VMax1700

I am a couple of days early but here his the latest update, which I have called the February update 😉 This update is long overdue and I did try several times to work on it, but various circumstances meant that there was no opportunity until this weekend. As usual, if you have any information on Charters, Groups or Dry Docks then post to this thread and I will update the information in the next file. So, here it is...... New information since last update is shown in RED. PLANNED DRY DOCKS Eurodam 18 February 2023 – 04 March 2023 Koningsdam 25 March 2023 – 13 April 2023 Nieuw Amsterdam 19 March 2023 – 09 April 2023 Nieuw Statendam 05 November 2023 – 26 November 2023 Oosterdam 08 October 2023 – 20 October 2023 LAST COMPLETED DRY DOCK Eurodam 15 March 2021 – 24 March 2021 Brest, FR. (08 April 2018 - 17 April 2018) Koningsdam 02 December 2018 - 09 December 2018 Nieuw Amsterdam 07 December 2017 - 19 December 2017 Nieuw Statendam Noordam 08 February 2022 – 02 March 2022 (29 September 2019 – 13 October 2019) Oosterdam 22 March 2021 – 08 April 2021 Brest, FR. (21 March 2018 - 02 April 2018) Rotterdam VII Volendam 08 February 2022 – 11 March 2022 Cadiz, ES. (18 – 31 October 2019) Westerdam 19 January 2023 – 03 February 2023 (04 – 15 January 2020) Zaandam 08 February 2022 – 01 April 2022 (21 - 30 September 2020) Zuiderdam 01 – 15 December 2022 (01 – 09 December 2019) CHARTERS (i.e. full ship charters) Eurodam: 04 April 2023 – 09 April 2023 : Caribbean : Love & Harmony Cruise. Koningsdam: 28 October 2023 – 04 November 2023 : Mexican Riviera : Legendary R & B Cruise Nieuw Amsterdam: 29 January 2023 – 05 February 2023 : Caribbean : Soul Train Cruise 19 February 2023 – 26 February 2023 : E. Caribbean : Olivia Cruise 26 February 2023 – 05 March 2023 : E Caribbean : Olivia Cruise 05 March 2023 – 12 March 2023 : Caribbean : JoCo Cruise 02 April 2023 – 09 April 2023 : Caribbean : $150k Ultimate Slots (?) 28 October 2023 – 04 November 2023 : S. Caribbean : Malt Shop Cruise 04 November 2023 – 11 November 2023 : Gulf Coast : The Big Easy Cruise 11 November 2023 – 18 November 2023 : W. Caribbean : Gaither Homecoming Cruise 13 January 2024 – 20 January 2024 : Caribbean : Sandy Beaches Cruise 20 January 2024 – 27 January 2024 : W. Caribbean : Country Music Cruise 27 January 2024 – 03 February 2024 : Caribbean : Soul Train Cruise 17 February 2024 – 24 February 2024 : Caribbean : Possible Charter? TBC 09 March 2024 – 16 March 2024 : Caribbean : JoCo Cruise Nieuw Statendam: 28 January 2023 – 04 February 2023 : E. Caribbean : Legendary R & B Cruise 14 January 2024 – 21 January 2024 : E. Caribbean : Possible Charter? TBC 28 January 2024 – 04 February 2024 : W. Caribbean : Legendary R & B Cruise Noordam: Oosterdam: 01 May 2023 – 08 May 2023 : Iberian Peninsula : Dave Koz Group Charter #1 08 May 2023 – 15 May 2023 : Iberian Peninsula : Dave Koz Group Charter #2 15 May 2023 – 22 May 2023 : Iberian Peninsula : Dave Koz Group Charter #3 30 April 2024 – 07 May 2024 : Egypt & Holy Land : Dave Koz Group Charter 07 May 2024 – 14 May 2024 : Egypt & Holy Land : Dave Koz Group Charter 14 May 2024 – 21 May 2024 : ???? : Possible Charter? : TBC Rotterdam VII : Volendam: Westerdam: 28 May 2023 – 04 June 2023 : Alaska : All Star Irish Cruise Zuiderdam: Zaandam : 24 February 2024 – 16 March 2021 : : Possible Charter ? TBC 13 October 2024 – 20 October 