maxxboy

As the N. Amsterdam just arrived back in FLL, highly unlikely anybody has them.

 

As almost always, the formal nights on a 7 day will be the second night and the second to last night, unless a long port day interferes.

Since the NA just returned from a Western Caribbean itinerary I was hoping someone on the cruise might see this and could help. And as you said formal nights are usually on the second night and next to last night, that's what it typically has been in my experience, BUT, this is the first cruise I've been on when we will be in port the second day. Don't know if that makes a difference or not.

Any recent cruisers here who can tell me which nights are formal and what night the Le Cirque dinner in the Pinnacle Grill is on the Nieuw Amsterdam Western Caribbean itinerary? Would also love to see the menus, too!

Thanks

I'm hoping we can request bananas foster flambé for desert. Anyone here ever been able to get it? I know they can't do it tableside anymore, but perhaps prepare it in the galley?

Just curious Sail why you prefer SA cabins to aft?

We have always booked SA or S cabins but never aft.

When researching our 2008 Eurodam cruise (and most recently Nieuw Amsterdam), although the wrap around aft balconies are nice (SC and SB), you loose a bit of space in the room itself, at least from several photos/videos I've seen. We had an SA on the Euro and the balcony was great, but I don't think we would care for a room that's anything smaller.

Thanks for the suggestions. Cozumel will be our main shopping destination on our Western Caribbean cruise and the blankets sound like a great suggestion. Also thought about the vanilla (without coumarin) but not sure how small of bottles would be available since we're flying. Not looking for anything too souvenir-ish so keep the suggestions coming!!

We'll be in Cozumel just a few days before Christmas. Any suggestions for small gifts to bring back for Christmas? I have 4 cousins who are married and would rather give them something that both they and their spouses could enjoy instead of something for him and something for her.

We like to charge our iPads during dinner so I am interested to know if this is not a possibility on the NA? I never thought about it being dangerous. I leave mine charging at home during the night while I sleep or day when I am at work.

Don't worry about it being dangerous just because some poster on a message board says so.

Why is it dangerous to leave a cell phone or camera charging? What makes that any more dangerous than a plugged in lamp or clock radio or anything else requiring small amounts of power? Surely a tv uses more power than a charging cell phone?

 

 

 

I was thinking the same thing. And if it was dangerous, wouldn't the cruise lines prohibit chargers used in a room or at least have a notice in rooms asking you not leave your room with something charging?

We had a JR Suite on the Grandeur w/ the pole (don't remember the stateroom #) but it was no big deal at all.

If I remember correctly, several years ago some passengers were stranded on CocoCay for the night. Heavy winds came in suddenly and the tenders could not safely transport those still on the island back to the ship. The crew had to get food and supplies on the island for those who were not able to get back on board, and the ship stayed anchored for the night until they could get everyone back on the next morning.

Looks like the OP (and a couple others) are way in the minority on this one!

As mentioned, we rented a Cabana in the Retreat for the week along with our friends renting an adjacent one. The concept is great but the service is horrible. We also felt there was a huge language barrier with the wait staff too. In addition, they did not have the resources to properly service the area. There were two staff members that worked their tails off but missed the mark in every way. All the inhabitants of the Cabanas were frustrated with the service too. It became a joke. We were always on the look out for one of the staff members and the phrase “have you seen them? When you do see them please send them to us” was the most popular saying. They really lost a lot of revenue because most everyone in the Retreat wanted bottles of champagne or wine or drinks but we never ordered them because the staff was not around to serve us. One day we ordered a sandwich off their special Retreat menu and it took 1 hour and 10 minutes. Then another 10 minutes to get the ketchup and mayo. But to HAL’s credit the fries were piping hot when they arrived and the sandwich was very good. The next day it took an hour to get our food. The other days it was 45 minutes. We started joking whenever we had to wait for something because we felt that after being in the Retreat we could handle anything. My friend in the adjacent Cabana finally got frustrated with the service and went down to the front desk to ask who they to talk to to spiff up service because it was really getting EVERYONE down and it was all anyone could talk about in the retreat. The front desk was cold and rude and told him all he could do is fill out a comment card. The Retreat is not included in the cost of the cruise. We paid $300 more for the week. The front desks response made his mind up about whether or not to choose Holland America again. I finally found the officer in charge of the area on the last evening in the Pinnacle Bar. I approach in asked if he had a moment and explained to him the problems and the general mood in the retreat. He was a gentleman and thanked us for our input and gave his explanation of why the service was so bad. He did credit us some of the cost of the Cabana to offset our dissatisfaction so that was good. But the Retreat is a really good idea. The privacy, the breeze, the shade, the lounge chairs and pillows, and the central gathering space with the big sofa’s, tables and chairs were awesome. They need to execute it better with a dedicated waiter for drinks, one for food and the other two to help and manage. Oh, and put a restroom in the space. It was weird walking into the Explorers lounge to use their restroom facilities in a bathing suit and flip-flops.

 

I hate to hear the Retreat Cabana service was poor. Did you receive all the amenities that is suppose to come with a Retreat Cabana? Robes, ipod, Evian mister, fruit, ice cream, etc? Also, what hours is the Retreat open?