CanuckCruizer

7 minutes ago, scrapcreator said:

We had the “earliest” boarding time of 11:30 am at Rotterdam on July 31st. We got there just after that and there was a long line already for luggage and no one seemed to be looking at check in time. 🤷‍♀️ So I can’t tell you when they opened the doors.Try to find a porter to hand off your already tagged luggage.

scrapcreator - thanks for your reply - appreciate it.  Yes - we always use porters but hard to do if there are none.  Hoping our transfer guy can assist.  Thanks for the heads up!

Enjoy the rest of your cruise and of course, you too, What a Market!

Canuck

1 hour ago, scrapcreator said:

Normandie Day 3

 

scrapcreator - thanks very much for posting these menus.  I have compared to my app for our upcoming cruise and they are the same, so that is good.

Do you happen to know what time the boarding first opens at Rotterdam terminal?  We received 11:30am, but wondering if that is the 1st time or does it open earlier?  Trying to arrange our transportation/timing of arrival.

Thanks,

Canuck

29 minutes ago, Boatharbour said:

We left Apex this morning. When we boarded 12 days ago (at 11.30) I did see a worker using a trolley to help some passengers. Can’t say for sure if he worked for the port or had accompanied a  transfer. 

Bag drop off was outside the terminal, a few steps from the curb. There were two lines - those whose bags were tagged and those that weren’t. 
Passenger vehicles were directed to an adjacent car park to unload. 

 

Boatharbour,

Thanks very much for your reply.  That sounds a "bit" encouraging - haha - fingers crossed!  Let's hope our driver can pull right up to there or we find a porter with a trolley, if we go early.

Canuck

5 minutes ago, What A Market said:

Hello Canuck

Thanks for following. 
I get your concern from what I tried to describe. I did not see any carts. Not sure what others were doing at drop off. Our driver ignored everyone trying to flag his car into the drop off area. He pulled his car off on the other side of the road, had us jump out, unloaded our suitcases (four — two wheeled carry ons and two medium wheeled bags), stopped all traffic, then he and I wheeled the bags across the street. We were basically in the middle of the scrum at that moment. 
 

It was right about then that I heard a Celebrity concierge screaming for Retreat guests. 
 

Everyone in line seemed to have all their bags with them. 

Thanks for replying.

Was your driver able to accompany you as far as the luggage drop off or did he just take you to the lineup and leave you? 

We will have 6 bags (4 cases & 2 carry on and due to medical issues - I cannot "lift" anything, so my DH is on his own🙃)

Sounds like a gong show - lol.  We are in a suite too but obviously, that doesn't make a difference.  This is reminding us of San Diego terminal, where we paid a homeless man to help us - he actually volunteered as he saw my husband struggling - if it wasn't for him, I don't think we would have made it.

What time did you get there?

Canuck

1 hour ago, What A Market said:

On board!

 

Loads of people standing in the rain with their baggage. Unfortunately the porters don’t take bags immediately from you as you arrive. You get in line with your bags and at one single point you hand off your bags to porters. 
 

No signage outside for the Retreat guests. Fortunately, their were a couple of people yelling for Retreat guests and getting you situated in a specific line. 
 

Very very fast (and dry) after that for the rest of the check in and boarding process. 

What A Market - Glad you made it ok and thanks very much for doing this review. 

We are sailing on the Apex in September out of Rotterdam.  Reading the above concerns me.  We are going on a very long holiday and will have 4 large cases between the two of us.  Are there any carts available to put your luggage in, while you are in the lineup, as don't know how we are going to manage?  Failing that - would our driver be able to accompany us with the luggage up to the porters?  Did you see anyone doing this?

Do you know what time the boarding opened up as I don't think you mentioned your arrival time?  We have chosen the 1st time that was available - 11:30am - just wondering if they are open before that?  

Thanks very much.

Canuck

29 minutes ago, richwmn said:

if you have refundable obc you can get it back on the final night in cash (usd) and use it for whatever you want

Haven't been on HAL since 2016 I think, so trying to remember everything.  

Thanks to both you and POA1 for your helpful replies.

Cheers,

Canuck

5 minutes ago, POA1 said:

If you paid in money, you can use it for the casino. You cannot use OBC that is part of your fare via a sale, from a TA, or from a canceled voyage - like a credit because your sailing had been canceled in the past.