2024 : Mexican Riviera : Olivia Cruise Charter GROUPS ONBOARD Eurodam: 05 February 2023 - 15 February 2023 : Panama Sunfarer : Quilting Group 01 July 2023 – 08 July 2023 : Alaska : Insight for Living Ministries Group 08 July 2023 – 15 July 2023 : Alaska : World Help Global Impact Group 15 July 2023 – 22 July 2023 : Alaska : Turning Point Ministries Group 02 September 2023 – 09 September 2023 : Alaska : Continuing Education Group 09 September 2023 – 16 September 2023 : Alaska : Quilt Group 23 September 2023 – 30 September 2023 : Alaska : Quilt Group Koningsdam: 08 July 2023 – 15 July 2023 : Alaska : Continuing Education Group 15 July 2023 – 22 July 2023 : Alaska : Continuing Education Group Nieuw Amsterdam: 02 April 2023 – 09 April 2023 : W. Caribbean : $150k Ultimate Slots Tournament 07 May 2023 – 21 May 2023 : Great Alaskan Explorer : Knitting Group 13 August 2023 – 20 August 2023 : Alaska : Continuing Education Group Nieuw Statendam: 04 February 2023 – 11 February 2023 : Caribbean : Zach Williams Group 06 May 2023 – 14 May 2023 : European Splendour : Continuing Education Group 02 July 2023 – 09 July 2023 : Baltics : Continuing Education Group 12 July 2023 – 26 July 2023 : Midnight Sun : Knitting Group 09 August 2023 – 23 August 2023 : British Isles : Knitting Group 07 January 2024 – 14 January 2024 : E. Caribbean : Zach Williams Group 21 January 2024 – 28 January 2024 : W. Caribbean : Mercy Me at Sea Group Noordam: 11 February 2023 – 25 February 2023 : Australia & N. Zealand : Road Scholar Group 11 March 2023 – 25 March 2023 : Australia & New Zealand : Road Scholar Group 14 May 2023 – 21 May 2023 : Alaska : Continuing Education Group 12 November 2023 – 26 November 2023 : Australia & New Zealand : Road Scholar Group 13 January 2024 – 27 January 2024 : Australia & New Zealand : Road Scholar Group 09 March 2024 – 23 March 2024 : Australia & New Zealand : Road Scholar Group Oosterdam: 02 February 2023 – 24 February 2023 : South America & Antarctica : Knitting Group 11 June 2023 – 23 June 2023 : Holy Land & Ancient Kingdoms : Continuing Education Group 07 July 2023 – 14 July 2023 : Adriatic Dreams: Mark Steyn Group Rotterdam VII: 25 January 2023 – 04 February 2023 : S. Caribbean : $25k Slots Tournament 29 July 2023 – 12 August 2023 : Northern Isles : Quilt Group Westerdam: 14 February 2023 – 27 February 2023 : Indonesian Discovery : Quilt Group 10 April 2023 – 24 April 2023 : Japan & Russia : Knitting Group 24 April 2023 – 07 May 2023 : North Pacific Crossing : Knitting Group 04 June 2023 – 11 June 2023 : Alaska : Continuing Education Group 18 June 2023 – 25 June 2023 : Alaska : Quilting Group 16 July 2023 – 23 July 2023 : Alaska : Behold Israel Inspiration Cruise 30 July 2023 – 06 August 2023 : Alaska : Kosherica Kosher cruise. 13 August 2023 – 20 August 2023 : Alaska : The Nation Group Volendam: Zaandam: 30 March 2024 – 13 April 2024 : Solar Eclipse & Mexican Riviera : Sky & Telescope Group. Zuiderdam: 11 June 2023 – 02 July 2023 : Spitzbergen : Knitting Group 02 September 2023 – 09 September 2023 : Canada & New England : Road Scholar Group 16 September 2023 – 23 September 2023 : Canada & New England : Road Scholar Group 03 January 2024 – 11 May 2024 : 2024 GWC : Road Scholar Group If anyone has any further information, please post it here and I will include it in the next update. Thanks! E & O.E. 29 January 2023

