A new HAL Blog! (Yes, I'm a HAL employee!)

[DutchByAssociation]

Good news! You can dine in casual dress in the Lido, and have most of the same food items found on the menu in the main dining room. You are also free to order room service. Again, during dining room hours, you may order from that menu.

 

Wow Ruth, looks like you beat me to the punch on this one :D

[DutchByAssociation]

We booked a 20 day cruise in November on the Noordam. I subsequently discovered that it's actually two ten day cruises combined. Would we have been better off if we had booked the ten day cruises separately as back to back?

 

Pricing is usually in your favor if you book the Collector's Voyage

[GeriatricNurse]

DBA

I intend to bring my own tray with me to the Lido whenever I cruise with HAL. It will help me greatly when I am handed a hot food plate from behind the counter as well as being able to place everything that I will want to eat & drink on the tray at one time, rather than having to make numerous trips back & forth to the Lido buffet line! Also, it will make it much easier to move along the "tubed" buffet line!

Will HAL have any problem with me using a tray in the Lido?

[DutchByAssociation]

DBA

 

I intend to bring my own tray with me to the Lido whenever I cruise with HAL. It will help me greatly when I am handed a hot food plate from behind the counter as well as being able to place everything that I will want to eat & drink on the tray at one time, rather than having to make numerous trips back & forth to the Lido buffet line! Also, it will make it much easier to move along the "tubed" buffet line!

Will HAL have any problem with me using a tray in the Lido?

 

I couldn't say for certain if they'll have an issue or not, but I can tell you from having lunch onboard yesterday, and from a couple other very recent ship visits, that bringing your own tray is not a necessity.

 

No plates that I was handed were hot although the food was when it was appropriate... On S and R class where it is more of one big line they have segmented it to make it obvious that not everyone needs to go all the way back "to the beginning" and there were separate lines for each section. And staff on the Amsterdam both times I've been on recently, and the Westerdam a couple weeks ago had plenty of staff that were helping with plates whether it was for someone with limited mobility, in a wheelchair, trying to also carry their children's plates etc.

[Kween Karen]

Ahhhhh......my Amsterdam..........so glad to hear you talk about her. I enjoyed your photo tour. 33 days til I am boarding in Seattle! I will wave at you when I go by!

[Toad]

Dutch:

 

I am hoping to get a job teaching at MS Nieuw Jakarta. I think it would be a wonderful experience. How do I go about it? Have taught at University in the states just need info. Thanks

[phabric]

This will be our first time with Holland America, we have cruised 11 times.. We have cruised with Princess, RCI, Carnival with Princess are favourite so far. Can anybody compare Holland America with Princess.

 

We are thinking of taking the Veendam to Bermuda next August. It is sea day, 5 days in Bermuda and then another sea day. Will there be any formal nights and on which nights.

 

What type of enterntainment is there at nights. Is it all product shows or do they bring in different entertainer also. We like to go to a show and go to the casino for 1/2 hour at night. We don't going into the drinking lounges.

 

Our last cruise, we never went to the main diningroom, we had our meals at the buffet. How is the food in the buffet compared to the diningroom. Do they serve lobster at anytime during the cruise.

 

Any information on the Veendam would be helpful.

[kazu]

This will be our first time with Holland America, we have cruised 11 times.. We have cruised with Princess, RCI, Carnival with Princess are favourite so far. Can anybody compare Holland America with Princess.

 

We are thinking of taking the Veendam to Bermuda next August. It is sea day, 5 days in Bermuda and then another sea day. Will there be any formal nights and on which nights.

 

What type of enterntainment is there at nights. Is it all product shows or do they bring in different entertainer also. We like to go to a show and go to the casino for 1/2 hour at night. We don't going into the drinking lounges.

 

 

 

Our last cruise, we never went to the main diningroom, we had our meals at the buffet. How is the food in the buffet compared to the diningroom. Do they serve lobster at anytime during the cruise.

 

Any information on the Veendam would be helpful.

 

 

 

As far as I am concerned, HAL beats Princess any day of the year. No comparison in food or service. Rooms are much nicer as well. For shows, I only go to a few. Princess may be a bit more glitzy. On HAL, you might change your mind about the lounges. If the Veendam has their piano bar or the strings on board, you might want to enjoy it. On many ships, they have string quartets and the music is enchanting (why I don't go to all of the shows). HAL usually has a show put on by the crew members and it is EXCELLENT. I would guess you would have 1 or 2 formal nights - probably 1. For my money, I prefer HAL. Hope this helps. Jacqui

[Himself]

DBA:

I have been known to eat in the Lido on a formal night but I do it dressed up. It would bother me to go downstairs after dinner on a formal night and not be dressed up. I hope this is okey. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why dressing up is such a chore for people. It looks better.

