Nymich

On 10/8/2023 at 9:43 AM, Abe3689 said:

Dinner was really good, so I suppose that lunch was a one off. I don’t know why the lunch was so bad, but I’m never going in the dining-room for lunch again. 

Are you being honest Abe? J/k

I remember Pinnacle changing to Le Cirque on a few cruises ww were on years ago.

14 minutes ago, jmr3201 said:

Can you still get free cappuccinos and lattes when eating in the main dining room?

No.

Maybe they changed the tip strategy.  Yesterday and for only one song three baskets were placed on the stage. Those who wanted to tip walked up and gave to the baskets. Those who didn't want to were able to just sit in place.   No pressure at all imo.

We must have been there right when you were ....THANK GOODNESS we chose to go in!  The free show actually was free and included several other demonstrations like tree climbing and how they use the Umu.  On the last song right after the Fire performer they had baskets on the stage that many of us walked up to and placed WELL DESERVED tips into. I will agree that it's probably not really "free" when you tip but anyone who watched all those demonstrations and that wonderful show and didn't tip wow that's just mean.  Jmo

Your reports are fun to read as we are here also freezing sometimes with bad wifi!  Lol.

I just want anyone who goes to Samoa to go to the Samoa Tourism Authority!

Currently on Z just listened to part of a set.  It was all Top 40 songs like Moves like Jagger, Footloose, Brandy etc....

I personally liked the BB King band way better but people were liking this music to be fair.  It is also not anything like the Rolling Stone Rock Room band on the Pinnacle ships.  This is a Top 40 pop band.

2 minutes ago, moomsh said:

Same here …. I was in the site and all of a sudden my profile disappeared along with history, credits, points … 😞

Yes we are officially Nobody.

yep down.  I have 0 points 0 past cruises lolol

9 minutes ago, Djb4CC said:

Have a look at this updated protocol pdf… covers until the beginning of Jan 2023.

 

Some require a booster,  some just the original series.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/content/dam/hal/inventory-assets/Health_Sanitation/2022/enhanced-health-protocol-090922.pdf

I was already aware of this document because our upcoming cruises are on it. 

It's nice to see someone help others and post the facts as they stand today.  Thank you and great post!

33 minutes ago, spleenstomper said:

I had gastric sleeve, so it’s better for me to order 2 appetizers and no entree. 

On that thought I am going to unfollow.

22 hours ago, Torquer said:

Where did you see "72 hours"?  As far as I remember, HAL has always used "days" and not "hours" in defining the testing requirements.  Some people have mistakenly converted that to hours, but that is not correct.

 

So assuming the real requirement is 3 days and not 72 hours it means the following:  if your cruise embarks on a Saturday, then that means you can get tested anytime from 12:01AM on Wednesday to anytime before you embark on Saturday.

Question :  So is that 12:01AM  MY time or where the proctor is? 

I have an upcoming cruise that requires a test and being sort of a night owl I might do this. Lol

On 9/1/2022 at 7:10 PM, DaveOKC said:

No and I ALWAYS order two - crab cakes and the lobster bisque - at LEAST 20 times, three of which were in past year.

I heard that's why they implemented the upcharges.  It's the new DaveOKC upcharge policy!

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

If your cruise touches Canada, you need a negative test to sail, and you need to use the ArriveCan system.

Oh Canada.  They are tough up there so I passed on a cruise out of Vancouver.  Seemed like flying up there, the testing, and the Arrivecan was just too much of a hassle so I "kicked the can" (anyone remember that game) and am going out of a US Port.

45 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Respectfully, I see it differently.

 

The cruise lines are no more giving the middle finger to those who are still "truly concerned" about safety then they were previously giving the middle finger to those who chose not to vaccinate (or did not want to pre-test). 

 

 

As someone who likes to look at all sides when there is a polarizing topic like this I have to admit this is a valid point.

47 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I agree it's about providing the illusion of safety but with a big wink (or maybe middle finger to those who are truly concerned about safety). 

 

 

 

 

Sorry to chop your post but this paragraph is priceless. 

I always say tell it like it is and I think you accomplished that!

Not surprised.  Other threads had some thinking HAL would not follow the other Carnival Corporation Brands but they have.  

16 hours ago, Nymich said:

I only see $20 for North America and $30 for Europe per bag.  Is it $20 in the South Pacific as well?  Thanks

I reopened this thread to get the answer to my above question.  I got the answer from a second thread I posted on.  While I didn't get the answer here I did learn people love to talk about laundry!  Carry on my wayward son..........

On 8/11/2022 at 1:55 PM, crystalspin said:

It's any time (up to two days before end of cruise). There is no restriction on what goes in the bag. (RCI was only for "smalls" no longsleeved shirts or slacks.)

I only see $20 for North America and $30 for Europe per bag.  Is it $20 in the South Pacific as well?  Thanks

51 minutes ago, mwj said:

I think HAL has a particular problem to solve before they make an announcement.

Many HAL cruises are marketed as B2B, whether it be a total of 14, 21, or 28 days.

How do they say that no testing is required for cruises <x days, when the b2b version is >x days.

Do they now automatically test all b2b cruisers between cruises?

???

I'm curious as to how HAL will choose to solve this problem?

I'm sure they already have that figured out. 

CCL, Princess and Cunard have announced changes so yep it feels like an announcement for HAL is close.

O makes this call and everyone screams this is not right it will backfire on them.  Good news about bookings comes out and the same people scream they are all about show me the money.  It's perfect one can complain no matter how it turns out!

I'm not saying I support it or not because that really doesn't matter the question has never changed.

Am I going to cruise given the current situation?

That is the only thing I have any control of the rest is just a bunch of opinions being thrown around and sometimes at each other.

The question for me never changes regardless of what any of these lines chooses to do with their businesses.  The question doesn't change even with all the opinions thrown around.

Am I going to cruise given the situation?

That question and answer is the only thing I have any control of. I look at it and I decide with what is best for ME yes or no. 

12 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Unfortunately, I believe cruise lines are years away from sustainable 100% occupancy. We've got the group that won't sail unless strict protocols are in place. The group that won't sail with strict protocols in place. And we can't ignore the group who will never set foot onboard a cruise ship due to MSM's portrayal of cruising in a petri dish during the heat of the pandemic.

 

OTOH, Princess just had to cancel 11 sailings due to staff shortages. Removing protocols may also help get staff back onboard. According to crew social, a number of staff are waiting to return until mask wearing and mandatory vaccination are removed. 

 

Cruise lines are caught in such a catch 22.

 

 

Couple all that with inflation and places they can't even cruise to because of war etc...

It is a mess.

Del Rio loves to drop bombs.

It's almost fitting that Del Rio drops this news as he likes to be first.  He seems to march to the beat of his own drum.