VMax1700

Arriving in to PE

We will be looking for you Father, and waving back. Hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Is this September 16th 2024? or September 16 thro' 24th 2023? Or a typo (Sept 16 thro' 23?). Just that we (and many others are waiting for Europe 2024 to be released by HAL.

Not too clever, as many imponderables can lead to ports being missed or changed not least that the cruise contract permits it.

Perhaps you could explain the science and financial calculations behind this theory?

Yes Tony, that is the minimum for all. Some sectors (contract cleaning, security, childcare) have higher minimums.

que sera, sera! 🙄

The subtilty of this suggestion may be lost when translated into non American English. I believe that you are saying that the hand which receives tips is the hand which never stops asking for more. Correct?

Too late to edit! Sorry, this should have read " .......unless we get exceptional service......."

If you are paying the Daily Hotel charge/Staff gratuities then there is no requirement (moral or otherwise) to pay anything additional on board. Drinks will have 18% gratuity added to the bill, unless you have a drinks package, which will include the grat. Speciality Restaurants (Pinnacle grill etc) now have 18% gratuity added to the bill, so again absolutely no necessity to tip extra. If you have a comped meal in a speciality restaurant, then again there is no need to tip extra. Regarding excursions, we take the view that if we get exceptional service or the tour greatly exceeds our expectations, then we will not tip. If it is a ships excursion, then it is the ships responsibility to tip any guides as they booked them and employed them, not us. If it is a private tour then we do ask when booking that they give us the total price including any expected gratuities as we will not be tipping on the day. Don't over think it. Even Americans get confused about tipping amounts. Unfortunately for many it seems that the answer to confusion is to over tip. (p.s. do not believe the 'when in Rome...'edict as most American do not follow that ideal in Europe where they continue to over tip and drive up expectations unnecessarily). Rant over,

Are you tendering in Dun Laoghaire? Remember to leave plenty of time to return to the ship as you will probably be leaving Dublin city centre around the evening rush hour, when the Dart trains are really full.

24/7 in Lido. Also after dinner in MDR.

Volendam arrived early! NSD is currently 4 nm out from PE

Sorry, but I cannot confirm that as I would not have been in Billboard at the time. However the food heating trolley/chaffing equipment was still present in the lounge area which would lead me to surmise that they may still have food available, otherwise they would have removed the trolley (surely?).

However, I have had the opposite result. "Sorry Sir, that is not possible".

Not Rich, but I understand that HIA does not come into the equation at all. It is simply $60 per day per person by cc or cash. If there is a huge amount of OBC then it will be a few days before they request the 'top up'.

Without any doubt the one with overnights in Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Plastic disposable bottles are not permitted, but there is no problem with the refillable type of water bottle. For any other questions or information come over to the HAL board here..... https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/103-holland-america-line/

Wifi calling and WhatsApp call are disabled from all but the Premium internet plan, so if you want to use your phone as a phone then you will need the Premium plan. It is cheaper to buy pre cruise by about 20% and it is then only very slightly more expensive than the Surf plan to purchase onboard.

If they were to have a gig on HMC during the day then that area may be out of bounds to you. Don't know how they would handle it unless they used the pirate ship for the gig. Usually it is shared bbq dining as there is only one facility.

They are due to arrive at 8am. Fri. 2/3: Half Moon Cay, Bahamas | 8a-3:30p | Casual NightKeep it casual as we enjoy our last night together!

Well, the lattes are skinny! 😂 That's about all! 😉

Be aware that some of the flights offered will be code share flights and although you purchase a ticket for Airline A, you will fly on the aircraft of Airline B and maybe also Airline C.

Thank you! I can never remember the correct name. We just ask each other "Will we have one of those very small, low fat, low sugar, low cholesterol, health food buns with our skinny lattes?" 😉😁