CNSJ

Do something really crazy on ship. If crazy enough, The ship's Security Officer may take a mugshot before you are thrown in the brig. It might meet same requirements. Problem solved.

Since we roll clocks at night, the dining time doesn't matter to me. I wake, and eat Breakfast #1 ...two hours later I eat a second breakfast (#2) with DW. ...three hours later we eat lunch ...five hours later we eat dinner. My stomach says, it's been XX Hours since lunch. Feed me. Clocks irrelevant. Its Five O'Clock Somewhere.

I am on a May 2024 Transatlantic that arrives in Ijmuiden on 25 May 2024. The post cruise travel planning section on HALs website says nothing available. I need to get to the Rotterdam to meet my next cruise which leaves from Rotterdam same day...... I am hoping HAL posts a transfer. I suggest you contact HAL main HQ in Seattle. Looking at 2025, it seems HAL has far fewer ships departing from Amsterdam. Rotterdam is the port of choice, or Dover.

Isn't it Dover first, then - Rotterdam ?? I am looking at same cruise.

My guess is they didn't properly allocate cabins for each of those sailings. They can fix that.

Yes Europe 2025 is open for all to see and book. Prices seem about 10% higher than previous release, but then again we are talking about cruises two years from now and the police gets locked in. Itineraries are diverse, and I spotted a 20 SEP 2025 Rome to Athens 14 night sailing with overnight in both Alexandria, Egypt and Istanbul, Turkey. That would support an very solid shore excursion in Egypt. Have not seen an overnight in Egypt for some time. Will book while onboard next moth.

It looks like you still get Mardi Gras, but little else. Thankfully they made this change a year and a half out. No one would have booked flights yet, and there are plenty of opportunities to choose something else. If we donate allow cruise lines some flexibility to adjust to changing business environments, they will stop opening bookings so far out. On the other hand, they will anger some folks who vote with their feet.

When I first started sailing HAL, I was told they have classical music because many of the four/five star mariners went to high school when the classical music was being first released.....😇 Now I enjoy the 1970/80s rock from my early days....Its "Classical" Rock.

Where are you trying to go? I just saw incredible deals (on a major online TA site) for 14 day Transatlantic Westbound Rome to Ft Lauderdale on Nieuw Statendam 26 Nov to 10 Dec for $499 inside, $649 Oceanview, $749 Balcony and $1399 suites (YUP, Vista Suites for under $100 a day. All are double occupancy. Throw in a few OBCs for stuff like Shareholder, AARP, Military and its almost free. I'd add this to my fall schedule if I was not already booked on another trip until the day before far far away from Rome!

Sounds like a cruise you take when you need 1 more cruise day credit to get 5 star mariner etc.

This program died with COVID. Was it successful enough that HAL would want to resurrect it using Volendam or Zaandam? Like many of you, looking at off the beaten path itineraries. Just don't want to pay Expedition ship pricing for bad service.

Just so I understand the rules Kazu (others please chime in as well) we are traveling on the Zuiderdam from FLL-Bermuda-Ireland-UK-France-Belgium-Netherlands I have always cruised from Europe to US on Westbound TAs. This is my first Eastbound trip. Will we have to clear customs in Ireland and the UK? I want to plan my shore excursions with enough time after we moor. Thanks All in advance.

Suggest you take the cruise, then form your own opinion. No two people have the same exact wants and needs. If you like Hal, sail them again, if you don't - go back to X.

Wow! A great deal to unpack and reply to. I'lll toss out a few: HAL ships are all one class of service, with the exception of the Club Orange Add on. You get a few more perks with Neptune Suites (includes club orange) , like a special dining room on Pinnacle class ships. Ships size: HAL will compare to Millennium and Solstice class ships size wise, although Solstice are 25% bigger) Staterooms: I find standard balcony cabins larger on HAL. Laundry: Include for Neptune suites, but the by the bag cost is reasonable and very good. Food: Will be on par with Celebrity, but I find HAL Lido Buffett better by a stretch. Evening Entertainment: Adequate at best on HAL. Not as good as Celebrity, but a British Isles cruise is about ports IMHO. Spa: Both lines have essentially same. You did not ask about service. I find service on HAL much better and consistant! Enjoy your cruise.

Yes, but if you are going to sail with HAL anyway.....why not enjoy the extra OBC? 🙂

Good info in your Post 303. That explains the behavior I was discussing. Manual crediting required. Thank You

I am seeing some behavior that leads me to believe the "one per year" rule is built into the HAL booking system. If so, The question is remains is it (1) every 12 months by sailing date? or (2) every 12 months by date you apply the OBC credit too a booking? I do wish that HAL was more clear as to the rules for the credit. But, if it's only 1 per year, I m still happy with that, as it's more than we had before. Again, just wish rules were more clear. Recommend that the Strategy is that two who sail together apply the credit (use it where you get $200) to two different bookings, using each person's eligibility. That $400 a year if played well. Between Military/Educator credits, Shareholder Credits, and the AARP credit, HAL does provide the savvy cruiser with substantive benefits. 🙂

Hard to narrow to "one thing", perhaps its best described as "consistant" Consistant service and quality of product.

I have found the Future Cruise Counselors can offer you the same fare that your TA is offering. They can see the same fare codes, and will do the best they can do. Then your TA could choose to add more OBC. At a minimum, if you are a frequent cruiser, I recommend that buy a few FCDs.

As resources on Maui are limited, I would hope/expect that the Governor works with the major hotels to find a way to feed and house the thousands displaced by fire. Tourists should be "strongly discouraged" (read that as stopped) for a few weeks at a minimum, and then brought back in areas outside Lahaina. I realize that disturbs peoples plans, but this is a major disaster. Vacations are a nicety, basic food and shelter are a necessity. Cruise ships should avoid the island for the foreseeable future. Visit other islands for that day. Hope the people of Maui can rebuild their lives.

Prayers for all affected.

A pianist in the area of Ocean Bar or Pinnacle Bar is nice to enjoy with your before dinner drink. I hope that fits into the new mix.

I found the motion activated night light on Konningsdam to be great. If you are asleep, its off. Was sad to find they did not install them on Rotterdam (Ill let you know about NS when I still her this fall). Shaver outlets are great for a light in any stateroom bathroom.

Thank you for sharing such wonderful shots!

My favorite place to book a cabin. I put up with being on the "Mozzert Deck" because its cabins above and below, not too high for rolls and if you nab close to amidships, you are close to everything.