MajMom96

I so wish there was a "like" button one could click on this web site....maybe also a "not happy" one as well. so many posts I would like to support (or perhaps disagree with) without having to go through the entire posting process...but for this posting it was worth it!! I agree wholeheartedly RuthC.!

There is. A booking agent told me that the best way to make our dislikes about the website changes known is to send feedback directly to HAL. The feedback “button” is located on the homepage, lower right. It’s a small pop up menu when you scroll over it. It’s something many of us just ignore, but now would be the time to start overwhelming them with negative feedback on their website changes!

I guess I’d better check on my Venice flights. Thanks for the heads up everyone!

This thread was funny before - now it’s getting off the hook.

 

Nudists, bathrobes, 6* resorts, puritanical mores . . .

 

But wait! There’s more!

 

 

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Oh definitely, there will be more! I tell what I think is a simple, comical story about a man in a robe and some have to opine and imply I’m not adaptable or tolerant of other customs and norms. Go figure! Right now it’s Martini time! [emoji483]

Sorry, but I’ve never seen people hanging out in public areas like the cafes and hotel lobbies in their bathrobes in 5 Star resorts in the US, Canada, Hawaii or Mexico. Only in the pool and spa areas. In fact, the resorts I’ve been in would certainly have asked a guest to leave the public area if they were dressed in a robe and just hanging out reading the paper or drinking coffee (other than the spa or pool, as I’ve mentioned).

Please note, I’m NOT talking against robes in the appropriate areas, like the spa and pool.

I believe that if you check, you will find that wearing bathrobes as cover ups to pools etc. is quite common in some 5 and 6 star resorts in Canada, US, and US Hawaii. This is not simply a European phenomenon, it was just an example.

 

Many Europeans may not be aware of how puritanical and narrow some customs are in parts of North America in the same way that many North Americans are not familiar with European customs before they visit.

Sorry, but I’ve never seen people hanging out in public areas like the cafes and hotel lobbies in their bathrobes in 5 Star resorts in the US, Canada, Hawaii or Mexico. Only in the pool and spa areas. In fact, the resorts I’ve been in would certainly have asked a guest to leave the public area if they were dressed in a robe and just hanging out reading the paper or drinking coffee (other than the spa or pool, as I’ve mentioned).

Yes. Just an example of how some people think that what they do and what they wear is the norm and the accepted practice world wide. Or should be. We feel a little sorry for some people go through life with these types of blinders on-never realizing or accepting that others have different practices. Especially since the world is getting smaller every day.

 

Not much different that giving children a little wine at dinner or topless sunbathing/beaches. Common and accepted in many parts of the world.

Okay, to be clear this was on an Alaskan cruise. Maybe the robes being worn is the norm in 4 and 5 Star resorts in Europe, but this was a US based cruise, where I don’t think wearing bathrobes in public areas other than the spa and pool is the norm. Doesn’t your comment work both ways? Shouldn’t non-US people also be expected to be “accepting of different practices” in our country that are different from theirs? I totally agree that when I visit another country, it is up to me to adapt to their norms and practices. I just think that consideration should work both ways. IMHO.

Sorry, but did you say that your sister paid for transfers from the Movenpick from the cruise port that is literally next door? Did they at least pick her up in a golf cart and drive her over?

Sorry, I guess my story was misleading. My sister booked her air through HAL and the pre-cruise hotel package for two nights in Amsterdam. The package included all transfers from the airport, two nights at the Movenpick w/breakfast, and luggage drop off at the Movenpick on embarkation day. We didn’t book air or the hotel through HAL because we had enough CC points to cover that portion of our trip. So since we didn’t book the hotel through HAL, they wouldn’t let us book the transfers through them.

If it does not matter what people wear in the dining room, what possible concern can there be about someone wearing a bathrobe in other places?

There are just some “things” I don’t want to see outside the cabin, if you catch my drift. [emoji12]

I've actually started to see this on a number of ships across the various lines, usually on the lido deck and in the buffets. I think when bathrobes are provided, some think that it's a suitable cover up for their swimming attire.

Although I don’t agree with wearing bathrobes around the ship, I can almost understand it on Lido. But this gentleman actually wore his EVERYWHERE! Two of his most popular places was sitting in one of the chairs in the atrium by Guest Services (reading his paper) and relaxing in the Dutch Cafe with coffee and a Danish. Definitely pushing casual to the limit! LOL. We kept wondering if HAL lost his luggage and he was making a visible protest. But we never asked. LOL. He did make for interesting conversation and even made it into our vacation photo book!

