bluesplayer

This is good news.  We boarded last year at our assigned time of 11:00 am.  We were in a Neptune suite..  4 star Mariner.  Took us two and a half hours to board..  all standing in lines.  Hope this new process is followed and helps.  

Damn..  too many Seniors partaking the 10% offer..   now reduced to 8%..  supply & demand..  just when I learned to take cash on board from @POA1 no longer able to burn the extra 2% on the casino.  One more pull on a slot machine would have been nice.  sigh ... 

Since my future cruise was booked prior embarking specific information on another booking was not provided.  Perhaps the very large amounts offered were for world cruises or expeditions.  Since I was unaware of onboard booking my intent was to inform others that it is offered.  May be worth waiting to book onboard. 
Thanks @Squawkman for the information about booking directly post cruise. This is only my second Viking cruise.

It depended on the length of the cruise and the amount you spend. Up to $2,000.    Since I was deemed "ineligible"  he did not get into specifics other than I could not cancel and rebook.  Just an FYI if you are thinking of booking another cruise and have an upcoming one.  May wait to book onboard.   WHO KNEW???

I have only taken a river cruise prior to my Ocean cruise last week.  I was unaware that Viking offered an Onboard Booking bonus on booking another cruise (Ocean or river).  I booked an additional river cruise for 2026 a few weeks prior to departure.  You cannot take advantage of the program, nor can you cancel and rebook. I was told they would take the Onboard booking credits away from your reservation.  Wish I would have known this program was available, as it was not on the river cruise.   Major disappointment.   Wait until you are onboard to book.  Seems the credits were quite nice.

Reporting back..  we are sea in Viking Saturn and have the Silver beverage package.  I agree that the wines are disappointing offers for an “upgrade”.  The liquor offerings are decent.  We have a PV and they do stock your room with either the lowest priced liquor option OR a bottle of house wine..  daily.

11 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

Do not punch your keycard yourself.  Take it to Guest Services and let them do it; they know where the electronics are.

Thank you!!  Some of the newer ships you cannot punch the cards at all.  It's hip cruise jewelry!!

On 3/22/2024 at 3:47 PM, CCWineLover said:

Thanks!  Great idea.  Never thought of that. At least for ones we don't see on the list at all.

 

My original point was that some of our favorite wines that were by the glass were now by the bottle only.  Specifically asked about Mer de Soleil Chardonnay, which had been by the glass for a long time and then got "elevated" to a buy the bottle only.  I asked first if it was still in stock on board and after the yes, asked if we could just have a glass like before and the answer was, you can only buy the full bottle.  Disappointing.

Very disappointing!!   Ugh..  Heading out in a few days with the beverage package.  In my case for upgraded wines.  Maybe a mistake..

Are you able to get your room key punched and use a lanyard on Saturn Ocean?  Thank you!!!

Have taken 2 cruises with X pre Covid.  Both were 14 days or longer.  Agree the HA food is better.  Seems HA has more ethnic entrees available and better fish options.  The room service breakfast menu on X was a major disappointment.  The HA crew always makes me feel welcomed and wanted.  Did not get that feeling on X.  Think I would not like the new Juliet balconies.  I rarely look at their offerings now.

They have bread pudding for breakfast and not fruit crisp???  INJUSTICE…. I say!!

#teamfruitcrisp

Thank you for your information.  From both responses sound like the risk does not increase or decrease seasonally.   Thank you both!!  Last river cruise was May..  no issues.  This one October and looking forward to some fall colors (maybe). The rivers are beautiful 

1 hour ago, jljcruise said:

We were on the Oosterdam for a month last fall and totally enjoyed being on her. As Miss G said, this is a very limited polling group. Enjoy your cruise!

We sailed on her last year to South America and loved the ship!  The Captain would always refer to the ship as "the lovely elegant Oosterdam"!!  We totally agreed with that.  Lovely art work all around the ship.  We really enjoyed the Gallery Bar, the bartenders were so fun!!  Never had a bad meal and the ship was spotless!

Planning an October cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest.  Would anyone know of this has a higher risk of transferring to another ship due to the river being too low or too high?  I have read about that occurring..  not fun.  Thank you!!

On 3/5/2024 at 2:50 PM, sunviking90 said:

Gosh Noordam isn’t feeling any love! 

