luvn2cruzzz

31 minutes ago, Crew News said:

plans

And on the KDam there is the DutchCafe’ which is one of our favorites—a charming space with some lunch and dessert items. My husband loves the pea soup and the Koningsbol is decadent!

The hotel we booked says they want an extra 5o euros for an early check-in.  That sounds outrageous to us so we will have to pass on it.  Disappointed.

On 7/28/2019 at 3:34 PM, euro cruiser said:

Why stay at the airport in this situation?  It takes so little time to go into Rome and it's so much more enjoyable when you are awake enough to venture out.   There's nothing to do near the airport and it's expensive to get anywhere, even closer locations, by taxi from there.

 

If you really want to avoid downtown, why not travel to either Civitavecchia or the beach town just south of it, Santa Marinella, and stay there?  At least in either of these places there are things to do/places to walk to.

Thank you for your suggestion about Santa Marinella.  I found a hotel that looks lovely and has very high ratings and just booked it!  That is why I love Cruise Critic.  Would never have known!

Appreciate all of your comments.  Because we have been to Rome several times and my husband now has some mobility issues, we decided to just fly in the day before which will be much easier for him.  Would I love to go to Rome again, for sure!  But this is going to work best for us this time.  I will look into Santa Marinella.   Thanks for that recommendation.

Thank you,  We are looking at the Hilton Garden Inn though it looks like there is nothing around there.  Will be spending the day and night before the cruise. I know we will sleep for a bit after the 

We are thinking of staying there too the night before.  Where are you staying?

Has anyone stayed at a  hotel near the Rome airport prior to a cruise?  If so, where and how did you handle transportation to the port?

Thanks again for the information.  Is that unusual for the transfer of power to happen in the first part of cruise?

On 7/5/2019 at 1:55 PM, Copper10-8 said:

 

Yes, Mark Pells is still an HD with HAL, currently also on Noordam

Wondering if he will be on the Noordam when we will be in November.  He was on the Zuiderdam in 2008 and was so kind and generous to the Cruise Critic members and the Meet and Greet and even held a luncheon for us.  It was a memorable voyage made even more memorable due to his actions.

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Capt. Henk Draper is scheduled

Thank you!  I do have another question, is Mark Pell still with HAL?

Hi Copper,

Wondering who may be at the helm of the Noordam for the November 9 sailing.  Also, HD and CD.

Thanks so much!

I am confused!  We were  on the Eurodam in January for two weeks and ate at the Tamarind twice and didn't have to pay for the sushi. We have also sailed on the Koningsdam twice and don't remember a Nam Sushi menu and again had sushi with our meal at no charge.  It sounds like you have the option of just doing sushi without a meal and that is when it is ala carte.  Is this right?

I was on the Eurodam this winter and was amazed at how many younger families were onboard.  The Club HAL staff said they had about 100 children and the holidays were long over.  It was definitely a mixed age demographic and we loved the different vibe that created.  We did back to back 7 day cruises so I am sure that is what attributed to the younger age group as 7 day cruises do attract a younger group.  We tend to do much longer cruises so this was new for us.

Thank you so much, Freestyling, for posting the link!  I watched it in its entirety and thoroughly enjoyed it's heartfelt messages of inclusion, diversity, and our common human connection which has always been Oprah's mantra.   Kudos to Holland America for making the choice to name Oprah Winfrey the Nieuw Statendam's godmother.

On another note, we just got off the Eurodam and as we boarded the ship, we were greeted with, 'Welcome home'.  That is truly how we always feel on any HAL ship in the fleet. We are looking forward to the same feeling on the NS next Fall.  Can't wait!

We just got off the Eurodam on Sunday and on port days at 4:00 we played Where in the World Travel Trivia in the Corw's Nest.  Each time, the EXC guide leading trivia announced that at 4:00 happy hour would be up there.  This was not advertised in the Where and When so if you weren't up there, you would not know about it.

Thank you so much for your comprehensive review.  We are booked on her in October.  I am having a hard time imagining Lincoln Center Stage in the Queen's Lounge.  Not an intimate spot for sure.  Did they have chairs arranged theater style when they were performing or is the audience around the dance floor like on the Koningsdam?  I agree that changes needed to be made for that venue as the space on the Koningsdam was noisy; just surprised this is the space for it.  Other than that venue change and Rolling Stone, were there any other changes from the KDam that you noticed?

Do you know if any of the hotels mentioned provide shuttle service to the port?

Thank you!

Has anyone sailed before and after the Eurodam's dry dock?  Wondering what changes were made?  Thanks!

Does anyone know if you are Executive Platinum on American if can you use a systemwide upgrade if you book air with HAL? Thanks.

Thank you for your replies. I will contact a PCC as suggested.

Thinking of looking into HAL's air program for our next Europe cruise and wondering how it works with airline status. Have used other cruise line programs but it was a while ago. Do you accrue points just as if you booked it with the airline itself. What about upgrades? If you have an elevated status, does it come into play? Thanks!

Appreciated the reveiw. I have to totally agree with the OP on all the 'good' he posted. It is the 'bad' and the 'ugly' where I didn't have the quite the same experiences on the cruise directly preceeding the one described. I found the internet to be amazingly quick. I was almost hesitant to purchase a plan but did anyway, and was pleasantly surprised. The HAL Navigator was a very useful tool and except for a few hours when we first sailed, it was quick and informative. The deck plans were always right there as was the ability to 'chat' with other guests. We did experience no TV signal a few times. As for the MDR cuisine--I agree, it was lacking. I think they are trying to be too 'gourmet' and falling short on tasty and inviting dishes. We only ate there 4 nights of an 11 day cruise enjoying all of the other venues immensely, even Canaletto which isn't always our favorite but we love their lamb dish. The Lido is ho hum. No exciting food and almost the same offerings each day. Would like to see them shake it up a little. And it was the only space on the ship that ever seemed crowded. The only evidence of wear and tear for me was the Lido carpeting which was very attractive but in need of replacement. As much as they scrubbed it, the stains were ever present. I would hope on their dry dock, a change will be made. We became big fans of Lincoln Center so too had to contend with smoke that filtered down from the Casino or noise from Billboard On Board which was a shame. I understand on the new ship, this will be rectified. On gala nights, we experienced about 85% of the passengers to be appropriately dressed. Never did see flip flops--I m sure they were there-- but did see a baseball cap or two. I think the singers and dancers were among the best we have ever experienced on a ship. They had just come on for our sailing so were brand new with the exception of one dancer. You would never have known it. DH who always avoids these shows, went willingly! We have now sailed on the K'Dam twice and have another cruise on her scheduled. I guess we like her a lot!

Having just completed my second cruise on the Konigsdam, I don’t even think there is a comparison. Yes, the Veendam is a smaller, old ship if you are looking for small, but please give me new, more dining options to choose from if you so desire, state of the art theater in the almost round, Lincoln Center, Billboard on Board, gorgeous ship, flowers everywhere, excellent service. Whatever you choose will be the right one for you.

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Just got off the Konigsdam Sunday and the Tamarind offered lobster. I believe sea bass was offered as well.

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