FlaMariner

We've done several TA's .... both directions.... Last month we were on the Oosterdam FLL to Barcelona TA So the sea days fly by for us.....We enjoy the ship and all the amenities and entertainment..... What we like: relaxing activities (coffee chats, presentations, EXC talks, captains talk, etc) dining (from breakfast, to lunch to fixed seating MDR....enjoy the food on HAL) special activities (cruise critic m&g, mariner reception, mariner lunch) reading (knock out some Grisholm novels) entertainment (going from billboard to the main stage to the rolling stone lounge) based on what's going on that evening exercising (walking on the promenade deck, gym) spa (her majesty books a couple of treatments and we usually get the thermal suite access) not flying and not arriving w/jet lag the ports (we've been to most of them before so like to find something different to do or just enjoy walking) the price arriving in Europe or home with clean clothes (love the laundry) What we do not like: having to depart the ship because the cruise ends lido line skippers and chair hogs (obviously, downside to sea days)

Great waiter service for us in the MDR for 25 nights on the Oosterdam last month.... The waiters are busy....but there was no chaos or delays.....Food was excellent....hot food arrived hot.....Service was as good as always.....Menus promptly given upon arriving, great recommendations, our specific requests were always ready for us (coffee w/dessert, Sommelier wine package wine and/or menu ready)....The maitre de and chefs would stop by the tables every few days to inquire....Even the Captain walked thru the MDR a few nights....We enjoyed our 5 course meals in an hour or so.....Best part of the voyage.....Perfect.

But when the Volendam is doing a "regular cruise"......for instance, FLL to Montreal in 6/2025, the daily rate is $81/night/per person for an Oceanview...... On the older, smaller ships, I have experienced sticker shock for balcony rates as there are few balconies on the older ships....When we want/need a balcony, the larger ships are much more within our travel budget for a balcony.... Still trying to figure out the premium price for the word "grand" attached to your voyage......The "added benefits" listed so far do not move the needle for us....and appreciate all the intel provided.

We will be stopping in Vietnam in October (2024) on a Carnival ship and it looks like from an email we received from Carnival this past week that Visa's are all handled by Carnival with nothing for us to do......I can handle that..... From the email: VIETNAM – A visa will be issued upon arrival (it is not necessary to apply for one ahead of the cruise). The cost of the visa and landing fee is US$31, per guest, which will be applied to your onboard Sail & Sign® account.

Educate me on what is different about a Grand Voyage vs a regular HAL cruise? Here is an example......(and please check my math) 4/26 The Volendam has a "Grand Voyage" that is 25 nights and visits 9 ports on its way from Lisbon to FLL. The Oceanview price is $5838/$234/night per person cruise fare only. 10/25 The Rotterdam has a cruise that is 22 nights and visit 10 ports on its way from Rotterdam to FLL. The Oceanview price is $2568/$117/night per person cruise fare only. The "Grand Voyage" is 100% more in price. What is so different about a "Grand Voyage" that it is worth a 100% premium from a "regular" cruise? I've seen this price premium on many other "grand" itineraries vs regular cruises....and do not understand....please educate me as to what I am missing or not understanding?

Port stop in Manila....... I am hearing conflicting info....some say get out of town and head to the mountains for the scenery and others suggest a tour of old Manila. What did you do and what would you recommend? And any independent tour advice would be appreciated.

We based in Yokohama for 5 nights and took the bullet train for 2 day trips one to Kyoto and another to Kanazawa (regular train to Tokyo Station and then bullet train to Kanazawa) Easy. The Bullet Train station is on the outskirts of Yokohama but we easily got to it from trains at Yokohama station. I would suggest you take a day and go to Kyoto.......Lots to do there and the bullet train passes by Mt Fuji. We made it a long day and left early am and returned late pm. The bullet train was a highlight of our time in Japan....get onboard.

I must travel in some alternate HAL reality....... Just off the Oosterdam (April 2024) and live music was our evening entertainment....every night....and we loved it and we had choices. We enjoyed Billboard Onboard piano player, Rollings Stones band, classical trio, Ocean Bar band and the World Stage spotlighted live music a few nights with a vocal performer, a very good flutist and other live music acts I cannot recall..... After 25 nights, we were never without live music....and choices.

I hear you about higher prices.....It's not just cruising...obviously.....Here is a stat based on when you last cruised: Inflation spiked to the highest level in over 40 years. Despite recent moderation, consumer prices are up nearly 18% overall since January 2021. Gasoline is up 29%. We still find cruising with HAL a much better value than any other type of vacation. I scrutinize cruise prices and try to scoop up what I think is a good value.....I base a "good deal" on paying ~$100 a night per person (cruise fare). Good luck searching.....

Just off the Oosterdam.....25 nights cruising the Mediterranean in April.....visited 8 countries (if you count Monaco as a country)....and medical vaccinations were not on anyone's radar........we did vaccinate ourselves along the way with lots of expresso, cappuccinos, olive oil and wine.

