BJzink

Volendam, Alaska, 7 days, September 22, 2021, substitute for 14 day Alaska on Maasdam, Elizabeth Zink, daughter & son in law Becky & Darrell Podbevsek. First HAL cruise for them.

Zaandam - Voyage of the Vikings, 35 days,  July 17,2021, Elizabeth Zink

On 7/17/2020 at 1:09 PM, kochleffel said:

I'd expect there also to be some domino effect, particularly with the Zaandam, now assigned to the Voyage of the Vikings in 2020 and the world cruise in 2022 - whatever itineraries the Zaandam was to have sailed in those periods will have to be cancelled or changed.

I am booked on Zaandam Voyage of the Vikings 2021 - didn't know there is one this year........

Hope I get to meet some of this wonderful crew on Zaandam next July - Voyage of the Vikings!

It varies for me, sometimes I can zip thru what I want to find, lately more difficult.  I'm not surprised with the events of Coronavirus cancelling so many booked cruises, then the disappearance of 4 ships with all their booked itineraries.  I called my Cruise Counselor on Thursday to rebook my Alaska cruise on Maasdam next year, tried to see anything available as a replacement on the HAL website, but I'm sure it was jammed with everyone else doing the same thing.

12 minutes ago, bcummin said:

I remember when ms Statendam was sold.  Captain Albert carefully inventoried the artwork.  And we final passengers got to bid on the port plaques.

This does not seem to be happening now.

Barbara

I'll bet they were sold "as is" 

Can't wear it, I'm allergic to Neoprene - ha-ha!

I saw this topic & how to do it a while ago, but mislaid it.  Can you enlighten me as to how you get a schedule  for a ship with dates/itinerary?   Thanks so much,  EZ

On 7/15/2020 at 12:34 PM, trishbk said:

 

It was announced today that both these ships have been sold to an unnamed buyer. Both ships are in the Red Sea right now. I cannot believe that Holland and other cruise lines are continuing to sell cruises for ships that they have earmarked to sell either announced privately or behind corporate doors. And then if you cancel after full deposit is paid you only get a FCC. Just doesn’t seem right or ethical.

 

 

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I was booked on Maasdam in Sept. 2021 - just received email that 2 others are sold also - Rotterdam & Amsterdam.  I was on Rotterdam last fall & loved it.....so sad, I'll just have to wait to see which ships will sail Alaska next summer.

There are a few cruises to Alaska on Volendam in summer of 2021 - at least we have 2 of the R class left.

4 hours ago, trishbk said:

 

It was announced today that both these ships have been sold to an unnamed buyer. Both ships are in the Red Sea right now. I cannot believe that Holland and other cruise lines are continuing to sell cruises for ships that they have earmarked to sell either announced privately or behind corporate doors. And then if you cancel after full deposit is paid you only get a FCC. Just doesn’t seem right or ethical.

 

 

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I was booked on Maasdam in Sept. 2021 - just received email that 2 others are sold also - Rotterdam & Amsterdam.  I was on Rotterdam last fall & loved it.....so sad, I'll just have to wait to see which ships will sail Alaska next summer.

I have Maasdam booked for Alaska 2021, was cancelled for Sept. 2020.  Will be interesting to see how they cover this.  I do not want to sail on one of the larger ships.  I know she was old, but I spent more days on her than any other, and enjoyed each one.  

1 hour ago, Homosassa said:

LOL - and then there was the presentation that started out  describing basil as an exotic spice.

I remember that!  She said something about "Be daring, try a bit of Basil"  Hilarious!

22 hours ago, Himself said:

Every presentation I went to on any number of HAL ships was packed to the point of SRO. It was very popular.  It has gone from the HAL ships.  It was more popular than the Culinary Arts thing that preceded it.  HAL is still a sponsor of "Cook's Country."

I liked the "Food & Wine" presentations, and we could taste what was prepared.  Occasionally a ship officer would come to "help" and that could get hilarious.  This was before ATK.  I attended some of their presentations, but thought they seemed canned - no way would they give alternate suggestions for subsitutions (like high altitude or diabetics) and it was a constant push to buy very expensive cooking tools. One lesson was completely about cooking eggs.

The only Zodiac tour on this cruise is on 9/8/20 out of Ketchikan, 2/1-2 hrs, 199$.  When I was booked this year there were at least 4.

These kind of posts tend to be hurtful.  As though when we hit 65+ we should just stay home & dry up.

On 4/23/2020 at 7:08 AM, Roz said:

I'm not sure HAL knows.

They just can't believe our preferences!

I have to admit that the EXC cruise concept has not stayed to the level of its first cruise in Fall 2018.  That one sailed thru the Panama Canal, visited Costa Rica, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Easter Island, and the Tuomotu/Society Islands.  The guest lecturers onboard were fabulous, and there were 3 guest chefs from the different areas who gave lots of cultural food lectures & preparation.  Had 3 special 5-course dinner in Pinnacle featuring their menus.

Cultural Ambassadors from each area,  The Zodiacs were onboard but not functional.  

My cruise to Australia & So. Pacific islands had the Zodiacs busy,  busy.  However there was very little education re. the Islands.  Lectures re. sea life, ocean currents, etc. but nothing about the history and culture of this area. Only one food demo, one cultural ambassador, but could have been so rich in information re. the Aborigines, and their contributions.  I gave a page of feedback about my disappointment in this cruise vs. the original one 2 years ago.  Didn't get a response.  I don't know whether the cruises between these 2 were memorable - I have booked a 14 day Alaska for Sept. 2021, and there are several Zodiac tours available at this time.

14 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Thanks for posting your experience.  From what I have read about others experiences on other cruises, their experiences were different.  I stand by what I originally posted:  HAL's business model has not been suitable for such guest experiences.  Given the current situation we are experiencing, who knows what will develop?

On 6/20/2020 at 5:20 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

I thought when the zodiac concept was introduced to the Maasdam, while I was hopeful it would work, it just didn't fit the HAL business model.  

 

One more example, in my opinion, of inadequate thinking in Seattle.  

This past December/January I was on a cruise in Australia/NZ .  Seemed like the zodiacs were out every day that there was a dive/snorkel tour.  3 of the EXC naturalists were the drivers.

I saw a documentary on TV yesterday featuring the MSC Divinia.  Every view had masses of passengers together.  I saw none with quiet spaces with very few people.  The pool was a jungle!  Getting off that ship for a tour would be a nightmare for me.  I love the S & R (smaller) ships, have been hardly ever crowded on an elevator.  

I would agree with most all of these comments, and add that  the 30+ cruises saves a lot on airfare - one flight as opposed to 2 or 3 for 7-14 day ones.   Not as much adapting to time zones, more days to "soak up" the culture where you are visiting, I could go on......

I have been trying just to get INTO my account - nothing seems to work.  I have used my regular log-in, and password, also tried to just re-sign up.  Nothing works.  I have 2 cruises booked.  Any ideas?

Maybe if you order one & ask them to let it melt?  Seriously, I bought a Non-Alcoholic beverage card last year, thought it would cover Non-alcoholic beer - but NO!!! - I went to everyone who might know why, and finally the beverage manager said that the Heinekin 00 was on the "beer list", so it didn't classify as being on the Non-Alcoholic list.?????

I sure miss the cold fruit soups in the MDR!  And the small flowers on each table - those silly "lamps" don't make it.

On 5/15/2020 at 8:35 PM, Himself said:

Those were the days my friend!  Those were the great days or I should say the nights.

I have pictures of "High Tea" which are very similar.  Also miss the selection of tea from a tea chest passed around by a waiter.