DomsPaPa

A little more than 3 weeks to wait for what I hope is a little bit of chocolate Nirvana! Can't wait :D

dh

Interesting ... but only adds to the confusion, as the current (10-17-2017) prices for the (6-pack) Bucket of Beer posted on HAL's website are $37.50 for Imported brands and $40 for Domestic (US) brands. And, adding 15% to the prices shown in the Room Service menu that you posted would only bring those prices up to $34.50 and $36.80, respectively. I'd wager a beer that the current information from HAL is more accurate than that posted by your "random poster".

Are you wagering a Domestic or Imported beer? Just asking :')

dh

No it does not. Try welcoming a newcomer instead of complaining about such a trivial thing.

 

Sent from my SM-J320W8 using Forums mobile app

I'm with you Lizzie, and Holland just happens to be my surname so I'll give them permission to use it for this purpose if they so chose ;p

D Holland

I don't remember any rocks but there were a few small shells. If there is a medical concern of injuring feet than I suggest you wear water shoes just to be safe. Your feet could be stepped on by others and they'll make climbing up and down the boats ladder into/out of the water easier/safer. You'll love the stingrays at the Caymans!

Here's how the $50 soda card works. Either pre-cruise or on board you purchase a $50 soda card. You are charged $25 to your credit card or ship account depending on whether you purchase the card in advance or onboard. When you use the card, you are charged for the cost of the drink plus a 15% gratuity. That amount is deducted from the balance on the soda card which starts at $50. So if a drink costs $1.95, as I recall, plus 15% or $0.29 for a total of $2.24 is deducted from your card. You can purchase as many drinks as you wish at a time using the card as long as there is value on it. Given that they are using electronic ordering, you don't always get a paper receipt, but you can always ask your server what the remaining balance is.

 

There is also an unlimited soda card that sells for $8/cruise day plus a 15% gratuity (paid in advance). With that card, one can drink unlimited sodas every day, but one can't share them with another person. One would have to drink at least 4 sodas a day to break even on that card.

 

I hope this explains the two types of soda cards that are available on HAL.

That is a very thorough and well explained post on purchasing soda onboard! Thank you for taking the time as it's appreciated.

dh

We'll be flying from Toronto to FLL, arriving at 10:45 AM for a same day cruise departing at 4PM ... November 11th! (So a winter day on a national day off work for most in Toronto)

I must be crazy ... :o

dh

We have bought the soda cards before and found we've saved money. We don't use the whole $50 but do always use more than $25 so save some. We enjoy a soda with lunch from the dive-in :cool:

What I don't know is if you can buy the soda cards onboard as we've always bought ours online before the cruise.

dh

We were going to SJ on November 14th, but just noticed our itinerary is now showing Punta Cana. We then were going to St. Thomas for Nov 15th and it's now showing Frederiksted, St. Croix. I haven't been to either so happy with these changes.

D Holland

Hi, just off the Nieuw Amsterdam in Alaska, and everything I had pre-booked/pre-paid (2 Pinnacle Grill dinners for 4, 1 Tamarind dinner for 4) was there on cards the first day in my "in box" at my cabin. We also received reminders on the day of dining. Of course, we also got a "perk" Pinnacle Grill dinner in each cabin .....and we wanted to sub one of my pre-booked/pre-paid PG dinners with the "freebie." Utter mayhem ensued. Joking.....a little. It ended up that they credited me BOTH pre-booked/pre-paid PG dinners for 4 as OBC, then booked the "freebie" for our first night at sea, and then charged us for the PG dinner on our last night at sea. That would have been fine, except that when they charged us on our last night at sea, they charged my brother and sister in law for their dinner, which should have been our treat! Oh well, cie la vie, right? The dinners were great! Three of us added on the lobster tail to make it a surf and turf and it was well worth the up-charge, IMO!

 

Best wishes!

This is good news as we'll be on the Nieuw Amsterdam in November and hoped to get the reservation cards on 1st day as in the past.

Fingers crossed!

dh

It all depends on how much you feel you'll drink on a cruise vacation. I don't usually drink much so the packages aren't useful for me. My DW and I each bring on the allowed 750ml bottle of wine, and then just buy-as-we-go for any more we want.

We did this walking tour a couple of years ago. http://www.frommers.com/destinations/new-providence/walking-tours

We will be back in Nassau in November and will be doing it again. Really enjoyed the day.

