BaltimoreCruise

Thank you for the gift card information.  Does anyone know if the big box TA will apply the gift cards?

Thank you.

Anita/BC

I tried to get the welcome back credit applied to my March sailing.  I was on the Rotterdam in December.  The big box TA went back to HAL twice and was told the credit can’t be applied to an existing reservation.  I’ll try again tomorrow.

I tried the Curative link and I couldn't find a location in the Ft. Lauderdale area.  Possibly operator error.

BC

This evening I logged onto the HAL site and clicked the link for Quest.  I made appointments for the date we need in the am.  No rapid test is available.  Two weeks out I’ll check the CVS site.  RGEDad thank you for the very helpful information.  
BC

I will be searching for a covid test location in the Ft. Lauderdale area.  We arrive 3 days prior to our departure on December 1.  We have a rental car so getting to a test sight will not be a probIem for us.  I have the Abbott Binax Tests as a back-up.  We would return to FLL for testing, but I'm not certain we can get tested there because we fly in one day prior to our testing window.  I will continue to follow this post and hope that CCers that depart from Port Everglades (or that live in the area) will report on their progress of scheduling and receiving tests.  I am concerned that with the influx of cruise passengers that local testing may be overwhelmed.  Not to mention some time has passed since HAL indicated they were working on something close to the cruise terminal to assist its passengers.  

Thank you.

BaltimoreCruise

Thanks for this great information.  We had three 14 night cruises cancelled (2 on the Veendam and one on the Maasdam).  I plan to look at the options this weekend.

BC

I ordered 6 tests from eMed yesterday.  The tests were delivered today via FedEx.  The expiration date on the tests is 9/18/21, a couple of days before I ordered.  Our cruise begins December 1, 2021.  I printed the April 6, 2021 FDA letter that states that the updated shelf life date of the card is 12 months and plan to carry it with me (although I can't imagine the test proctor requesting to see it).  We plan to take the tests one week before we travel to FL and 2 days before the cruise (we will be in FL more than 2 days before the cruise).  Initially we thought we would participate in the testing at the airport, but that was when the testing requirement was 3 days prior and would have been upon our arrival at FLL.

BaltimoreCruise

I appreciate the update on the Abbott tests.

BC

I plan to purchase the BinaxNow tests for our December cruise.  If purchased recently what expiration dates do your tests have?  
 

Thank you.

BC

Following this topic.  My husband lost his CDC card.  I have printed docs from the MyIR site and also registered for the app.  My husband has a copy of his card and although not acceptable for boarding I hope the docs from MyIR and the copy of the CDC card will permit boarding.

Cruise Suzy

Thank you.  We cruise December 1.  I’ll try again in early August.

BaltimoreCruise

All,

I tried to book my specialty dining promo without success.  It must be operator error!  Can someone provide the specific steps used to book the dining promotion?  Your assistance is appreciated.  Thank you.

BaltimoreCruise

PS. I could not follow the steps/procedures in this thread. 

Correction aluminum not stainless.

Regarding the water in stainless steel bottles my husband and I both thought it was awful on our last HAL cruise in Feb. 2020.  We had the drink package but had to purchase the glass bottles of Aqua Panna because water bottles over 500ml are not part of the package.  In the past we have carried water on to get started.  Purchased Evian after that.  This will be more difficult to do with the new perimeters.  I’ve been researching boxed spring water and plan to purchase and give it a try.  Even  if we like it the amount/volume permitted to be brought on is limited.  Our next cruise is Dec.1 on the Rotterdam.  11nights southern Caribbean.  I hope the water “restrictions “ will be eased before we board.

Kazu/Jacqui

We are on the following:

December 1-12

Rotterdam

11 night Southern Caribbean

Thank you,

BaltimoreCruise

I have one thought on not seeing the doubled amount in your account.  The HAL rep. told me yesterday that our doubled deposit for the cancelled cruise would be split between the two of us.  Is it possible that the other half of your deposit is under another account/mariner number/name? 

I was on the telephone with my big box TA and HAL earlier today working on this issue.  Our Great Alaskan Explorer cruise (9/21) on the Maasdam was cancelled by HAL.  I confirmed that all of the money that was paid on the cruise to date will be doubled as a FCC (not just the initial deposit).  I used a FCD when i initially booked and added the March, 2020 DH Promo.  I also had other dollars credited from a cancelled air reservation.   I booked a new cruise today.  I had to pay a new deposit (I used another FCD that I had).  The FCC will not be available for some time.  It could be a couple of months I was told.  So none of the money I paid toward the cancelled cruise could be used today for a new booking.  However, the HAL rep. told me that when the FCC lands in my account, I can apply it to the cruise I booked today.  That's what sealed the deal for me to take the FCC versus a refund. When I apply the FCC when it is available, I'll have FCC remaining to use on another cruise booking. 

