chloes nana

How is the Internet pricing and also the speed now?

Also what is her internet pricing packages?

How is Internet capbility down around the horn of South America?

The vista cabins on the Zaandam (all the R- & S-class ships) are larger than the vista cabins on the Vista & Signature ships. They are smaller than the Signature Suites on those ships, though.

 

In general the cabins on the S-& R-class ships are larger than the comparable category cabins on the larger ships.

Thanks Ruth!:)

Thanks all for the quick responses. I will have to find noon in the atrium at least once or twice. I love organs.

I like the idea of meet the busses on shore soooo much better than herd 'em out of the showroom routine.

Also glad the cabins are a good size, I would surmise they are the same size as the vista class verandas?

Sometimes shore excursions meet ashore. Usually that means near the end of the gangway, but not always. Look for the shore excursions representative, who will be wearing a red shirt or jacket. They will direct you. You may be able to see the busses in the distance. If you don't see a shore ex. rep., and the busses are some distance away, start walking. Keep your eyes open for that red shirt.

 

It is really very well organized. YOU may not be sure of what you're doing, but the shore excursions people are. It really is hard to get lost.

Thank you Ruth! Have sailed on the Zaandam? Have you ever heard the organ play in the atrium? I really want to hear it!

1) depends on the port -- and availability of space to load busses -- if necessary to cycle the busses -- they do use the show room. If a tender port, since all shorex don;t leave at the same time -- some non shorex pax can get a ticket and go with the shorex.

 

2. to be honest, I've been on the Zaandam twice and never heard the organ. So if it is played, it's not terribly intrusive.

so sometimes you go to the showroom for shore excursions and sometimes you don't? is that correct? If you don't go to the showroom, then how do you know when and what busses? Sorry if I am seeming thick. I have never done anything but the herd them out system before, as I said, only the vista class ships so far.

thanks for the answers, just a little curious about the smaller ships. Another couple questions:

1) shore excursions, since this is a smaller ship do you still go to the showroom to be herded out to the busses or is there another way they are doing it now?

I ask because I do know that the tendering process is ships shorex have priority tendering over do it yourself tenders. And how does that work?

2) the organ in the atrium how often or when does it play?

:)

I am getting set to sail on the Zaandam in March for a trip around South America. Getting excited and want to ask a couple questions, since I haven't ever sailed on the smaller ships.

So, how do find the smaller class ships?

How are the signature suites, really just a veranda cabin I am assuming.

Any special perks really? I do know the concierge is really only the front desk.

Also I would appreciate any observations or feelings regarding cabin A6185. Noise issues or location issues at all? Any insights will be greatly appreciated.:)

I love the Noordam! She was my first HAL ship and every time I embark on her it is like coming home again, for me. It always brings a warm welcoming smile and feeling to me. I would recommend her hands down.

This march will be my first time on a smaller HAL ship, the Zaandam, so we shall see.

Her most recent dry-dock was this year (19-28 APR 15) in Freeport so she won't see her next until sometime in 2017

Thanks John, Happy New Year to you and yours!

Does anyone know when the next drydock is, or when the most recent one was for the Zandaam? Wondering about the new suite upgrades, and when they will be implemented. Thanks in advance:)

They book a cabin on NCL, a cabin on Princess, a cabin on HAL....... they hold them for months and decide at final payment time whether they want to cruise or not.

 

Or they book several different cruises on HAL and may or may not sail any of them.

 

how do you know this for a fact?????

Wow! 700 bucks a day!!! I can only imagine what some of my most recent vacations would be like if I had spent $700 a day.

 

First, I don't think spending six hours in a city is seeing that city, I consider it a layover. And I seldom leave the airport during a layover, just too much trouble.

 

My last few vacations I can not think how one could spend $700 a day. The Black Hills of South Dakota it would be impossible, as far as I know. One would have to look very hard for a suite that cost more than $200. And the best dinners can be had for less than twenty.

 

Olympic National Park would too be impossible to spend $700 unless one was flying in live Maine lobsters three times daily.

 

Seattle can be done for less and still seem luxurious. San Francisco could possibly test the $700 limit, but it wouldn't be low end luxury, either. Disney, either Land or World, can be fully experienced for less than $700 and that would include the whole Princess experience.

 

I recently did a Denver tour. Much less than $700 and not once did I feel I was roughing it (now I know why they call it The Mile High City).

 

I suppose that some people like cruising enough to think $700 a day is value. I just wish I could be their travel agent and plan a week for them in the Pacific Northwest. I could take that five grand, book a luxurious week and still have enough left over to take a modest vacation myself.

some Of us have spent numerous years growing up in America and doing family vacations until retirement that we need to broaden our horizons. Cruising is like thinking outside the box. Other countries, other cultures, etc... Just saying

Wow! 700 bucks a day!!! I can only imagine what some of my most recent vacations would be like if I had spent $700 a day.

 

First, I don't think spending six hours in a city is seeing that city, I consider it a layover. And I seldom leave the airport during a layover, just too much trouble.

