Holland America cruise line’s Classes of ships…. 

R Class-1450 passenger … smallest with only 2 decks of verandas. Volendam and Zaandam

Vista class-5 decks of veranda 

1900 pass .. Noordan, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam -large volume of veranda suites

Signature class….. 2190 passengers….Eurodam, Noordam, Nieuw Amsterdam

Pinnacle class…2600 guests 

Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam. They only have showers, plus specialty Asian restaurant. There are units for solo travellers as units for families of up to 5 in staterooms. 

Winter in the north they head south

Spring… repositioning… only one flight … cheaper per day

Summer head to northern ports

Fall -Canada and repositioning

Cruise availability is based on demand and supply factor

Peak as opposites to non-peak… is cheaper

Class of ship…. 

Back to back are also cheaper when booked together

Location on ship… port or starboard, ends, centre 

Understand where the location is … price

Guaranteed 

Higher up on the ship, the lower the price because there is more rocking

They offer community appreciation under deals are only for future cruises

Promotions

“Get in the know”

132 day Jan. 4/26… grand world voyage on Volendam,  sounds interesting

Day 10-Oct 4/2-Tech for travellers

***There is some interesting info here, some of which is new to me.

Recommended apps:

When in port… Google Maps… very good planning app- shows bus stops,

shows busy area… 

Click on “Official site” if you want make sure of solid tickets being sold. 

“Save”- makes lists of what you’d like to see. 

“Share” for where you’ve been

“Directions”…screen shot all details before you go. 

Click on Profile picture where you are… gives all details of transits. 

Timeline to go to Offline maps… download

Wifi Map

Shows where wifi is available

Green colour- good, orange-mediocre, red-avoid

Sometimes it will show previous password so you don’t need to go in. .. copy, go to settings, enter password

Arrow into bucket before leaving home and phone signal. 

VPN…Nord, Advans or Norton antivirus 

Google Translate– needs you to download language beforehand 

 Click on speaker to hear

Pencil, also use to speak microphone 

Can translate using camera… or for translate later.. use “import”

“Rome to Rio”

Shows all taxis etc

“Currency Converter”… needs internet to work

“Google” can tell you what you looking at … search bar to take picture

Turn off data whenever travelling 

Online..RYOKO….. someone in audience mentioned this for cheap data