Crew News

And fully covered on the Westerdam.

When taking kids to Alaska, I would recommend bring two inexpensive pairs of binoculars for them. Looking into the tree lines for eagles (their white heads look like vanilla ice cream cones) and other wildlife will let them interact with the Alaska experience. The binoculars will also help to spot harbor seals in Glacier Bay. Seeing bears in Alaska in May will be very rare but the kids might be surprised. Finding a kids book about Alaska will also stimulate their interest. The Zandaam has stern balconies spanning Decks 6 and 7 that are accessed through the hallway doors at the aft end of the respective hallways. Blankets, loungers, and a large heat vent make these huge balconies enjoyable. It is a good place for photos. There are daily kids menus available in the MDR (bring crayons for kids to color the pictures) as well as in the Specialty Restaurants. Kids eat free in the Specialty Restaurants if they eat from the kids menu. Kids Menu to Color It is my experience that kids enjoy Club HAL so much that they are not around the ship except at dinner times. Activities will vary based on how many kids of each age group are present. The first of May will probably have few kids. Here is a link to typical Club HAL kids activities: Kids Activities Here is what the kids will see when looking for eagles in the trees: Harbor seals in Glacier Bay

My nearby stateroom to the OP's was a Club Orange purchased upgrade from an obstructed view verandah. On the HAL website, my payment lists a verandah stateroom but my invoice is a VS prefix. Nor was I asked.

Welcome to Cruise Critic and the HAL Forum. Great choice of stateroom!!! How do I like aft-facing staterooms? Let me count the ways: As a many-time cruiser to Alaska and hobby photographer, I sail only in aft-facing staterooms. You will be able to see and take photos of the scenery on both sides of the ship where hundreds of your fellow passengers will have to venture to the public areas. That means you can step out onto your balcony in your pajamas and slippers to capture a photo of a sunset or sunrise. From your own aft-facing balcony, you can enjoy Glacier Bay without fighting for space at the railings on public decks, no heads or cameras will be blocking your own camera, no bathroom sharing with hundreds of your fellow passengers, a table at arms length for your snacks and beverages, your minibar with beverages and snacks only a few feet away, free Room Service delivery, and a good portion of your balcony covered against the elements. Aft staterooms are a two-minute elevator ride up to the Lido Market Buffet and the same time down to the Main Dining Room (MDR) or Club Orange. Since Room Service is a short ride up to Deck 5, your hot food will still be hot when received. When the ship is moving, you can enjoy your balcony with no wind while those on the side-facing staterooms may not. The gentle sound of the propeller wake is very soothing to for both a nap and evening sleep. In April, I will be aboard the Koningsdam to Alaska in an aft-view stateroom near yours. Feel free to ask any questions and I will seek answers while aboard to help in your planning. There is a link in the lower right corner of my signature to see HAL current menus. Below are Alaska cruise photos taken from my aft-facing staterooms: Glacier Bay Lions Gate Bridge leaving Vancouver Juneau

Approved less than 24 hours after submission by StockPerks to Carnival.

Sharing info and experiences on CC gives cruisers a big advantage in their cruise .planning

Three full days to process my manual submission. Still waiting for approval by HAL. Since my request was for two Rotterdam cruises in November, not a big rush.

It is my experience, that any "refundable" OBC will be returned to your credit card after the first cruise. Any "non-refundable" OBC remaining at the end of the first segmenton your shipboard account will be rolled over to your next segment. Last October 21, 2023 there was a $90.51 "non-reundable" OBC credit remaining on the first segment of my B2B cruise. The same amount was added back to the second segment shipboard account on the second day of the second segment. My credit card was refunded $341.25 for cancelled first segment shore excursions at the end of the first segment. In-transit cards will be delivered to your stateroom at least one day before the end of your first segment. As for laundry, you may continue to submit laundry during the day before and including the transition day.

I don't remember ever seeing one in my 42 days aboard last year. There are bathrooms nearby and hand sanitizing stations at the entrance.

This would be a good question to post on a current live thread. If no answer, I will report next month with my Premium Plan.

