Banditswife

4 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

Pretty standard across most cruise lines. If you hear an announcement in your staterooms, it will be an important one to listen and comply with.

 

This.  They have the capability to broadcast into the staterooms, but only do so for important messages they don't want you to miss, like muster drill or an emergency situation. The reminder to do your muster drill thing was broadcast into the cabins IIRC.

we will be on a cruise for New Year's eve, so curious for an answer to your question.  I doubt we would pay the $82 pp, but that is just us.

We will be on Zaandam for Christmas Eve.  If they have that menu, we are not going to pay $83 for the privilege.  The MDR menu will most likely be special too, so we will have dinner there.  We will be in Southern Caribbean

The difference in quality might have something to do with Covid & cutbacks.  Pre covid, even on a Carnival ship "tea time" was something special, post covid -not so special.

23 hours ago, RuthC said:

I find they are just as likely to be replaced when I hang my used towels as when I leave them on the floor. 

Last time I cruised I let my stewards know that I wanted the same number of chocolates at the end of the cruise, no matter if they left two per night, or 16 on each of the 4 Dressy nights. So long as I took a full complement home with me. They just left two per night, every night. 
I asked for ice twice a day, which I also got. 

I find if I let them know, clearly, exactly what I want, and ask for it nicely, the stewards are happy to do whatever will please. 

This reminded me of a cruise we had on N Amsterdam right after the restart.  It was a 21 day & we had to be covid tested periodically.  Every time we went to be tested, a crew member stood there with the box of chocolates, giving everyone who tested a chocolate.  My husband would always say "I need 2" & was given 2.

You might also ask at the casino cage, we've had them punch our cards there.

My problem with the kids on the NS last year was they took over both pools.  And during the big screen movie made lots of noise on the deck above, making it difficult to watch the movie.

Afternoon tea will be posted in the Navigator app & in the daily program.  I believe they only do this on sea days at 2:30 or 3 PM.  I have not seen a "Royal Dutch Tea" or "Indonesian Tea," but I have never looked for those-so maybe I just missed them, would like to try.

I can relate to having good intentions on a cruise & failing.  But on a cruise we get more exercise by walking a bunch more than usual.  And we try to take the stairs when it's just a couple of decks either way, so my weight usually stays the same, even with the over indulgence.

2 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

 

I would bet it will be less kids than last years Nieuw Statendam Thanksgiving cruise.....Remember that?.....That was the "high level mark" for us and kids on a HAL ship......Good to see the multi-generations onboard HAL but Her Majesty and I thought we had just boarded a Carnival ship in the summer....brought back memories...some good, some not so good....

 

Enjoy the Christmas cruise in the Caribbean.  

We were on NS for the week before or after Thanksgiving last year, can't remember which. But I think we missed the actual holiday week.  There were a bunch of kids that is for sure, which also surprised me.  They took over the center pool & the aft pool.  And yes, it did remind me of a Carnival cruise, only worse because at least Carnival has water slides & other things to keep the kids occupied.

Tell me more about the New Year's Eve party.  Do I need to pack a more dressy attire?  I usually pack a black mid calf length cocktail dress for "dressy" nights, but I do have a long beaded dress I could pack for myself.  But DH doesn't own a suit or tux, just a jacket & tie w/ slacks- will this be dressy enough for him?  Looking forward to the special events.

Thanks for these replies. 

Barbados- there wasn't much for shore x with HAL or private tours.  So we plan to just DIY, see if anything is available from the port area.  But we have visited Barbados previously.

Jamaica- we've been here before several times & will probably stay on the ship or just check out the port area again. Have done different tours here before, so no biggie to miss this one.

We are most looking forward to being on board a ship over the holidays, so we aren't worried about the ports.  Our kids & most of our grandkids are grown & do their own thing for the holidays.  

I don't mind kids onboard, but was hoping with the longer itinerary, there would be less kids.

I think that even if a basic salad doesn't appear on the menu, they can still get you one.  I'm w/ Mary😀, I will skip the main dish & add other things.  But I have never gone hungry on a cruise-lol.

