mskitty1

I, too, will be traveling solo for my first time tomorrow on the Volendam.  My DH passed away on January 3, 2024.  We have had over 1000 actually sailing days on HAL.  I feel very comfortable with the wonderful crew looking out for me at times.  I will be very anxious to meet up with other women in the same situation of loss of a dear husband to share some of the time with on the cruise.  See you on Sunday on the Volendam!

A few years ago my DH & I took a very similiar cruise called “The American Adventure”round trip

from Ft Lauderdale to the Med.  We loved it!!! We took it twice-once on the Veendam and the other time on the Maasdam.  A lot of relaxing days sailing over then busy days with many ports and relaxing days back.  Of course, since we live in Florida-NO FLIGHTS!

I am considering booking it in 2025.  My DH passed away in January, 2024, so just not sure….

Late 80s (probably in 1989) our family was on the Big Red Boat (Premier Cruiseline).  They had a plan with a 3-4 day cruise and 3-4 days at Disney World.  First HAL cruise on the Veendam out of Pt Canaveral in March, 2005.  Since then have been a DAM ship over 1000 days.

Has anyone taken Brightline from Orlando to Port Everglades?  If so, any suggestions/pointers?

Am interested in how many of you from Central Florida (Orlando area) get to cruises leaving from Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale).  Is there a bus that you can take?  From where & cost info please.

My dear husband passed on recently.  We were 5 star Mariners with over 1000 actual sailing days on a DAM ship.  I'm thinking of booking the Volendam for April 21, 2024-Ft Lauderdale to Montreal.  Just a little nervous as it would be my first cruise without him by myself.  Actually, I'm a pretty independent person, but need some advice from you solo widowed cruisers.  I don't mind going to hear music or to the shows or the casino or to the pool by myself or even some shore excursions.  And in Canada I'm not at all afraid to venture off the ship by myself.  We have taken many, many Canadian cruises with HAL.  Are there activities/"meet n greets" for solos?  I would prefer to meet some people for conversation so am wondering about dining.  We always liked to have Early dining with the Fixed Seating so we could have the same waiters.  What do you find is best when on your own?   I know that the GREAT HAL crew will make it a fun enjoyable cruise!  

Who's been on the Zuiderdam recently?  Recently we booked the repositioning cruise from Quebec to Ft Lauderdale on September.  Would like to know about the music venues and specialty restaurants.  Thanks in advance for sharing information.  

We are considering a New England/Canada in May.  It would be on the Zaandam.  Can someone whose been on that ship recently give us an update?  Looking for information about activities like music venues (especially want to know if there is Lincoln Center & BB King), what types of World Stage entertainment is there, do the cabin bathrooms have showers or tubs, have they updated the tv system with larger tvs & the On Demand system?  

I’m not sure what’s wrong with your taste buds!  We have been on Royal Caribbean, Disney, Celebrity besides many, many, many HAL cruises.  By far, HAL has the best food!  RCCL does have good food in most specialty restaurants and do like the offer of shrimp cocktail every night.  Disney food is good, nothing fantastic.  They try to make everything to follow a theme.  Celebrity had good food as I remember, too.  BUT HAL’s food offerings win hands down.  Of course, neither myself or husband care for lobster which is a biggie for many! 

Come on people-we all have our likes/dislikes, favorite foods, personal preference, etc in foods!  HAL dining venues always offer a great selection of options.  If you find something that you don’t particularly like possibly due to the difference in the way it’s cooked, don’t order it-find something else!!!
 

My husband and I are 5 star Mariners on HAL and always are happy with the meals on 1 of the Dam Ships-somethings are real favorites and others we just don’t order.  For example, my husband likes the Lido’s scrambled eggs made with pasteurized eggs.  Not me!

If you test positive in Vancouver, they will NOT let you fly and you are responsible to find a hotel that will take you to quarantine for at least 5 days.  (The Fairmont at the airport will NOT take people who have tested positive.)  IT CAN BE A REAL NIGHTMARE!!!  OR  get yourself to Seattle to fly a domestic flight which doesn't require a test.  

Was concerned that with the Covid Protocols they would NOT be selling the used cards as they have done in the past.  Although when there has been a Norovirus outbreak, they stop selling them and at times require people at the gaming table to wear gloves.  Haven't ever been on a ship where the Casino gets closed-just some restrictions.  

Planning on packing several decks of cards for our cruise in October.

We are getting ready to finally get back to cruising on October 6th on the Eurodam.  My husband and I like to play Gin Rummy to relax while on a ship.  In the past you have been able to purchase "used" Casino playing cards for $1.00 from the Cashier in the Casino.  We are wondering if that is still true with the Covid Protocols in place.  So can someone let us know if the Cards are still available from the Casino.  

