Moriah

Also, and sorry if this is slightly off-topic, but a few years ago I sailed with three friends (so we were four single women) in a Neptune suite. So in addition to the three beds the OP will be using, our steward brought a rollaway cot into our room each evening. All three of the beds were very comfortable, but that fold-up bed was horrible. We rotated beds during the cruise to make it "fair" LOL. I was sorry we hadn't booked two regular cabins rather than the Neptune, because even being such a large cabin, having three roommates in ANY cabin is a challenge. There is still only one bathroom, obviously, and double sinks and two showers don't really matter much when you are not a couple! We decided that if we did it again, we'd forgo the Neptune Lounge, and the extra floor space and go for the second bathroom. 🙂

The bed situation will be the same in the Neptune as in the Signature, except that the bed is King sized, so when you split it the two beds are larger. The sofa bed is very similar, and IMO very comfortable. The only downside to being the one whose bed is the sofa one is that you don't have a bed during the day, if you want to take a nap, or that is your designated space to clutter up 🙂 since your steward will put the bed back into sofa condition when he cleans your room in the morning, and make up the bed again while you are at dinner. Also, remember that if you don't have fixed dining or tend to be out of the room at the same time each evening, you might want to talk to your room steward about a fixed time for the bed to be made up, if you don't want to come back exhausted in the evening and find it's not done yet, or have it turned down at 6 PM when you planned to have guests in the room in the evening and need the couch. Also, just my opinion, but if you can swing the Neptune, just having that extra floor space (which is the main difference between the two) might be nice with three adults sharing a cabin.

I wish I could be like you, but sadly, even though, as you say, it's "easy" to take it out of the slot and go... I would just .... go. 🙂 Meaning I'm out of there, the door is locked, and my card is still in the slot. And I'm not going to blame my age because it was the same for me in my 20's and 30's. 🙂 So... I keep my room card on my lanyard, around my neck. So far I have not forgotten to take my neck when I leave the cabin, so that works for me.

Last month on N.S. I noticed people trying to feed the slot machines paper bills were having a heck of a time. Casino staff were always having to help them "feed" the machines. My advice is if you plan to use cash be sure you have really crisp bills. Even with those brand new machines, the cash feeds are very finicky. Maybe just give Guest Services your cash to put in your account and then transfer the amount to the machine using your room card... (I don't have experience with table games, but I assume it's human hands taking your money and not those little bots inside the machines :))

I used to think I had to say "cold water" and other instructions, but for the last several years (starting a few years before the pandemic shut down cruising), I have just stuffed everything in the bag and sent it with no special requests at all, and my laundry ALWAYS comes back as good or far BETTER than it does when I wash it myself at home. They are professionals - and they are really really good at what they do. They know more about how to wash/dry all kinds of fabrics than we do... wish I'd figured it out a long time ago and saved myself all the extra hassle when sending laundry on the ship.

Hm, never even thought about it. I just stick my bras into the bag with all the other laundry, and they always come back perfect. Which is interesting, since at home, I always wash them on delicate cycle and hang dry them. Maybe that's not really necessary! 🙂

Same suite exactly except for location. The letter category designation has always been there, even way back when these suites were called "Deluxe Verandahs." The SA, SB, and SC designations (with SA being most expensive, and SC the least) were location driven. SA suites are closest to the Neptune Lounge (Which was already called that back in the "Deluxe Verandah" days. The SBs are usually a deck below, and the SCs can be further away, sometimes, depending on the ship, they are all the way in the stern, and actually preferred by many. Anyway, you get the exact same suite but pay a bit less when you book SB, just keep in mind it's a few extra steps to the lounge. Zaandam isn't that big - if you are mobile, you can save by booking the SB, IMO.

~6:30 at Grand Dutch Cafe ~7 at Explorations cafe ~(but since you have Neptune Lounge access, they open at 7 also) ~Room service 24/7 ~Lido (not "brewed") 24/7

I'm not sure how this is different from what I said, except I'm not sure what you mean about the OBC... the casino offers I get are free cabin, free drinks in casino, and a varying amount of casino free play dollars. There is no "fare" for me, although, as I said, the Casino pays HAL for the room.

In this case the "deal" is not being transferred, so no worries. As I said, HAL was paid in full for the cabin already, and the "deal" is free play in the casino and probably free drinks (IOW the Casino co. would have paid for these too), which the OP will not get, but wouldn't have whether the other person showed up or not.

This is correct. The CASINO, not HAL, gave your girfriend the free cruise. HAL is all good - they got their money from the cabin. The fact that your girlfriend will be a no-show in the casino may or may not even bother the casino company. The absolute WORST case scenario is that she does not get more offers (and truthfully, I'm not even sure they are paying that much attention. She may still get offers). Nothing else will happen. Just go on the cruise and have fun, and don't stress.

