ScottC4746

We booked a cruise for April 2021 in an OV. We go San Diego-Santa Barbara-Two nights at sea-Vancouver. We recently upgraded to a Vista Suite. How are cruises this short? How is the Maasdam? It is our 2nd HAL cruise the first on Eurodam. Did we make a good move to the VS? While I know we don't get perks like the NS, do we at least get priority boarding? How often does the upgrade fairy visit even if they charge for the upgrade like a very good upgrade offer? If we wait until we get to the port and ask at check in, do they do free upgrades then?

Just my own opinion when I took Eurodam a couple of years ago to the Mexican Riviera 7 night we did not see that many kids. HAL may be priced just above a family cruise unlike RCCL.

I just read there is no Club Hal on Massdam. I can imagine the running kids now. Worried.

The official verbage on HAL is for High Score, " Unleash your competitive spirit at High Score!, our new family game room — on Oosterdam. By day, it’s a secret hideaway for kids and teens, where they can engage in a fast-paced flurry of four-person air hockey or contend for bragging rights in the video arcade. At night, the entire family is welcome to bond over board games, skee-ball, a tilting labyrinth and family activities. High Score! is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for kids and teens ages 7-17, and for the whole family, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m." Verbage for Club HAL is Holland America Line's youth activities program, Club HAL, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties. Club HAL is offered on board all ships except for ms Maasdam.

Oh good. DH and I tend to be on the young side (I will be 55 and he will be 49 for this cruise) but we loved it. Met a few others our age bracket. We love the slower pace and leaning toward the older side if you will.

Our first HAL cruise was last year to the Mexican Riviera 7 nights after tiring from the RCCL product. We loved HAL. Service is top notch, the staff friendly and always saying hello. I love how they serve the food in the buffet and even coffee in the main dining room is a production of high customer service and presentation. We thought the food was very good. HAL is not big on big performance entertainment, but it was enough to keep us happy. Very few kids and the few there were were well behaved I dare say better behaved than a few adults we ran into but you will get that. Night clubs were pretty sedate on our cruise. I think about 10 PM people started turning in. If you want high energy thumpathumpathumpa night clubs look elsewhere. HAL is old school cruising to me. Now, the dreaded dress code: Main dining room I felt fine and we fit in just fine with business casual except on formal night with just semi-casual (dark suit). There were one or two tuxes but not enough to warrant me bringing mine. Drink prices were not bad. They do charge you for a second entree in the main dining room, but that is standard in the industry now I think.

I just booked a short four nighter from San Diego to Vancouver stop in Santa Barbara for April 2021. I hope I didn't book a booze cruise.

Thank you for twisting my words around. Not at all what I was saying.

We are scheduled to overnight in Honolulu and wanted to do a night time Luau on our own. Is there a curfew that we are required to be back to the ship?

And on Eurodam we were very impressed with Tamirand we went twice.

About a week or two ago, I filled out the online "contact us" from on HAL's website to gush over how they are now our preferred cruise line from RCCL and how much we loved the level of service. I expected a boiler plate response, "Dear Mr. Cruiser, Thank you for taking the time to contact us at Holland America. We appreciate..." you get the jest. I was surprised to open my email to find they had give us a free dinner at Tamarind on our next cruise. Not sure if it is one or two covers but still, that was quite a nice surprise.

That was all I wanted to verify.

On our Eurodam cruise we noticed some very nice chaise loungers up along the window that looked out. We are booked on a 17 night Hawai'i cruise with 10 straight days (five out five back) at sea. How can a couple enjoy these, mark them while they go eat or do an activity, and return without being billed a "chair hog"?

I wouldn't say "lowering standards", but more in line with SOME other luxury cruises. Note the key word some not all. Example Viking Ocean Cruises: During the day, dress is casual including shorts (if the season is warm), slacks or jeans and comfortable shoes for walking tours. Swimsuits, brief shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for the Fitness Center, pool areas and Sports Deck. There are no “formal nights” in the evening; evening dress is “elegant casual” for all dining venues, performances and special events. On these occasions, required attire for ladies includes a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional; jeans are not permitted. The evening dress excludes World Café where the dress remains casual after 6:00 PM.

We have a 17 night circle tour of Hawai'i booked and two of our ports have no shore excursions: Hilo, and Kona. Is that normal or is it because we are 650 days away? Also, the current list of shore excursions for our ports, will they be updated/added to as we get closer in?