VermeulT

I TOTALLY agree about the "emotional" aspect... I also am *frugal* and would torture myself over spending another few $. But like everyone has said - you have to do the math... I look at the per person cost for the package - depending on what's included in that package ... excursions, dining, gratuities (sometimes), wifi for me is a nice to have but could live without so I take something off but certainly not what HAL values it to be... and then divide that total by the number of days. If it's $25-30 per person per day for the drinks - then I think it's worth it.

I also suggest deck 4 aft. balconies are much larger (deeper). see if you can nab 4152 or 4154

you might be able to use Luggage Direct which is a service that will take your bags from outside your room the night before disembarkation and check them onto your flight. You'll pick them up at baggage claim in your final destination.

both of my cruises don't have shore excursions available yet But when I log into the website and "manage my cruise" I see this showing the credits are there.

Their website says they are sailing in September. They are the former HAL Ryndam and Veendam (now Victoria Amazing and Victoria Majestic). Depending on the length of stay and cabin category it could be as little as $2300/mo. Here's an article posted in the HAL boards. https://cruiseradio.net/former-holland-america-ships-to-operate-as-floating-residences/ I'm not quite at the point in my life that I could do this. I do hope the idea takes off and is a success because it would be marvelous if it's what they claim

Inside is about $5200/mo if you commit to 2 years. Find me independent senior living in the US that's a whole lot cheaper - especially with 3 meals a day, housekeeping, activities, and living space. If something like this is still in business when I get a wee bit older, I'd mostly likely try it. Honestly - I haven't been able to understand why a cruise line hasn't come up with a timeshare concept. 7 day off peak Caribbean in Veranda stateroom category up to VC for 2. X to buy in, plus per cruise gratuities. (plus option to upgrade weeks &/or room category, add HIA etc.)

Also look to review on Trip Advisor if you can match up to the tour provider. I cruised in early March and got the review request on 3/27.

We were also in the same cabin. Hoping they'll honor the referral for their next cruise.

from my experience - you can't both be on the same cruise/ booking. I referred my nephew's fiance as she had never sailed HAL before. We all took a family cruise last month. Apparently that booking didn't count for whatever reason. I will try again with coworkers that will sail with my in Dec. Not holding my breath but an extra $50 would be nice.

Do you have a cruise currently booked? and if so, how far away is that cruise? My next cruise is Dec on The Nieuw Statendam and the menu I see changes daily (don't know for sure if it's the actual menu for that day.)

There are bar waiters that take orders and then bartenders. The waiters are not bartenders - they either don't know or aren't allowed to make drinks. I don't even think they can hand you a soda without the bartender getting it. An on land comparison is at your pharmacy - the person that checks you out isn't the person that dispenses the pills into the bottles. I was on the NS the week before you and yes - the wait for drinks was insane. It otherwise seems that HAL isn't the cruise line for you. Which is fine. We all have our preferences. I hope you enjoy your future cruises. I'll be on HAL.

last week on Nieuw Statendam (Caribbean).... My nephew did one bag. They got in several pants and shirts and undies. Bag was returned the next day everything folded.

I've been in both on the Vista Class ships, which are similar enough to the Rotterdam. I'd say the rooms and balconies are more or less equivalent. Deck 4 is closer to the water and you'll hear the wake more. Deck 8 is closer to the lido deck, so you might have people looking down on you. We didn't care and if anything it made us hanging out more interactive with others. Deck 4 is closer to the dining room. Deck 8 is closer to the lido and closer to the neptune lounge.

Bummer. That was a great itinerary.

you can have a sound notification

See my post (2 above this one) on how to get notifications on your iphone. if you have another brand of phone - wherever you would have your app settings - there is way to switch on notifications.

Jacks! Support the local businesses. Food and drinks are fantastic!

We were just at Jack's Shack last week and it was far from crowded. There was only one ship in port if that made a difference ?? The Jerk chicken is SO good and the drinks are generously poured. I wouldn't consider any other place, IMO.

We just took the ship's excursion "Snorkeling and stingray adventure" for $89pp. We went to one snorkel location (boat entry to water) and then to Gibbs Cay where everyone got a chance to hold a sting ray. The crew was fantastic to get pictures for you. Since there were 5 of us on this trip they also took a picture of all 5 of us with the sting ray.

Go into Settings. Scroll down to NAVIGATOR. Click on that. click on notifications and choose if you want sounds on and/or notification on your lock screen.

I was just on the Nieuw Statendam for a week. There were 5 of us. My brother in law had a prepaid phone where we couldn't get the Navigator app to download. The rest of us used the chat feature built into Navigator. Make sure to check your preferences settings to make sure it will alert you to new messages (this is in settings on the iphone - not sure where on Android). If my BIL was not with my sister, we would leave him notes in the room where he could find us or we just would find him somewhere. Yes you can use your cell phone in Alaska - just be mindful when on board that you might be considered roaming and you'll pay dearly for it - if you loose the land connection and connect to the ship's signal.

Receipts were always presented.

A few initial observances: The ship was full. This was my first cruise in forever where we were at capacity and I didn't really feel it. The only issue was finding a deck chair sometimes. I was impressed with my fellow passenger complement. Kids were well behaved. Gala night everyone looked nice. Far from formal, but everyone was presentable [side note - in 2011 when it was still "formal" night - we had someone in the main dining room in jeans and a F&%# You T-shirt and others in street clothes]. My last two cruises people looked very nice. Drink package - very few bar staff were sticklers to the one drink at a time. If 3 of us were together - they took one drink card. If you asked for a drink and to take a soda back to the room, no problem. Getting drinks took FOREVER. It wasn't just if the bar was busy. Since SO many people had the package - maybe this was their was to slow down people from over drinking. But even if there wasn't anyone at a bar, just to get a can of soda could take 2 minutes. Their computer system seemed really slow (perhaps leading to my above point of one receipt for 3 drinks instead of running 3 transactions). Dining Room - this was the first cruise in several that I ate in the MDR - twice. The food was spot on. Service was quick (no 2 hour dinners). Food - overall good. Nothing was mind blowing, but it was all yummy. We had cabins 1104 (inside) and 1106 (outside). These were pretty much under BB King. We could definitely hear the drum beat at night. You couldn't hear music or singing. Just the pulse of the rhythm. They ended by 11pm usually. It was not enough to keep us from sleeping.\ Crew was fabulous as always. It never will cease to amaze me how they are able to learn our names so quickly. Week after week new people and by day 2 they know who we are. That's just fantastic. If I think of other things - I'll add to this thread.

Agreed on the inconsistency. Sea View same (last week on the NS). I never got one to hold on to. Just to sign. You don't see them in Navigator if you have HIA. I saw a lot of people adding $1-2 to the tips even if they had a drink package. Personally - I wouldn't add it to the receipt. Those tips are pooled and they just go to everyone. If someone goes above and beyond for me, I'd rather slip them something extra on the side to make sure it went to them - again, IMO

They do not need to be onboard. I just got off Nieuw Statendam and bought FCD for myself and husband who wasn't on this cruise. They are connected to your mariner number and I don't think transferable. If they are not used in 4 years, they are refunded. So besides giving HAL $100 to hold on to for that time - it doesn't cost you anything. I did a booking this past week while on board. Regular OBC for my length cruise and cabin category would have been $25 I think for the FCD but since I booked on board it will be $125, if I keep the booking. If not, I cancel that booking, my FCD goes back on my mariner account and when I do book - I get the $25 OBC.