rodndonna

Just off the Volendam on a Can/NE cruise staying in an inside cabin - nothing to worry about! 

Great ship - easy to get around - and Inside cabins are actually quite large.

Edit: Should add that our ship was full booked - and never felt that way at any point. 

11 hours ago, OVgirl said:

The HIA pkg initially shows price as $55US per day, but on check out it converts to CAD$.

Good point. "Generally" we (Canadians) have been doing better with anything you can pre-pay in Canadian with HAL with regards to exchange rate (HIA and Grats come to mind..)

If it doesn't indicate and shows just shows a price with  "$",  it is USD$.

When something is priced in Canadian - it will note it as CDN$.

10 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Maybe we were lucky, but we experienced none of that kind of behavior while on the obsesrvation deck of the NCL Prima while sailing into the fjords at Geiranger.

I think that may be in part to the fact that NCL cruisers are typically a younger and more mobile demographic. We're on the younger side of HAL (late 50's) and on the scenic cruises we've done with them (Alaska. Panama Canal and Norway) we were just constantly walking about the ship's viewing areas continually (no moss on us !). I think NCL crowd might be more like that as well - especially with the 8th deck on those Prima class ships.

There are a couple of reviews on Tripadvisor ..

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g12841003-d27119478-Reviews-Cabo_Rojo_Port-Cabo_Rojo_Pedernales_Prov

The Can/NE itineraries  are now appearing on an external booking site (which shall remain nameless for CC rules) so HAL should have them up now within days (never sure why external sites have them up before HAL).

Just off the Volendam yesterday with an inside in the "least preferred" location (1st floor near medical centre).Our room was certainly looking pretty dated with a dreadful shower curtain, but the furnishings themselves and even the carpet were surprisingly in decent shape. I somewhat attributed that to the fact that those rooms would always the last to be assigned and only if the ship is full (which it was). You definitely need a white noise app running on a tablet to sleep in those rooms 1st floor aft rooms though, no shortage of noise sources especially below (not sure what they were doing down there)

We were pleasantly surprised at the state of "most" the rest of the ship's furnishings, loungers, carpets and such as many newer or in good shape. 

25 minutes ago, DebDuh said:

This appears to say Canadians can

 

https://help.aarp.org/s/article/international-residents

We can "join" and get the OBC (which we have done).

Purchasing gift cards in AARP requires you be US based.

6 hours ago, galipemi said:

I’m curious, if you buy the AARP gift cards they will presumably be in USD.  If the booking is in CAD, would that pose a problem?

You can use USD gift cards for on-board expenses, but not the cruise itself if booking in CAD.

Purchasing the AARP discounted gift cards is not something we have had any success with as Canadians. 

Thanks everyone - a beach towel it is for this trip (although I am still going to order a travel yoga mat wen I get home).

Pretty sure it will be the only use for a "beach" towel on this cruise (Can/NE). I wasn't even sure we would have them but watched a Cabin video earlier today (same cruise last month) and they actually have "beach" towels in the cabins 😀

1 hour ago, sanger727 said:

 

I seriously doubt that someone who is taking advantage would rent a car at the last minute for hundreds of dollars.  When they submit their receipts, it will show that everything was booked after the ship left as opposed to ahead of time. 

 

Trip insurance may cover some of it.  We had an issue a few years ago where our flight was cancelled at the last minute.  We were able to book a flight with another airline at a very high cost.  Booking the new flight as opposed to waiting for the airline to re-schedule us was our choice.  But our trip insurance paid for some of the flight. 

The situation you describe - where your flight was cancelled - was totally out of your control.

Not getting back to ship because of messing up the time is not out of our control. 

45 minutes ago, Middleager said:

This is what you wrote.  It can be read as you think NCL may be liable for more.

But now you explain you are not saying NCL can be liable for more, good.

 

But still doesn't mean some trip/travel insurance should cover your travel to get to the next port for your own fault in not knowing the correct time.  This time is one rental car, next time could be expensive flights and other expenses for many people.  Imagine if it's a transatlantic cruise where the next port is many thousand kilometers and several sea days away, and there're expenses for flights and hotels and meals, etc.

I'm "doubting" insurance will cover - as it could then be easily taken advantage of anytime one wants to overnight in a port and pick up at the next port and having the tab (hotel, travel and extra meals) picked up. 

If the rental car broke down or they were in an accident that caused missing the ship - then more likely (just guessing)

7 minutes ago, TiogaCruiser said:

I don’t have a direct answer for you. But I have a travel mat from Amazon ( which I see isn’t available now.) I’m sure there are others still available. I more recently got a travel towel that I use for the same purpose (along with use as a beach towel). Not sure if something like them might be useful for you. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Yoga-Microfiber-Mat-Towel/dp/B014N5HKVO?pd_rd_w=6f9EI&content-id=amzn1.sym.8316a2b5-cd70-46ae-8cd3-b6d53778915d&pf_rd_p=8316a2b5-cd70-46ae-8cd3-b6d53778915d&pf_rd_r=3CESXZEB63EQ8PBR7GK8&pd_rd_wg=k8gFk&pd_rd_r=8eba577c-48ba-405f-ac1e-c18f63a7f58e&pd_rd_i=B014N5HKVO&psc=1&ref_=pd_basp_m_rpt_ba_s_1_sc

Sadly I only had the epiphany of wanting a yoga mat for the cruise after my routine this morning. I did find something similar available on Amazon (which is now in our "cart") but we leave mid day tomorrow .... so wouldn't be able to get it in time, but order on return and have it for our next holiday.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0869R723H/ref=sw_img_1?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1

Worst case - I will have an excuse to forgo doing planks for a week .. 😉

We're coming up on a short (7 day) cruise and at sadly that age where I seem to need to maintain a minimum level of stretch and floor routine (even on holiday!&*%)

I would rather not go the gym for the few things I do that require being on the floor for, so would like to have a yoga mat in my room without having to bring one myself.

