oakridger

I'm here following along @sayvan! I was on Nieuw Amsterdam from September 25 to October 25, 2022, and so far, had a very similar experience to what you had. I never had to wait more than about 10 minutes at Dive Inn burgers though. Probably because I went in the later afternoon rather that right at lunch times. I found their chicken sandwich to be one of my new favorites there. I asked for two chicken pieces on it though because the pieces were a little too small for me and they normally serve one. My requests were cheerfully fulfilled! The crew on NA were really nice and I actually heard them joking around and singing amongst themselves in the lido and behind the Ocean Bar area! So nice to see a happy crew who enjoyed working together! Happy Crew=Happy Passengers! The ship management must be doing something right on there! ~Nancy

Which cruise? It may be destination/port specific. None of the embarkations I have been on after October 1st have used it and there was no separate line or checking at the pier. I just got off Rotterdam in Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday. No Verifly there any of the 5 times I've been there in the last two months. I personally wouldn't bother as it seems to not be in use CURRENTLY. I last used it leaving Vancouver Canada on September 25, 2022 boarding the Nieuw Amsterdam going to Alaska. A week after that Canada stopped their Covid testing requirements therefore Verifly would not be needed by HAL I believe. OOps, was posting at the same time as @DaveOKC!! He and I agree on our answers anyway!! 😁 Have a good cruise! ~Nancy

@seaverit was very considerate of you to ask. 🙂 Thanks, and have a wonderful cruise! ~Nancy

It will be interesting to see what the Norovirus case load looks like over the next few months/year. Data! ~Nancy

I got off the Rotterdam this morning in FLL and the weather was awful...rain and wind. I waited under the canopy outside for my Lyft over to MIA airport area and he got stuck in a lot of traffic coming to the pier. After leaving Port Everglades, the traffic over to south of MIA wasn't bad though. Still, lots of rain all day. I was thinking to myself that the weather coming in today was so much worse than the sunny day we arrived 10 days ago after the hurricane! Everyone have a nice cruise or journey home. I fly to SFO tomorrow ~Nancy

I’ve had a good time here on Rotterdam for the last thee weeks. I only ate in the MDR once but mostly for an unrelated to service personal reason. The dressy menus weren’t really inspiring or had enough variety to me though, but the quality of food seemed good. I thought the lido food variety and quality was the best lido food I’ve had on HAL on any of the ships I’ve been on. Canaletto food ad service was very good. Hot, well plated and cooked as described. Have a great trip on Rotterdam!! ~Nancy

Try going to Crew News website at Roger Jett Photography. He has all the lists and prices you are asking about. Great site! Sorry but I can’t give you the link at the moment. Google him. Good luck! ~Nancy

Oh my! That sounds bad. I was on NA in September and October and MDR service was fine. I do eat a little later, about 8pm if that makes a difference. I agree that Lido and bar service was always good. ~Nancy

Hi guys! Glad to see you covering the cruises since I was there too! I loved the Pacific Club (?) room up on top of the hotel. Best views and good service. I stayed there last in 2018 but tried the Fairmont Waterside across the street in September. It was very nice and great service but the views from the room and club room couldn’t compare with the Pan Pacific views!! PP is cheaper too. I’ll go there next time. ~ Nancy

I’m on Rotterdam now and the club orange dining room looks nice.

Sweet deal Dave!! It’s a matter of doing the math. When I got my HIA cruises this fall it worked out to me paying extra about $50/day. That included crew appreciation, beverage package, WiFi, one specialty restaurant per week(approximately -3on a 24 day cruise) and $300 excursion credit! The beverage package alone is ~$50 per day! If you don’t want any of that then it’s not a good deal but I want the beverage package, crew appreciations and WiFi for sure. Dinners were good. Didn’t end up doing any excursions but that was for a non related reason. ~Nancy

Details are on the HAL website too.

I suggest searching here on the HAL forum. There are many recent threads discussing it.

If you book on board you should get some OBC added. You can transfer it to your travel agent if you wish after booking within HALs timeframe. I forgot how long that is. They can tell you. Have fun! ~Nancy

Tim, I'm happy to be reading your posts about New Zealand because I am definitely planning on going back! You have already given me some good ideas on places to visit there. Unfortunately, on my cruise there in 2019 I wasn't feeling well for most of the ports then a bad storm kept us out of the Fiordland Park and Dusky Sound. I decided that I need to return! ~Nancy

That's a nice sunrise picture Roy! ~Nancy

There are types of sushi that use cooked fish. Two I like are California roll (crab, avocado and cucumber) and shrimp tempura roll. I think there are others too but I don't remember.

Yep they changed it mid-stream this year. I'm having trouble getting into the website at the moment, but the Elite package still says unlimited (which it didn't a couple of month ago) You can upgrade once on board with a bartender/supervisor but BEFORE you use your Signature package. Several posts on CC talk about this. Have a look in search if you can. ~Nancvy

I’ll have to switch over to my laptop to do that. Will get back in a while.

Yes, it’s changed. 15 drinks total. Not unlimited non alcoholic drinks. It’s on HAL site.

I’m in Rotterdam and before that Nieuw Amsterdam. I often order two diet cokes or two beers. No problem. ~Nancy

Tamarind's filet is the best steak I've had on a HAL ship! ~Nancy

Thanks again for your help @hallasm! I plan on trying to do this when I book a coastal voyage.....maybe 2024. Going to Norway for a cruise and land trip in 2020 was one of my cancelled trips. I was so sad, but I plan to try again! Last time I was in Norway was 2005 and Hurtigruten has changed a lot since then. ~Nancy

Rotterdam has shown several NFL games on the lido pool screen. Some were also on the stateroom tvs. I’m onboard now. ~Nancy

@*Miss G*I realized that as soon as I pushed send but couldn't correct it fast enough!! Thanks! ~Nancy