1st Timers Questions-Westerdam 10/22

[imagood1]

Hello all-

We are slated to take our first cruise on the Westerdam 10/22. I turned in Marriott Reward points and we upgraded to the aft cabin (#5186). We are so excited and have enjoyed getting to learn about HAL and this ship from all your posts. We do have a few lingering questions, if you could help...

 

1. Drink Cards: Hubby doesn't drink and prefers cokes and tea. How much are the drink cards and is it unlimited for the week or is there a limit per card?
   
2. Dress Code-no debates! Just curious if hubby can get away with business casual on the informal nights (no denim of course) and jacket/tie on the "formal night". Would really prefer not to have to pack a tux if its acceptable.
   
3. Spa: How do the spa services rate onboard?
   
4. Casino-typical casino games we assume. Anybody know the table minimums?
   
5. Gift Shop: My parents cruised RCL several times and stated that the gift shop clearances out all the items at 50% discount on the last night/final day. Is this true with HAL?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

imagod1

[RuthC]

I can take your first two questions:

Iced tea is available complimentary in the Lido. There's a soda card that's $18 (plus service charge) for twenty sodas.

A jacket and tie meet the miminum dress code for a man on formal night. A jacket, tie optional, meets the code on informal night.

[fann1sh]

You've picked a great cabin. Warning - once you've had a HAL suite, there's no going back....you're spoiled for good. I'm afraid I'm a slow typist, s o if someone else posts answers before I finish - apologies for the duplication.

 

1. On these boards, I see prices of $18.75+ gratuity for 20 sodas (half the per drink price) and $10 more for unlimited sodas. If that's not exact, it should be close.

 

2. Your DH should be fine in a suit for "formal", office casual for "casual", but may want to revert to shirt/tie no jacket for "informal" (which is dressier than casual - bring an extra couple shirts/tie?

 

3. Steiner does the spa, like so many other ships at sea. I find them acceptable in quality, a bit pricey, but take a look at these forums for everyone's favourites. (There's a thread today on the "thermal suite")

 

4. I stick to the video display poker, and usually go home with $20 in my pocket, so the slots are fairly loose ('cause I'm no genius) I'll let someone else answer about table stakes.

 

5.There will be a number of sales throughout the cruise (specials of a particular item on a particular day - chain by the inch, for example) and usually a wider clearance at the end. The brightly coloured shawls available on my last few cruises never went on sale - but they were a bargain to start with. They are among my favourite souvenirs!

[grannynurse]

Hello all-

We are slated to take our first cruise on the Westerdam 10/22. I turned in Marriott Reward points and we upgraded to the aft cabin (#5186). We are so excited and have enjoyed getting to learn about HAL and this ship from all your posts. We do have a few lingering questions, if you could help...

1. Drink Cards: Hubby doesn't drink and prefers cokes and tea. How much are the drink cards and is it unlimited for the week or is there a limit per card?
   
2. Dress Code-no debates! Just curious if hubby can get away with business casual on the informal nights (no denim of course) and jacket/tie on the "formal night". Would really prefer not to have to pack a tux if its acceptable.
   
3. Spa: How do the spa services rate onboard?
   
4. Casino-typical casino games we assume. Anybody know the table minimums?
   
5. Gift Shop: My parents cruised RCL several times and stated that the gift shop clearances out all the items at 50% discount on the last night/final day. Is this true with HAL?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

imagod1

 

Hi,

We just got off the Westerdam on 9/24 and we were in 5186. There are pictures of the cabin and the veranda on this board. I think they are now on page 2 or 3. My review is also on this board. The Alaska merchandise was heavily discounted but since the new Caribbean stuff will be on board in the shops I'm not sure how much of a discount you will get. There are jewelry discounts throughtout the cruise, like the Baltic (Valerio) amber, and inch of gold, plus watches and rings. There is bound to be some end-of-cruise discounts not not usually the HAL logo stuff.

Drink cards for soda for a 7 day run $18-$20. Tea is not charged for, but bring a mug or buy a souvenir glass as the glasses are only about 10 oz.

I can't tell you the casino minimums as we didn't go in this time. Alaska was too busy.

You will love this cabin. It has 8 closets 4 in main cabin and 4 mirrored ones in the dressing room. I'm sure you will get more use out of the veranda than we did as we had alot of rain. It's big enough for a party and then some. You may get some more info if you read my review.

If you can think of any specific questions I'll try to answer them. The spa had many specials esp the thelassotherapy pool for 2, for a day or for the whole cruise.

Have a wonderful trip in "our" cabin, soon to be yours.

GN

[doone]

GREAT cabin, but like others have said here, you are never going to be able to go back. Those corner aft suites are incredible. I was in 5187 on the Zuiderdam and would book that again in a heartbeat. Enjoy your cruise.

[jtl513]

2. Dress Code-no debates! Just curious if hubby can get away with business casual on the informal nights (no denim of course) and jacket/tie on the "formal night". Would really prefer not to have to pack a tux if its acceptable.

 

On formal nights you'll typically see about 40%-50% tuxedos, and most of the rest just in dark jacket/tie ... some even no jacket or tie. I've seen some people that had just made it back from shore before the doors closed for the early seating come in the casual clothes that they've worn all day, and no one refuses entry or service! If that happens, just explain to your table-mates and then forget about it! :D

[grannynurse]

On this last Westerdam cruise 9/17-9/24, there were many more suits on formal nights than tuxes. Only about 25% of the men wore tuxes or dinner jackets. It just didn't feel as dressy as a holiday or European cruise but no one flagrantly violated the dress code. Everyone looked wonderful.

GN