rsverdier

We were on the same cruise as Noggins was, and as Penton already mentioned: we had a lovely cruise. Of course there were things that could have been better (we had some issues with the airco, but those were resolved pretty fast, and you can tell that there wasn't enough time to finish the complete refurbishing) but those were really just minor things. If I had the chance, I would board Onward again today.

Most (if not all) will take credit cards, at least Visa and Mastercard. AMEX and Diner’s might be more problematic, because those cards are not really widely accepted in Europe anyway.

Count on €50 - €60. It is also possible to order a taxi upfront online, this will get you a better price. An option here is TCA (https://www.tcataxi.nl/en/). After you collected your luggage, go to the STA desk (STA stands for Schiphol Transfer Assistance) at the far end of the arrivals hall near Arrivals 4. The driver will pick you up there. Another option is Marcus Executive Car Services. You can order a car in advance through https://www.marcus.nl/en/ but they also have their own desk in the arrivals hall near arrivals 4.

Cabin 7080 Ship Onward Date 21/05/22 Pros Near lift / stairs and almost opposite self service laundry Cons We had some issues with our airco, but the staff took care of that quickly Book again? Yes

I am sure you will love Hotel Jakarta. It looks like Room Mate Aitana has not opened an allotment yet for dates after Apr 2, 2023. Should you by any chance want to change your reservation from Hotel Jakarta to Room Mate Aitana, you can always call them directly (+31 20 89 14 800) or send your reservation by mail (aitana.reservations@room-matehotels.com).

Well ... There are also burger joints in the neighbourhood of your hotel (McDonald's, Burger King but also a bit more upscale places where you can find so-called gourmet burgers). Not too far from your hotel, you will find a diner-like place that serves steaks and that is frequented mainly by locals (their steaks are famous in town, just be careful when you order, because you can choose between beef steak and horse steak, and that last variety is not for everyone). Their website is http://pietdeleeuw.nl/ But like @markeb said: if you are here and you have the opportunity, step out of your comfort zone and try some of the local delicacies! The Dutch are a bit more picky about their food than the French, so, apart from the occasional liver, you will actually find very little "exotic" meats on the menu. Dutch cuisine has been influenced heavily by the Indonesian cuisine though (has got something to do with our colonial past ...), so son't be surprised to find things like satay with peanut sauce on the menu of even the simplest diners.

From the hotel exit, turn right and then the first left again (you will pass some kind of gate). This is the Reguliersdwarsstraat and it is full of bars (a lot of them gay, just so you know) and restaurants. There is a nice pizza place all at the end of the street, Rossini (https://rossini-amsterdam.nl/en/). Located a few steps back is Dynasty (https://restaurantdynasty.nl/) if you are into Asian food. It's not the best Asian restaurant in town, but it's decent and it's been there for over 25 years. Opposite Dynasty is Garlic Queen (https://www.garlicqueen.nl/en/) for all things ... garlic 😉 They actually use garlic in all their dishes. They even have garlic ice cream for dessert. A restaurant I used to visit a lot is De Jaren (https://cafedejaren.nl/en/# ), just a bit further down the road from your hotel, but I must admit it has been a few years since I have been there. If you exit the hotel and turn left to walk along the canal, you will eventually reach the Utrechtsestraat. There are a lot of nice dining options there, too, like ACE (https://www.restaurantace.nl/menu/), De Juwelier (https://www.restaurant-dejuwelier.nl/restaurantdejuwelier) and Tujuh Maret (https://tujuhmaret.nl/) which is an Indonesian restaurant.

Have a look at Ine's answer above. Funny thing is - dinner canal cruises are things that I, as someone who lives here, normally wouldn't do 😉 So I really can't tell you which one is better ...

We're booked on the Azamara Onward next week, from Ravenna to Athens. Just 6 more nights before we sail.

Just a tip: since The Netherlands came out of Covid and all restaurants are open again without restrictions, everybody in Amsterdam (really everybody) wants to go out for dinner. Especially when you are here during the weekend, it is important to make reservations waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy ahead. Some restaurants have been fully booked for every weekend for the coming two months or so, it's crazy.

