I swear, every vlog on HAL that I've watched makes it look like a cruise line I'd love despite all the warnings that it's for old folks. I'll find out in 9 months. 😁
Like a lot of cruises and cruise lines, we already say that length of cruise and time of year really mess with demographics. Non holiday times with >7 day itineraries often mean older crowd.
I was just on the Nieuw Statendam a couple of weeks ago. I have cruised on HA for decades, and the talent was the best I've seen. (My favorite is always BB King's Blues Band, but all were amazingly talented.) A show in the new multimedia main stage that paired the musicians from Lincoln Center and BBC Earth, focusing on an animal from each of the seven continents, blew me away with the story on three large screens, with the musicians playing with the story. I am so surprised about not seeing your cabin stewards. Mine was in the hall as I first got to my room, came in and introduced himself, and I would see him in the hall several times a day. He always called me by name and wanted to know how my day was. I find that the norm on HA. Enjoy the rest of the cruise!
Thanks so much! We agree that the talen of the musicians on HAL is second to none. There are also some really unique experiences in the main stage. Our personal preference is for a few bigger productions in the main theatre, however that is purely our own taste and we know many others are fine with that. We eventually do meet our room steward and he was wonderful - we were just so busy that we didn't cross paths.
Pleased to see you have found a way to turn the level of music down in the Cabana. We have reserved the Costa del Sol for 2 couples. I hope that the volume can be better controlled as we have the Cabana for a week. We are traveling February 9, 2025 for 7 days.
Just found your vlog this last week. Really enjoy your casual but informative style. I'm watching as much cruising as I dare as I wait impatiently for our Alaska cruise this summer.
We have never Pd for internet on a six cruises except for a day to upload photos. I hope it just gets better with star link. We go on koningsdam in the fall so that's good news it's in drydock. Glad to hear these comments.
I was just on Symphony Of The Seas Transatlantic cruise. They have Starlink, I worked from the cruise ship with Zoom Video meeting and Wifi calling. I hope all the cruise line adopt them! I would also like to say you are a great couple and I hope to bump into you on one of my cruises!
That's great news. As we move towards mobile work options we (and others) are looking for cruises that provide quality internet. We also had a good experience on RCL with internet even before Starlink. Thanks for the update and that will be a factor in future cruise decisions. Hopefully our paths cross on a cruise one day.
Yes - Lincoln Center Stage was in full force with several performances throughout the week. There are stories that this will change - but it was there for us!
Thanks for another great day aboard HAL! So happy you got moved to a quieter cabana, the noise level in the first was horrible and certainly not conducive to the laid-back cabana life. Shame about the internet, that's so frustrating considering you paid for streaming internet. Did you bring it up with guest services? I would hope they'd offer some kind of refund or OBC for it.
Yes the new cabana was wonderful! Guest services never did anything about the internet but shrug - but since we've returned, they reached out to offer a chance to correct it on the Koningsdam this summer. So we'll give it another shot.
Internet issue is a mystery as on our Rotterdam 10 day southern in January there were zero issues. Never heard a word of anyone else having problems either. Maybe a one off? Or all those kids using it!
We like being closer to the pool, buffet, and other venues - plus it's a little less money. We've done both types of cabanas and like both. We were also travelling with friends and didn't want to be up and away from everyone - as the Retreat is a little more out of the way.
Usually first sea day and 2nd to last night but it really depends on the itinerary. We’ve had it on other nights as well. If you can find the exact itinerary and ask someone that’s taken it - then you might get the exact answer.
Can you tell me what the name of the quiet cabana is so I may book it for the next two cruises I have with HAL on the Nieuw Amsterdam? Greatly appreciate it.
Good question. There’s no easy answer, but sometimes. If we had the same waitstaff all week and they went above and beyond we would give them extra at the end of the week. If we had cabana staff that we enjoyed, then we’d give extra. If there was a bartender that stood out with great service, then we’d give extra. However, there’s been some cruises where we didn’t give any additional tips as the service was okay and as expected. There’s no obligation to give any more than what’s in the package but we usually tip exceptional service if we get it.
