Shalandara

My husband wears shorts in winter .... and we do not live in a warm weather state!

Thanks for the comment tupper10. We are trying one on a fall transatlantic -- so we'll see how it goes.

Well...its amazing how food and opinions on food really brings out widely different reactions and opinions in people!

Thanks Sue for that detailed comment. That sure answers a lot of my questions, and then some.

Thanks for the comment about the wind and conditions. That is definitely something to take into consideration.

Thanks OlsSalt for sharing. I think I saw some of your posts about that holiday cruise -- it has made me think hard about ever sailing over a standard holiday break for anytime soon that's for sure.

Thanks CruiserBruce! I had gleaned some from previous posts, but not details on some of my questions. Your experience and comments helped.

So, besides the snazzy fact sheet that HAL put out on the cabanas, what is the real deal with using them? I'm the type of person who needs to know all the ins and outs of how to access and use things before ever doing them. Partly because I just research things by nature and partly (OK, mostly) because I do not want to commit some grave faux pas by doing/saying something wrong (which is uncomfortable for all parties involved then). Knowing beforehand all the ins and outs relieves a great deal of anxiety for me. (Which is why I have found these forums to be so incredibly helpful!) And if my questions and any answers received help anyone else that's a bonus in my mind. So, you've booked a Retreat and/or Lido cabana. Then what? For that first time (until they learn you) how do the staff know that you are allowed to be there? Do you go up on just after embarking and introduce yourselves? (Sidebar -- does the reservation rental even cover embarkation day?) Some of the retreat areas look more sectioned off than others -- so is there a special way to access them (as in key card?). Some (I think all the non-Pinnacle ships) look like they have stair access from open deck below in addition to the same level access. Is this true or is that for staff movement only? (I'm wondering about ease of access from the retreat cabanas to the either of the Lido pools (inside or outside). I hear/read people saying they have breakfast and lunch there. Do you (can you) get food from Lido/Dive-In/Pizza and bring it up? If you do (because you have *very* particular wants/desires or just cannot make up your mind until you see the food in person at the Lido because you are very indecisive) do you get a pained look from the attendants because you bypassed them? If you do go the route of having them bring food and/or drinks, what can you get and from where? And how? Similar to ordering at a restaurant? Standing "orders" possible? "Timed" order, as in we are going to be there at 1 but place the lunch order earlier? How long does it take to get things (I realize that complex orders/wants might impact that as well as number of people asking for something all at the same time). More than anything I'd love to know if you can get the afternoon tea service as they do in the MDR but at your cabana. Seriously. Speaking of attendants, is it the same staff everyday or does it rotate? Do you really get 20% offers on spa services? There are several things listed on the fact sheet as amenities but other forum threads seem to indicate they haven't really been available post-pandemic. The one my husband really wants to know about is the frozen grapes -- he could care less about chocolate covered strawberries but offer him frozen grapes and he is beyond heaven. While I'd never leave anything truly worth anything lying out and about anywhere outside our cabin, can you leave things in your cabana for a short time? So, bring up the bag with the daily reading/entertainment but leave it there if you pop down to the spa for an hour or such? And yes, I realize that they close up the cabanas each day so I'm not talking about leaving things overnight or for the whole trip. For this question it is really about the retreat cabanas as the lido ones definitely do not look secure. Thanks in advance!

Add a new one for me: 23 Feb 2025 Rotterdam 12 Day Panama Canal Sunfarer This will be our 30th wedding anniversary (actual date is the 18th, but husband's birthday is Feb 24th so there you are). Our honeymoon was a full Canal transit on the Maasdam, so this is a slight nod to that with a partial Canal trip.

That fact sheet predates the construction of the Rotterdam. It has the same basic layout as its sister ships (Koningsdam and N. Statendam) so use that one when figuring out which cabana number to ask for.

google "halfacts cabana" to get this: https://halfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/HAL_2018_Cabanas.pdf While the dates are old on this the prices were current as of last fall when we booked our cabana.

