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Mary229

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Posts posted by Mary229

  1. Since you do like vegetables, as we do, you will be happy to hear there is now a new menu item - vegetable of the day.   Since we both order them we are given a large bowl served family style for our table for 2

    • Thanks 3
  2. I scan the menu and put together my meal, protein from one dish, vegetable from another and starch from another.  If it is on the menu you can order it, you do not have to take the entree as laid out on the menu.  It is not clear to me your level of expectation - a pork chop is not going to become a lobster tail😉

    • Like 6
  3. 1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

    Seriously???? Where does the "Tips" line end? Do you tip your insurance agent? The receptionist at the Gym? The plumber who fixed your dripping faucet? If you want to praise your PCC send a "My PCC did me a solid" to Holland America.

    Seriously, I take my agent out to a very nice dinner once a year.  As experienced as I am in arranging my own travel I know she is good and has save me thousands of dollars over the years. Good service above the call is rewarded by me no matter if it is a professional or not.  I agree with @LetItSnow that better are letters of commendation, superior social media reviews and so on but if they are in direct personal contact I do reward financially with tickets, dinners or other token gifts of appreciation.

    • Like 2
  4. 34 minutes ago, Riversedge said:

    Since I’ve never used Flight Ease I’m trying to understand what the benefit is.  Comparing using FE and doing it on my own, the FE cost is only a few dollars less.  I understand I could change or cancel my flight up until final payment which is 4 months before my cruise.  After that point I can’t get my money back if I want to cancel, correct?  If I book a refundable fare myself I can cancel all the way up to the day the flight leaves.  Is there something I’m missing?  I’m flying in 3 days early so not worried about missing my cruise.  Seems like a no-brainer to book it myself.  

    You will rarely find a domestic rate worth using flight ease for but they sometimes have exceptional fares for international flights.  There is some refundability through the airlines - do your homework.  It has paid many times for us to watch Flight Ease rates. 
     

    Btw they do have a guaranteed get you to the ship clause which in the past was a dubious claim but recently I have personally observed them getting people to the ship at great expense that FE took care of

  5. 1 hour ago, Roz said:

    @SusieKIslandGirl, no I didn't.  Thanks for the suggestion.  I'll check those cities, along with waiting a bit to book. 

    Also check google flights.  There they will tell you who flies there so you can know who to cross check once flights become available.  Be sure to check them for a date 9 months out also.  They also have a feature where you can say “United States” to Singapore to show you multiple options. 
     

    one last comment - your flight is considered busy holiday season travel, an unfortunate mistake I have made recently.  Live and learn, next time I will reconsider flying the earliest part of January. 

    • Like 2
  6. 3 hours ago, BetsyS. said:

    Mary229 - I'm sorry to hear that.

     Not to worry. I am enjoying my travels but I would just prefer to be on another ship.  I am having dinner tonight with two Princess cruisers who want to air some complaints and I will probably not be able to deny any of their misgivings 

     

    at least there are no dogs onboard 

    • Like 3
    • Haha 3
  7. @Haljo1935  I have to say after 3 weeks on the Koningsdam I can still say it is my least favorite ship in the fleet. There is just something intangible that is off about this ship and crew.  I don’t want to point any fingers but it is just a little off.  It is not the ship that is going to convert any sailors from other lines to sail Holland frequently.  

    • Like 3
  8. On 3/5/2024 at 12:45 PM, Lakesregion said:

    Excellent idea, Holland can take 20% of the tables out of the lidos and dedicate them to games and other socializing. That will reduce the need to use the lido tables.

    There are always an abundance of tables in other locations.  Removing tables from the lido will be going the wrong way. 

    • Like 3
  9. 1 hour ago, ReligBookFreak said:

    What if you need the pre-existing medical clause? Then you have to purchase insurance within 14 or 21 days of your initial deposit.

    Alan

    Every person has different needs and should either read carefully or use a professional service 

    • Like 1
  10. If you can get behind the tv you may find an unused socket. Also behind the fridge but both of these are difficult to reach and rarely have an extra.  Best bet is to bring a power strip

  11. I think not removing your game and other leisure activities from a dining location during the busy meal hours is just plane rude. It is a dining location, let people eat, it is not too much to ask.  To deny people a comfortable dining seat is just cruel and selfish. There is no sugar coating this.  

