regnig

Even if a stateroom is not shown to be available (highlighted) use the Pick Your Own option, type in the stateroom number and even if it wasn't shown on the initial display if it is available it will allow you to book it. Saves having to call HAL.

Snickers Cake. :hearteyes:

#1 choice!!!! :D:p:D

Now if only someone would give me the recipe for it I'd really be a happy camper!

And further convolute this trip?:evilsmile:

Nay, as I'd promise to behave myself by not drinking and bedding down in one of the lifeboats thereby eliminating the need to even try booking another stateroom. The entertainment this group just might supply would be worth it all!.:D

Seriously though I do hope this all gets worked and that ever one in the group has a WONDERFUL cruise.

"Free" water does not include bottled water. BUT, you can bring onboard all the bottled water you want with no problem. Additionally the water from the tap in your bathroom is clean and pure and most drink it or fill empty water bottles with it there by eliminating the need to buy costly bottles on board.

We had a similar experience with our family of 16 and we were paying for everything. I'll try to make a long story short on what we did. We all checked in as we booked. After we boarded we got some extra cards (room only) at the front desk and those that changed rooms had to use 2 cards - the original one for drinks and leaving the ship and the other to get into their room.

 

They really didn't care who slept where.

 

Hope this helps.

Just follow what these good folks have advised and all will be well.

Your Dad has a big heart,,,, would he like to adopt another child?:D

Totally agree. We were on from March 10 to March 31 and found Andrew Knox to be one of the most uninterested and least inspiring CD's we have ever encountered.

Oh dear :eek: and you had to endure 7 more days than we did. In the past I've always been sad to leave the ship but this time I was more than ready. I do hope you noted your dissatisfaction on the email survey. While I was hesitant to post anything here on CC I'm glad I have if for no other reason than to know there are others out there that felt the same way we did.

While there were some obvious cost saving cut backs that we saw it is hard to consider this one of them. Unless HAL now assigns their CD's dish washing duties :rolleyes: this was just a case of a CD who did not understand or care to understand guest satisfaction and what very little it would have taken to achieve it.

I agree that more attention needs to be paid to that part of the ship. On all our HAL cruises, it has been very crowded (my mother is a lifelong sinner).

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

While we spent very little time at the Lido Pool the situation there seemed to be identical to the Sea View Pool, NOTHING!

Having disembarked the Oosterdam on Friday 31 March I feelcompelled to make a couple of comments. The sailing was a 14 day cruise leaving from Tampaand going as far south as Aruba. Port stops were Key West, San Juan,St. Thomas, Antigua,Saint Lucia, Curacao, Arubaand the Cayman Islands.

Having sailed the Oosterdam last year prior to herrefurbishment we found the changes very tastefully executed. The Lido hasbeen updated although the chairs are still too heavy to easily move on thecarpet. The Stateroom changes are freshand the technology updates are sure to please most. The only negative is that they have removedthe drawers under the love seat and we found we really missed the extra storagethey provided.

With 2 exceptions the food was excellent. We eat all our meals in the Lidoas 2 ½ hour meals is just not our thing. The entrée menus pretty much matched that of the main dining roomincluding crab legs and lobster. Theexceptions were the lack of pineapple and the pork belly. While there were miniscule pieces ofpineapple in the itty bitty bowls of fruit the quality was nothing compared towhat it has been in the past. Guess itjust could have been a bad year for pineapple or perhaps the vendor used in Tampa is different than in Ft. Lauderdale. The pork belly, which can really be quitegood, was awful, all fat and no meat. There must have been a fire sale on it though as it was the “CarvingBoard” meat 3 times.

The entire staff we dealt with was wonderful. At no time were our needs not met and if anywere not happy with their situation of being overworked it was neverevident. Our day started with a smilingserver and a cheerful Good Morning by our room service attendant and continuedin like through out the day.

Now the not so good…..

