sweetipie

Thanks for the list for Fanning Island.  Are you certain that we are allowed to bring on an airplane all the things listed?  Especially the blow up soccer balls?  I have already purchased school supplies and will bring a clock.  I plan to bring one suitcase just filled with things for Fanning Island.  Does anyone know the population of the Island and how many schools and how many adults.  Very many older people with special needs.  Is there a hospital on the Island?  Do they have a grocery store or a general store for buying supplies?  Would American money be of better use to them?

Anxious to get on board, looking forward to a long relaxing vacation.  Does anyone know if the Amsterdam has a well equipped library?  

Thank You for any answers to my questions.  

I would like to know the insurance options  people at 80 are choosing.

We are sailing on the Veendam on Sept 15th. Can anyone tell me about this ship? We have sailed on the Volendam, the Rotterdam twice and the Zaandam. What is the difference in this ship. Also, what do you recommend on the sailing from Boston to Montreal. What ports did you like best?

Sweetiepie,

 

Just curious. Why would you not use the self-service laundry? I have used it many times on HAL and the room is always spotlessly clean as are the washers and dryers. When using them I can choose the water temp and delicate/perma press/regular cycles, etc.

My main reason is because the ships do such a wonderful job on doing your laundry and it is a great way to have more time to spend on the cruise.

On our last cruise and I can't remember if it was on the Holland American part of the cruise or the Queen Mary 2 part of our 90 day cruises. Two incidents happened in the laundry room. One was a fight over whether or not a ironing board pad should be on the ironing board and it got down to blows and security was called it.

The other one was a fight between two women over the use of a dryer. One was using the washing machine below and was almost ready to put her laundry in the dryer when another woman decided she should put hers in the dryer. A big discussion (not a pleasant one) ensued and the first woman was able to put her finished laundry into the dryer. The second woman left with a "you'll be sorry". 30 minutes later the first woman came back to get her laundry and the second woman had come back while she was gone and threw a Mars candy bar into the dryer. I do believe that woman was taken to her cabin by security and put off at the next port. I, personally, don't need that kind of drama on my vacation. I did not see it happen but the entire ship was talking about it for the remainder of the cruise.

$20.00 for a full bag of laundry to be washed, dried and ironed and returned to your room on hangers seems like a great deal to me!!

If you are doing a European or Asian cruise listen to the lectures. They will tell you so much about where you are going and the history behind the countries.

Pack half of what you think you'll need. The on board shops have nice bargains.

Don't pay the automatic gratuities. Tip very generously to those who you have direct contact with. It is not your place to pay the ships crew.

Order coffee for first thing in the morning in your room while you get ready to go to breakfast. Don't forget to tip (2.00) is fine everytime you have room service.

Do take 2 bathing suits. Don't take towels!

Definitely use the ships laundry service--do not ever use the laundry room!!!

27 cruises with many different lines. Like best Celebrity and Holland America because ships are smaller and more intimate. Do try to stick to a couple of lines for extra perks. Have a meal at the Pinnacle restaurant if sailing Holland America, the food is excellent.

Curious...what's the benefit of having the $25 for $50 soda fountain beverage card? Doesn't the Lido Market offer free fountain beverages, or is it just lemonade/ iced tea? Just trying to figure out if this is worthwhile for us for use outside of meal times. I understood the fountain/soda beverages to be included during meals.

Thanks for helping to clarify!

I don't think the soda or pop option is worth it at all. You can buy your own at any port and bring it on board. No need to clear out the refrigerator as you can always have ice in your room at all times. Take a throw away cup or cups and use your own soda. I just buy a 2 liter bottle and cap it tight and put it on the desk. You'll probably find what you drink most of is water or iced tea.

I always give a 2.00 tip for room service. If my travel agent pays my gratuities I still will give a sizeable tip to my room steward and my wait staff both the waiter and his or her helper. They are the people I see and interact with and I believe they need something extra for their service. I always start off the trip with a $20.00 bill to my Room Steward and ask them to be sure I always have ice in my room during my trip.

Has anyone sailed in the Lanai cabins on the Maasdam? We're considering one for a long (25 day) cruise but wonder if having people walking outside your cabin day and night (the Lanai cabins open to the public Promenade Deck) will be a problem.

Thanks!

