RonJoan

We are booked on a mid-Oct cruise and recently we were able to download and print our Online Check-in documents which, in addition to the Boarding Passes, contain several other documents. Two of these, the "Air Travel & Arrival Information" and the "Your Itinerary" documents contain Flight Information booked through HA. Then, a few days ago, we happened to be looking at the HAL online "FlightEase" document and noticed there had been a change in one of our flights.

Checking with the airline confirmed there had indeed been a change in flight number, departure time, and even the type of airplane for one flight. None of these changes had been and still have not been picked up by HAL in the two above-mentioned Express documents. My TA says there never will be! She says that once those documents are released by HAL and placed online for downloading they do not change. She says that it is up to the traveller to regularly check both HAL's "FlightEase" document which is changed and/or the airline documents which are always kept up-to-date. If we had not done that on our own we still would not know about the changes. Can anyone confirm that is correct?

RonJoan

We've sailed on Ryndam 5 times and would pick her again!

RonJoan

Hello Everyone on the Roll Call!

Today we booked passage on the Statendam for 11/2/14. We are Ron & Joan from San Juan Capistrano, CA and we live about a mile from the Mission where the swallows come (or used to until they found a better deal under the Freeway bridges closer to the creek). Thank you to those of you who responded to our Statendam questions on the main Board

We've cruised a bit before and already know a few of the Roll Call members (Kakalina & lazey 1). We're looking forward to meeting more of you. Trisha, please add us to the Roll Call. We've cruised (and motorhomed) the west coast of Mexico quite a few times and to the Panama Canal but never have been to So. America. If anyone has arranged or is arranging private shore excursions, we are interested.

Ron and Joan aka RonJoan

We were on here the first week in Oct in a Neptune suite starboard and just aft of the Neptune Lounge. We felt vibrations for all 5 days of our cruise. Would avoid that area to be safe. They said it had something to do with one of the engines that they normally do not use but had to due to the rough seas. DO not know if that was true or not.

Thank you for the tip Dave. If we go we will avoid that area.

RonJoan

Hi Ron and Joan, it is us for certain! We decided to try some new places as French Polynesia is getting a little tiresome. Hope you can join us. Come on over and check out our roll call.

It's been a few years since we've been on the Statendam ( our favorite ship in the fleet ) but the last time we were on her was wonderful. And recent returnees are giving her a thumbs up. Worth it to us.

Hi Trisha!

Nice to hear from you. We are seriously checking the details on the Nov 2 Statendam cruise and will make a final decision within a week. I have fond memories of the Rotterdam cruise to Polynesia with you and Virgil. We did that cruise on two consecutive years in 3/11 and 3/12. I can't remember which one was with your but I kind of think it might have been both.

Ron & Joan "RonJoan"

Hi Ron. Tom Steinman here...Locomotiveman. STATENDAM has nearly been our 2nd home this past 12 months, 3 30-day cruises all told. If you are wondering about the seaworthiness/condition of the vessel I would say 'Shipshape'. New carpets and lounge furniture here and there as I recall. Standard painting/revarnishing continue non-stop. You will feel right at home after being on the ROTTERDAM with us to Polynesia a few yrs ago.

 

At this point in STATENDAM's history I suppose one should expect certain un-expecteds. Yes, we knew a few cabin occupants that needed to be re-quartered account water pipe breaks and such. Personally, Peggy and I have NOT had any cabin issues...and we've not been inconvenienced by workmen who've been re-doing Fiber-optic Cables thru-out vessel. STATENDAM's 'feel' is of a passing Era...No glitz, no Siss-boom-bah that the new ones have. We love the Deck6 walk-around Promenade for lounging/walking etc.

You may not like HAL's new 'Wine brought aboard ship' policy. Forewarned is Forearmed, Ron.

 

I have to mention the CODE RED health issue. Returning this month from Lima,Peru the Capt. informed us many people had the 'Cruiseship Crud', thus NO Hot-tubs, NO library books or games/puzzles, NO Lido self-service of food etc. You make the call if that issue bothers you personally. Peggy, an RN, believes it results from Not-too-tidy passenger hygiene and not the fault of any particular ship. Nuff' said on that.

Have a great time whatever you do folks. Keep cruising. Regards to Joan. From Minnesota, Locomotiveman TOM and PEGGY

HI TOM!

Nice to hear from you. Thanks for all the good info. Are there any areas on the ship that I should avoid when selecting a cabin? Such as clogged toilets, A/C not working, bursting pipes, etc. In the past it seems the reports I read indicated the problem areas were localized to certain parts of the ship. I didn't pay enough attention at the time to remember them now.

WOW!!! Three 30-day cruises! I'm jealous.

Ron

You bet, Trisha is Kakalina and Virgil is her husband. We have cruised togather, I believe it was on the Rotterdam to Hawaii and the So.Pacific in 2011. There is a roll call established. (FYI Gary's brain in also 78 and my brain is 72:eek:.)