POA1 - Yes - our obc is from 2 cancelled voyages by HAL and Mariner Bonus and promo, so wouldn't work.  But....so you are saying that we could buy onboard credit ahead of time (before boarding) and then use it in the casino and get cash back?  That could work for us as a way to get our hands on extra US cash.  We have to bring Euros too and we are only allowed to carry so much money with us, leaving the country.

Canuck

1 minute ago, flamingos said:

On other cruise lines, you can use your onboard credit in the casino.....then cash out.  Is that possible on Holland?

flamingos - you used to be able to get your hands on money that way, but I am pretty sure that they have put a stop to it now on RCCL & X.  I think I read somewhere that HAL does not allow any onboard credit for casino use, so that probably wouldn't work.

Thanks,

Canuck

18 minutes ago, Banditswife said:

I tried to give extra OBC to our cabin steward through the guest services desk.  This was on N Statendam.  Was told it would have to go into tipping pool & divided among crew, I could not specify a certain crew member.

Banditswife - thanks for telling me.  Yes - we will be on the Nieuw Statendam as well.  That probably wouldn't help us doing it that way though - unless we run out of extra US cash to tip, then we would have to tip the "whole Club Orange staff" or something along those lines.😄

Canuck

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

It would be good for sure.  I'm assuming because it's too labor intensive but that purely a guess.

Yes - you may have a point.🙂

Canuck

17 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

No, it doesn't seem to be an option on hal unless you want to do it for everyone across the board not just one person.

Florida_gal_50 -

Wow - ok.  That is unfortunate.  We need to have more Euros with us than US, so thought it would be a good solution to use the extra US money for extra tips.  Now have to recalculate things.🙂

Thanks for your reply,

Canuck

Wondering if anyone has any first hand experience, trying to do this? 

We have already pre-paid the gratuities.  We will have extra onboard credit (as we have the Have it All & have pre-paid shore excursions etc.).  

We are doing a B3B on 3 different lines, in Europe.  To save us taking too much US cash with us, we thought we could use any excess onboard credit to give to a hard working employee.  On both RCCL & Celebrity, I have heard of others doing this (have never done it myself).  You apparently can go to the Purser's Desk and fill out a form, telling them to give "Johnny Smith, Waiter" $100US or whatever amount.

Anyone know if you can do this on HAL?  I have done searches and can't find anything.  Also, I dare NOT call in to be told different answers by different agents.🙃

Thanks,

Canuck

I must be mistaken.  No problem.  Good info on the site but no 14 day menus, so I will keep looking.

Canuck

29 minutes ago, POA1 said:

Roger Jett has a good selection of menus on his site. He's been my go-to resource for years.

 

https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/

 

He posts here as @Crew News

POA1 - Thanks for that link to Roger's site.  I was on his hal facts site and knew he had another one but could not remember the name.  I will check it out.

Yes - I have the Voyage number.  Next time I call in - I will see what they say - lol - as it all depends on who you are talking to.😀

Canuck

1 minute ago, POA1 said:

It should be 6 for the reasons RuthC mentioned. Your PCC or travel agent can see it on the booking, but it's not on your paperwork nor does it show when you view your booking on the HAL website

POA1 - Thanks for your reply.  We don't have a TA or a PCC - always book direct with the cruiseline.  I asked the agent and they didn't know.

I am going with 6 Gala Nights.  Still working on finding some 2023 menus.

Canuck

2 minutes ago, RuthC said:

I agree. A true 28-day cruise would likely have only four Gala nights, but you aren't taking a true 28-day cruise; you are taking two 14-day cruises, which have 3 Gala nights each. 

Unless the itineraries are vastly different (e.g., if one were a repositioning cruise), then I would also agree that the menus will likely repeat. 

RuthC - Thanks for your reply.  We booked the 28 day, but yes, others have booked one 14 day sailing or a B2B with two 14 day sailings.  The 2nd segment is a repositioning, where it starts in Athens and ends in Rome.

Thanks,

Canuck

5 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Agree, it's probably 6. Also think the the 14 day menu rotation will be the plan.

CruiserBruce - thanks for your reply.  I will continue to search for newer 14 day menus to give us an idea of what to expect.

Canuck

Going on the Nieuw Statendam in the fall on a 28 day cruise (also sold as 2 separate 14 day cruises).  I think that there will be 6 Gala Nights & have read on another site, that someone said 6 also.  Another person said 4 only.  Anyone have any idea?  I did a search and nothing came up on here & the Navigator app does not indicate.