I agree with Sue from Canada.  Sunshine!  We first met Sunshine on the Veendam in January in the MIX Bar where she was an assistant.  We were delighted to see her again in February, 2020 on the Nieuw Statendam in the Tamarind Bar.  We were fortunate that she saw us on our first evening on the ship dining in Tamarind.  She is a very talented bartender and a warm and friendly person.  

BaltimoreCruise

An update.  I was on the phone with the TA for over one hour as she worked with HAL.  In the end, the TA rep and the HAL rep agreed that the HAL rep would call its air flight department when they opened to continue the discussion.  I remained on the phone with the TA going back and forth.  In the end, I was able to recoup a portion of the air fare that I paid, less cancellation fees of $144.92 per person.  This could have been a case of the HAL rep not knowing the rules of cancellation.  I don't think it was a special deviation of compensation case, at least it was not presented to me that way.  Quite the learning experience for me (and likely all three of us on the phone).  I wish you much luck if you cancel and are in this position.  

BaltimoreCruise

I am currently on the phone with my big box TA. I'm cancelling an existing 14 night cruise to Alaska scheduled for September 2020 and rebooking the "same" cruise for September 2021.  In the process I've learned that when I booked my air online with FE and paid, that the fare became non-refundable.  I specifically booked a flexible fare.  I should have done a better job reading the fine print.  I thought I had until my cruise booking cancellation date to cancel and that the air would be refundable.  A hard lesson for a novice FE user.  Has anyone experienced this issue?  Did you have any luck with contacting the airline?  My tickets are booked on Air Canada.  The TA told me that when I call AC, because I used a TA, they will tell me to call my TA.  HAL says they can't do anything.  A costly mistake on my part.  

BaltimoreCruise

If I'm on the wrong part of the Boards please direct me to the correct Board.  We are scheduled for a September 2020 Great Alaskan Explorer cruise on the Maasdam.  I'm just now looking into flights from Baltimore to Vancouver. I've checked the airline sites and Flight Ease.  Flight Ease has great prices and a decent flight selection, but I'm not certain how to proceed.  When I select Flex fares, then go to select a seat, there are no seats available.  Is this because they get assigned later by the airline? Maybe when we pay the full cruise fare?  Can I upgrade the seats using Flight Ease so that a selection can be made now?  Do I have to call to do that?  Are the Flight Ease people knowledgeable?

I'm currently looking at Air Canada flights.

This is my first experience with booking air with Flight Ease.  I've read many good things about the service in the past, but my skill for searching the HAL board is limited.

Your experience, tips, etc. is very much appreciated.

Thank  you.

BaltimoreCruise    

This may or may not be helpful information as I’ve never booked on board and prefer to purchase FCDs.  I’m just off the NS today.  I stopped at the FC office to have a currently booked refundable cruise fared with the View and Veranda promotion.  I am unhappy with a change to the SBP and wanted to assess if my current booking is still worth the money.  The FC office could not price the cruise at a new fare because he needed to use my Mariner number and that his system would not permit the exercise as it does not permit a double booking. I’ll work on this when I return home.

BaltimoreCruise

We are currently on the NS and having a wonderful time.  We have been advised by a couple of beverage staff that the 1L bottles of spring water are not included in the SBP.  The cost is well below the $11 limit.  Prior to revising our reservation to include the SBP our analysis included our spring water consumption.  During our previous cruises the large bottles of Evian were included in the SBP.  Where did I miss this information?  I plan to stop by Guest Services and inquire.

BaltimoreCruise

Thank you for this post.  Last year on the Veendam in January there were only a couple of sightings of the dairy alternative coconut milk or oat milk in the Lido.  I could not get either of these in the Explorations coffee bar.  I hope at least one of these two alternatives are available on the Nieuw Statendam beginning this Sunday.  

BaltimoreCruise

We have purchased the unlimited laundry package on many of our cruises and it works well for us and will do so again next week.  With the package, can we send out items to just be pressed and not laundered?

Thank you.

BaltimoreCruise