OlsSalt

A careful re-reading will disclose the qualifying opinion disclaimers. We did not have an upsell to a Neptune on this cruise, but have enjoyed them in the past. Personally, we have a general value-added amount per day in mind that we use to assess whether we like the Neptune upsell offer or not. Not a hard and fast rule, but a starting point. We have turned down Neptune upsells only to be offered them again later at a lower price, the closer it is to departure date. Upsell offers are so totally random, so we found it is good to have a pre-plan price point ahead of time in order to move fast when they do come along. Our best one was the night before we were ready to depart on the Prinsendam for a long Black Sea cruise, and got a very last minute upsell to one of their fabulous top floor Neptunes - named cabins in the grand old style of premium cruising. But it was right next to the Crows Nest - Cruise Critic Prinsendam fan "kazu" assured us this was a good location and there was no sound penetration. She was right, and we remain eternally grateful for that last minute decision help. In the future, if ever given a choice between an upsell to a Neptune or paying the premium for a cabana rental, I **personally** would always pick the Neptune. Nor both, either.

Opinions are not "incorrect information". They are opinions, and noted as such. YMMV.

---Edited same message for a little more clarity -I think I made it sound more confusing than it was. We just did this - cabin on Deck 8 down to cabin on Deck 4. It is a little different from a same cabin B2B since you will need to use both your old cabin key card and get a new key card for your new cabin. (Konigsdam process here - may differ for other ships - we waited in the show lounge once on a same cabin B2B, this time we waited in the Lincoln Center lounge) PACKING UP: Print up your luggage tags for the second cabin number and attach them to your bags. Pack up all your items from your drawers in your suitcases. (Bring the new cabin number tags from home, or I guess you can get them printed on board) Then leave your packed bags with the new tags inside the old cabin in the morning of the transition - not in the hallway the night before. The cabin stewards will be informed of this cabin change. Leave everything else on hangers, which will get also moved and put in your new cabin closets. WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AND CHOICES FOR TRANSIT DAY: LEAVE THE SHIP OR STAY ON THE SHIP: They will provide you a print out the day before about the process to follow to "check out" and include a transit card so you won't have to go through the whole full embarkation process again - if you want to come and go later, after the new embarkation process starts for new passengers. However, if you want to leave the ship for the day you will check off the ship with your old key card, and will have obtained a new key card for you new cabin number in order to get back on the ship. The instructions will cover this. MEET UP AND WAIT: Or if you don't plan on leaving the ship that day to go somewhere else, you will meet in a designated area on the ship and get your new cabin number key card from an assigned staff member. Then you will be escorted as a group off the ship using your old cabin number key card and into a secure part of the terminal. There will be a US Immigration photo- facial recognition- scan to go through, confirming you are the same person that got scanned when you boarded the first time (but maybe already a few pounds heavier!). Then you wait for the ship to officially be cleared, in the terminal (no chairs and it was a bit cold in San Diego) - about 20 minutes?). REBOARDING: Then your group will be allowed to reboard the ship, using your new cabin number key card. Go to your new cabin and all your clothes will be hanging up in your new cabin and you just need to unpack the items in your suitcases which are now waiting for you in your new cabin too. The process was as simple as could be - but the instructions were a bit confusing. They did recognize there would be a group that would be changing cabins at this time; not just instructions for people staying in their same cabins - since don't need the new keys. But you will - there was a bit of a run around and confusion about when and from whom you get the new key cards- but you will eventually get them when the time comes to go off the ship and wait for the ship to clear. Expect some waits during this process, unless you choose to leave the ship for the day and come back after the ship has been already cleared. If you need seating during the wait in the terminal, be sure to ask to have it made available for you before hand. Have a great cruise and we are so happy we extended ours, it was worth the hassle of the cabin change. HAL did a great job with this.

I always end up using the shower gel for shampoo, and the shampoo for body wash. But I also bring my tiny bottle of my favorite version Biolage brand shampoo for the second wash. Such a tiny amount gives a full lather, so this brand is great for travel. They have types all different hair requirements covered - a great product, if you want to try something new.