It is indeed about the Koningsdam at Amsterdam - it's why I picked this thread to ask the question on!

 

 

 

Now that's given me an idea: If you have enough chutzpah, could you do this even if you're not actually staying at the Movenpick?

 

 

 

If they could leave it with the HAL rep in the lobby, then I was thinking that they might also be able to find a comfortable place in the public areas of the hotel in which to wait, and to get some refreshment too.

LOL! Funny you should say that because that’s exactly what we did. Even though we were staying at the Movenpick for our three days in Amsterdam, we did not book it through HAL and we did not arrange for any pre-cruise transfers. But my sister did. So when she took her luggage to the lobby, I followed her with ours, and I was very honest with the porter who took her luggage that I didn’t arrange for luggage transfer but asked if would he take it. He said “no problem” and he even had me wheel it to the loading dock with him (his hands were full) to assure me that my luggage was being put with all the other HAL luggage going on the Koningsdam. The loading dock was literally just outside the door off the hotel lobby. I gave him a nice tip and we went to breakfast at the Movenpick cafe and saw our luggage in our cabin later that afternoon. It was great! Just be sure to have your cruise tags on your luggage and I’m sure you’ll be fine. Worst case, they say no, and you wheel it next door to the cruise terminal (it really is very close) and drop it off there. I’ll add that the lobby of the Movenpick is very busy on embarkation day so no one knows who was staying at the hotel and who was not.

Our high school uniform was grey slacks (medium, not charcoal), navy blazer, and a white (not blue) shirt. You got sent home if you were out of uniform. It changed part way through my time to casual. Times change. We adjust to change.

 

I suspect that one issue some people have is that many more people now have the ability to cruise. It is not so exclusive as it once was. HAL, etcare mass market lines. The fact that they are mass market implies much. There are some who no doubt still believe that HAL is a premium line. Think again.

 

Premium lines don't have 15 or so ships and don't blow out last minute 7 day Alaska cruises at $399 or sometimes less. I realize that there is a big difference between those per diems and a world cruise or Pdam. But this is the market that HAL has chosen to play in. There is no longer any social cachet in taking a HAL cruise. It just one of many. You can expect a wide variety of cruisers from a wide variety of backgrounds and countries with different customs.

Have you cruised NCL or Carnival recently? Holland America is definitely a premium line by comparison!

My DH and I are 4 star mariners with HAL and have sailed on other lines as well. My mother is 96 years young and turns 97 in Aug. and has never been on a cruise. She has been saying she would like to go on a cruise the last few years. My dad died earlier this year and mom needed something to look forward to do so...we have booked cabins on a short 4 night coastal cruise Vancouver to San Diego. My DD will share a room with her grandmother and assist if needed. Mom uses a walker most of the time but has been in pretty good health. Any tips from those of you who have traveled with their older family members would be appreciated.

 

 

 

 

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You can arrange a wheelchair at the port to take her through the checkin lines and they will hand her off to a crew member with a wheelchair to get onto the ship. Once on board, you can go to guest services and arrange for a wheelchair to take her off the ship when you disembark. The wheelchairs work well since the gangways are very long and can be difficult with a walker. And if she’s like my mom and doesn’t think she needs a wheelchair, remind her that she’s your excuse to skip to the head of the line! LOL. Enjoy!

Hello all I'm looking at possibly cruising with holland america at the end of the year. My wife and I are interested in the southern carribean. We want to wait till after Hurricane season or towards the end of hurricane season too book. I'm looking for where I can find info on what ports are good/bad. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated

The Southern Caribbean is great, it’s my favorite Caribbean itinerary. We loved the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) and the Dominican Republic. The islands are cleaner and more affluent than other Caribbean islands which makes them very pleasant to tour and very welcoming to tourists.

You have no idea how funny that statement is given the meaning of "pants" in England is "underwear".

Now that is definitely stretching the interpretation of “casual dress”! LOL. Although on one recent cruise, there was a man who wandered all over the ship in his bathrobe and slippers. We thought that was a little odd. [emoji12]

A Prinsendam Lido Restaurant feature that one ought to know when one sails on her: As kazu has posted, one side of the Restaurant's offerings are not the same as the other side.

 

After two breakfasts on one side of the venue with no Croissants, I asked a supervisor about why none were available. "They are on the other side", he said. And they were in a rotating warm contraption. Who knew? Not me!

 

On any HAL ship in the Lido Restaurant in my opinion, one needs to "browse before you graze".

This is true. The two sides on the Nieuw Amsterdam and Koningsdam are also slightly different. Some stations are the same, like the salad station, but there are a few that are different, so definitely walk all the way around before you decide.

