PACD_JG

✔️ ✔️ ✔️ You stated three demands and the Volendam meets all three. If you're afraid you'll be bored on the Volendam, then why do you even have a desire to be on "one of their smaller, more traditional ships" in the first place? In Alaska the scenery is the entertainment. If you're really worried about being bored, than the Koningsdam does the same itinerary.

What is the price for the unlimited laundry? I'm trying to see if it is cheaper to buy now online or wait until I board to use OBC. Thanks.

I thought about checking it out on the NS at Thanksgiving but I didn't go. It was in the Ocean Bar. Anyway, we decided to have a drink there about an hour after the meetup and you can tell some of them were still there because of all the disability ratings stories and the embellished accomplishments of their contribution to the world from those whose best days are in the past. No disrespect, but the military is a microcosm of our society, and almost all of them were Gen X (my age group) and Millennials, and I don't really talk about my service at home and don't really want to talk about it on vacation. Now, have a ceremony for Vietnam and Korean War vets (are there any WWII vets that still sail?), I'll be the first one there to honor them.

For those that say HAL is inexpensive, then you get what you pay for. Perhaps use that as a rebuttal against the HAL naysayers. "Stop complaining...HAL is cheap...what did you expect?"

Did you have the laundry package? It's priced at $59.50 online. Just trying to find out if there's a discount to booking early. Thanks.

Lee-doh. 🙂

I haven't read any of those cruise critic reviews in the link, but I do stalk this board. HAL isn't inexpensive - so maybe the naysayers are not happy with their perceived "value" of their cruise. Instead, it's always the old...I like this, so anybody who doesn't like this too, must be stupid argument. Leadership 101: don't judge others using your own value system - everybody's priorities are different. And as a noob to cruising, I'm always curious to those that defend HAL with statements along the lines of...I don't need pampering, I'm just happy to be on a ship, I'm okay with limited activities, I just want to get from point A to point B, etc... Again, HAL isn't inexpensive, so why not just go on a cheaper cruiseline if you don't have many demands?

Why miss anything? Everything listed is included in your fare, so just try it all and see what you like...

I vote with my dollar, as should the OP. Will never pay again to go on a holiday cruise, and if non-holiday cruises (such as this summer's Alaska cruise) become overwhelmed with children to the point that it detracts from my enjoyment...well, thankfully cruising has never been my first choice to spend a vacation anyway.

Mocktails can only be made by the bars that don't serve alcohol... This reminds me of an old joke. Why did the "blonde" keep empty beer cans in the fridge? For her friends that don't drink.

Somehow I feel better about this - I'd rather miss seeing whales because of something I can't control. Thanks.

Thank you. I'm travelling with family and they booked the Tamarind for 6:30 PM. I'm more interested in looking out for the northern resident orcas than dining.

I should know this since I have already cruised on the Koningsdam out of Vancouver, but does anybody recall what time the ship will sail by Telegraph Cove, assuming a 4 PM departure from Canada Place?

Never again.

Thank you. Here's hoping it will look like Daunt Books in Marylebone by this summer.

I believe the new library is supposed to go in the old Microsoft room. Since you're still on the ship...can you give us a report and photos? It's on deck 2 forward. Thanks so much!

And in the crow’s nest, did they merge the explorations cafe with the bar? It’s like that on the Nieuw Statendam and that’s not a good thing. Keeping it separate like on the pre-dry dock Koningsdam is ideal.

Any word and/or photos on the library?

Good "explation"

Spoken like a true comrade.

The easiest way to restrain attention-seekers is to ignore them.

I'm curious as well. Don't think I've ever seen anybody wear shoes in a pool.

I went on the NS with 2900 folks Thanksgiving 22. Too many people, ship and crew can’t handle that, and it turned me off from cruising the Caribbean and during school breaks. I went on the Koningsdam with 1800 to Alaska in June 22. It was a 10/10…which made me think I could duplicate the experience at Thanksgiving on the NS. Here’s hoping July this year on the Koningsdam is closer to 1800…

I was on the Koningsdam in June 2022. Wasn’t the verbiage then to isolate for 10 days after your first positive test? As in, when on the cruise did you test positive? And therefore, did you really need 10 extra nights in Vancouver?

You all act disappointed that HAL has gotten rid of it, as if letting passengers affirm their own health status was meaningful….