Noordam 1/3/09 Cruise

[Stanlori]

I am starting this thread for those traveling on this cruise.

I have gathered some tips from the other threads. They may not all be good.

Complementary lemonade at the pool (at a certain time in afternoon?)

Pizza available in the Lido or Pool (all afternoon and evening?)

Iced tea in the afternoon served out on deck

Dutch Pea Soup served on deck in Glacier Bay

Complementary hot chocolate with whipped cream & sprinkles

Chocolates in the Explorer's Lounge after dinner

Cookies and ice cream in the Lido every afternoon

Food at the Lido is just as good as in the dinning room. (with table cloths and candles for dinner?)

Write in Eggs Benedict or Cinnamon rolls on the breakfast room service

card and get it even though its not printed.

Freshly squeeze orange juice

Charge for bottled water but free refills in the Lido

Cut flowers and/or fruit bowl in the room

Magnifying mirror

Regular hairdryer that plugs in in a desk drawer on Vista ships

Real patio furniture on the verandas (not plastic)

Hand-held Showers

Bath and soap, shampoo and conditioner, a body wash or lotion of some kind, shower cap in bathroom (Are these bar soaps or dispensed from the wall?)

Complimentary canvas ‘Tote’ for port calls

Robes in all cabins (larger sizes available on request)

Personalized stationery

On Vista-class ships, all cabins have a fridge/cooler which can be emptied and used with no charge

Wood chaise lounges on the Promenade deck

One can walk completely around the ship on the Lower Promenade deck

Cloth hand towels in the public restrooms

Art tour brochure available and mp3 tour can be downloaded from HAL

Exploration cafe has a good choice of books, as well as the 'take one, leave one corner' for the paperback exchange. And a puzzle corner with jigsaw puzzles up to 4,000 pieces.

On a tour of the kitchen we were told that if we would like any recipes, for anything on board just write it down and give it to your waiter who will direct it to the chef- the recipes will arrive ASAP

There may be a way to get to the bow

Iced tea was always available indoors and out (sometimes served)

There was a wall hair dryer in the bathroom plus a regular hair dryer in a drawer by the desk (only one plug available)

Toiletries include bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and moisturizer, all Elemis spa products, plus there was a shower cap

A small canvas tote prior to the first port, there are robes, and there is stationary with the HAL logo.

There is a self-guided iPod tour of the art that you can borrow from the Explorers Café

Chocolate frozen yogurt in the Lido when you get onboardBagels and lox from Room Service every morning

Asking the room steward to bring an extra large bathrobe to switch out the one in the room

Bringing elegant scented room spray to "create a mood"

Cinnamon ice cream

Order eggs Benedict and cinnamon rolls from room service even though they aren't on the breakfast menu.

Look for those chocolates in the Explorers Lounge

Ask about the dipped strawberries.

Whenever you see a Purell dispenser, use it.

Whenever you see paper towels or wet wipes in the restroom (in addition to cloth) use them on the door handles when you let yourself out of the restroom, there should also be a container just outside the door to collect them.

Forward deck that you gain access to by going through the spa and exercise area. A great uncrowded place for a sail away celebration.

[hammybee]

Thanks for consolidating the HAL tips which are applicable to just about any HAL cruise. Mileage will vary.

 

You may want to consider posting this on the roll call for your cruise, too. Here is a link to it:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=758439

 

Have yourself a fabulous cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Good list -- are you going to update it as you learn more??

 

I know some things that could be improved.

[jtl513]

Personalized stationery

There may be a way to get to the bow

Personalized stationery only in categories SZ and higher.

 

The bow will only be open when docked or doing "slow cruising" as in Glacier Bay or Panama Canal.

[Stanlori]

Yes I will update it.