syesmar

48 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Lots of OCD on display today😂.  

I never thought I would be as stringent as I am now about not touching anything in public with my bare hands, using a clean paper towel or napkin as a barrier, but here I am😂🤷‍♀️

I must say, though, that it’s worked out for me so far; I haven’t even had a slight sniffle in over 3 1/2 years, thankfully.

On 4/17/2023 at 9:12 AM, FlaMariner said:

Disembarked the Oosterdam 4/10 after 19 days in South America......

In the evening, the world stage was busy with the following:

....It was non stop and varied entertainment on the world stage....And then when you add in Music Walk, the culinary presentation, etc, etc, and on and on...there was non stop entertainment.

 

Love it all.

@FlaMariner so glad to hear this! Thanks for sharing. Who was the Cruise Director? 

On 4/19/2023 at 7:00 AM, SargassoPirate said:

…I take steps to protect myself by frequent handwashing and then sanitizing after I've touched any contaminated surfaces - and every surface on a ship is contaminated -  before I eat.  I also grab an extra plate to rest my silverware on instead of the tabletop...

Having taken swab samples in many medical and food service settings in my career, would anyone venture a guess to the most contaminated surfaces were in my experience?

My silverware never touches a tabletop, either. And my hands never touch a doorknob.😁

Do tell: what were the most contaminated surfaces in your experience? 

Can you imagine when marketing the Worry-Free Promise, HAL having a footnote, “Note: it may take around a year to reimburse you, and cause you to lose so much confidence that you don’t actually use the FCCs, but we will eventually get around to it!” Is that “Cruising with Confidence?” 

I am glad to hear reports of passengers finally getting their reimbursements. I remember during the re-start so many passengers reporting a lack of information on some ships, while others were efficient. You would think fleet-wide, they would have had at least a standard information sheet with clear details of what to expect once isolation or quarantine was entered.

@we135b  I hope things work out for you soon!🙏

@Hlitner thanks again for sharing your adventures! Did they say how long they would keep the Gallery open? Was it a set time or until the last person left? Thanks!

On 4/12/2023 at 9:50 AM, kit125 said:

Trying to book a cabana on an upcoming cruise on the Oosterdam.  They ran my credit card but then Ship Services said they are discontinued?…

@kit125 Did Ship Services say if this was only with the Oosterdam? Thanks!

It’s been a few years since I was in Civitavecchia. Can you still buy transportation passes for the day at the newspaper stand inside the train station? Saved us waiting in a long line. Thanks!

23 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Hard to follow Cruisemom's depressing about the Lincoln Center Stage.  It almost sounds like HAL has become self-destructive and looking for a way to alienate just about all their fans. . . .

 

After dinner we saw the best show of the cruise which was a hybrid show made up of the Step One dancers, duel piano players, and a terrific singer from the Rolling Stone Lounge Band.  It was the biggest crowd we have seen in the theater, which proves the point that if HAL puts on something akin to a Production Show, the folks will come!  IMHO, this was the only decent "Production Show" of the 14-day cruise.  After the show we went to the Rolling Stone Lounge for a drink (and show) and that entertainment ended at 10:30!  I kid you not when I say that was the end of all the entertainment on our ship!  At 10:30 you either go to bed, sit at near empty bar (only 1 is open after 11) or go to your cabin for sleep.  I will admit to normally being a night owl and find 10:30 a ridiculous time to end entertainment on any vessel.…

Thank you @Hlitner and @cruisemom42 for sharing your experiences with us! Sounds like a memorable journey!

I appreciate the honest comments about HAL’s (lack of) entertainment. I do wish the corporate office would realize this is important, even for those of us who choose a sailing based on itinerary and have full days.

We’ve always enjoyed the classical music onboard HAL, as well as the various other entertainers. I hope they bring the classical musicians back, even if under a different name. We were on one of the first sailings with a BB Kings and it was such a great addition. I miss the solo pianists and guitarists.

I wish they would bring back the first or second night “Welcome Show” featuring most entertainers on board. I felt that gave guests a glimpse at what was offered around the ship and on my sailings at least, seemed to boost attendance in the venues. I do enjoy the “hybrid shows” Hank mentioned, and agree that they can be some of the most well-attended of a sailing.

