wdw1972

8 hours ago, Tom47 said:

I have joined the  Mariner program.  I rec'd an email urging me to install HAL app on my phone.  But a notice popped up:  "This device is not compatible with the app."   I have an android phone and it accepted RCI and Celebrity apps.  Any suggestions?

I think your options are either upgrade to a newer phone or do without the app. If you have a tablet that might be compatible (depending how old the tablet is). Once onboard you can see  your account, menus, etc via the tv in your stateroom, and you'll receive a paper copy of the daily activities. Having the app on your phone isn't "necessary" but in my opinion improves the cruise experience in terms of being able to check many things right from your phone.

Sue/WDW1972

7 hours ago, POA1 said:

Just a note: Those of us booked for a future cruise on the NS are getting 404 errors (or blank pages) on the menus in Navigator. Apparently, they have the URLs loaded so they are able to be accessed on the ship's intranet, but not from the external internet. I'm sure there's a crack team of experts working hard to solve the problem.

 

In other geek topics, is the new wireless router you purchased working on the ship?   Thanks!

I'm experiencing the same thing, but my next cruise is Zuiderdam. Seems to be a problem throughout the fleet vs just NS.

Sue/WDW1972

10 hours ago, TGCRUISEO said:

Does anyone know when you will be able to apply for 2025 Cruises?0

Somebody (most likely in this thread somewhere) said when they tried to apply for a 2025 the StockPerks app told them to try in November. That's when I plan to submit for my 2025 cruises - it makes sense, now that they're transitioning to a calendar year vs the July-July year.

Sue/WDW1972

18 minutes ago, whee-sailing said:

 

That's fantastic. HAL should update their web site then because that's not what it says.

HAL's language/narrative is notoriously bad/confusing. I swear they have some Dutch elementary school child writing all their stuff, then sending it through some translator app to get it into English - it often doesn't make any sense at all, and results in numerous clarifications that also aren't clear 😉

Sue/WDW1972

On 4/21/2024 at 8:04 PM, whee-sailing said:

That's only correct for a single occupancy room. I imagine the odds of getting one of those on standby are pretty slim though. For a regular room you'll still pay double.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/ca/cruise-deals/standby-program

Wrong - solo passengers using the standby program have no single supplement, and they can be placed in any stateroom on the ship.  Ships that don't have the single/solo staterooms found on the 3 pinnacle class ships also participate in the standby program and can be booked by solo travelers for $49/night plus port fees/taxes.

Sue/WDW1972

I'd love to see them in a smaller size - wouldn't it be nice to be able to pre-order the right size prior to boarding? The ones in the stateroom can pretty much wrap around me almost twice - it's hard to imagine it being too small on many people, but from the responses here that seems to be the case. That said, I only wear it inside my stateroom so it really doesn't matter how silly it looks. As a person on the smaller end of the spectrum, it can be difficult finding things that fit, and any "one size fits all" will never look like it was intended to look when I wear it! 

Sue/WDW1972

7 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

I was under the impression that when crew scanned your card at the bar/shop that your picture shows on their computer screen.  Is that not true?  If so, if someone had your card and tried to use it either by mistake or on purpose, the crew wouldn't let them.

 

`Nancy

That's my understanding too.  In any event, we've not heard of anyone's cards being taken and used by other passengers, so it's not something that even registers in my mind as possible things to be concerned with. It's been working for 2-3 years now.