[tooalto]

No, I don't know anything, nor am I speculating, just asking a question. I hope you can give some sort of answer so I can be reassured I'm not hallucinating. Last Thursday I was looking on the HAL site for some prices for our next, undecided, cruise. I was playing around with trans-atlantic and Panama Canal cruise for 2010. When I would get to the page where I would choose my cabin category and dining. I KNOW I saw these times listed: Early Upper-5:45, Early Lower-6:15, and two similar for Main seating plus the Open Seating option. I only know the times listed for Early since that is the seating we prefer. Today, when I had some time, I tried the same thing on the same routes and no times showed up, only Early Upper, Early Lower, Main Upper, main Lower and Open seating. Am I losing it or might there be some very welcome changes in the works?

[kazu]

No, I don't know anything, nor am I speculating, just asking a question. I hope you can give some sort of answer so I can be reassured I'm not hallucinating. Last Thursday I was looking on the HAL site for some prices for our next, undecided, cruise. I was playing around with trans-atlantic and Panama Canal cruise for 2010. When I would get to the page where I would choose my cabin category and dining. I KNOW I saw these times listed: Early Upper-5:45, Early Lower-6:15, and two similar for Main seating plus the Open Seating option. I only know the times listed for Early since that is the seating we prefer. Today, when I had some time, I tried the same thing on the same routes and no times showed up, only Early Upper, Early Lower, Main Upper, main Lower and Open seating. Am I losing it or might there be some very welcome changes in the works?

 

Hate to tell you but we just booked the Panama in April 2010. Bottom is open/whatever dining and uppper is fixed dining. Still fixed dining in upper (early and late) but open down below at least when we booked. And early was already wait listed. Jacqui

[DutchByAssociation]

Dutch:

 

I am hoping to get a job teaching at MS Nieuw Jakarta. I think it would be a wonderful experience. How do I go about it? Have taught at University in the states just need info. Thanks

 

I would recommend calling the main number for Holland America Line (206-281-3535) and ask to speak with the Human Resources department. Someone there ought to have the information you seek.

[DutchByAssociation]

See below in red

This will be our first time with Holland America, we have cruised 11 times.. We have cruised with Princess, RCI, Carnival with Princess are favourite so far. Can anybody compare Holland America with Princess.

I believe there is currently an active thread where someone has asked this

 

We are thinking of taking the Veendam to Bermuda next August. It is sea day, 5 days in Bermuda and then another sea day. Will there be any formal nights and on which nights.

The specific night is always ultimately up to the ship, but there are typically 2 formal nights per week.

 

What type of enterntainment is there at nights. Is it all product shows or do they bring in different entertainer also. We like to go to a show and go to the casino for 1/2 hour at night. We don't going into the drinking lounges.

The website is one of the best resources for this. There are producxtion shows and individual performers... there will be a Piano player at Mix, the HALCats in the Crow's Nest... a string quartet in the Explorer's Lounge.

 

Our last cruise, we never went to the main dining room, we had our meals at the buffet. How is the food in the buffet compared to the diningroom. Do they serve lobster at anytime during the cruise.

You can have the main dining room meals (most choices) in the Lido buffet, you can also have them delivered as room service. There is also Canaletto which requires reservations but has no cost in a corner of the Lido (look for the different chairs) each night. Refer to your menu for lobster options. Definitely a minimum of once per cruise and there are some items with lobster in the fixed Pinnacle Grill menu.

 

Any information on the Veendam would be helpful.

I just uploaded 39 photos of the ship that I received from a reader today. The last was uploaded about an hour ago. Visit the blog (link is in my sig) and I hope you enjoy!

[DutchByAssociation]

DBA:

I have been known to eat in the Lido on a formal night but I do it dressed up. It would bother me to go downstairs after dinner on a formal night and not be dressed up. I hope this is okey. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why dressing up is such a chore for people. It looks better.