Hope the rest of your journey is wonderful! Appreciate all the insight into this cruise. I have never sailed in Asia but would like to some day.

All the Best!

This is so sad. Sincerest condolences to you and your family. 

If he paid for his cruise with a credit card, some offer various types of supplemental insurance, some even offer assistance while abroad. Be sure to check what his card offers, in addition to primary insurances.

I hope you can get everything sorted out soon. Best wishes and prayers for you during your time of grief.

7 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

…It was one of the dancers who died at Curaçao port call early this month. On that cruise they didn’t perform for several nights but that was a couple of weeks ago….

Sadly, it was reported that members of BB Kings witnessed the tragedy. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2919837-nieuw-statendam-crew-death/page/2/#comment-64944347

I did the Mt. Floyen funicular on our first visit to Bergen and the cable car to Mt. Ulriken on the second. Both were fun experiences and I highly recommend both (we did them independently and had time for other activities later in the day, too). There was just something about the sky, the view and surroundings on Mt. Ulriken (higher elevation than Mt. Floyen) that left me spellbound. 

https://en.visitbergen.com/things-to-do/ulriken643-ulriken-cable-car-p824813

https://ulriken643.no/en/

1 hour ago, *Miss G* said:

I can do without:

- the giant interactive electronic boards taking up space in the Crow’s Nest

Agree!😃

Back in the day, I enjoyed

-the Rijsttafel lunch

-Indonesian Tea

-Royal Dutch High Tea

-Dutch Chocolate Extravaganza

-complimentary cappuccinos after dinner (I’d always get decaf:>)

-Tamarind lunches

-Cooking Demos with food samples

-Barbecues on the Lido deck

Back in the day, all passengers gathered shoulder-to-shoulder on deck for the safety drill (I have a medical condition that has an intolerance for standing still, I nearly fainted more than once:>). I can live with the updated way it’s done now.

3 hours ago, SilvertoGold said:

I miss the chocolates and coffee drinks nightly in the Explorers Lounge.  Not that I need the calories, but it was a very elegant room and service then.

Yes! And the flambé desserts!

(I must admit, I never could have “just one” of those crispy chocolates😀).

38 minutes ago, Crew News said:

FWIW the HAL website has a new PG menu for my Volendam and Nieuw Amsterdam cruises that does not have the $7 extra appetizer charge.  It also brings back the Alaskan King Crab legs and petite filet Mignon.  Hopefully, somebody onboard now can confirm.

Glad to hear this! Thanks.

@fellswoopThat’s very interesting, thanks for sharing. Did they say if it was because they had no more rooms? I know at one time, when they were marketing the Worry-Free Promise, being able to quarantine / isolate in separate cabins was part of the protocol (I’m not sure when the official end date for that was, though I recall some passengers were irked because certain protocols for their particular sailings when they booked were no longer active when they sailed).

33 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

...Once HAL has taken action to notify some people of an itinerary change, it seems to me it should notify everyone who will be on the same ship on the affected date.  We’ve only sailed with HAL once, so I have no idea whether this slow-walking is customary (I hope it's not), but it’s extremely frustrating (nor am I happy with the answers that I received when I called to inquire about this).

Agree, @Turtles06!

I recall a few years ago, there was a December Canary Islands cruise that had multiple booking options (2 or 3 different options for embarkation dates/ports, 2 different options for disembarkation dates/ports). A person who was briefly my PCC called and said they noticed we had been cruise shopping online 😉and asked if I had questions. I told her I had questions about the sailing and she said, "HAL doesn't cruise in Europe in December." 😀 Well, obviously, I had info and she kept contradicting me even though I was looking right at the sailings. It was incredibly frustrating, as I needed information in order to put my airline tickets on hold independently (we ended up going on the cruise, booking through a travel agency, and the sailing was fabulous).

I am so grateful for Cruise Critic in situations like this. It helps so much for others to share information. I hope you can get everything worked out to your liking. That part of the world is so enchanting!

Wishing you the Best!