Yes, we were on Westerdam last August and our cabana was canceled because essentially the cabanas no longer exist, because just as you said (although it was LAST year, since May this year has not yet arrived :)) they were damaged by high winds in May 2023. Ship's Services will know whether you can book a cabana or not. If they are saying no now, perhaps they at least know when repairs are scheduled for. Also, I know you didn't ask this, but I assume Westerdam will be in Alaska next September? It will be cold... cabana in Alaska in September? hmmm 🙂

I think everyone is over-thinking this. The person who was given the casino comped cabin would receive free play in the casino, free drinks, etc. in addition to having the casino company pay for the cabin. HAL could not care less whether that person sails or not, since the casino has already paid HAL for the room. And the Casino probably won't care either, beyond, as already mentioned, flagging that person for no further offers since they did not spend time in the casino... (due to not being on the ship). I just think everyone is making way too big a deal of this. Just go on the cruise, the person not showing up will be a non-issue. Nobody will care. The casino already paid for the room, HAL is happy because there is a person occupying the room (and presumably making purchases on board) and the casino won't be out the free play and free drinks. Just stop over-thinking.

I just realized I read your original post too quickly... and room service will not work for you, since you don't want to wake your wife, so yes, the Lido coffee is your only choice at that hour, and as said, nothing to eat until around 6:30.

Yes. But not pastries - just coffee. If you want pastries you can get them from room service.

I just got off a two week cruise on Nieuw Statendam and I, like you, want my coffee EARLY! 🙂 There is 24 hour coffee available at the Lido, however, I am a bit of a coffee snob and don't really like that coffee (you might, others say it's fine), so what I did was order room service coffee to be delivered at 5:30 each morning. They delivered a pot-full of the coffee they brew by the pot (the same coffee you get in the dining room or specialty restaurants when you do not order espresso drinks). Pastries can be ordered with it of course. I usually drank my first cup in the cabin and at around 6 took the pot with me to the sea view pool and watched the sunrise while drinking another cup. The Grand Dutch cafe opens at 6:30 and they have reasonably good espresso. The Explorations Cafe in the Crows Nest opens at 7.

Are you on a Pinnacle or a Signature class ship? Tamarind layout is very different on the two classes. On Pinnacle class the aft facing tables are quite large, but on our last Rotterdam cruise we got a HUGE table set just for two of us, facing the pool, because we booked at 5 PM!

YES! This.

Is this a Panama canal cruise where you do all the locks? Those are the most expensive "port" charges for some reason.

At FLL since you have priority any listed time is irrelevant - just go through the check in process and go upstairs to the priority waiting area - as soon as boarding begins they start with those in that area, row by row, first come first to board, nobody cares what time you were 'assigned'.

Last spring on Zaandam we had coffee brought to the room every morning and it was always piping hot and with a smile. Did not order room service for any actual meals on that cruise.

Probably on your recent cruise you played bingo or otherwise got your name on a casino list (by putting your card into a slot machine?). So it's the casino company, not actually HAL, who will pay for your cabin and gift it to you. There is no "catch" - but these offers "sell" out quickly so do make the call if you want to go on one of the offered cruises. You pay port fees and taxes. Like any cruise, you can add HIA or anything else, but your won't pay the "cruise fare." You can upgrade if there is availability, and that will cost you.

Usually I just sail on by this kind of complaining thread, but when it comes to withdrawing crew appreciation, I can't be quiet. Are you kidding me right now? The ONLY thing that I had even the tiniest "oh sorry that happened" reaction to was you getting food poisoning, and if it really did happen at the Pinnacle Grill as you claim, I can assure you it is NOT anything usual, and what the heck that has to do with crew appreciation, I can't fathom. You are laboring under a huge misunderstanding. When you do not pay your gratuities, you are stiffing the people who are vacuuming the public areas, the 24-hour laundry workers, the guest relations staff that no doubt fixed that mistake on your bar bill, and well, I just realized I started listing a never-ending group of crew-members who are some of the absolute best and friendliest, and hard working you'll find in the world. You are NOT making the world safe from bar-tenders who are enjoying themselves or mistakes being made (by humans) on bills. I can honestly say that I am pleased as punch that you have decided not to cruise with HAL again. I guess we won't be meeting up on any of my upcoming cruises and that's just fine with me. Also, I just have to say... maybe you could look up the Law of Attraction. 🙂 Basically, it's karma. You get what you give.

This might be a silly question, I hope not, but I wanted to send the links to a friend to the two cruises I am booked on soon - she said she might actually jump on one of them last minute... but neither of them appears at all on HAL's website! - I've searched all the cruises for the ship, for the months they depart... what am I missing? Does this mean they are both sold out? Is my memory incorrect that when a cruise sold out it would still appear, but say "sold out"? What other reason would there be for them to disappear? (I'm not worried about my cruises... my check-in for both is finished, and all is well - those cruises will happen... but why aren't they showing up for the "public"?)

While I agree with those who marvel at the fact that anyone can function in 2024 without a smart phone, the OP isn't asking our opinion about their choice not to have one, only about whether they will be able to get along without one specifically while cruising... and of course, as many have already said, they can. As for shore excursions, several times last year at our shore excursion meetup point they were asking for names, even when people were showing them their tickets on their phones, they always had a list of names AND they can always just scan your ROOM KEY CARD and see that you are paid on that excursion. So it's not necessary to have a phone, or any other kind of excursion ticket - just your room key, which you will have anyway. Does this mean I think it's a great idea to travel without a phone? Oh my no. But again, not the question.