oldbluff

Another site had the same cruise for 10% less + throwing in a small credit.

Umm ... I can sorta see why your DW has cruised by herself - it's all about you! :)

Everyone sells the cruise for the same price, Celebrity and TA's. Most TA's rebate a portion of their commission back to you as OBC or other items of value. IMO, you get the most flexibility when booking direct but it is hard to pass up the OBC if it is substantial.

As previously mentioned, the Classic-to-Premium drink package upgrade is $11.80/day/person. We are also on a 5 nighter in a few weeks, B2B after a 10 night HAL sailing, and gladly paid the $118 for the extras it provides.

Also, we were in a Concierge guarantee and noticed an Aqua guarantee is only $70/pp more. Hearing good things about Blu dining, we made the change. Small expenditures overall but intentional.

I am confident you will enjoy your cruise but it is really on you to determine what you want out of it and investigate options/make decisions. Go for it, dude!

As long as the Day Of The Week is on the elevator carpet, I'll be happy. :)

Thanks for an excellent read!

For a thorough and extremely entertaining thread of HAL's various drink offerings and policies, I bring you the unmatched wit and wisdom of POA1:

boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1999316

You can prepay the unlimited laundry by calling Ship Services at 800–541–1576. It is $7/day for the entire cabin for cruises near the U.S. and I believe $9/day in Europe. Excellent deal.

My brother Phillip, 2 years and 364 days younger than I, came up with "Old Bluff" in our late teens. My first name "Cliff" easily morphed into "Bluff" and our 3 year difference then probably made me old in his eyes.

In 1976, he spray painted "Old Bluff" on the side of my bright orange '63 VW Microbus. The following year I drove it from Bloomington, Indiana to Fort Collins, Colorado, where it ended its days up on blocks in a friend's backyard.

Sadly, Phil died in 1984 from a construction accident. The humorous moniker Old Bluff took on more meaning after that.

Iirc the cabana dinner is quite expensive. I want to say it was something like $129 per person.

Yes, but the experience is, to overuse the phrase, priceless.

We sprung for this a couple of years ago on the Nieuw Amsterdam, on the second leg of an East/West Caribbean Collectors Cruise. We had attended several events with the Sommelier and enjoyed his events. The Cabana Club Dinner is overseen by the Executive Chef and the Sommelier. It is their chance to shine in terms of menu, wine pairings, service and ambiance.

The evening began with a gathering of the small group participating in the event. Specialty cocktails and small bites coupled with comfortable seating on the elevated deck just aft of the Crows Nest. It was a warm evening, albeit a bit windy. (Imgaine that, wind on a cruise deck while underway)

Afterward each couple was led to their private cabana, overlooking the Lido deck and Tamarind to the aft. We had the most starboard open-sided tent, er cabana, and I swear the full moon laid a direct path to ours across the water.

Dinner was a multitude of courses, including numerous amuse bouche tastes between them. The wine selections were quite good; not limited to selections from any of the packages. There was no limit on anything found to your liking; full tummies all 'round.

As the meal wound down, there was an opportunity to continue the event with music and dancing and more wine or drinks. We were there for 3+ hours and still were one of the early departures. Yes, this was the most expensive food/wine event we have done aboard at $135/pp. We have spent far more on excursions with so-so results. This event exceeded our land-based expectations of an over-the-top dining experience. The private setting for two in your own cabana with high service levels is somewhat intoxicating on its own. Mixing in food directly prepared by the Chef and good wine and my bride of 34 years made it unforgettable.

She is turned over to the new owners in Singapore on Oct. 22 0r 23, 2015. I spent 56 days on the current Staendam since 1997.

I have only spent 7 days, to Alaska last September, but it was most enjoyable. We wanted to sail that class after good experiences on larger HAL ships. Renewing our wedding vows with the Captain was a memorable highlight.

We go to Maya Chan.

Maya Chan rocks. Highly recommended. We will go back if we cruise to Costa Maya again. Quality food/drinks and impeccable service. They are very aware of the time you need to get back to the ship and ensure it happens. Enjoy.

Regardless, definitely dine at Tamarind. It is a delightful experience. Worth more than the surcharge. Consistently excellent experience vs. somewhat variable at the PG the past few years. Looking forward to revisiting next Fall.

