mysticsailor

Yes, worked for us last Sept. But be sure and check they were applied correctly when back home. They had shorted us 2 cruise day credits

Oct 2016 I carried on full size suitcase, 60 inches total dimension, 50 pounds, no issue at all.

The web address above is to the 2018-2019 atlas not the eagerly awaited 2019-2020 atlas.

When we were on the Veendam last December our room steward brought a small hand scale to our stateroom (Vista) and weighed our luggage for us. That was a first for us.

We originally had that stateroom booked, because of the oversize balcony, for a cruise next May. That stateroom has a connecting door making for awkward placement of a one-armed chair instead of a love seat or couch.

After we viewed photos of this room on the web site with 'facts' about 'Hal' we changed our mind, instead choosing an AB stateroom forward, upper promenade, also with larger balcony. These staterooms are over the theater but others have said the filter through noise from below is not a deal breaker. Guess we will find out.

Check out the 'actual' stateroom photos of 204 before you decide.

I just checked and the Prinsendam's last voyage 6/17--7/1/2019, 14 days Amsterdam, North Cape and back still has openings online for most all categories. Fortunately our booking, May 20-June 17, 2019 squeaked under the cut off date. I would think the farewell cruise will start selling faster now.

I am particularly fond of the multigrain rolls, yum. My waiters bring me olive oil and minced garlic so I can fix a plate to dip Italian style. That first glass of wine always taste better with bread.

I have not sailed as many cruise lines as you but the first thing I noticed about HAL was the difference in employees: service, attitude, etc.

Sincere appreciation to all for your helpful insights and experience sailing 'forward' on the Prinsendam.

We decided to relocate up front because of your mostly positive experiences of smooth sailing there. I also appreciate one CC member reminding us of the showroom being directly underneath, silly me for not noticing; ear plugs shall be packed. We have never sailed this far forward before but then again we've never sailed on the Prinsendam and grateful for the opportunity now that it appears she will be leaving the fleet end of next year.

Thanks once again Jacki for chiming in--you and Ruth are my 'go to' encyclopedia of all things HAL.

Chas

I appreciate hearing of your experiences re the forward staterooms. We have a phone a appointment with my PCC tomorrow re another cruise and need to decide by then because the Prinsendam cruise is booking up fast. Other comments are welcome. Thanks to you all.

Chas

Thanks to all who gave suggestions re my previous question.

We are currently booked Prinsendam, Norwegian Fjords and British Isles May 26, stateroom 204 promenade deck aft, choosing there because of the larger balcony's. Now that we have actually viewed photos of that stateroom we are disappointed. There are staterooms available extreme forward (106 through 109) on the upper promenade deck with balcony's larger than midship.

We have only sailed forward once and that was enough! However I have heard that the Prinsendam cuts through waves better than other ships. Do you feel that a 28 day cruise up there would rock us gently asleep or make one queasy. We rarely succumb to seasickness but need to hear of your experience and or assurance.

Thanks again for your valuable insights. I have learned so much from this forum and our cruise experiences are better because of you!

Chas

Ruth,

as I already have 3 cruises booked over the next 12 months I would be happy to pass my 18/19 Atlas along to you and on my dime. Lord knows I have learned lots from you over the past 3 years. It would be my pleasure to help you enjoy a decent look/see. Let me know.

Thanks again for all your insights.

Chas

No, it was NOT the cruise planner. I am well aware of the difference. It was the new ATLAS with 193 pages just as I said.

The last one, the one that went through April, 2018, did. Who knows what the next one will have---apparently no one has seen it yet.

Could that have been a typo? The 2018-2019 Atlas has been out since early last fall. In fact on our Veendam cruise in October they were as plentiful as Halloween candy.

It was 36 pages thinner than the previous year and had eliminated the deck plans. Fortunately I had saved a couple of older issues so I cut out the deck plans and inserted them into sleeves in a thin binder.

When curious about ship layouts it is now much simpler to peruse the binder rather than flipping back and forth on different online pages. I also included the stateroom photo pages as a guide for accommodations on different class ships.

Sharon (storylady): I will definitely keep your favorite Norwegian ports in mind for a possible future cruise. In this case changing is impossible as our small group of four comprises 3 different family members and this itinerary was agreed upon in February.

re your suggestion of reserving a table in the Canaletto for Fjord viewing: When I called ship services the kind lady told me, "you were right to call so far in advance of your cruise as the up charge restaurants often sell out on these types of cruises." She then said that dining reservations for our May 2019 cruise open in mid August--that is nine months before the cruise! I never dreamed this could be done so far in advance.

Thanks again for your insightful suggestions.

Chas

Sharon,

we missed meeting you when you had to cancel the Maasdam Atlantic Adventurer 2015. By the way, you were doing an awesome job on that roll call. (Gosh, hope I got that right. After a while cruises and people sometimes get confusing.)

I appreciate your perspective on booking the Canaletto for the viewing on the Norwegian cruise. What a splendid idea! Pointers from cruisers like you are what makes Cruise Critic forums premiere.

Thanks again--Chas

Thanks to all for the valuable tips. CC members always come through!

Ruth: Reading your enthusiasm was music to my ears re our cruise itinerary.

Since our first cruise, Alaska 2005, Norway has been on my bucket list. This because a fellow cruiser, overhearing my awed remarks concerning the view said, “If you like this just wait till you visit Norway’s Fjords.”

re advance reservations in the dining room: We contacted ship services 100 days out re table assignments on our upcoming back to back Alaska and Panama cruises . Yes, we were assigned both choices. Perhaps in this newer technology age it is now easier to assign tables much earlier.

