CT D&N

We have an annual plan with Allianz which turns out to be much better for us based on our personal circumstances and amount we travel during the year. I recommend doing an online search/review of annual plans based on your particular needs/information and doing a comparison to the HAL plans. Many of the annual plans offer higher medical and evacuation coverage (typically area of most concern for cruising) at a lower cost and also provide coverage for travel beyond just cruising. Happy cruising!!!

We did this last year and it was as others described above. The only thing I'd note is that for reboarding the intransit card allowed us to bypass checkin but you'll still go through security along with everyone else. The security lines were long and a little chaotic (hopefully that was just for our sailing). Enjoy and have a great cruise!

Any chance they replace the wine bar (Blend?) with the Half Moon Bar that occupies the same space on the Rotterdam? Have never seen anything happening at Blends but always find folks at the Half Moon Bar on the Rotterdam.

Did not hear any elevator noise. A cabin that can accommodate four guests will use the sleep sofa and a bed which drops down from the ceiling. The room steward will set up both beds in the evening and store them in the morning. Enjoyed this stateroom/location and would book again.

Yes, certainly worth a phone call to your PCC or TA. I also already had a desired stateroom booked when I first found out about CO. A quick call to my PCC and she did a quick rebooking and in the end I was able to take advantage of the discount and keep my original/desired stateroom.

I have flown with tickets booked through Flight Ease on two occasions and in both cases these flights were significantly less expensive than I could book elsewhere. However, as you might have read elsewhere, Flight Ease reservations have been known to get canceled/changed without notice, typically close to your sail date. This happened to me with one of my flights. I had direct flights booked direct flights on Delta and about 30 days before my cruise I checked my Delta account and my flight reservation was gone (was there the day before). Called Flight Ease and they confirmed my flight had been canceled but offered to rebook me on awful flights - how nice of them. I refused and after being on the phone for two hours they agreed to rebook my original flights. I pressed them about why my original flight reservation was cancelled or if it was ever ticketed but they would never give me a direct answer. It seems to me that they don't necessarily ticket your flights at the time you make final cruise payment but instead wait until closer to your sail date. I've again have flights booked through Flight Ease (significantly cheaper) but I will be certain to request that they ticket me at the time of final payment for my cruise and I'll confirm this with the airline.

I had the exact same experience a couple weeks ago when I hit the 30 day mark (I also found this out when I noticed my seats were showing as available on the Delta website!). I called Flight Ease and after several hours they were able to negotiate with Delta to reinstate my reservation and fortunately at the same price. I questioned Flight Ease as to why my original booking was cancelled and could not get a direct answer (I suspect Flight Ease for whatever reason just didn't pay the airline for my seats within a specified time window and the airline automatically canceled the reservation). I'll continue to use Flight Ease going forward only when they are able to offer a significant savings compared to what I could book direct myself (for this flight and one previous flight, using Flight Ease did save me a significant amount of money). However, I'll closely monitor my flight reservation and I'll call Flight Ease directly after making final payment and request that my flights be ticketed.

Yes. One bonus cruise day credit is given for each $300 spent on most onboard/advance purchases (including Club Orange fee). Club Orange fees have counted for me every time I've purchased it separate from my cruise fare (Neptune and Pinnacle suite fares include Club Orange) .

Have sailed both HAL and Princess numerous times. I agree with much of what has been posted and would give the edge to HAL. Also, HAL ships do have the covered pool area which Princess ships do not.

Yes, the same configuration in a signature suite on the Rotterdam (I have sailed in a signature suite on the Rotterdam).

I'm on the February 4, 2023 sailing of the Rotterdam and I was pleasantly surprised to see a new music show last night on the main stage. The show is a music group called the Runaround Kids. They play 50's hits with lots of energy and some good humor mixed in. Excellent show (at least I thought so!) - they played two shows in front of a full house with many people standing. If you get the opportunity I'd recommend checking them out. I hope this is just the start by HAL of supplementing their regular entertainment (which I enjoy) with some rotating/varied entertainment which I'd very much appreciate as a frequent HAL cruiser. Good first step HAL - keep it up!

Yes, we replaced/canceled the Noordam Cruise in September and replaced it with the Nieuw Amsterdam cruise (with land tour first)....sorry! Thanks!!!

Rotterdam - 2/4/2023, 11-Day Southern Caribbean Wayfarer Nieuw Amsterdam - 8/19/2023, 14-Day Double Denali Tour: D4I

Rotterdam - June 3, 2023, 21-Day Baltic Jewels & Norse Legends

I have cruised on the Rotterdam twice and many Princess Royal Class ships. The reply from "Miss G" is excellent and covers it. 100% would chose the Rotterdam.