wdw1972

When you book obstructed view you have to expect maintenance will be going on at some point - perhaps most days. It's not unusual and certainly not anything HAL should be expected to compensate you for. I don't understand the extreme reaction of your kids - as parents you should be able to put them at ease and explain things - especially at age 8 & 12. Sue/WDW1972

Hi Jacqui, Please add us - wdw1973 & DH: May 18, 2025 7-night Nieuw Amsterdam northbound Vancouver to Whittier - 1st aft wrap Neptune Suite, celebrating son & daughter-in-law's 10th anniversary (separate stateroom for them) Sue/WDW1972

In my case I always keep a couple FCDs in my account, but I used the last 2 when the 24/25 Caribbean season opened recently. My next cruise isn't until November 2023. Son & his wife mentioned they're planning a HAL Alaska cruise for their 10th anniversary (they got engaged on Eurodam in the Pinnacle Grill) and we agreed to join them. Our TA yesterday booked both of our staterooms on the 5/13/23 7-night northbound Vancouver to Whittier. They booked obstructed oceanview, added Club Orange and moved to a spa oceanview overlooking the bow, with the big window. I booked DH & I into an aft wrap Neptune on deck 5. A cruise buddy is adding her stateroom - obstructed oceanview on deck 4 midship. With our big verandah that will be the gathering/viewing spot on the scenic days. I'm 4-star and already have most of the perks the neptune provides, but I wanted to try an aft wrap since I don't normally book neptunes. Total deposits for our party was $5 (5 people) - but in our case we fully intend to take this cruise! It's not a placeholder 😉 Sue/WDW1972

I believe shorts are never permitted in the main dining room (or specialty restaurants) at dinner - as it should be. The Lido buffet, Dive In or NY Pizza would be the options for someone refusing to wear slacks who didn't want room service inside their stateroom. Sue/WDW1972

I think it's true about the fresh squeezed OJ - they have regular for free but I think there's an upcharge for the fresh. I can't swear to it however, as I don't drink juice at all. DR lunch menu is the same every day - unless they might do a brunch one day. The Lido lunch is not entirely the same - some items repeat fairly consistently but there are quite a few that change out each day. An example is there's always a slider. In the beginning after the restart it was a pulled pork slider every single day. Then it changed and became a different slider each day, which was a great improvement because some are really terrific! The Asian choices change each day (not to say there isn't anything that might be present every day among the choices), Italian changes up a bit each day, etc. Sue/WDW1972

The cabana stewards know who booked cabanas and for $399 your brother booked a cabana for 2 people. They may be fine if you're up there when his wife is not there, but it would be wrong for you (or you & hubby) to go there when brother & his wife are there. You could always book your own cabana, then you'd be free to enjoy the amenities with them. Sue/WDW1972

I hadn't ever noticed that, but if that's your reality then bottled water makes sense. Now that I think of it, I always have the Retreat booked, where the big bottles of water are provided. I always take the open bottle down to my stateroom and basically that's what I use in my insulated metal water bottle when not in the Retreat, so I guess I haven't drank much of the ship tap water in several years. Sue/WDW1972

Nope - it's just as good as water people pay for a small fortune for in stores. It makes no sense to bring water onboard. Sue/WDW1972

That's correct - none of them do. I don't imagine they'd be showing that on the big screen by the pool - I think they do something bigger like Super Bowl, but not routine sports championships. I don't ever recall hearing of HAL showing MLB world series games on that screen, so it's doubtful they'd do so for college level. Sue/WDW1972

I've read here that during daylight hours (sunny) people can't see in. However, after dark, with your stateroom lights on, they definitely can. I've never actually stayed in one of those and never will. I want to look out my window and see ocean - not a promenade deck, railing, pedestrians, etc. I also keep my curtains open 24/7 unless I'm somewhere that the sun doesn't set 😉 Sue/WDW1972

Yes, I'm familiar with that. The Wajang Theater is completely different from The Screening Room. Wajang is much bigger, sight lines are poor, and a short person like me would never go there to see a movie. The Screening Rooms were too small, but the seating and sight lines were outstanding! Sue/WDW1972

I don't believe any of the ships do at this point. Sue/WDW1972

I think the OP is saying they have the beverage package so may not need a wine package. When ordering wine by the glass in MDR, how long is the wait and how difficult or easy is it to order a 2nd or 3rd glass during the meal? I don't do the MDR so can't be of any help. Sue/WDW1972