Of course! 🙂 I live directly opposite the Room Mate Aitana, if you're booked there, don't do anything, erm, inappropriate in your room because I can actually see you from my terrace 😛 So, restaurant recommendations. Since I'm a bit of a foodie (strange to say this about yourself), don't expect burger joints or comparable restaurants on the below list. If that is what you would like though, let me know and I might have some suggestions as well. If you're into fine dining (and don't mind spending a bit of money) you should definitely go to Mos (https://mosamsterdam.nl/en/) which is located just on the other side of the street from the Room Mate Aitana. It has been awarded with a Michelin Star since 2017. Another option is Bistrot Neuf on the Haarlemmerstraat (https://bistrotneuf.nl/en/) which has more of a French bistro feel. Expect things like oysters, duck liver, escargots, steak tartare and lobster on the menu. Another fine dining option is Wolf Atelier (https://www.wolfatelier.nl/en) located on an old railroad bridge, located just a few minutes on foot from the Aitana Hotel. If you like Italian food, either go to La Fiorita (https://lafiorita.nl/, website in Dutch only but the menu has an English explanation) or Caffè Toscanini (https://restauranttoscanini.nl/en/), which, other than the name suggests, is a proper restaurant and not a café. Both are located in the Jordaan area. For a more traditional Dutch experience, go to Eetcafé Rosereijn (https://www.rosereijn.nl/, website in Dutch only but the menu has English explanations). Een eetcafé is more like a diner, so not too expensive, this is somewhere I would go to if I just wanted to have nice dinner but don't feel like cooking it myself, so not for a special occasion. It has some very traditional Dutch bistro food, like beef steak, fried liver and chicken satay with peanut sauce and french fries. A little bit further out (you can either get there by bus, line 48, which has stops directly in front of both the Aitana Hotel and the restaurant, or you might want to take a taxi or Uber or Bolt) is Restaurant Gary Loen (http://www.restaurantgaryloen.nl/). Gary has won several cooking contests like The Taste of Germany and started his own French Indonesian fusion restaurant in Amsterdam. He now only has a 4-course shared dining menu, and he is open from Wednesday until Saturday. OK, one more fine dining option! This one is actually right in the middle between the Mövenpick and the Room Mate Aitana; it's Restaurant Bougainville in Hotel TwentySeven on Dam Square. Prepare to be dazzled and bring your credit card 😉 If you go there, start with cocktails in Bar TwentySeven before you start your dinner. This restaurant is see and be seen, so you might want to dress for the occasion. If you need more info, just let me know!

Should you choose the Mövenpick, there are a few pretty good restaurants in walking distance from that hotel as well 😉 I can really recommend Choux (https://choux.nl/, between the PTA and Central Station) and also Scheepskameel (https://scheepskameel.nl/, website only in Dutch, less than 10 mins on foot from the Mövenpick). Sorry, not really helpful if you want an easy decision 🙂

Yeah, we've decided to do that, too. Better safe than sorry!

If you plan to spend some time in Amsterdam and do some sightseeing, I would recommend the Room Mate Aitana. From there, it is only a few minutes on foot to the Jordaan area, with its canals, little back streets, shops and restaurants. On embarkation day, it's only a 5 minute taxi ride from the Room Mate hotel to the cruise terminal (or a 28 minute walk). From the Mövenpick, because of its location next to the cruise terminal, it's a 25 minute walk into town, or you can take tram 26 to Central Station (just one stop) and walk from there.

Does anyone know if Azamara accepts the European Digital Covid Certificate/Green Pass as proof of vaccination? Or should I print it on paper?

Our online check-in did not become available until 28 days before departure ...

We are due to sail on the Onward from Ravenna to Athens on 21 May. We received a mail from Azamara with their new testing procedure and requirements for cruises that start in Italy, but there is a mixed message. First, it states that an antigen or PCR test is required to board the ship, but then it says: “Although many of our guests are COVID-19 tested as a prerequisite to travel to the ship, for those guests that do not have this requirement (for instance US domestic travel, inter-EU travel, or those driving to the port), we strongly recommend all guests take a COVID-19 self-test at home prior to traveling.” Since we are travelling within the EU, a green pass with proof of vaccination is enough to travel to Italy. Is there anyone sailing today or tomorrow that can tell me if a test is actually required to board?