fusion927

We got off the NS last month.  They did have an hour of ballroom dancing in the early evening in the BB Kings lounge.  It was recorded music with a DJ, but at least it was available!

I didn't notice any pre dinner music, but wasn't looking!

Just now, fusion927 said:

My wife has a smaller scooter (TravelScoot).  In a Pinnacle Veranda room, it did fit between the bathroom wall and the bed, but with a couple of caveats: We (ok, the steward) moved the beds about 6 inches further away from the wall so it was up against the couch with both end tables on  between the bathroom wall and the bed. And, we had the beds in a queen configuration.  I don't think it would work in a twin configuration.

 

About scooters (and other devices) in the hallway.  There were several in the hallways, and it seems nothing was done about them (until maybe near the end of the cruise).  Several times they were blocking enough of the hallway where we have to move them so my wife could get by.

 

We saw one interior hallway where a scooter was parked that was wide enough that I didn't feel it was an issue.  And our steward did offer to take it to be charged in the evening and bring it back in the morning, but that still left us with an issue during the day when she was in the room.

 

I hope that HAL is listening and will plan for more 'scooter' accessible rooms (wider door and some scooter parking space in the room) in future builds (or even retrofits).

 

Forgot to mention this was a B2B cruise where we were unable to get an Accessible room on the 2nd cruise, but we were in an Accessible room for the first cruise.  Nice wide doors (and loved the auto open/close on the door) and plenty of room for the scooter.

My wife has a smaller scooter (TravelScoot).  In a Pinnacle Veranda room, it did fit between the bathroom wall and the bed, but with a couple of caveats: We (ok, the steward) moved the beds about 6 inches further away from the wall so it was up against the couch with both end tables on  between the bathroom wall and the bed. And, we had the beds in a queen configuration.  I don't think it would work in a twin configuration.

About scooters (and other devices) in the hallway.  There were several in the hallways, and it seems nothing was done about them (until maybe near the end of the cruise).  Several times they were blocking enough of the hallway where we have to move them so my wife could get by.

We saw one interior hallway where a scooter was parked that was wide enough that I didn't feel it was an issue.  And our steward did offer to take it to be charged in the evening and bring it back in the morning, but that still left us with an issue during the day when she was in the room.

I hope that HAL is listening and will plan for more 'scooter' accessible rooms (wider door and some scooter parking space in the room) in future builds (or even retrofits).

Should be able to buy it from any bar server. Plus, there is usually a desk setup around the Lido pool where they sell the various drink packages.

9 hours ago, sandiego1 said:

Which ships have 2 courts? We’ve only been on ships with a single court.

Nieuw Statendam last month, and I'd assume the other Pinnacle ships would be the same.

But there are 2 courts, so up to 8 can play.  Never saw that many playing when I walked by the sports courts on the NS....

Just back from 4 weeks on the NS... They had had 3 production shows (my opinion is they ranged from pretty good to decent).  One show was duplicated on each 2 week segment.  The DJ show was not yet performed (rumor was they didn't have all the video licensing done yet).

On 4/11/2024 at 3:41 PM, RuthC said:

Now, if HAL can only return classical music and bring back Piano Bars! That would be wonderful. 

With the since piano Billboard Onboard, it is nearly like the piano bars of old.  Of course, it really will depend on the quality of the performer, and I thought Adam was as good as it gets.

On 4/11/2024 at 6:06 PM, RuthC said:

That's good to hear. However, I am willing to bet that the revamped Billboard Onboard is still doing only sets, with breaks the length of sets in Rolling Stone Rock Room, and that those sets are mainly comprised of songs approved by Seattle. 
That's still not a Piano Bar. 

I would love for HAL to return to those intimate rooms of yore, where the musician took his cues from the passengers who were there all night, every night. 

 

Yes, still alternates with RSRR (apparently now the Rolling Stone Lounge).  Most nights (at least the way Adam was doing it) were Billboard themes (but they have a list that they can choose from) for the first 2 sets.  The 3rd set (and all on the last night) were All Requests and pretty much anything the performer can do is allowed.  Since we had so many Dutch on board, many requests were for Dutch songs, most of which Billboard had probably never heard of!

On 4/30/2024 at 2:27 PM, VMax1700 said:

For example here are the events for tomorrow

 

 

and here are the events for last Sunday

 

Note the Past Activities text.  They are showing the past activities in chronological order, starting with the latest and going back in time.  Works pretty well for the current day (and I almost never try to look at previous days, so I don't know how well that works).  I don't think the old version ever showed past activities, but I could easily be wrong.

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).  

1 hour ago, Fouremco said:

Are the machines included under the Elite BP, or only with the Coca-Cola package?

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

Just now, TinaLee said:

If we have the regular drinks package does that include the Freestyle machine? 

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.

On 1/14/2024 at 9:22 AM, POA1 said:

Same thing here. I did not want that to happen though. And boy, is ever a pain to get to the settings to turn it off.

 

I prefer all the fiddly bits. I'm in the minority, though.

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!

15 hours ago, POA1 said:

Yes.

 

Airplane mode ON turns OFF both radios.

 

Then, turn Wi-Fi ON. This turns only the Wi-Fi radio on. (Your airplane mode indicator will likely go off. The Wi-Fi indicator will go on, but you won't see the cellular signal strength indicator though.)

 

You'll have to connect to your Wi-Fi plan on the ship now.

 

As long as you have Wi-Fi calling turned on and your carrier and phone support it, you should now be able to call & text.

 

I just did this, as did my wife, on the Nieuw Statendam in December. We've both got Pixels running the latest stock Android.

 

BTW - You can try this out on your home internet if you want to get comfortable with the process.

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

14 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

Isn't it annoying to have to walk around with a special cup all the time?  

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!

19 hours ago, crystalspin said:

Huh! The page I found (for the Coke Unlimited) said only the Koningsdam had Freestyle -- it must have been even older, when K'dam was the only Pinnacle?

 

But that is a topper for misinformation -- direct contradiction in the same paragraph!

 

I guess the answer for the OP, @shipmeoff!, is wait and see and ASK -- if you are on the K'dam, Nieuw Statendam, or Rotterdam.

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.

11 minutes ago, SFO Peter said:

Self bored hold on Koningsdam Jan 2022.   Did not keep one for Koningsdam Jan 2023 which I also bored.

 

 

It is strongly suggested by many security experts to never write your room number on a card.  You lose it, someone finds it and has access to your room until you discover it's missing and get a new one made!

As an alternative, if you carry a phone, take a picture of your room number when you first board. That separates the key from the location where the key can be used.

If you don't carry a phone, write it on a card and stick it in your wallet/purse.

Just a suggestion since we can't be to safe in today's world!

Mark

P.S. It might be that you wrote the room number after the cruise to remember where you were (I'm really bad at that!).  In this case, take this as a public service announcement for others.

P.P.S: The card came pre-punched on our last few cruises on the Nieuw Statendam.

Numbers and Dollar signs on restaurant menus 😞