Day 3 onboard Holland America’s Rotterdam brought our second straight sea day as we continue making our way toward Willemstad, Curaçao on this “CBA” run through the ABC islands.
Yesterday I talked about the two busiest bars on the ship, and back in the previous segment I covered the usual sea day lineup on Holland America. You know the drill… trivia, pickleball, pool time, and those questionable art auctions that somehow keep pulling people in.
But today, let’s flip that around and talk about the things you might want to skip on a cruise… especially the ones designed to separate you from your wallet.
The “Too Good to Pass Up” Jewelry & Watch Trap
Cruise ships have become floating shopping malls, and for some people, vacation is the perfect excuse to splurge on a luxury item. Jewelry, watches, diamonds… you name it.
I saw this firsthand back in December on Explora I where people were lining up to buy Rolex watches onboard. The problem? A quick check online showed the exact same models selling for less back home in places like the Rolex store in Miami.
Lesson one: just because it’s on a ship doesn’t mean it’s a deal.
Most of the jewelry shops onboard cruise ships are operated by Effy (which happens to have quite a few complaints despite an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau) and you’ll also find their stores in nearly every port you visit. They’re known for putting on a full-court press once you step inside. Champagne in hand, “special event” invites, private showings… it’s all part of the experience.
That doesn’t mean the products are bad. It just means you need to go in informed.
If you’re considering a big purchase onboard:
- Know the retail price before you sail
- Look up the exact model or piece online
- Ask about return policies and warranties
- Don’t feel pressured to buy “right now”
- Compare prices in port before committing
Because once that receipt is signed at sea, you own it.
The Rise of “Pre-Owned Luxury” at Sea
Another trend popping up more and more onboard is the “pre-owned luxury” shop.
We’re talking refurbished Rolex watches, designer handbags, and other high-end items that are marketed as deals… but often don’t feel like one.
Here’s the thing. “Pre-owned” doesn’t automatically mean “discounted.”
In many cases, the pricing is close to, or even higher than, what you’ll find through reputable resale platforms on land.
If you’re browsing these shops:
- Verify authenticity and certification
- Check condition reports carefully
- Compare prices online in real time
- Understand exactly what “refurbished” means
- Be cautious of impulse buys during “limited time” events
If it feels rushed or overly sales-driven, it probably is.
Duty-Free… Until It Isn’t
Now let’s talk about one of the oldest cruise ship selling points: duty-free shopping.
For years, the pitch has been simple. Buy onboard, skip the sales tax, and save money.
And while that’s technically true at the point of sale, what happens when you get off the ship is where things are starting to change.
More and more, cruise lines are sharing onboard purchase data with customs authorities. That means when you go through customs at the end of your cruise, they may already know exactly what you bought.
And yes… people are getting stopped.
Something as simple as buying a few cartons of cigarettes or going over your duty-free allowance can result in you being pulled aside and asked to pay duties on the spot.
What to keep in mind:
- You are still subject to U.S. duty limits
- Customs may already have your purchase history
- “Duty-free” doesn’t mean “duty-exempt” once you return
- Be honest if you’re stopped
It only takes one unexpected stop in the customs line to turn your “great deal” into a not-so-great one.
At the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself on vacation. That’s part of the vacation experience.
Just go in with your eyes open, do a little homework, and don’t let a free glass of champagne or a “today only” sale rush you into something you wouldn’t buy back home.
Same Rules Apply Ashore… Actually, Be Even More Careful
Everything I just mentioned about buying onboard applies in port too… but if anything, you need to be even more cautious once you step off the ship.
Ports are packed with jewelry stores, watch dealers, and “duty-free” shops that are very aware a few thousand cruise passengers just showed up ready to spend money. Some of these places are reputable. Others? Not so much.
You’ll see the same tactics… “special cruise pricing,” limited-time offers, and plenty of pressure to buy before you head back to the ship. In some ports, you’ll even be steered toward certain stores through partnerships or recommendations.
That doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting a deal.
If you’re making a big purchase in port:
- Research the store before you go (not just what a crew member suggests)
- Verify authenticity and certifications on watches, diamonds, and gemstones
- Compare pricing online while you’re standing in the store
- Be cautious of “tax and duty savings” claims
- Get everything in writing including warranties and return policies
- Avoid wiring money or paying outside normal credit card protections
And here’s the big one… once you leave the country, returning or disputing a purchase becomes a lot more complicated, or next to impossible.
If something feels off, rushed, or too good to be true, it probably is.
