wdw1972

I'm just off Nieuw Statendam 3/18 and was waiting for the 2024/25 Caribbean season to be announced to book future cruises. That happened earlier than I expected - this week! Typically sometime after the cruise HAL sends and email with a small obc incentive to book another cruise (or several). I don't have any of those old emails saved, so I'm reaching out here. Does HAL still do this? Would someone share one they've received recently?? I'm pretty sure the code is generic, and not tied to a mariner number so it "should" work. We're ready to book a couple cruises for 24/25. Thanks in advance! Sue/WDW1972

I recall them as a side also, but wasn't sure. Sides aren't supposed to cost any extra, but maybe to get them out with appetizers the steward had to enter it as an appetizer? In any case, I hope they took that charge off - that's just ridiculous! Sue/WDW1972

Any additional appetizer brings a cost of $7 plus 18% service charge. Are mushrooms listed on the appetizer menu? Sue/WDW1972

I still love Tamarind, but haven't gotten a dessert there in years. There's nothing on the dessert menu anyone in my party would want to eat! In the old days the giant fortune cookie was fun, and they had a tamarind chocolate mousse in a chocolate cup. Now it's all weird (to me) stuff! Sue/WDW1972

Last Saturday did the disembark where we carry our own bags. Joined the queue at 7am, were in the terminal by 7:17 and had driven out of the garage by 7:29. That was an amazing experience, since usually the ship isn't cleared to let people off until 7:30! Sue/WDW1972

I was on NS 3/11 - 3/18 and BB Kings performed their 45-minute shows several times each night (except the 1 night they're off) with both male & female singers. I have no idea if it's the same people on this week, but the male was slender and not too tall, with dreds in his hair - nice voice, quiet kind of guy. The female was plus-sized, long braids, beautiful strong voice, moved/danced around very well for a woman her size, lots of smiling. I don't recall their names, as I only remember them introducing themselves one night. There wasn't a lot of interaction between them - I think 1 song they sang together one night, otherwise it was just her or just him singing a series of songs until they switched up. The trumpet player (white guy) and sax player were outstanding musicians and seemed to be really enjoying performing each show. Sue/WDW1972

They're different than anything served in the Lido, and much better tasting. They're more like a real home backed chocolate chip cookie vs mass produced buffet line cookie. Not sure about milkshakes - I never saw anyone at Grand Dutch Cafe with a milkshake. The food is complimentary. Sue

I just got off Nieuw Statendam today and asked the manager about the new menu. She insisted fleetwide all ships have the same (old) menu. I just smiled and thanked her, knowing she didn't have a clue that Rotterdam has a new menu. We ate from the old menu and were charged $19 plus service charge, minus mariner discount. Also - at Grand Dutch Cafe the larger chocolate chip cookies were the size of anything you'd see on the Lido. Sue/WDW1972

It's 3pm in Billboard and the program says 25% all drinks. I have the beverage package included so I've not bothered with happy hour at all. Sue/WDW1972

Onboard right now. Ship looks great, crew are friendly. There are just under 1000 crew, so that's pretty low staffing for a ship this size. We have 2900 people onboard including LOTS of kids - it's ridiculous. Everything from infants to teens - I've never had so many on any of my HAL cruises. Thankfully I'm in a cabana in the Retreat so I don't have to deal with the crowds & noise. I don't bother with MDR so can't speak to that. Lido food has been great - did breakfast early w/no wait, dinner with no wait and had cabana stewards bring me lunch. Long lines at NY Deli in the evening - almost back to the bar on the other side. Kids are allowed in both pools this cruise. BB Kings is great - both male & female vocalists. Can't deal with Billboard or Rolling Stone Rock Room due to the smoky stench from the casino filtering down. We'll be doing all 4 specialty dining locations starting tomorrow - have no doubt we'll enjoy them all. I'd gladly sail NS again, but I'm finished with 7-night cruises, especially when many schools are out! Sue/WDW1972

I've got the family cabana up in the Retreat, but on starboard side. I'll probably run down to the deck below and wave from just under the family cabana on the port side. I'm wearing a tank top - black but with scattered splotches of other colors. Sue/WDW1972

