rajkr74

We got off the NS on Sunday and there was both a male and female singer doing 45 min sets.  Speculation could be anything as to why she isn't singing now.  It was a good group while we were on board.

Just got off the Nieuw Statendam after 28 days from April 7th thru May 5th.  

Had evening bed turn down each night.  Towel animals and chocolates on Dressy night only. No Classical music but think they are working on it. New shows on the World Stage with 4 female dancers and 2 male dancers with 2 male lead singers who were very good doing different sets over the cruise. Along with one female lead singer who did separate shows with the dancers.  The contract with the One Step Dancers is done.

Also during the first 2 weeks HAL held 2 cooking demonstrations in the World Stage that were presented very well and attended well.  Did not do them on the 2nd 2 weeks and don't know why.  Hopefully they continue them fleet wide.

Rolling Stones and BB King were very good.  Entertainment as a whole was good with good variety. 

7 hours ago, WetterWashington said:

When I turned the TV on it immediately started playing the Muster drill and safety video.

When I turned the TV on it started playing the Muster drill video, again. 

 

Did you watch the whole Muster Drill from start to finish?  Our experience was if you watched the whole video then it would never show up again when you turned the TV on later.

We just got off the Zuiderdam July 22, 2023 and had a conversation with the Cruise Director the day before and were informed that a  Clasical Music group, put together by HAL, was coming on board the 22nd for the Voyage of The Vikings.  It probaby won't be using the Lincoln Center name. This group would then get off the Zuiderdam and go to the Zaandam to play, date unknown. This s  probably happening to work out the "kinks"  before implementing this venue to all ships.  There was no time table as to when all ships will get classical music back. 

We held a M&G on the Zuiderdam in 2015 just after ir came out of drydock with numerous items un completed.  A couple CC members decided that was the time to jump the captain about thinhs not working in their cabin even after I said the M&G was not the place to do that.  They did it did anyhow.  Shortly there after I read on this HAL board officers were no longer permitted to attend.  We've done a numerous  M&Gs and have had no officers attend even though we delivered invitations on occasion. 

We've had great cooperation with the ships event coordinator on our last 2 cruises.

We've held our M&Gs on our last 2 cruises in the BB King lounge and Rolling Stones lounge with good results.  The Crows Nest can't be controlled with non CC members coming in and sitting in the lounge chairs.  Can't close it off due to the Explorers coffee bar being there. 

Also, talking about private excursions at a M&G is a absolute NO NO. That's the first rule that I open up with when I moderate a M&G.

Over all we have had good results at our M&Gs on the Zuiderdam starting with the May 12, 2023 cruise, but have one more to go on the July segment.  We had 205 cruisers sign up for the may 13th M&G with about 190 showing up.  Our largest group ever that we've been involved with.  It went smoothly even though we couldn't go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves.

Rick

Am on the Zuiderdam now.  The delay seemed to be more from trying to load all the food, luggage, equipment, and other items than from the protesters. Looked like items and pallets were left on the dock as we pulled away.  Could be wrong since I was looking out the back MDR window as we left.  Protesters were still there. We still got to Dover on time the next morning. In addition the protesters had plastic water bottles and food items in plastic clamshell containers in sacks all around the dock.....what?

They had litte effect on our cruise other than an entertainment interlude.

On the Zuiderdam now and were told HAL is revamping the Lincoln Center group, going to the World Stage and increasing the players  to 5. When....not known yet.

Cantrell was also on board for 3-4 shows and is headed to the Osterdam.  Will be back on the Zuiderdam on 6-12-23.  We enjoyed  them, good singers. 

Getting reimbursed for Covid related expenses can be slow and fustrating both from HAL and a travel ins.

We had a 24 day Panama Canal cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Vancouver BC in April 2022.  The day before Vanvouver we had to test in Victoria in order to fly back to the USA. I tested positive and was quarantined for one night and taken, along with 8 other cruisers, to a hotel near the airport for a Canadian manditory 10 day quarantine stay.  My wife did not have Covid and she went home.  At the hotel I knew I would have to pay for the food ordered from the on site restaurant.  After the cruise I submitted the food expenses to our travel ins. and was paid in a month.