There are definitely good deals to be found in port, but there are also plenty of ways to overpay if you’re not paying attention. Take your time, do your homework, and don’t let the high pressure sales pitch rush you into a decision you might regret later.
Now, if you really want to take home a vacation souvenir you’ll never forget, Lewie the Lion is ready to go home with you:
The Chicken Sandwich Caper
Since it was another sea day, the ship was busy… again. And just like yesterday, the chair hogs were out early staking their claim at the Lido pool.
Right in the middle of all that chaos is one of the ship’s most popular lunch spots, Dive-In. This is where you’ll find burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and fries served up until around 6 p.m. With a sold-out sailing and plenty of families onboard, it’s no surprise this place was slammed, offering an alternative to the equally packed Lido Market.
Dive-In is a walk-up counter. You place your order, get a pager, and wait for it to buzz. If you want to skip the line, you can also order through the Navigator app and just grab your food when it’s ready.
🖼️ Menu Images
I mentioned earlier in the cruise that the quality here seems to have slipped a bit over the years, especially after a pretty disappointing burger. So today, I decided to switch things up and give the grilled chicken sandwich a shot, hoping for a little redemption.
Nope.
If you’ve seen the ongoing chicken sandwich wars back home, where every chain is trying to outdo the next with massive, crispy, over-the-top creations, this wasn’t even in the same league. What showed up was a thin, underwhelming piece of chicken that looked like it got lost on the way to the bun.
It’s a far cry from what Dive-In used to be. There was a time when grabbing a burger here was something you actually looked forward to. These days, not so much.
The good news is the rest of the food onboard continues to carry the load. The New York Deli & Pizza spot remains a standout with legitimately good New York-style pies and Sicilian slices, and the Lido Market continues to offer a huge variety of options that rotate throughout the day.
So while Dive-In may have lost its luster, there are still plenty of solid options around the ship to keep you well fed.
MTO Dinner at Canaletto
Speaking of the Lido Market, here’s a look at what was being served for dinner tonight there, along with the Main Dining Room menu for those going the more traditional route.
As for me, I had a craving for Canaletto, so up to Deck 9 I went.
I keep saying it, but this is hands down the best value specialty restaurant onboard. At $25 per person plus the 18% service charge, and half off for 4 and 5-Star Mariners, it’s hard to beat for both quality and price.
🖼️ Menu Images
I kicked things off with an antipasti plate, then decided to go a little off-script for the main course. Instead of sticking to one dish, I pieced together my own Italian creation by combining a few menu items. I started with the Italian sausage paccheri pasta, which is always excellent, then added veal scaloppine on top, and finished it off with a couple of meatballs and the house red sauce.
To their credit, the kitchen didn’t even blink at the request. The end result? Easily one of the best meals I’ve had at Canaletto over the course of the past few weeks onboard.
For dessert, I went with the baked ricotta cheesecake. I knew I probably didn’t need it at that point, but there was no way I was skipping it… and it didn’t disappoint.
A quick stop at B.B. King’s Blues Club and the casino wrapped up the night… with B.B. King’s coming out as the clear winner. The music was great as always, while the casino once again did what it does best… lightened my wallet a bit.
Before calling it a night, a couple of small maintenance items stood out.
First, the casino. I tend to bounce between using cash and charging play to the room, and tonight I tried feeding a few $50 bills into different machines… no luck. Multiple bills, multiple machines, same result. Everything was rejected. Not the end of the world since charging to the room still works, but definitely something that needs attention.
The other issue is more cosmetic but still worth mentioning, especially with dry dock right around the corner.
Rotterdam heads to Europe after this cruise for a short dry dock, and one thing I hope gets addressed is the wayfinding signage around the ship. There are still several signs with taped-over sections from venues that have either been removed or rebranded. You’ll see things like Lincoln Center Stage covered up, or Nami Sushi now labeled as Morimoto by Sea Sushi Bar… but the fix is literally strips of white tape over backlit signage.
It works… but it doesn’t look great.
It’s a small detail, but on a flagship that otherwise looks nearly brand new, it stands out more than it should. Hopefully it’s something that gets cleaned up while she’s in dry dock.
Up next, we finally make it to land. Tomorrow we arrive in Willemstad, Curaçao at noon, with a late 11 p.m. departure giving plenty of time to get out and explore.
More tomorrow, and as always, thanks for following along.
