BBQ Bacon

We will be getting on the Koningsdam in just over 3 weeks.  Thank you for the review.  I hope our experience is just as good as yours.

When it comes to live threads I'm looking for what people think of the food.  I know not everyone shares the same tastes and has the same experience but if enough people say the food is great and the service fantastic I tend to believe the majority.  Conversely, if the majority say the food and service are OK, I then think twice about the ship.

When dining I can forgive some flavour issues if the food is served hot or near hot.  It's when the food is lukewarm or cold then I have concerns.

I may try to do a Live From thread when on the Koningsdam in October on the round trip from Vancouver to Hawaii. It will most likely be an end of day wrap up unless the mood strikes me during the day and a frosty beverage is close at hand!

Got a response from Holland America for our coming cruise to Hawaii in October.  This was part of our early booking bonus

1 hour ago, coolbluegreenseas said:

I am trying to determine if you are putting your liver up for the test or if you just mean the limit? 😝

I'm training the liver now so that it's ready for the cruise!

I plan to put the 15 drink limit to the test on my cruise coming up in October to Hawaii.

It's even in their Terms & Conditions.

Would be harder on shore days, but on sea days, sitting around the pool you can easily polish off 3 - 5 drinks (just to stay hydrated 😉 ).  So a couple of spiked coffees to start the day, beer and/or wine with dinner then an after-dinner aperitif, followed by a couple drinks while listening to music and it doesn't take long to hit that 15 drink limit.

When we booked our upcoming Hawaii cruise, it was with the HIA which included the elite bev package.  We have screenshots of the non-alcoholic beverage as unlimited.  I'd hate to have to keep that handy and show it every time we order just a pop or coffee so it doesn't go against our 15 drink limit.  If they are making a change, they need to pick a date in the future and set it and all currently booked passengers are exempt from the change.

Will watch this thread to see if HAL responds to the inquiry put forth about this subject.

16 hours ago, Banditswife said:

The GDC does open in the mornings for coffee & pastries- 7 Am if I remember correctly.  I loved the yogurt parfaits from GDC.  I would go early for a parfait, pastry & a specialty coffee- yum.  And the last time we were on a ship with GDC, the cookies changed periodically-not always the chocolate chip. But anything we tried, was delicious.  Darn-our next HAL cruise doesn't have a GDC on the ship.  Guess we'll have to book another soon...

This is awesome.  Now I know where I can start first breakfast!

3 hours ago, Petronillus said:

Very interesting, very worthwhile thread.

One collateral aspect that I don't think has been mentioned yet is that in calculating the levels of on-board spend that count toward Mariner points HAL is generally pretty generous and, more specifically, credits one's utilization of the HIA benefits at the a la carte rates. When we first reached 3-star status, 4 stars seemed almost impossibly out of reach. Thanks to HIA, we seemed to zoom into free laundry and 50% discount territory.

 

On last booking (our Asia cruise) included pre-paid gratuities -- a first for us. We were surprised to find that we had to go out of our way to use up all of our non-refundable OBC!

How does the star status work?  I thought it was just for days cruising. 

52 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

No, just a "tick" off your 15 with HIA.

Unless you have the elite beverage package then I believe coffee (and specialty coffee) does not count against your total. 

1 hour ago, SeeSun&Sea said:

But they are only available after 11am. Alas!

I don't be holden with Italian tradition!  LOL.  I be drinking coffee like an addict!

3 hours ago, Niagarawine said:

Elephant ears are a French pastry also known as palmiers, puff pastry cut and rolled to look like ears ,then sprinkled with sugar. I can’t leave them alone

Sounds like a perfect pairing with an espresso or cappuccino.

On 5/18/2024 at 6:54 AM, StLouisCruisers said:

 

According to HAL's website that is not true.

 

Elite Beverage Package has a daily limit of 15 beverages, which includes all beverages priced at US$15 or less and beverage service charges. The Elite Beverage Package includes wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, sodas, bottled water (sparkling or still, 400ml or less) and coffee.

 

Nowhere does it say unlimited non-alcoholic drinks.

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

That may be what goes in a hole up top by the Frangelico or Kahluha or they'll pull in a bottle like they did the Gran Mariner. 

You'll get your Bailey's!!

 

Phew.  I was worried there for a bit.  If I have to deal with people, I need my medication, preferably as early in the day as possible.

Sadly I do not see Irish Cream on those shelves.  I hope that gets rectified!

6 hours ago, Sea-n-Ease said:

I am really looking forward to trying several things from the GDC on our upcoming 7-day.
 

In general, how long is the wait after placing an order in person?  Can you pre-order for the GDC from the Navigator app?

I was hoping it would be open early for first breakfast.  But as a snack for third breakfast and a pre-lunch snack will have to suffice.  Then a mid-afternoon snack followed by pre-dinner snack and pre-bedtime snack will have to do.

1 hour ago, farjar said:

Currently if you look back at page 42 of previous threads from February 19th there is a very helpful discussion about the Grand Dutch Cafe including a link in post #10 showing the menu of all the free items and those with fees. You might want to take a look at it.  

I searched Grand Dutch but got so many hits, I gave up.  I'll try to narrow the search some more.

When looking for information on the Grand Dutch cafe it mentions that there is a fee.  Is this just for the beer and wine that is served there or is the food an added cost as well?

How much do you have to lose/win to make the various tiers?

Checked the San Pedro webcam and there are a couple barges beside Navigator of the Seas.  Been there all day.

EarthCam - Port of LA Cam

Are the massage therapist registered?  My benefits plan through work pays for massages as long as the therapist is registered.

Think I'll keep my exercise to walking up to the buffet and back to the table.  That looks like too much work!

Loving the reviews.  Can't wait to get on the ship come September.  It's agony waiting though so these reviews are helping.