fusion927

Say it ain't so 😒since we get on the ship Sunday. If it's there, it's located on the port side between the Lido buffet and the midship pool, across from the bar and self-serve beer taps.

That's my understanding too (and what happened to us). Apparently there is an exception if you are on a segment of a world cruise (or so I've heard!).

They could be referring to the plastic bags of treats that are an additional cost. Of course, it could be a mistake (alternative vs. extra charge, for example).

Best I can say is 'maybe'. The one time we hade the elite BP (or either alcohol BP), was on the Rotterdam's inaugural TA. On that cruise, the FreeStyle machine was not available (what I heard was they needed to get to the US to get supplies).

The machines (they are on all Pinnacle class ships) are only available if you have purchased the Coca-Cola package. With that package you get a cup (somewhat nice tumbler with lid) that has an RFID chip embedded in it. The RFID chip has an expiration date, so the machine reads the chip and then knows if it is a valid cup. There are time limits so you can't use it twice within 15-20 minutes (I don't remember the exact times), but other than that it is available 24x7 (when it's working). When it ran out of Diet Coke, I told one of the bartenders and within an hour or two it had been restocked. P.S. I've pointed out that the package still says it's limited to the Koningsdam several times, but the text hasn't been updated in something like 5-6 years!

With anytime dining, once on board you can reserve a dining time for the next few days, except there are times (maybe 5:30-6:30) where they severely restrict reservations since that's 'prime time' for dining. Mark

I'll let someone more knowledgeable answer that with more confidence that I can! We had the drinks package just once, and as I recall we upgraded to the signature drinks package to get the Coke package (i.e. Freestyle machine), but that was 3 years ago and I believe that was the same cruise where the machine was not working so I never got the cup.

Back to the soda question, on the Pinnacle ships (like the Rotterdam), you can get a Coke package that includes use of a Freestyle soda machine. That will have all sorts of zero sugar (aka Diet) sodas. Not something I usually select, but I'm pretty sure it will have a sugar free ginger ale... One caveat... Check the machine is working before purchasing the package. I've been on two cruises where it wasn't the whole cruise so you were sorta limited to what comes out of the soda gun. Mark

In our experience, most of the BoB singers are good, a few aren't. I can only remember one cruise where we choose not to attend the BoB shows because of the singing quality. But I don't ever remember a cruise where they didn't take requests (and a few even performed songs they had written themselves). You really get to learn the performers individual musically tastes by the songs they choose, and by the comments about them. My biggest complaint is that is not a 'Dueling' piano show. I call it a 'Duetting' piano show! I remember a couple of cruises with Stryker, but it was so popular we couldn't get in (if we did, we were in the back where everyone was talking 😡 Maybe in the BoB venue, this problem would be reduced.

We've been trying for one since we booked the cruise (4 weeks on Nieuw Statendam in April) 18 months in advance, with only partial success. It was single cruise made up to two cruises. Eventually, we changed to a back-to-back and was able to get an HC cabin for the first 2 weeks, but not for the 2nd half. We check the website daily, and ask our TA to contact HAL weekly. To the best of our knowledge, there is no waiting list, but only first come, first serve.

Fiddly bits are fun (software developer here!), but don't come between my headphones and my music when boarding a plane. One way to keep my sanity among all the turmoil and confusion (especially on Southwest). Plus, if Bluetooth gets turned off, my Glucose sensor app starts beeping real loud!

On Android 14 (at least on my S22Ultra), it now tells you that if you turn on and leave on Wi-Fi (and Bluetooth) in airplane mode, it will leave them on each time you go into airplane mode! Love it, since my BT headphones no longer disconnect when switching to airplane mode! On my last cruise, I was surprised when I started receiving texts in airplane mode. A little concerning since I don't get the internet package and was afraid I left something enabled (with the big bill to prove it!). But, it was all good. I didn't try calling or sending texts (I'll try that on our next cruise). Mark

Yep... And have come so close to leaving it behind in different places. But it's the only way to get my Vanilla Diet Coke! As a compromise, I don't usually carry it around after dressing for dinner!

Yes, all three Pinnacle class ships have the machine (I've personally used it all of them!). And yes, they've never updated the information (I even pointed it out the the Cruise Director on the Nieuw Statendam!) I've only received a cup when I've purchased (onboard) the Coca-Cola package. The one time I had the Elite beverage package, the machine was our of order the entire trip so they wouldn't give me the cup. And if the machine is working or not, with the Coca-Cola package (or any beverage package), you can get soda at any bar. And they will refill the special cup (and even rinse it out for you if you ask). It got to the point where the Dutch Cafe people didn't even have to ask since I was there so often!

I think we are at 5 cruises on the Pinnacle class ships, and twice they were out of order (once was on Rotterdam's original TA from Europe at the tail end of Covid, They might not have been able to stock it until Florida, or it might have been a Covid thing, Unfortunately, the only cruise where we had the Elite beverage package was one of those cruises were it was down the whole trip so I never was able to get a cup. The last cruise the machine ran out of Diet Coke (my main drink). I mentioned it to one of the bartenders, and it was refilled within a couple of hours.