We will be doing a 16 day "holiday" cruise on the Zaandam-12/19 thru 1/4.  What special activities will there be onboard?  Someone on our roll call said ugly Christmas sweater contest & New year's eve ball.  I know the ship will be decorated.  And since we will be in the Caribbean, I think I'll try for an ugly Christmas tshirt.  Anything else I should plan on packing?

I am a picky eater, but always find something that I enjoy in MDR.  If no main dish sounds good, I order 2 apps.  

we are going on our 1st holiday cruise this year, can't wait to see all the decor.  I am wondering what all we can expect in terms of decor & entertainment.  We have sailed in Dec, just not over the actual holiday.  Thanks for this thread, heightened my excitement.

On 9/8/2023 at 11:49 AM, OlsSalt said:

My HallMark singing Penguins - Rocking Around the Christmas Tree - are getting ready to receive their Silver Medallion, after being cabin decorations for a few HAL Christmas cruises.

 

Whatever makes it feel like your own personal Christmas tradition and does not interfere with cabin safety or cabin steward operations will be fine. 

My husband & I worked for the company that sells these things.  I have that exact one.  I might consider packing it for our 1st Christmas cruise, thanks for the idea.

1 minute ago, RuthC said:

I always empty and wash my vase, leave it draining on a towel on the bathroom vanity, and ask the cabin steward to remove it at his convenience. 

I have never had a decorated vase, and do hope those are used again. Frankly, I can't think of any reason not to reuse any of the vases again, so long as they are cleaned. I hope HAL does so. 

Thanks Ruth C, yes that is what I am hoping- that the vase would be washed & reused.  

On 9/14/2023 at 7:23 AM, CruiserBruce said:

For those that need negatives...fog horn sounded all night. Rained much of afternoon yesterday.  Warm and very humid at times. We left BOS about 30 minutes late.

 

Odd occurrence...late yesterday afternoon,  two suitcases suddenly appeared in our cabin. They were clearly marked with our cabin number, but not our bags. Someone told the dockworkers they were in our cabin? Interesting...handled quickly by our cabin stewards. 

 

 

Here is a good reason to book inside cabins, the fog horns would most likely be less annoying.  

The odd suitcases in your cabin is a bit funny, wonder if the true owners were mad they didn't get their luggage in a timely manor.

Just now, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

If the vase is one of the pretty HAL vases,  I'd give it away to someone on your roll call. Otherwise the cabin steward will just remove with no issues.

Thanks, I didn't specify a vase when I ordered.  It was 1 of the big glass type vases...so I doubt anyone would have wanted that.  I am wondering if they reuse the vases if we leave it behind.  In my case, when flowers began dying (14 day cruise) I tossed them & reduced the arrangement to a smaller coffee cup.  I asked the cabin steward to discard the vase.  But I was wondering what the "right" thing to do would be.

Question concerning vase:  Since we fly in for our cruises, I did not want to take the vase home, plus I have many nice vases already.  Can we just leave it for our cabin steward to deal with.  What is the correct way to handle the unwanted vase when flowers are dying, no longer pretty?

For me, the best part of my ordering flowers was our cabin steward's smile when he delivered them.  

I agree w/ Haljo1935.  I ordered at guest services.  They had a book with photos. They had selections for different number of stems.  Warning:  I ordered what I thought would be a small mixed bouquet, but what was delivered was huge.  Very pretty, but took up quite a bit of space in our little cabin.

This is interesting.  We have the Amazon cruise booked for 2025.  Helps to know that laundry may not be available during these days while on the river.  And if for some reason the shops/casino are also closed, helps to plan ahead for things to do.  Hopefully the ship will have activities /lectures/craft classes available.  Thank you for the info.

I always get Bad request 400 or something like that.  Does HAL realize we are usually going on their website to spend money. A bunch of missed revenue.  Seems like the revenue would make up for what they spend to update/fix their system.