NCnurse

So cool! We loved our Panama Canal cruise. Getting from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans in a day - amazing.

On 1/21/2023 at 3:42 PM, wcook said:

Because people online cannot see misery without trying to top it… you call that a problem??? You are indoors. With seats! Have you seen what’s been going on with Epic boarding out of San Juan 🙂

Yes, some people had seats.  Many did not.

On 1/21/2023 at 12:32 PM, Karaboudjan said:

I don't believe there have been any 'massive housekeeping cutbacks' at this time.  Anyway, they don't hold boarding until all of the rooms are clean...

There were big housekeeping cuts. Stewards now have double the number of staterooms.

This is 12:24 and no one has boarded yet! Could it be because of massive housekeeping cutbacks? The boarding area is literally SRO. 

Just now, Fighterone said:

So going back to my post from 12/6, I am still confused as to the America's Test Kitchen  demos. I scouted all the "When & Where" schedules and all I could find for the food demos were at 1pm and held in the World Theater. Does this mean that the Culinary Arts Center has been totally converted to accommodate Club Orange and that all of those wonderful America's Test Kitchen demonstrations that used to have their own venue are held in the theater? 
I want to thank you Ann, Sharita and Btimmer for all the information and beautiful pictures you posted during your cruise. I know it's a labor of love and one that can be quite costly with the internet access faltering and $$$ spent. 

If some of you are still on board, looking forward to meeting you at the M&M this Thursday at 1100 am.

 

 

Just this afternoon, the Test Kitchen demo chef said the rest of equipment (cameras, etc.) for his kitchen will be on board in Florida.  It will be installed in the World Theater.  The sessions are interesting in that there is video with chefs at the headquarters in Boston as well as the live demo on stage.

Just now, harryw said:

I apologize if this was answered already, but do the Lido Market and Explorations Cafe have made to order hot breakfast dishes?

 

Harry

Lido Market, yes!

Explorations Cafe is more like a bar cum Starbucks.  Fancy coffee drinks, alcohol and pastries.

1 hour ago, hrclark said:

Has there been karaoke?

Nope.  And with some lubrication, I’d be singing!

9 minutes ago, SeaBands said:

I bet the figure includes new book purchases that update the libraries. Can't believe that many books get stolen.

 Noticed yesterday that people are leaving books for sharing on the regular library shelves.  Took one for the trip home.  There were also times noted in the When & Where for book exchange.

31 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

I think the Dutch Cafe is open pretty early but no food until 11:30.

 

here are the coffees - nothing too fancy.

 

But they have their own special brew, available to bring home by the bag.

Just now, Vict0riann said:

And they do!   I was wrong - they have those cups of yogurt and granola, and croissants.  It’s just the kitchen that doesn’t open until 11:30.  Someone said this morning that they wished they had the uitsmijter earlier!

Uitsmijter is delicious!

20 hours ago, Vict0riann said:We were late to the party after the Pinnacle, and they had run out of most of the goodies, but I will put a string of beads in my bag, and will give it to you when next I see you.  (Mass?)

We have some goodies for you!  

Susan Thomas

Just now, bleacher04 said:

From Captain Albert's blog of December 14:

 

"The guests seem to be very happy, although I had one guest asking if there was any option to do a bit of sightseeing while on the way, so there was something else to see than just waves. I promised him that I would take it up with the head office and that we would do our best to have a large mountain on the route, next time we come this way."

 

I do hope this isn't anyone I know...

Some whales or dolphins would be nice!

Just now, Fighterone said:

Thank you for posting this. I will pack small cans of Perrier. Cannot be without my sparkling water. First world problem easily corrected, LOL.

 

I think they’ll be restocking in Ft. Lauderdale.  Not sure you can bring on any drinks besides one bottle of wine per person to be consumed in your cabin.

 

13 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Last night at dinner, we were informed that they have run out of the wine we had picked - the wine steward brought a different Italian Pinot Grigio.  I imagine they will be restocking in Fort Lauderdale.  We must be drinking a lot!  

 

Czaba said that that at the Cellar Master dinner he had brought in some of the “new” wines.  There will be changes to the packages, I guess.

 

We’re rocking and rolling this morning.  I wonder how many will be at breakfast!

Last night, for the first time, we noticed a dispenser of “sea sick” bags next to the elevator bank.  Tonight we have found much smoother water!  Thank you, Captain.

15 hours ago, scluvsrain said:

My stateroom door is metal and will hold magnets. Both front and back. I just tested it. 

 

The stateroom beds come with 2 or 3

pillows for each person. I like soft pillows and one of mine is soft yet supportive; the other is long (king size) and more firm. But a pillow is a very personal thing - what one person likes, another doesn’t. 

 

I havent seen or heard heard of any karaoke. 

They must vary, since my magnet would not stick to my door (Deck 7-Schubert-verandah cabin on the starboard side.)