Since the streaming plan specifically adds streaming services Netflix and Apple TV, I am almost certain that all streaming services would be blocked by the ship for those on the Premium Plan.

The 5* discount only applies to onboard purchases of internet service and is not applicable to upgrades from HIA Surf Plans.

All ships have restrooms aft of the buffet as well as hand sanitizing points at the entrances to the buffet. Some ships have hand washing stations inside the buffet. Koningsdam

Deep (~14 feet), fully covered balcony for Westerdam 5184.

My badges are for posting "live from" reviews here on CC during my cruise. "Live reviews" provide future cruisers the opportunity to ask questions and get live answers from my interaction with the crew. I also carry a little notebook with recurring questions that I pose to the crew on every cruise and include in my "live reviews". I have been doing "live reviews" for a number of years but HAL just recently started giving badges for them.

Since I coordinate an average of four to six Meet & Greets (M&G) each year, I have developed a first name relationship with several of the HAL Ships Services Coordinators. I follow their suggestions on the timing of initial contact and updates. Obviously, others have their own interactions that may not be the same as mine. My experience is that the best time to schedule a M&G, to avoid conflicting shipboard events (usually starting on the hour) and to ensure a higher percentage of attendance, is 11:00 AM on the first Sea Day. In some cases, the one hour M&G event is followed by a parade to the MDR for lunch. On one occasion, I was asked at the MDR podium how many were in my party and I replied 22. The MDR staff gave us a section of our own.

I arrange a number of CC Meet & Greet each year through HAL Ships Services. Each ship has its own Events Coordinator at the HAL main office but if that person is not available, one of the other coordinators will take the information. The initial contact should be made two months before the event date with a follow up a week before the event to provide the final count of attendees. Ship Services # 1-877-885-4259, ask for the respective ship Evens Coordinator. You will need to provide the following at the initial contact call: your personal cruise booking number initial number of attendees preferred date/time preferred location refreshment setup, if desired A confirmation email will be sent to you. Print a copy and make sure you stop at the ship Front Desk the evening you board, with a copy of the confirmation email, to ensure that the ship did not misplace their copy. It also helps to bring your own laminated sign: CRUISE CRITIC PRIVATE PARTY and some tape to attach it to the provided stanchion.

The $55 is before the 18% surcharge. Actual charge is $64.90.

The Dive-In is located a few feet from the indoor pool and provides window take-out service (trays). Dive In Menu There are lots of tables nearby to eat or you can take your tray of food back to your stateroom. The nearby tables have stewards offering free iced tea, lemonade, and ice water. In addition, bar servers from the pool bar (a one minute walk away) will take drink orders. Pool Bars Menu Typical Vista Class Dive In

I will be aboard the Koningsdam the last week in April on your same itinerary. During my cruise, I will be posting daily programs, dining menus, and updated bar menus that may help in your planning for July.

As a frequent Alaska cruiser and Koningsdam veteran, my advice would be to use the Club Orange option to upgrade to an aft-facing stateroom where you can "gawk" at scenery on both sides of the ship from the comfort/privacy of your own balcony.

This is an issue with pop-ups when everything shifts to unfamiliar operations for one evening per cruise. The Nieuw Amsterdam full-time Morimoto may be much better.

Glad to explain. Feel free to ask questions since that is the way we all get up to speed with the current assumptions and acronyms.

After mistakenly leaving my leatherman in a piece of luggage in 2011, I learned that the "naughty room" was located in a room behind the Front Desk where luggage with prohibited items is held pending opening by the owner. Both Guest Services and Security reps were present during my suitcase opening. After I unlocked my suitcase, my leatherman was confiscated, and my suitcase was released. It must be noted that I received no notice of my luggage confiscation and only my missing luggage inquiry at the Front Desk introduced me to my"naughty room" experience. Unlike the current practice of returning items only after the owner leaving the ship, my leatherman was delivered to my stateroom on the last evening of the cruise.

Your beverage package also includes everything in the Quench Beverage Packages such as fresh juice and smoothies. Beverage Packages Contents