InTheWASide

We're currently looking at one of these as would depart on my 45th birthday. Pre-emptively planning to make it work, but we'll see.

the phone system that HAL uses is the same my company uses. They had a global issue/outage for several hours last night. Basically calls could come in, but then they couldn't distribute to people able to take calls

Mispronounced!
Sorry, had to, the elevators tend to say "Mozzert"

Never even heard of this site, but anything that would list Canaletto and not Tamarind... having a hard time believing that.
Also, when they talk about Pinnacle I have a small edit...

They put "Found on numerous Holland America ships, like the Oosterdam and the Rotterdam"
Next time, try:
"Found on every single Holland America Line ship"

There's no space to add it to. On that class of ship Club Orange just has the special menus and kind of a pre-reserved area in the MDR so there's minimal to no wait.

Eurodam a few weeks ago:

Explorations Cafe    6a - 10p

Pinnacle Bar    7a-10p

It was great seeing the second venue open. Helped distribute the load somewhat, but also made for quick coffees in the morning since majority of guests seemed to only be aware of Explorations Cafe

43 minutes ago, Laminator said:

I was not clear. The casino on the ship is now open while at HMC. You are allowed to charge a certain amount to your room card everyday. I know for invited Club 21 members it is $3000 a day. I will check if it is the same for everyone today and let you know.

That's fine, I thought you were saying there was a casino ON the island and I was curious how all that was set up. Love that it can be open on HMC day. I'll still be out on the island most of the day but good to know it's open if I come back before last call.

On 11/15/2021 at 10:08 AM, Laminator said:

As an FYI the casino is now open at Half Moon Cay. 

I was just there last month... where is it located on HMC? And do you happen to know if you can use your room card or do you have no choice other than to bring cash?

On 11/4/2021 at 7:17 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

The HAL slogan of "Signature of Excellence" continues to be tarnished.  

That's not HAL's current slogan

On 10/23/2021 at 2:20 PM, sassy~one said:

Thanks so much for the update and pictures.  I have never been to the Dutch Cafe. Please are there items at no cost?  Is this location where the afternoon tea is held? Thanks

On the Pinnacle Class I have seen tea held in the MDR but also a couple times in the Queen's Lounge. It may vary OR it may have changed at some point

30 minutes ago, FOPMan said:

We’ve sailed quite a bit on Holland America and enjoy Half Moon Cay.

 

I am a wheelchair user, and it seems like Holland America has upped their caution about Half Moon Cay and accessibility. My fear is they’ve shifted from using island-based tenders/ferries to using ship-based tenders (lifeboats).

 

Can people sailing after 10/23/21 and visiting HMC post back about what boats are being used for passenger transport at Half Moon Cay?

 

Thanks!

 

I was at HMC last week on a Carnival Cruise and they still used the island tenders. I would imagine HAL would be doing the same... But why not call and ask the Access and Compliance desk ahead of time and see what info they have?

It all just showed back up for me as well. Decided to go unlimited as it will be a better value. But appreciate the help most of you provided. Was nice to know I wasn't alone with it acting weird 🙂

4 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Not every one is climbing walls to get on a ship and the lack of listing of specialty venues could be caused by a number of things but being sold out is unlikely to be one of them. 

What do you believe the number of things you mentioned could be then?

Looking online and Chops and Izumi aren't showing as options to book ahead of time. Jamie's Italian does so I know things have been loaded in.

Does this mean they're totally sold out already? Or do I have to get Unlimited to get access to them?

Would unlimited even have access to them if they aren't showing?

I know we're all climbing the walls to get back onboard but it would be really surprising if most specialty dining is 100% booked solid before the cruise.

Any thoughts?

Thanks everyone! We've decided on Mariner and a lot of the feedback you provided helped with that decision.

Trying to decide which ship to go with on this upcoming cruise we're planning. Your advice, especially if you're familiar with both ships as they currently sit post-amplify would be great.

Both are departing on the exact date we would need - 9/13/21 and end the same day and both happen to go to Nassau and CocoCay so that part is a draw.

We've only been on one Royal cruise before and that was Liberty out of Galveston a few years ago. In all honesty it was alright but I read they had to skip out on a lot of what they planned to do with the ship just prior in a drydock and the company we had wasn't great so that likely influenced the opinion.

This is just a quick getaway for the 2 of us about as close to my 40th bday (October 5th) as work schedules will allow.

