baytraller

Hi Corinne,

 

Thank you for taking the time to give us all such an enjoyable daily review

 

We are looking to book our first Azamara cruise and found some great information

 

If you find time could you add some additional details regarding entertainment

 

We enjoy music and dancing (both in our late sixties)

 

What pre or post dinner options are available

 

All the best

 

Peter and Trish

We are looking to book our first Azamara cruise on the Journey

 

I am noise sensitive, the cabins that we are looking at are on deck 4 - midships

 

Category 5 - around 4040 to 4050, any noise or vibrations in that area

 

Any comments would be greatly appreciated

 

Also we enjoy pre-dinner drinks and dancing, what entertainment would be available

 

Any other comments about included wine , food and activities

 

Best Regards,

 

Peter and Trish

We will be following your cruise with great interest

 

We have booked the reverse cruise from Amsterdam to Barcelona in September

 

If your have the time could you please comment on the following while on board or after you have returned

 

Where the Prinsendam docks in relationship to the city centre and cost of shuttle bus or taxi

 

We enjoy pre-dinner drinks and dancing, possible copy of daily schedules

 

Cost of 7 bottle Navigator wine package

 

Your approximate cabin location, and any noise issues

 

Whether at any stage you are required to pay VAT on any purchases

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise and have good weather

 

Best Regards

 

Peter and Trish

Passengers have health issues regarding mold on the Prinsendam

 

'Be aware of the mold problem in some PRINSENDAM cabins. We have been aboard for a month doing the Grand Voyage from Barcelona to Rome. We started having respiratory problems a few days after we boarded. We noticed a faint odor and traced it to the area behind the wooden nightstand adjacent to the bathroom. We pulled the furniture away from the wall and found mold in abundance. The cabin stewards tried without success to clean it over the next two days. We both had increasing breathing problems. Finally, we went to the desk and insisted we be moved to another cabin that same day. Fortunately there were other cabins available.

I have read other posts mentioning mold problems aboard the PRINSENDAM. She is is fantastic ship and I would sail on her again, but next time I will closely inspect the cabin before accepting it. I suggest others do the same, especially if you have asthma or any respiratory issues.'

 

'Stateroom 453 on deck 5, midship mold in cabin on PRINSENDAM . Our neighbor said subsequent to our moving out, the Hotel was aware of the problem before we boarded. They saw blowers being used in the cabin before it was occupied by us.'

 

Also the last review of the Prinsendam noted black mold in the air system

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=251873

 

We have booked a cruise in September on the Prinsendam, our stateroom is near 453

 

Just how wide spread is this problem

 

Emailed HAL about this issue but have received no reply .

HAL will charge what ever passengers are prepared to pay

 

Whether this is 10% or 500% over the actual price

 

The cost of wine or shuttle bus fees is small, when compared to what HAL overcharges Australians on some cruises

 

One post from 'HAL Overcharging Australians'

 

I totally agree with Baytraller's comments about price inequality.

 

We are booked on a 28 day cruise on Prinsendam, starting 10 August.

 

Current price in U.S.A. is US$5112 for the cabin category we have booked.

 

That equates to A$5478 on current exchange rates.

 

HAL Australia's price ... A$6438 ... A$960 per person more than U.S. price!

 

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Just checked Indulgences for 7th September Prinsendam cruise

 

Navigator Wine Package - 7 bottles - $228.85

Above the Main deck there is the Lower Promenade and the Ocean Bar

 

Does this cause any noise problems such as people exercising or from the band

Just noticed that the link to deck plans was through 9 May 2014

 

Would be best to use from 10 May 2014

 

Windsailer - I can't imagine what the obstruction would be - we were in E329 (great cabin by the way) and we had a completely unobstructed view.

 

Windsailer were there any noise issues with E329

As some people have commented, HAL will not change their policy

 

Unless Australian passengers start telling HAL that they are aware of being overcharged

 

Whether they will sail on those cruises is up to each person, we will not

 

We will only book cruises that are not overpriced compared to U.S prices

 

Australians should spread the word to others about overcharging

 

Fellow passengers , friends/family and maybe even post on Facebook

 

When you next talk to HAL or your TA let them know what you think of this policy

 

Pickup the phone now and call or send an email to HAL

 

If you are unsure of how to check if your cruise is being overcharged

 

there are a number of online sites such as Vactionstarter or Crucon

 

If you are asked where you live answer U.S

 

Remember the first price you see will not include port costs, this will be added at the end of the booking process

 

To convert $5000 from U.S dollars to Australian dollars enter the following on the Google search page

 

5000 USA dollars to Australian

Just phoned HAL Australia, they say that gratuities are not included

I have been receiving Cruise Critic price drop emails

 

But for some time felt that these price reductions were not always applied in Australia

 

If you are an Australian you are not allowed to book with a TA in the US

 

You have to book with HAL Australia or with a TA who deals with HAL Australia

 

In February we booked a cruise on the Prinsendam, 28 days starting 21st September 2014.