We have done several excursions in CR and liked the Mt Poas coffee plantation with lunch the best. Least strenuous and you stay on the ground. Even saw a sloth hanging from a telephone wire along the way to Mt Poas. Loved trying their famous "Lizano" sauce and now order it specially - not hot, just savory. The arial tram felt safe - but it also was not that interesting - little to see besides greenery, which is very lovely but also found pretty much everywhere. On the wildlife boat trip, one saw only one or two alligators. I had traveled CR extensively on my own once, and it is a fabulous country for wildlife and dramatic scenery - but none of the later ship's excursions were of similar interest, sad to report. It really takes nature hiking into the jungles with a guide at a nature lodge (Selva Verde for one) to see all that it has to offer in real depth.

We just did this - cabin on Deck 8 down to cabin on Deck 4. It is a little different from a same cabin B2B since you will need to use both your old cabin key card and get a new key card for your new cabin. PACKING UP: Print up your luggage tags for the second cabin number and attach them to your bags and pack up all your items in drawers in those bags. (Bring them from home) Then leave your bags with the new tags in the old cabin. The cabin stewards will be informed of this cabin change. Leave everything else on hangers, which will get also moved and put in your new cabin closets.. WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AND CHOICES FOR TRANSIT DAY: They will provide you a print out the day before about the process to follow to "check out" using a transit card. However, when you leave the ship for the day you will check off the ship with your old key card, and will have obtained a new key card for you new cabin number to get back on the ship. MEET AND WAIT: Or if you don't plan on leaving the ship that day to go somewhere else, you will meet in a designated area on the ship and get your new cabin number key card from an assigned staff member. Then you will be escorted as a group off the ship using your old cabin number key card to the terminal. There will be a US Immigration photo- facial recognition- scan to go through confirming you are the same person that got scanned when you boarded the first time (but maybe already a few pounds heavier!). Then you wait for the ship to officially be cleared, in the terminal (no chairs and it was a bit cold in San Diego) - about 20 minutes?). REBOARDING: Then your group will be allowed to reboard the ship, using your new cabin number key card. Go to your new cabin and all your clothes will be hanging up in your new cabin and you just need to unpack the items in your suitcases which are waiting for you too. The process was as simple as could be - but the instructions were confusing. They did recogize there would be a group that would be changing cabins at this time; not just people staying in the same cabins - they don't need new keys. But you will - that was the run around and confusion about when and from whom- but you will eventually get them. Except some waits along this process, or choose to get off the ship and spend the day elsewhere and come back at your leisure after the ship gets cleared for new embarkations.

Separate dispensers for each on the wall of the shower: Elemis bath gel, shampoo, and conditioner. Elemis hand cream in a pump dispenser on the wall by the sink. Also soap (?) - I did not use it as I always bring my own bar of Dove soap.

CopperJohn, your lovely "child bride" was the giveaway to your secret identity, across the crowd at the Mariner's reception - since you added her lovely photo from that great trip to San Javier out of Loreto - the highlight of the entire B2B cruise for us.. Yes, you did a great job telling us so much about the very same cruise that we were on too. Though I shall add I absolutely hated the new PV "Maul" one is forced to march through to get outside and on the the public busses to Centro-Malecon ($1.00 got us both on once, and $1.00 each on another trip.) Plot a path carefully through this extensive new PV Shopping maze - much like a walk through a labyrinth, just when you think you can see the goal (i.e: getting the heck out of there) you get sent down another phalanx of more shops. We learned on the way back - keep looking up high, and one does sees directional signs for the "Return to Ship" exit.

I keep asking, what keeps them from all falling off the planet?

2 chocolate covered strawberries and one glass of prosecco a day - for $35 a day? That is how we would assess any cabana value-added after our own first and very negative experience. Hold out for an upsell to a Neptune, would be my choice.

