sfocruiser

It’s a little confusing in that the benefits now state that you get 25% discount off the $49.00 SDM surcharge.

To me that means they’ve reduced the benefit on the SDM pop-up, not the full SDM a la carte. But they also don’t list the SDM on the 50% discounted restaurants.


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On 1/27/2020 at 5:07 AM, old biddy said:

You are right, on the rivers it is €, on the oceans $, but in fact it is '15' of either, if you see what I mean. On the rivers there is still the limit, or was in September and has been on our 3 previous trips.

If you choose something over the 15€ limit can you pay the difference.   And apologizes if this has been asked and answered am new to this forum

Also a warning at least on the Eurodam in August the large Sparkling Water San Pellegrino (750ML) were excluded from the drink package and we were charged $6.95,  the smaller Perriers were covered

both of our Holiday cruises are before final payment.   Looks like we will get an additional $300 OBC between the two

14 minutes ago, Expatcat said:

Holland America website had a holding page briefly yesterday. Looks to be: up to $800 OBC, Pinnacle Grill dinner, $25 beverage card and 50% reduced deposit. Suite and verandah receive free internet.

It looks like for the new Explore 4 they have removed the SBP for the "up to" $800 OBC.  Will be curious to see how it works out.

11 hours ago, DaddyBubs said:

What are some sites for reliable transfer services from Airport in Rome to Civitavecchia? 

 

We are flying in on Air Canada from Toronto. 

 

Thank you!!

We have used RomeCabs over the last 15 years and always had great service.

https://www.romecabs.com/

Both Photos from the Polar Ice Cap in 2007.   First if the crew gathering to celebrate the 100th Prinsendam voyage and they were freezing!!!

And the next is of Captain Turner navigating the Princendam into the Polar Ice Cap.    One of our best cruises.

11 hours ago, doone said:

I can't find anything on the new promotion either................

I think it will just last the week.   Your TA or PCC should be able to help .  We found that we saved on two of our three upcoming sailings (all before final payment)

I would check again today, July 1,  as a prepaid gratuities promotion has been added not as a separate promotion but in addition to existing promotions.

8 minutes ago, kevingastreich said:

We got that same offer today for a 7 day Alaska cruise EXCEPT is is only $25/day pp. It is on the Oosterdam.

Wonder how that works on the Oosterdam? Only the Pinnacle Class ships have the dedicated CO restaurant (fish bowl) 😉 

maybe they have started to rope off a section of the MDR as originally announced.

19 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

We love lunch at the Pinnacle.  The menu is a decent lunch menu and the food excellent.  In fact we enjoy lunch much more then dinners.  My suggestion is that on one of the very early days of your cruise you just stop by the Pinnacle and ask them what days they will be open for lunch.  The person at the door will have the schedule.  While it is not normally open on port days there are some exceptions which happens when they are bringing some VIPs aboard for lunch and just open the Pinnacle for anyone else.

 

Hank

+1    Pinnacle Lunch is a great deal we try to go at least twice per cruise, depending on openings.  Have found lunch offered on some port days (usually on heavy port intensive itineraries) but as Hlitner notes just check once aboard.  I would also book early as later in the cruise the secret is out 😉   No cost to cancel

Just now, rkacruiser said:

 

Thanks for your post.  I remember the name from those who experienced his efforts.  I have not had the privilege of sailing with Mr. Buckingham.

I think he has retired.   I fondly remember his port lectures on the Princendam.  A wealth of knowledge and he seemed to always have a great recommendation for lunch in each port.    Barbara is cut from the same cloth.

On 5/11/2019 at 6:05 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

Thanks for reminding me of Barbara's last name.  I thought she retired at the end of the 2018 world cruise.  

 

Talk about a wealth of information about ports around the world!  She ought to write a cruise guide!

If we are reminiscing about great port guides I can't think of a better one than Frank Buckingham.

3 hours ago, Sir PMP said:

You can see Russia from Dutch Harbor...

You can see Russia (Big Diomede Island) from Little Diomede Island.  Thats about it

Sorry to see this chapter close.  Janis and I were on the LIS-CIV leg and it was great to meet you and Jose and meet a fellow Dalhousie Alum.  It was been fun to follow your final leg on the Princendam.  Safe travels home!

On 4/24/2019 at 7:20 PM, Sir PMP said:

C has announced it.

 

 

New Holland America Cruises Grand Africa Grand South America.pdf 1.28 MB · 15 downloads

the FCC on board the Prinsendam had these itineraries a few weeks ago.   You could make a deposit and a cabin request.   Stated that the Voyage would be released and public by May

One thing to note that on our last entry at T26 last month, there was someone at the head of the GE line checking each passenger for the physical GE card.  So have it ready! 

Also in our case there were maybe three couples in front of us in the GE line and well over 100 in the regular line, so will worth it.

these were some of the bottle selections from the JS90+ list.   Note that again this was in addition to the standard wine list at dinner

2 minutes ago, walnut99 said:

Sfocruiser, 

 

I assume they still had wines that were under $9.00 per glass and between $9.00 and $15.00,  If not, there would be no reason to consider purchasing or upgrading to the Elite drink package.

 

John   

yes!  this was an addition.  We were back on the NS in Feb and upgraded to the EBP because of the wine selection.   the package probably covered about 80% of the normal wines by the glass (not JS90+)

1 minute ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I hoped this was not the situation.  The "new wine list" is designed to raise more revenue.    Just one example:  in the above wine by the glass list, Cloudy Bay for a 9 oz pour is $25.  Before the change, Maria Villa could be purchased for $41/bottle!  If I recall correctly, Cloudy Bay's price/bottle was $70+.  (Villa Maria was not available on Nieuw Statendam.)

Yea I agree about being disappointed with the JS90+ list, seems to be a large (larger than usual) markup.

This is from the Article

"Designed to help a wine novice make a selection that pleases their palate, the list presents wine aficionados with a range of cellar-worthy gems. All of the "JS 90+" wines by the glass and all of the bottle options were hand-selected by Suckling and consistently received a rating of at least a 90, which is "outstanding" on his 100-point rating scale. The list also features wines by the glass that are Holland America Line favorites and some of the most popular wines at sea." 

If they are just referencing the JS90 wines they were already rolled out on the NS in December (attached).   The wine packages were unchanged.

16 hours ago, molole said:

Can you choose your flight dates?  If I want to stay a few days before and after the cruise can I do that?  

They also have  a feature which allows a stopover so if going NYC-MUC-BCN you can stay a few days in Munich on the way to Barcelona

On 3/7/2019 at 4:01 PM, POA1 said:

 

 

Here's one for you: Does anyone remember black napkins for black dresses or tuxedos? 

About 4 years ago on the volendam the pinnacle manager brought a black napkin for my wife who was in a black cocktail dress.  Very nice touch 

he was also one of our favorite PG managers Jackie(sp?) he was from India but lived in California.  Think he has now left Hal to spend more time with Family 

1 hour ago, POA1 said:

 

We did that about 5 years ago when the beverage packages first came out and were charged for the whole amount. They credited off our Day 1 drinks. Since my info is a little old, I'd double check on the ship. 

on our recent NS cruise we purchased the package on day 2 and it exactly as POA1 describes.  Full price and but day 1 cocktails removed from your account.

1 hour ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

What happened to the Pinnacle menu?

i saw no steaks at all!  Did I miss something! 

Great pics.

Denise😊

Missed that page!! Will post tomorrow.   Losing signal as we sailed away!!

on to dinner!