Mr Canuck, usually you look very dapper on formal nights, but truthfully, I haven’t seen a tie tack in about 20 years. It ages you considerably, leaving others to wonder if Mrs Canuck is too young to be your wife. I would put it in a drawer somewhere and leave it to your kids as an antique. ❤
Alright, a sea day. Never had a cabana. Thai food can be very spicy. Like to walk up and down the stairs. Time to call room service and get a nosh. Get a glass of Prosecco. It will go good with the formality. Moscato is more of a sweet wine. Ah, right overlooking the wake. The bread would go well with Olive Oil. Hope they have a good pianist. Only like to have no more than two alcoholic drinks and they are usually with meals. Ah, a song The Big Bopper made famous. He died too young.
You guys cruise like we do. Enjoy living vicariously through you until our next cruise. Thanks you for the fun night.
Thanks for watching!
Looks like a fabulous evening! May have to cruise HAL again - it’s been a couple decades - lol!
I swear, every vlog on HAL that I've watched makes it look like a cruise line I'd love despite all the warnings that it's for old folks. I'll find out in 9 months. 😁
Like a lot of cruises and cruise lines, we already say that length of cruise and time of year really mess with demographics. Non holiday times with >7 day itineraries often mean older crowd.
Tipsy is fantastic too.
Jill. Fantastic red shoes.
The HAL music entertainment is fantastic! It was definitely a major highlight during my Rotterdam cruise a couple weeks ago 🎶
I was just on the Nieuw Statendam a couple of weeks ago. I have cruised on HA for decades, and the talent was the best I've seen. (My favorite is always BB King's Blues Band, but all were amazingly talented.) A show in the new multimedia main stage that paired the musicians from Lincoln Center and BBC Earth, focusing on an animal from each of the seven continents, blew me away with the story on three large screens, with the musicians playing with the story.
I am so surprised about not seeing your cabin stewards. Mine was in the hall as I first got to my room, came in and introduced himself, and I would see him in the hall several times a day. He always called me by name and wanted to know how my day was. I find that the norm on HA. Enjoy the rest of the cruise!
Thanks so much! We agree that the talen of the musicians on HAL is second to none. There are also some really unique experiences in the main stage. Our personal preference is for a few bigger productions in the main theatre, however that is purely our own taste and we know many others are fine with that.
We eventually do meet our room steward and he was wonderful - we were just so busy that we didn't cross paths.
I miss the chocolate and towel animals. We didn’t have them on our last HAL cruise 😞
I think we only had them on formal nights.
Really Enjoyed your video! Thank you! You both looked great!
Thanks so much and thanks for watching!
Pleased to see you have found a way to turn the level of music down in the Cabana. We have reserved the Costa del Sol for 2 couples. I hope that the volume can be better controlled as we have the Cabana for a week. We are traveling February 9, 2025 for 7 days.
It was only our cabana that had the issue because it was the only one out of all of them that had a speaker in it.
Hello, great video. Where did you get that lovely sparkly evening dress?
Le Chateau (might be a Canadian store)
Just found your vlog this last week. Really enjoy your casual but informative style. I'm watching as much cruising as I dare as I wait impatiently for our Alaska cruise this summer.
Awesome, thank you! You must be close to that 100 day countdown!!
96 😊
Watching this and dreaming of our next HAL cruise got Chad through his treadmill time today!
So jealous of his willpower. We need some of that inspiration.
We have never Pd for internet on a six cruises except for a day to upload photos. I hope it just gets better with star link. We go on koningsdam in the fall so that's good news it's in drydock. Glad to hear these comments.
We are also on the Koningsdam in the months ahead - fingers crossed!
I was just on Symphony Of The Seas Transatlantic cruise. They have Starlink, I worked from the cruise ship with Zoom Video meeting and Wifi calling. I hope all the cruise line adopt them! I would also like to say you are a great couple and I hope to bump into you on one of my cruises!
That's great news. As we move towards mobile work options we (and others) are looking for cruises that provide quality internet. We also had a good experience on RCL with internet even before Starlink. Thanks for the update and that will be a factor in future cruise decisions.
Hopefully our paths cross on a cruise one day.
Thanks for the review. Any classical music onboard?
Yes - Lincoln Center Stage was in full force with several performances throughout the week. There are stories that this will change - but it was there for us!
