REOVA

Depends on what the refare price includes compared to what you currently have. Also depends on who you (or your TA) talks with (who answers the phone) at HAL. You (or your TA) will need to be referred to a pricing specialist at HAL not just the call service as they may tell you different things.

I generally wouldn't use ship spa staff for extraordinary services such as color as you don't know what they will do and we've heard stories of lack of quality of some of the services. I've had many hair cuts on HAL and usually the staff is well trained and know what they are doing. You can tell by they way they are cutting your hair. My experience last month on Eurodam was a bad cut (I'm an easy 10 minute cut). When I went to my regular stylist after disembarkment a few days later she noticed the lack of blending and uneven cuts in my hair, it wasn't a different style, just a poor job. She was able to correct some but obviously much shorter. But hair grows so it's wasn't a permanent issue, unlike color.

Was on Eurodam last month. Wouldn't use them if it's the same staff. Not even for a haircut.

Mine (chocolate) was white and the server tried to tell me it was chocolate. I told her it was vanilla and she came back with a cup of chocolate sauce so I could add "more". 🤷‍♂️

As long as you aren't wearing matching ones. 🤣. We've seen to many of the guys wearing speedos so please let her to get the balance back. 😉

Would be curious if/after you cruise of your updated comparison. I agree that the additional bars and music venue don't make up for the downgrade in HAL entertainment. Especially if the bands play the same songs every night. But since you haven't sailed HAL since the change, you may not have seen Step One or Contare or HALs history "lectures" or BBC movies multiple times over the past few years. Being a holiday cruise, one would suspect it will be a crowded cruise which may put a drag on the crew, service and inventory, especially at peak times. The Pinnacle Class ships are not like the old ocean liner ships (which we prefer) but I think you will find something to enjoy.

Check in is different than boarding. I haven't heard of anyone lately being stopped from checking in early (through security). They did during first reopening out of precaution and don't know, with any rise in positive cases in AUS, if things will change. The ship usually boards around 11:30-12:00 so everyone that checks in earlier is put in a waiting area, priory boarding in one place and everyone else another until they board, either by a number you get or otherwise. So getting there early and going through security may or may not get you onboard earlier, depending on how they are doing it at each port (and cruise).

You will enjoy it. Its a beautiful itinerary. Mind the Tasman Sea. Take ginger candies just in case (my DW's best choice).

We've seen menus change once on board. I would take it as a sample for now but may stay once onboard if you are trying to plan specific day dining.

We are sold on "SWAS" concept and especially Yacht Club. It's the best value for us. HAL doesn't have that or come close to the amenities they offer via private area, restaurant, pool, butler, entertainment etc. But those ships are too big once you step outside the suite area. HAL is more of a relaxed sailing overall with much smaller ships, which we prefer and on the older ships, a full wide wrap around promenade walking deck with lounge chairs to read a book, watch the seas or chat with new friends. The entertainment is much less than the other lines but the food is good (hit or miss on any line) and the crew is wonderful if you interact and get to know them (some are new and shy at first but open up when you smile 😃 ). The larger Pinnacle Class ships have more options for food and some more music but are bigger and you lose the wide promenade seating and crew and dining can be more chaotic. Westerdam, as with many of HALs older ships, will show its age and many people will point everything out but most overlook them and enjoy being on the water or the itinerary. You won't have the production shows compared to the other lines but there will always be something to do, if not just reading a good book in the sea air or meeting with other solos. The cabin choices are key as others said these ships have exterior elevators on the sides which lessens the balcony privacy for cabins closest as the car moves up and down. Choose a cabin between other cabin decks and not deck 4 (above music) or deck 8 (below the Lido). We usually book midship Veranda or Signature Suite staterooms on deck 6 or 7. Signature Suites are larger than Verandas but neither are true suite experiences like the other lines (nor priced like them). Neptune suites are much larger than Yacht Club but more pricier. You get a separate lounge area (small interior space) but nothing like Haven, Yacht Club, etc. The lounge area has 2 person concierge crew that handle all guest services and excursions for Neptune Suites (and above) and also has small selection of snacks and drinks. Again, not up to other line Suite experience. We find the Neptune cost/reward no longer benefits us (we have sailed from 7 days to 113 days in Neptune) and enjoy Signature "suites" or Verandas just fine (neither have concierge service and amenities.) Our next cruise on Westerdam is 53 nights and we can't wait to get back to her.

