NavyCruiser

Thanks for your thoughts. We're boarding her today, so hope everything goes well...

I checked in 6 weeks prior to embarkation & got Group A, 11 am time. Checked in again 2 weeks prior to get the bar code on printed at home boarding pass...

TA just called back & said that the initial $249 pp upgrade from inside to verandah was a great deal, & agree with most of u above that paying to upgrade to Vista suite may not be worth it. So big Thanks for your inputs. They won't come off from the Neptune suite upgrade pricing, so it's out of our budget. However, she stated that there's lots of Vista suites still avail on our sailing this Sunday, so HAL may offer a free/complimentary upgrade to Vista at the port... 😀

That's what Airlines wants u to think, so that they'll make Billion$ on overweight luggage fees...

Great. Thanks for the specific info. See u there at 10...

My wife was thinking about bringing her own pro-grade hairdryer onboard the ship? Good idea? Or just go with the ship provided one...?

Thanks for all the great replies above. The initial price difference for the 7 night cruise was $740 ppfor the inside vs balcony, so we picked inside, with option for upgrade offers later. So with advise from people on here, we called HAL upsell dept & got upgraded to mid-ship Deck 6 balcony for $249 pp. We thought great deal. But thanks to the suggs above, think we'll save $300 & stay in our current balcony, & not upgrade to Vista suite, since it doesn't seem to add much value/perks, besides a little more space, which we don't need. However, waiting for our TA to call us back to see if we can get a better deal on the Neptune suite....😁

Excited & ready to board the Rotterdam next week to the Norwegian fjords. Thanks to helpful posts on here, we called HAL upsell dept few weeks ago & upgraded our inside cabin to Balcony/Veranda cabin for $249 pp ($498 total), so we're super happy about it. Today, just received email from our TA with this offer: Congratulations, you have been selected for this special upgrade offer! PREFERRED LIMITED UPGRADE SPECIAL!! Upgrade for select bookings from your Verandah Stateroom (Category VQ to VF) to the following best available: Neptune Suite (Category SQ to SC) for an additional $749pp/1498total USD Signature Suite (Category SS to SY) for an additional $599pp/$1198total USD Vista Suite (Category AS to BC) for an additional $149pp/$298 total USD So was wondering about your opinions if upgrading to any of these suites, esp to Vista suite for just $149 pp is worth it...? Thanks,

So let's say 100 people have covid/symptoms onboard. Thankfully, all were fully vaccinated & boosted, all had mild symptoms. 50 popped some pills, continue cruise, flew home like normal. 50 did the "right" thing, like OP, & went to Medical, then went thru all this quarantine hell onboard & ashore. Hmmm...

OP's statement: "When Covid is no worse than a head cold or mild case of flu, why have forced isolation and quarantine when it is not done for colds, the flu or other illnesses? We need to all learn to live with covid like we do with the seasonal flu and colds..." I agree. In our 30+ cruises & 100+ flights & vacations over the past 35 years, we've observed thousands of disgusting people with nasty unhygienic habits onboard planes, trains, & cruise ships. There were also numerous same disgusting people on our past 3 cruises & 4 vacations post-covid. So I'll assume there'll also be thousands of the same people in our future upcoming 3 cruises. I'm sure we've caught hundreds of illnesses on our previous travel from people with colds, flus, mers, sars, swine/chicken flus...etc. What did we do before? Popped a couple of pills, rest & stayed away from other people. We both have our 4 shots & not worried about catching covid, since we've lived normal life over past 2 years & haven't had any symptoms, whether we've caught it or not, but more worried about testing positive & being treated like this OP's experience by the cruise lines & foreign authorities.

Asking for your assistance & suggestions, since in over 30+ cruises, this will be our very first time ever using cruise lines' /HAL's bus transfer service from Airport to Cruise Ship/Port. With all the recent problems with airports & luggage issues, we've changed our flight from London to Amsterdam Schiphol airport from early Sunday (embarkation day) morning to day before/Sat night, staying overnight at airport hotel that has free shuttle to/from airport to hotel. Since our embark & debark port has changed from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, we've decided to cancel Uber/Taxi/Train plans & for just $39 pp, we've booked HAL's transfer service from AMS airport to cruise port/ship in Rotterdam. Our assigned boarding time is Group A, 11 am. So question is: - What's recommended time to take hotel shuttle back to AMS airport? - Where do we meet HAL transfers staff? Terminal? Location? - Is a schedule that the buses run? Every hour? half hour? Or do they wait until the bus is fill before leaving? - If we also purchase transfers for debark day, will HAL return us from Rotterdam to AMS airport, or to Amsterdam Central train station also? (We're staying in Amsterdam a few extra days afterwards) Thanks,

Just buy the drink package. Max out on all alcoholic drinks. Insomnia solved.

