fann1sh

Thanks RuthC and ger_77 for clarifying the "wine line up" doesn't result in wine being taken. Somehow I forgot - to schlep? Means to schlep all the way. "Here: take this heavy thing" isn't an option, LOL.

I guess this is the first cruise where I'm wholly in charge of wine. :o

Ruth, your suggestion I keep our options open makes perfect sense.

I found a new wine carrier on Amazon. POAs excellent version is no longer available, so I got this for $9:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FGQXER4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Anne, I apologise if you mentioned this somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

What level of guarantee did you book? That would give us a better idea what to target as an upsell.

My favourite Zuiderdam budget cabins are the inside J cabins on Main deck/deck 1 - honourable mention to the K's on Main; and the midship H and G cabins (and one lone pair of D) on upper promenade deck/deck 4. I've not had noise issues in either spot.

I like the square plan of those insides, which makes the most of the square footage; plus the fact 225 square feet is unusually big for an inside.

As for the obstructed/partly obstructed cabins - floor to ceiling windows mean lots of light, even if an ORANGE lifeboat obstructs some of the view. Those cabins are identical in layout to a balcony cabin - just, without the balcony.

I know 1 bottle per person per cabin is allowed to be drunk in the cabin without paying corkage.

But, what if we know before boarding we want to drink all wine in the dining room?

Can we volunteer to pay corkage, and have all bottles taken by beverage service at boarding?

Anyone actually done this?

Or are we just going to confuse things and hold up the line? :eek:

Thanks so much.

Believe it or not, I can't find this information on the HAL site. I'm not saying it's not there - just that new format means I can't find it in the FAQ's.

So, with the tweaked dress code, are the number of Gala nights the same?

I hope you love/come to love lower prom deck as much as I do, Judy. You'll get quite a decent view, barely obstructed (IMO) and access to the great outdoors just 6 cabins down.

I'm happy for you.

This is exciting - I noticed your name as the most recent poster, and hoped you'd got your cabin.

I guess it's time to stop lurking, LOL, and make sure I'm among the ones subscribed. :D Good luck!

Anytime, you mention a crew member by name, be it on the electronic survey sent to your home post-cruise and/or on the LUK (Let Us Now) cards that you'll find in your stateroom and/or can always pick up at the Front Office during a cruise, that feedback gets distributed to that crew member's Department (administration, food service, food preparation, beverage, entertainment, concessions, etc).

 

The electronic surveys will find their way on to the hotel director's PC and are forwarded to the various department head PC's (plus to ship's senior management) All LUK's wind up on the desk of the Guest Relations Manager during the cruise (and/or on "turnaround day"), who will read them and has his/her staff distribute them to the various ship departments the crew member is assigned to. In addition, the GRM sends out a daily internal email to ship's senior management plus to all department heads which, among other info, contains any LUKs received the day before.

 

Contrary to the belief that this type of crew recognition has an impact on crew shore leave - it does not, shore leave is issued based on work schedule availability - the recognition does find its way into crew member personnel files and, consequently, on rating cards and performance evaluations, prepared by supervisors and managers. In addition, I'v seen managers photo copy the comments, "high light" those comments and the crew member's (or sometimes entire staff of a department such as the Front Office) name and post them in work areas such as the main galley, Lido pantry, Front Office, HK office, etc. for all crew to read

 

As a result of all this, when it comes time for promotion and/or different assignments, a series of "attaboy's/girl's" in someone's personnel jacket will have a positive impact on the decision making process of that supervisor and/or manager

Thanks for letting me know I was mistaken about this affecting shore leave - but not promotion. :) Your posts are always so helpful!

Thanks, both of you - but to RuthC most especially for reminding me about those cards.

Seems a good way of keeping kudos aboard the ship, so they don't get lost. :)

PS: Oops! Boze9999, looks like we cross posted. Thanks to you as well.

A number of years ago - when evaluations were still on paper - a crew member told me that while tips helped his family, mention in my cruise evaluation helped him: promotions and shore leave.

It's been my habit to note down names and spellings and "good deeds" during the cruise, and try to mention as many crew as possible.

Does anyone else have a rule of thumb about this?

Or, should I spend my brief chance to grab HAL's attention on other things?

Thanks Fouremco and especially RuthC. Makes sense to wait, and give a note.

I'll be leaving the HSC alone, and was planning to tip steward(s) on embarkation: for clearing out the fridge of pay items. Hope this isn't seen as a bribe, or the only tip they'll be getting. :eek:

Crowd sourcing, please: is it inappropriate to tip at the time of this favour? Should I wait until the end?

Oh, NO!

She'll be dearly missed.

Thanks for letting us know, Jacqui.

