Mary229

I only buy $100s. Up until now they have allowed me to use a single $100 FCD and charge the remainder to my credit card.  For example if my deposit is $600 I use a $100 FCD and charge $500 to the credit card. 

I haven’t noticed as of late - does HAL still polish shoes?

I don’t know the price per pack but DH buys the carton deal - 4 cartons for $150.  Remember the shops do not open unless you are at sea

4 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

When that happens, we say good evening and then ignore them the rest of the meal.  If we wanted to share, we'd request a bigger table.  We request a table for two because after many decades we still enjoy each other's company and still have things to talk about. I don't want the pace of my meal interrupted by folks at the next table who may be low talkers, loud talkers, pontificators, zealots, or otherwise annoying.

I agree but on the Noordam you may easily brush elbows with your neighbors. They should rearrange the tables so they are truly tables for two.  This would be easily accomplished with the current trend away from fixed dining.  In the anytime dining room it may be harder to accomplish.

on other ships we enjoy a brief “how are you this evening” and a good night salutation with our table for two neighbors. On the Noordam you could whisper and still be heard by the neighbors 

thanks for the list😉
 

Noordam and its sister ships make the table for two awkward.  You are seated so close to the next table you feel obligated to say something.  They really aren’t tables for two.  

On 11/30/2023 at 8:19 AM, Heidi13 said:

Quantity: portions are much smaller, with minimal vegetables. On our last cruise we requested a bowl of steamed veggies every dinner.

Same.  Vegetables are surprisingly inexpensive but I think the amount of waste is likely staggering. As much is said about healthy eating it is not actually practiced.   The cruise lines are well aware of what people actually eat as opposed to what they profess to want 

Food and energy suffered large inflationary pressures in recent years.  I am not surprised that food costs weigh on menus.  Also I think trends change, the younger generation consumed much more fast food and convenience food while growing up and continue to consume far more convenience food as adults.  I never imagined that macaroni and cheese would be a culinary highlight.  
 

From the USDA:

In 2021, food-at-home prices increased 3.5 percent and food-away-from-home prices increased 4.5 percent. The CPI for all food increased an average of 3.9 percent in 2021. Of all the CPI food-at-home categories tracked by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Research Service (ERS), the beef and veal category had the largest relative price increase (9.3 percent) and the fresh vegetables category the smallest (1.1 percent). No food categories decreased in price in 2021 compared with their prices in 2020.

In 2022, food prices increased by 9.9 percent. Food-at-home prices increased by 11.4 percent, while food-away-from-home prices increased by 7.7 percent. All food price categories tracked by USDA, ERS increased by more than 5 percent, and all food categories grew faster than their historical average rate.

I went into flight ease today and it really has improved.  I was able to run through multiple choices, changing class, changing airports and more without a single error message.  

FYI. Original Morimoto announcement with menu

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/news/2023/november/news-1122023-holland-america-line-to-open-new-restaurant-morimoto-by-sea

2 hours ago, lindajoyce23 said:

we paid for the one way using Flight Ease- but when I went into booking at the end we are being charged $240.60 extra (after we paid Holland immediately with notation "all taxes and fees included"- I am unable to confirm the addition of my husbands Known Traveler Number as well as frequent flyer info unless we pay online????  Do you have any information on this or anyone who has secured the flight then some additional charges show up on website? This is Jet Blues website..we had no additional charges when we booked seats from BOS to REY- on Icelandair but only on flight from CLE to BOS on Jet Blue!!!! 

You must have hit a wrong button. You certainly are allowed to add TSA and change seats without incurring a fee.  If the flight is paid for you can also do that at the airline website  

18 minutes ago, sweetp0618 said:

So you support discrimination against people with disabilities? Why should I be limited in my cruise selection because I have a disability? How would you feel if you were in my shoes?

I am quite sure you pulled a quote out of context and since it is from over 4 years ago I am certainly not going to dig through this thread to determine the context.  

Having done this recently first you must complete the checkout to be waitlisted.  You will then Reta confirmation email that you are on a waitlist. The best check if you missed the email is to attempt to purchase again.  

1 hour ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

Currently on Rotterdam 

There are in fact scooters that line entry towards elevator banks. I just went to check for you and there are no charging outlets there. 

I wonder if those are there with permission or not.  It has been quite a few cruises ago that I have seen scooters parked in public areas 

2 hours ago, POA1 said:

Based on some fairly extensive "research," figure on 5 ounces. There are 5 glasses in a standard 750 ml bottle. 750 ml = 25.361 fluid ounces.

We always assume 5 pours to a bottle on HAL

3 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

Have you contacted a travel insurance broker, someone who deals with several travel insurance vendors, each of which probably have several different policies?

And CALL, don't just read online summaries.  The value of a broker is the discussion, where not only do you ask questions, but *they* ask you questions (usually) to help figure out the best policy for you (or for you, for this trip).

We use www.TripInsuranceStore.com - to get policies from Travel Insured.  (no extra cost to traveler to use a broker)

We've had several claims and all paid without nonsense.
Importantly, the "Q&A" in our discussions made a huge difference in terms of "when we made claims, everything worked well... no surprises..."

 

We looked into annual plans, and for several reasons, they were non-starters for us.  One thing was that IF one hit the coverage limit for a year, then it was likely going to be *too late* to start policies for remaining trips.

 

GC

I second the trip insurance store.  Steve is a great asset to the travel insurance industry. He knows all of the gotchas. 

17 hours ago, Harry Lake said:

I looked at CSR but IIRC they only offered something like $750 for medical. I got another plan..

I have an annual medical policy paired with my Sapphire.  Geoblue is a bargain.  They offer a bit more than $750.  I have compared them side by side with basic popular comprehensive plans and they are almost identical.

17 hours ago, Roz said:

 

For me that's a bunch of BS. 😠

That’s Viking.  I don’t get it.  

On your HAL invoice scroll down. The second or third page will contain all of the perks

Here is the post regarding bread plates. 

A few weeks back there was a thread about the dinner ware on ship.  Apparently they will sell you a set.  As I recall someone quoted $35 for 4 bread plates 

I have had the cakes.   They are a good cake but I was not a big fan of the frosting.  Instead of a rich buttercream it is more of a whipped cream based frosting.  

13 minutes ago, Real NHDOC said:

On my first read of the offer I assumed it was $49PP per day but in re-reading it I think they are offering it for $49 per cabin (for up to 4 passengers in a cabin) as long as everyone pays the taxes and port fees.  If anyone has been able to successfully sign up for one of these maybe they can confirm whether it is $49/Day PP or per cabin?

That would be a game changer.  

I have a cruise leaving Seattle in June 2024 and it lists the Sheraton at USD538 per couple per night.  I would look elsewhere.

Of course June is more expensive than October 

If you want an independent hotel visit look at these links for recommendations 

https://www.allcruisehotels.com/blog/port-of-seattle-hotels-with-cruise-shuttle/

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2824556-hotel-recommendations-for-sailing-out-of-seattle/

I sail from Europe September 27, 2024 and have their hotel booked.  Did you look on the precruise travel arrangements page on your manage my cruise page?     The website has been very glitchy lately so patience can be needed. The other option is to call the shore excursions phone number, they are the people who know all of the hotel details. Or you can have your travel agent take care of it. 
 

I have never used them in Seattle as many nearby airport hotels have shuttle services.