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"Live from Nieuw Statendam December 8 - 22, 2019"

Crew News

By Crew News,
in Holland America Line

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Crew News "Live from...." Rare

Crew News

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Posted

This thread will cover my two-week B2B aboard the Nieuw Statendam (NS) and provide answers to the recurring questions asked by CC members:  ships officers, ship condition, check-in procedures, Customs/Immigration, electrical outlets, cooking demos, beverage packages, smoking in the Casino, EXC, what's for dinner, new High Score, B2B in-transit procedures, extra charges for entrees, Specialty Restaurant menu changes, what's new, internet speed and multiple-device connections, gala attire, Club Orange, etc.  I will include my experiences and observations that may be useful to subsequent cruisers on the NS.  As is my norm, I will be scanning every menu and brochure that I encounter.

 

Feel free to post questions and I will do my best to find answers. 

 

For Judy, who will be in the same stateroom in a later cruise, I will be emailing lots of photos.

 

My boarding tomorrow will be a test of the assigned-by-deck boarding process.

 

More tomorrow.

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Crew News "Live from...." Rare

Crew News

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49 minutes ago, Ace5614 said:

Will be on this ship on January 5th and looking forward to your review.

What is assigned-by-deck boarding process? Haven't received anything from Holland regarding this.

 

A week before  boarding, members of my roll call were notified that general boarding would not start until 1:30 PM by deck number with a different deck boarding each 30 minutes and the last deck :boarding at 3:30 PM.  If you are arriving from a HAL-sponsored hotel, everyone on the bus will board the ship at the same time.

 

I am supposed to board at 1:00 PM but will be at the terminal door at 11:00 AM to report on the enforcement of this new policy.

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taxmantoo

taxmantoo

Posted
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1 minute ago, Crew News said:

 

I am supposed to board at 1:00 PM but will be at the terminal door at 11:00 AM to report on the enforcement of this new policy.

As did everyone for the weeks of Nov 17 and Nov 24, you will find there is NO enforcement whatsoever of that policy.  People were already lining up by the hundreds at 11:00 am.

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

Posted
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Thanks so much for taking time from your cruise to advise us, Crew News.  I, for one, really appreciate it, as my son and I will be checking in Dec. 22 for our B2B.  We cruised this ship Christmas week last year and loved it so much, we wanted to repeat the experience.  It will be fantastic to get a preview of the treat in store for us from your perspective.  Again, thanks a bunch for posting.  Looking forward to reading about your experiences.  We are mainly interested in the World Stage shows because the main criticism right now seems to be that the technology isn't being fully utilized (or used at all) for most of the entertainment.  Of course, we're interested in the food quality/presentation and the entertainment in the lounges, i.e. quality of music/bands.

 

Yes, we've received that same notice about embarkation, the identical notice I've received for the last several years.  I've ignored them.  As 4*, I would be terribly disappointed not to be aboard by noon, providing there isn't a problem which delays general boarding, such as a deep cleaning for Noro.  Heaven forbid!  Not trying to jinx you.  I don't know about you, but I'm eager to get to the MDR for lunch, and we passengers sure can't do that if we don't check in until 1.  We walk onto the ship and head for the MDR.  Let the good times begin.  😍    

 

Will be watching your sail-away on the cams.  Have a wonderful voyage. 

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Ace5614

Ace5614

Posted
Posted
38 minutes ago, Crew News said:

 

A week before  boarding, members of my roll call were notified that general boarding would not start until 1:30 PM by deck number with a different deck boarding each 30 minutes and the last deck :boarding at 3:30 PM.  If you are arriving from a HAL-sponsored hotel, everyone on the bus will board the ship at the same time.

 

I am supposed to board at 1:00 PM but will be at the terminal door at 11:00 AM to report on the enforcement of this new policy.

Very interested to see what happens. We usually sail Carnival and I always receive an email prior to boarding to state not to show up at scheduled time that there will be a delay in boarding. Never happens!!!

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Crew News

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Posted (edited)
30 minutes ago, sevenseasnomad said:

Thanks so much for taking time from your cruise to advise us, Crew News.  I, for one, really appreciate it, as my son and I will be checking in Dec. 22 for our B2B.  We cruised this ship Christmas week last year and loved it so much, we wanted to repeat the experience.  It will be fantastic to get a preview of the treat in store for us from your perspective.  Again, thanks a bunch for posting.  Looking forward to reading about your experiences.  We are mainly interested in the World Stage shows because the main criticism right now seems to be that the technology isn't being fully utilized (or used at all) for most of the entertainment.  Of course, we're interested in the food quality/presentation and the entertainment in the lounges, i.e. quality of music/bands.