Has anyone ever rented (or borrowed) one from the gym? I believe the "spa" rooms have one, be we are inside GTY and ended up at the back on deck 1.

If not, maybe there is a small business case for renting mats ... I can't be the only one???

8 minutes ago, HappyInVan said:

 

 

Meanwhile,  some people  think that the V is perfect  as it is. Fortunately,  I have alternatives. 🙄

Not sure what that means?

Do you have "alternatives" that are somehow not available to the rest of us? 

10 hours ago, Baybari said:

We just got off the Volendam Saturday and it definitely needs a lot of work.

Our cabin on the first floor (Dolphin Deck) smelled like a thousand people had lived there and it was bad. ( I’m sure that it has been literally a thousand) At least with a balcony, you can get some fresh air through the room. 
The room thermostat didn’t work and even though we complained, no response. 

The walls were greasy and I don’t know why but so was the underside of any metal in the room. (Lamps, etc)

The pillows all need to be sacrificed to the pillow gods…oh wait …they wouldn’t want them either.

The staff just seemed tired and worn out.  They were all nice but seemed exhausted.

The food and the staff in the Pinnacle were amazing. It was reminiscent of how cruising used to be. High in quality with a bit of sparkle.  Not so the food in the Lido… meat was consistently tough. Omelettes were the best, though.

 

We do like the smaller ships but really missed the BBKing venue. 
 

So all in all, I hope this dry dock makes a old girl seem a bit more fresh…maybe more than just a swipe and a lick.
 

Yikes - we're boarding Saturday and staying in an inside on Dolphin deck. (i'm afraid to ask your room number )

Will be prepared for the worst but make the most of it!

13 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

Dual piano are coming back....

"Dual" as in two playing together like the last iteration on HAL ...

or "Duel" as in two piano's "duelling" ...which many confusedly thought the other format was supposed to be doing but wasn't

Are you comparing an NCL price with Free at Sea (FAS) ?

I find after I total everything out - NCL fares are comparable (and sometimes better) than HAL (with HIA) or Princess (with the Plius package). If you are looking for bare bones cruise price with no perks ... hard to get that on NCL unless you are looking last minute (I think they offer the Sailaway rates with no FAS). 

9 minutes ago, Oakman58 said:

I was amazed at how many cruise Vlogers were invited to Venice on NCL's dime to see the Viva being built.  That included airfare, hotel, food, and entertainment.  I guess I will never hear a discouraging word from those Vlogers about NCL.

I'm not a marketing expert, but I suspect the cost to bring in you-tubers (and other social media people) is peanuts compared to the exposure they get for it. 

13 hours ago, chefchick said:

I agree that indulge food hall is one of the best concepts onboard any NCL ship. Wish they all had them.

Best innovation on dining we have seen on any "XXX" ship - NCL, Celebrity, HAL, Princess...

On our south Caribbean cruise on the Viva - it was also great outdoor dining option for evening.

On 9/17/2024 at 8:02 PM, BermudaBound2014 said:

Not an expert but comparing the Volendam dry dock to celebrity Constellation dry dock, 8M is a very minor investment.

 

The Constellation scheduled to get a 50 million dollar renovation.

 

“ Celebrity Constellation cruise ship is scheduled for a $50 million renovation that is set to begin in November 2024. The ship's original renovation plans were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and were then postponed again from mid-2021 to Spring 2024.”

 

Keep in mind, the Celebrity  Constellation just got all new carpeting and soft furnishing in 2021 but the

entire renovation was postponed due to covid so the 50 Million dollar investment is in addition to that pretty recent update (I sailed her in 23 and the public areas looked very new and fresh).
 

For comparison the Connie was built in 2002 and Volendam in 1999. The Connie is slightly bigger at 91k GY (compared to 61k GT) but I’d consider her pretty small by todays standards 

 

My plane is about to land so I can’t dig deeper right now, but this is what I found in a quick search.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's good news for us ... we're booked on the Constellation Jan 2025. 😀

We're on deck 1 - Sept 28-Oct 4....

I guess we won't have to feel too bad if we spill a drink on the carpet anyway 😗

8 hours ago, Shmoo here said:

I believe the HIA package that includes the gratuities is the the Early Booking HIA package.  This is only offered in the first 90 days following the release of the itinerary.  

You're confusing Mariner Early Booking Bonus (OBC) for booking within 90 days of launch with just general Early Booking which has no dates attached. For instance a cruise I am looking at for next summer still has the "pumped" HIA as "Early booking" (which includes grats). The cruise was launched about a year ago, but is still a year away.

Not sure what constitutes recent - but we used BOGO flights for our Jan 2024 and everything went smoothly.

We had direct flights (we were flying "day off - egad!" and there were only 2 options that could get us there so we had a good idea what we would get. We were seated together. That said we generally don't pay for seat selection. I really can't remember the last time that we were not sitting together in a flight. It has happened years ago, but it is not an issue for us. I can't remember if we had the option to purchase seat selection that trip. It may depend on the airline.

6 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

LOL. As a former Maritimer who moved to Ottawa to retire, weather was certainly not on the plus side of the balance sheet. Of course, Southern Ontario is another thing altogether, but our kids and grandkids are here in Ottawa.

 

We met in working in Ottawa, returned to Maritimes (Fredericton) and on retiring and deciding where to live it was a hard "no" to return to Ottawa because of the harsh cold.Although a place like Fredericton or elsewhere in the maritimes has a shorter summer, it does not have the extremes you have in Ottawa.