Thank you for your review - I enjoyed following along on your trip. I've sailed HAL many times, starting in my 30's and currently 64. My last cruise was on the Nieuw Statendam this past March (in the Caribbean). Thankfully I've never experienced a hot stateroom or uncomfortable bed. In fact, if anything the stateroom is chilly, but I like to keep it that way so I can sleep under the thick cover and when lounging in the stateroom I just put on the robe. Billboard has always been 2 piano players but has never been "dueling pianos" style. From my experience it's been rare to find 2 of them with great voices - usually 1 has been good to great and the other has been poor to barely ok. Love BB Kings, but will miss LCS on my upcoming cruises. I no longer do the MDR (probably been over 10-12 years) but that's just my choice. I prefer specialty, sometimes Lido or something else (like Grand Dutch Cafe). Overall the world is getting ruder by the minute it seems! I've encountered a few cantankerous people on my many HAL cruises, but only once (pre-covid) was there someone who was truly rude - in that case I chose to walk away but did tell her she was ridiculous/rude but not worth my time to attempt a conversation with someone so rude (I sat down at an untouched table in the Lido with my dinner then she & travel companion showed up to announce that was their table and they were just getting their food - with NOTHING disturbed or left on the table to indicate it was taken. Pointing that out left them standing there holding their plates glaring at me but not going away, lol). I hope my next HAL cruise (November 2023) is mostly free of the rude passengers. Sue/WDW1972

Most of my solo dining in HAL specialty restaurants was years ago and I never experienced what the OP experienced. In March of this year my travel buddy was under the weather so I ate at Rudi's solo (on Nieuw Statendam). I was given a great table, had excellent service, and it was no different from other Rudi's meals I've shared with other people. While I'm not saying the OP was wrong or inaccurate, I'm saying don't be scared off by someone else's report. If you're led to a crappy table as a solo, simply say no to that table and ask for your desired location. Once seated, service should be the same whether your 1, 2, 3, 4 or more and you shouldn't expect any less. Sue/WDW1972

There are no more formal nights except on longer Grand Voyages. Now the fanciest is "dressy", which would occur twice per week. Dressy for men means slacks and a shirt with a collar - that's the minimum. There's no need to pack suits or tuxedos unless that's what you want to wear. Sue/WDW1972

Thank you - I like it! Sue/WDW1972

Thank you for your blog - I've enjoyed every post and look forward to your next cruise! Sue/WDW1972

I prefer the ones facing out from the side of the ship vs the ones facing the lido pool roof. Generally though I get the family cabanas, and alternate port & starboard. If cruising from FL to the caribbean, on your way south the afternoon sun will be shining in to the cabanas on starboard side. On the way north it'll shine in to the cabanas on port side. The ones on port side are closer to the restrooms, but that's not a big deal really. Sue

Yes - people enter from both sides, depending where they're coming from. At one time I've seen a massage table (never used) in #22. I've also seen supplies staged in a cabana on the end but typically the smaller ships. Pinnacle class ships have storage areas built into the design, so taking a cabana shouldn't be as necessary. Sue/WDW1972

For average service I would stay with the per person amount. If someone was exceptional then I'd give an extra tip to that person or persons. Sue/WDW1972

Yes, a sarong would work. Hubby has no qualms about pulling his t-shirt on while wet - drives me crazy 😉 I seldom go into the pool but do use the shower to cool off but tend to be dry before heading inside. I've never been to New Zealand (yet) or Asia, so wasn't sure if the bathrobe thing was different over there. Thanks for enlightening me! I'll still limit my robe to inside the stateroom though 😉 Sue/WDW1972

I throw on a swimsuit coverup over my swimsuit and hubby throws on a t-shirt on top of his swim trunks. I have heard of a minority of people using bathrobes to cover swimsuits, but we'd never do that - just isn't appropriate to us. Maybe it's different/more normal in other countries. Sue/WDW1972

Are the vaccines still provided under an Emergency Use Authorization, unlike the flu vaccine that has completed all the eons of testing and been declared ok? If so, I wonder if health insurance in the US will cover the vaccines after 5/11/23. I'm so over the whole covid thing I haven't been keeping up with the latest news, so if anyone knows please share. Sue/WDW1972

My goodness - I can't think of a single reason that would be ok! Bathrobes shouldn't be worn outside of your stateroom. If you change into one in the spa, change back into clothes to return to your stateroom. Wish they could be like an electric fence dog collar - step outside your stateroom and the zaps let you know to turn around & not wander in public wearing a bathrobe! Sue/WDW1972