We always choose early fixed and will take your suggestion of listing three table choices in order preferred. A good idea, thanks.

Jacqui: I also had my eye on tables 35 and 15. Another poster thought the tables were permanently floor mounted. I have decided to request those first and list alternative choices per Ruth’s suggestion. Thanks for mentioning the forward dining room more mellow venue as to noise. Much appreciated.

Ann: It seems you and Jacqui are in synch re the Prinsendam dining choices. Thanks for reinforcing the earlier suggestions.

Quartzsite Cruiser: I really appreciate the note of caution about the chill factor in the forward dining room near the Ocean Bar. That is a game changer.

Arzz: You are the first to mention not assuming fixed seating would be in the smaller dining room. I will definitely stress my choice for the smaller venue. Thank You.

Wish I could show you all my gratitude by sharing my counter full of vine-ripe-just-picked-tomatoes; one of the blessings of summer. Is there anything better? Yes, eaten in Tuscany with fresh mozzarella and enjoyed with a chilled glass of Pinot Grigio.

cin, cin

Next May we well be cruising for 28 days on our first Prinsendam voyage: Norwegian Fjords and British Isles. This is a very special cruise in that a cousin who briefly lived with us as adolescents, very seldom seen since, is joining us and a sister.

I downloaded a dining room floor plan and see very few 4 tops in locations I prefer. Can any of the multiple two tops in close proximity be joined into a table of 4? Also how far out may a table reservation be requested?

Thanks for your assistance and a special thanks to Kazu (enjoyed your last live blog) and RuthC for answering prior questions not only for myself but others.

Chas

Rotterdam was the ship in 2016.

I had posted a review of the 2017 AA-- if interested do a search, it was titled:

Veendam review: 49 days Oct. 20-Dec. 8, Ft Lauderdale--Mediterrean--Ft. L.

By the way when looking it up noticed that I had titled the review of port Malaga incorrectly as Malta, my bad.

Sorry, I have not yet learned how to post a link.

If anyone, and you albingirl, hear more re an AA repeat please post your findings; it seems many are wishing for a repeat.

Thanks --Chas

Maybe a third ports change every year, such as the Canary Islands instead of Azores. This was last year's Ports of call:

Ft. L, Horta & Sao Miguel Azores, Lisbon, Malaga, Cartagena, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Livorno, Rome,Naples, Dubrovnik, Kerkira, Katabolic, Athens, Rhodes, Souda, Valletta, Palermo, Cagliari, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Casablanca, Funchal, Half Moon Cay, Ft. L.

I don't mind repeats at all. I have become very fond of a few and happily return to some memorable restaurants

We also would be happy to rebook this cruise (AA) having been very happy with it in 2015 & 2017. I was told by a fellow cruiser on the 2017 Atlantic Adventurer cruise that this cruise was being discontinued because so many passengers were 4 and 5 Mariners and their many perks interfered with the profit margin. Guilty as charged. Hard not to take advantage of free laundry and 50% off wine packages, etc.

Maybe if enough of us petition HAL to reinstate the Atlantic Adventurer, corporate will reconsider and increase the price (just enough!) to justify the sailing.

How about it cruisers; is a quick email worth getting HAL to perhaps reinstate this cruise in 2020?

I thought the OP was asking about getting to 4* benefits and what I said applied.

 

IF you are on a B2B, and IF you only need the sea days to get you to the next level, then yes, it has been done. Several of my roll call members have done it. The ship has no way to calculate the on board spending but if you have sufficient sea days to get you there, it has been done.

 

It has nothing do to with medallion qualifications. Aplogies if I wasn't clear

 

 

 

You are very kind:o

 

Thank you. :)

 

I hope you like the P'dam and yes, I fully plan on doing a live thread for our cruise. May is going to be here soon :D

You are more than welcome. You, Ruth C. Copper John, POA1 and Sail comprise my HAL Wikipedia.

Happy cruising to you all!

Ms Jacqui,

I also will be sailing on the Prinsendam (first time) for 28 days May 2019, Norwegian Fjords (top of my bucket list) and British Isles so will be eagerly looking forward to your review and commentary.

For the record; I enjoy your common sense and informative answers to many queries. Thank You for the education!

ciao

Although the other person copied FAQ from the HAL site and it only says re 'a Grand Cruise' that is not the only way.

IF, IF your cruise, regardless a Grand or not, is sold in more than one segment you will attain next level benefits on the next cruise segment. Many multi week cruises are available in different segments; hopefully this is your case.

Before leaving on your cruise call the Mariner Society and they will verify your eligibility and make notes on your account. A few days before your qualifying cruise segment ends go to the pursers desk and ask for a mariner upgrade. They will email Seattle, get permission, and on the port day that your qualifying segment ends go to the desk and your new key card with upgrade mariner status will be ready.

Remember: The mariner society is closed weekends, so note which part of the world you are in relative to Seattle and allow for any time zone, date difference.

This was still the policy as of this past Nov. as once again I had benefits change mid cruise. On that 49 day cruise, not a Grand, the desk clerk said we had many cruisers changing status mid cruise. I sure was happy to advance from a wine package discount of 25% to 50%, not to mention free laundry! Oh yes, only actual sea days on that cruise qualify, not onboard spending.

cin, cin

I had the same issue. 13 days after my cruise ended, no change and as this for me was a change in stars I was anxious.

Sign into your account, click the mariner tab under 'commons questions' & you will find a form which addresses the missing points. The next day I had an email noting my 4th star.