Jane & Gary,

We took the Hawaii & So. Pacific cruise on Ryndam two years in a row - in 3/11 and again in 3/12. It is coming back to me now and I am sure we met on the 3/11 cruise. If we go on this Statendam cruise it will be nice to see you both again. We expect to make a final decision in a few days.

Ron & Joan in San Juan Capistrano, CA

Thank you both for you informative and prompt reply. We have sailed Ryndam several times and the Statendam should be almost identical.

I'm still open for any further comments on recent Statendam experiences.

RonJoan

Hi Ron and Joan, come on along and let's find out togather.;) Trisha and Virgil are also on board for this adventure.:eek::)

Jane & Gary!

I get the feeling we have cruised with you before but I cannot nail it down in my 78 y.o brain! Also, could the "Trisha & Virgil you mention be Kakalina? I'm thinking it could have been the Ryndam to Hawaii & So. Pacific in 3/12?

Tomorrow I will check the Roll Calls to see if there is one established for the Statendam 11/14 cruise.

Ron & Joan

We are contemplating a 31-day RT cruise from San Diego to South America in Nov '14. But, we have been away from these CC Boards for several months and don't know what the current reports are on the Statendam. We have a recollection that there were a lot of problem reports on A/C systems, ventilation and other things on that ship when we were last active on these Boards.

Can somebody fill us in on what the reports on that ship look like now, before we book and perhaps make a mistake we might regret? Thank you.

RonJoan

Small world, huh? Everyone in Western PA knows Latrobe since it's Arnold Palmer's home town. Latrobe is roughly 20-25 miles east of Pittsburgh, and we're about 50 miles west, so not too far. I've been to Latrobe. Nice small town. You're probably a lot better off in CA this winter, though. Lots of snow here.

 

At least now, as I look out my window at the white stuff on the ground, I have a nice river cruise to anticipate. Just paid off everything the other day, so we're ready to go.

Thanks for the reply. On one of my rare visits to Latrobe a few years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Arnold Palmer at the Latrobe Country Club. A very pleasant fellow!

RonJoan

We're not on your cruise, Ron & Joan, but I just booked the westbound trip on the Empress sailing on June 8. We're first-timers, too, as far as the river cruises go, so would appreciate your comments about the experience and any tips you can offer when you return. Sailing the big steamboats has always appealed to me, and we're finally going to see what it's like.

 

Pat

Pat,

I'm sure we will all enjoy the Empress. I noticed on one of your later posts that you live near Pittsburg. Is it near Latrobe? I was born in Latrobe some 78 years ago but my parents brought me to California at the age of 12.

RonJoan

Thank you so much for the comments and suggestions.

RonJoan

We did AQ in the summer some jackets were seen but most wore a nice shirt & dress pants some did wear jeans to dinner

 

It is very casual IMO

Thank you for the tips! This trip will be a new experience for us. We're traveling to meet the ship by AMTRAK and will try to jam all the clothes into two standard airplane carry-on bags to eliminate checked bags and simplify things.

RonJoan

LHT 28,

Thank you for the advice. We are wondering about dinner dress-up? We know that tuxedos or suits are not required and that they "suggest" sportcoats for men. But in actual paractice once aboard ship, How informal do the guests actually dress for dinner? Does anyone wear jeans, for example?

RonJoan

We are Ron & Joan from So. California. While we have cruised extensively on Holland-America this, will be our first river cruise. We have booked the eastbound trip of American Empress from Portland to Clarkston sailing on May 18. Are there any others on this Forum also sailing on that trip?

We welcome any suggestions for Newbies on these river cruises.

Ron & Joan

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Cruises less than 7 days duration do not have any formal nights

RonJoan

Just the picture of that "Floating Hotel" monstrosity of a Cruise Ship turns me off! I could never be happy cruising on one of those Monsters!

RonJoan

My favorite is the French Onion Soup on the every-day menu in the MDR. I order it every night!

RonJoan

As the author of the Rotterdam Cruise Review that caused some people to make some unsupported assumptions about what was requested and what was granted, I want to set the record straight. At no time did I request “priority” treatment over those that had booked ship tours nor was it ever offered. In fact, it was always understood that Priority Tendering for 4-Star Mariners and for those holding positions on Ship Tours would be honored as it always is. But the Guest Relations Manager looked at our timing & needs and worked us in during lulls between those other priorities in a very effective way to meet our needs while honoring the others. And if those who now have their knickers all twisted in a knot will go back and read what I wrote they will see that I said that.

I completely understand what Kakalina has written about Ship’s staff being willing to help with things like this. I have reason to believe it is done frequently and that it certainly was done on earlier sailings of this exact cruise. They do not all necessarily cast icy cold cynical competitive eyes on the efforts of the CC people to set up independent tours as is being attributed to them by certain posters on this thread. I have found them to be open and helpful and supportive of what we CC members set out to do if they are approached in a respectful way. I have sailed with Kakalina and I know that is how she does it!

RonJoan