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

[GeriatricNurse]

DBA, apparantly, it would appear that the Veendam is being repositioned to the Alaska cruise itinerary in 2013! Could you confirm that HAL is either going to be positioning another ship for the 7-Day NYC/Bermuda cruise season in 2013 or is HAL going to "abandon" this cruise itinerary altogether? :confused:

[gwenmarie]

When will we have a ship with an aft pool in South America?

[HamburgAvonLady]

Hello Dutch: We are on the Westerdam cruise to Hawaii/Tahiti in Sept/Oct. 2011. As the ship overnites in Bora Bora (tender port) -

can you tell me how late the tenders run ?? We want to enjoy

some evening entertainment onshore but can't seem to find out the

last departure times of the tenders back to the ship. Thanks.

[SmokinActuary]

DBA,

 

Do you have examples of what kind of teen activities will be on the Nieuw Amsterdam? My wife, 13 year old daughter and myself are sailing on this ship during U.S. Thanksgiving week.

 

Much obliged,

 

John

[DutchByAssociation]

Hi DBA,

According to the schedule you saw, will Captain Jonathan Mercer still be on the Nieuw Amsterday for the Nov. 27 sailing?

Cindy

 

Based on what I have seen, yes. Keep in mind though that schedules can change for officers for a number of reasons.

[DutchByAssociation]

DBA, thank you for staying accessible for answering all of our questions!

 

I also have a captain question. I will be on Eurodam the end of August on her transatlantic to NY. Do you know who the Capt will be? I would also like to know who the concierges will be, but I am guessing that could still be in work.

 

Unfortunately, I don't have info on the Neptune Lounge staff. When I was on in December it was Lavern. If she is there, she's awesome!

 

Captain will be Jeroen van Donselaar

[DutchByAssociation]

DBA, apparantly, it would appear that the Veendam is being repositioned to the Alaska cruise itinerary in 2013! Could you confirm that HAL is either going to be positioning another ship for the 7-Day NYC/Bermuda cruise season in 2013 or is HAL going to "abandon" this cruise itinerary altogether? :confused:

 

I can't comment on itineraries that have yet to be released... as is always the case

[DutchByAssociation]

When will we have a ship with an aft pool in South America?

 

Prinsendam is in South America a couple times each year, and it would appear you have not seen what is possibly one of the most amazing itineraries EVER :)

http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/FindCruises.action?destCode=S&durationCode=&portCode=&dateCode=&shipCodeSearch=MA

 

 

I hope that link works. Maasdam will be doing an extended crise that literally spends ONE MONTH IN BRAZIL and is there over Carnivale.

 

You have multiple various options in South America :)

[DutchByAssociation]

Hello Dutch: We are on the Westerdam cruise to Hawaii/Tahiti in Sept/Oct. 2011. As the ship overnites in Bora Bora (tender port) -

can you tell me how late the tenders run ?? We want to enjoy

some evening entertainment onshore but can't seem to find out the

last departure times of the tenders back to the ship. Thanks.

 

Tenders are usually all back 60-90 minutes prior to departure if memory serves correctly. ALWAYS reference the info in your Explorer and/or on the gangway though as this information is obviously of the utmost importance!

[DutchByAssociation]

DBA,

 

Do you have examples of what kind of teen activities will be on the Nieuw Amsterdam? My wife, 13 year old daughter and myself are sailing on this ship during U.S. Thanksgiving week.

 

Much obliged,

 

John

 

Please contact ShipS ervices and I'm sure they can give you some sample activity lists. And/Or you can also ask on here as I know some of the users have kids in that age range.

[DutchByAssociation]

More info about the above Maasdam cruise to Brazil. Here's the itinerary:

 

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/CruiseDetails.action?destCode=S&portCode=&shipCodeSearch=MA&durationCode=&dateCode=&flexibleMonths=false&noOfFlexibleMonths=1&pageNumber=1&voyageCode=M311&webItineraryIdForAudit=SSW349

 

There are also 2 segments available

[mconthehighseas]

Unfortunately, I don't have info on the Neptune Lounge staff. When I was on in December it was Lavern. If she is there, she's awesome!

 

Captain will be Jeroen van Donselaar

 

Thank you DBA!

I appreciate this.

[LostwithoutPockets]

Hi!

Just a quick question. When an itinerary says that we're in port from say, 7:00 am - 5:00 pm, is the all aboard 5:00, or is that when the ship sails? When would we need to be back on the ship? (We always try to be back on board at least a half hour before they say!)

Thanks!

