badtwin

I was wondering if anyone could tell me about current beers and happy hours on the Rotterdam. There were taps by the pool deck bar on the Nieuw Statendam in February that never had beer. Wondered if they were available on the Rotterdam and any other beer highlights for DH. He drinks Rainier at home so we aren't beer snobs but do like something a bit more special on a cruise, although not IPAs. We always look for a beverage in port, but in Norway and the Baltic I fear sticker shock. So I was hoping for a nice happy hour back on the ship.

Somewhat related question. Second cruise of 2023 coming up in September on a pinnacle class ship and we were waitlisted for LATE fixed dining. We ask for a large table which may be the problem. In February, we got late fixed but a two topper. Is there a shortage of large fixed tables? Late fixed dining is one of our favorite things about cruising - meeting up with the same people every evening to share the experiences of the day.

We are booked on a HAL cruise that is supposed to be at Flam 7 am to 7pm in September 2023. I am looking at booking the mini best of Norway trip (Boat to Gudvangen. bus to Voss, train to Myrdal and another train back to Flam. Two questions. Will we really be there that long in September? I know the days will be getting much shorter by then that far north and didn't know if that affected the cruise timing at all. Second does this really work? I am always a bit nervous about missing the ship and booking four separate travel legs seems to be tempting fate. Even if you book with the one company service, it is my understanding is all you are getting is a list of bookings and you are still basically one your own. Would love to hear from anyone who actually did this

Another couple of suggestions on weather and clothing. Check the relevant forecast as well as the averages. We had friends cruise the Columbia River last fall and temperatures were 10-20 below normal but they were prepared - others not so much. And maybe pack something for extremes either way. Good wicking layers are extra important if you are working up a sweat. I like a silk layer if it isn't real cold. Even a pair of tights under a pair of pants is helpful if you just need a little extra. I also really like vests - fleece or a lightly quilted one. I can wear it alone or add a layer of warmth under my mid-weight jacket. I take a coat that can handle the extra bulk. A hood is nice. And don't forget to wear shoes and socks that are warm and can keep your feet dry.

If changing for dinner really important to you, maybe pack that change of clothes in a carryon? Agree dress code lax first night, but if it is a special dinner for you, maybe make sure you have what you want to wear.

We too like a larger table in the mdr. But we have our second cruise this year on a pinnacle class and were again waitlisted for a larger table for late fixed dining. In February, we got stuck at a two top in a horrible corner and switched to eat with friends early rather than sit there alone. What gives? We never heard of a problem getting late fixed. Are there just that many fewer large tables? Anyone else having trouble getting late fixed?

Curious who you asked to fix. We had drain stopper that wasn't working and DH was not able to fix himself. He asked steward about it and someone fixed within a few hours. Did anyone check if it was just a whonky thermostat? Miserable being hot at night. Sometimes you need to go low enough down the food chain to find someone who actually knows how to do anything. And to your other point, has cruise critic gotten nastier post covid? We started cruising again this winter after covid-imposed hiatus, which brought me back here and I felt the tone is much worse. Critics seemed more critical and critics of critics much less accepting of someone else's opinion and/or experience

we were allowed to do this on the Nieuw Statendam in February of this year.

I would hope on these boards that we would never think to complain but instead all be thanking you for your service

On our last cruise, we discovered you can order and drink from your wine package in the bars. So we shared several bottles with friends before dinner. Very nice when you want something other than what is available by the glass.

We prefer lots of ports. For us, cruising is a moving, upscale, America-style hotel, without the need to pack and unpack ones suitcase, or decide where to eat every day. We can spend our time touring the various ports and not worry about logistics.

When I had a lot of extraneous info I didn't want to share , I blocked it out with folded paper and copied it as it was easier than blacking everything out. I also discovered my scanner could see through my black marker. So I do squiggles with a black pen over vital information and then use the black marker over that. And then I check the scan before I send it.

I don't understand why this means all the terms of the offer shouldn't apply. If you see a great cruise fare offer and don't notice the expiration date, do you get to tell HAL you should get the bargain fare even though you are buying after the offer's expiration date?

Calling and asking once is not browbeating. But as the several other threads on this topic have shown, some will not take no for an answer and call repeatedly until they find someone to give them the "right" answer, instead of enforcing "an arbitrary corporate rule."

Link to Community Appreciation Offer https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/deals/community-appreciation-cruise-offers.html?ICID=HECIZ0906222163 Terms and Conditions on Military Benefit (emphasis added)(others are similar) Onboard Credit offer is based on Promo(s) ZH*. Limit: One (1) onboard spending money credit (“Offer”) per stateroom. Offer is only applicable for eligible active, retired and veteran military service members. Offer is valued at US$100 per stateroom. Offer is available only for new bookings. Offer is in USD and is non-refundable, non-transferable, and has no cash value. Eligible voyages include select 2023 and 2024 cruises. The offer expires at the end of the Eligible Cruise and may not be used in the casino or on gratuities or any other specified fees or items. The Offer and/or its terms may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice. Other restrictions and exclusions may apply. Ships' Registry: The Netherlands My response: The benefit is a gift - a promotional item - that HAL does not have to offer and if it does, it may make the rules regarding the offer to suit its needs. I suspect the offer is limited to new booking because it is meant to entice cruisers to book. It is also "arbitrary" to limit it to $100 or to provide the benefit to retired military and retired educators but only active first responders and health care workers. But HAL is free to make the rules it wants for its gifts. . So when I first learned about the rule I accepted that my existing booking was too old for the OBC and was happy when it appeared on my next cruise. I didn't think I was entitled to ignore the inconvenient terms of the offer.

