FlaMariner

Not a pastry but a "must enjoy" dessert. Get the bread pudding in the lido at lunch. Get an extra spoonful of the sauce. Go looking for it. Delicious. Worth breaking diet. (Disclaimer: not saying you must but merely a suggestion. I get in trouble on here if I come across as though I am requiring someone to do something. LOL) Enjoy the journey and welcome onboard Holland America Line.

Skip the faux area and head to the left up the beach and enjoy a drink at Jack's Shack, pet the golden doodle and then head back to the ship. (Disclaimer: just a suggestion not saying "you should") Enjoy the journey.......even if it is Grand Turk. LOL.

From our TA website: Holland America will automatically add $16.00 per day, per guest to your onboard account ($17.50 per day, per guest for Suites).

That would explain the reluctance to send them on......hassle and work for no $$$.

FWIW Yesterday must have been itinerary update day at Holland America Line. We received email notifications for two of our upcoming cruises. Our October Westerdam cruise has the time extended in Kushiro, Japan from a 5pm departure to a 10pm departure (not sure there is much to do in Kushiro after 5pm but we shall see) as well as a 30 minute earlier arrival in Yokohama. Our April Oosterdam cruise has the time extended in Villefranche, France from a noon arrival to an earlier 9am arrival (have time to go play roulette at the Monte Carlo casino now, LOL). Both are positive changes.

Very true..... We use a big, online TA and at first, we would never get upgrade offers. When we moved to another agent (same TA), she agreed to send them on and we get them now. I also send her an email 30 days out reminding her to please send them on.

Good info Kazu.....A Covid vaccine taken almost a year ago has got to be useless if the requirement is tossed out there again....The vaccine card (for me at least with the last jab 10/22) has to be useless as we go forward....in fact, if my vaccine card is acceptable, you'd have to question the purpose. All good and thanks......

Any idea how "up to date Covid vax card" is defined? I just pulled out our Covid vaccine cards and our last booster was 10/22. I've got to think that even if a "Covid vaccine proof" is ever required again somewhere in the world, that will certainly not suffice. We got our flu shots Monday but no plans to get another Covid jab. I appreciate everyone's input on this but I think I'll just put the vaccine cards in the scrapbook and face my fate in Japan and the world (and add that extra pair of underwear to my luggage now that I have so much more room! LOL) Enjoy the journey.......with or without the Covid card

1 gym 2 eat 3 read books on balcony 4 eat 5 exc talks 6 eat 7 walk promenade deck...and upper deck 8 eat 9 watch movies 10eat 11 nap on melanoma deck 12 eat 13 go back to gym 14 eat 15 thermal suite 16 eat 17 live music venues 18 eat 19 world stage shows 20 eat 21 learn napkin folding and how to make a critter out of towel 22 eat 23 nap 24 eat 25 pickleball 26 eat 27 play blackjack/learn to play casino table games 28 eat 29 shop 30 eat 31 go to talks by captain, officers 32 eat 33 go to tea 34 eat 35 nap on balcony 36 eat 37 stargaze at night 38 eat 39 sort photos from Europe 40 eat 41 Her Majesty gets a pedicure/manicure or whatever "deal" the spa has going 42 eat 43 wine tasting 44 eat 45 chat with other fellow shipmates 46 eat 47 play cards 48 eat 49 play ping pong w/Her Majesty 50 eat "rinse and repeat" And we also enjoy the food on the ship......The 7 days "across the pond" fly by......as do all sea days. Love 'em.

Exactly my dilemma! LOL

We were in Inside cabins on the Nieuw Statendam in November 2022. We were offered 1x or 2x a day service. So the answer based on our last inside cabin experience (Nov 22) on HAL is YES.

Even though covid vaccination proof is no longer required, do you still bring the vaccination record when you sail now? We are heading to Japan Sunday and the covid vaccine proof are with the passports and just wondering.....could those "get out of jail" cards keep me from being tested or being segregated at some point? I'm thinking leave them at home and add to the scrapbook. What are you wise and all-knowing folks doing these days? (I tried to do this as a poll but I'm not smart enough or it is not allowed for me)

Awesome review and it was great following along..........actual and factual! Thank You! Enjoy the journey......

We were in a suite (Signature Suite if that qualifies as a suite) in March/April of this year (Oosterdam) and our cabin stewards did ask 1x or 2x and all the other requests (ice, extra towels, evening delivery of the daily program, whatever).......We requested 1x in the morning and we also were able to pull our bedding down so we could get in the bed in the evening w/no assistance needed by the room stewards. Enjoy the journey....whether it is 1x or 2x a day room steward service!

Choose what you want as far as how many times a day (1x or 2x) from our April cruise...... We chose 1x in the morning but extra towels & bring the daily program in the evening....I like that we have choices and selections based on what we want......The room stewards were fantastic.

I'll be having the no surcharge Grilled North Sea Gilt Head FRESH Seabream off that great menu! (no matter how FRESH is defined, it sounds delicious)

On our upcoming Westerdam sailing, Tamarind "pop up" is available to book for two evenings in the Canaletto area. When you make reservations for that night, you know you are booking Tamarind. So no confusing.

I just looked. The last transaction on my HAL Barclay's card was a year ago. Almost to the day (9/20/22). The card is still open. Our goal is to spend the remaining points before "the end comes" to our card...... We wish HAL would blow the dust off this product and make it more competitive.......If they did, we would spend the heck out of it.

I bet that is the because "the computer software" only has parameters for 14 days and not 16 days. I'll bet you will be soaking in the pool and laying on the hot loungers for all 16 days without any issues. (The thermal suite is available on embarkation......in the late afternoon after the tours and the raffle.)

I thought that was history? Glad that is back.

Since HAL said this: HAL should abide by that.....and the reduction in price should be based on the reduction in price....Not the price after you purchased but the price you paid. Where is the information coming from that states that HAL is refunding the per day rate based on something that is not your per day rate? That is where I would ask for clarification. Again, since HAL said they would reduce the fare by "one day", they should reduce the fare by "one day".

Should have talked her into the picture and then happen upon it on the photo wall when leaving dinner one evening.......LOL.

LOL....ALWAYS! So funny, yet so true.....every time! (this is one reason (along with the prices) of why we do our best to avoid HAL big bus tours....we've learned you are only as good as the weakest link.......And the bus does not roll until the last lady gets out of the rest room)

Good move by HAL. We've always enjoyed the fish onboard.....And during our March/April South America cruise, there seemed to be more fish....Delicious. And I think they were sourcing some along the way.....(You should try it (if you want to)) LOL. Here is the link to the info just listed on the HAL website.... https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/onboard-experiences/dining/fresh-fish?camp=CME:20230920_HEP2342MP3&rmid=20230920_HEP2342MP3&rrid=18964389842&lid=primarycta&XID=EXTHEM20230920MVRJVR9SA3

That was a great cruise!!!! We also enjoyed the Oosterdam so much that we booked her again for the SPRING 2024 TA and the following 11 night Med cruise!