wdw1972

I prefer the ones facing out from the side of the ship vs the ones facing the lido pool roof. Generally though I get the family cabanas, and alternate port & starboard. If cruising from FL to the caribbean, on your way south the afternoon sun will be shining in to the cabanas on starboard side. On the way north it'll shine in to the cabanas on port side. The ones on port side are closer to the restrooms, but that's not a big deal really. Sue

Yes - people enter from both sides, depending where they're coming from. At one time I've seen a massage table (never used) in #22. I've also seen supplies staged in a cabana on the end but typically the smaller ships. Pinnacle class ships have storage areas built into the design, so taking a cabana shouldn't be as necessary. Sue/WDW1972

For average service I would stay with the per person amount. If someone was exceptional then I'd give an extra tip to that person or persons. Sue/WDW1972

Yes, a sarong would work. Hubby has no qualms about pulling his t-shirt on while wet - drives me crazy 😉 I seldom go into the pool but do use the shower to cool off but tend to be dry before heading inside. I've never been to New Zealand (yet) or Asia, so wasn't sure if the bathrobe thing was different over there. Thanks for enlightening me! I'll still limit my robe to inside the stateroom though 😉 Sue/WDW1972

I throw on a swimsuit coverup over my swimsuit and hubby throws on a t-shirt on top of his swim trunks. I have heard of a minority of people using bathrobes to cover swimsuits, but we'd never do that - just isn't appropriate to us. Maybe it's different/more normal in other countries. Sue/WDW1972

Are the vaccines still provided under an Emergency Use Authorization, unlike the flu vaccine that has completed all the eons of testing and been declared ok? If so, I wonder if health insurance in the US will cover the vaccines after 5/11/23. I'm so over the whole covid thing I haven't been keeping up with the latest news, so if anyone knows please share. Sue/WDW1972

My goodness - I can't think of a single reason that would be ok! Bathrobes shouldn't be worn outside of your stateroom. If you change into one in the spa, change back into clothes to return to your stateroom. Wish they could be like an electric fence dog collar - step outside your stateroom and the zaps let you know to turn around & not wander in public wearing a bathrobe! Sue/WDW1972

Yes - all staterooms on Oosterdam (and the other Vistas) do. Sue/WDW1972

This is solely my opinion, so if others disagree that's 100% fine. Those wide leg capris - HIDEOUS! They look horrible on the model with the perfect young body. They're not going to look any better on us 😉 Capris date you - and scream "old lady". I'm 64 and gave them up many years ago, and thankfully never wore the wide leg version. Shorts/skort or ankle-length slacks (preferably not wide leg "old lady" pants) would be my choices. Sue/WDW1972

Slacks and a shirt with a collar (could be a button-down shirt, could be a golf/polo shirt) is all you need, including for "dressy" nights. Sue/WDW1972

I was able to book our freebie dining (Pinnacle and Tamarind) but still no shore excursions at 203 days out. Sue/WDW1972

I book a Retreat cabana every cruise - have done so for years (prior to covid). Fortunately I've never experienced unruly/loud people up there and certainly no families with a bunch of kids. Kids would be bored to death up there (as it should be). On embarkation day the stewards will immediately approach you to find out who you are - they'll have your name on their list & will show you to your cabana. We usually do sailaway from up there - much more peaceful than by the aft pool! The non-Pinnacle ships have a staircase with a gate at the bottom. On the gate is a sign saying Retreat guests only (or some such thing). Anybody can simply open the gate & climb on up, but I haven't noticed that happening much. By the 2nd/3rd day anyone who doesn't belong up there stands out like a sore thumb - "who is that stranger?". Access to pool(s) is limited - you'd have to leave the Retreat area entirely and either go downstairs to the Lido pool or downstairs and out to the aft for the Seaview pool. Nieuw Statendam & Rotterdam have a small hot tub in the Retreat. The other ships have no water up there, other than a shower - which I use as needed to cool off when laying on a sunny chaise lounge. Breakfast would come from Lido. I'm an early riser and generally have been up a couple hours before the Lido opens so I eat there. One time I did hold off and ordered eggs benedict & a mimosa in the Retreat and it was perfect - the food wasn't cold. Lunch is generally Lido, Dive In or NY Pizza - they'll give you all 3 menus. Typically around 11-11:30 they'll bring around menus and pencils to everyone - you select what you want, can specify approx what time you'd like to eat, or simply say "no thanks today". I've never seen the tea food available - nor anything else coming from Main Dining room (or Grand Dutch Cafe). I've almost always had frozen grapes included in the afternoon treat - if you're ever onboard with me your hubby is welcome to mine! Your stewards will pay attention to your habits, likes, etc & will go out of their way to provide great service. Tell them your hubby likes the frozen grapes - you may end up with many of them! We always leave our stuff unattended in our cabana and haven't ever had a problem. This includes camera, kindle, phones, tablet, etc. It's an environment where everyone is "known" and it would be really odd for one Retreat guest to enter another guest's cabana. There's also no body (strangers) passing by like near the godawful lido cabanas. Sue/WDW1972

Thank you for sharing - very well done. Sue/WDW1972

I think there's a staircase in that area that takes you down to the thermal suite level. However, you can't use it unless you've bought a pass - use of the thermal suite doesn't come with the VQ or any other spa stateroom. Sue/WDW1972

F would be a downgrade, not an upgrade. Going to D or C would be an upgrade. That said, I've had F oceanviews in the past and never heard a sound from the World Stage. In fact, I have 1010 booked on an upcoming Eurodam cruise. Sue/WDW1972

Wonderful photos and review - thank you! Rotterdam is a beautiful ship 🙂 Sue/WDW1972

Your photos are beautiful - definitely making me put this cruise on my bucket list! Sue/WDW1972

I'm also still working, plus I insist on having a Retreat cabana - lately one of the two family cabanas onboard. In order to get that I can't wait for fares to drop - I need to book early. Even when I retire I'll still have the cabana issue, unless I'm doing Alaska or somewhere that cabanas are either not practical or not popular. Sue/WDW1972

Zuiderdam got a library near the beginning of the current World Voyage. I believe it's on deck 2, similar to the library on Rotterdam. Posters on the World Voyage (Zuiderdam) who are currently posting include Inside Cabin (Pete & Judy), WCB (Bill & Mary Ann), tennisbeforewine (Diane & John), and Rich. There are others, but not all of them post regularly here. Sue/WDW1972

Thanks! Hope you're feeling better these days. I'm sorry you had to cancel your May Norway cruise. The roll call and your work there has been such a great resource for when I'm able to book a similar sailing! Sue/WDW1972

I also booked the Zuiderdam 11/23/24 11-day Eastern Caribbean Wayfarer this weekend, along with the 2/19/25 Eurodam 2/19/25 10-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer! Sue/WDW1972

Actually Atlantic hurricane season is May 31 through November 30th. The peak tends to be Sept/Oct, although August has had it's share of hurricanes. Look at Ian last year - my home is still not right, and I was one of the lucky ones. Sue/WDW1972

That's the norm for HAL - given how hot/humid Florida is that time of year, why anyone would want to cruise to the Caribbean is beyond me. HAL takes off for more pleasant cruising environments, leaving the crappy weather cruises to other lines. Granted, families with kids are stuck cruising when school's out - but that has no appeal to me (son is 36 years old - past the days of being tied to a school calendar)! Sue/WDW1972

Perfect timing - the email arrived while we were out at dinner tonight. I've forwarded it to my TA along with info on the cruises I want her to book. Sue/WDW1972

Thank you Miss G! Sue/WDW1972