Maisyboo

Hope you feel better soon .Your sewing is amazing.Do you crate from patterns or copy original? Interested in your examples from posted photos .

We leave for Viking Rhine in 3 days .Thanks for posting .

On 2/19/2024 at 10:27 AM, hcat said:

Who ever has room for the Cheese course?  We would actually like it with some wine at the start of the meal  but are too shy to ask.. maybe next time?

 

I am not showing my husb those lamb chops..perfect color for him.  He will want to cruise again way too soon..we just returned from ASCENT ( AQ Class).. it was perfect!

Ask for the cheese course first . It’s totally worth it . Have been doing this for years and enjoying many different types. 🙂 

1 minute ago, gold1953 said:

This has been happening for years on Celebrity so it obviously has not affected you

Actually it has . We have 1 cruise remaining then it will be a different line for us . 

I was hoping for more kid free spaces not less . Another reason to look towards other cruise lines . 

Terrific review and accompanying photos .95 days until we board the Reflection your posts just made it seem close and more real.Did you happen to notice if Celebrity has a wine package to purchase once on board?.  

25 minutes ago, hrhdhd said:

I decided to book a HAL cruise for December after not sailing that line in 10 years. And I'm close to booking a Princess cruise for next May. While I am sure those lines have also had cutbacks, I want to check them out myself to compare.

Unfortunately Holland America is also changing & not for the better in our opinion. After 17 cruises with HA we are done . Horrible experience  in March aboard the a Nieuw Statendam . Was thinking of going back to Celebrity.  What are the changes that are upsetting loyal customers?. 

On 7/13/2023 at 11:25 AM, sharkster77 said:

I will add this--since we fly out of Boston, there are many nonstops to Europe.  Since the OP appears to be from the midwest (MN?), perhaps flights with connections are more likely, say thru Boston, New York, etc.?

Sharkster77- We are also doing Viking in April & flying out of Boston . What airline did u choose?. This is our first River cruise . 

On 4/4/2023 at 9:22 AM, AlexCherie said:

We sailed Nieuw Statendam in '19 and loved it - so much so that after sailing with Oceania in 2021 it stayed with us in our minds. Based on quality versus cost, it was a great experience.

Just off a 14 day B2B in the Caribbean (March 18 - April 1, 2023). Full to the gills - not sure if that was the case in '19. But it was a horrible experience for me. Overflowing everywhere, everything a wait. 

MDR was a disaster, leaving you to eat at the buffet unless you were willing to sit and sit and sit. Food was not terrible, but it was after all a buffet. Like shoveling food into your mouth. Staff themselves were scurrying to find napkins to wash to have for each sitting. Desserts felt like they came from a high school cafeteria, complete with aluminum pie trays. 

Comedian Vince Acevedo packed the theater, to the extent it was consistently SRO and no available seats. (He was hilarious.) Both shows, and he performed on two nights each cruise.

Not only will I never sail the Pinnacle class again, I'm done with HAL. Each his own, of course, but I loved the Vollendam, Eurodam and HAL generally before this. 

Agreed. We were on the same sailing 3/25-4/1.This was our 7th HA cruise and will be our last . I read the negative reviews and just didn’t  want to believe that things could change in such a dramatic manner. Sad , Time to find a new cruise line . 

I honestly did not realize it was spring break. How long does it last ? . February and April vacations and Holiday sailings I known to avoid. My mistake to late now . 

The information provide in  the  previous post about Nieuw Statendam being full of children is scaring me . We will be aboard this Saturday . We do not appreciate children. That’s unPC for some but it’s true . Holland America has always been our choice for the peace and quite.

15 hours ago, SUESEABE said:

@Cruise NH 

Luggage Direct only covered specific airlines and at pre determined times.  (ie not before 11am FLL or 2 pm MIA - (approx times only)).

Also you are required to disembark early in case of customs inspections.

https://rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Luggage-Direct-FLL.pdf

Thank you for the information. Exactly what I was looking for . 

If using Luggage Direct must you disembark with early group ?. We usually leave the ship last . I’m not partial to the stampede like behavior exiting the ship .  

Good review &thanks for the info. Especially the food times . Nice to hear the crew was their usual excellences . IMO HAL has the best service. 