Just now, beachbunny6 said:

 

I have found that to be true every time I was on a HAL ship with smoking allowed in the casino.  As far as I am concerned, if they are going to allow smoking, I will just have to stay out of there.  Why can't they have a completely separate casino room with a better air filtration system for the smokers?  That would solve everyone's problem with it, and no one would have to "do without."

 

Having non-smoking evenings is useless, because in an area with carpeting, draperies and upholstered chairs, the smoke smell has gotten into the fabrics and just because no one is actively smoking in there, it will still smell of smoke.  I agree with GeorgiaPeach51... I will just stay out of the casino and save a LOT of money!   But also miss a lot of fun.  

And Holland America will miss a lot of our money!  Norwegian’s new Bliss has a totally enclosed smoking room.  Much better.

Just now, Fighterone said:

What brand of Pinot Grigio did they run out of? 

Not sure, but they also ran out of Pellegrino and people who don’t want still water are peeved!

5 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Hello, and thanks so much for this detailed review.  What a wonderful job you are doing, and I appreciate so much the time you are taking to give so much info to those of us who are booked on this ship!

We are booked on this ship for a TA next year but have some concerns about the smoking on the ship.  Previous comments on reviews of the Koningsdam noted smoke coming out of the casino into the adjacent areas and stairwells.  Is that the case on this new ship?  Having been on neither, it is hard for me to picture the casino and surrounding areas.  It would be really helpful if you could weigh in with firsthand observations.

i also saw in yesterday’s posting of the daily that they had a non smoking evening in the casino.  Do you have any idea how often that occurs and if it is in effect for the whole day or just the evening?

I know smoking is a hot button topic and do not want to hijack your great thread with a big discussion,  but your input will help us determine if we keep or ultimately cancel our cruise.  Any info you can provide will be much appreciated!

They have had two non-smoking evenings so far on the cruise.  This is Saturday and we disembark on Wed. morning.

3 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Thanks to scluvsrain, VictOriann and MarkWiltonM for your quick replies.  All were a big help.  We normally enjoy playing roulette,  and have been doing Celebrity, where there is no indoor smoking, so we have become spoiled being in a casino where there is never a smoking issue and no concerns about people with cigarettes wandering a casino where there is supposedly a smoking and non smoking section— an impossibility that always leaves me SMH.

 

if we keep this cruise I think we would just avoid the casino...and that one thing alone would save us money!  😘. On a TA, if HAL operates like Celebrity, the casino would be open a lot due to the increased number of sea days, so that might increase the likelihood of smoke traveling.  But after so many Celebrity cruises, where we know the ships well and there’s nothing new (until they are all Edged), we really want to have the fun of discovering all a new ship has to offer.  Thanks again for your helpful replies.  CC folks are the BEST!

We have ventured into the casino a couple of times, but I admit the smoke bothered me.  In fact, the area the have designated “smoking” has some of my favorite slots.

21 minutes ago, scluvsrain said:

Came back to my cabin after dinner to find this nice gift. 

So beautiful.  I’m very excited to have one.

20 hours ago, Tutpug said:

I am truly enjoying all the work folks are doing on this thread keeping us up to date on the lovely aspects of this new ship. 

 

I’m a novice on cruising so this question may seem odd to the veterans here, but I’ve read on several sites about brining ones’ own favorite pillow as the ships pillows may be a bit ‘lacking’. Can anyone attest to the need to do so on NS? I’m booked in a Spay Veranda room and assume the bedding and pillows will be adequate but can anyone speak to that?

 

Many Thanks

 

Peter

We are in a verandah, but only difference between a regular verandah and spa is that the spa comes with two yoga mats and a Bose speaker system.  Pillows are not thick enough to my liking.  Then again, I usually use a special one made to maintain the curve in your neck.  If you have strong preferences (and room to pack one), I’d bring one.

Just now, Vict0riann said:

I haven’t noticed any karaoke.  But it may be somewhere!

I wish!  

Just now, Blingz said:

Ann, do you know if the cabin doors are metal?  Will a magnet stick to them??

Janice

They are metal but with wood veneer, so my magnet did not work.  The address plates have a bit of a gap behind them, so some folks hung signs or flags from them.

1 hour ago, trixiee said:

Get out!  I can’t imagine!  Did you follow YouTube video? Can you share your secret on how to pack all that in a carry on?

trickier, could you do a packing demo for us on one of our sea days?  We would love to learn.

2 hours ago, scluvsrain said:

My voyage has begun. 4:15 AM Uber ride to airport. Delta to Atlanta from Sacramento. Then evening flight From Atlanta to Rome. Long day and night ahead!!

 

No lost luggage for me this time. Traveling light. Only a carry-on and a backpack. Oh. And Snort. 

Do tell how you do over two weeks with only carry on!  And Snort is adorable.