We were in a lanai cabin and liked the fact you could go outside at any time but felt the cabin was cramped.

I only added that note because the poster did not know what a tender ticket was at all - and seemed to think you needed one at every port.

 

It is good to know that about Japan and China - I hadn't thought about immigration control. Thanks.

We were on the Volandam from Feb 28th - Mar 28th from Hong Kong to Yokahama and back, we then continued on the QM2 from Hong Kong to Southhampton I wonder if you were on the same voyage as we? We loved the Volendam, but were not that fond of the QM2. Service is superb on all the HAL ships we have been on. We have now been on 27 cruises and HAL and Celebrity are our favorites! We were in Lucinda's group for most of our off shore excursions.

HAL thinks of everything. VISTA class is wonderful. Yes fridge a d glasses in room. Self laundry not recommened too much drama. Bag laundry is greatest. A 20.00 bill to your room steward whe. You board will have your steward paying extra attention to you during the entire cruise. I like to give gratuities at the end of the cruise. I'd really like to see a breakdown of what the ships gratituites go . I hate to think we are p

aying all the wages for the crew

HAL is our favorite line. Forget about doing laundry yourself, you can stuff a bag for $20.00 and have it all come back clean and pressed and folder or on hangers (your choice). Enter the toddler in the kids program right away so you can enjoy your days and the toddler can have a wonderful time also.

Just go and know you'll have a wonderful Holiday.

Regarding laundry on the HAL ships. The best bargain on the seas. A bag of laundry tor $20.00 and all comes back very clean. Shirts on hangers pressed, underwear in tissue paper folded. Best deal in the world. Was on the Volendam for a month then on the QM2 for six weeks and laundry was the scene of much disarray. 4 different people put off the ship for doing bad things in the laundry room. One lady put a Mars bar in another ladies dryer just to be mean. She was off the ship at the next port.

Regarding time zones on ship. Just returned 2 months ago from the half world cruise and I can't begin to tell you how many different time zones we went through. We were on the QM2 on that trip and although the ports were good the service on the QM2 was not what we had hoped for. We did love the cruise from Hong Kong to Yokohama and Yokohama to Hong Kong on HAL, wonderful food and service!!

You have picked a great itinerary. We did Hong Kong to Yokohama and the return trip too. HAL is a great line. Be sure to go to the French Quarter of Old Town in Shanghai. Very pretty and Shanghai itself is beautiful. Arrange as many trips through cruise critic as possible. Small trips are so much better. We are a healthy 77 and 78 year old couple and had the time of our lives!

Seattle is full of goof places to eat

Eat at the airport and take UBER to the terminal. Once you board there is food everywhere.

We always go a day before just to be safe. I would do 6am.

That is what i had when we boarded the Volandam in Hong Kong in March.

Hope he gets over the lingering cough before boarding

Dutchiegirl:

You'll find a great group of knitters both women and men on the ship. Usually to my findings one is a crew member. It's ordinarily a 2 hour free knit and chat session. The nurse last year on the Zaandam was a beautiful knitter and finished a very complicated sweater while on the cruise. Also, watercolor and craft classes are available but at a cost of $5. per project for crafts and about $35.00 per cruise for watercolor classes. On a long cruise they can be fun on port days.

Take your patterns with you if you are a knitter. I did not find ysrn that I could not buy at home

Usually kntters gather at 1pm somewhere on the ship.

The Neptune suites are wonderful but they are so large yout15 year old may not want to leave the room. We like 3rd or 4th floor midship outsidr rooms best

We have cruised 27 times. Just got back from 80 days of cruising round the world 4 eeeks on Hal. 6 weeks on QM2 NEVER AGAIN ON QM2.

\Just was on the Volendam and played a lot. Did not come out ahead but won several jackpots. One lady won 7500.00 jackpot at 8 am on day.

Laundry on the Holland America ships is a dream. You can stuff a bag for $20.00 and it all comes back laundered, ironed and underwear folded in tissue paper. One of another reason HAL is our favorite ships. Just as a side note, on the QM2 in April most arguments were in the laundry room with one lady throwing a Mars bar in another ladys clothes dryer. She was put off at the next port. Yay!!

Holland America has quick boarding so worries. Our favrite line:cool:

You will love Holland American Superb service and good food. Be sure to eat at least once at the Pinnacle Grill. We love that restaurant!