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We currently have two cruises booked on HAL. When I go to the website, I can only access one. I get a message saying that "you have more than one cruise booked" and I get a drop down box to select the cruise. Only problem is ... just one is listed. Anyone else having this issue? Any suggestions? Thanks!!

Thank you for so many good ideas. We have a wide variety of interests, but tend to enjoy more historical excursions, at least on a first visit to a port. Great suggestions here and most greatly appreciated!!

We are booked for a 14 day Panama Canal cruise in January. I would love to have some recommendations for excursions (Cartegena, Puerto Caldera, Corinto, Puerto Quetzal, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta). I checked the port board and the roll call board, but there's not much information there. All of these ports are new to us, so I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Many thanks!!

12 minutes ago, BrownieCruises said:

FYI, I boarded the Nieuw Amsterdam today for a 21 day cruise with 12 bottles of wine.  No corkage charge.  

Ohhh .... that's interesting! I wonder if they will charge you when you bring a bottle to the MDR. On our last cruise, we brought on 4 bottles. I went to pay corkage at the wine table before we boarded. They put stickers on all of the bottles, but just charged me for 2. 

An update: I called my TA today (big box TA). Rather than the usual long wait time for the call to be answered, I only waited a minute or two! She called HAL without incident and I got all my questions answered/taken care of ... apparently the gremlins are out of the system today. Woo hoo!! 

I'm not questioning the TA's competence ... at least not yet. She tried calling HAL several times. She came back on the line the first time she got the message and said, "you're not going to believe the message I just got!" When it happened a few more times, we just figured the system had some temporary gremlins! We'll see what happens tomorrow!

She was rather floored by the recording and tried a few more times. We got a good laugh about it, especially since she is also in Seattle! Crazy!

I called my travel agent today to ask about adding travel insurance to our upcoming January cruise. She said she had to call HAL and asked me to wait on hold while she called. She came back on the line to say that she was having trouble getting through. The message was that "because of a hurricane" phone lines were not being answered! Anyone heard of a hurricane hitting Seattle? 😜

13 hours ago, Carouselrider said:

We had our driver's licenses, so were able to fly. We were misinformed about needing more for cruising international waters.

I'm so sorry that happened to you. What an awful disappointment!

It took my renewal over three months to process, so I was glad I sent it in way before needing it. When my dh got his renewal, he got his old passport back the day after his  new passport was delivered. It took nearly a month to get my old passport back. 

Don't know if this would help, but my primary care doctor noted my vaccination dates/info in my records. I am able to print off my vaccination record, which includes the covid vaccination. I have no idea if this would be an accepted alternative to the vac card, but I'm sure that many people will be facing the same issue as yours. 

I sent my renewal off in early May and did not ask for expedited service. I received it this week: 13-14 weeks. 

I can't speak for post-covid, but on our cruise the week before the world shut down, I purchased a thermal suite pass before our cruise and had to pick one of those 15 minute times. Like others have said, it was a website issue. The pass was good for anytime the spa was open and you could stay as long as you wanted. 

Thank you all so much for the informative responses. We booked the cruise! (Now just crossing our fingers that the cruise will happen!)  Great advice about moving around the ship. Making note of the books to read ... plenty of time to accomplish that! I love the idea of having so many sea days. Dh is not as excited about the number of sea days, but a Panama Canal cruise is on his "bucket list." If this goes well, maybe I will eventually talk him into a transatlantic!!!

We are thinking about booking a Jan 2022 Panama Canal Cruise (Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego). We plan to book a balcony room and this would be our first Panama Canal. Any recommendations on preferred room location? Any other advice/recommendations appreciated as well. 

We only have a few cruises under our belt, so I am really enjoying reading these responses. Thanks to the OP for posting the question. Can't wait to get back to cruising!

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

Driving to a favorite beach on the East Coast:  I am going to need to make a pit stop at least once en route.  What's going to be reliably open?  McDonald's lobbies are closed.  Some states' Rest Areas restrooms are closed.  I stop at a hotel that has offered a small buffet breakfast in the past.  What can I expect--if anything?  Where in route can I be sure that I can get something to eat?  Particularly, if I need an over night stay somewhere?  

Recently traveling through Virginia and Tennessee, we found rest stops open and actively being cleaned. Gas stations (and rest rooms) right off the interstate open. Many restaurants open for take out. We had no trouble finding a hotel, but the typical breakfast buffet was reduced to "brown bag" breakfast consisting of a water bottle and individually wrapped breakfast bars/muffins. We were able to find a restaurant with outdoor seating (first restaurant we have been in in over 5 months!). Social distancing was in place and marked. Frequent cleaning was noticeable everywhere we went. 

1 hour ago, Alberta Quilter said:

 

Check the HAL site under the Travel Advisories Link.  Then click Impacted Cruises and scroll down.  I think you'll find that June & July Ryndam itineraries are being transferred to the Nieuw Statendam.

Hmmmm ... I just checked and we are now booked for late August/September on the Rotterdam.

55 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

 

Check the HAL site under the Travel Advisories Link.  Then click Impacted Cruises and scroll down.  I think you'll find that June & July Ryndam itineraries are being transferred to the Nieuw Statendam.

Thanks! I'll go check it out! We would love to sail on a brand new ship but I'll just be happy to be on a ship again!

28 minutes ago, puppycanducruise said:

Delivery date is not July 30, 2021.  Wonder what will happen to everyone booked on the Ryndam from May 15 to July 30?

HAL's blog says that you will be rescheduled to another cruise later in the summer. 

We were scheduled to sail on her in June. I'm a little disappointed that that's not going to happen. Info on HAL's blog says that we will be rebooked on a similar cruise later in the summer. That's a long time to wait! Might have to look for a Carribean cruise next winter/spring. First world problems and all that!!

Greatly enjoying your review and looking forward to reading more!

Being delayed is probable, but disappointing, because we were supposed to be cruising early summer 2021. I'm guessing our Sept 2020 cruise out of Venice will be canceled as well. Yikes!! Guess we'll be looking at other options.

18 minutes ago, ski ww said:

And some people think they'll be doing European cruises this summer.

I was sure hoping!!! LOL

I sure hope it is completed as scheduled. We are scheduled to sail on her in the summer of 2021!