We sailed on the Statendam last September for a 7 night in Southeast out of Vancouver. Sunny every day execept Ketchikan. However, everyone said the previous week was miserable with rain and wind. Be a good scout - be prepared for anything and then you can enjoy everything.

Thanks for letting us know they are available.

As these get more difficult to procure unless you have a source such as your TA, I am surprised HAL does not make them available to purchase for close to cost + shipping. We would certainly buy one each year, as long as they continue to have so much colorful information, i.e. do not degrade to a glorified 20-30 page cruise mailing.

I usually borrow one from the On Board Cruise Consultant when cruising and savor it slowly with an appropriate libation; one of those suggested by POA1, my Personal Drink Consultant. :)

As we purchase a house this Fall and save for a big cruise in October 2016, it looks like 2015 will be a cruise-less year :( and thus no perusing the new Cruise Atlas aboard this year. Patience ...

I do remember when you could only get coffee ice cream in New England but that was 50 years ago....;)

Ah, yes. When milkshakes were "frappes".

We sailed Statendam this past September 20th on the 7 night round trip out of Vancouver. Sunny every day but one, but did hear the previous week was quite wet. Bit of a gamble but what worthwhile is not? :)

Welcome Kathy. HAL is a great choice for Alaska, for reasons beyond your husband's ability to smoke on your balcony. We and my sister and her husband renewed our vows with the Captain of the Statendam on a 7 night round trip from Vancouver this past October. We enjoyed the ship, the ports, the scenery and those we got to know aboard.

I am confident may people will respond so I only want to make two points. I encourage you to depart or arrive in Vancouver instead of Seattle. We have done both. Seattle is a rougher ride outside of Vancouver Island and your actually see land much of the time when transiting the Inside Passage.

I also recommend doing the North or South transit instead of only visiting Southeast on a round trip. The land days in the Alaskan Interior will be as precious as the cruise experience. The entire time will be a wondrous assault on your senses, for you and your husband to store away in memories and photos. Enjoy.

We stopped there last May on the Fascination. Our recollection is that the rental fees for the blue clamshell porta-shade and blue floaty rafts were higher than HAL. I remember being surprised that there was a difference, given their common ownership.

I don't recall a difference in the BBQ food quality. The drinks tasted the same. :)

My wife and I did the final Alaskan cruise of the season last year and enjoyed the Statendam immensely. We have been wanting to try the smaller S-class ships and it was a great experience. The 14 day itinerary is also a treat over the usual 7 day sailing.

No mechanical issues, ever polite and attentive crew, shorter lines. My wife and I and my sister and her husband renewed our vows on this sailing. The captain officiated and was very engaging and gracious before and during the ceremony.

You are probably aware the Statendam is leaving the HAL fleet soon. I would sail her again if possible before that occurs.

-Cliff

I can't explain the high activity on my 5 day coastal cruise, though. With only two ports, there weren't many shorex to arrange. I guess we were just a bunch of people who liked to chat!!:D

Heh. We were a chatty bunch, huh? And Carolyn (Cruising-along) held her end of the conversation, as I recall. Good M&G too. Life is too short to not venture forth and check out with whom we cruise. :)

We are with you for the first seven days on the Statendam. Feel free to attend the informal M&G 10:30am tomorrow in the Crows Nest. Enjoy your extended cruise and I look forward to your reports. -Cliff

That is wonderful news, Gail. See you on the Statendam a week from Sunday. :)

Yesss!

Sailing on both in a few weeks.

No soup for you POA!

... or apple pie.

Oceanwench, I want to cruise with you! Very creative.

kazu, thanks for the mirror thread - we do look silly in it sometimes, don't we?

I have enjoyed this and POA1's exhaustive, sacrificial alcohol options thread more than most lately.

We are a fun crowd and it is wonderful to get back to that for a respite before the next rabid poster flails away at his or her special interest. Enjoy, everyone.

Hi, Lisa. Thanks for posting this info.

Do Signature Suites receive the $300 OBC as well as Neptune and Pinnacle Suites? I would expect they do.

Doesn't matter. Everyone in the cabin is checked in together. The all-in-one means less paper to keep track of. :)