Here's what I am debating:

Mariner:

A couple hours closer to home

About $20 less in tolls

More recently amplified (though because of covid I think both have had about the same number of cruises since amplification so moot point?)

The Bamboo Room (not on Freedom)

Has Playmakers (but way smaller and part of the Promenade instead of it's own entire zone)

Has Jamie's Italian

Has the Escape Room

Freedom:

A couple hours further from home

Additional $20 in tolls

Only been on Royal once and was on this same ship class 

Lime and Coconut (not on Mariner)

Playmakers is HUGE compared to Mariner

Has R Bar (we liked it on Liberty)

Has El Loco Fresh

Has Giovanni's Italian Kitchen (I think this is a different name from what Liberty had? Is it different?)

These things don't matter:

Which water slides or who has the trampoline skypad thing (we're both big boys and Royal has already declared we're too fat for such things)

We're gold so no need for Diamond lounge

We're likely doing basic inside or basic balcony so we don't need a suite lounge

We gamble but not to a ridiculous amount so what the casinos have isn't a huge deal

"This ship is bigger, it'll feel more crowded" - Neither ship will be at capacity so no biggie 🙂

The promo I found has both of these within a few dollars of the exact same price 

Please help! I appreciate your input!

Such a shame and this happens far too often. I know this isn't a HAL tour but they just need to stop offering the ability to do this $%#@ tour at all in Ketchikan... far too many lives lost, these included... so sad 😢

Found this link on the HAL website with a quick compare chart across the fleet.

file://usflnas1/Home$/559897/Downloads/HAL_Ships_at_a_Glance_Chart.pdf

Comparing Ryndam to sisters Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam a couple things stand out:

   No De Librije popup (dont in the PG 1 or 2 nights each cruise)

   Instead of the Fuji Wonder Shop for photos, there is just "Photo Shop"

   BLEND by Chateau Ste Michelle will not be onboard

   Another thread someone was wondering if it will be a "Crow's Nest" or an "EXC" and the chart shows EXC.

So there's at least one space with something new coming and that's the space BLEND previously took up.

It will be around the corner from the Ocean Bar and Pinnacle/Sel de Mer and directly adjacent to Club Orange (and it DOES show Club Ornage will be carried forward to Ryndam)

1 minute ago, DaveOKC said:

Opps - sorry - misread the form.

 

I get it mixed up all the time too

His name is Arnold Donald...

5 hours ago, Shmoo here said:

"Someone else" is somewhat suspect in their view of things, also.  The article was reported by "Cruelty and Murder of Animals".

 

And the lawyer in question is quick to pick up on any bad press about cruise ships, regardless of source.

 

Absolutely agree

22 hours ago, crystalspin said:

I think there are people lobbying to change the law about releasing rescued cubs and here they are trying not to accustom the bears to linking FOOD with PEOPLE.

 

Fortress of the Bear is helping to lead that charge.

On 5/28/2019 at 8:54 AM, Loreto said:

We did this as Sea Otters, Raptors and Bears, Oh My!  It was a great excursion with HAL and I am planning on doing it again in July.  Fortress of the Bears was a fascinating way to observe rescued bears.  We have been to the Raptor Center a few times and enjoyed it.

Karen

First time we went was this tour. The Sea Otter Quest is also incredible. We easily saw over 1000 animals between numerous whales and puffins, other wild birds, eagles and a "raft" of easily over 500 otters. Then to have the raptor center and Fortress of the Bear AND it was a perfectly clear blue sky in Sitka which isn't too common... 

On 5/27/2019 at 6:04 PM, 1ANGELCAT said:

Have any of my fellow HAL cruisers been there ? 

Did you consider it worthwhile?

 I’m looking at a tour that also goes to the Raptor center or perhaps just going on my own to the Bears.

TIA

We go there every single time we're on an Alaska cruise that goes to Sitka.

The work they do is extraordinary and they give these amazing creatures a second chance as Alaska law says if they are wandering through town they can be killed.

They've made big changes to the grounds over the last few years that we are eager to see the next time Alaska is calling to us.

While it may be a bit cliche, we found being there to be inspirational and life changing.

Definitely go when you are there. I hope you find it as incredible as we have on numerous occasions!

Not a HUGE gin person, but the Seven Seas Aviator was a really good one. I only remember gin and Apricot brandy... no doubt a couple other ingredients. Really good