We always choose being close to the Neptune Lounge - and loved our Volendam Neptune which was only a few doors away. Many times have been under the Lido deck and pool area, but never bothered by daytime noise - besides some occasional chair scraping, then they do late afternoon clean up. One Neptune complaint came from being under the ping-pong table - watch out for that one. The pool area is typically not used during the times one wants quiet in the cabin - absent a NYE celebration!

Agree with all of those suggestions, from our own Zaandam cruise in 2020 which was one of the last. It was more wind than cold - and when the sun was out (it was the time of the "white nights" and full sunshine) it was almost warm. Thrilled also to see the Oosterdam can still go deeper into the Antarctic Peninsula, just like the former trips. One of our most favorite cruises. I found a longer 3/4 Puffer jacket (Uniqlo) was my main stay, because it worked both as a wind breaker and for warmth, and was easy to quickly put on when announcements would come over for another special wildlife sighting. Scarf, hands, head (hood on jacket was enough for me) and especially for me -ear coverings - were as much extra gear that I needed. (Compared to what I thought I needed and packed -including waterproof snow boots - nope, did not need those). One layer of ski-type underwear, a heavy sweater, warm pants, - fleece or natural wool, silk cashmere. I found just silk glove liners were enough for me too, since that makes using binoculars and cameras easier. I did not need heavy gloves/mittens. If it was that cold, there were other indoor viewing areas to use. Passing on the tip I got from another poster here - bring rare earth magnet hanging hooks to clamp on to the metal cabin ceiling, so your heavier jackets are accessible, can dry out and don't take up a lot of closet space. I found them online. I now never pack for a cruise without them.

Nope, just don't know what to call the "top" or "bottom" of Australia- north or south. But again what even is the top or bottom? - when the entire continent is "down under" -does it orient to former mother country England - as the "true north", even though it is the opposite if using both the South Pole and equator as the benchmarks. (Even though I am confusing myself here, this is an important issue of culturally sensitive nomenclature. ) Yet, NZ has a North and South Island -which does still orient to this North American England hegemony, does it not? Trying to be open to my own prior Anglo-American center of the universe mentality, and tip the global map upside down - so hard to do, after so many decades of visual programming for this "northern " hemisphere dweller - who always forgets to check which way the water swirls down the drain when traveling on one side of the equator or the other. Bottom line - is the part of Australia closest to Indonesia - upper, lower, northern or southern Australia?

Vladivostok is a physically stunning harbor, gold spired Russian orthodox domes, classical old Russian buildings, great tourism market for Russian style items, close to the very start of the Trans-Siberian Railway, with its old impressive terminal building. Good shore excursion is to take a short ride on the train and see the country side. Stunning new opera house with a very impressive programming from St Petersburg. Money is coming into this remote area from oil development, and its Russia Far East cities are getting attention. Yes, plenty of old run-down Soviet Russia too, but a city that should not be missed when in the area - and it is doable. Which currently it is not, obviously. https://vladivostok.travel/en/todo/opera-and-ballet-theater/ Busan is more of a stretch -but again more far afield shore excursions can turn up interesting locales and gardens. We liked all our stops in South Korea -they have a very nice aesthetic in this relatively modern country. But carefully preserved and presented historical spots as well. Very unique history to add to one's collection of "Asian" countries.

Yes, the possible tsunami impact was only in the part of Australia near Indonesia. I was flummoxed, and did to know if one calls this "northern Australia" or "southern Australia", is since this is "down under" from my own North American orientation. Which would make it "northern" Australia, even though it is southern from the south pole ...... ??????

Huge earthquake also in Indonesia - 7.6, with tsunami warnings down to Australia.

