Mary229

5 minutes ago, Archipelago said:

Okay let me see ...What time is embarkation on Hal ? I would want to get there early . Arrange the driver in plenty of time to allow for any delays or something unexpected . 

Another thing to check is if it is a Sunday departure then the wineries will be closed and most everything else so if that is the case simply get a private transfer without tour 

The lodge is not on NPS lands so to enter you will need to pay or show your pass.  The tours of course do include the entrance fee. Review the NPS site for a complete rundown. https://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm

There are some evening excursions offered and they are enjoyable. Some include a large meal.  Check the listings.  As a group leader you should be able to arrange excursions with HAL exclusively for your group. 

Just now, Archipelago said:

Oops..it IS San Antonio ..is that Santiago or close to Santiago ???

You want to stay in Santiago, not terribly close but close enough that you can take a private transfer with a wine tour if you choose or go with HAL transfer.  San Antonio is a working port town, Santiago is a better option IMHO. I have stayed in Santiago a number of times and i always can find something to do. 

I always book HAL hotels way in advance, they seem to sell out quickly - many, many months in advance.  But stay waitlisted as some will choose to drop the HAL hotel as final payment clears.  But do in the meantime find a suitable substitute and book a refundable room.  
 

heads up - if you book one night in the Santiago hotel your room is ready when you arrive very early in the morning and you can have a complimentary full breakfast both mornings. You get two nights for the price of one - well sort of 😉. It is in a very walkable safe neighborhood with plenty to do. 

On most of my recent cruises I ordered decaf in the MDR every evening as it was a delicious nespresso brew, no charge.  Unfortunately on my recent Koningsdam cruise they walked around with a carafe and I am pretty certain some evenings the pour was not decaf. 

So I haven’t followed along with this thread except when it first launched.  Has anyone posted any verified information from HAL regarding this or is this thread carrying on 14 pages o only one PCCs word.   It has always been the policy for family rooms.  I have a family room booked and we were surprised they allowed us to do so but the sailing historically does not draw families or groups.  We were warned when we book that we could be asked to move - this was booked well over a year ago. 

45 minutes ago, secondtime said:

Upon doing the online checkin for an upcoming cruise, I see that the language has been changed in the contract to reflect that HAL can move anyone to another stateroom.  The date on the bottom of the contract is March 2024.

I don’t have an old contract to compare with but they have always reserved the right to move you.  That was generally done when they needed an accessible room and the person who had originally booked did not need the room.  

If it is like Holland America, Princess's sister company, yes but there will be glitches.  I would recommend doing as you have already done but periodically reviewing the onboard account to be sure it is charging correctly and even going to the guest services desk and paying your onboard account with card in hand.  My sister and I travel together often and as I said occasionally there are glitches and this is how we handle them. (She gambles a lot more than I do)

As @POA1 indicated with a refundable deposit you don't need to pay for insurance until you get to the first required payment which is usually on final payment day (3 to 4 months before the cruise).   But yes, once you buy the insurance that is not refundable

Remember the feedback button on the left margin.  I use it frequently.  This morning I was sure to tell them they could simply get a GoDaddy website and do better😆

Bon Voyage! 
 

I look forward to your reports.  

No.  

2 minutes ago, clo said:

You used lockdowns twice. 'Scuse my ignorance, I have not idea what that is.

The time between 2020 and 2022 when people were not allowed to travel freely 

12 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Yes, they are good bets for Glacier Bay however there are other lines that sail Glacier Bay now.  Do an advanced search on Cruise Critic and put in Glacier bay under ports 

@Christina2067  here is the NPS list of cruise lines

https://www.nps.gov/glba/getinvolved/concession-contracts.htm

2 minutes ago, Christina2067 said:

The only reason was that wanted the Glacier Bay passage if possible in Alaska and only Princess and Holland America have the permission for that port.  I also have cruised Princess as well.  Holland and Princess were neither my favorite lines of the many that I have been on.   

Yes, they are good bets for Glacier Bay however there are other lines that sail Glacier Bay now.  Do an advanced search on Cruise Critic and put in Glacier bay under ports 

I like 30 day+ cruises so yes there is the occasional missed port especially in the North Atlantic and far southern South America where weather fluctuates wildly. Besides those when cruises started up after the lockdown there were still ports unexpectedly turning away cruise ships. 

Besides weather and lockdowns I have missed ports because of medical evacuations once on Oceania and once on Holland America.

1 hour ago, Christina2067 said:

I know some people have commented on location is worth the price but “spa” category without spa access is not for me.  I did not put in my original post that I have been on Holland America years ago and it was ok but it was not my favorite line.  That is my opinion.

I am truly curious. Why were you looking at HAL again?  I will never consider Oceania again after my experience with them no matter how wonderful the itinerary.

We always carry our own trail mix except to countries that ban nut import.  Costco and Sam’s both have nice sized bags that will last the week and granola/energy bars travel well from home to tour.  (Bring ziploc bags to package to single serving)  Remember in Alaska groceries are expensive but interestingly I didn’t find restaurants that expensive. At Denali there are other restaurants besides the lodge fare.  We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and the huge size of portions at HAL’s restaurant, we shared entrees a time or two. 