Two points:

I would say: "What they consider to be the finer points."

Things change. I remember when I would wear a suit to fly.

I really have no problems with people who want to maintain traditions as long as it is a personal effort and doesn't extend to insisting that others comply with their wishes.

Why am I not surprised that you felt the need to caveat my comments. [emoji12][emoji12] There really was no need to do that since it was just my opinion, and yes, I do consider dressing up for dinner as one of the finer points of cruising. LOL.

The traditionalists actually are changing with the times. I remember when we wore gowns for dinner every night and we saved the fancier more formal gowns for formal evenings. Now, anything goes on most nights, and just “nicer” attire reserved for gala nights, but not necessarily tuxes and gowns. But even that is starting to fade away, so I don’t think it’s fair to criticize traditionalists for wanting to keep a small part of what started them on cruising in the first place. Please, I’m not trying to be argumentative, just expressing my opinion like everyone else.

We took the Koningsdam out of Amsterdam in 2016 and we were able to start checkin at 11:00. It was slightly easier for us because we were staying at the Movenpick (the hotel connected to the cruise terminal) so we dropped off our luggage with the HAL representative in the hotel lobby, but we saw other passengers with luggage checking in as early as 11:00. And HAL doesn’t enforce the checkin times. If you get there earlier than your designated time, they’ll just put you in the next available boarding group after Suite guests and 4/5 Star Mariners. It was a pretty efficient process and we didn’t have to wait long. They usually start general boarding by noon.[emoji483]

Could be you’re right. I think it’s because they’re are more traditionalists that cruise on Holland America who appreciate what used to be the finer points of cruising and are trying to keep some of those traditions alive. [emoji6]

*there are

True, the other lines do have discussions of dress codes but Holland seems, JMO, to have taken the lead. Once upon a time, I would have said Celebrity, but now I think Holland is more opinionated.

Could be you’re right. I think it’s because they’re are more traditionalists that cruise on Holland America who appreciate what used to be the finer points of cruising and are trying to keep some of those traditions alive. [emoji6]

Did you link your reservation with your parents’ reservation? If you did this, then you can indicate that both cabins must be upgraded together. In this case, that wouldn’t have happened since they were already in a Neptune Suite. But I guess it’s already been decided for you this time. But I would say this is not the fault of HAL since you went through a TA to make your reservation. You can check the capacity of the ship and if available, you could try to change cabins once you’re on board if you don’t like the cabin upgrade you received. Good luck.

Some good suggestions to know your pricing, although we’ve found that we still get a good deal with the Explore-4 since we like the SBP and the Pinnacle Grill. So be sure to include those items in your value proposition. We have the Explore 4 for our Mediterranean cruise in August (booked last year), and even though the cabin price fluctuated lower a few months ago, we still made out better with the Explore 4 and now our cabin price is significantly higher than when we booked.

I vote with the ones suggesting New England for the reasons expressed above. I had always wanted to do the Hawaii cruise so we did it last year. We’re seasoned cruisers and generally love sea days, but it was too much for us. On a 15 day cruise, 2/3 of your days are at sea. The waters were fine, not too rough, but all those consecutive days at sea tended to get monotonous. At least with NE, you have a choice to stay on the ship or visit the port. No choices when you’re out at sea! But I’m sure you’ll love either trip. Welcome back to cruising! [emoji483]

Any one have ideas about why dress code threads become so more divisive and raucous in the Holland forum versus, RCI or X?

I think they’re pretty divisive on the other lines too. I know that RCI updated their dress code in 2017 to specifically state “shorts are not allowed in the main dining room for dinner”. That one always gets some people going. At least on HAL, it doesn’t seem as though anyone is considering shorts at dinner. Jeans I can live with. 🤣🤣

All sea days? Or just one at random? This is a 7 night cruise, Sunday to Sunday and in Ports on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

For a 7 day cruise, you’ll have two gala nights. Check your itinerary and see which days are sea days. Gala nights won’t be on the first or last night, so that leaves five. If you don’t have two sea days remaining, then check for your earliest port return day. And if you’re cruising glacier bay, that’s essentially a sea day.

I “won” an art piece at the one and only art auction I ever attended on the Ryndaam. It was “valued” at $500. When I went to claim the print, I was informed that it did not come with the frame and they wanted a ridiculous amount of money to ship it to me with insurance. And I couldn’t take it with me because it was just the “demo” print and they would send me a pristine, limited edition print. It was such a scam. Now I swing by, grab a glass of free champagne, and leave!