I just received an overwrought *NEWSFLASH!* from a large travel agency ballyhooing -

"It means that if you act fast, you can get in on one of the most spectacular LAUNCH EVENT promotions as the Oosterdam opens for the first time for its

March 31, 2017 - November 11, 2017 sailings.

Great rates and fabulous perks, but only for a short time until Holland America can build some base on these now empty sailings."

They mention the Explore4 perqs as if they're somehow unique to the redeployment, but neglect to mention the booked passengers on the previous sailings until the last line, with regard to those "empty" sailings.

Anyone else skeptical about big bargains for those stepping into our beleaguered fellow posters shoes?

There are photos of the therapy pool and thermal suite....but on website we're not supposed to link. Site has facts about HAL.

I found the same photos by Googling "Koningsdam Lido Thermal Suite" and clicking on images.

serendipity1499, we spend part of the winter in SW Florida, and have a small, cheap, but VERY good Black&Decker juicer via Amazon.

Get Minneolas/"honey bells" from FleaMasters in Fort Myers every weekend in season. Once you've tasted hand squeezed Minneolas, there's no going back, LOL!

We'll be in downtown Vancouver pre-cruise, without a nearby Publix - another thing I miss when we head back north.

Never saw venison or buffalo, but they still do a great job with liver and onions. Plus our dinners were always under one hour and the smaller portion size of better quality offerings makes having more variety of courses a saner operation these days.

 

However, I am also of the camp that thinks it is not fair to (1) compare HAL dining to higher end cruise lines, or (2) expect more than just basically good banquet food for the price and nature of the operation.

 

Maybe the larger Princess ships have this worked out differently, but for a nicely genteel dining atmosphere with perfectly adequate and often very nice choices HAL remains a great value travel choice in our book.

 

I love the feeling of the MDR, and agree, no cooking, no dishes and some special dining time with DH who dresses for the occasion along with a reasonable variety of choices, after "over-eating" anyway during the day, HAL MDR still delivers a special dining occasion for us.

Totally agree, especially your remark about banquet food. This is what I expect, tell OTHERS to expect when posting on another cruising board, and advise to order accordingly.

OhMyGoodness - liver and onions! <mouth watering>

Just my single opinion - but the main reason I like eating in the MDR is taking 2 hours for dinner AND small portions for each offering.

Well, along with the fact I don't have to cook it, and it's brought to me! :)

Isn't it great HAL can accommodate such a wide variety of priorities?

Is venison or buffalo still occasionally on the menu? Saw on my last 3 cruises, none recent. Only red meats I can eat. :(

WOW! I'm so glad to hear the last night is good for Pinnacle from so many knowledgeable posters.

Made my last night reservation just before coming back to this board. :D

I wish we could go to Tamarind, too, but: sister is so allergic to soya bean products, she carries an epi pen. :eek: Hard to avoid soy with an Asian menu.

Maybe I can get a bento box for just me one night. I see there are no more Tamarind lunches - too bad, enjoyed on Eurodam.

Thanks, all.

Perhaps I can soothe the angry bear by ordering mimosas, LOL....

Just read a post by andrek dated August 3 that there's no fresh orange juice in the Lido, but

>>" I think you can still get it complimentary in the dining room for breakfast."

This may sound ridiculous, but...this tiny thing has me in a tizzy.

Not looking forward to Dad's reaction to the Other Sutff, which involves his imitation of a growling bear. :eek: He hates HAL's "regular" OJ.

What about room service? What about the Neptune lounge?

Anyone have any further information? Please?

Even wondering if there's something I'm allowed to schlep aboard he'll find acceptable.

Any replies get a thousand thanks in advance!

YES! Great help for the OP. :D

Thanks for the mobility aid explanation. :) He is also quite elderly, right? I suspect that the concierges will quickly clue in, and do everything they can to help you meet the needs of your family. :) Or the PG Mgr will. It may be impossible, but it may be possible. You will soon find out :)

Dad is far enough into ninetysomething that his original goal of making the century mark? Now seems to him too modest. :)

My guess is the concierges will figure he's a healthy 80.

Thanks all, and most recently Venn Diagram.

Dad uses a cane by choice, a walker for longer distances, and a wheelchair when my sister and I *bully him into it*. Example: embarkation day will be a wheelchair day; and even he reluctantly agrees with this.

Thanks for the suggestions to simply ask, politely. Makes sense.

I'm so glad to see lobster tail on one menu for an additional supplement, and lemon brulee tarte as a dessert option.

I have never printed anything except boarding pass and tags, and have never needed the rest of it that I had on my netbook. But there's always a first time I guess! ;)

Thanks, will take those odds. :)