Halloween On the Seas??

[Renorita]

We are booked for the Oosterdam on 10/29/05! Can someone tell me if they have any special Halloween activities during that time? This will be our first Holland America cruise! We are paying $975 each for a SS Superior Cabin suite. Is this as good of a deal as it sounds? I worry when something sounds too good. I know 2 years ago we paid $1600 each for a regular balcony on the Sun Princess for our cruise to Alaska. I have the guaranteed cabin situation rather than booking a particular cabin number. I wouldn't know one number from the other anyway. :D I am not sure if I should have done it this way, as the Cruise Consultant thought that we would have a better chance for an upgrade if I had taken just a regular Veranda cabin. The way I see it though, the "worst" that can happen is that we will end up in a SS catagory somewhere on the ship and that would be the biggest Cabin we have ever been in. ;)

 

Thank you in advance for any comments regarding this.

[fllcruiser]

I don't know about activities over Halloween but sounds like a nice price for the SS category. A guarantee is not a bad way to go with cat SS, with the exception of the cabins by the elevators all other location are good. Maybe you will get lucky and even get a cat S,a real treat!

[jhannah]

That's a great price for an SS cabin, IMO. Those stateroms are so spacious and well laid out. You'll really enjoy it.

 

I don't know what they do on Halloween ... but you might be watchful for the spirits coming up from Davey Jones' Locker that evening and wandering the decks! ;)

[Orcrone]

There were some people dressed up on our cruise (10/30 Maasdam) and they had a costume party/contest in the Crow's Nest. I doubt there were a large number of people dressed up, but there were definitely activities for those that wished to partake.

[Oceanwench]

I was on the Oosterdam 10/31 -- some pax were dressed up. [They got a lot of strange looks!]

There were decorations around the Lido pool -- I think the previous cruise had a party their last night.

 

Some of the people who worked in the casino had Halloween costumes too.

 

But I did not see anything special going on. It may have been because Halloween was our first night

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were on the Statendam (2004) for Halloween. Most of the bars were decorated as well as the entrance to the dining room. I posted the menu for that day - it's here on these boards somewhere. Some people dressed up - not too many.

No special activities.

[mojodani]

Looks like the Bears will be cruising with you. http://hometown.aol.com/bearcruise/myhomepage/profile.html

 

There were approximately 400 members of the Chumley's BearCruises (I'm told) onboard with us on the Star Princess Halloween cruise. That ship offered Halloween movies, costume contests, 2 Halloween parties, carved pumpkins in the atrium and the staff were also in costume. The night made for some fun photos!

 

Joni

[Renorita]

Really appreciate all your responses! Feel good about the price. Could have paid $1300 something for a S suite, but going to take a gamble and hope for an Upgrade. Probably won't happen with the group of 400 coming aboard. But thats okay, I can have fun and enjoy myself whatever room I am in. Gawd, I am getting tiny butterflies already and I have 10 months to go!! :(

 

Vegas Jim: Thanks for the tip re "Spirits". Hope the only ones we see will be the kind you can consume. ;)

 

mojodani: "Interesting" is right! Checked out their website! As long as they are not a group of snobs, (and it doesn't sound like it) they should add some fun to the Cruise. :D

 

I just joined Cruise Critics in early November, and DH and I went to our first CC party on the Legend of the Seas last Month! It was fun, and we enjoyed seeing some of them on and off throughout the Cruise. Will look forward to meeting people on-line that are going on this sailing.

[Renorita]

I don't know about activities over Halloween but sounds like a nice price for the SS category. A guarantee is not a bad way to go with cat SS, with the exception of the cabins by the elevators all other location are good. Maybe you will get lucky and even get a cat S,a real treat!

Forgot to add that the price of $975 for the SS suite also included a $130 on ship credit for dinner at the Speciality Restaurant, ( is it a good place to eat?) a bottle of wine to be served at dinner, and a DVD/or VHS vidio of our Cruise. :)

Got this deal on "America's Vacation Center" which came up on Travel Zoo's top 20 deals of the week. They had several other dates available, and prices of $699 and up! in case anyone is interested in checking it out.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We love eating at the Pinnacle Grill - specialty restaurant.

We have found the food to be superior compared to the main dining room.

And we always make certain to save room for the chocolate volcano cake.

[Renorita]

We love eating at the Pinnacle Grill - specialty restaurant.

 

We have found the food to be superior compared to the main dining room.

 

And we always make certain to save room for the chocolate volcano cake.

Sounds Great! I heard you can make reservations early, even before you get to the ship, is that correct?

[RuthC]

Sure can, Rita. You can call Ship's Services and make a reservation. If you call to book for the first night the charge is $10 per person, too!

[iluvcruzin]

Renorita.

