Haljo1935

We had one of the inside cabins (10043) w/the window on Nieuw Amsterdam - it was probably as good as it gets w/out an actual Oceanview. Having natural light was awesome and we were able to have a peek-a-boo view both Aft and Starboard. There was a double vanity in the bathroom, so lots of space. The cabin was tight for 2 people but doable. Air worked great, not really much noise from the door going to the deck except for a stormy night when they ended up closing it off. Proximity to Crows Nest, deck 12 and spa was great; trip to dining was a little long but good for staying active. Great location, would do it again in a heartbeat.

Yes. And usually if you buy one then decide to do the week, they'll charge you the difference to upgrade.

So did you sit thru a full demo/drill?

@TravelBluebird first, excited to hear how embarkation went - hoping it was smooth for you. 2nd, when you get out exploring, any pictures and/or info you can give regarding deck 2 aft - the strange dark rectangular shapes outside of 2476 & 2497 is appreciated. We haven't been able to get any info from Carnival when we called in. What type of railing do those balconies have? Thanks!!

@jules815 I don't believe any Signature Suites have obstructed views; on Nieuw Statendam the ones on deck 7 look down onto the lifeboats on deck 4. We were in one of those on another ship on deck 6 so, a little closer, and it didn't bother us at all. Just look at the deck plan for the SS cabins and you should get a pretty good idea of how close they would be and if there are any obstructions. Promenade Deck 3 has the deck that goes around the ship. I believe 3 laps is a mile. And the jogging track on 11, 12 laps is a mile. You may want to confirm those numbers as those are something I read, not from HAL. hal-ns-deck-plan-010822_230418_000234.pdf

Feb 2023 on Nieuw Amsterdam our Spa cabin on deck 10 did NOT come w/most of the items listed for spa cabins even though they werexall still shown on website. We did get the water, wooden mat, different colored pillows & bedrunner. Truly wanted the fruit, but brought some back from Lido and had it delivered from room service. Also missed the special menu. Sister's spa cabin few doors down did have the Boss. As others mentioned, it does not include Thermalspa pass, just easy 1-flight access.

Correct, Signature Suites are larger w/o the full suite perks and have nicer bathrooms than Verandahs. There are no SS true aft, so the decision is space vs view. Note that SS balcony is wider because of size of the cabin, but are generally not as deep. DH says he's spoiled on SS but for Alaskan itineraries wants true aft for the views.

"True aft" are on decks 4-8; also known as the "fantail;" they face out the back of the ship, over the wake. Do a mock booking to see available cabins, selecting "aft" returns cabins Port and Starboard toward the rear of the ship (such as VB4176 and VB4203 on attached screenshot). These are aft cabins, but not "true aft" as they have a side view, not a wake view. We avoid deck 8 unless that's all that's left because it's under the smoking area. We prefer deck 4 so we can just walk down 2 flights to eat and have not noticed noise from the MDR below on 3. Deck 4 is also convenient on port days for walking to gangway. hal-ns-deck-plan-010822_230418_000234.pdf

@Sherbertscamper you are correct - pastries in Explorations Cafe are no charge, coffees are not. As others mentioned, Grand Dutch Cafe is most similar to Princess International Cafe, but Eurodam does not have GDC.

Congrats on retirement and welcome to HAL!! Haven't done TA, so nothing to contribute specifically to that experience, but happy to provide insight and offer my experience where I can. We LOVE the true aft cabins as we enjoy the wake views and being able to see both Port and Starboard. On itineraries with a lot of wildlife (like AK), we really live on the balconies and enjoy the deeper balconies that most aft balconies provide vs side locations. Sunrises and sunsets are even more fabulous with a wake view. IMHO. We also like being able to just walk up or down the stairs (thus avoiding elevators) to get to dining. Since true aft is more a destination rather than a passage way, there tends to be less congestion. Some people say there is more movement aft; we haven't noticed that to be so, but aren't prone to motion sickness. The sound of the waves seems more noticeable, which we really enjoy; like being at the beach - non-stop.

