WanderingTheWorld

On our recent Nieuw Statendam cruise (10/29 to 11/9), I found this very spooky rubber ducky in one of the stairwells. I left him in another hiding place on the ship, and he quickly disappeared. I hope he was hidden again. Thank you to the couple from Ontario who brought the ducky on board! (I forgot to take a picture of the back of the card, and I cannot remember your names.) These fun surprises make cruising more fun!

@tigger54 - I was also able to get my OBC added to a current booking by using the chat.

I received a 1pm boarding time for my upcoming cruise on the Nieuw Statendam out of Rome (Civitavecchia). I have to be out of my Airbnb by 10am, so I reached out to HAL via chat to see if I could be moved to an earlier boarding group. According to the agent, 1pm is when boarding begins. This seems like a late time to start because the ship sets sail at 5pm. Here is the really confusing part. I asked when the Mariners lunch would occur since boarding begins so late. Here is the agent's response, "Welcome Back Mariner Lunch, on day of embarkation from 12-1:30 in the main dining room." Huh? 😕 Does anyone have any recent experience embarking in Civitavecchia? When did boarding begin? Did you arrive before your time? Were you able to eat lunch in the MDR?

You can check out drink menus here: https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/hal-beverage-menus/ Personally, I think the HIA is a bit pricey. My upcoming HAL cruise is 11 days and port heavy. The HIA would cost $1,100 for the two of us. We don't need the wifi; we try to avoid cruise line excursions; and specialty dining isn't a priority. That's just too much for drinks alone, especially with so much time on land. The value of the HIA package all depends on the importance of the inclusions, the length of your cruise, and the number of sea days.

I have been on 4 different HAL ships, and the Koningsdam has been my favorite so far. (I'm going on the Nieuw Statendam next month, and I can't wait to see how her sister ship compares!) Here are some great things about HAL (and specifically the Koningsdam): Free room service breakfast that includes hot items - This is perfect for port days. An extensive breakfast menu in the MDR - There are so many different options! Vegetarian menu - DH and I aren't vegetarians, but we don't eat meat every meal. In the MDR, you can ask for the vegetarian menu and preorder your meal for the next day. We love doing this for lunch because there is only one lunch menu in the MDR. Grand Dutch Cafe - This is another good place to eat lunch. Drink Specials - If you have the Have It All package, you can ignore this one. If not, check the Daily for drink specials. There is usually a BOGO in the late afternoon at a specific bar. Music Walk - I love dancing at BB King each night! Tip: Bring earplugs in case the music is too loud.

I don't know. I only qualified for the Educator credit. Now that is has been applied, I am no longer able to see that code.

You most definitely do not need the app. When I go cruising, the phones are locked away in the safe. The only times they come out are on port days. (I would literally be lost without Google Maps!) Pack a highlighter. When the daily arrives, highlight any activity or event you are interested in and then carry around the schedule page in your pocket. Personally, I am torn about technology. It is a very handy tool and often makes life easier (e.g. checking-in, asking questions in online forums). However, technology also takes us away from life. When I look over at dinner and see an entire family staring at screens instead of conversing with each other, I get depressed.

I'm sorry you're having issues adding the credit. Within my HAL account, I clicked on Future Cruise Credits. From there, I could see the $100 listed under Onboard Credits. I used the chat feature on the HAL site to contact customer service. They were able to see the credit in my account and then add it to my reservation. I had booked the cruise through a TA, so I was able to reach out to them and have a new booking confirmation emailed to me. The credit is now listed on the booking confirmation. I hope you are able to resolve this soon.

@AryMay - Thank you for posting this topic! I did not know about the Educator Credit. I was able to sign up and have this applied to my upcoming cruise! 😁

Prior to Covid, my husband and I spent the holidays at sea for 5 years in a row. It is so much fun! The ship will be decorated. Our last Christmas cruise was on the Koningsdam, and we loved their gingerbread creations! On a different cruise line, there was one passenger who dressed up as Santa Claus. He looked like the real deal! As for decorations, go for it! If you're worried about stepping on anyone's toes, keep everything secular or winter themed. All my decorations come from Dollar Tree. For the door, I try to get things that hang and are mostly flat. This makes packing easier. For inside the stateroom, I have a little tree with a small string of lights and ornaments.

@sun16 - Yes, we are on the same cruise! Thank you for sharing the video and article. I agree that it has been tough finding private tour companies here. There aren't many to choose from, and some of them have less than stellar reviews.

@cruisemom42, I just emailed you. Thanks so much! 😊

I will be in Sarandë in early November on a HAL cruise. I am interested in visiting Butrint. Through the cruise line, I found an excursion called Archaeological Albania. Has anyone been on this excursion? Did you have to pay admission to Butrint, or was it included in the excursion price? I do prefer using an independent tour company rather than the cruise line. Does anyone know of any good tour providers? My internet searches have not yielded much. Thanks!

It's a 2 hour train ride from Trieste to Venice. You'd probably spend more time using transportation than actually exploring Venice. If it were me, I would spend the day in Trieste. As often happens in the Mediterranean, people leave the port city and flock to the cities and sites most often mentioned in tourist guides. Sometimes, it is practical and worthwhile (i.e. going from Civitavecchia to Rome). Other times, you are missing out on a great place right under your nose (i.e. staying in Malaga instead of going to Granada). Because your vacation time is valuable, stick with Trieste and enjoy all your can on your final day. If you really want to see Venice, then you have the perfect excuse for planning another trip. 😊

About 6 years ago, I lived in Vancouver for a couple of years. It is a lovely city, but the homeless are concentrated in the area you mentioned. One Saturday morning, my husband and I decided to visit Chinatown and then walk to Gastown. We observed a similar scene on our journey. If you ever revisit the city and wish to see the real Chinatown, take the Skytrain to the Richmond Night Market. I am glad you were able to visit Stanley Park! Vancouver has so many beautiful green spaces and is very walkable. I miss it a lot!