Where are you sailing from? If it is Port Everglades then I would just show up around 11.30 and join the melee outside and in the terminal.

Zaandam has been newly equipped with new TV's and they are also LG brand (images of new TV posted on a thread).

My link shows that it is BBK that 'throw a few together' and not HAL as stated in your post #193. How do you think bands/groups are formed? Not all went to the same school/college. Many bands were formed or reformed after auditions. e.g. Rolling Stones auditioned Rory Gallagher to replace Mick Taylor.

Not entirely true as the BBK musicians are selected by BBK Corporate (first hand information from numerous BBK musicians). Here is a link to the site where artists can apply for auditions. https://bbkings.com/at-sea/auditions/

Samsung on Koningsdam and most other ships, but Rotterdam has LG

It is listed on the updated 'Ships at a glance' pdf - updated 27th December 2022. https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/cruise-ships.html The website description for Noordam also does not show the newly titled 'Rolling Stone Lounge' (different to Rolling Stone Rock Room on Pinnacle class ships). I will give HAL the benefit of the doubt (for the moment) and suggest that the web designers have not yet produced an icon for the RS Lounge.

Are you saying that your significant other is not worth £1,000 per night?? 😉

Yes you can book now. Have you set up a Holland America account? https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/log-in/sso-log-in.html?login=myacc You will be able to make Speciality Restaurant bookings with your 'Meal Credits' and excursion bookings with your Excursion Credits. For a TA in April you may find quite a few of the excursions fully booked already as there are limited port calls.

Is the Wokingham in UK? Did you apply to Holland America UK for your shareholder's OBC? They usually send an email confirming the addition of the OBC and an updated Booking Confirmation. If you booked through a travel agent, then I would ask them to confirm in writing that the OBC has been added and ask for an updated Booking Confirmation.

There are slight differences to the layout of the deck 4 staterooms in the Forward area (4037~4047). Rotterdam has a dedicated and stocked library, forward of Rolling Stone Rock Room whereas NSD has a sometimes used space, previously occupied by Microsoft Studio.

I have read that all the auxiliary ports are disabled. Also you would need to have a full remote control with you as the supplied remcons are very basic.

We love 2 hour dinners and detest singers and dancers, so HAL works for us. Long may it continue this way.

If you log into your account on the HAL website and go to 'My Bookings' then select 'Manage My Cruise' You will see 'Promotional Credits' on the 'Itinerary' page. This is where you will see Dining and Excursion credits. Next, if you select 'Travel Planning' and 'PrePay Crew Appreciation', it will mention if you have prepaid tips. I have not yet found anywhere that mentions if Internet is purchased or if you have OBC. The only place to find the OBC is on page 1 of the Booking Confirmation, at the last line of 'Guest Information'.......where is shows Onboard Credit (USD). If that is blank then you do not have OBC.

Bump!

THREAD CLOSED!!

Why post to a thread that is has been closed by the author? To find your Roll Call go to the Board Index Page https://boards.cruisecritic.com/ then scroll to Roll Calls > Holland America Roll Calls > Rotterdam VII > and the roll call you want is half way down the first page.

You may find taxis at the port, but very unusual to find availability of tours at the port. All the good ones will be pre booked! A taxi driver may take you on tour, but his command of the english language may be significantly less than you anticipate. Also tour guides in most European countries are licenced and are a different profession to drivers.

Not worth expending the mental energy to think about it. Frozen, warm water lobster - no reason to get excited.

Not wishing to be pedantic about it, as any increase in connectivity would be welcome, however, if you read the actual Carnival Corp press release (here), it does not specifically state which brands will be getting the Starlink update. It mentions "plans to expand Starlink to several of the company's other world-class cruise brands, which include Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard." So it will be rolled out to several of the other brands and then mentions all the other brands, but does not confirm which brand will receive the update.

For those wanting to try this exhilarating walk, a new train service from Malaga to El Choro/Caminito del Rey station is due to commence in March 2023. Should be ideal for a Malaga port day! https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/guadalhorce-valley/malaga-caminito-del-rey-train-20230116111047-nt.html https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/guadalhorce-valley/caminito-del-rey-reopens-20221216092058-nt.html https://www.caminitodelrey.info/en

Most music does not occur during the early week, but towards and at the weekend. It would also be difficult to find somewhere during the afternoon/early evening. Perhaps you could get a group together from your Roll Call and have a private seisún with these guys....... https://visitbelfast.com/partners/belfast-traditional-music-trail-2/

There are no Uber cars available in Ireland. If you use the App it will just call a normal licenced taxi cab.

Deck 11 at Crows Nest/Explorations Central. Use the FWD elevators for ease of access.

O Jacqui, I am so sorry to read of your further trials, but so happy that you are now home. (I am a little behind in reading as I have been out of circulation for the past week due to a severe kidney infection). We wish you a strong and quick recovery to health. And a good lawyer 😉