 

As long as you meet or exceed the dress code of the evening, you're fine. Just be aware that many in the Lido will not necessarily be as dressed up as yourself. :)

[onthegogirl]

DBA:

I have been known to eat in the Lido on a formal night but I do it dressed up. It would bother me to go downstairs after dinner on a formal night and not be dressed up. I hope this is okey. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why dressing up is such a chore for people. It looks better.

 

For many years, DH and I avoided cruising because we just didn't want to "dress up". We were working and had to dress up to code everyday and wanted our vacation to be totally out of routine. Now that we are retired, we enjoy getting gussied up occasionally but I understand why some folks don't.

 

What I don't get is why they choose a cruise or a cruise line that encourages it. There are so many choices out there to suit every taste.

[phabric]

We will on the Veendam out of New York City next year. Does Holland America offer post cruise tours of NYC that go to the airport on disembarkment day? What time does your flight have to be to be able to take the tour? Can you book this tour before the cruise or while on board? We might like to do this instead of taking just the transfer to the airport.

[phabric]

This will be our first time on Holland America. In the diningroom when it is not formal night, do the men have to have a jacket on.

[fun_seeker]

This will be our first time on Holland America. In the diningroom when it is not formal night, do the men have to have a jacket on.

I don't wear a jacket in the dining room when it isn't formal night and neither do many of the other guests. A nice shirt and slacks and you are good to go.

 

Steve

[jtl513]

This will be our first time on Holland America. In the diningroom when it is not formal night, do the men have to have a jacket on.

On Smart Casual nights most men will not wear a jacket ... except in the Pinnacle Grill, where many will wear a jacket but no tie.

[kazu]

Hi Dutch,

 

We are on the Ooesterdam in October with an overnight in Venice. I thought I read somewhere that there was a shuttle by HAL to go back and forth, but now I can't find it and I'm afraid I dreamt it.

 

How can I find out and/or do you know the best way we can get back and forth from the ship to Venice?

 

Appreciate any help you can give us. Thanks so much. Jacqui

[Toad]

I would recommend calling the main number for Holland America Line (206-281-3535) and ask to speak with the Human Resources department. Someone there ought to have the information you seek.

Thanks Dutch, do you know if they employ and Americans there?

[Savoia]

So I’ve had a chance to get this blog going to where I know I can keep dedicated to it so I wanted to let all of you know about it.

 

 

I look forward to your blog! Though I hope you will refrain from the bodily function vulagrities that John engages in. I have looked at HAL as a potential spot for my family. But I have been very hestitant about travelling with a Carnival Cruise Line company..and all your ships look so much alike. Not to mention some of the ghastly Joe Farcus interiors you have...

[kazu]

I look forward to your blog! Though I hope you will refrain from the bodily function vulagrities that John engages in. I have looked at HAL as a potential spot for my family. But I have been very hestitant about travelling with a Carnival Cruise Line company..and all your ships look so much alike. Not to mention some of the ghastly Joe Farcus interiors you have...

 

If you haven't been on HAL then don't compare it to Carnival. carnival is a grotesque flashing, strobe light thing. Ugly! HAL is ambience, service, good food, and quality. Yes Carnival owns HAL, but HAL is it's own, so far anyways. We have sailed on HAL numerous times and tried other cruises but always come back to HAL (I was offered a complimentary 3 day Carnival and as soon as they took me for the tour I said no. Ugly. Nevertheless, please do not put them both in the same package. They are two totally different entities to appeal to totally different clientele. And I will sail HAL anyday. By the way, Dutch has been very helpful to us & doesn't deserve the comment you dished out. Have you been on Celebrity and Princess? they all look alike too! When you go on a cruise, there are certain things you have to expect. If you don't like the design, don't book the cruise. simple. but you'll be missing impeccable service, kind people who truly care and excellent food. your choice. I'm looking forward to my cruise on HAL

[Kween Karen]

I have enjoyed DBA's blog very much. It is classy and helpful and give me lots of information about my cruise line of choice......HAL!!!!

[DutchByAssociation]

Hi Dutch,

 

We are on the Ooesterdam in October with an overnight in Venice. I thought I read somewhere that there was a shuttle by HAL to go back and forth, but now I can't find it and I'm afraid I dreamt it.

 

How can I find out and/or do you know the best way we can get back and forth from the ship to Venice?

 

Appreciate any help you can give us. Thanks so much. Jacqui

 

If the goal is to go back and forth (multiple times) best bet is probably to talk to someone that has done it before. I know Venice, but not by cruise ship.