From our April Oosterdam cruise..... We were invited to a reception in BillBoard Onboard for 3, 4 and 5 Star Mariners a day or so after the cruise began. The drinks were plentiful and the Captain and many of the officers attended and were mixing.....It was fun. One of the officers told us that they have 3 of these receptions scheduled for the cruise as there were so many 3, 4, & 5 stars onboard. Enjoy the Mariner reception.....

Sorry to hear that..... We've been on 5 HAL cruises (Japan, Alaska, South America, TA, Mediterranean) over the past two years and we've enjoyed the classical music each time.....whether it is branded Lincoln Center or whatever, we do not know/care....but it was good and it was classical.

I never knew it left....we've enjoyed classical music onboard forever, it seems.

Disembarked the Oosterdam 4/30 and we enjoyed wines off of Sommelier Package #2 for 25 days..... The Sommelier package is alive and well....and quite the deal with our 4* (like $25 a bottle, including service charge). The wine was great and the price was as well. The Sommelier list is in the drink menu at your MDR table. We never pre-purchase.....Why? We think the Dining Room waiter gets credit for the sale and he will be doing the heavy lifting while we enjoy. Enjoy the wine onboard....we do.

Any intel on touring Kota Kinabalu? We try to stay clear of the cruise ship excursions and prefer a small, independent tour.....Any intel from those that have gone before?

Jim You've been deprived then....or perhaps you were at the casino or the rock room? Country has always shown up on the Billboard Onboard schedule...at least for our numerous cruises over the past 5 years or so...for as long as Billboard Onboard has been onboard.

No branding needed to play Beethoven.......I think HAL got their money's worth getting folks excited about "Lincoln Center Stage" when they rolled out "Music Walk" and then stopped paying the branding fee when they realized they could still deliver great classical musical.....

Classical music was alive and well on our Oosterdam cruise last month.....There was a group that played in the main stage as well as around the ship.... It's not branded Lincoln Center Stage anymore ($$$) but it was classical music and had a much bigger stage than before....and seemed to play more often around the ship.

Country Music is our genre..... And yes, HAL delivers...... Billboard Onboard always drops in a few country sets.....And all the standards are played as well as some of the new stuff......We love it when Country Top 100 appears on the Billboard Onboard schedule.....The Billboard Onboard presenter last month on the Oosterdam did a great Patsy Cline....Crazy....and a great Going to "Jackson" Johnny & June Cash Also, music trivia will have a country theme...... We manage to get our country fix onboard...... Enjoy the country music.....and the journey.

Christmas shopping for others......product in the spa makes for great gifts and it will not take long to spend the $$$.

We just dis-embarked the Oosterdam and we were in 8118 "MM Large or Standard Inside" Cabin was just perfect for us....If this is similar, what would you like to know?

Funny, I was on this cruise.....and never noticed..... The 11 night Barcelona to Athens cruise had 10 port calls.....The Crow's nest was nowhere on our radar from 4pm to 9pm every evening.....We arrived back on the ship worn out, ready for dinner and certainly not a coffee or a view from the Crow's Nest. We did enjoy a couple of after dinner sail aways from the open bow....which was a nice bonus. Her Majesty would visit the crow's nest on some of the mornings (for $$$ coffee) before getting off the ship but closing that venue from 4 to 9 on a cruise that has 10 port calls in 11 days had no negative impact on us......nor did we have any clue this was going on.... I'm sorry some folks are upset about the 5 hours of the Crow's Nest not being available......Glad it did not impact our journey!

When I was not eating dead fish, I was eating dead cow..and other meats....On our April Oosterdam cruise, we enjoyed delicious beef filet tenderloins several nights in the MDR....not just on dressy night. Also, great rabbit entree, excellent beef short ribs (fall off the bone)....and a nice prime rib...... We enjoyed the meals in the MDR......

The Dutch dinner in the MDR is back! At least on our recent Oosterdam (April, Mediterranean). Also, we were on during the real Kings Day and so they moved the Orange party to the World Stage, had Dutch dinner in the MDR (pea soup, orange napkins, an Indonesian entree and one of those great Dutch eclair type desserts among other items)...and the entree I had was beef tenderloin....not necessarily Dutch but delicious. The Captain and the Cruise Director were both from the Netherlands.......Love the Dutch heritage on Holland America Line!

Just off 25 days on the Oosterdam and ate a lot of delicious fish.... One of the coffee chats was with the Food & Beverage Manager and he said that they are all about buying local fish....and he told us to look for the word FRESH in front of FISH on the MDR dinner menu...and also look for the fish on display as you enter the MDR when it is FRESH..."Fresh" appeared on the menu for fish several times after Fort Lauderdale, Spain, Italy, Malta and Greece.....And it was delicious.... Even when not "fresh" I always enjoy HAL fish in the MDR.....but the "fresh fish" emphasis kicks it up another notch.