Being one of the sinners who still smoke we spent themajority of our time onboard out at the Sea View Pool. I would estimate that on a consistent basisthe area was full with approximately 50 people both during the day andevening. With 5 full and 2 half sea dayswe were a captive audience in need of “something”. While we knew there was a Cruise Directoronboard never once did he or his staff provide any activities or decent poolside music. The closest thing to “entertainment”was kettle drum lessons for 30 minutes on 3 days. The same kettle drum player also played 3identical sets pool side during the cruise. It did no good to request a song as he was accompanied by a sideman andhad only one set of songs. The insipidpiped in music was one tape of about an hour in length that was played over andover and over again. While I enjoy AdeleI can go a long time without every hearing her sing “Someone Like You” again. The play list was as close to elevator musicas it can get. The CD needs tounderstand while the age group of HAL cruisers may be older than perhaps RCL orPrincess we are baby boomers and we are not dead. Music from the60s, 70s and 80s would have been gladly welcomed. Had the CD or someone from his staff made acursory walk through the area greeting passengers and inquiring aboutsatisfaction he would have rapidly learned how unhappy the group was. While no one desired silly pool games howcostly would something like music trivia, as HAL has done in the past, havebeen? Additional there were no “SailAway” events as in the past.

Will this “not so good” keep us from sailing HAL again? Of course not but we can only hope that wenever sail with that particular CD ever again.

Lovely, thanks for the refrigerator confirmation and noting your observation on the smoking location.

Thanks too Peter as in that link the language is much more precise than what I quoted from their web site.

I have a friend interested in taking a cruise on the Koningsdam and they have asked 2 questions for which I need answers from someone who has actually sailed on her as my only experience is on the Vista Class ships (YEA, just made 3 Star!!).

1. Do the regular Veranda Staterooms (ie. VD, VC catagories) have refrigerators (ok I already know some call them "coolers") in them? I seem to remember a discussion that the stateroom descriptions on the HAL web cite left a lot to be desired for this ship.

2. No lectures please but the other question is about where one can smoke. Please note, Host Walt has closed the smoking thread so I've got no option but to ask here. HAL's Smoking Policy reads as follows:

The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted.

ººCasino - Designated areas for active slot players, excluding

the ms Oosterdam and ms Eurodam which are nonsmoking

ººOak Room on ms Noordam only, including cigars and pipes.

ººSea View (Retreat) Bar/Pool on designated side of the ship

ººSun Bar on ms Koningsdam and ms Nieuw Statendam only

Does that mean that on the Koningsdam smoking is allowed at both the Sea Bar AND the Sun Bar?

Many thanks in advance for the answers.

The Oosterdam also has the $20 stuff all you can bag. It is available any time you want. Additionally if you desire, for $7.00 a day, you can get Unlimited Laundry service. Either way you will fill out an inventory form for the items you are sending. Everything will go into a blue cloth bag, leave it on your bed and your room steward will see to it that it gets delivered to the laundry. The form will have a space for you to indicate whether you want your laundry "folded" or hung on hangers. Although it isn't "advertised" everything will come back pressed. Those garments that can't be hung are folded neatly, wrapped in tissue and returned in a basket. We've used the unlimited service for the last 4 years and won't sail without it. Best bargain on the seas!

I am confused. When sailing out of Tampa and heading to Key West, the ship needs to head south,which means from the west coast of Florida, the land is on the port side.

 

And if the ship is heading west, once out of the harbor, no land will be visible except the receding coastline behind the ship.

Homosassa Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I read that posting and figured I was just having a very senior moment as I couldn't imagine that ship backing all the way out of the Gulf. ;):eek::D

Oh good grief! Did I actually post that last night? As you can imagine, there was wine involved. I actually do know how to spell and punctuate but I clearly wasn't at my best.

If I ever regain my equilibrium, I’ll finish the review and figure out how to delete this drunken rambling.

Or, truth be told, this is kind of representative so maybe I should just leave it as is.

 

Thank you for the kind words. I hope we made you laugh. Christy made me laugh every day of my life.

Oh my, no please don't delete your post. After reading your sorrowful and emotional news it gave us something to laugh at and we all needed that.

Dianne, along with so many others I'm send condolences to you and the entire family for the loss of your dear sister. We will all lift our wine glasses this evening in her honor. I'm also sure she was sitting right beside you in spirit as you composed this tread and kept egging you on to add even more humor.

Everything we have ever sent out has been returned pressed, even my DH's white undershirts. :o Additionally we have always called Ships Services prior to the cruise at 1-800-541-1576 ordered the unlimited laundry and paid for it with a credit card. SS has also, when we asked, sent us an email with confirmation.