First time with Music Walk - Deck 2- on Konigsdam - Rolling Stone and Billboard - very loud, very busy and also very self-contained noise wise - one can avoid this area entirely and not even know it is there. Not our tastes but we enjoyed visiting a big and watching others have fun, busting their old dance moves and sing along from an earlier musical era. BB King in the Lincoln Center space was more open, and also very loud but back by the shops wo again, one could avoid this area in the evenings and not have it intrude on the rest of the ship activities. Even the heavy smoking in the casino was pretty well contained and did not seep out beyond its confiines to any noticeable degree - but it sure was smoky ,if one needed to walk through it to get to other venues. But it also was very busy. Felt the ventilation and sound buffering on this newer ship was very good. In fact, the ship itself was so quiet and sailed so smoothly, one rarely got the sense they were even on a ship. Even when hitting the telling over 20 knots barrier, that could often cause the older ships to rattle a bit or a lot--yes, dear old Maasdam, I am talking about you.. We did have a rough patch of weather that caused some motion for the final two days due to the extreme storm hitting the last at sea days on to San Diego - winds and white caps, but she still sailed smooth and swift over these very bumpy seas.

Also back from 16 days on Konigsdsam. I remain unvaccinated, so this was our first no-restrictions HAL cruise. We both had no problems and did not exercise extra precautions - which were not already normal cruise habits long in place for noro or "cruise crud" prevention. No problems for us. (Elderly, with some co-morbidities) Only time we were asked to use a mask was the long bus ride into La Paz, Baja, but no one seemed to care on the bus ride back to the ship. Maybe 10% of the passengers still wore masks and it was still advised by signs and the captain's daily messages. Including ......wash your hands! Which is second nature by now. Agree, most staff were not masked and those that were were very hard to understand - for those of us with hearing issues. If there were any cases of "covid" onboard, we did not learn about them. Nor did we know of any quarantine areas. Big ship, we did not visit all decks. Though we did have several medical emergencies - far more than I have ever experienced on other much longer cruises - one person during dinner, one person in a hot tub, one course deviation to Cabo for a medical evacuation, one ambulance delay in another port and now learning long-time HAL poster kazu also had to face a medical evacuation in Puerto Vallarta due to an accident.

We also found a good selection of movies for in-cabin viewing. "Saved" at least a dozen of them, but never spent enough down time in the cabin in the evening to watch them. Nice, big screen and wonderful bow camera shots- for those who like to have this playing when using an inside cabin - I think it could easily substitute for a really good "daylight window" on these ships. Deck Four - Beethoven Deck Balconies: One other nice feature on the Konigsdam are the extended length balconies on Deck 4 -- they are not entirely private for this extended length, as they can be directly viewed from cabins above and from the little "flying bridge" bulb out on the aft pool Lido deck area, but this extra length certainly felt very spacious and felt like they offered extended views. The regular length of the Deck 4 (Beethoven) balcony was covered and private; but this extra length was exposed. We would ask for one of these cabins again, just for the more spacious feel of balconies - private or not. Cabins are much smaller than the older ships, and drawers are more shallow on deck four. Our first cabin on Deck 8 had very spacious draws and no limitations on the closet space. Part of one of the closets, had limited hanger space, but even my always over-packing for just our 16 days, we still had plenty of room and even a few smaller drawers left empty. Bathroom was cramped, but everything worked very nicely. We always bring extra rare earth magnetic hanging hooks to hang jackets, etc and the cabin ceiling was metal, but the bathroom ceiling was not. There was metal framing around the bathroom door where the magnets tightly stuck -which I always use to hold up my hanging toiletry hook to keep the clutter around the sink down.

