KAKcruiser

The chilled soups seem to be available on the current world cruise.

I think they must use an offshore call center. The rep has to keep putting me on hold to ask someone else for help.

I wonder what the Zaandam will do between February 3 and February 17.

At least it's someplace different. The cruise lines go to the same ports over and over again.

Apparently the March 18 sailing of the Rotterdam has an itinerary change - St. Vincent instead of Barbados for "operational reasons." Kind of late notice.

Lately the reduced deposit is only available if you buy the HIA package.

Shore excursions for Stavanger have also been cancelled for the May 27 sailing of the Rotterdam because of an itinerary change to Sandnes but no official word has come from Holland America. Like you, we would be able to still book the Stavanger tours that they just cancelled. Also, the letter from Shore excursions says that the tours in Sandnes are available to book but they are not. When we called, they said the tours should be available in two weeks.

This is so tragic. It was reported as a diving accident but I don't understand if he was scuba diving or swimming.

Laminator, How did they figure your Have It All rate? I have an 11 day booking that they would charge $50 per day so it would be $550. If you have a 9 day cruise that would be $450 but you are only paying $382. Is there a promo number or promo name that you used?

I was surprised at this since I've been dealing with Ships Services and Coordinators for years. I wonder if calls go to a backup department when they are busy.

I used to call Ships Services and ask for the particular ship coordinator. But, now they don't seem to know what I'm talking about or say they can't release that information. Ships Services used to be very reliable but I think some of the old employees are gone and the new ones are not used to the routine.

I would assume that you are still connected. Sometimes a transfer takes a long time because you are waiting for whoever you are transferred to. If you are disconnected, there is usually a recording that says something like "if you want to make a call..." It depends on how much patience you have. I think I would hang up.

You can transfer your booking to a travel agent within 30 days (or 60 days - I can't remember) as long as you have not made final payment yet. I don't see why the travel agent would increase the deposit.

Are you picking the Have It All option? The $25 deposit only applies to this promo and not to other fares like Best Price or Advantage Fare or Private Fare.

Are you sure it was a casino offer? HAL is sending out offers that look very similar and nobody knows what you have to do to get on that list but speculation is spa or high spending.

I would love to go to Bermuda from Fort Lauderdale. Celebrity used to do this a couple of times a year but it was a long time ago. Carnival did it for a short time a couple of years ago. At least it would be something different.

How was the new singing group? Do they still have the One Step Dancers?

It has been 5 years since the Nieuw Amsterdam has had a drydock and it certainly needs one.

Many years ago we got a call from HAL saying that something had been found in a cabin we had previously occupied. It wasn't ours but they were calling people from the last few sailings. I couldn't believe they were going to so much trouble. Though, like I said, it was years ago. Things are different now.

Excellent choice is so many ways. That's what I would have picked and I over-analyze everything, too.

I like to use the screw top bottles of water for going off the ship. Onboard the tap water is fine. I can't understand why they don't include them in the drink package.

I would be interested in knowing the percentage of free cruisers onboard. I understand that that the casino company reimburses HAL for their free cabins but I bet it's at a big discount since CCL owns them. But, there are other free cruises being offered to people who have never set foot in the casino. There is speculation that maybe it was because of spa usage or generally high spending but nobody knows. Who is paying for those cabins? I'm sure HAL is hoping these people will spend a lot onboard but it does add to the need for more staff.

What is an FCR?

The open air taxis are mostly shuttle buses with regular bench seats. They offer a fine ride.

Either a VA or V is mid ship and a great cabin but V is a higher category than VA.