MereBooty

This is an early booking HIA so it includes crew appreciation (this is grabbed from the 28 day cruise so amounts are higher but the 14 has the same deal)

Zaandam charter https://olivia.com/trip/2024_san_diego_to_mexico_cruise/faqs if you go to booking page it mentions Zaandam April 13-20, 2024 Olivia Cruises

Looks like it may have been chartered https://olivia.com/trip/2024_san_diego_to_mexico_cruise/faqs If you go to the booking page it does mention Zaandam

We were on the Koningsdam soon after you and it did not appear to be short staffed although some of the MDR waiters appeared to be in learning mode still. January 2023.

I knew about that but did not request it. I did put on my post-cruise survey that they should consider rolling it into the regular menu though. I did have the aloo masala and eggs bhurji for breakfast in the MDR and enjoyed it.

This is absolutely NOT what we were just served on the Koningsdam last week. We were served a large souffle over berries. I would have complained if we got cloufouti. And the bouillabaisse was great. The broth was exceptional (and "thin" as it should be)

I think so much of it comes down to what food style people want. We were very happy with the food quality and selection in the Koningsdam MDR. I did not save the menus so cannot remember everything we ate, but on the last night we had beef carpaccio, tuna and salmon tartar and port braised lamb shank ... all were wonderful. We would not be impressed by shrimp cocktail and steak, although DH had the hanger steak (I think?) with chimichurri one night and reported it to be excellent. I usually lean towards fish and vegetarian selections and I think they could up their vegetarian options on the main menu.

The Salzburger Nockerl from Rudi's is closer to #1, but the one we got only had one big mountain, not the traditional three peaks representing the mountains overlooking Salzburg. There were whole berries underneath it instead of just a berry compote. It looks huge but is very light. Super sweet of course.

I was surprised that I liked the pizza so much on the Koningsdam last week. It is a style I like - thin crispy crust, not too much cheese and sauce, and some almost burnt patches from the properly very hot pizza oven. It was better than the pre-Covid pizza we had from NY Pizza on the Eurodam. I had bad food on the ship - awful churros from the Lido and a breakfast sandwich from NY Pizza and deli with half-melted cheese and cold interior - but most of what we tried was good to excellent.

We were on the first seven days of this cruise and thought the food in the MDR was excellent and the service was usually good, with a few minor hiccups.

There is shrimp on the MDR menu and in the lido tonight and I believe there was last night as well. And the lido does not close at 2: some stations are open 2-4.

Thank you!

A sea day and I don’t see afternoon tea on the schedule? Am I missing it? I will be very disappointed if there is no tea service when I board next month.

I do not know about cabs but there is a public bus route from the airport to the cruise terminal and SD buses are wheelchair accessible. Runs about every 15 minutes.

It is available on my green card this time, unlike the last offer. thank you!

Here is a vlog that includes NYE on NS last year to at least give you a feel

I found this listed last night on an MDR menu as a “featured beverage” on Navigator for $7.75 (I am not on board but since my upcoming cruise is on Koningsdam I think that is what it shows me?)

Your guess would be as good as mine, but I am guessing the top end of current beers, so perhaps $8?

To be offered on all ships starting in January. This will make DH happy as all improvements in beer selection do. "Holland America Line is saying cheers to its 150th Anniversary by introducing a limited-edition Pilsner beer – HAL Pils – made in partnership with Pike Brewing that will be served on board across the fleet. " https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/holland-america-line-launches-150th-anniversary-limited-edition-pilsner-beer-in-commemorative-can-1031832575

Neither. They make it from a powdered mix that has guar gum and starches. I think the banana is added in the Dole recipe to mimic the mouthfeel with ingredients consumers can easily get. Disney shared a recipe when the parks were closed in 2020 that had ice cream added for the same effect. Real Dole Whip is vegan now I believe.

Thank you! They seem to be targeting me personally with this one"STEINBECK’S SEA OF CORTEZ"

These are the only three offers I see on my green card and NCL is the only one that is spend $1000 get $350 back

I asked a similar question a few years ago and I now realize I never followed back up to report on the result. I shared all the pros and cons with my family and let them vote, and they were unanimous in choosing a shared larger suite. It worked out great for us and we loved every minute of the trip. We are by-and-large an easy going, introverted family and I can see this would not be best for all or even most families. And our kids were past being moody teenagers. Our favorite perks were the Pinnacle breakfasts the dedicated concierge in the Neptune lounge where we could get help without waiting in a line (and while picking up afternoon snacks and coffees) and the balcony big enough for all of us at once. The fold out sofa bed was comfortable enough for us.