tpwolfe

When we were on the Zaadam we have the same table for 2 for 17 days with open dining.  The only problem with the table was some other tables for 2 were about 1 1/2 feet apart or so apart from our table so it was a table for 2 but didn’t feel like it.   When we were on the Rotterdam last Nov we have open dining again and was able to get a different table for 2 each night for the entire 9 days.  Most of the tables were tables for 4 they turned into a table for 2.

37 minutes ago, albingirl said:

Most likely. Good for you for watching things carefully. Paying attention is the name of the game. Bravo!!! Half the fun of cruising with Holland America is catching them in all these sneaky surprises like price drops. To be fair, they don't tell you when the fare has gone up and you are a winner on that end. If you watch things carefully, you will always be ok. 

Thank you

2 minutes ago, POA1 said:

Hopefully you booked a refundable deposit because your cruise is far out. If that's the case, cancel and rebook. You can move your deposit to the new booking. Now is a good time to book while the Black Friday sale is going on.

It is fare is refundable but is Club Orange refundable?

10 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

No, they don’t but if you are not past final payment you can re-fare the cruise.  In your case I would definitely call even if past final payment to see if they will somehow accommodate you

The cruise isn’t till November 2024

HAL changed my cruise itinerary from southern Caribbean to Eastern Caribbean and I  booked the lowest category veranda for the southern Caribbean and upgraded with club orange.  I did a mock booking using the same category that I first booked and the new itinerary is $960 less then what I originally booked.  Does HAL automatically refund the difference or do I need to call them.  

6 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

Unbelievable.  The HAL website still has it listed as a Southern Caribbean sailing.  But, a travel agency has it listed as an Eastern itinerary.  Wouldn't you think that the cruise line would want to have accurate information on their website?

I would think so.  Here is the email I received:

November 22, 2023

Dear Valued Guest,

We look forward to welcoming you on board Rotterdam for your upcoming voyage departing November 8, 2024 

We are writing to advise you know of a change to your cruise itinerary. Due to port congestion, your voyage will no longer be a Southern Caribbean Seafarer sailing but will follow an Eastern Caribbean itinerary. As a result, your voyage has been revised as follows:

For guests with Holland America Line tours booked for the cancelled ports, you will receive a refund to the original form of purchase. Updated shore excursion information will be available online within the next two weeks.

Should you wish to consider an alternative voyage, please reach out to your travel advisor or to Holland America Line at the appropriate office to discuss your options:

Just got notified that the November 8, 2024 Southern Caribbean sailing on the Rotterdam has been changed to the Eastern Caribbean.  They said it was changed because of port congestion.  

We were just in the Rotterdam early November 2023 and on sail away day the thermal suite was open from 7:00pm to 10:00pm and all the other days it was open 8:00am to 10:00pm except on the last night of the cruise it closed at 7:00pm for cleaning.  Also one night they had a ladies night that costed $39.00.  Hope this helps.

On 11/3/2022 at 1:40 PM, Skipper's Mom said:

We've stayed at the Horton Grand twice.  You can uber from the airport to the hotel and hotel to pier.  There are many restaurants close by.  I don't recommend the one adjacent to the hotel.  We also ubered from the hotel to Ruth's Cris restaurant (very pricey!).

We also stayed at the Horton Grand and really liked it.  Easy walk down to USS Midway and other things.  The bar/bbq restaurant that the Top Gun bar scene was shot (rebuilt the original building burnt down) was a nice casual place to eat.

On 11/3/2022 at 1:40 PM, Skipper's Mom said:

We've stayed at the Horton Grand twice.  You can uber from the airport to the hotel and hotel to pier.  There are many restaurants close by.  I don't recommend the one adjacent to the hotel.  We also ubered from the hotel to Ruth's Cris restaurant (very pricey!).

We been on HAL 7 times and MSC twice and enjoyed both.  Most of the time we get an inside cabin on both cruise lines because we look at the cabin as a place to sleep, shower, and dress and we would rather spend the money we save on the cabin for other things like the thermal suites on the ships.  The inside cabins were about the same other then there was a lot less storage space on MSC.  The dining room service go’s to HAL.  Our waiter on our first cruise on MSC was terrible.  The pizza on MSC is the best I have had at sea.  The HAL Dive in hamburgers and hot dogs beats MCS burgers and dogs  HAL is a much slower pace but that’s not a bad thing.  We enjoyed the entertainment more on MSC.  It was different but enjoyable.  If you want to hear ship announcements in 6 different languages MSC is for you.  We will sail both again. Here some images  I took on the MSC Seaside.

Looked to book the thermal suite for the Rotterdam (9 days) on line and it would only let me book my wife and I individually and not as a couple.  I call HAL 3 times (to make sure I got the correct answer) and asked them if I could book the thermal suite as a couple because in the past the couples rate was cheaper the 2 individual rates.  They all told me you can only purchase the suite individually and they no longer have a couples rate.  Can you still get the couples rate on board or is it priced for each individual too?