@islander47 you can see it on an invoice from HAL - have them send you one. If you have a TA, you'll have to get it from them. Once onboard you can see it on the TV statement and Navigator App, but likely too late to get errors corrected, so I get an invoice beforehand.

There are numerous threads on that very topic - with varying responses.

I write a thank you note on the same card that was returned with the clean laundry (the person who did your laundry will include a nice handwritten note in the basket 🧺 when they wrap it up), put some cash with it and put it in the final bag I send out at the end of the cruise. You can also leave it with Guest Services or your Cabin Steward, but I prefer to try to get it as close to their hands as possible. Some people hang the laundry bag on their door, others place it on the bed - either is acceptable. I put mine on the door as sometimes my cabin hasn't been cleaned when I return from breakfast. You can call Guest Services and let them know you have a bag ready for pick-up.

This month on Eurodam daily specials were still only available on their day. As one server said - left side is daily, right side (large) are everyday as are center (smalls).

It's a fairly recent change; one many passengers have been quite vocal about not agreeing with. Especially since it doesn't apply in the MDR. Oh, you will also pay 18% on the $7, but for me to have candied bacon and a salad, it's worth it. Ridiculous, but I pay it - I like the bacon that much. Not sure the date of that menu, so I wouldn't necessarily count the scallops out. I don't eat seafood, so I don't pay attention to that, but my DH thinks he may have seen them on it this month when we were on Eurodam. Maybe someone currently onboard can confirm.

If it's not already on, turn your TV on when you first enter your cabin - the mandatory safety video will begin playing The TV will not change to other channels until the safety video plays.

Your meal will be covered except for anything noted on the menu as "supplement" charge (such as the Tomahawk). You can order multiple sides and entrees/mains, but an additional app/starter will cost $7. Drinks other than basic tea, water (same as MDR) will cost you. The candied bacon (clothesline bacon) is a must! HAL-PinnacleGrill-menu_060717 (1).pdf

@Denise T happy to hear you finally made it to Anchorage!! I hope you enjoy the Nieuw Amsterdam - no Waterpark, etc and being a very "walkable" ship makes her one of our favorites on HAL. Tip: for great views w/o crowds be sure to go up to deck 12. You will have to walk up from 11 forward as the elevator doesn't go there. Something fun to do onboard is to look for rubber ducks; elevators are a good place to look. Please post a picture if you find one. Excited to see your pictures.

No need to purchase the pressing pkg - as your laundry will come back pressed, it's for getting wrinkles our of clean clothes that don't need to be laundered or items you just want freshener up. You can also buy either service by the piece.

Welcome to HAL!! You will not have to purchase the pressing pkg in addition to the laundry pkg; laundry includes pressing. You designate if you want clothes folded or hung; you can mix in each order so what needs to be hung gets hung and what you want folded gets folded. They sell the pressing pkg (you can also do it by the piece) for items that are clean and just need to lose their wrinkles. HAL does a great job w/laundry. They will accommodate special requests such as don't dry this item but do dry these or wash these in cold water, for example. I appreciate the special hand written notes that come back w/the clean clothes and always tip them at the end of the cruise. Also, unless you really need something expedited, no need to pay for same day service - if you have it out by breakfast you usually get it back same day w/no additional fee.

They always know!

No nail biting allowed!! We're all newbies in this together no matter how many times we've cruised on Brand X, Ship Z. This is a completely new ship w/nothing like it (unless you sailed on Costa). We'll learn together and a lot of it will come from the live reviews those going before us are doing. There are several, so I'd say share them w/your travel mates and you can learn together about what's to come. 🥳😎

Wiping brow - not what I pictured when you said they had to be cut off, so I feel a bit better. I've had them use those on bras and some sheer fabrics. They're actually staples with the paper looped around a belt loop, for example, and you just cut or tear the paper. Nothing pokes through the fabric.

While the sticky tags sometimes hang around a little too long (ie they stick really well, lol), I don't want anything poked through the fabric. That is definitely not progress, if it's more than just a test. And if it's a trial/test, I'm with you that people Ned to make their displeasure known. That's one test that needs to fail.

Once you have internet you can Google it, lol. Chicken and eggs...