What do you like about the other cruise lines? Then we can answer better about Westerdam.

Your PCC should have mentioned it. CO price will vary and may increase but it's best done when booking as you can "upgrade" within your cabin category for the price of the lowest cost cabin in that category. You could probably call the PCC and ask about adding it but not sure how the price will affect what cabin you booked. If you are already in your best cabin, they may give you OBC or have it rebooked at the lower price and then charge CO. I feel it's best value is on the Pinnacle Class ships where you have a separate dining room which is less noisy and less hurried than the MDR. But you have to weigh the cost against the benefits you feel you are getting to decide worth.

Yes. HIA would cover first. But extra can be given. Our OBC went to crew gratuities last month. We didn't have it included in HIA.

Definitely SS is the spot. But we stopped factoring in sq ft as a value in our cruises since we can do with smaller cabins as long as storage, itinerary and balcony is there. MSC suite experience blew us away but the ship size was too much. And if other lines had smaller ships (better storage) and better itineraries, these 5* passengers would be on them more. Why can't we build a line that "has it all" 😉

Neptune Suite is nothing like a suite experience on other ships. There is no suite restaurant or area like Celebrity or MSC. The Club Orange "benefit" for Neptune Suite is included but on non Pinnacle Class ships you go to the same MDR, via the right entrance, and sit in a "designated section" of the MDR. The food on all ships is the same for regular MDR but CO passengers get 1 extra entree selection added to their menu each night. As stated you can eat breakfast in the alternative dining Pinnacle Grill restaurant on non Pinnacle Class ships or in the Club Orange restaurant on Pinnacle ships. Neptune guests have a small concierge lounge with 2 person concierge for direct service for booking things, request, etc and a small selection of snacks but again, not like other ship suite experience. We feel that other than a larger cabin, HAL offering CO on Pinnacle ships (as well as experiencing what other lines offer). has deflated our need for Neptune Suite so we no longer see the value.

We stayed at Seaport right next to terminal with waterfront restaurants. Shuttles are usually added to hotel price so we used uber/taxi for the few blocks (due to luggage).

Glad you got it to work. It wouldn't for me on my last cruise. I have a Samsung and was able to cast on their Samsung TV previously but couldn't last month. Also depending on the TV the ports may be on the right or left (ours were right) and it is a tight fit as HAL doesn't want us accessing it. I also had a problem in my cabin streaming on my android as we weren't close to a booster/router so connection was very slow. For the person asking about Roku, you will need to check the version as older Roku won't cast.

GuestRelations and World_cruise_reservations are 2 that I use to check status if not showing in my profile. They probably go to the same mailbox. 🤣

Have your TA revise the booking printout. Not sure why but mine had to get a supervisor to check a box to apply the OBC and they resent me the revised statement which then showed the additional OBC.

The late 2025 September sailings for the West/Pacific will probably come out last (mid Winter) possibly as marketing for "wave season" . The "rumored" Grand Asia will need a ship so I would imagine HAL is still working to shuffle the Zaandam, Volendam and Nordaam itineraries as needed.

You can try but they may say no it's after booking. But being so close you may get lucky. There is no consistency how they apply it. I initially got an email rejecting and also got one approving (I usually send email to 2 different places just to see). Same with stock approval, the first email said approved and second email said they need more info (I went with the first which showed in my revised statement). So it's a toss up.

Yes. The narrow deck and lack of loungers are some of the disappointing changes on Pinnacle ships (along with the tenders blocking the view). Here is what the new loungers look like on Eurodam, also disappointing compared to the teak look, but at least they have them.

Haven't tried Starlink but before you would have drop spots in the S Pacific, more so further South you go. You may have to delay responding to emails one day. Also you may find that you you cannot get connection in your room (depending on location) so finding where the boosters and routers are placed to get close to may be necessary. Also time of day may cause issues if everyone is using the bandwidth at same time so finding when use is less busy might help (not necessarily early or late as everyone has the same idea).

Depends on days. Ours was $50 for 11 days and then got $30;off for Mariner discount.

If it's 1 booking your OBC continues. Make sure at guest services onboard because they will be the final answer but can flag your account (which you and other B2B passengers should already be tracked).