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

Yes - all staterooms on Oosterdam (and the other Vistas) do. Sue/WDW1972

This is solely my opinion, so if others disagree that's 100% fine. Those wide leg capris - HIDEOUS! They look horrible on the model with the perfect young body. They're not going to look any better on us 😉 Capris date you - and scream "old lady". I'm 64 and gave them up many years ago, and thankfully never wore the wide leg version. Shorts/skort or ankle-length slacks (preferably not wide leg "old lady" pants) would be my choices. Sue/WDW1972

Slacks and a shirt with a collar (could be a button-down shirt, could be a golf/polo shirt) is all you need, including for "dressy" nights. Sue/WDW1972

I was able to book our freebie dining (Pinnacle and Tamarind) but still no shore excursions at 203 days out. Sue/WDW1972

I book a Retreat cabana every cruise - have done so for years (prior to covid). Fortunately I've never experienced unruly/loud people up there and certainly no families with a bunch of kids. Kids would be bored to death up there (as it should be). On embarkation day the stewards will immediately approach you to find out who you are - they'll have your name on their list & will show you to your cabana. We usually do sailaway from up there - much more peaceful than by the aft pool! The non-Pinnacle ships have a staircase with a gate at the bottom. On the gate is a sign saying Retreat guests only (or some such thing). Anybody can simply open the gate & climb on up, but I haven't noticed that happening much. By the 2nd/3rd day anyone who doesn't belong up there stands out like a sore thumb - "who is that stranger?". Access to pool(s) is limited - you'd have to leave the Retreat area entirely and either go downstairs to the Lido pool or downstairs and out to the aft for the Seaview pool. Nieuw Statendam & Rotterdam have a small hot tub in the Retreat. The other ships have no water up there, other than a shower - which I use as needed to cool off when laying on a sunny chaise lounge. Breakfast would come from Lido. I'm an early riser and generally have been up a couple hours before the Lido opens so I eat there. One time I did hold off and ordered eggs benedict & a mimosa in the Retreat and it was perfect - the food wasn't cold. Lunch is generally Lido, Dive In or NY Pizza - they'll give you all 3 menus. Typically around 11-11:30 they'll bring around menus and pencils to everyone - you select what you want, can specify approx what time you'd like to eat, or simply say "no thanks today". I've never seen the tea food available - nor anything else coming from Main Dining room (or Grand Dutch Cafe). I've almost always had frozen grapes included in the afternoon treat - if you're ever onboard with me your hubby is welcome to mine! Your stewards will pay attention to your habits, likes, etc & will go out of their way to provide great service. Tell them your hubby likes the frozen grapes - you may end up with many of them! We always leave our stuff unattended in our cabana and haven't ever had a problem. This includes camera, kindle, phones, tablet, etc. It's an environment where everyone is "known" and it would be really odd for one Retreat guest to enter another guest's cabana. There's also no body (strangers) passing by like near the godawful lido cabanas. Sue/WDW1972

Thank you for sharing - very well done. Sue/WDW1972

I think there's a staircase in that area that takes you down to the thermal suite level. However, you can't use it unless you've bought a pass - use of the thermal suite doesn't come with the VQ or any other spa stateroom. Sue/WDW1972

F would be a downgrade, not an upgrade. Going to D or C would be an upgrade. That said, I've had F oceanviews in the past and never heard a sound from the World Stage. In fact, I have 1010 booked on an upcoming Eurodam cruise. Sue/WDW1972

Wonderful photos and review - thank you! Rotterdam is a beautiful ship 🙂 Sue/WDW1972

Your photos are beautiful - definitely making me put this cruise on my bucket list! Sue/WDW1972

I'm also still working, plus I insist on having a Retreat cabana - lately one of the two family cabanas onboard. In order to get that I can't wait for fares to drop - I need to book early. Even when I retire I'll still have the cabana issue, unless I'm doing Alaska or somewhere that cabanas are either not practical or not popular. Sue/WDW1972

Zuiderdam got a library near the beginning of the current World Voyage. I believe it's on deck 2, similar to the library on Rotterdam. Posters on the World Voyage (Zuiderdam) who are currently posting include Inside Cabin (Pete & Judy), WCB (Bill & Mary Ann), tennisbeforewine (Diane & John), and Rich. There are others, but not all of them post regularly here. Sue/WDW1972

Thanks! Hope you're feeling better these days. I'm sorry you had to cancel your May Norway cruise. The roll call and your work there has been such a great resource for when I'm able to book a similar sailing! Sue/WDW1972

I also booked the Zuiderdam 11/23/24 11-day Eastern Caribbean Wayfarer this weekend, along with the 2/19/25 Eurodam 2/19/25 10-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer! Sue/WDW1972

Actually Atlantic hurricane season is May 31 through November 30th. The peak tends to be Sept/Oct, although August has had it's share of hurricanes. Look at Ian last year - my home is still not right, and I was one of the lucky ones. Sue/WDW1972

That's the norm for HAL - given how hot/humid Florida is that time of year, why anyone would want to cruise to the Caribbean is beyond me. HAL takes off for more pleasant cruising environments, leaving the crappy weather cruises to other lines. Granted, families with kids are stuck cruising when school's out - but that has no appeal to me (son is 36 years old - past the days of being tied to a school calendar)! Sue/WDW1972

Perfect timing - the email arrived while we were out at dinner tonight. I've forwarded it to my TA along with info on the cruises I want her to book. Sue/WDW1972

Thank you Miss G! Sue/WDW1972

I'm just off Nieuw Statendam 3/18 and was waiting for the 2024/25 Caribbean season to be announced to book future cruises. That happened earlier than I expected - this week! Typically sometime after the cruise HAL sends and email with a small obc incentive to book another cruise (or several). I don't have any of those old emails saved, so I'm reaching out here. Does HAL still do this? Would someone share one they've received recently?? I'm pretty sure the code is generic, and not tied to a mariner number so it "should" work. We're ready to book a couple cruises for 24/25. Thanks in advance! Sue/WDW1972

I recall them as a side also, but wasn't sure. Sides aren't supposed to cost any extra, but maybe to get them out with appetizers the steward had to enter it as an appetizer? In any case, I hope they took that charge off - that's just ridiculous! Sue/WDW1972

Any additional appetizer brings a cost of $7 plus 18% service charge. Are mushrooms listed on the appetizer menu? Sue/WDW1972

I still love Tamarind, but haven't gotten a dessert there in years. There's nothing on the dessert menu anyone in my party would want to eat! In the old days the giant fortune cookie was fun, and they had a tamarind chocolate mousse in a chocolate cup. Now it's all weird (to me) stuff! Sue/WDW1972

Last Saturday did the disembark where we carry our own bags. Joined the queue at 7am, were in the terminal by 7:17 and had driven out of the garage by 7:29. That was an amazing experience, since usually the ship isn't cleared to let people off until 7:30! Sue/WDW1972

I was on NS 3/11 - 3/18 and BB Kings performed their 45-minute shows several times each night (except the 1 night they're off) with both male & female singers. I have no idea if it's the same people on this week, but the male was slender and not too tall, with dreds in his hair - nice voice, quiet kind of guy. The female was plus-sized, long braids, beautiful strong voice, moved/danced around very well for a woman her size, lots of smiling. I don't recall their names, as I only remember them introducing themselves one night. There wasn't a lot of interaction between them - I think 1 song they sang together one night, otherwise it was just her or just him singing a series of songs until they switched up. The trumpet player (white guy) and sax player were outstanding musicians and seemed to be really enjoying performing each show. Sue/WDW1972