Treats that were done very well on the Konnigsdam - just off yesterday after 16 days: The Gelato Cafe - pool side was super - the real deal, not that grainy stuff from mix - even though it is a modest surcharge - $2 per large scoop, $2.85 for a double. The Espresso Chocolate Chip was my own favorite. My sentimental "lunch" the last day was a double scoop and a bag of cheese fries from the Dive-In right across from the Gelato station. (Ice cream is still free at the Lido) The croissants at the Lido were large and flaky, right up there will the best we enjoy at our local French bakery. I always plan a few freshly made french crepes at one of the Lido breakfast stations and ask for just plain with butter and sugar, which I then top with some squeezes of lemon that I pick up at the coffee and tea station first. One is never enough. Canaletto was by far our best speciality restaurant experience. We found the main dining room food to be very good with nice variety and nicely attentive service. We were able to score late (8pm) fixed dining on our second cruise segment, even though they were "sold out" on the first segment. This made a huge difference in the main dining room experience compared to the crowd scene that impacts the as-you wish lower floor main dining room scene. We were able to do the early show (7pm) and then on to dinner as long as you show up early to get seat in the main theater. On a ship this large, we were pleased the elevators were never crowded or required long waits. The long walks from point to point depending on the location of your cabin were a bit grim and daunting at first. Then we learned to cover the distance on either the Lido deck (9) of the Promenade (3) decks - exact same distance I know, but it just did not feel like the forced march gauntlet down endless rows of cabin hallways. We had cabins in the aft sections, so getting from dining rooms (aft) to entertainment (forward) does take a bit of walk if your cabin is on either end of the ship. A bit circuitous, but it worked for us. We are not fans of areas with piped in music or the constant mechanics of the bar (blenders) of coffee making noise (Explorations Cafe) if one wants to find a quiet place to read and also still enjoy viewing passing seas - we learned the port-side rear section of the Crows Nest -was the best; then the Ocean Bar seating -daytime or the day time window seating across from Club Orange offered respite from the piped in music found in too many of the other places, indoors and out. Later in the evening there were no lines at the Front Desk if you have issues you need to resolve, and learning the tricks of how to use the Navigator took up at lot of time at first for many passengers - put your device on "airplane mode" to access the internal Navigator system and internet.

That describes how we felt about our recent Konnigsdsam - it is a floating resort hotel; not am especially unique cruise to travel experience. Will HAL spread itself too thin trying to be both? HAL in the past did travel cruising extremely well. And for a floating hotel, the Pinnacle class can perhaps suit those tastes too. But I could never see taking a Pinnacle class ship, for longer than one to two weeks. However, I also saw plenty of people who were very happy with many of the new offerings found now only on Pinnacle ships - never seen the casino so crowded and the Music Walk offerings had large evening draws - did not try the comedy offerings The World Stage evening shows were good and we felt they did use the big screens to their advantage, but any :enrichment talks in this venue were too canned and generic interest to offer even a remote interest into the areas traveled. I would have liked to learn more about the country of Mexico itself, not just as a Mexican Riviera travel destination - but its geography, its different states, its politics, its economy, its unique diversity of historical cultures ....instead we got the history of surfing in Hawaii and Marconi and the wireless. A wasted opportunity- and the Mexican government itself should offer enrichment speakers to showcase this always surprising country. Mexico beyond the "borderlands", would be valuable for all North Americans to learn more about.

We had different tastes in travel, music and entertainment when we were in our 50's too. Nothing wrong with still being a cruise ship for the 70 plus crowds, who keep getting new members every single day - lifestyle habits and travel choices do change, as many of us wind our way down our own mortal coils. We personally now want more safety, security, less noise, less risk and yes, even less adventure. Savoring the journey - enrichment - slowing down. And early to bed, early to rise.

Two adults and six kids in one two-person "adult cabana" was the problem. There may have been a babysitter in another cabana - which would still make this 3 adults and six kids in two " two adult" cabanas. Total official occupancy -four. Actual use by nine. The message from Guest Services was the children could not be left alone in their cabin, so they were allowed to free-range in the Retreat Cabana where their parents had rented a two person adult cabana. Some how this explanation was intended to make us understand why this turned out this way. However, one must still ask why HAL designated in their own promotional material for "adults" ,; and not for "persons". The point is not to quibble over semantics- the point is to know up front what you may run into if their prior descriptions of "adult occupancy limitations" remain confusing to any remaining unwary. One can get plenty of happy kids playing, running and shouting at each other with piped in music for free at both pool sides - center pool and the aft "adults only" pool. No reason to pay extra for it. Plus get quicker food service standing in line at the Lido, Dive Inn or NY Deli. One can have fun doing the math for the actual daily cost to obtain the value-added of one bottle of mineral water, two chocolate strawberries and one glass of prosecco. And a reserved lounger.

Link to upload of HAL 2017 Cabana promotional info and pricing - adults only, limited occupancy: YMMV in 2023. http://halfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HAL_2017_Cabanas.pdf