MereBooty

2 hours ago, SeaCapt said:

You might want to double check that- when I looked today, the HIA no longer includes crew appreciation, making it a lot less worthwhile.

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. 

Just now, jimbob22 said:

there's a secret Indian vegetarian menu, you could likely search this forum for the topic.  I think you may need to give them a day or so heads up (or at least they prefer a heads up). Like you, we were overall really pleased with our dining on Rotterdam last month.

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.

1 hour ago, OlsSalt said:

nstead this signature dish got translated as a rather uninspired sunken berry claufoti, (looking more  photo #2) with the sweetened berries microwaved which made them too hot to eat until they finally cooled down

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.

17 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

Which is from Rudy’s?  Is it #2?  and what and where from is the other one?  Would you order the Profiteroles or the Salzburger Nockerl?  I do not understand this post.  Totally confused!

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.

37 minutes ago, mwj said:

We were very disappointed in the quality of NY Pizza on the NA.

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.

On 1/13/2023 at 2:39 PM, Bick53 said:

Currently on the Koningsdam - 24 day Mexico and Hawaii Cruise.

I  am very disappointed with the food choices from appetizers to dessert in the MDR and have been eating more often in the Lido.

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. 
 

6 hours ago, pamps2801 said:

Holland America, it’s a novelty to see shrimp on the dining menu, that’s if they have on there at all. Don’t even dream of seeing shrimp in the buffet

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. 

8 hours ago, oldbluff said:

It is 3pm in the MDR every sea day. Sometimes it is listed in the Daily What And Where and other times not. But is is held every sea day. At least on the Koningsdam.

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?)

20 minutes ago, Sir PMP said:

How much?

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

10 hours ago, UWDawg said:

Which sounds more authentic? 

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. 
 

16 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

Here’s a link to the “product planner” for these itineraries. Hopefully the link will work for everyone!  There’s some nice options in there!!!
 

https://gohal.com/app/uploads/2022/10/HAL_HA-MX-PN23-24_Planner_MX18291_v18.pdf 

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

1 hour ago, NavyCruiser said:

Norwegian, Regent 7 Seas, Silversea

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.

You are taking a risk of course by booking early, but it does not always work out in HAL's favor. I obsessively researched our Sept Alaska cruise and booked almost a year in advance. I checked throughout the 11 months before the cruise and never saw a better price. Booking late would have cost us an additional $1200 and lost us $400 OBC and Explore4

If you buy a winter coat at the beginning of the season and pay full price (because it is worth it to you), you can't go back to the store during the spring clearance sale and have them refund you the difference between what you paid and the clearance price.

You pays your money, and you takes your chances

Maybe someone needs to call and ask if there is a mosh pit instead of "dance floor"? 😎