Sue/WDW1972

My next cruise is my 48th, and most of those have been on HAL (my preferred line). I book as soon as the next season opens up, so roughly 1-2 years in advance.  I'm currently booked through February 2026. I like having the future cruises booked, and since I always want a cabana in HAL's Retreat, booking early ensures I get what I want. I'm not interested in booking last minute to get a "deal" because without the cabana I'm not interested in cruising. I almost always book solo - I cruise with a friend or 2, but we all book our own staterooms, and occasionally I'll book a cruise with my husband and share a stateroom with him. In the ideal world we'd have separate staterooms - but sometimes cruising comes with sacrifices 😉 

Sue/WDW1972

I also prefer the Retreat on the Vista & Signature class ships.  There are fewer of them, and they're significantly larger - especially the family cabana. When it's just 2 of us, we pay the extra $$ to book the family cabana on Pinnacle ships mainly to have the dining table & chairs in there. It's odd that a cabana intended for 4 adults has 2 loungers and a small table with 2 chairs on this class ship! On our last Rotterdam cruise there were 3 of us (we never have 4 people on a Pinnacle) and were able to rearrange the entire cabana to fit 3 loungers without losing the table with 2 chairs. One of us sat on a lounger by the table while the other 2 used the chairs - and when not eating the chairs were pulled to the side to allow space to move! By contrast, on the Vista/Signature the family cabana is probably twice the size - big table with 4 chairs, 3-4 loungers plus a couple (or more) sitting chairs. Two of us will be sharing a family cabana on Zuiderdam in November - possibly 3 if my husband decides to come along. 

Sue/WDW1972

6 hours ago, POA1 said:

I'm not so sure on the kids. Easter is April 20th next year. The school breaks should be clustered in February, around President's Day and in April around Easter.

 

In any case, we'll be in Club Orange and have a Retreat Cabana.

Unfortunately I think you're mistaken. Relatively few schools are out over President's Day - mainly the Northeast. When my son was growing up in FL, the spring break was not tied to Easter, since the date for Easter varies so widely. My awful Nieuw Statendam experience that was overrun with hundreds of kids was 3/11/23 for 7 nights. Easter was 4/9/23. 

Agree between Club Orange and the Retreat you'll miss the worst of it. Walking through the Lido Pool area was something we avoided. We didn't have any issues in specialty dining, which is what we mostly do - other than one night in Canaletto when these absolute horrors (with parents who let them literally RUN wild and stomp like elephants (twins approx 8-10 years old) were running screeching through the Lido Marketplace while mom & dad ignored the behavior. One of my travel companions ran into them a few different times and finally spoke up when they nearly knocked over some of the more traditional elderly HAL passengers, telling the kids to STOP that. It was sad that the parents were so ignorant. From that point we've sworn off the 7-night Caribbean cruises since HAL seems intent on running this kids sail free crap and we've shifted our March cruising to February since March seems to be the peak month for spring breaks.

Oh, another lovely experience was waiting for a show in the World Stage. Multi-family group a few rows ahead of us let the kids slam the seat bottoms up & down, hard enough to make noise. The parents just sat there playing on their phones, letting their little darlings behave inappropriately. 

Good luck!

Sue/WDW1972

12 minutes ago, POA1 said:

Remember how I said that 7 days was too short, and that we preferred 10-14 days, minimum?

 

Well...

 

We're planning a 12 day over Thanksgiving 2025. That seems like a really long time between cruises.

 

So, we booked a 7 day cruise on the Nieuw Statendam over St. Patrick's Day next year.

Does your 12-day end 11/28/25? If so, I'll be boarding the day you depart - and immediately head to family cabana #8. Good luck with the 7-day Nieuw Statendam. It will be overrun with hundreds of kids - I'll never do that again! The Retreat was the only thing that saved me on that cruise! The Lido pool was literally full of young little heads screaming & shrieking with joy - thankfully barely heard up in the Retreat.

Sue/WDW1972

1 hour ago, CastMember 02 said:

I'm a planner and like to have $$ on my room before i get onboard, I cannot find that if i buy say $500 in Shipboard Credit can i pull from that $500  to use  in the Casino? Thanks This is 1st time with Holland America.

Yes. It's shipboard credit given "free" from HAL as part of a promo that you can't use in the casino. If you're buying it, you can use it anywhere.

Sue/WDW1972

Have a wonderful cruise!

Sue/WDW1972

Please add the following for me.

November 28, 2025 Rotterdam 9-day Southern Caribbean ABC Islands

February 14, 2026 Koningsdam 11-day Eastern Caribbean Windward & Leeward Islands

Thanks!

