TonyC1952

No, 4 Star laundry privileges are for conventional laundry, dry cleaning is fee for service (and a bargain!)

We're on a Mexico cruise, stopping in Cabo in early November. No whale watching excursions are scheduled in Cabo on that visit.

Guess you'll have to check private excursions for an option.

Draft beer has limited availability, mostly in the Lido bar and the Gallery bar on some ships. Also you can find it in the sports bar where they show games.

Buon viaggio!

Bon voyage! We'll enjoy every minute!

Thanks for taking us along!!!!!!!

I've sailed on too many voyages post dry dock to recommend those voyages. Beware.

No French press coffee at lunch in the Pinnacle on the Koningsdam on our last 25 day cruise.

When we've done B2B cruises, we always got separate booking numbers for each segment. You'll likely get credits for each segment, (we did) but that might not get recognized on the ship. Best to make guest services aware of your transition to 4 stars. Congratulations and enjoy the free laundry!

Thanks for your report. I'm sure a lot of folks were wondering about what a Pinnacle Gala night was all about. I'm glad you had a good time! The food sounded delicious!

The lunch price is $15 + 18% per person. 

Lunch in the Pinnacle Grill is one of the best bargains found on HAL's ships. Don't let the word get out!

Just got an e mail from Guest Relations regarding vaccination status of passengers, and it reiterated the story I got from the Front Desk manager on the Koningsdam. HAL is adhering to all CDC guidelines, which do not require 100% vaccination, rather, 95% vaccination rate of passengers. That meant that possibly 130 of our fellow passengers were unvaccinated. That's the official word from the Seattle Guest Services office. HAL implies 100% vaccination on all their publications, periodicals and mailings. It's a little disingenuous, don't you think?

I recently sailed on the Koningsdam and, in questioning the guest services agent, I discovered that indeed there were unvaccinated guests traveling with us. This was in early November. He insisted that they were following CDC guidelines of 95% vaccinated and tried to reassure me. I was not happy.

Hi 

Can anyone advise me about the oceanview cabins on the Rotterdam or the Veendam? Have the bathrooms been upgraded to the floor to ceiling showers, and has the TV system been upgraded to the interactive systems like on the Volendam? We’re considering a transatlantic voyage on the Rotterdam or Veendam, and the upgrades will be an important factor in our decision- thanks!

Hi there 

We are long time HAL cruisers, and are considering an Azamara cruise. Can anybody that has sailed both lines give us a short comparison? Thanks!

Thanks to those who have answered- we’re presently on the Volendam and all the rooms have remodeled bathrooms with showers, and all the rooms have interactive TVs... same class of ship, same size as the Zaandam and Amsterdam, so it’s a question of HAL priorities. We love the upgrades!

We’re considering a 2021 sailing of the MS Zaandam, and are wondering if she has had the upgrades we’re enjoying on the MS Volendam? We’re really liking the interactive TVs and the showers are wonderful! Can any recent cruisers help us with this information? Thanks.

We ordered one from ship's services for a cruise last Christmas on the Koningsdam. They'll help you out with this.

First time Mariners can also attend the luncheon. Just bring your friends with you. We've never been asked our cabin number, and we've never had to show an invitation on 11 different cruises.

chrismch- you don't get a choice, if you want to book a segment of the world cruise. you can only book a guarantee. and it doesn't look, right now, that HAL is booking segments of the 2021 World Cruise. We did a 28 day segment of the 2019 world cruise, and it was a wonderful experience!

"nothing worthwhile until you get to 4*; I guess I got ripped off when I got a 25% reduction in the prices of my wine packages and meals in the Pinnacle and Tamarind, while I was a 3 star... if you don't use the benefits you've earned, they are worthless.

Perhaps you don't get those benefits on a LRBC? Call me confused.

My wife and I have seen both Step 1 shows, on the Koningsdam, with the huge background screens, and on the Eurodam with a more abbreviated screen. We enjoyed both venues, and the dancers were very talented. I look forward to seeing their other shows as well. 

We've got a big upcoming cruise on the Volendam, and we'll be excited to see the changes post dry dock!

OK, I guess I need to give a little more information. The Mainstage on the Volendam, right now, is also called the BB King Blues Club, on the nights that they don't have traditional entertainment. The Mainstage is still going to be there after the dry dock, but it is being converted to a large LED screen theater, preparing for the arrival of the Step 1 dance company, which should be joining the ship some time after the dry dock. This is information gleaned from Ian, the current CD on the Volendam. Oh, and he'll be continuing on the ship at least through the Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage in January. The shows will be similar to those on the Koningsdam and New Statendam- and the Step 1 Dancers we've seen have been very good and entertaining.

Just got off the Volendam, and they DID have a BB King Blues Club, in the space normally called the Mainstage. That is going away during the dry dock starting at the end of this week. Just an FYI.