BobbiSox

Just got off the 35 -ay Viking Cruise on Zaandam. My cabin, an oceanview, deck three midship, had a 'new' tv, and a DVD player which started to burn up as soon as I tried to use it, causing quite a stir when the fumes activated the fire alarm. I was eventually given a new DVD player, after having made many trips and many phone calls to Customer Service (because the squeaky wheel gets the oil, especially on HAL). I had broght my own DVD player anyhow, as a back up of course, because this wasn't my first rodeo. I also brought my own DVD's; there are NONE available anywhere on the ship. I learned decades ago that it's a good idea to bring my own forms of in-room entertanment. The tv in my cabin offered a few movie channels, and a few news channels, but the reception was sketchy, and the picure quality was terrible. There are some evenings, especially on a long voyage, where I just want to curl up in my cabin and enjoy a good movie, so I make sure that's possible and I no longer expect HAL to privide it.

I would be very interested in learning exactly how the amount is calculated and divided. Some people adjust their amount, some pay more, others don't pay any of it. It's not set in stone; it's just a suggestion, is what I've been told. I don't mind paying tips so please son't assume I'm someone who doesn't pay tips, just because I mention the options for those who don't realizes there are options.

I had no idea an account was a matter of choice. I think once a person sails, their 'account' is assigned automaticly.

I was just on Zaandam, the Vikinig Voyage, and for at least one of the usual 'gala' nights, the name had been changed to 'dressy' night. I have pretty much stopped participating in any of those 'special' nights; I have never had anyone criticize my outfit, which consisits of a sparkly top and black slacks. Many don't even go that route, and choose to ignore the dress code completely, which also is okay too, apparently.

Thank you so much for your thread! I am boarding July 9th for the 35-day Vikings adventure, and you have provided me with tons of useful information. I feel confident that I can now enjoy the positves and avoid the negatives, and I don't have to learn everything 'the hard way'. It's wonderful to have a 'head's up'.

To my knowledge, the 'suite' that qualifies for double points is the Neptune Suite only. It hasn't mattered, in my experience of 25 years with HAL, how you booked it, or how it was discounted, you will get double points. You also get extra points for spending onboard.

I have always felt forgiveness is highly overrated.

Bon Voyage! We will be boarding Zaandam on July 9th, so maybe we will pass each other in the terminal. 😃 We are doing the 35-day Viking itinerary. Looking forward to learning about your experiences on board.

I never look a gift horse in the mouth.

It has been my experience that a dinner from the dining room can only be delivered to the Neptune Suites guests. If you want dinner in any other cabin, you have to order from the In-Room Dining menu.

Some packages include specialty coffees, soft drinks, and waters, which is nice for me because I don't drink alcohol. There are likely to serve some kinds of virgin coctails as well.

The shower/tub enclosure has a pull-out clothes line. You can use their shampoo for laundry soap and hang them to dry. I do all my own lingerie in the evenings and they are dry in the morning. The clothing dries faster if you use those little clothespins that are found in the craft section of walmart-type stores so the larget clothing doesn't fold over itself. We have free laundry services since we are five-star mariners, but there are some things I don't want to send to the laundry.

Bed bugs leave a very distinctive pattern when they bite. It's referred to as 'the lunchh line'. There are multiple bites in a row. Your 'bites' look like ringworm, and I am very familiar that that parasite. Because I am a really picky eater, I too don't like a lot of the food on HAL ships, but I can usually find something on the Lido, which has a wider selection and it doesn't take an hour. I started cruisin HAL in the 'glory days' when everything was near perfect and everyone was treated like royalty. I have been in every category of cabin and some of them smell better than others. When the smell is unbreable, I will always asked to be moved and that hasn't been a problem. Since dogs are allowed on board now, I guess we really need to protect ourselves from the parasites that the dogs bring onboard. I like dogs, but not in a hotel room or a hotel, because I have severe allery to their saliva and dander, and both go undetectable until it's too late. I hope you try HAL again. You may like the newer ships, one of which is Rotterdam.

I gave up years ago on trying to work with my 'personal' cruise consultant. Personal implies a one-one-one, but it's probably more like the same one PCC for everyone. I don't rememember ever having a phone conversation. I always got a recorded message saying she was 'away from the office'. Maybe I was just having bad luck all those dozens of times I called over the years. I don't expect the PCC's services have gotten any better since Covid showed up. I'm happy for those who actually have made contact, and received helpful information, but I wasn't one of them.

Midship is the best place to be when prone to sea sickness.

FYI, drinks aren't free in the ships' casino unless you have a specific offer for free drinks from the Players Club. On occasion, the casino manager will offer a free drink to a player, at his/her discretion. Before Covid I had won $3,000.00 on a Buffalo machine, playing a $1.80 bet. Playing in the ship's casino is like any other casino; win some, lose some. The perks sho up later in your mail box in the form of heavily discounted cruises and free-play on the next cruise. I play because it's fun.

I can't answer the drink card question, other than to say that if you have a Have-it-all package, the drinks (alcohol, coffees, and sodas) are included, up to 15 drinks per day. I don't dress for Gala nights anymore. I wear black dress slacks with a sparkly top. My husband always wears a sport jacket and tie, but it's not neccesary. You may see an occasional gown, or a tux. In my twent-fives years of cruising Holland America, I have never seen anyone stopped because they are not dressed appropriately. On one cruise, there was a passenger dressed in an orange color one-piece coverall, and he wrore it everyday, everywhere, topped with a safai hat. Seriously.

Whenever I see a tray of dirty dishes on the floor in the hallway, I assume the occupand has never spent a night away from home before. Anyone who has ever stayed in a hotel would know this is not appropriate, for many reasons including safety, especially on the narrow hallways of a ship.

I just got off the Zuiderdam on May 4th. I was elated to learn that the ship provided Covic testing for our flight home from Vancouver. We were all provided with an appointment time and there was no waiting in line for the test. Later that day, the results were delivered to our cabin. There was no charge for the test.