No Gallery bar..  like it's sister ships  😞

Since I specifically asked about room service being available on embarkation, they added a sentence to their canned response.  NO, room service is not available.  Glad so many are voicing their displeasure.  Wonder if people on the ships could voice their disapproval of this?  Seems the folks on the ship are much more concerned.  I will certainly leave a note on my next cruise at the front desk.

  Maybe a sit in at the MDR doors?   
 

Response from HA:

Dear Laura,

We thank you for your correspondence with Holland America Line regarding the Mariner Society embarkation lunch.  

We understand that the embarkation luncheon was a popular activity with many of our guests. Unfortunately, the embarkation lunch has been discontinued as of March 1, 2024. Room Service is also not available for Lunch on Embarkation Day. We apologize for any disappointment this has caused.

We thank you for sharing your thoughts, our guest’s comments and concerns are important to us.  Please let us know if we can be of further assistance. We have forwarded your email to our management team for consideration. 

Please let us know if you have any questions.  We hope to welcome you back onboard with us soon.

Kind Regards,
Garrett

Mariner Society
Holland America Line
800-547-9139
206-626-7359
Monday-Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm PST

Another letter to the Mariner Society:

 I have been reading the Main Dining room will no longer be open  for lunch on Embarkation Day fleet wide.  Can you verify if that is true?
  That would be a major disappointment after a hectic morning boarding.  That was one of my favorite HA things to enjoy.   Heading to the Lido with more lines is not a great experience to begin a relaxing cruise.
 If the MDR will indeed be closed, will room service be available for lunch?  I have never ordered room service on Embarkation lunch as I understand the staff is extremely busy.  Would like clarification if that option is available.

6 hours ago, ksmaxey said:

Perhaps everyone that like the dining room needs to go to their cabin and order room service .  . .

Well that should open up the MDR for lunch.

I don't think the Noordam has the Gallery bar..   my favorite....

Just now, ropomo said:

Beverages also available from room service.

Even better!!!  Who knew???  Thank you!!!

Thank you so much @millybess    Much more reasonable!!!

First Viking Ocean cruise.  Have sailed on a river cruise.  We purchased the Silver Spirit beverage package.  On the river cruise seemed the bar was only open about an hour before dinner and an hour after.  Does anyone have an idea of their hours?  Much thanks…

16 hours ago, CruisePrin said:

Thank you so much for your blog!  I followed you on this cruise and your previous cruise.  My husband and I are 2-star Mariners and will take our first long cruise next year - the pole-to-pole on Volendam.  Based on your blog, we have signed up for the tour to Volunteer Point with PATRICK WATTS TOURS.  He has asked us to do our best to be on the first tender.  I know that they give tender embarkation priority to 4-star and 5-star Mariners.  What do you think our chances are of being able to be on the first tender?  Any tips?

 

We are so grateful for all the work you do to share information in your blog.

We also went on the Patrick Watts tour.  We were not on the first tender..  maybe the 3rd?  Was not a problem.  He is a great communicator and just does not want folks to take their time getting off.  Let him know you will try to get on the first tender possible.  We were in the line early.  Amazing tour!!!  

Thank you for sharing your travels. We were on the Oosterdam the same time last year and also missed Puerto Montt.  We sailed around the Cape in 2017 (no Antartica) and also missed Puerto Montt.  Amazingly enough both cruises made it to the Falkland Islands.  We did see whales last year however seems you had more sightings.  We did have a few very good lecturers on board with interesting talks and information.  Our boarding was delayed (entire ship) for many hours.  The port holding area was a mess.  We found out later there was a copper heist at the port that evening with armed robbers.  The Ooosterdam was still at sea when that occurred but delayed boarding by a day..  missing Puerto Montt.  

  We really enjoyed the Gallery Bar for an evening cocktail.  If Michael is still there (he calls the Gallery Bar "the worst bar" jokingly..    so funny as it was the best in our opinion).   We enjoyed our cruise so much.   Missing Puerto Montt may have been to my advantage to convince DH to return for a 3rd cruise.   I would go in a minute.  Enjoy the rest of your trip.  Hope you can make it to Igauzu Falls...

Amazing journey..  hope we will meet you again on another cruise.  You will know all the music trivia questions!!   Will follow your posts..  Laura & Mark..  Seattle