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I will say that there are two cruises in 2025 and 2026 that we are looking at. I will be happy to give HAL a non refundable $4 deposit but not the @3000 for a longer cruise. At the moment a cabin that we would be happy with is not available on these cruises. I'm willing to give HAL $4 for each of these cruises in hopes a cabin opens up. We're not making a deposit on cruises we are not hoping to take, but are happy not to loan HAL $$$. Cherie

I did also and several times booking the $1 deposit was a "Bad Request". We'll see what happens tomorrow.

I love the posts by PC members who never flaunt their status or privileges. I always sort of laugh at PC members who feel the necessity to remind everyone that they can leave the ship anytime they want, just like a Neptune suite passenger. I live and grew up in an area where the person who flaunts their assumed wealth is probably the least prominent person in the room. Often status and success come with humility. I really enjoy the reviews of PC events by members who really appreciate the staff and what is being done for them, they certainly earned it with their loyalty. I did not know that this was not connected with the Star Mariner system. JMO. Cherie

I assume that LonelySaxaphone was notified after final payment. This is a huge problem for me. Disappointing if notified prior to final payment but really horrendous if notified after final payment. For a first time HAL passenger this is not a great start. There must have been other choices for them that include Glacier Bay, including other cruise lines. JMO Cherie

I agree with HappyInVan re room service. If you have a balcony you can enjoy the same menu as the MDR in the evening. I've never tried having room service delivered to another part of the ship, like the Lido Pool area. If you have a TA I would definitely ask for some OBC so you could go to specialty restaurants for dinners. I would be very disappointed. Hope you can work something out. Glacier Bay is one of my favorite memories of our Alaska cruise so totally understand why you picked the date. Cherie

All I can say is WOW!!!! Your posts and photos are amazing. We were on the Oosterdam for 22 days in January and loved it. A Morimoto entree was always offered for extra $ on the MDR and Pinnacle menus, but no pop up. We did not try because of mixed reviews. Will definitely try if we have a chance. I have spent hours today looking for home rentals on Sao Miguel. You made Ponta Delgado look like a must go destination. Just a beautiful island and direct flights from Boston. Jeff Farschman's review and photos are equally stunning. I could spend hours in the market that you walked to. Thank you so much for including us in your cruise, it's just amazing!!! Cherie

I agree with Mary229, post #14. We were on the 22 day Antarctica cruise in January and we loved it. The 4-5 days in a row of scenic cruising were amazing. There were a couple times when there were 2 sea days that were just ocean. It was fun to have days to enjoy the ship, eat, drink, and be merry whenever you wanted, but after 2 non scenic sea days I was ready for an option. We do not get bored easily and love life onboard but if a cruise has more non-scenic sea days than port and scenic cruising days it's not for us. I wish HAL did a one way South Pacific cruise that allows you to fly one way. JMO. Cherie

If you can fit in Iguazu Falls from the Argentine side it's also fabulous. Flying from BA to IGR is really easy. Staying at the Melia Iguazu is amazing. I didn't want to leave. Cherie

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Oh please. We are happy to provide any and all documentation to those that ask for it. No problem. You do not think that we should but that's now how we roll. Now you want a doctor's diagnosed disability? And the dog trained to perform a task? really? We have both. Happy? Handicap placards are not issued in our state unless necessary. We have one. Happy? We're way ahead of you!!!! But thanks. Cherie

Thanks TRLD, I did not say "require documentation" but I did say "provide documentation." You are so correct, as I have also stated, you do not need documentation, but if you have it...why not? It helps those who are not educated re the ADA. Our American Staffordshire Terrier is now looking forward to his first cruise. My husband lost sight in his left eye this year, has no peripheral vision, so instead of me being his left hand we have our wonderful self trained service dog. We will have documentation, because it will make it so much easier for those processing us thru airports and cruise terminals. And, if anyone questions it we will have a copy of the ADA regs which I suggest anyone who needs them have in hand. Is bringing our trained pet with us necessary? no. But you make it sound like why not? Why should we pay $1000 a week to have someone stay at the house when we're good to go? We won't even be lying. Thank you for misunderstanding my posts re documentation and traveling with a copy of the ADA regs that educate staff in airports and cruise ports. Zion is awesome. When he walks people ask us to wait a second so they can get him his treats. I don't think we will bring the dog stroller and bring him into the dining room because that may be inconsiderate to guests but he thanks you. Cherie

Wrong. In post 270 I did recommend carrying a copy of the ADA regs and please read post #264. Cherie

