2026 Nieuw Amsterdam Pre-Cruise Gathering(s)

Aloha Everyone!! I'm Cheryl. AKA "Bermudabound2014" on the Cruise Critic Platform. I have sailed this exact itinerary in both 2024 and 2025 and created a blog to document our travels. I make nothing off this blog. There are no advertisements. My blog is simply a place to share travel adventures. If you are looking for every single daily from this cruise in 2025 (plus every Main Dining Room Menu), all my tours, and live commentary, you will find that information in under the 2025 Koningsdam Hawaii/Tahiti category.

Best Western Yacht Harbor List

Some people come from facebook so I only know your first name, others come from Cruise Critic so I only know your screen name. It just doesn't matter all that much as I'll bring nametags to the get together. This list is just so I can get an idea to help the hotel. It will also help people connect who have shared tours booked. If you would like to be added to the list, comment below.

For the last two years I organized this pre-cruise get together at the Best Western Yacht Harbor (BWYH) The parties were well attended (some nights 30+ other nights 80+). The Best Western Yacht Harbor is nothing fancy. I started staying here as a recommendation from my friend Tom. It's cheap and clean and offers free transport to the port in the morning. Transport from the airport to BWYH is about $20 uber.

There are two great restaurants across the street and a famous mai-tia place a short walk way (as is a grocery store and drug store). Again, It's nothing fancy, but if you are driving this place really makes sense because parking is a fraction of what you will pay downtown. I love staying downtown (and lots of people who stay downtown uber over to the pre-cruise party), but for a quick night or two I have grown fond of Shelter Island area (there is a great nail gal and another massage place I visit each year). Did I mention it's cheap? Right now rooms are around $120 a night. Prices WILL rise as the hotel fills.

This will be a very informal meet and greet at 6:30 pm on both February 12th and February 13th in the lobby of the Best Western Yacht Harbor. The shindig ends when the last person leaves

This is a BYOB event. The Last two years the hotel was kind enough to open up their breakfast room to accommodate the large crowd (we had over 80 people at one point). They supplied juices, coffee, and left out fruit meant for breakfast. I know one person who brought vodka to mix with the complementary cranberry juice (looking innocent). Others brought beer to share (thanks Tom!) Champaign was flowing. It was a great way to meet people before stepping foot onboard.

Did I mention this will be very informal? Just a chance to introduce yourself and say hello to fellow passengers. Many of us have excursions planned together so this is also a great time to make any necessary arrangements. I keep everything I organize very low key by design. It's how I roll.

I’ll park myself at a table near the front entrance; the one with a stack of cute little name tags.. Please stop by the table and introduce yourself and allow me to give you a name tag to help us get to know one another. We really are a super friendly bunch!!

Whether you are from Cruise Critic or other social media sites, EVERYONE is invited.  Even if you aren’t staying at the BWYH and just want to swing by to say hello (many people uber in from the downtown hotels). The more the merrier!!!!

If you are interested in attending the BWYH get together please comment below. Let me know if you plan to be there day 1 or day 2 (or both). There is no commitment to attend, it just helps me plan with the hotel for about how many people to expect.

PS: I was informed you need to be a member of the blog to comment. I don't want anyone thinking I'm pushing some sort of membership here because that couldn't be farther from the truth. If you want to be added to the list but don't want to join this blog, you can use the 'email me' feature under the 'about me' tab on this site or tag me in the Cruise Critic Roll call or Facebook.