Can you upgrade your have it all package internet package?  It’s offering “Surf” internet but we are wanting more like premium.  The past internet we had with HAL has not been good (to be kind)  so we are looking for the best we can get.  I saw there is a $5.00 a day price difference between surf and premium.  Can you upgrade for $5.00 a day when you get the internet with the have it all package?

The thermal suite was our favorite place on the ship.  We went there every day.

On 4/20/2021 at 2:08 PM, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

It is a great ship ..

It was my wife and l least favorite ship of all the ships we been on.  But to each their own.

2 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I just go with the scientific facts. The vaccine is safe, but you seem to want to ignore the facts without any evidence. Your choice, but it is just irrational.

Go ahead.  The science can also be wrong.  

1 minute ago, wowzz said:

Well, if you are not pro vaccine,  you must therefore by definition be anti vax. 

 

 

When did I said I wasn’t pro vaccine?  I been vaccinated all my 63 years.  I’m just not comfortable with this vaccine.  Like I said I want to give it more time to see how it goes.  Cruising isn’t worth it to me if the vaccine is required right now. I wish you can except someone else opinion without classifying them.  From your posts I could classify you but I am not because I  respect open dialogue   and different views.  

5 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

At present, anyone who will not take steps to get the vaccine when available IS an antivaxxer.  

5 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

The interesting thing about some of these posters who claim to not be anti-vaxxers - but say they are just urging caution.  They might change their minds in the future -- but then every human being is capable of doing that. 

 

At present, anyone who will not take steps to get the vaccine when available IS an antivaxxer.  

 

5 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

The interesting thing about some of these posters who claim to not be anti-vaxxers - but say they are just urging caution.  They might change their minds in the future -- but then every human being is capable of doing that. 

 

At present, anyone who will not take steps to get the vaccine when available IS an antivaxxer.  

 

Shouldn’t people have right to choose what they put into their body without being classified?

On 2/12/2021 at 3:58 PM, voljeep said:

has anyone posted NO yet ? - why would they ?

Because the vaccine was produced so quickly and who knows what the long term efforts are.  I will let all of you be the lab rats to see if there any problems long term.  My niece became paralyzed when she got her shot.  Thanks goodness she recovered.  For me cruising is not worth the risk of problems now or later.

Thanks.  It’s the March 2022 Panama Canal.

Looking at a cruise that is leaving from San Antonio (Santiago), Chile.  I was wondering if anyone booked a flight (one way) to San Antonio (Santiago), Chile using Flight ease and about what it costed?  

My wife haven’t liked him since HAL got rid of the wrap around promenade deck on the newer ship and for picking the worst internet provider at sea.

On 5/12/2020 at 4:50 PM, Copper10-8 said:

 

Agreed, one of the better things Orlando instituted, along with

 

Changing the Northern Lights nightclubs into Gallery Bars.

The early availability of your stateroom on embarkation day (not having to wait elsewhere for that P/A announcement by the CD), along the same lines, being able to wait in your cabin until your "number" is called on disembarkation day

Electronic mustering

the creation of the Dive-In burger galley

Expanded salad bars

The Club Orange concept, but only on the two ships that have the dedicated restaurant

 

 

Not so good/terrible decisions and/or things that fell apart on his watch:

 

The change from the original Crow's Nest with full library into Explorations Central

Rijksmuseum at Sea (supposed to go to all Vistas and up, thankfully only found on Westerdam)

Getting rid of the full cast and their production shows

Getting rid of the Screening Room movie theaters on the Vistas and up

Giving CDs the added responsibility as travel director and gutting his/her staff

The "Orange Party"

America's Test Kitchen

 

Probably forgetting stuff............

 

I would add New York pizza to the not so good/terrible list.  The wait is to long for subpar pizza.  They need to make the pizza station grab and go.  And to be fair we do enjoy The Dutch cafe in the mornings for a quick breakfast and pasties in the afternoons.

We are doing a back to back both leaving from the Port of Civitavecchia.  We are doing Celebrity first and then Holland America for the transatlantic home.  Just wondering what is best way to get from the Celebrity ship to the Holland America ship the same day at the Port of Civitavecchia.

When my wife and travel alone we look at itinerary and cruise ships as transportation only and all the other stuff is a bonus.  We pick a cruise ship because of the itinerary.  If it’s not a good itinerary we don’t do that ship.  When we travel with the grand kids we look at the ship and not the itinerary.  The last 2 cruises with the grand kids we have done MSC because of the water slides, bowling, and a lot other things kids enjoy.  They have a ball.

20 minutes ago, TAD2005 said:

I saw a CC post that the Veendam has a full ship charter starting Nov 3, when it arrives from its Trans-Atlantic.

Thanks.  Do you remember where the post was on CC?