf bread with my meals which is quite good. 
 

Lido - there are gf selections. For example, there is gf pasta where they serve spaghetti/tacos. The Dive In serves hamburgers on gf buns. I informed them it was for a food allergy. They must’ve taken tge proper precautions because I did not get sick. 
 

We visited the kitchen on a Behind the Scenes tour on the Zuiderdam. I was especially interested to see that there was a separate, designated area with its own chef for food allergies. I was even shown my “ticket” hanging there for my dinner that night! 
 

Neptune Lounge - after I said something, they had some gf selections during the day. Tgey also have boxes of Rice Krispies for a quick breakfast. 
 

I’ve never gotten sick on a HAL ship and have taken 12 cruises. I always tell people that they worry more about what I can eat than I sometimes do! 
 

I’ll be happy to answer any of your questions. 

45 minutes ago, mapleleaves said:

Thanks so much! This is exactly the information I was looking for. 

Not priority status.  I gather you made the flight.  Did you have to run to your gate or did you have a few minutes to spare?

We made our flight with time to spare. Even though we had to wait for someone to open the priority line, we still made it through quicker than those in all the non-priority lines. The lines checking in at the Lufthansa ticket counter were very long. There was a long line to enter the gates’ area and then there were long lines for security. Please expect crowds and arrive before 5 am. 

On July 17, we flew from Marco Polo Airport to Frankfurt on a Lufthansa flight which left at 6:30 am. We arrived at 4:45 am to very long check-in and security lines. Warning if you are flying business - no one arrived at the priority business entrance for security until 5 am. They did not have enough airport staff. We never expected the airport to be so crowded on a Sunday morning before 5 am. 

We were on back-to-back 7-day cruises on the Oosterdam July 2- July 16. We were not required to test at the end of the first cruise. 
 

On 7/5/2022 at 1:21 AM, Torquer said:

We are staying in a suite.  So I will ask my question again, does anyone one on the Oosterdam or having been on the Oosterdam know if the Pinnacle Restaurant is open for breakfast in morning for suite guests.

Currently on the Oosterdam. Yes - it IS open for breakfast for Neptune/Pinnacle suite guests. We have been onboard since July 2. No maintenance issues observed. Crew has been fabulous. A wonderful experience. 

Thank you for answering all my questions. I appreciate your time and effort to share your cruise and provide so much information. 

5 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

There are multiple ways of getting to Olympia.  

Bus, which is just outside the port gates, across the road costs €15 per person.  30 minutes drive to the village, 2 hours free time and then 30 minutes back to katakolo.  The guy I was speaking to, told me that he was the guide and he had excellent english.

 

There were taxis available but I did not ask the price.

 

The train mentioned by @Heartgrove costs €10 return, but has only one  departure time! 8.40 am with the return at 1.10 pm.  It is running as I watched it depart this morning.

 

Thank you for this information - especially about the train running (which Rick Steve’s says doesn’t always do so).