Sue/WDW1972

21 minutes ago, chill6x6 said:

Hi Brian,

 

Thank you so much for ALL this information! 

 

I have ANOTHER question please.....it is a TWO-PART question! 

 

Retreat area....What is the likelihood of being able to get a cabana for only one sea day?  AND...are the loungers in the middle area there available to anyone is a cabana?

 

Thank you!

Very slim chance, especially in a warm-weather climate.  Loungers in the middle are for anyone who booked a cabana in the Retreat.

Sue/WDW1972

3 minutes ago, POA1 said:

There were two boats, a large one and a smaller one. We were on the larger of the two. They were freely pouring from the open bar. The first mate was hilarious.

 

From people we spoke to who were on the smaller boat, they had more tour narration than we did.

 

We only had one drink each. We wanted to make it to dinner, and needed to shower and dress once we got back. Many of our our fellow passengers were hitting the bar more aggressively. No one was out of hand, but there were some wobbly people.

 

The only real piece of advice is to sit on the port side. It's better for sunset pix.

 

It's a fine excursion for what it was. A nice, leisurely sail with some drinks and snacks.

Thanks so much! I remember your comment about sitting on the port side - now I know why, and we'll be sure to do that. Sounds like it'll be a pleasant little outing.

Sue/WDW1972

Loving your report/review, as usual.  Can you provide any more details/thoughts on your sunset cruise in Aruba? I've got that booked for next cruise, and curious where I should set my expectation level.

Sue/WDW1972

I started cruising HAL around 30 years or so ago, when I was in my early-mid 30's and traveled with my son who was preteen at the start.  We cruised through his teen years, almost always on 7-night itineraries.  Back then kids were few, and were typically well-behaved (obviously parents parented more back then). I continued cruising, generally an approx 10-day in the fall and a 7-day in the spring (often March).  There would be kids present, but not a lot, and not a problem - until 2023. My 7-night NS was a nightmare with kids! Both pools were packed with kids. The noise was deafening. A relatively small number of kids were absolute horrors - running (stomping feet like elephants despite being probably 8-10 years old), in full view of their oblivious parents, darting between adult & elderly passengers, with no intervention by the parents.  After the 2nd or 3rd time of this happening to my travel buddy she finally spoke up and yelled at the kids to stop that. She shouldn't have had to do that. We all swore off any future 7 night cruises - it's just changed too drastically (not for the better).  Club HAL cannot accommodate anywhere near that # of kids, so HAL is a big part of the problem as well.  Don't encourage all these kids if you have nothing to offer them besides one scheduled hour per day to access Club HAL (maybe)?

We did a 9-night in March this year hoping it would be better.  It was, but still way too many kids for our liking - a drastic change from the 28+ previous years cruising at this time. Thankfully, most all of the kids were much better behaved, and HAL did set aside the seaview pool for adults only. A couple I ran into in an elevator were very polite and seemed like great kids. Unfortunately I can't assume that will always be the case. So, we're shifting our spring cruise to February starting in 2025 & 2026 - and sticking to 10 & 11 night itineraries then. 

Good luck to any mariners booking a 7-night Caribbean cruise after a several year gap between cruises.  There's a good chance it's not going to even remotely resemble the cruises they remember!

Sue/WDW1972

41 minutes ago, Roz said:

Going forward, I think HAL is going to find it harder and harder to compete for families with other lines that have new ships with all kinds of family and kid friendly bells and whistles.

Let's hope! However, for those parents who are more inclined to pick the line that suits them best (vs the kids), HAL seems to be a good choice.  I can only hope most of the families will lean towards the other lines and let HAL focus on the adults (with a handful of kids onboard at most).

Sue/WDW1972

4 minutes ago, cruisenewby08 said:

We are new to HAL, please tell me what a Retreat cabana is?  Is that at the pool?