And if memory serves me there has always been notification in some form about the last day laundry can be sent out. I believe it has always been 2 full days prior to the end of the cruise.

Deleted dup posting!

Jacqui so many thanks for the info. Boy but is that ever a dumb place to have moved it to, I guess someone figured that "drinking" was an activity. :rolleyes::eek::D

While on the subject of "room consumption only" I used to be able to pre-order my DH a Bucket of Beer and a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream to be in the room upon embarkation or at least a card that simply required a call to Room Service. For the life of me I can no longer find that option on the HAL site. The Indulgence link does not have those options only wine and Beverage Packages. Has HAL stopped what I want since we sailed last? If not, can someone provide me the link? Many thanks

Have sailed on the Oosterdam twice and she is a wonderful ship. While not on her since her re-hab this past spring all the pictures show she is still elegant and perhaps some areas are even better. We have never encountered a less than "very clean" HAL ship and her beds are to die for, the most comfortable on the seas. I tend to be a bit picky and want good to great food and have never been disappointed with any on a HAL ship. We also love the different options, enough to make it pleasant but not so many to confuse or make "vacation" work with too many decisions.

On you list of things you enjoy the only thing missing on the Oosterdam would be the comedy club. While she doesn't have a dedicated "club" there should be at least one comedian entertainer during your cruise.

We have sailed RCCL once and never again and IMHO there is no comparison.

kenie the clothing you have worn on your Feb trips to Mexico will do fine aboard the Oosterdam. I would suggest that you bring at least 1 cover-up (sweater, shawl, jacket) as sometimes certain areas on the ship can be chilly. Additionally if you happen to get too much sun :eek: having a bit of a burn can sometime make you feel chilly.

Happy Sailing!

thanks..... I'm reading that HAL info page right now..... so we have to turn our luggage over at the pier? What is this option I see of luggage companies on the HAL site? is that a necessity? We are planning a night at a hotel first anyway.... so getting there early usually just means long lines? vs. arriving closer to 1?

The only "luggage" you can carry on by hand when boarding must be able to fit through a scanner that is almost identical to those at the airport. Make certain you pack all meds and valuables in you hand luggage. The luggage you leave with the porters will be delivered to your stateroom. I believe the "luggage companies" you are asking about are for disembarkation. While the lines might be longer earlier they do move rather quickly. Guess you can pick where you might have to wait, your hotel or the port terminal.

do you use a lanyard for id's while on the cruise?

If using one with a clip the pursers desk will be glad to punch a hole in it for you. BUT, since some of HAL's ships have been upgraded and now require the card to be left without a hole you might get a lanyard with a card size plastic sleeve that you can just leave your card in and doesn't require that punched hole. Folks who use lanyards do so while on board the ship as it eliminates the need for pockets, wallets or purses.

On board ships or in hotel rooms the same side as at home. If by chance in hotels there are two beds I always let DH have the one closest to the TV.

Never had the good fortune to have double sinks on a cruise ship, just always thrilled to be onboard! I do believe I made the choice at home as to which sink in our MB I took. I also gave DH the larger of the two walk in closets as I have my stuff spread across closets in two other rooms.

When sailing, since I did the packing I do the unpacking, I pick where his stuff goes and where mine is placed. Although I immediately give him a tour and show him where all his stuff is it is usually midway into the cruise before he can manage to get dressed without having to ask me where something is. :rolleyes: You can guess who re-packs for disembarkation, such fun. And no, I really really can not let him do his own packing.... it would be a disaster! :eek:

just off the oosterdam and they had pre made sandwiches and a place were they made to order. they were next to each other but you had to really look the notice the made to order section

Did you by chance notice if they still had the chicken/tuna/egg salads available for the made to order salads! I'm the odd ball who has them make my "sandwich" without any bread, just lettuce, tomato and pickles. After a couple of days onboard when they see me in line they prep the plate awaiting my selection. BTW, no bread simply means I can spoil myself with chips and desert!:p

I suggest that when you use an envelope put your Stateroom Number on it and sign your name. By doing so it facilitates verifying that you have not canceled your HSC and the receiver gets to keep the additional $$ rather than having it placed into the pool.