5 hours ago, vicd1969 said:

I sailed in November with a similar itinerary leaving on Saturday, though Curacao and Aruba were switched in order. After checking with my daily programs, the dressy nights were Monday, Day 3 (Sea day after HMC) and Thursday, Day 6 (first sea day on way back). 

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to check. Helpful 😀.

12 hours ago, Crew News said:

My Rotterdam 7-Day cruise boarding on the 28th in Port Everglades will have Gala Night on 29th at Half Moon Cay. 

 

After reviewing my downloaded menus for 7-Day (posted soon), 10-Day, and 11-Day menus for this Caribbean season, Gala Nights vary from Half Moon Cay or first sea day.  The menus that I have posted so far reflect this variance of Gala nights on nights 02 and 03.

This Variance is exactly what is confusing. HMC day 2 or Sea 3. Thank for answering.

2 hours ago, REOVA said:

Agree. Sea day for "Gala" and not sure they would have it the same day as buffet beach day at HMC. Book Pinnacle asap to get your time. You also could book 2 dinners and cancel once onboard and menu is known (if cancellation is soon enough). Yes you may get charged initially and credit back on statement but you'll have your choice day and time. And to be honest, when you mentioned "less than exciting menu" could be any night, including "dressy" night these days.  (subjective, but HAL chose to downgrade "gala" to "dressy"). 😉

Excellent point . 

1 hour ago, KroozNut said:

 

Curious as to which ship/sailing you're on. We're on NS departing FLL 3/18, returning 3/25, so you're right after us.

We have a similar itinerary, FLL>HMC>Sea>Port>Port>Sea>Port>FLL. From our experience, our 1st Gala night will be on the first sea day, which is how we're planning our other onboard activities.

Nieuw Statendam . If you have time and inclination could you post menus . 

I reviewed your answer on another post .Thinking you are correct Thanks.

4 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Most likely Monday.

Before posting this question I did attempt to find a definitive answer first. Itinerary 3/25 Sat- FLL , Sun-HMC ,Mon Sea, Tue- Curacao ,Wed-Aruba, Thu-Sea ,Fri-Sea ,Sat -FLL/home. Thursday will be gala menu. ( No question or needed response about attire).

Will the first gala menu be Sunday /HMC because  is an early departure port or Monday first sea day?. I have review the boards and some say defiantly Sunday while other posts say Monday. I have  tried to review the menus posted on line to get a better idea .Roger Jett, Cruise Professor and others. Some of the menus do not  match so still unclear. Yes I realize  different menus different sailings. Would like to book Pinnacle grill for a night the MDR has less then exciting menu. 

Helpful review & great pictures. Thank you for the effort. It definitely had much needed current information I have been looking for . Our cruise on NS will be in March / Caribbean. Would it be safe to think the MDR menus will be the same ?  

12 hours ago, yerdua said:

On HALs website under your booking, look under Travel Planning, then PrePay crew Appreciation. It should say "(passenger name) has booked crew appreciation", and you will be unable to check the passenger's name or add it to your cart because its already been paid.

Thank you for this information. On my paperwork it has crew appreciation included. But not on my booking . Best way for positive resolution call ( wait on hold for hours ) or email ?. Booked directly with HA but do not have a cruise consultant, did booking on line . 

On 10/31/2022 at 6:22 PM, Wakepatrol said:

no yum yum man with chimes

no ginger or  mints after dinner

Say it ain’t so 😢😱. 

Looking for the same situation for our visit 3/28. Would like to avoid the 60+ passenger trips . 

Thanks for the reply. I did search before I asked . We are very close to that location 😟

15 hours ago, AKJonesy said:

I did a search on "quarantine" on this page up on the right side in the search box and then pulled down "This Forum" and got some results.  I did read somewhere that a CC member was quarantined in their stateroom and NOT moved.  That may have been due to the ship being full and HAL not keeping a whole bank of quarantine rooms as before, OR the person was already in a Verandah room.  I would go ahead and look at those search results and see if anything matches up to your question if no one responds here. 

Does anyone know the location on deck 4 of the Isolation/Covid-19 cabins ?.