Once many years ago and we did not take travel insurance and then my sister died just a few days before our cruise resulting in a big loss.  We did get back port fees & taxes. 
 

5 years ago we were set to fly to Hong Kong for a month long Asian cruise.  About 1 month before the flight & cruise I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer (now a 5 year survivor).  The taxes & port fees were refunded to our credit card and we did get a little refund from HAL.  But the travel insurance covered everything else ( it was probably over a $10,000 cruise).  So consequently NOW we ALWAYS take out Travel Insurance!  It’s only a small cost in the big picture!!!  
 

Also,  good insurance in case of a Medical Evacuation.

Talked with an Agent at HAL yesterday and asked about my FCDeposits that had come from a previously cancelled cruise and now cancelled again.  She stated that the FCDs will be attached to our Mariner Number for future use.  I can NOT see them when I log on and she was not sure why, but assured me that they are there.  

So what is going to happen to our FCDeposit that we used from a previously cancelled cruise (2020) to book this Rotterdam cruise (8/1-21)?  

We have taken a Celebrity cruise on the Equinox a few years ago into the Caribbean.  It was a beautiful ship with nice cabins.  Our cabin steward was a lovely young gal.  But we were disappointed in the Music venues and unhappy with the availability of tables & chairs around the pool.  And if I remember right, the pool was ice cold--not favorable for Floridians in September.  Food was fine and they did offer shrimp cocktail every evening in the MDR.  Servers were OK-nothing special.  Shows were OK, but they encouraged people to record and put on social media so during the shows phones were held up somewhat blocking your view and annoying.  AND the bar staff was continuing trying to get us to purchase a drink package right up to the last day.  (We don't drink too much mostly 1 or 2 Cokes per day.)  OF course, we are 5 Star Mariners with HAL traveling well over 1000 days with them and we are GREAT fans of HAL.   We have been on other cruise lines and they all offer nice services to their guest, but our favorite line is by far-HOLLAND AMERICA!!!

I did the same thing once (only booked outbound flight/not return) and then when I wanted to go back to Flight Ease it wouldn't let me book anything.  NOT SURE WHICH, but either I had to call Flight Ease or my Travel Agent had to call to get the return flight booked.  A little flaw in the system!

Are they revamping the itinerary to fit requirements of the cruises being 7 days or less up until November 1, 2021?

As disappointing as it is with cancelled cruises, I guess we need to be patient and give HAL a week or so to get their itineraries set.  This last post indicates that they are working on them.  We have had many, many cruises cancelled this year and now into 2021.  (We usually are cruising 3-4 months of the year).  AND it looks like the only option from the US will be 7 day cruises.  UGH!  We love to be on a DAM ship for 3-4 weeks at least at a time.  

It will be very hard to sit back and wait, but a necessity right now.  This has been a STRANGE YEAR!!!  Just happy that we were on the Zaandam in January in Antarctica and from mid February through mid March from Ft. Lauderdale through the Panama Canal to San Diego and then onto Hawaii returning on March 18th--just in time to STAY at HOME.  

We received an email today about cancellations until March 31, 2021.  But looking closer at the email, I see that it is for a Booking that we have in October, 2021.  It leaves from Barcelona on 10/30 and arrives in Ft Lauderdale on 11/13.  NOT sure why that is cancelled.  We are booked on the same ship (Westerdam) on 10/6-30/2021.  

AND we do have a booking for January (Nieuw Statendam--21 days) that is definitely cancelled with the "PAUSE", but have not received any email about that cruise.  Also have a 14 day cruise from Ft Lauderdale to Montreal in April that will be cancelled too.  UGH!!!  Guess my travel agent will be busy sorting this all out for us.  

Was just curious and tried dummy bookings on the Zaandam starting in January  through June.  Still NO LUCK getting to cabin selection using both Edge & Chrome.  NO problems with Volendam during that same time frame OR any other cruises of interest to us.  AN UNUSALLY PROBLEM!!!  Frustrating if you want to book something and a particular cabin on your own.  BUT I do know that my Travel Agent (happens to be my daughter) was able to see the available cabins to book us on the Zaandam in April.  

REALLY READY TO START CRUISING AGAIN!!!  

I've also had the same problem for several weeks!  (Not true with other cruises-just with Zaandam)  We were still able to book on the first Canada/New England cruise in April, 2021.  My TAgent (actually my daughter) was able to see the available cabins when booking us and we selected the 1 we wanted.  NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM!  (Plans to sell Zaandam?, trying to adjust occupancy?,  etc.)  If NO TA, I'm sure you could call HAL and select the cabin you want and book the cruise.  

Brought tears to my eyes!  Wonderful caring Indonesian crew from HAL!!!  We miss you and hope to see you again real soon.

Have had issues with trying to price a particular cabin for for some cruises especially ones in first few months of 2021.