 

I was on the Maasdam this past Halloween. It was formal night. There were some very creative costumes that people put together that would have been appropriate for both. ie.. Cleopatra, a Princess etc.. There was a table of people who put on Hats & masks at dinner time for fun. The festivities started that evening in the Crow's nest. Many of the staff dressed up in costume as well as many passengers in which some (about 25) entered a Halloween Parade and contest. They decorated the ship both in the dining room and up in the Crow's next for Halloween. My daughter and I mildly dressed up (t-shirts, jewlery and Head gear) but would have done the whole garb if we had known it was going to be a big event. I had read on this HAL board from posters who said they did not celebrate Halloween on the ships but found this to be untrue.

 

So.. do they celebrate and will there be others in costume?? Absolutely! Bring your best costume and have a blast!

[Renorita]

Looks like the Bears will be cruising with you. http://hometown.aol.com/bearcruise/myhomepage/profile.html

 

There were approximately 400 members of the Chumley's BearCruises (I'm told) onboard with us on the Star Princess Halloween cruise. That ship offered Halloween movies, costume contests, 2 Halloween parties, carved pumpkins in the atrium and the staff were also in costume. The night made for some fun photos!

 

Joni

Has anyone traveled with any of the Chumley's BearCruise group? (see one of the previous posts above) Or maybe there is a member who views this board. The reason I ask is if they are going to dress up, there would be quite a few people in costume. I guess we can always bring something just in case. I think it would be fun and add something special to the Cruise. :)

 

Ruth and K.K. Thank you for your response regarding the Pinnacle Grill!

 

Maureen Sounded like you had a good time! Hope the Oosterdam gets

into it like the Maasdam!

[sail7seas]

I had read on this HAL board from posters who said they did not celebrate Halloween on the ships but found this to be untrue.

 

So.. do they celebrate and will there be others in costume?? Absolutely! Bring your best costume and have a blast![/Quote]__________________

Maureen

 

 

 

Actually, It IS TRUE. And, obviously, NOT TRUE.

 

You are able to tell about the experience you encountered......

 

I know about the four times I have been on HAL cruises on Halloween when there was just about no mention made of it and no one dressed up.

 

Clearly it varies from ship to ship; cruise to cruise.

 

Glad you enjoyed it.

[mojodani]

Has anyone traveled with any of the Chumley's BearCruise group? (see one of the previous posts above) Or maybe there is a member who views this board. The reason I ask is if they are going to dress up, there would be quite a few people in costume. I guess we can always bring something just in case. I think it would be fun and add something special to the Cruise. :)

 

I would guess that less than 15% of the pax were in costume -- Bears included. Many of the kids, about 120 ages 3-17, onboard didn't even dress up. My DD, age 12, did bring a costume (like we needed to pack more stuff!) and had fun with the other kids trying to figure out what she actually looked like the next day, out of costume. Her braces gave her away.

 

With or without a costume, you will have a great time. Especially with that "sweet" suite price!

 

Joni

[Renorita]

I would guess that less than 15% of the pax were in costume -- Bears included. Many of the kids, about 120 ages 3-17, onboard didn't even dress up. My DD, age 12, did bring a costume (like we needed to pack more stuff!) and had fun with the other kids trying to figure out what she actually looked like the next day, out of costume. Her braces gave her away.

 

With or without a costume, you will have a great time. Especially with that "sweet" suite price!

 

Joni

You are right about the extra room needed for the costumes. We will have to rethink whether it would be worth it.

[HeatherInFlorida]

This is an excellent price for an SS and as someone already said, how can you really lose? We had friends in an SS on a recent Oosterdam cruise and it was a fabulous cabin. Huge verandah, big bathroom with double sinks and a jacuzzi tube plus separate shower ... nice large room. You will love it.

[Renorita]

This is an excellent price for an SS and as someone already said, how can you really lose? We had friends in an SS on a recent Oosterdam cruise and it was a fabulous cabin. Huge verandah, big bathroom with double sinks and a jacuzzi tube plus separate shower ... nice large room. You will love it.

Thanks Heather, can't wait! By the way I copied down your chocolate recipe's!

I shouldn't have after all we ate on the Cruise in Nov. and now the Holiday's. :o But I still have a few more days until Jan 2nd and diet time! :D

[HeatherInFlorida]

Thanks Heather, can't wait! By the way I copied down your chocolate recipe's!

I shouldn't have after all we ate on the Cruise in Nov. and now the Holiday's. :o But I still have a few more days until Jan 2nd and diet time! :D

Absolutely!!! I'm with you! All 3 are really good and I only wish I could remember the one that went over the best with friends. But you can't miss with any of them. My cutoff date is January 4th because my birthday is the 2nd and friends are taking me to lunch on the 3rd. But the 4th begins the 2005 Diet!

[Oceanwench]

__________________

Maureen

 

 

 

Actually, It IS TRUE. And, obviously, NOT TRUE.

 

You are able to tell about the experience you encountered......

 

I know about the four times I have been on HAL cruises on Halloween when there was just about no mention made of it and no one dressed up.

 

Clearly it varies from ship to ship; cruise to cruise.

 

Glad you enjoyed it.

 

 

Thanks for pointing that out!

I know what I experienced -- which was no special Halloween-themed activities!

 

I attributed it to the fact that we embarked on Halloween ... so it was not conducive to a lot of activities on the schedule.