 

Yes, we've received that same notice about embarkation, the identical notice I've received for the last several years.  I've ignored them.  As 4*, I would be terribly disappointed not to be aboard by noon, providing there isn't a problem which delays general boarding, such as a deep cleaning for Noro.  Heaven forbid!  Not trying to jinx you.  I don't know about you, but I'm eager to get to the MDR for lunch, and we passengers sure can't do that if we don't check in until 1.  We walk onto the ship and head for the MDR.  Let the good times begin.  😍    

 

Will be watching your sail-away on the cams.  Have a wonderful voyage. 

 

I am not a stage show lover but will attend a few to get the flavor OR canvas members of my two roll calls.

 

If I am paying for lunch, I would be very disappointed if I did not have a chance to eat it.  Of course on a Pinnacle-class ship, there are more lunch options than other HAL ships.

 

Unfortunately, I forgot my New Mexico state flag to wave from my Deck 5 aft stateroom for the webcams.

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

Posted
Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, Crew News said:

 

If I am paying for lunch, I would be very disappointed if I did not have a chance to eat it.  Of course on a Pinnacle-class ship, there are more lunch options than other HAL ships..

True, but we enjoy the ambiance/service/unhurried atmosphere of the MDR.  A perfect beginning to a fabulous cruise.  Plus eating in the MDR after embarkation is a tradition for us, one that we've honored on every dam ship except for that first cruise.  (We didn't know lunch was served in the MDR on our first HAL cruise, so we went to the Lido because that's where the crew directed us.  Shortly after that first HAL cruise, I discovered CC and learned from all of you wonderful experts.)

 

Can't wait to read your information and view your photos.

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Gigi1977

Gigi1977

Posted
Posted

We have been on board for this past week and will continue the journey to the Western Caribbean next week.  The ship was very crowded this week and we were told tonight at near capacity.  Next week there are far fewer passengers, so we are looking forward to less crowded venues!  No seats, standing room only many nights. No chairs at the pool. . .   The ships is beautiful and they finally started putting out Christmas decorations.  A couple of trees in BB King and MDR on Thursday and then tonight, noticed many decorations going up including gingerbread houses we had seen on a behind the scenes tour yesterday.  ( I wonder if they waited because of the large crowd?) 

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leerathje

leerathje

Posted
Posted
59 minutes ago, Gigi1977 said:

We have been on board for this past week and will continue the journey to the Western Caribbean next week.  The ship was very crowded this week and we were told tonight at near capacity.  Next week there are far fewer passengers, so we are looking forward to less crowded venues!  No seats, standing room only many nights. No chairs at the pool. . .   The ships is beautiful and they finally started putting out Christmas decorations.  A couple of trees in BB King and MDR on Thursday and then tonight, noticed many decorations going up including gingerbread houses we had seen on a behind the scenes tour yesterday.  ( I wonder if they waited because of the large crowd?) 

 

I believe it is because the Dutch believe Sinter Klaas arrives on December 5 (or 6?).

 

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JEH

JEH

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, Crew News said:

This thread will cover my two-week B2B aboard the Nieuw Statendam (NS) and provide answers to the recurring questions asked by CC members:  ships officers, ship condition, check-in procedures, Customs/Immigration, electrical outlets, cooking demos, beverage packages, smoking in the Casino, EXC, what's for dinner, new High Score, B2B in-transit procedures, extra charges for entrees, Specialty Restaurant menu changes, what's new, internet speed and multiple-device connections, gala attire, Club Orange, etc.  I will include my experiences and observations that may be useful to subsequent cruisers on the NS.  As is my norm, I will be scanning every menu and brochure that I encounter.

 

Feel free to post questions and I will do my best to find answers. 

 

For Judy, who will be in the same stateroom in a later cruise, I will be emailing lots of photos.

 

My boarding tomorrow will be a test of the assigned-by-deck boarding process.

 

More tomorrow.

Looking  forward to your reviews .  Taking an April Trans Atlantic  on this ship Thanks

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SarahCBL

SarahCBL

Posted
Posted

We are doing a 14 day B2B on the Zuiderdam in January.  This will be our first ever B2B.  If you have a chance, could you ask at the spa what the 2 week couples thermal pass costs?  Online you can only buy a 7 day pass for this cruise.  We were wondering if they will even sell us a 2 week pass or will we have to buy two 7 day passes?  Thank you!  

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