The community appreciation offers (miltiary, first responder health care etc) all clearly state they apply to new bookings only, which as stated above extends to about seven days post booking. Why is it that so many decide that this provision set out by HAL in its offer should not apply to them? I can't believe how many people want to try to browbeat some poor staff person at HAL to grant them the benefit when they don't qualify under its terms.

It seems hit and miss - or maybe it is a matter of timing. We booked a cruise for February in December and paid at that time. In early February DH qualified for fire fighter benefit and neither we nor TA could get credit applied retroactively to that cruise. While on that cruise we booked another cruise for the fall. I qualified for teacher's credit the day we got home and we got OBC awarded for that cruise, but it was within a week of booking. The other thing that is inconsistent is how many credits you can get per stateroom. The website says that only one can be awarded, but it is not clear if they mean one of each type (first responder, educator health care provider etc) or just one "special people" even if cabin mates are in different categories. I figure it is a nice benefit if I get it but not really an entitlement.

Then he didn't know how to order. When we cruised with friends in February on the NS, we frequently ordered two starters and an extra main, sometimes individually and sometimes "for the table". No weight loss for us. (But thankfully no gain) Not to mention the variety and quality on the lido and the delights at the Dutch Cafe. I much prefer to order extra than to waste food I can't finish.

I assume this would require bigger dining rooms because I do not believe you could get three seatings from each table but would instead get two seatings from some (a 5:30 and an 8:30) and then a single 7:00 from the other tables. You are only allowing an hour and a half for each seating which would mean something closer to an hour and a quarter to eat and 15 minutes to clear and reset tables. At home I admit we inhale our food, but on a cruise we love a leisurely pace, conversation, an extra starter sometimes and maybe coffee at the end. I would hate to be hurried to make way for the next seating. I am curious if anyone knows what is the "usual" capacity of the MDR compared to the capacity of the ship. (I googled without much luck) One would guess around half but then with specialty restaurants and alternative venues like the lido, it could be smaller but that is why I ask.

Agreed to some extent but you have at least two choke points for freestyle - someone has to optimize the seating - this group wants a two top, this group wants a four and someone else is demanding a window. And the maître d' should also try to allocate seating among waitstaff - so the front desk has to sort this out before assigning tables. Then you need a lot of people to show everyone to their table. That is a lot of staff just to organize things. .

I am curious about the comment that you have to book early (to get late fixed.) We prefer late fixed at a table of 6 to 8 other people. On our cruise in February we got a two top so switched to eat with our friends at early although we never got a fixed table so we were sort of this hybrid seating. We are on a waitlist for fixed late on Rotterdam in the fall and are a little worried we will get another two top. Is fixed seating at bigger tables a thing of the past? More on topic, we did notice service in the main dining room could be a little slow and there was a line at times (not sure of wait) for freestyle. I can't help but think this push to freestyle is part of the problem. With fixed, everyone showed up more or less near the same time, seated themselves and so staff could focus on service. It may also help the kitchen to have most people eating starters then mains and then desserts at similar times instead of plating everything during the entire time the dining room is open. When you get the same waiter every night, they know if you want a drink or the wine list and get a feel for how fast your table can decide what to order. There is also more incentive to provide good service for a good tip. We had one excellent waiter in the MDR several nights and went back to find him for a tip the last night. And told the head of the dining room and mentioned him in our review. I waited tables at one point in my life and it was easier to provide better service to the regulars. So while freestyle diners do deserve good service, I can see why those who opt for fixed may have fewer complaints. .

Love your posts. Although you cruise at a higher level than us (not many specialty restaurants and no spa for us) I have greatly enjoyed your comments and pictures. Who doesn't love food porn? And no whinging. We are booked on Rotterdam in September 2023 and your posts are just so wonderfully informative and fun and positive. Thank you

Thank you. I wasn't planning on a lot - just a bottle of two if we found something that looked interesting without a lot of trouble in a port city. I meant to scout this on our return to cruising in February but was too excited to be boarding a ship again and forgot.

It is very helpful to actually sit down with paper and pencil and do the math. My DH and I calculate how many wine packages we will buy and guess how many drinks a day and we don't get close to HIA price. So for us it doesn't pencil out. BUT if you want and value the other parts of HIA, it can easily make sense as has been pointed out.- If you want the internet package and if you would otherwise use ship's tours and specialty dining, then when those costs are added in HIA makes sense. There is also the "emotional" aspect of HIA. I have to say I really enjoyed our Viking cruise with wine and beer included at meals. I never questioned another glass if I wanted it. On HAL or other cruises, I tend to hold back due to my incredibly cheap nature. Maybe that's a good thing but as others have noted, it is nice to have the freedom to order another drink and not worry about the bill at the end of the cruise.

On a slightly related topic, where do you pay for wine you want to bring on board? Last time we did this on Holland, our two bottles were still "free." I see now that there is a $20 per bottle corkage fee. If we decide to bring a bottle or two with us, where does one pay the fee? And is it the same on initial boarding as in each port? We are not trying to sneak it on board. We just didn't notice on our last cruise how or where one went about declaring the wine and paying and really do not want to be pulled aside and accused of smuggling.