I'll be on Nieuw Statendam. All of our documentation, the app, etc say we're leaving at 3. However, with Apex in the way & scheduled for 3:30 I'm assuming it'll be closer to the 4pm the port schedule shows 😉 Sue/WDW1972

The solo cabins are ocean view - nice big unobstructed window. Also, some of them would probably be larger than a standard inside stateroom. I've booked one of the 2 largest ones a couple times and honestly couldn't tell a difference from any (non-solo) oceanview stateroom. Got a peek into an inside stateroom and it was indeed tiny - unbelievably small. Sue/WDW1972

Thank you - can't wait to get back onboard! Sue/WDW1972

I order half-sized portions of the appetizer and entree. That was I can usually manage to eat most of the dessert. Gotta prioritize the calories! Sue/WDW1972

You won't get any argument from me 😉 Sue/WDW1972

Canaletto will. I usually order a half portion of an appetizer, and then an appetizer size portion of an entree. Dessert I take "as is" - although if I'm getting the gelato I'll probably specify the 1 or 2 I like best rather than having 3 small portions. Many years ago I asked in Pinnacle if it was possible to get a smaller portion of the filet mignon and was told no. I assume the pieces of meat are all pre-cut at that point. I dislike wasting food, and hate feeling stuffed even more so if the portion's too big it's going to go to waste. Sue/WDW1972

They also don't do pop up dinners any more, except on Grand voyages. Sue/WDW1972

Pinnacle ships have Rolling Stone Rock Room and BB Kings. Signature ships have BB Kings. Vista ships have Rolling Stone Lounge (not Rock Room). Sue/WDW1972

Typically the "late" show is 9:30 - sometimes as early as 9pm or as late as 10pm but lately it seems to be 9:30. You should easily be able to make it to the late show after a 7 or 7:30pm dinner. The late show tends to be less crowded too, so getting their early isn't an issue. Sue/WDW1972

I'm an early riser - typically I'll briskly (and silently) walk both hallways on each passenger deck, then make my cappuccino (powdered - add hot water in the LIdo) and take it to the Crow's Nest to work at the puzzle table for 1-1.5 hours before the Lido opens for breakfast. Therefore, my evenings tend to be "early" as well. After a lovely day spent mostly in the Retreat, once sparkling wine at 3pm has been had it's time for showers & dressing. Pre-dinner cocktail (also love cucumber mojito at Tamarind Bar!) followed by either a specialty dining dinner or something quick/light at Lido or Grand Dutch Cafe. Not a fan of the MDR and haven't been there in 10-15 years. Depending on the time, maybe catch a trivia, despite being lousy at it. If it's a new show I'd probably see that, but at this point I don't bother with Step One, Planet Earth, Origins Story. BB King's early show comes next, and generally I'm heading back to the stateroom following that set. If I'm not in specialty dining that night I might catch a later set by Lincoln Center Stage. Sue/WDW1972

Let's hope! I can't imagine a HAL ship sharing HMC with a Carnival ship! It was horrific enough when I was on a HAL ship when a Carnival ship was in port with us at Grand Turk. Talk about a different demographic - after a brief period on shore I went back to the ship! Sue/WDW1972

Yes, every morning. Sue/WDW1972

And I really can't stand the main dining room. In all my cruises since the restart, neither I nor anyone in my party has caught covid onboard. We did dinners either specialty or Lido, and never masked except in the old days when it was required by HAL. Sue/WDW1972

The hot tub in the Retreat is for people who rent cabanas there only - it's not an area open to the general public. For a 7-night cruise a regular cabana (2 people) is $399, a family cabana (4 people) is $549 and it goes up from there depending on the length of the cruise. The Retreat is open 9-5. Prior to 9 they're getting set up for the day, and by 5 they're shutting down - cabanas are closed off, chair cushions are stowed away, towels put away, etc. I guess you can enter the area after hour but why? There's nothing there - you're better off by the aft pool if chairs are out there. I'm pretty certain the hot tub is covered with a net outside of the 9-5 hours. Sue/WDW1972