PACD_JG

HAL...the cruiseline for masochists.

Then vote with your $$$$. IMO, what HAL did to Don is very grievable, and Florida's complaints are continuous. Yet, you still sail with HAL...

When's the last time you sailed? Because as of my last cruise in November, you can't do that anymore.

Considering on Thanksgiving it took half an hour from the time we ordered to get our food, and 15 minutes from the time we sat down to the time our order was taken...yeah, nevermind on seconds.

I'm surprised nobody posted this story yesterday, particularly since you can't add on a ship without taking away. https://www.cruisehive.com/holland-america-line-expanding-five-onboard-casinos/92723

Since you leave in three weeks, you might want to make sure the clamshells are not sold out already. I got two of them at Thanksgiving only because of HIA excursion money. There aren't as many clamshells as you would think (maybe 100?), so they do sell out.

Fair enough. I looked at Verandahs. VH is $3808, VQ is $4988, so that would be a great deal. A VF at $4508 to a V at $4868 is just an okay deal.

So you Club Orange fans got me curious enough to look at some prices on a 7-day Alaska cruise aboard the Koningsdam. The price for Club Orange for two would cost $25 a day per person, so $350. (25x2x7) The cheapest interior room for two on that cruise is an L category for $2808. The most expensive interior room for two is an IQ for $2888. So you folks think paying $350 instead of $80 just to eat in a smaller dining room that serves hotter meals in a fishbowl is good value? My bad, I forgot about the orange tote bag...

Your kids will love the aft pool. And if you can afford it, get a retreat cabin for two (kids are free).

I've sailed twice - on my signature block. I do have one booked for this July. And I paid for my adult son to join us in July. I received my first offer 09/15/22, so 3 months after my first HAL cruise. I have received 5 more offers since then (just downloaded all the pdfs), and they are all different.

Just to clear my good name, I've never spent a penny in one of their jewelry stores either (ship or land). 😋

Then why are you cruising with HAL on the "Zandam"?

That's how I read it as well. And for those that don't enjoy the performances, think outside of your small box. It's not like HAL is going to offer you something else instead, so it's a net loss in overall choice of entertainment, which hurts when you're paying more money for it.

Initially, I thought they were offering it to me because they knew I could never take them up on it (still working, still have kids in school). @NCTribeFanputs that theory to rest, though.

We were on the Koningsdam on Thanksgiving. As you know, there were three games that day. HAL didn't even have the rights to the Bills-Lions game. They did have the Cowboys-Giants game, but they only played it in the cabins, not in any public spaces. They did show the Patriots-Vikings game in the cabins and on the big screen on the Lido. As Boze said, if you have your heart set on a particular game...hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

I get these offers all the time, and I've never spent a penny in a HAL casino.

Plan to do a 7-day cruise to Greece in the summer 2025, and it's already on sale on the NCL site, but most big box TAs won't book that far out. Is there an advantage to booking this far out on a ship that hasn't even sailed yet?

@coachmouchetreferenced this recent review about your ship. https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/getreviews.cfm?action=ship&ShipID=127

Then shouldn't you be the HAL cabin expert? I'm not sure if this is a humblebrag or inadvertence.

Was on the Thanksgiving Nieuw Statendam cruise. Regardless if the MDR was open for embarkation lunch or not (ate in the Lido), the rooms weren't ready until after 1 PM, so if you bring your luggage with you it probably isn't even an option. Anyway, isn't everybody a Mariner with HAL? What does a Mariner lunch even mean? Only HAL virgins aren't allowed to attend?

Next thing you know, there will be folks who challenge the dress code in the MDR. Oh wait... Sometimes, life would be a whole lot better if folks just shut up and colored.

This is like asking a person who purchases clothes from Target if they would prefer Saks Fifth Avenue more.

Just wondering if they actually played the harmonica for The Wizard? Also, somebody just posted this video of the band from the Rotterdam playing Comfortably Numb (get past the keyboardist's vocals, and you'll be very impressed).

If your niece drinks, she won't be bored. Only half-kidding, but I'd say if you grouped HAL cruisers by age, it wouldn't surprise me if the 20 somethings were the smallest demographic.

Granted, I only have 14 nights with HAL, but the most egregious dress I've witnessed is a couple in their 70s who wore their robes to the Lido breakfast. Complete with open-toe sandals, exposed varicose veins on their calves, and attached oxygen tanks. Probably 4 or 5 star mariners too. So the pro-dressy forum members better be careful who they lambaste...