Thanks for another great day aboard HAL! So happy you got moved to a quieter cabana, the noise level in the first was horrible and certainly not conducive to the laid-back cabana life. Shame about the internet, that's so frustrating considering you paid for streaming internet. Did you bring it up with guest services? I would hope they'd offer some kind of refund or OBC for it.
Yes the new cabana was wonderful! Guest services never did anything about the internet but shrug - but since we've returned, they reached out to offer a chance to correct it on the Koningsdam this summer. So we'll give it another shot.
Awesome series. What is the cost of the cabana for a week? Is it yours to use 24/7? Do you guys have a future cruise page/video?
Our Lido Cabana was $199 for 7 days. You can use them from 8am to about 5pm. They are closed up in the evenings and overnight.
@@CruisingCanucks great price for the convenience. What is your favourite cruise line so far? Do you have a your future cruises posted?
Oh the dreaded heartburn😩
Cruise heartburn from lots of food and drinks
by the way jill and you both look wonderful .
Internet issue is a mystery as on our Rotterdam 10 day southern in January there were zero issues. Never heard a word of anyone else having problems either. Maybe a one off? Or all those kids using it!
We'll find out in July on the Koningsdam. We thought it was so odd, as we've never had that issue on HAL before.
@@CruisingCanucks Koningsdam to Alaska last August was fine too. No issues at all.
Love your videos! We are cruising on this ship in a few months - is there a reason you chose a pool cabana vs a retreat cabana?
We like being closer to the pool, buffet, and other venues - plus it's a little less money. We've done both types of cabanas and like both. We were also travelling with friends and didn't want to be up and away from everyone - as the Retreat is a little more out of the way.
We rented 2 side-by-side. Can you open the curtains between with the Lido cabanas (on an Alaskan cruise)?
Nice. Yes the cabanas curtains can open. Sure that your attendant would be happy to assist with that. They are very accommodating.
I’m confused. I thought there was no “gala” night. Only orange party???
HAL has a Gala and an orange night on each cruise that we have had with them.
Look very nice both of you.
Thank you 😊
Which nights on a Holland America 7 day cruise are usually formal nights? We are going on Rotterdam in September, can’t wait!
Usually first sea day and 2nd to last night but it really depends on the itinerary. We’ve had it on other nights as well. If you can find the exact itinerary and ask someone that’s taken it - then you might get the exact answer.
Can you tell me what the name of the quiet cabana is so I may book it for the next two cruises I have with HAL on the Nieuw Amsterdam? Greatly appreciate it.
We would advise that you don’t book Cannes. That is the one that had the speaker in it. The other was were much quieter. 🛳
@@CruisingCanucks thanks so much! I really want to enjoy this and don't want to be blasted out of relaxation! thanks! :)
I have a question about tipping. Do you tip in addition to gratuities that are paid in your package?
Good question. There’s no easy answer, but sometimes. If we had the same waitstaff all week and they went above and beyond we would give them extra at the end of the week. If we had cabana staff that we enjoyed, then we’d give extra. If there was a bartender that stood out with great service, then we’d give extra. However, there’s been some cruises where we didn’t give any additional tips as the service was okay and as expected. There’s no obligation to give any more than what’s in the package but we usually tip exceptional service if we get it.
Mr Canuck, usually you look very dapper on formal nights, but truthfully, I haven’t seen a tie tack in about 20 years. It ages you considerably, leaving others to wonder if Mrs Canuck is too young to be your wife. I would put it in a drawer somewhere and leave it to your kids as an antique. ❤
LOL Mrs Canuck bought and packs the tie clip. It also helps hide hidden vlogging gear like wireless mic’s.
hi jill and jerry . jerry try a b52 they are so nice
Trying to get us bombed? 🥸🤣
@@CruisingCanucks yes i think it will improve jerrys dancing steps . please dont use a moving ship as an excuse lol lol
How much was the cabana?
$199 for the 7 days at the Lido cabana
Alright, a sea day. Never had a cabana. Thai food can be very spicy. Like to walk up and down the stairs. Time to call room service and get a nosh. Get a glass of Prosecco. It will go good with the formality. Moscato is more of a sweet wine. Ah, right overlooking the wake. The bread would go well with Olive Oil. Hope they have a good pianist. Only like to have no more than two alcoholic drinks and they are usually with meals. Ah, a song The Big Bopper made famous. He died too young.