Thanksgiving on HAL

[PACD_JG]

Seriously considering two itineraries over Thanksgiving: Koningsdam round-trip from San Diego and Nieuw Statendam round-trip from Fort Lauderdale.  Both itineraries has us as sea-days on Thanksgiving Day.  I only expect two things: a traditional Thanksgiving meal and to be able to see all 3 NFL games.  Is this a certainty?  TIA.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Dinner yes Football ???

[albingirl]

It's a good turkey dinner, no pressed turkey.  Football, I don't know.  There's always football, but who knows how many games.  Watching 3 NFL games on that day is a regular marathon.

[FlaMariner]

We've cruised Thanksgiving a few years back and we are booked on the Nieuw Statendam for this Thanksgiving.  Family cruise.

 

Thanksgiving Dinner will include a turkey entree....And quite a nice feast as Thanksgiving should be. 

 

(We recall the dining room staff quite confused when turkey won out on the menu that night even though filet and lobster were choices)

 

There should be football.  On previous cruises during football season, a game was on the big lido screen on the NS.

 

We think Thanksgiving is a great time to cruise.  And Black Friday at HMC is preferred. 

 

Come join us!

[seagarsmoker]

We have cruised several times on HAL for Thanksgiving and echo the above posts - yes, they have a very nice traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and they showed the 3 football games. Of course, those were all in the Caribbean, not sure how the signal is for Pacific Ocean cruises out of SD.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

We were on the Koningsdam out of San Diego last Thanksgiving.  They had a turkey dinner with all the trimmings and a ham dinner with trimmings in the MDR for dinner.

 

I don't remember about Thanksgiving Day in particular, but they had both college and NFL games on the big screen by the Lido pool.  We were on for b2b2b2b cruises, and the games were on every weekend and on the week nights the NFL played. 

[PACD_JG]

Does anybody remember if the games also show on the cabin TV?

 

Wife prefers the Mexican Riviera itinerary...I'm okay with either but travel logistics will be easier going to Florida.  First world decisions...

[seagarsmoker]

5 minutes ago, PACD_JG said:

Does anybody remember if the games also show on the cabin TV?

 

Wife prefers the Mexican Riviera itinerary...I'm okay with either but travel logistics will be easier going to Florida.  First world decisions...

Yes, they were on the TV in the cabin last November. 

[boze9999]

The ability to watch college and NFL games depends on the network, the country (in port and out of port both vary), the international access and the relationship HAL has with each entity. We've watched many FB games all over, but if your cruise will be ruined by not being able to get a specific game, then I would suggest thinking twice about cruising at that time. Alternatively, with internet, you might be able to get your preferred game(s) or at least stream the play by play summaries. 

Edited July 15, 2022 by boze9999
typo

[rkacruiser]

If there is football--college or NFL--in satellite reception is available, the games will be shown.  In cabin?  I don't know.  May depend on the vessel's electronic set up to do so.  

[Nymich]

9 hours ago, PACD_JG said:

Seriously considering two itineraries over Thanksgiving: Koningsdam round-trip from San Diego and Nieuw Statendam round-trip from Fort Lauderdale.  Both itineraries has us as sea-days on Thanksgiving Day.  I only expect two things: a traditional Thanksgiving meal and to be able to see all 3 NFL games.  Is this a certainty?  TIA.

Book it........we will be onboard Tgiving as well.

[disneyochem]

We’ve booked this cruise and are big football fans!  We’ve always been able to watch NFL games on both Princess and HAL cruises.  The games shown sometimes depends on where you’re cruising from.  On West coast cruises, we’ve seen the Niners, Seahawks, Rams, Chargers.  East coast is always those NY teams.  Some teams are always shown regardless—Green Bay, Cowboys, Patriots.

 

On the Koningsdam, in addition to seeing the games in your room and in the Lido, I suspect they will also be shown in the VIP Casino lounge.  That’s a great place to watch sports—saw some of the NBA playoffs there.

[PACD_JG]

Welp.  We're officially going to be eating bird and rooting for the Bills on the Nieuw Statendam.

[whogo]

 

19 hours ago, boze9999 said:

if your cruise will be ruined by not being able to get a specific game, then I would suggest thinking twice about cruising at that time..

Past performance is not indicative of future results. There is always a chance that Holland America will not pay the fees to show popular sporting events. Does the term 'cutbacks' ring a bell?

[PACD_JG]

19 minutes ago, whogo said:

 

Past performance is not indicative of future results. There is always a chance that Holland America will not pay the fees to show popular sporting events. Does the term 'cutbacks' ring a bell?

That’s why I haven’t cancelled hotel reservations in Detroit yet.  Unfortunately, we wont have confirmation that HAL are playing the 22-23 season before final payment is due.