Just now, Ninato8 said:

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I have had atrial fib for about 15 years. Started off with 3 ablations over 3 years and then controlled by meds. No episodes for at least five years so these two episodes were a great surprise. I am trying to get a consult with my cardiologist but not an easy thing to do. 
 

so hard to decide…

You don’t need to decide, let the physician decide.  I use mychart to communicate with my doctor. That might be easier than an in person consult.  If that is not available try speaking with their assistant by phone. Start with this easiest option then move up to an in person appointment 

41 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

HAL created the "Spa" category a few years back to charge more for poorly-selling cabins (for the reasons you state). Genius marketing I guess! I actually like the locations even though I am not a spa user, but not the higher tariff. But I do look and compare rates...

 

ETA: We like to be near the Crows Nest!

 

Some of us like high, proximity to certain features and the quiet.  Well worth the extra price.  I haven’t bought a spa cabin but I have paid more for comparably situated cabins in my preferred category.  Right now I am regretting a cabin I have booked in the lower regions, hopefully it will work out and maybe I will become a convert.  If one has no motion sickness one can not worry about position plus I find modern ships so stable to the point of being boring 

3 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Mary how do you get ahold of Steve ? I would like to ask some questions .What is his phone number ?  

 TIA

 

http://tripinsurancestore.com/

2 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Mary yes we all are working with people . People can & do make mistakes ,even the best of intentions can go bad  . Then there are those companies that purposely try to  steal from the public & are getting away with  it ,for now .

 

 Insurance coverage is not a guarantee that things won;t go wrong . I am dealing right now on a small $700 .00 travel insurance claim  .I was very ill for about 4 to 5 weeks ,at home & not sure if I was going to  live or die .  God kept me alive 7 I got well ; but ,in the meantime I fell into a  $700 HAL penalty on one cruise .  Jan 2 ,2024 I cancelled 4 cruises with out TA  ,due to the fact that my wife would  struggle with all the details should I have died . Well ,low & behold this dam insurance is trying all ways not to pay a small claim  .That is another example  of what we as consumers can be facing  into the future , At some point in time what these firms do to people will come raring back at them . 

Maybe you should give Steve a try , his team will assist you with claims should you buy insurance through him.  His team is very careful to tell you what is and what is not covered.   He even has a newsletter and other info in his website where he explains a few case histories.  Going it alone is not always the best way.  

2 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Who is Steve ?  Are you saying GeoBlue insurance carries cancel for any  Reason ? Then what percent of your money for you get back ? Is it 100% or less ?  

We wpild have done the 35 day  cruise Hawaii & South Pacific if I could have bought  Med Jet Assist ins . Just too old they don't sell it to 85 year olds . 

 

All a person has to do is experience being in a city hospital in a foreign country . Thei dumb america doctor put me into a Rome city hospital to get my elevated blood  pressure down  ,I sat for close to 11 hours with lassic in my arm  . Other things happened as well in that zombie city hpspital . Belvue in NYCity  looks like a palace in comparison  .I checked myself out & they could hardly utter one word in English  .The next day I phoned American Express insurance company & they  told me 2 hospitals .one of which was Rome American in Rome but on the other side of Rome where we were staying ,  in 2008 it was $15000 just ot get in with nosurgery .one day ICU & 2 day follow up . Mt head doctor was a Heart Specialist  & internist & was the head profesor from the Rome School of Medicine . Additionally ,do not count on that people in foreign countries speak affluent english . Even as large a city as Rome is we founf few of their staff that spoke fuent english which can be another serious problem  unless the persin has command of that local language 

 

 Stuff happens all the time 7 especially in a emergency how do you come out is what is important . Even here in the USA there are countless  medical  associated screw ups 

 

 

Steve can be found at the top of the insurance forum on cruise critic.  He owns an online agency but freely gives advice with Cruise critic’s blessings.  He saved me once from a costly insurance blunder and has answered other personal questions by email or phone.  He knows the products inside and out

i am fine with any care , heck my own personal physician was trained in Mumbai. But this is my own opinion, everyone needs to gauge their comfort levels carefully. 

1 hour ago, Ninato8 said:

Thank you so much. I have needed two cardio versions in the last month. Tough decision whether or not to go. 

I think you should have a long talk with your physician.   DH is currently restricted from flying.  There is no way I would put him on an airplane until the doctor says I can.  So first contact guest services as I seem to get the most thorough responses from them then take that information to your physician.  

39 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

That is 100% correct Mary ;however ,cancel for any reason is  a no bargain insurance plan . Most people need coverage against the huge downsides of medical costs & or transporting them back to a home hodpital or their  home . I was once hospitalized in Rome Italy . If I was not able to get on a commercial jet I would have been stuck in Rome or be willing to pay over $100,000 medical jet costs . We are both 85 years  young  &  I can buy a yearly  policy for as little as $276 .00 for  both of us for one year . In our case I onlt need med vac insurance & the least expensive Allianz ins plan gives us that plus more medical & more baggage coverages . We have a Medicare HMO which insures  us even out of the USA for emergency medical  with a $110 co pay .  So in reality it is a total cost of $276 .00 to be completely covered . We can not get med jet assist because we are too old . So we  are careful where we travel to . 

Chase plus Geoblue covers all I need.   I get Geoblue through Steve.  I mention his product for cancel for any reason for those that need it.  Many people may not want or need Medjet but it is a good product for those that do