No - it's not near the pool at all. It's a quiet, secluded area to enjoy the cruise (for an extra fee) without dealing with the chair hogs by the pool or kids. If you like to use the pool, the Retreat isn't for you. Stewards there provide service throughout the day - lunch, getting drinks from the bar, snacks, etc. There's an open common area with loungers in the sun, then there are loungers inside each cabana (2 per cabana, since a cabana is for up to 2 people, and the 2 family cabanas on the corners accomodate up to 4 people).

Sue/WDW1972

2 minutes ago, cruisenewby08 said:

Interesting.  According to the cruise I am on, it is designated VS, and is higher than VA or V.  And the higher, more forward location sounds good to me for the Trans-Atlantic as it should give us an amazing sunset view.  I guess we will find out.  Thanks.

I love the spa verandahs - haven't noticed the verandah being smaller (on most ships) and since I always have a Retreat cabana you cannot beat the convenience! I've had no issues with ship movement up there.

Sue/WDW1972

15 hours ago, POA1 said:

If you are paying double already, can't your husband be added for taxes, fees and port expenses only?

 

You may have to top up the deposit, but the fare codes should not change.

I believe I'm paying less than double, as I booked an ocean view. However, the real issue is I have no desire to share my stateroom with hubby for 11 days, so the standby list is a way to get him on the ship for cheap (with our separate staterooms) if it comes through.  He's fine either way - going or not going. He thinks a 7-day cruise is a long one. We're doing a 7-day Alaska together next year and I booked us an aft neptune for that (family trip w/adult son/daughter-in-law) but for me 7-day cruises really aren't worth the effort.  Our stateroom for Alaska is a triple, so hopefully HAL doesn't try to bump us. It's 5/18/25, so before the summer vacation crowd hits the ships!

Sue/WDW1972

10 minutes ago, retird said:

Would it not be cheaper if you had him sleep in your stateroom rather than pay single supplement twice

Not sure.  I booked with the early booking & mariner bonus stuff, so adding someone might mean I lose some of that.  If he cruises it'll be on the standby list - $49/day plus port fees. He likes inside staterooms - I won't ever stay in one. For that price he can have his own room - we'll spend time together, but won't have to share a room.

Sue/WDW1972

21 minutes ago, Roz said:

Do those of you who cruise with someone other than a spouse or significant other like to limit it to 2 in a cabin, or do you try to cram everyone into a triple or quad?  If this policy is strictly enforced, it really limits the cabins a solo can book.  

I cruise with 1 or 2 other friends.  If it's 2 of us we book 2 staterooms.  If it's 3 of us we book 3 staterooms. We're not in our 20's and looking to cruise as cheaply as possible, and the idea of sharing a bedroom/bathroom with a friend is simply not acceptable to any of us. We're grown adults. I'm thinking of adding my husband to the standby list for the next cruise, if that exists then. Would love to have him onboard but don't want him in my stateroom either! Personal space is a wonderful thing, especially on a so-called vacation!

Sue/WDW1972

No pillows.  You could use a rolled up towel, but the backs of the chaise lounges are adjustable so I don't see the need. Cabanas are definitely NOT always shaded - it depends entirely on where the sun is at the time.  If directly overhead, yes you have shade. When it's off to one side or another the sun will shine into those cabanas.  Example, heading south you have the afternoon sun (hot) on the starboard side.  Heading north it's on the port side.  Going to ABC from Florida, you'll have some days going south and others going north, so there's no way to ensure shade every day in any of the cabanas.  Airflow is fine on the sides (from my experience).The same walls that exist on the sides also exist on the cabanas facing aft (none face forward) so the air flow is good in all of them - assuming there is a breeze that day.  Keep in mind if the ship is traveling south at 16 knots and the wind is blowing south at 16 knots you won't have any breeze at all.  If the wind is blowing north at 16 knots while you're going south, you'll have very gusty wind! Unfortunately I've had a couple days over the years where that bad combination rendered the cabanas and Retreat basically unusable - cushions blowing off the loungers, etc.

Sue/WDW1972