 

My last few vacations I can not think how one could spend $700 a day. The Black Hills of South Dakota it would be impossible, as far as I know. One would have to look very hard for a suite that cost more than $200. And the best dinners can be had for less than twenty.

 

Olympic National Park would too be impossible to spend $700 unless one was flying in live Maine lobsters three times daily.

 

Seattle can be done for less and still seem luxurious. San Francisco could possibly test the $700 limit, but it wouldn't be low end luxury, either. Disney, either Land or World, can be fully experienced for less than $700 and that would include the whole Princess experience.

 

I recently did a Denver tour. Much less than $700 and not once did I feel I was roughing it (now I know why they call it The Mile High City).

 

I suppose that some people like cruising enough to think $700 a day is value. I just wish I could be their travel agent and plan a week for them in the Pacific Northwest. I could take that five grand, book a luxurious week and still have enough left over to take a modest vacation myself.

Ysome Of us have spent numerous years growing up in America and doing family vacations until retirement that we need to broaden our horizons. Cruising is like thinking outside the box. Other countries, other cultures, etc... Just saying

Thank you for all of the updates. I will be going in a month and am enjoying hearing about each stop.

 

If you have a chance could you find out what the price of the thermal suite is for the entire cruise?

 

thanks again

not OP but we are doing this cruise in March and the thermal suite will cost us $767 for a couple, for the entire cruise.

exactly my thought! the cost is minimal as compared to getting there and not being able to do both sides of the falls!

Hi all just an update in case anyone else needs to know, you have to pay the reciprocity fees of $160 for Argentina, and acquire your Brazilian visa ahead of time. Both are your responsibility if visiting the falls, and other excursions in Brazil. Thanks, to everyone for all the input.

thanks so much for the info. we paid the reciprocity fee, just in case we should need it. the site for the pre-cruise Iguazu Falls says we visit both the Argentine and Brazilian side of the falls. At the bottom there is a blurb regarding "all guests must pay/are responsible for all fees and Visas". So I am just checking to see what anyone else has experienced doing this excursion.

according to the excursion blurb, you visit both the Brazilian and Argentine sides.

I am doing a South America cruise next year with a pre cruise package through HAL for the Iguazu Falls 3 day trip.

So my questions are: the $160 reciprocity fee must be paid prior to this cruise?

And what about the Visa for Paraguay since this is a visa required country? Does this fall under the HAL tour/excursions umbrella or must we get both?

I am very confused????:confused:. My HAL PCC said we didn't need to get visas, but nothing was said about the $160 reciprocity fee either. The State Gov website says no visa for Brazil, but yes for Paraguay?? any help would be truly enlightening. Thanks in advance!

Do you also feel the same about them not Hosting what used to be called the VIP Party or the Suite Welcome Aboard?

 

And this is a small percentage of the actual guests aboard any of their ships. Do you feel slighted?

thanks Ruth! you are the best, as always. You helped me immensely on my very first cruise to the Meditteranean and my million questions, so now I will have a million more I am sure, thanks again!

I know there is a place on Cruise Critic to get help with packing. I am doing the full navigation of South America from Buenos Aires to San Diego and need help with how/what to pack, climates and temps. Can anyone give me advice or the link?? thanks

agree cruz chic.

 

We booked our o cruise very early as o makes it attractive to book early. I also paid early because of my fears of the usd exchange rate to canadian (good move it turned out).

 

The only frustration was this was the only sailing without the new unlimited internet perk offered for our category on every other sailing. Weird, but true.

 

About 4 months ago, o offered the sailing with the unlimited internet and a small obc. I emailed my ta and they already had it in place ;) some on the roll call got it and some didn't but the perk was added for many.

 

I think o knows how to run a business too since the top categories on our cruise are on wait list only (different from hal where we wait for upsells).

 

So, maybe those that book early should be given some of the goodies given out after the fact as long as their category isn't sold out?

 

There is no right answer to this, but one should feel valued for committing early imo.

 

Those that book early are not asking for the "give away prices" that can happen at final payment, just the perks that may be added as the ships try to sell cabins.

exactly!!!!

I just made final payment Sept 1 for upcoming cruise - it was the actual final payment date.

 

today, while browsing through the site, I notice my sailing is under the ONE WEEK SALE - gratuities paid - and to boot, the pricing is exactly the same as it was prior to this (the base cabin rates shown, I did not actually put in a dummy booking for my cabin category).

 

So I emailed my TA - not sure if he can get me this prepaid gratuity deal - the cruise itself would not need to be repriced, I would even accept OBC in lieu...

 

Anyone know what my chances are of success?

 

Carol

a big fat zero

Our Panama cruise at the end of September qualifies for this sale. Just called our TA and she said it was only for new bookings. I pushed her a bit as we are in a Signature suite and would love to have the Internet minutes. She's going to try HAL tomorrow and see what happens. Will keep you posted.

good luck with that! I tried for 2 days and was told again and again just rebook... yeah right!