If you can tolerate a cruise in the middle of winter Viking Ocean has a Northern Lights that goes up to the north of Norway. Husband thinks it a grand idea -- I'm less sold on the time-frame temperature wise! Of course the $$$ is a factor as well. 😉

People who tour for these events start planning really far out. As such some of the agencies that specialize in this type of travel do whole boat charters if ocean viewing is a good option -- usually on smaller ships of course. But that is one reason why you do not see them when looking from the cruise lines website offerings. There are at least two whole threads on the subject of the 2024 solar eclipse in the Theme board under Special Interest Cruising. I think it also takes someone on corporate side to even be aware that this is a market type and that maybe they should consider it. Currently one of the special interest chartered trips has a few spots open -- but it is a price tag! (https://eclipsetours.com/2024-mexico-total-solar-eclipse-cruise/) And if you really want to spend some time going down rabbit holes just start looking at some of the travel options already out there for 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2030. Most of those are land based -- but at least one is capitalizing on the ocean viewing possibilities in 2026 off Greenland/Iceland instead of concentrating on when the eclipse passes over Spain.

We looked at doing a cruise and decided instead to concentrate on a land tour for the eclipse. There are a variety of options for those -- but many are fully booked out. (Ours is not -- link to it is below). While the eclipse will do a broad path over North America the best viewing spots in regards to weather and such are going to be in Mexico and Texas. Most tours have "secured" viewing spots. You could do it on your own but understand you will be competing with others in their RVs and cars parking along the highway or other venues all trying to see the same thing. https://www.colorado.edu/sciencediscovery/great-american-eclipse-trip-2024

Also Profcruise: https://profcruise.com/holland-america-menus-2023/

I would think that not having to spend fuel on using tenders would also be a factor. For the economics (less $$ spent on fuel), for reaching net zero on target goals (because of not uisng fuel), and the logistics of getting people on and off ship easily. And on the $$ side, people who might have problems with tenders don't get off at HMC -- but if they can get them to a dock/level surface easily would be a person on the island who could then spend $$ at certain venues.

To hijack your thread slightly, I was looking at the Rhine and Moselle cruise offerings and that one sounded really nice and slightly different from the typical Amsterdam to Basel route for a Rhine cruise. What made you pick the one you are going on? Thanks.

Here are the links for the 2023 prices: https://profcruise.com/holland-america-bar-menus-2023/ https://profcruise.com/holland-america-menus-2023/

I'm curious about the way you pointed out that all except Viking give a choice on excursions. Are there no choices on Viking? I'm in the beginning stage (dreaming more than planning) on a Rhine River trip. I need facts I can present to husband on the pros and cons of the choices of lines.

Duh....I just realized what you meant about the map and why you wanted it. I seem to be a little brain dead recently!

Thanks Kazu! I actually know the itinerary -- its looks to be one of their standard eastern Caribbean routes -- Ft Lauderdale - Grand Turks - Puerta Plata - Half Moon Cay - Ft Lauderdale.

Kazu-- Continuing a conversation from last weeks post regarding chartered HAL cruises. Here is the info on it: Embarkation is March 9, 2024 Ship is Nieuw Amsterdam 7 day sailing JoCo2024 cruise (whole boat charter) Thanks, Shalandara

Query -- what about whole boat charters that are on HAL ships but do not appear on the HAL website as available cruises for purchase since you have to go through a special portal/company? Since I am currently booked on one for March 2024. 🙂

We had a verandah on the Koningsdam inside passage trip this past september. Room 7011 -- so forward. Hardly any issues at all -- was a very smooth ride. Only slight issue is that technically our deck was viewable from the very corner of the bridge -- not that we ever saw any staff in that very corner bit!

We were on the Konigsdam this past September in Alaska, and the steps to get to the uppermost deck area are right by #1/#2 and #21/22. The area was roped off but we were practically right on top of them in regards to looking in and walking by to get into the inside area and the elevators. Not certain I would take any of those if given a chance.