While we're at it: Free cruise for everyone...!!!

Although we appreciate classical music, we are looking forward to enjoying some good rock, blues & dueling pianos also....

Then HAL should Clearly re-name it "Have Some of It" promo, instead of HaveItALL, if gratuities are not included, only one specialty dinner, one or $100 off excursions, etc...

Awesome! Perfect timing for our Sept 11 cruise. No need to test at midnight on Sept 8 before our flight to Europe later that day...!

So I was 3 days off. it's Sept 6 now... Good news, precruise Covid testing off HAL website "News & Advisories" Holland America Line Simplifies COVID-19 Procedures Streamlined protocols meet public health goals while giving greater access for guests who are excited to cruise Seattle, Wash., Aug. 15, 2022 — Holland America Line is updating its “Travel Well” COVID-19 protocols and procedures, including requirements for vaccinations and pre-cruise testing that meet public health goals while recognizing the evolving nature of the COVID-19 situation. These changes will go into effect for cruises departing on or after Sept. 6, 2022. Under the simplified procedures, for most voyages up to 15 nights, vaccinated guests will no longer have to test before cruising and unvaccinated guests will be welcomed with a self-test within three days of sailing. The new protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, including Canada, Australia and Greece. “Our guests have been excited to return to cruising, and these changes will make it easier for more guests to explore the world in a safe and enjoyable environment,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “The new, simplified protocols recognize the evolving nature of COVID-19 while still ensuring we protect the health of our guests, team members and the communities we visit.” Key changes for cruises up to 15 nights (Ages 5 and older, not including full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and designated remote voyages): Vaccinated guests must provide evidence of vaccination status prior to embarkation. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required. Unvaccinated guests are welcomed aboard and must provide results of a negative medically supervised or self-test taken within three days of embarkation. Protocols for cruises 16 nights or longer (plus full Panama Canal transit, trans-ocean and designated remote voyages, ages 5 and older): All guests will be required to submit a medically supervised COVID-19 test with written negative result. The test must be taken within three days of embarkation. Guests must be vaccinated or request an exemption. Guests on longer voyages will be provided additional information about protocols based on ports visited. Guests can continue to submit documents electronically ahead of embarkation for a simple and faster check-in process. Holland America Line recommends that guests visit the TravelWell section of the company’s website for updates prior to cruise departure, as well as instructions on how to provide results of a negative test.

Carnival, HAL's parent company, is now September 6, 2022 https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/carnival-cruise-line-removes-pre-cruise-testing-vaccinated

Thanks for all the awesome replies above. Will call tomorrow morning & ask to see if they all are quad cabins, if they are, then we'll go back to deck 8 obstructed ocean view cabins. BTW, it was a great deal for only $40 per person to upgrade from interior cabin to obstructed ocean view for 7 nights. Now wondering if another $216 per person for balcony is worth it or not.... Thanks

The 6 cabins in a row are P246 - P308, between fwd elevators & piazza, straight & way before front end of ship starts to bow in. OC 179 square feet. Looks like good location, just worried about unknown space on Deck 4 below, & under casino on deck 6....

Just received an email from Princess that our group of 6 cabins were upgraded from obstructed oceanviews OV to regular non-obstructed oceanviews OC on Ruby Princess, but moving from good deck 8 to deck 5, above unknown deck 4 space below & under casino on deck 6 above. They were able to still keep all of our 6 cabins tog6. Not sure if this is a good upgrade...?

BOOM!!! And it begins with NCL on Sept 3, 2022. https://www.ncl.com/sail-safe Age Vaccinated Unvaccinated < 11 years No testing requirement. No testing requirement. ≥ 12 years No testing requirement. Proof of a medically supervised negative PCR or Antigen test taken no more than 72 hours prior to embarkation is required.

We've just received our 4th Pfizer shot last week, so the vaccination requirements doesn't affect us. We're more annoyed with the pre-cruise testing requirements...

Did I read that right, that it takes 20 minutes for a hot dog...?

Agree with staying an extra day & enjoy the city of Barcelona...