At check out from the hotel I asked if HAL was picking up the cost of the room since they gave me no bill for that cost. The hotel told me yes. Two months later our credit card had a charge of $3,000 on it from the hotel for the room. I had failed to fully read the fine print from HAL that required I submit my expenses to our travel ins before I submitted to HAL for any balance that the ins did not cover.  So I did that in July 2022 but did not get paid until the end of Nov. 2022 for only $2,500.  Found out my ins. only covered $250 per night at the hotel as per the policy.  I then, sent by mail, all the information along with the HAL out of pocket expense form for the balance of $500 to HAL.  A month later, late Dec. 2022 I called HAL Guest Relations and after sitting on hold for 1 hr 30 mins and got a nice gentleman in a call center in the Phillipines who could not access the mailed docements.  So I took pics of all the docs and sent 5 emails to him while he stayed on the phone to confirm that he had been received them.  So, at the end of Jan 2023 I called HAL Guest Relations.  Again was on hold for 1 hr 30 mins before I talked to a person in the call center in the Phillipines.  He confirmed the request for the $500 had been recieved and approved and was waiting to be paid....when that was going to happen he could not tell me.  On Feb 15, 2023 I received a check for the $500 issued from an outside company contracted by HAL.  Took for ever but got paid.  The one day of quarantine on the ship was applied to my HAL account as a FCC. 

Make sure you read all the info from HAL and be prepared to followup on submissions.  Also be prepared to be on hold with followup calls.  Keep notes of dates of submissions when you made calls.  Be patient and be nice to the people that you have contact with.  It will take time but we did get paid...finally.

On 2/1/2023 at 8:27 PM, jstallter said:

Hi!  We’re taking an Alaska cruise tour in July on the Noordham and have a few questions in regards to the actual logistics of the travel. I have done exhaustive research on Holland Americas website, and I have even requested a travel consultant through Holland America but as yet, have not been assigned one. If any of you have done an Alaska cruise tour with HAL, I would appreciate some feedback. I’m curious about the feedback I’ve heard about the WestMark Anchorage hotel…not good and I wonder if there are other options. I don’t understand how our meals are paid for on the Land part of the tour and I’m not sure about all of the logistics in getting to and from the different places on the land tour. The cruise is not an issue…!  Any help, guidance or suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance. 

We did a Land/Sea tour with HAL a few yrs ago (2016) and enjoyed it. This link is for the review we did after the tour and even though its a few yrs old there is info that we hope might be useful to you.  We did the review since we did not see any reviews done by CC cruisers before and after our cruise.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2295567-alaska-sea-land-cruise-6-29-16-review—y2c/

38 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

I found a very good price for an inside cabin on a Rotterdam sailing (21-day that includes Baltics + Norwegian coast). Can anyone give me some feedback on the inside cabins on Rotterdam?

 

(Please don't suggest other categories -- I am fine with inside and apparently the deal I found only applies to inside.)

 

We were on the Rotterdam in Sept. and Oct 2022 in an inside cabin 5071.  It is smaller than similar  Vista class cabins with not having a love seat on the cabin.  We thought we’d not like it however it was a nice cabin. It was located midship and we felt no excess motion including the one night of heavy seas in the north Atlantic sailing to NY.  It has all the same features as most cabins as it applies to closet space, room under the bed and bathroom.   The shower was a highlight with ample room.  Interactive TV at the end of the bed was nice.

Overall we were nicely surprised and happy with it.

13 hours ago, CafeBruno said:

@rajkr74 I hope you get your reimbursement soon, but don't count on it. I submitted my Covid expenses last June. In September they told me that my claim was approved for payment and to expect a check in 8 to 12 weeks. At 12 weeks I called again and was told it was in the que to be paid but they could not tell me when it would be paid. At 16 weeks (3 weeks ago) I emailed Gus Antorcha's office (HAL President) and after 2 weeks I got this wholly unsatisfying response:

 

Oh thanks for the GOOD news I think....LOL

Some may say this is BS but as others have said it's happening across many companies.  Due to a missunderstanding on my part I thought HAL was covering the quarantine hotel room in Vancouver.  Once I figured out that was not the case I submitted documents to our travel ins. co.  Then after months and numerous phone calls I finally received a partial payment.  The difference was my ins. only covered $250/night and the hotel charged $300/night.  I should have known this info and would have negociated a lower price at check in (the room was not a $300/night room).

It'a not worth getting upset about and I'll patiently wait for a check.  My request is only a middle 3 figure amount so it's not causing a cash flow problem with us.