 

The price in Australian dollars for Category D was $5989 per/person

 

We later cancelled that cruise because the second part visited Ukraine

 

We booked the 28 days starting the 7th September and ending 5th of October cruise on the Prinsendam

 

We monitor the Roll Call for the 21st September as this forms part of our new cruise

 

7 days ago US passengers posted that their cruise fare for Category D had been reduced by $500 per/person

 

The new fare including port costs is $4987 USA dollars per/person

 

The current fare on the HAL Australian web site is still $5989 per/person

 

$4987 US dollars at today's exchange rate is $5344 Australan dollars per/person

 

This is a total of $1290 above what the fare should be in Australian dollars

 

Have sent an email about this issue several days ago to HAL but have not received a reply

 

How many price reductions are not being passed on Australian passengers is unclear

 

Passengers who book in other countries may have the same issue

 

If HAL Australia does not keep prices in line with the US, then we should be allowed to book via a US TA

 

We regard the current policy as disgraceful and are considering cancelling our HAL cruise

Do you have to make a choice between the small or large dinning room for all meals, or are you able to vary from day to day

 

Is this available for both fixed and open dinning

Is it possible to have one or more cartons of wine delivered to the ship

 

On embarkation day or on a port day

POA1,

 

As I have not cruised on HAL as yet, two cruises booked on the Prinsendam

 

What is the current price of the Navigator pack (red) on board

 

The price to purchase on the HAL web site is $228 (which includes 15% tax)

 

If you purchase on the first day on board will you have to pay additional National tax

 

Buy purchasing before the cruise starts are you able to avoid extra tax

Last year we were on Barcelona to Barcelona 20 day cruise (two 10 day cruises B2B)

 

Items for sale in the gift shop had tax, had to wait until we started the second cruise from Athens for the tax to be removed

 

So if we purchase wine packages before boarding in Barcelona will the tax apply

Will check the wine packages out when onboard

 

The 15% service charge is included in the packages

 

What about if you purchase by the glass or bottle

Thanks POA1

 

Certainly lowers the cost of wine if you are able to buy by the bottle

Thank you Retired Mustang photo of wine list great

 

As we have not sailed on HAL (have 2 cruises booked on the Prinsendam)

 

When you purchase a bottle in one of the bars, if you only drink half a bottle what happens

 

Are you able to take the wine to the MDR or a different bar

 

There are various sizes for a glass of wine (how many glasses to the bottle)

 

Also notice the cost for water is there no free water at bars and the MDR

 

15% added for each glass or bottle

Have used Price Drop to check fare prices for May and June 2014

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/price-drop/

 

At the start of this week according to Price Drop, lower fares for May and June were listed

 

But these fare reductions have not appeared on HAL Australia

 

HAL does not allow Australians to book cruises with USA TA

 

Can anyone confirm that price in USA for May and June were reduced

Australian passengers who are on the Black Sea cruise

 

Visa is required for the Ukraine

On the cruise that we have booked, notices that there is 'Bon Voyage wine'

Delivered to your stateroom on embarkation, is this a single bottle

Are you able to reorder if you like the wine during your cruise

We are on the Prinsendam visiting Turkish ports as follows

 

Arrive Istanbul 5.00PM on the 9th of October and depart at 5.00PM on the 11th

 

Then later arrive Cesme 8.00AM on the 19th and depart at 11.00PM

 

Followed by Kusadasi (Ephesus) on the 20th at 7.00AM and depart at 5.00PM

 

So what do you think (no visa required)

We are from Australia and normally book our cruises with a US TA , because they offer good discounts and OBC .

 

Australian TAs by comparison offer very little, usually about $100 only

 

But HAL do not allow Australians to book via the US unless they have a residential address there

 

Our first HAL cruise was therefore booked direct with HAL Australia

 

This is much easier because no difference with day or time

 

Only hope that Australian TAs increase there discounts

Does HAL supply bottled water to take ashore

 

So what drinks that are non alcoholic do you have to pay for

Looks like 453 is the go

 

Are you able to control the temperature in your stateroom