BumperII

Budget is not a dirty word. It is simply a spending plan that allows you to get the most of what you want for your hard earned money.

It makes no sense at all for you to spend your money on what someone else approves of.

We have always believed in saving the best for last. We started out with inside guarentees until we got a good feel of what worked for us. That tactic allowed us to go on the costlier excursions. At disembarkation we were just as broke and just as happy as the folks in the Pinnacle Suite.

Now we have been in every class except the Pinnacle Suite. We have many fond memories of cruises in each of the cabin types. We are not locked into anything.

The nice thing about HAL is that it is possible to custom fit a cruise for any taste and any budget. For us a balcony is nice on Alaska and Canada - New England cruises, and a waste of money in the Carribbean. That probably doesn't apply to anyone else but us. It is OK. One isn't better than the other, just a little different.

The most important thing for me is just getting on the ship. Heck, I'll sleep on the sofa if need be. We all have unlimited wants and limited resources. The trick is to get what you want, the best bang for a buck!.

Inside, outside, balcony or suite, enjoy your cruise. Bon Voyage

Although I have been reading this board preparing for my cruise, this is my first post.

Leaving from Montreal this Saturday on the Maasdam. We booked an E guaranty and were assigned to a C cabin (576)

Is this a good location/ cabin ?

Thank you all for the great information you have already provided.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. You are correct, there is a wealth of information here for both the novice and experienced cruiser.

The upgrade From E to C is a matter of location, the staterooms are identical outside cabins on the Main deck. The C is preferred because it is closer to midships. Sooooooo, IMHO you received what you paid for at a bit more favorable location.

Reminds me of a dinner on a cruise ship when one of the table mates asked how my day went.

I honestly replied that I have spent the afternoon rescuing two fail damsels in distress. Of course the table mate bit and asked what kind of distress these damsels were in.

And I answered: "They couldn't get the cork out of the bottle."

Actually they had a corkscrew in the room. Any cabin with a mini bar usually has a corkscrew too.

We have never bothered to bring wine on board. The jug wines or bar stock is more than adequate. Anyone that really knows fine wine realizes that cruise ships are not a good environment.

Ships are like Women, the older they get, the more experienced :D

 

I am sure that she has reached an age where she can satisfy even the most difficult passenger, she is still a beauty.

Just remember to wash your hands ten or fifteen times a day, and enjoy the cruise.

The only cruise we've taken on the Eurodam was in a J inside cabin. These cabins are really nice, among the largest inside cabins in the business.

There were no noise issues on our cruise.

In many countries what you make is public information. It is simple to find out what a neighbor makes, what a co-worker makes, or even a cruise table-mate. And since I, a taxpayer, paid you I could consider it definitely my business.

 

One cruise I was a beer taster for a large unnamed brewery. Another I was a cryptozoologist, celebrating finding a legendary beast- but since it was yet unpublished, it was all very hush-hush. In other situations I have been a financial advisor, a match maker, and a recently disowned, famous family, trust fund brat. I will never see any of these people again, so why do I care? You're all just lucky I wear pants.

Like you style. How about

a: I'm gainfully unemployed.

b: I'm in charge of keeping out of the way.

c: We are independently poor.

Sex, religion, and politics.

 

Danger!

Also a good idea to lay off of anything a financial nature, whether it be your net worth or the cruise fare. I usually agree that we know where our next meal is coming from, and let it go at that.

Deck 6, Lower promanade deck, mid ship. Right off the atrium, laundramatte handy, and steps away from the biggest balcony on the ship.:)

I'm sure that it is very clear to you what information you are seeking, but I don't have a clue what you want. It might be helpful if you would pose some specific questions.

For our first eight cruises to Alaska we booked nothing but inside cabins. We used the money we saved for shore excursions. In Alaska, some of the excursions are both fantastic and pricey. Now that we have done just about everything, we book the Vista suites, actually just a stateroom with a balcony. We use a highly reputable on line travel agency and use the same rep for every cruise. She books us in such a way that we occasionally get an upgrade or upsell offer. For us, there are no bad veranda suites on the Maasdam, so we just book the most economical and let the chips fall where they may.

There is no instant expertise, but there is a wealth of experience shared on this board. It is going to take a little while to figure out your own cruising style, and what works for you. The worst thing you could do is spend your hard earned money on accomodations that I like. It is going to take awhile to figure out what you like best.

Bon Voyage

We have cruised Alaska eight times out of Vancouver, BC on both Princess and HAL, always b2b so we could have 14 day cruises. We have done this cruise out of Seattle on the Amsterdam twice. We have done other cruises on the Maasdam ten times.

Long story short, Alaska is our favorite cruise and the Beautiful and Elegant Maasdam is our favorite ship. I don't see how one can go wrong.

That said, providing my health holds up, we will most likely book this Alaska cruise on the Maasdam in 2016 as well.

Yes, the Maasdam is getting old, but this old gal still has plenty of snap in her garters.

Rudeness is everything it is cracked up to be. And there are always a very few to prove that statement correct. But for the most part, the Lido works very well, and the shipmates are overwhelmingly courteous. I don't like the rudeness either, but there is no way I would let the occasional incident to ruin a cruise. It just isn't that big a deal.

The upsell offer will not be any better than what it takes to fill the staterooms. No thank you now may improve the offer later. We were once offered an upsell for $2000.00, we declined, and later paid $1000.00. The key is to wait until you hear an offer you agree to and then closing the deal immediately.

The other 3 ships all belong to RCI. The season is beginning to slow down. We are well past high season.

Sounds like a good time to look for a last minute booking!!

Checking in for the Beautiful and elegant Maasdam!

Better late than never. Enjoying the pleasant banter!

Good day all.

 

 

 

Could someone please confirm?

 

Thank you,

 

Yes, it is possible to do that. That doesn't mean it is a good idea. In over 25 cruises on HAL we have never found reason to mess with the hotel service charge. On the other hand we have never had a perfect cruise either, but they were still excellent experiences.

 

Of all the ways one could deal with a problem aboard ship, messing with the hotel service charge is the absolute last resort. We haven't found anything that couldn't be straightened out without doing that.:)

Here, just outside Philadelphia, it is time for a good book, hot chocolate and a rocking chair by the fireplace! After losing power for a week last year, we installed an emergency generator. (about the price of a cruise). We will be thinking of you all.:)

Joining in the fun!

First time on HAL ship.

Is there a convenient electric plug in in inside cabin bathrooms on the Statendam for a electric toothbrush. Cruise is for 30 nights. I love my electric toothbrush, if possible and not too much a hassel. Or, go manual? :confused:

 

thanks

We use disposable battery powered electric tooth brushes. They run on AA size. Two AA batteries will last for the whole month. These things only cost a few dollars.

I read that article too, and found little to disagree with. One establishes very few long lasting relationships with entertainers and crew members. We come at this from very different perspectives, they are at work and we are on vacation.

I think all of these folks do a fantastic job. How they manage to keep smiles on their faces is beyond me. It is a tough, demanding occupation. The rule for us as passengers is that one must always remain mannerly, respectful and cordial.

We leave additional gratuities. The crew will never remember the tips we leave. And they will never forget those who take away the "hotel service charge". We like to sense that we are worthy of the "welcome back greeting".

Really good turnout today, my screen is showing 864 viewers.

And as usual, I will be lurking in the tall grass to see the parade of ships today.:D

Looking forward to it.

Here comes the Royal Princess

On peak demand cruises Neptune suites typically sell out early as do the much less expensive inside cabins. But, and this is a big but, cancellations do occur. The suggestion to call your TA is the best one. I never cease to be amazed at the things our TA has accomplished.