[Essiesmom]

5:00pm is when the ship sails. The daily program will tell you what time to be back onboard, usually half an hour before sailaway time. There will also be a sign at the gangway as you go ashore telling you what time to be back. EM

[DutchByAssociation]

5:00pm is when the ship sails. The daily program will tell you what time to be back onboard, usually half an hour before sailaway time. There will also be a sign at the gangway as you go ashore telling you what time to be back. EM

 

Ditto :)

[Gerd]

..

 

Hello "DBA"

 

during our latest MS Ryndam cruise it was mentioned, that a pre-cruise booked 100 $ Beverage Value Cards does not count into the "onboard spending’s" and so meanwhile not for the "Mariner Bonus Cruise Day Credits"

 

Is this true ?

 

What else also does not count for those day credits, i.e. the wine packages ?

 

 

 

Thanks for your explanations

 

G E R D

 

..

[GeriatricNurse]

DBA, when is HAL going to establish interactive televisions in the staterooms such as other cruiselines have done, like Celebrity, for example, so that, among other things one is able to check their account as so desired without having to go to the Front Desk?

[catl331]

..

during our latest MS Ryndam cruise it was mentioned, that a pre-cruise booked 100 $ Beverage Value Cards does not count into the "onboard spending’s" and so meanwhile not for the "Mariner Bonus Cruise Day Credits"

Is this true ?

What else also does not count for those day credits, i.e. the wine packages ?

..

I believe the person who said that was wrong. We got credit for two pre-paid $50 cards on the Nieuw Amsterdam. The stated policy is:

 

Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus?

All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded. All other onboard purchases including Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, pre-booked shore excursions and all gift items purchased online or through Ship Services count towards bonus cruise day credits.

[mconthehighseas]

DBA, I have another question for you. In the past, I have made special orders for bottles of liquor that are not on the online beverage list. These are brands that are available on the ship, though.

 

On our upcoming cruise out of Dover, my TA has been told that we cannot get those bottles for our cabin. Are special order liquors no longer available?

 

I could understand HAL not wanting to run a liquor store for every brand. But this is a case of requesting a bottle or two of something already on the ship to be used in our cabin, in addition to all the liquor we will drink in the bars, the casino, the dining rooms, the theater and anywhere else a waiter can find us.

[DutchByAssociation]

..

 

Hello "DBA"

 

during our latest MS Ryndam cruise it was mentioned, that a pre-cruise booked 100 $ Beverage Value Cards does not count into the "onboard spending’s" and so meanwhile not for the "Mariner Bonus Cruise Day Credits"

 

Is this true ?

 

What else also does not count for those day credits, i.e. the wine packages ?

 

 

 

Thanks for your explanations

 

G E R D

 

..

 

You need to contact the Mariner Society and they can review if you were credited appropriately.

[DutchByAssociation]

DBA, when is HAL going to establish interactive televisions in the staterooms such as other cruiselines have done, like Celebrity, for example, so that, among other things one is able to check their account as so desired without having to go to the Front Desk?

 

This has been answered on numerous occasions in which you have asked on various threads.

[DutchByAssociation]

DBA, I have another question for you. In the past, I have made special orders for bottles of liquor that are not on the online beverage list. These are brands that are available on the ship, though.

 

On our upcoming cruise out of Dover, my TA has been told that we cannot get those bottles for our cabin. Are special order liquors no longer available?

 

I could understand HAL not wanting to run a liquor store for every brand. But this is a case of requesting a bottle or two of something already on the ship to be used in our cabin, in addition to all the liquor we will drink in the bars, the casino, the dining rooms, the theater and anywhere else a waiter can find us.

 

I would recommend that you contact Ship Services directly and ask. Although you are booked through a TA, Ship Services can assist you directly with gift orders. Also, can I ask what liquor? I ask because I really like Absolut Mandarin. While I'm unable to order it ahead of time (simply not a way in the system to charge for it) Absolut and Absolut Limon are available. As they are the same price, we know Mandarin would be too, and I just pre-order the Limon and ask if it's possible to trade it out for a different flavor once onboard. While it's completely dependent on the inventory available on the ship, taking the entire sailing into consideration, I have yet to run into an issue. (And in a case like this, the fact I am an employee is not weighted in the decision... in case someone would want to "go there") :)

[GeriatricNurse]

This has been answered on numerous occasions in which you have asked on various threads.

 

And what was the answer? :)

[joyce&bob]

The Malt Shop Memories Cruise 2012 is going to be held on the Eurodam October 27, 2012 - It is supposidly a Full Ship Charter - can I book this cruise directly through Holland??????

[3418ahl]

DBA, I don't think you function on the same level as the Azamara rep on these boards, but we are about to embark on our first HA cruise in Feb., on the Zaandam and are thinking of cancelling. Would you have a look at this thread and give your thoughts? http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1451020 Thanks