Also looking for dinner menus to try to determine which nights we will want to book at the specialty restaurants.  Wondering if there would actually be a 28 day menu or do you think that they will do a 14 day menu and then repeat?  Anyone know of any recent or current menus to look at?  Again, Navigator app does not show.

Another thing - I am more familiar with Royal Caribbean's & Celebrity's apps - where you can actually change the sail date (from your booked sailing) to a current one, to help you figure out menu choices, entertainment times etc.  Haven't sailed with HAL for a few years so have not used their app. On HAL's Navigator app - there does not appear to be an option to change to another sailing - anyone know?

Any help would be appreciated.🙂

Canuck

Just now, terrydtx said:

Canuck, Yes I am aware of the cancelation fee, but this is not uncommon in Europe.  

Yes I have seen it.  The transfers we have booked in Europe for this year are 100% cancellation refund, as I have medical issues, so want to be sure that if something were to happen, we would get our money back. Some do charge 2.8% credit card fee though if you have to cancel.

Canuck 

14 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

In Athens we booked a transport from the Cruise port to the airport for $130 for the 4 of us and the Athens airport is not that close to the cruise port. Celebrity wanted $69pp for their shuttle.  We fly to Santorini after the cruise are we are using them for our transport from airport o our hotel too.

Johnnydeo - sorry - didn't mean to hijack your thread - but most companies that do Miami also do Fort Lauderdale, as they are not far apart.  Terry was answering me.

Terry - did you know that on their website - they allow you to cancel 24 hrs ahead BUT there is a 20% cancellation fee or a free coupon to use in 1 year.  These days, anything can happen so I would prefer booking with a company with 100% cancellation refund.

Cheers,

Canuck

1 minute ago, terrydtx said:

In Europe we have very reliable private transport by using Viator and trip advisor. This year we found this site and are using them for our transports in Amsterdam and Athens after reading about them on CC. I was just looking at their website and they do Miami transports. Here is the link:

Miami, USA - Welcome Pickups

Thanks very much - I will look at their site.

Canuck

13 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

Do not take the Celebrity shuttle unless you like being on a bus with 30 strangers. We always do a taxi or Uber for around $20 each way.  We have learned to get private transportation to any port and bypass the expensive and crowded cruise line shuttles. 

terrydtx - we like to do private transfers as well.  Looking in Miami and having quite the time with several companies - being quoted higher rates than their websites and just overall very unprofessional people.  Also noticed that since our last cruise, their rates have skyrocketed for very short rides.  (of course, we have to factor in our lovely Canadian exchange).

We don't like to be left standing outside the port either, but we cannot take a regular taxi, as we have too much luggage.  Haven't tried Uber yet, but would rather have something prebooked for our arrival at the port. Any recommendations for private in Miami/Lauderdale area?

Thanks,

Canuck

17 minutes ago, _lefty26_ said:

Not cruising until 2/24. Pre purchased a 6 night dining package at precruise pricing. The advertised price was deducted from OBC. I just reviewed my credit card usage for 2022 and noticed an additional charge which I believe was an added Service Charge. Haven’t received response from Celebrity.

Hi lefty - wow - that sounds bizarre.  Please post "if" you hear back from Celebrity about this.  

I am waiting to hear back from them myself - their online IT dept has struck again....they have our booking listed in Canadian (which is correct) but then the balance owing is listed in US FUNDS - lol.  The levels of incompetence never cease to amaze....

Thanks,

Canuck

9 minutes ago, _lefty26_ said:

Dining Package price deducted from OBC, no mention of service charge in pricing!

This was added to the pricing as an additional charge!

Hi lefty26 - so what do you mean - the 20% gratuity was charged, separately, to your credit card and the amount of the package came off your obc?  I am contemplating booking and using my obc, so inquiring minds want to know? 🙂

Thanks,

Canuck

1 minute ago, MeHeartCruising said:

 

I edited out my previous post after researching a little more.  It looks like they have built a new, larger dedicated terminal building since I was last there.  I would guess it's large enough to handle 2 ships embarking as a new cruise at the same time.  So you may be in good shape.  Hopefully someone who knows more about this current situation will update this thread soon.  Good luck!

MeHeartCruising - yes, we just discovered that there is now old and new parts of the terminal.  Thanks for your help.  

I want to know if we need to book a private car (instead of just using a porter to transfer the luggage) to take us in between the two ships, as we don't want to be left standing with our luggage.

Hopefully someone has done this.

Thanks,

Canuck