FlaMariner

So I was able to register for the above webinar.  Not sure they want passengers signing up for that but I'm pumped I might get "insider" information....I'll be on the webinar!  LOL.

+1

And we are early diners and have done Anytime Dining before.....and we prefer a table for just us two......

We never had a wait and we never had a problem getting a table for two when we went early.  It did seem to be very busy at the check in podium when we are leaving dinner around 6:30 to 7ish.

There was also no problem with my wine bottle finding me.

Isn't it obvious that HAL will not cruise from an area that the State Department has listed as a Level 4 DO NOT TRAVEL and Delta has cancelled all flights?

Something would have to change between now and then......Right?

We are sailing 4/21 (Zaandam) and no email yet (& checked Spam file) but appreciate the extra $200 bucks!!!!!!  Perhaps wine package #3 is in our future. Yippee!

Thanks HAL....glad to do our part and we will "savor the journey" and enjoy the deals while others panic.  

(And we are prowling the 90 day ticker for more opportunities to cruise while it's "on sale")

Smooth sailing.......

Looks like Venice is the capital of the Veneto region. 

From Wikipedia:

Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about five million, ranking fifth in Italy. The region's capital is Venice.

16 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

You just can't be serious with this post!  As a retired science educator, this post makes me wonder if you learned much in your science courses in school.

 

 

Relax....I'm not serious.....no need to be hateful and judgmental about someone's education, BTW.

Let's be nice....and "savor the journey"

Smooth sailing..........

Aren't the pins "made in China"......

I heard they may give you Coronavirus.

The decision process for us is similar to other similar decisions.....

• When the stock market is up, we sell
• When the stock market is down, we buy
• When it's winter in London, we travel to London (no crowds)
• When it's Saturday, we avoid Wallyworld and Disney World
• When people are not cruising because of the fear of getting a serious flu, we look for cruise bargains and cruise

YMMV....but we tend to not follow the herd....Works most of the time...plus it's exciting until we are quarantined in our inside cabin....then everybody can say "we told you so"....LOL.

Life's an adventure.....as HAL says "Savor the Journey"

Yep.....

staying on the ship is not the problem.....being confined to my stateroom is a problem........

Wonder if the quarantine rule could be "we must now enjoy 14 days of sea days"?  I'd be in for that as long as we don't run out of wine.

It's the best kept secret......and the best way to calmly start a cruise.

When you board, the staff will usher you to the lido......but head to the MDR.

We've never experienced it not available on embarkation day but as mentioned previously, sometimes it's closed for private events.

I like the idea above of ordering your wine package while it's not busy and the wine steward can assist.....I think we will try that next cruise while at lunch in the MDR.

Smooth sailing..........

Using Safari on my MacBook Air and all good

It does not show up on your online booking.

Get your TA to confirm, they know and can view it.

It's a credit on your onboard account......you will see it there once on the ship and yes, you can use it for anything that is billed to your onboard account.

(It's a great benefit)

Khaki pants and a dress shirt and I'm good to go on gala night as well as every night in the MDR......

.....it's been at least 15 years since I lugged a tux w/me.

I agree...I'm not seeing price drops on our two cruises booked (April to Montreal and August in Alaska). 

I'm also not seeing any "deals" on much of anything with HAL as I would expect.  With the fake news, it sounds like we are all running scared and hiding in our basements....but perhaps not.

We were thinking this is a great time to get out there....but surprised that the prices seem to be holding.......

Thanks for the info....thinking we will skip the thermal suite on this cruise.

Any intel on what we should expect for the Thermal Suite on the Zaandam?

We love it on the Nieuw Statendam, Zuiderdam, Westerdam......How does it compare?

Same for us.....

On our TA last fall on the NS, when I saw a price drop, I called our TA and each time we got bumped up a few levels levels in our balcony category.....I think we got bumped up twice.....we ended up with a spa balcony which we very much enjoyed.  

Not much of a bonus but we were pleased.  

Smooth sailing........

I'm booked for a HAL cruise but see a price drop on a longer (and more expensive) cruise that departs within a day of our booked cruise.  This is in April.

Any experience being able to jump ships w/no loss of $$$?

In this case, the cruise we want to jump on is more expensive and longer than the cruise we are currently booked...so thinking that's a gain for HAL?  

And don't forget the ice cold bucket hanging from the wall that you pull the rope and drench yourself...and checks your heart also!

We love the hydro suite area....it's our big splurge.

The steam area is huge.

2 hours ago, esimon said:

I hate Starbucks - find it - what's the word - oh yes - Vile -   I enjoy coffee on the ship -    to each his own - not a wine snob either. -

hope you all figure out how to solve this problem 

+1

Always avoid Starbucks......what's the word....bitter.

Holland America Line coffee works fine for us....whether it's decaf w/dessert in the MDR, breakfast at Lido or room service coffee...It's all good to us!

Good luck w/your coffee issues.....

Gala nights today for us means a not to be missed menu in the MDR.  This is the night when they kick it up a notch w/the food.  Every night is good but gala night is the night for the surf and turf.....It's not the night to book Tamarind or Canaletto.  

I now wear the same thing to dinner every evening.....My kaki pants and a dress shirt.  And I'm fine with leaving the coat and tie at home...although it was an adjustment in the beginning.

We find it less hassle and better success by just waiting until evening 1 in the MDR.  Buy the package from the wine steward and he/she is good about helping you choose what works best with the packages and what's actually available onboard.

And the pea soup is really good...no kidding.....try that.

On the Nieuw Statendam, the spa was closed one evening at 6pm for cleaning.  There was a sign posted a few days prior.  No bigger. Glad they clean it.....We love the hydro suite...that's our "drink package" splurge.

Heineken and Holland America Line go great together.......It's the only beer we need onboard and the only one we consider!