Called Guest Services today on a Covid Quarantine expense from our April  2022 cruise.  After submitting our expenses to our travel insurance the insurance company, who did not cover a medium 3 figure balance, I submitted, by mail, receipts for that amount to HAL back on Nov. 24th for reimbursement.  Called on Dec. 28th to phone number 1-877-932-4259. Pressed #6 (Guest Relations) when prompted then waited on hold for 1 hr 45 mins to get a rep.  He did not have access to my mailed in request from Nov. 24th.  So he stayed on the phone while I took pics of all docs and emailed them to him.  The call today to the same number had me waiting on hold for 1 hr. 32 mins. to find out the staus. Got a nice HAL rep who verified my claim, after waiting on hold for another 5 mins, that the claim had finally been approved and was pending in the Reimbursement Dept along with many many other claims waiting to have a check produced. Maybe another 2 weeks (?) to get a check if lucky.  

Conclusion?  When calling, be prepared to be on hold from 1 to 2 hrs to talk to anyone.  Then be nice even if you feel like pulling your hair out and screaming at a glass shattering level.  Patience, patience. 

12 minutes ago, Saskaberry said:

Can you have your key card hole punched on Rotterdam?

The Key cards now come with a small rectanguler hole at the top of the card.  At least my card on the Rotterdam in Oct. did.

3 hours ago, stratixman said:

Have an Alaska Cruisetour booked for June. The package is referenced as a Seattle -Seattle cruise , although the the ship actually departs Vancouver and Holland includes bust transfer from Settle to Vancouver the day of departure. I can't find any info as to the following: 1) what time(s) the bus leaves and 2) where in Seattle  the bus picks up the passengers. Any info would be appreciated. 

Below is a CC link to a review we did back in 2016 for a HAL cruise-tour that left Seattle from Sea-Tac airport.  Since this a few years old not everything may be pertenant to cruise in 2023 but there are enough things that you will see on your cruise-tour that are in this review.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2295567-alaska-sea-land-cruise-6-29-16-review—y2c/

We were on the Rotterdam in Sept-Oct and there was a hair dryer in our cabin and should be in every cabin on the ship.  It's in the cabinet below the shelf where the ice bucket is located, not in the bathroom. 

2 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

 

The first time we saw those scales out the night before disembarkation in the elevator lobby we thought it was a cruel joke......

 

(we travel with a carry on so weighing luggage was foreign to us but gaining weight on a cruise was top of mind)

 

LOL

We carry a hand held luggage scale that has been pretty accurate.  But thought I'd check the HAL scales in the mid-ship elevator bay on the Rotterdam on Oct 29th 2022. On the 5th deck the HAL scale was 5-6 lbs over the 49.5 lbs registered on my hand held scale.  So went up to the 6th deck, were it was closer but off a pound or so.  So tried the 4th deck. Came up with a different number but not over the 5-6 lbs registered on the 5th deck.  Went back to my scale and used it since the seas were calm and did not give me bad readings. Did not have the time to inquire why HALs scales were off. Got to the airport and was fine with the readings off my scale...as always.

Buyer beware!

14 minutes ago, silversneakers said:

Why is the quarantine still 10 days since the CDC guidelines state 5 days. Evidently there are new guidelines that say if exposed to positive person and you have no symptoms, wear a mask, test after 5 days but no quarantine.

 

Is the 10 day quarantine Canadian guideline or HAL guideline??

Canadian rules.

I spent 10 days in the same Sheraton Hotel near the Vancouver airport after testing positive with covid in Victoria after our Panama canal cruise in April.  At that time a test was needed to fly back to the US.  My wife tested negative so she flew home on May 1st so she didn't get covid and start the 10 day quarantine clock over.  I registered, by phone, with the Canadian health authority but no one stopped by my room to verify that I was staying in the room as I was told they would.  I did a lot of walking back and forth in the room...boring.  The restuarant on site was good but had a limited menu so my kids had to teach me how to use Uber Eats.  Worked with Flightease to rebook my portion of my flight home.  Originally booked to fly into Portland OR with a 2 hr drive south to Springfield after daughter was to pick us up.  Wife did that and drove home May 1st.  Flightease changed it to Eugene at no extra charge, nice so my wife did not have to drive 2 hrs to Portland to pick me up on May 11th.