On 3/2/2023 at 8:08 PM, Balboa1978 said:

…They told us onboard the duration limit was 10 days and they were following CDC guidelines. Neither is true based in their actual protocol. We thought the limit was 5 days when we purchased the cruise. The honest thing to do is publish the protocol for all to see.

This is on the CDC’s website under COVID-19 Maritime Guidance, subsection Discontinuation of Isolation for Travelers (Crew and Passengers), “Although a minimum of 5 days of isolation is recommended for most people with COVID-19 in community settings, cruise ships should consider 10 days of isolation due to their congregate nature and potential for limited access to higher levels of medical care.[6]”

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/maritime/covid-19-ship-guidance.html#quarantine-considerations

When CDC’s general isolation guidance was changed to 5 days due to various pressures, though nothing had changed with how long most are contagious, it caused confusion on many fronts. If someone is still testing positive on an antigen test, they should continue isolating (PCR is different).

@Balboa1978 best wishes to you and your wife. Hope she tests negative soon and the remainder of your cruise goes well. Agree that protocols should be available for travelers to review prior to booking and boarding.

We like to go to the Crow’s Nest for pre-dinner appetizers (years ago we loved listening to the guitarist up there). Lincoln Center Stage (previously used to go hear Adagio Strings pre-dinner). Dinner (usually Lido). Way back when cappuccinos were complimentary, we’d stop by the MDR to get one (decaf) and take it to the evening Show. After the Show, we’d go to BB Kings. If there was a Game Show, we’d go. Maybe listen to the pianists. Walk around the deck, watch the sunset. (Years ago, we loved relaxing in the Crow’s Nest listening to the music until late evening). 

Agree that showing a movie in the main stage doesn’t feel like a complete selection of evening entertainment, although on occasion we’d take in an evening movie in the theater or lido pool after the evening show.

4 hours ago, PACD_JG said:

…but the biggest underused use of space I've seen is the World Stage Theater…

I've seen too many 1/4 - 1/2 filled shows in this venue - mostly because the events they list aren't must-sees, even on a sea day.  In other words, wasted space.

What a difference a few years makes! On my 2019 NS sailing, if we didn’t arrive at least 20 minutes early for a show we wouldn’t get a seat in the World Stage Theater! There was definitely a demand then for quality entertainers and shows.

1 hour ago, Traveling Dot said:

…I will try to find something else that will help….

You may want to see if a handheld heated massager might help. I believe they are allowed (but doublecheck). They are fairly small and not much larger than a curling iron.

Good luck!

In the summer of 2019 aboard the Nieuw Statendam, we did have a naturalist onboard. 

I can’t remember if the narration was on the stateroom tvs (I assume so), but it definitely was on decks outside.

Earlier in the day, and even the day before, they or the captain made announcements for approximate times we would pass by various places during the sailing. Just know that some of the times won’t be exact, the time predicted may be slightly later than the actual time, or slightly earlier (as was our case a few times). So if there’s something you have your heart set on seeing, write down the approximate expected time, but be prepared that you might pass a little before or after it.

It was an absolutely fabulous cruise!!!

@fellswoop Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences! These details are very helpful as I try to decide on the right time for me to sail again.

As far as testing negative, then positive, I have read from testing experts that this is common as  the load begins to wane. For some it just takes more time to clear completely. FDA even recommended 2 negatives 48 hours apart to end isolation or quarantine rather than a once-size-fits-all number of days.

I understand with their updated protocols you weren’t required to quarantine or go to a separate cabin, but did HAL offer you any FCC, or only him? (I would imagine their new guidelines in this regard are related to cost-saving measures. Their statement under “What if a guest tests positive?” could be interpreted in a couple of different ways https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions.html#boarding )

Prayers for your husband and also that you continue to stay healthy. All the Best!

On 1/31/2023 at 4:33 PM, syesmar said:

My husband received this one today. I haven’t received one yet.

He received the food survey. I received the entertainment survey yesterday.

14 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

…Chef Rudi was on there….

One Mediterranean sailing, Sirio and Egidiana Maccioni of Le Cirque were on board. They did a special talk and some cooking shows. She made fresh ravioli in one and it was such fun. Good times!