    • Like 10
  12. 20 minutes ago, Crew News said:

    Pinnacle-class CO does not have an appointed time, rather guests come anytime.  My Pinnacle-class CO Hosts have always provided beepers to those who did not want to wait in line.  It is my experience that lines begin to form around 6:45 PM on  Caribbean cruises.

    On the Koningsdam this week the line snakes almost to the Ocean bar at 5 pm.  There are usually far more people in line than will be accommodated in the first sitting. 

    • Haha 1
  13. 1 hour ago, Infi said:

    Sailed the 2023 VOV on Zuiderdam, which was one of the first voyages advertised as "legendary" when the term appeared last year, even if it wasn't originally marketed that way.

     

    • Service was a cut better than other cruises, and it appeared the crew was more seasoned/GV folks. (This was likely also a corollary of the Zuiderdam having sailed the WC a few months earlier and those crew still being aboard.)
    • Food was a cut better, with more menu variety. This was the first cruise where I experienced MDR daily breakfast specials, which at the time I was told were for legendary voyages, but now apparently have been rolled out to all ships.
    • In the Lido, each day had an elaborately themed specialty section for lunch: Dutch day, Mexican festival, chocolate extravaganza, etc. We also had sashimi and specialty sushi rolls each day (never seen this outside of GVs)
    • Hotel Director was Henk Mensink, and I believe his presence played a role in special events onboard: "Let them eat cake" dessert extravaganza in the Lido, a Lido carnival fun faire with food and games, an elaborate wine and cheese sailaway party, and a cabin block party. These events - all of them seen on other GVs - were really what made the cruise feel "legendary" or more special than the norm to me. 
    • Seafood boils were offered twice (I don't consider this legendary, but many passengers were eager to try them out)
    • We had 2 Tamarind pop-ups in the Pinnacle
    • We only had "free lobster" once, which made all the passengers cheer when it was shared at a coffee chat.
    • No tote bag or commemorative item (not expected, just wanted to note).

    This is not in my opinion only on legendary voyages.  It seems to be a return to HAL standards. My 22 day January cruise was not “legendary” and had all of these features.  I think these features are easier to accomplish on a longer cruise than Caribbean one weekers.  Our enrichment and entertainment seems about the same between both.  I must say that the bands are overall better quality than last year’s ensembles. That may just be people finally returning to work on cruise ships after the lockdowns. 
     

    so far the only difference I have found between January and my current legendary voyage is the tote bag and the every night chocolates.  DH has not had a single of those chocolates as I have a lot of catching up to do😉

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
  14. We have passed by Club Orange every night on our way to the Koningsdam MDR and every night there is a very long line.  I don’t know why this is but it seems uncalled for.  Is it because people are showing up before their appointed time or is it because the staff is slow?  Either way it dissuades us from ever using Club Orange 

    • Like 2
  15. 2 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

     

    Enjoy your slower than others stroll around the Promenade Deck. Since this is a a forum on cruising, I'll suggest we use the same rules we do for manoeuvring ships.

     

    In an overtaking situation, the responsibility of keeping clear rests entirely with the faster ship and the one being overtaken should maintain its course and speed. Therefore, the slower one has no responsibility to make room for the faster one.

     

    If fast walkers and/or joggers can't live with that, they have other options available. As a walker, I certainly wouldn't be up on the jogging track or hogging a tread mill, so enjoy you slow walks around the Promenade Deck, pushing your husband.

     

    Slow walkers and pax pushing wheelchairs have just as much right to use the deck as do power walkers, and other than common courtesy, have no requirement to give way to somebody going faster.

    This I agree with except in one regard.  You have no right to use the entire lane bouncing back and forth or spreading your wings, so to speak, taking all available lanes.  Again I do think during rush hour 6:30-8 the promenade is, de facto, an exercise deck. Common courtesy says you should exercise situational awareness and respect the customs.  I do pass with a “passing on the left, good morning” alert but you cannot imagine how many times people just keep bouncing like a pin ball disregarding everyone behind them. That is rude 

    • Like 2
  16. 2 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

    Choose a stateroom with staterooms above and below.  Don’t choose a connecting stateroom.  Stay far away from music and gambling venues and the showroom.  Yes, you can hear people talking in the hallway as they pass by.  I travel with a portable white sound machine which helps me sleep onboard.  

    I would add: if motion sickness is not an issue pick the far ends of the ship as only people who live down there come by.  There is no pass through traffic.  Of course, you never know when you get a bad draw and get the noisy neighbors.  I never have had noisy neighbors but I have heard stories. 

    • Like 3
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