crystalspin

We sailed Santiago to BA on the even smaller Zaandam. You won't have any of the same ports, except for embarkation, and I think I remember they are sailing from a different dock now? We were able to buy local wine in the boarding-building! that was when each person could take a bottle on for free; that isn't true anymore but it might be fun to have some Chilean Carmenere to get in the spirit! It's always fun to get a cabin you are excited about. We sailed a transAtlantic FLL to Copenhagen on the Zuiderdam (sister to Oosterdam), and it was then my favorite ship/class. Over the Nieuw Amsterdam (sister to Eurodam)! We booked a long So.Pacific cruise on the Oosterdam... for March 2020. So I can't speak to that particular ship!

Vista and Signature suites DO get double Mariner points (if purchased at rack-rate, which can be a promotional price, just not an upsell or probably an industry-special). That was the only benefit that mattered to me to get us to 4*!

No need to keep checking on the specialty restaurants, we're on the 2024 cruise of same itinerary (35 not 25 day?) and dinner reservations are not there yet. So you have a year-plus to wait. Our Hawaii shoreExes are available but not the Polynesia ones. Someone on the November (?) Princess cruise of similar route, JUST had the So.Pac excursions appear, so about 5 months out if the timing holds true for HAL. Don't know how long the Hawaii have been up, but I recently used the $300 credit all on them.

Only the handicapped-accessible cabins do not have a sofa (they have two padded chairs in addition to the desk chair). The rest all have the same arrangement or the left-right mirror image of it, with the loveseat and desk placed near the balcony. You can see photos of select staterooms here, Beethoven deck, marked "PO" for partially obstructed. https://halfacts.com/pinnacle-class/

I have not visited the laundry room, but I think this will not work. I do not believe they have individual machines for individual orders but big commercial machines for combined loads, hence the tags on clothing items. You might contact HAL if no one pipes up with personal experience.

We had 10021 (inside with a window) on Zuiderdam for a transAtlantic to Copenhagen. The window made all the difference -- and the fact that we had three chairs. Luck of the draw, but you could ask your steward for a third chair on the first day... It was not nearly as small as I was expecting, and the Crows Nest as our living room plus handy access to the Lido after walking by the Spa & along the pool was all we needed to be comfy on the sea days.

Hi Starwonder! Welcome to Cruise Critic! You will get a better answer sooner if you repost to this "board" -- https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/362-azamara/

Just a word to the wise: If you are counting on travel protection from your Sapphire Reserve credit card, any part paid for with discount cards will not be covered -- even if they are bought with the same card. I have this from the vice president of our Chase branch! For any other card's protection, inquire of your carrier!

We sailed a back-to-back over New Year's on the Koningsdam (sister to Nieuw Statendam), in Vista Suite 4100. I booked the VS to use up Pandemic credit that was going to expire and also for the double Mariner Points. We liked the cabin and the location enough that we are booked in the same stateroom for a 35-day cruise in 2024. Comparing a Verandah to a VS, there really is more room in a VS. In most if not all Verandahs the sofa and desk are off the balcony, whereas in the VS we had (and all that are midships) the bed is next to the balcony. Comparing a Vista to a Signature Suite? I can't help you!

I can't speak for all cruiselines, but the photos I've seen of Holland America cabins with the playpen they provide (I believe) -- no furniture has been removed. Sometimes it looks very snug! What cruiseline are you considering? ETA: I see you posted to P&O/UK. You might post to that board and see if anyone can speak to removing the sofa on that line. Also, welcome to Cruise Critic not long ago!

As @AV8rix and @RuthC have informed, 3300 is under the Main Stage. If you are up at night, either watching the late performance or in a different music venue (or in the casino!), this will be a fine cabin. There will be little traffic in your hallway. You have, I believe, a smaller exit to the Promenade one step from your cabin door. Your cabin window's view is "Fully Obstructed" i.e. looks out over the promenade walkway to a bulkhead. That view should be approximately like this: https://halfacts.com/amsterdam-lower-promenade-cabin-obstructed-views/

They will even air-dry things!

They are called suites, priced as suites, and give you double Mariner points (if bought at rack rate, not an upgrade/upsell) as a suite. On both decks, 6&7. There are no balcony cabins (that are not suites) on the Volendam. I recommend an OV on the Lower Promenade near the mid-ship doors. Not too far behind them -- look at the deckplans for 3 & 4 and make sure you are not under the galley! -- then you will be steps from the biggest verandah on the ship. The full promenade!

Maybe they didn't have any nutmeg to garnish the top?

The Painkiller is supposed to be made only with Pusser's rum (I believe it's actually trademarked). It's Pussers rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice, maybe something else? (Google is your friend.) With nutmeg on top, so it always reminds me of eggnog, tropical style! It may be that they are only on the menu in the Crows Nest. I originally remember it as a frozen drink, but on our last B2B cruise neither the servers nor the bartenders acted like they'd ever heard of a frozen Painkiller. But they did make them for me!