At check out May 11th I paid for the food ordered on site but got no bill for the room???  They said HAL would pick it up.  Two months later I got a $3,000 charge on my on my credit card bill.  Reread the fine print on all the paper work I got from HAL and it said I needed to submit to my travel insurance and if denied I could send it to HAL for pmt.  My ins covered the food bill within a month of submission but am now waiting again for my travel ins to pay room bill.

Overall, not a terrible experiance but just a lot of time wasted.  My symptons were very mild with sniffles and a cough which were mostly gone 5 days into quarantine.  It acted like any cold I'd ever had.

8 minutes ago, C-sea said:

What if you are drinking the wine in your cabin? Is there a corkage fee and what is the corkage fee, when applied?

Since HAL changed the rules in June 2021 you are no longer able to bring wine on board "free" even if you drink it in your cabin.  All bottles of wine are subject to a $20 per bottle corkage fee.  Here is a link on HAL's web page on the rules for bringing wine, hard liquor and soft drinks on board.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq.shipboard-life.can-i-bring-alcoholic-beverages-onboard.html

We go to Puerto Vallaerta every year and have done most of the excursions offered there.  HAL uses Vallarta Adventures for most of their tours.  You should be able to book directly with Vallarta Adv. or thru HAL, compare prices for both.  Very good company.  Some tours leave from the cruise ship dock so its easy to join them if you book directly with VA.  They also have an office in the cruise terminal.

https://www.vallarta-adventures.com/en/

On April 30, 2022 I tested positive for Covid on the NA, the last day of the cruise in Victoria Canada.  The test was needed prior to flying back home to Oregon from Vancouver.  I quarantined one day in cabin 4035 a verandah cabin starboard side.  It was on the same deck as our original cabin.  The fire doors to this section of the 4th deck closed off access to everyone except staff.  The 6th deck same floor section was also used for quarantining and the fire doors also were used to restrict access.

Same for me, had Flight Ease and called number on letter, waited close to 3 hrs on hold but didn't care since I was in quarantine.  Got ticket rebooked and even flew to airport closer than original flight for no additional cost.  Nice, saved a 4 hr round trip drive for DW to pick me up at the original airport.

20 hours ago, Gray Lady said:

Just wondering if anyone has done this and I am curious how it works. We finished our quarantine and were told we would get a $100 per person per diem for food while we quarantined. All our paper said was that HAL would reimburse us once we finished our isolation period. Do they do this automatically? Do you get it with your refund for your hotel room? Do you contact them directly? Just wanted to learn from someone else who had done it so we know what to expect and do. Thank you! 

I tested Positive in Victoria CA the last day of our 24 day Panama Canal cruise.  I quarantined one day on ship and the was transfered to a hotel in Vancouver for a 10 day quarantine.  I recieved douments explaining the expense reimbursement.  It stated "Please be assured that during your isolation you are allowed a USD $100 per diam per person to cover meals, which we will reimburse once your isolation has ended"  I had to submit my actual expenses (less than the $100 allowed by HAL) to our travel insurance which was paid.  If they had been denied by my ins. then I could submit to HAL with the ins. denial letter, no receipts required to HAL.  I felt if I had to submit to HAL I would submit only my actual expenes NOT the $100 per diam.

Also, if quarantined on ship you will be reimbursed with Future Cruise Credits for each day based on your daily rate that would be issued within 2 weeks of recieving this letter.  Nothing came after 4 weeks.  So I called Ship Services and was on hold for close to 3 hrs.  Got a very nice HAL rep. who took my booking number and set up a file number for review.  Within 4 days I recieved notice that my one day reimbursement was added as a Future Cruise Credit on my HAL Mariner Account.

"We went on out and about the ship, since our luggage only arrived shortly before dinner.

Weather was again sunny and warm (sorry Rick😉), so a beautiful send off from our land part."

Alphen,

I didn't want to jinx your nice weather but to get the full "Alaska" experinace one has to have some rain during their land-sea cruise.  lol  

Rick

8 hours ago, Sea42 said:

Monday at 12:30 - Sparkling Wine Art Auction??

I thought the art auctions were a thing of the past.

We were on the Nieuw Amsterdam from Ft. Lauderdale thru the canal to Vancouver April 7 thru May 1st this year and they held a number of art auctions on ship.  They didn't seem to be well attended when we walked by.