FlaMariner

That was our experience on the Rotterdam in October 2021.......100 day medals on the bed and no ceremony.....And that was fine with us. Still not sure what to do with the medals and for us, we don't feel slighted or consider it a cut-back.

Great review! Thanks for sharing. Congrats on 4* and 100 days sailing!

We've been upgraded to a VQ (price drop after final payment) once and we love the location (all tucked away high up and to the front of the ship) and super convenient to the gym/spa and lido......but...we would never pay the price........for us, deck 8 front VF has the same location benefits with a much lower cost.....Again, if free, we'd gladly go to SQ...but for us, not worth the $$$. Enjoy the journey......

Agree (sorry about the misquote, I just click and point!) We have really scaled back and maximize/limit our pre/post cruise touring because of the land costs.......when we "get onboard" the cost to travel drops considerably for us. Without HAL, we would easily have to scale back our adventures.

We do the same and HAL always comes out a major bargain for us vs land travel......HAL easily allows us to see the world at a price that matches our retirement budget...... I cannot ever get to that type of daily spend on HAL......but I do understand how many folks can/do. Neptunes, CO, HIA, business class air, spa, speciality restaurants, casino and it can be done....easily...but we manage without and live large onboard!

I tried it once and will not waste my time again....... The excursions have to be the same and I do not recall specifics but it was all the same except the one I was on included lunch....therefore it did not qualify. It's difficult to find a tour that EXACTLY matches and that was the requirement that knocked us out. As far as how to try, once you dive into the shore excursions, you will see a link to the "best price guarantee" page w/the info and an online form to fill out the "claim". You may have a "claim" since the 3rd party you booked is charting now for HAL. Good luck! Here is a portion of the info..... We offer the best price on shore excursions, guaranteed!* If you book a shore excursion and find an identical third-party tour with a lower price, you will receive 110% refund of the price difference as a non-refundable Onboard Credit. Apply for the onboard credit: Book shore excursions through Holland America Line. Did you find the same tour elsewhere at a lower price? Check that you are logged into the booking number that contains the shore excursion purchased through Holland America Line. Submit request form. We will email you within two business days. If your request is accepted, you will receive 110% of the difference as a non-refundable Onboard Credit to your shipboard account.

I feel left out....We are 4* mariners and have cruised with HAL for over 20 years and I cannot think of any time we have ever called HAL directly....wait....except to call to ask for upsells...and they always answer that hot line $$$$ fast and that is like a 2 minute call. I must be missing out on something.......and glad I have a TA whose job it is to take care of my cruise booking/questions.

and ask for extra forms.

I agree. The title is more like click bait to me. I just looked at my last few onboard statements and it is full of 00.00 charges.....for MDR, NY pizza, dive in, free tips and on and on....I think we even have a zero entry when we went to the afternoon tea.......It's a great system for HAL to track where we go.....good for planning, capacity, queuing etc......

Our experience with "cancelling and rebooking" or "re-faring" because of a price drop: We never loose OBC from our FCD or shareholder benefit We sometimes loose OBC that was based on the original promotion when we signed up We sometimes loose OBC from the "welcome back" promo (based on if still valid) We sometimes loose OBC from the "Mariner cruise just out" promo We gain OBC based on the new promotion/sale/terms (I say sometimes because we have had incidents where the OBC has stayed and sometimes it has gone away) Our recent re-fare (because of price drop) somehow left us with all the original OBC and free gratuities. The TA could not believe it either. We remained silent and enjoyed the journey......seemed that was a mistake in our favor. When there is a fare drop, we give it a try and see what falls out...... Good luck!

For travel risks (emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, trip interruption), the insurance is included in our Bank of America Premium Rewards Visa and (as long as we charge the trip on the card) coverage is for trips up to 60 days.

For medical, we have the annual GeoBlue Trekker Essential travel medical insurance and it is good for trips up to 70 days.

The business case for unlimited laundry for us....(before 4*s)....taking a carry on and backpack only: Delta checked baggage fee: $30 bag x 2 bags x round trip = $120 Longshoreman tip fee at Port Everglades: $10 Total cost to bring big suitcase w/no laundry: $130 Total cost of laundry @ $9/day x 7 = $63 (or whatever it costs now) Savings from using HAL laundry: $67 Now that we are 4*'s (FREE LAUNDRY!!!) and take longer cruises (retired), the business case is not only more positive but includes many other benefits: can take trains in Europe easily (5 days pre cruise in Europe means a carry on and boarding the ship with dirty clothes for day 1 laundry service) can easily maneuver thru early dis-embarkation can easily react to cancelled/delayed flight issues (luggage is not in the cargo hold of the plane or "in transit" in ATL when things go south) less likely to need chiro/ortho doctor after cruise no tipping of porters (don't need them) easily unpack and pack arrive home with mostly clean clothes I realize YMMV and glad we have options. Enjoy the ship laundry.....and the journey.

Her Majesty enjoys the Elemis shampoo/conditioner/body wash provided complimentary on the ship...... It's the scent of "glad to be back on a HAL ship". (It's a nice touch and it is not cheap if you want to buy a bottle to take home)

Your TA can assist w/your dining preference. Fixed early, fixed main or anytime.....

It's been several years but we bought a shoe organizer from the dollar store and it was a coat hanger type hook and it fit nicely on the back of the bathroom door on the towel hook.

Will do! Never knew there was such a thing.

Where is that? I've never seen that document....I book with a TA.

We've had this happen once but it was our fault with all the kids traveling we were self-switching rooms.....It took the room steward about a minute to re-configure. we've never seen the bed configuration on our invoice also........but the TA can take care of it ahead of time. (you can also ask the TA to request Riedel stemware for your stateroom.......just kidding...but there will be wine and champagne glassware waiting or you whether requested or not) Enjoy the journey.......

Ouch....just looked it up....VH balcony guarantee is running $244/night/person.........Too high for us right now.

Love it....especially since Her Majesty and I have never been to any of those ports (except for Seattle)......Major bucket list checkoff with one great cruise!

Our experience as well......

I leave my thong at home when cruising on Holland America Line. Enjoy the journey....with our without your thong. (this posting is a joke, right?)

gotcha....so only a few days then...I might can handle that.

It looks like 10 days on the Amazon? I'm looking at the 2/2025 Zaandam cruise. (I'm only wishing I was booked on that cruise but if we did not know this, I'd be in big trouble (or I'd be the one with the washboard fighting the piranhas as I do my laundry in the Amazon) as I only travel w/4 underwear...LOL) Another reason to love cruise critic!