Daily Schedule
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Walk a Mile | Atrium 3 |
| 7:30 AM | Abs Class | Fitness Center 9 |
| 8:00 AM | Tai Chi for Everyone | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 8:00 AM | Morning Catholic Prayer | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 8:30 AM | International Servings | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 9:00 AM | Pickleball Instruction | Sport Court 11 |
| 9:00 AM | Interdenominational Service | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 9:00 AM | Coffee with Nick featuring Hotel General Manager Yelena Simonen | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 9:30 AM | Origami Folding: Jumping Frog | Game Room 12 |
| 9:30 AM | Walking in Comfort | Fitness Center 9 |
| 10:00 AM | Learn to Line Dance | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 10:00 AM | Cooking Show: Cornmeal Crusted Fresh Cobia | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 10:00 AM | Golf Putting | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 10:00 AM | Knitting | Crows Nest 12 |
| 10:00 AM | Mahjong Players Meet until 3:00 PM | Dining Room 2 |
| 10:00 AM | Party Bridge Play until 3:00 PM | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 10:00 AM | Pickleball Open Play until 4:00 PM | Sport Court 11 |
| 10:30 AM | Luxe for Less: Coveted Handbags | The Shops 3 |
| 10:30 AM | EFFY’s Houston Trunk Show | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 10:30 AM | Creating Designs from Doodles | Game Room 12 |
| 11:00 AM | Port Talk: Curacao, Bonaire & Aruba | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 11:00 AM | Learn to Play Sjoelen | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 11:00 AM | Secrets to a Flatter Stomach | Fitness Center 9 |
| 11:30 AM | Modern Calligraphy | Game Room 12 |
| 12:00 PM | Team Trivia: The Price is Now | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 12:00 PM | Team Trivia Challenge | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 12:00 PM | Let’s Play Ladder Ball Officers vs Guests | Sport Court 11 |
| 12:00 PM | Regional Steel Pan Soloist Dereck Plays | Lido Balcony 10 |
| 12:00 PM | Mixology Class: Margarita $25 | Ocean Bar 2 |
| 1:00 PM | Under $500 Blowout Art Auction | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 1:00 PM | Ladies Pamper Party | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 1:30 PM | Watercoloring: Sunset | Game Room 12 |
| 2:00 PM | Regional Wine Tasting $35 | Dining Room 2 |
| 2:00 PM | The Caribbean Up Close: Treasure Islands | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 2:00 PM | Complimentary Massage Sampler | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 2:00 PM | Watercoloring: Sunset | Game Room 12 |
| 2:30 PM | Let’s Play Cornhole | Sport Court 11 |
| 3:00 PM | Over $1,500 Jackpot Bingo Ticket Sales | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 3:00 PM | Cream Tea with Vivace Strings | Dining Room 3 |
| 3:00 PM | Beer Tasting $15 | Ocean Bar 2 |
| 3:00 PM | 10% Off Fine Spirits | The Shops 3 |
| 3:00 PM | Relieving Back Pain | Fitness Center 9 |
| 3:30 PM | Coloring for Adults | Game Room 12 |
| 3:30 PM | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 3:30 PM | Look 10 Years Younger | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 4:00 PM | Over $616,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino 3 |
| 4:00 PM | HISTORY Trivia | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 4:00 PM | Shuffleboard Lucky Shot | Sport Court 11 |
| 4:00 PM | Guess the Carat Weight of Alexandrite | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 4:30 PM | Have Your Casual Portrait Taken | Atrium 2 |
| 4:30 PM | Origami Folding: Jumping Frog | Game Room 12 |
| 5:00 PM | Cocktails with Nick featuring Lina & George | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Evening Stretch | Fitness Center 9 |
| 5:00 PM | A Pickup Game of Pickleball | Sport Court 11 |
| 5:30 PM | Experience Curacao | Atrium 3 |
| 6:00 PM | PRIDE Meetup | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 6:00 PM | Ballroom Dance Hour | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 6:00 PM | Single & Solo Travelers Meetup | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 6:30 PM | Music Trivia 80s | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 7:00 PM | Exotic & Phenomenal Rare Gemstones Reveal | The Shops 3 |
| 7:00 PM | On World Stage: Hey Mr. DJ | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 7:30 PM | Joseph Rixdorf Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 7:30 PM | Game Night: Don’t Look Now | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 7:45 PM | Secret Identities for Teens | Kids Club 10 |
| 8:00 PM | Movies by the Pool: Freakier Friday | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 8:00 PM | Heat Wave Hot Spots | Casino 3 |
| 8:30 PM | World Stage Show continues | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 9:00 PM | On World Stage: Hey Mr. DJ | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 9:00 PM | Loft Lounge for Teens | Kids Club 10 |
| 11:00 PM | $616,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino 3 |
| 12:00 AM | Stay and Play Slots All Night | Casino 3 |