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ASIWISH

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    Questions re: Nieuw Statendam Retreat cabanas (or any other ship's Retreat cabanas)

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Pro Tip:

    Normally, I say that bringing coolers is tacky but brining a small cooler on wheels to the Retreat Cabanas is a great idea. I just do it discreetly.

     

    Reason: The bottle waters are kept in a sterling silver bowl with ice. It's not insulated. So, with the Caribbean heat, the ice melts in what seems like minutes. Warm water is not my thing.

     

    The Stewards liked the idea, and began just putting refills directly in the cooler 

    Also, at the end of the day, we just wheel the cooler down to our room and finish whatever waters we didn't finish during the day.

    • Like 1

    Niew Statendam UNCOVERED VERANDAH

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    14 hours ago, fatcat04 said:

    We were in an extended balcony verandah (8112) right next to a set of those Vistas a couple weeks ago on NS and yes, those Vistas have little to no cover at all. I think the cabins would be nice lower down with more cover but not deck 8. 

    Here is a pic from our balcony showing the cover and the footprint of the adjacent Vista. Our balcony was great. Love deck 8 for it's location near the Lido though. 

    IMG_20220924_115453922_HDR.jpg

    Thank you for the picture! Very helpful, too!

    Niew Statendam UNCOVERED VERANDAH

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    I did search for an answer before posting this and couldn't find an answer, so I thought I would come to the experts!

     

    We have been assigned cabin with an "uncovered verandah" on Deck 8 of the Niew Statendam.

     

    I'm not familiar with this. What does it mean? Isn't Deck 9 above this cabin/verandah?

    Email from Orlando Ashford - Great response to a crisis

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Dear Holland America Line Guest, 

    I want to personally thank you for choosing Holland America Line for your upcoming cruise. These continue to be unpredictable times, and I remain personally committed to ensuring our guests can cruise with confidence in this period of much uncertainty. Please be assured that Holland America Line takes the health and safety of our guests and crew very seriously.

    To protect the health and safety of all on board, we are closely monitoring the evolving situation. Holland America Line has deep partnerships with the global health experts from the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and together, we have developed enhanced screening, prevention and control procedures for our ships to keep guests and crew safe. You can learn more about our enhanced pre-boarding and on board health protocols, along with other important information, from our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Grant Tarling, here.

    Nevertheless, we understand our guests have questions about their upcoming cruise. As such, I’d like to share these policy updates that provide options and flexibility should you want to reschedule your vacation currently booked between now and May 31, 2020, as well as incentives to proceed with your plans.

    Guests who choose to keep their booking as currently scheduled for departures between March 6 and May 31 will receive the following Onboard Credit (OBC) amounts:

    • $100 per stateroom ($50 per person) for 6-day cruises (or fewer)
    • $200 per stateroom ($100 per person) for 7-day and longer cruises

    If you choose to continue to sail with us, we will automatically apply your onboard credit to your booking. There is no need to call us.

    For guests who booked prior to March 6 and decide to change their vacation plans, we will allow those booked on sailings between now and May 31, 2020, the option of cancelling their booking (no later than March 31, 2020, with a minimum of 72 hours in advance of their departure date). However, this new cancellation program will apply to sailings departing through and including March 9, 2020, which are now within the 72 hour window.

    • Any cancellation will receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for the amount of your cancellation fee, which can be used for another cruise in 2020 or 2021.
    • The FCC must be booked by December 31, 2020. This applies to bookings on spring 2020 Land+Sea Journeys and cruises for all destinations.
    • FCCs are nonrefundable, non-transferrable and do not have to be used on the same destination that was cancelled.

    We also know that there are people with specific individual health situations that impact their ability to safely travel during these times. For those guests who are able to provide supporting documents from their health care provider, Holland America Line will issue them a Future Cruise Credit. For information on submitting a request with documentation under this “Compassion Policy,” please contact your travel advisor or our Reservations Department. This offer is available for guests booked on any sailing, regardless of departure date.

    I continue to believe that travel has the power to change us and our world. For 147 years, Holland America Line has been a recognized leader in cruising and weathered many storms. We look forward to introducing guests to new places, people and cultures for years to come.

    Orlando Ashford
    President, Holland America Line

    • Like 5

    Is HAL listening to Cruise Critic and FB comments?

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    1 hour ago, MisterBill99 said:

     

    How is that any different than other cruise lines? They've added new ways of getting you to pay extra like specialty dining and expensive stores on board. And HAL's prices for cruises more than 6 months out seem to be pretty high. It's only as you get closer in that they get cheaper. And they're getting to that point with a bunch of available inventory because enough people aren't booking.

     

    If you want to make an excuse, say that it's because they have smaller ships so the revenue per ship is lower. But it doesn't excuse them also gutting the entertainment on the new Pinnacle class ships, which of course are still small compared to other lines.

    I’m not sure it is any different than any other cruise line. I’m not making an excuse, just an observation.

     

    You simply get what you pay for.

     

    Carnival is a public company. Review their financials and make your own observation. Are all these cutbacks delivering staggeringly increased profits, or are profits directionally similar as a result of low prices/less amenities.

     

    Further, cruises more than 6-months out in 2097 were typically higher than cruises that were closer as well.

     

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