Loreto

My DH is a big guy and we like to book a Neptune for the King size bed, but that can become pricey on longer cruises. On our B2B Panama Canal cruise this year on the Zaandam we had a verandah suite and had the beds separated, which was awful for DH. I told him we could get a room with a sofa bed, which I would use, but for our cruise last week on the Eurodam we kept the bed as a queen and it was surprisingly spacious! You are not the first cruising person to have challenges like this and I hope you will find an arrangement that works. I bring silicone ear plugs, too. I also try not to nap during the day, ensuring I am tired at night. I like the suggestion of wine. HAL wants you all to have a good cruise! Best Wishes.

OlsSalt posted a daily specials for Canaletto,but that. Was not what was offered on the Eurodam. Last nite it was scallops. I had sea bass which was very good.

We are on the Eurodam right now. Ate in the Canaletto last night for the 2nd time. Same server, Sai. Quiet, great, fast service, a favorite venue! unlike Pinacle, which was packed, terrible service, took 45 min before our orders were taken. Food is great, but major management problems. enjoy the Eurodam!

We are on the eurodam fastest boarding ever thanks to 5 *. Booked specialty dining for every night🙂

Hi Lisa! we are at the Seattle Hilton with HAL waiting to transfer to the cruise pier to the Eurodam. It is sunny/cool in Seattle right now. we arrived at SEA at 1pm yesterday and the airport was very busy an baggage claim a mess. hAL now has a desk for prpaid shuttles. The royal carribean greeter told me about it or I would not have known. have a great cruise! Karen

Enjoy the Koningsdam.....especially Gelato and Grand Dutch Cafe☺️! Have a great cruise!

Sounds like you are on my cruise...the Eurodam the 2nd. I am packing layers and an umbrella. This is my 10th Alaska cruise, sailing in every month. Weather is always unpredictable. Never had an excursion cancelled. Alaska is spectacular whatever the weather!

Thanks for the review! We will be on the Eurodam for the 3rd time Sept. 2 Alaska and looking forward to enjoying the Tamarind again.

Hi Sapper! I think it was on a repositioning cruise from Quebec to Ft. Lauderdale, the first time we were on the Eurodam. We will be on the Eurodam in Sept . to Alaska. Anyway, nice to see your name on the HAL boards again☺️!

Hi Sapper1! I am so glad to see a post by you....you were on one of my roll calls years ago and I..... enjoyed meeting you. Sorry your husband can't travel. Mine does not want to deal with airports anymore, so I am taking a solo cruise next year...42 day Atlantic Adventurer r/t Ft.Lauderdale. I don't purchase insurance from HAL, but was floored at how expensive it was going to be for just me from the company I chose. I didn't buy cancel for any reason.

That was an incredible itinerary, R/T from San Diego! HAL hasn't offered it in years. There is an itinerary similar from Ft. Lauderdale to Lima, but then it continues around South America. The appeal of Incan Empires was that it sailed from San Diego and back. We need more choices like this from San Diego.

This is so tragic, and I certainly keep the residents of Lahaina in my prayers. We sat under the Banyan tree in Feb 22; what a sad loss.

We have booked HH and H on the Zaandam under the Main Dining Room and found it to be quiet. As Ruth says avoid the cabins that are under the galley!

I think I have seen this same passenger on several of our cruises! I am a dedicated lap swimmer and have managed to swim laps when I cruise, even though the laps are shortened. I felt I got a good workout. It is possible! I would go when the pool opened...it varied from ship to ship and the whim of the captain. I remember begging them to take the net off once, but they said the captain said it was to rough ( it wasn't.) The pool temp has always been comfortable. If you go when the pool opens it will work, and you may find other lap swimmers with you. I do not try to lap swim on an Alaska Cruise....7 days is to short! I will be on the Eurodam Sept. 2 Alaska and will be leaving my swim suit at home. Hope this helps!

3rd GenCunarder, Thanks for the encouraging words! As a career substitute teacher I have no trouble meeting different people every day. Karen

Hi shippmates, DH is alive and well🙂but didn't want to do this cruise. We have 2 cruise upcoming, but he didn't want the airport hassle (and Ft Lauderdale is notoriously awful) so I decided to go solo. I am sorry for your loss after 50 years...ours will be 54 this year, for which I am grateful.. Thanks for the information...I will see what HAL does. I am very familiar with the Volendam. and am 5* so I may have some pull, but it looks like there will be a lot of High Star Mariners on this itinerary. Karen

Hi shippmates, I see that you are on our roll call🙂! Thanks for the information. How did you get to have a table with other solo cruises? This will be my 14th trip to Europe and my 3rd as a solo (land tour). the last was to Israel and Jordan. Nice to not have to fly internationally this time. I think I will go in 2 days early and use the HAL hotel/transfer in Ft. Lauderdale. With DH we have always stayed at Spring Hill Suites in Dania Beach and used their paid transportation to the pier. Karen

Hi JesterWA, Your comments are appreciated. You have approached your situation with courage. I realized I recognized your CC name...you are on my Zaandam solar eclipse cruise next March...should be a great cruise! At Open Seating tables should fill up quickly. Tell the host at the podium that you would like to be seated with others. I have been reading this thread because I booked the 42 day Atlantic Adventurer cruise in 2024 as a solo..DH did not want to go. I have traveled a lot by myself, but never a cruise...now I have a lot to consider. I asked my TA to request a table for 6 early seating and hope this was the right choice. If not I will talk to the maitre'd and switch to open seating. I am not going to spend 42 days dining with an uncomfortable situation. Thank you again for your post. Karen

He found that the url he was using was different from the ta’s. Strange that it worked before. All is fixed now.

We are taking our son to Alaska . He has a separate booking# and had no problem logging into his account. Now he gets a message that his booking # cannot be found. have contacted ta, very frustrating!

We have been on the Zaandam 5 times and enjoy her size. The ship was well maintained, but the navigation deck had a/c problems as we approached the Canal. We are sailing on the Zaandam again next March, so you could say we love her! As Ruth posted, there is a viewing area outside the gym, which is where I went on the 2nd part of the BtoB.

I was in the same situation on my Panama Canal BtoB this year. I ended up buying things on board that I never would have purchased, as it was use it or lose it. As we were driving to the port, suitcase weight wasn't a concern....I even bought a HAL bathrobe, which I am enjoying. If there is an excursion you really want, buy it ahead of time.

Yes, it was a popular viewing spot as the Zaandam went through the locks in the Panama Canal in my Feb/March BtoB cruise. I stood at the rail for almost 2 hours. Get there early for a spot!

Hi BobbiSox, I am on the Atlantic Adventurer Nov. 9 2024. I booked a partial sea view under the MDR. DH didn't want to go as he wants a neptune. Haven't been in this category in 10 years. Shore excursions will be pricey, plus airfare from CA🙁. We spent 28 days on the Zaandam earlier this year. We have a roll call if you are on the same cruise! Karen

Only the Volendam has Lanai staterooms. In our early cruising days with HAL we always booked the lower prom under the MDR, sometimes the same cabin on other sailings. I liked being able to go outside. Window was never a problem, close the drapes at night. We transitioned to Vistas or Neptune Suites, but I am doing a 42 day as a solo on the Volendam and chose the lower prom under the MDR as being the best option.