I don't believe the Zaandam was ever retro-fitted with Lanai cabins on the Lower Promenade. The previous Rotterdam had them, and the Volendam still does.

If you are talking about included in the HIA, it is up to $11 for the standard (Signature Beverage Package) and $15 for the current Early Booking Bonus promo (Elite Beverage Package). If you mean in the drink price NOT part of any HIA or Beverage Package -- no, 18% is added to the advertised price, including Wine or other Packages.

As Hank said at the start of a longer post, each person with HIA gets their own connection or "login". No taking turns! As Roz said it's one device at a time per login. So if your teens have a phone and a tablet each, their accounts won't let one person login on more than one device at the same time.

@lissie Good maths for the offer on your cruise! Our next cruise has a LOT of sea days (and we got Crew Appreciation), so worth it for us. We do give extra to people that make our days special. It's in our "culture"!! We're booked on a similar itinerary to your Zaandam cruise (on the Volendam 2024). It's a bit out there to be sure of it happening!

I was wondering if the Current HIA was different for non-US passengers. I see Early Booking Bonus HIA on the website as including Crew Appreciation, Elite Beverage Package, and Premium WiFi. If you are getting all of those things, as well as excursion credit (and specialty dining), it is a definite no-brainer. For select 2024 cruises. Note if you are a couple, EACH will have their own sign-in on the WiFi. As opposed to buying one log-in and sharing. I was writing an all-inclusive reply, but Nancy beat me to it! Even if you price it out, and it is close, go for the HIA -- it's so nice just to relax about trying a new drink, or having that espresso drink instead of buffet coffee in the Lido.

HAL fangirl here, but enjoyed RCI, just haven't been back. Since pandemic, we have restricted cruises to that we can drive to (TWO DAYS driving to San Diego!). One and done on NCL. Have a booking (two cabins) on Carnival as they were only ones sailing R/T to Alaska from drivable LAX. People in other cabin have new health problems and -- having read Carnival's board on here for several months! -- I have decided better to lose our deposit than find another cruise with CCL! So much for posting to their board!

Hi Cambriah, We are 75 and 64.Just retired, we had SIX cruises booked by February 2020... none of which happened. We recently cruised (16-day Mexican Riviera B2B over the New Year on HAL Koningsdam) for the first time since the pandemic broke out. We did not contract COVID. We did mask with high-quality masks during checkin, while walking around the ship, on shore ex buses, any time but when eating or drinking. And that doesn't mean we rushed to buy a drink to be able to take of masks! We carefully selected our seats in the Lido and in lounges to be as distant from others as possible. Also we picked the cruises where we could drive to port. Surely a different experience from former days! But we still enjoyed ourselves. Some staff masked. Few passengers. Never heard a conversation or any announcements about COVID at all. Appearances were that it was not a 'big thing' to most around us. Ever fewer ports are requiring vaccinations it seems. It is now up to individuals to do what they can to protect themselves.

Welcome to Cruise Critic! If this is a closed-loop cruise, returning to the same US port, you probably are covered. A passport is always best. You (he) might ask at the post office if expedited service could get the renewal in time.

Just pack like you were going away for a weeklong trip anywhere. Use the ship's laundry if longer. At least if you are sailing on a "mainstream line", you will not need formal dresses/tux. Everything you pack has to be unpacked AND re-packed. It's amazing how much longer it feels repacking at the end of the cruise, because it has to be done all at once, and there is no forgiveness for missing anything. Also your things will seem to have expanded! Plan for weather of course, but do not think you have to wear something new everyday. My husband and I wear tops two days (if not sweat in over much!) and trousers up to four times! Rotate to air out! This system has taken us around the world more than a few times. The tropics require a 1-day/2-day adjustment and have resulted in additional hotel/ship laundry! But it's better than being weighed down with too much baggage. No one notices what you are wearing or if you repeat.

Remember that any "outlet splitters" must NOT have surge protectors -- they are a fire hazard with the ships' electric. Also, no need to pack additional dinner clothes in your carry-on. First night dinners are always "casual"; just go to dinner in what you boarded in. Some people like to carry on swimwear to hit the pool or loungers! What goes in your handluggage should include all medications and valuables, as well as anything that would ruin your trip not to have. Namely your passport or other ID! I'm thinking cell-phone charger, other electronics? I'm not above putting a nightshirt and spare undies in the bottom of of the bag that doesn't leave me. It's very very rare that checked suitcases (1) don't show up at your cabin, or (2) don't show up by the next morning in case of #1. But my hand-luggage is packed mostly the same as my daypack on an airline trip. You can leave carry-on SIZED bags with the porters curbside, as long as you do have a daypack or tote with the things mentioned above that you do not give up. Then you don't have to be weighed down while you explore the ship, get lunch in the Lido, etc.