 

We usually have a local beer in every port. In Nassau we found a little store in the main shopping area (not straw market) that sold cold bottles of beer-they opened the bottle and put it in a small brown paper bag so you could enjoy it while walking. I don't remember the variety but they sold a beer/lemonade combination that was lower alcohol and delicious. I'm going to enjoy one of those again!

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I believe a beer/lemonade combo is called a Shandy. My grandfather used to get them for me in England in the 70's when I accompanied him to the local Pub as a young teenager. Fond memories ...

Yes....very good info. For many years my wife and I have saved OJ and crisp bacon from breakfast to use later in the day.

 

Plan ahead.

 

David

Mmmmm bacon

Great idea to stock up on some bacon in the morning ... great for snacks when on a low carb diet ;-)

dh

I thought perhaps it was an up sell. If it was a new sale offer, than of course you would be correct.

Either way, excellent for Cherry ;-)

D Holland

That's an awesome price! Congrats.

You had me checking my email as I'm on this cruise also. Alas no similar offer. Lol

Enjoy your good fortune!

dh

I truly enjoy the company of any well behaved creature ... human or animal ... child OR adult ;-)

dh

This is from the Hotel we've booked on Key West for after our cruise.

Westwinds Inn - Key West

Yesterday at 6:05am ·

Hurricane Update:

Our hotel did not sustain any major damage as a result of Hurricane Irma. Once the local authorities give us the all clear, we will be opening our doors for guests. Currently, we have some team members onsite assisting with the clean-up and they are doing an amazing job. The best way to contact us is via email at frontdesk@westwindskeywest.com. Please bear with us as we are experiencing high call and email volumes.

Thank you so much for all of your concern. We hope to welcome you very soon!

Very good news!

My God, will people PLEASE stop with the "dumbing down" comments...

 

Just because people do not want to play "Downton Abbey" 24/7 on a cruise anymore does not mean they are now playing "People of Walmart." "Dress up" for breakfast and lunch?? Seriously??? If people are clothed within the HAL guidelines, it's no one's damn business to be the HAL clothing police. If someone is not happy with the more casual atmosphere now dictated by HAL's own guidelines, there is always another cruise line to try. There is room between the two without resorting to immediately calling something dumbing down.

I'm just curious here, but will "your God" be giving you a public response to your public statement/question to him/her? :o

As others have said, I add my vote to reading as I never get a long enough period of time at home to jump deep into a book for hours on end. On the ships I don't even have to stop reading to make meals or clean up! We'll also watch a movie if it's one of interest and play some backgammon to finish the day.

D.H.

Tendering is just a part of the entire Adventure of Cruising.

No HMC??? No way!

I do understand if you get seasick easily or are a little uneasy on a tender, but otherwise enjoy the fresh air, a brief chat with a new neighbour and your Tender Pilot's skills.

Think of them as water buses or limo's!

D. Holland

No flames from me. I've actually cut back on cruising on HAL, not due to it's changes, but to the constant complaining I hear. One gentleman was overheard having a coffee with a ship's officer and asking them to turn off the overhead music on the ship because he had trouble concentrating. The Koningsdam and its upcoming sister ship are the main reasons I DO continue to cruise with HAL. I'm probably going to drop out of Cruise Critic due to the whining of so many members.

I agree with you that people are whining a little too much ... 1st world problems. Perhaps they are taking the website name to heart too much ... Cruise CRITIC :-(

This will be our 4th cruise ... 2nd on the Nieuw Amsterdam and we are very excited to go. She is a beautiful ship with an amazing crew.

D Holland

Thanks for the great review! I will be sailing on the Eurodam to the Western Caribbean this Sunday (Nov 9th) with my wife and daughter.

Can't wait!

D Holland

After reading this thread a week or two ago I kept thinking of how much I'd enjoy a shot of Bailey's in my morning coffee(s) on our November cruise! Ordered the bottle last night for our stateroom.

Thanks for the excellent idea folks! 6 days till the cruise.:D

dh

Personally it's Eggs Benedict for me with a side of breakfast sausages with syrup on them. My Wife loves her bowl of oatmeal and a side of bacon. We both wash this down with a glass of OJ, a small carton of low fat milk and a cup or two of coffee!

I almost never eat breakfast at home ... at least during the work week, so I just love having breakfast on vacation :).

D Holland