No one is asking for what you suggest in your first paragraph. Please. Let's agree to disagree about whether someone does or does not want to make it easier for staff to accommodate them. Carrying a copy of the ADA regs only helps to educate and does not divulge personal medical information. Cherie

You and I have very different experiences with service animals. Happy cruising, Cherie

We disagree on this. A piece of paper makes it really easy. You are right, nothing can be required, but many times everyone does not know the law. Instead of requiring intervention why not just provide documentation? This diminishes the number of times that a person with disabilities is embarrassed and denied access and someone needs to intervene. Why not provide the person without documentation for their service animal or a copy of the ADA regs? Education is preferred but education is not always provided to those who need it. If documentation is available why not use it and help out the staff where you are traveling or eating. If you have a self trained animal why not carry a copy of the ADA rules in case you are asked? You do not have to have formal documentation or training for your support animal to carry a copy of the ADA rules and help out those that are willing to help you and may not have your education re ADA. This has gotten way off topic and I think we have both expressed our opinions. Cherie

A piece of paper cannot be required or requested but a piece of paper that says a service animal has been trained as a service animal is usually not a big deal and would prevent you having to interact with management companies. I have only done volunteer work with agencies that have a graduation for service animals. You and I have different experiences. The piece of paper is not required but it is easy to print and can make life a lot easier. If a service animal is trained by it's owner it is different. But I travel with a lot of printed "stuff". Cherie

But for someone traveling with a service animal it has already been trained by a professional or themselves. You have not just put a vest on it. You are just asked two questions. (1)Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? (2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to asked for documentation or demonstrations. You are not required to have a professionally trained dog. I also think that most people with professionally trained service dogs from charities have certification that the dog has been trained for the function they will perform. It's a piece of paper. Cherie

TRLD and 3rdGenCunarder - Both of your posts are helpful, thank you. I'm not sure I agree that there is not much a business can do if someone lies about having a service animal. Answering 2 questions honestly is not difficult, and if it is determined that an owner has lied there should be consequences. Probably not going to happen. And I imagine the most difficult tasks to see are those where the support animal senses abnormalities like blood pressure, etc. However I think that these support animals, because they accompany the owner everywhere, are behaviorally well trained. I'm sure it is not something staff want to deal with though. I love the story of the woman with the lab. It seems like there are places and times when service animals have the opportunity to take a break. That child must have been thrilled. Thank you both for your posts. I think it is just frustrating to many of us that the "fakes" think the rules don't apply to them. But that's life. Cherie

Thank you for the details. I did not read back thru the posts. Details matter. Cherie

I'm hoping it's the bartender with a couple drinks ready for you to take back to your cabin and enjoy while packing! Thanks for fun and informative posts. Cherie

I went back to the OPs original statement. It was not about people having horrendous encounters with dogs on cruise ships but the presence of non service dogs on cruise ships. The only way a non service dog is on a cruise ship is most probably the owner lied. Many of us would love to bring our dog(s) on a cruise ship, but we are not going to lie to do it. At least one person questioned posters who observed non service dogs and asked for specific examples of how they knew it was not a service dog. Several examples were provided. It doesn't mean that all of us have experienced any of those issues. But when asked, examples were given. And many have observed adorable, well behaved non service dogs. We just wish it was our adorable, well behaved non service dog. It is an insult to the trained service dogs and their owners when people lie to bring their pet to an environment where they are not allowed. I think HAL should do a better job. I think someone mentioned that Cunard lets you bring your pet in a kennel and it remains below deck for the entire cruise. Sounds like an option. JMO, Cherie

On our Oosterdam cruise in January my husband purchased a HAL mug at the Explorations Cafe and they made his coffee in it every morning. I put my drinks in a container I brought with me because it keeps things hot or cold for hours. It sounds like the HAL crew would have made my coffee in my mug, I wish I had asked. I have put my husbands HAL mug thru the dishwasher lots of times. It does not seem to have suffered. Cherie

Yes, but companies who challenge a fraud are not going into a lengthy and expensive litigation unless that has been established. Frauds assume that most companies will just pay to save money and they can making a good living from it. This is not a problem unique to the cruise industry. Cherie

I agree. I think most of us see a dog on a cruise ship and automatically assume it is a trained service animal and how nice that the owner has the ability to travel. There have been several examples on this thread where someone questions whether the dog is indeed a service animal because of behavior...in the Lido, running into someone else's cabin. Someone else has pointed out that there are all sizes of service animals and they can provide a huge variety of services for their owner(s). Cherie