Betty in Cozumel

We are sailing in 2 weeks and bought a guaranteed inside cabin during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale.  Didn't have a cabin assignment yet and 2 weeks ago I asked our TA to call about an upgrade due to the price going down 50%.  HAL upgraded us to a verandah cabin and it came with the cabin assignment.  I was afraid it would be under the pool deck but it isn't.  It is nicely sandwiched between two decks of cabins.  The only negative (if there is even one) is that we are just above the life boats.  Still I'm a very happy camper.  Never done a balcony before and worried that I will be spoiled for any future cruises.

Thanks for a peak at the Gala Night menu.  Was surprised there was no lobster.  Is lobster served on any night in the MDR?  Or do you always have to pay extra at the Pinnacle Grill?

17 minutes ago, ksmaxey said:

ince the ship had collected our passports we had to use one of the photo copies provided at embarkation.  One had been stamped by immigration and we could use that to leave and board the ship.  Sadly no one was told that only 1 was stamped and that one was the one that was needed and many were sent scurrying back to their cabins by the EXC staff saying they couldn’t leave the ship without the stamped copy. 

Good tip to know that we are supposed to take the photocopy of our passport that was stamped.  Thanks for leading the way for the rest of us soon to follow.

11 minutes ago, ksmaxey said:

 

We were told that our embarkation was going better than last time.  The hold up is the port officials.  It seems most passengers knew this and didn't arrive until after 1 PM. 

Thanks.  I guess we'll try and sleep in and head over about 1pm.  Still want to eat lunch on the ship before heading out to do some sightseeing.

3 minutes ago, chrisgoates said:

Dear Betty, 

Hong Kong was only a problem for that passenger because it was also the first cruise port so cannot be where you fly in from. 

Didn't use the Maglev as our package included airport transfers. 

Chris 

OK that makes total sense.  HK - Shanghai - HK is not allowed on the TWOV.

Did you fly in the night before and stay at a hotel near the port?  Just curious.

7 minutes ago, chrisgoates said:

I hope this is of help and gives reassurence to anyone like me who meets all the criteria for TWOV but nevertheless is apprehensive. 
Chris 

Thanks Chris for posting your experience with the TWOV.  We are using it on March 1st flying from Toronto directly to Shanghai and hope to have smooth sailing.  My biggest concern is whether the check-in agent for Air Canada has even heard of this.  I hope so since they fly their almost daily.

We too are pre-registered and I hope there is paper in the machine and it recognizes our QR codes.  🙂  My husband was born in Hong Kong and speaks and reads Chinese so I hope we don't have any issues.

What did you mean about the issue at Baoshan?  Did you take the Maglev & subway there?  What hotel were you staying at?

I'm surprised by the folks not allowed on the ship that flew thru Hong Kong as it is documented on their 144 hr TWOV website as being considered a 3rd country.  We decided to fly Air Canada direct versus Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong and I am glad now if this is going to be an issue.

Thanks again for the post!

Am enjoying your blog.  We sail the Westerdam on March 3 for 14 nights from Shanghai to Hong Kong.  I am curious about the "bus ride" to your terminal.  We are staying at a hotel about 1km from the port and was thinking of going over early but it looks like you did that and it's not worth it.

We are sailing the Westerdam in March and I noticed that it said our boarding time was 1pm.  I was planning on heading over about 11am.  I'd rather sit waiting to board as soon as possible versus sitting in my hotel room.

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

It really depends.  I’ve seen both the cards where your dinner has been assigned (you can try to get it changed) and I’ve seen the requests to call for reservations and choose an available date and time.

 

I suspect it is dependent on how long the cruise is and how many passengers have this perk.

 

 

 

 

Thanks!  This will be on a 14 night cruise in Asia.

7 hours ago, kazu said:

The card will specify the dining day and time or ask you to dial a # to reserve.  Usually it's the former IME.

We were given a free dinner at the Pinnacle Grill on our upcoming cruise.  Does this mean that they get to decide the day and time we can use it?

We leave 2 weeks today to get to our Westerdam cruise in Shanghai for March 3.  It'll take us 2 days to get there.  LOL

I am now just starting to put things aside for the trip and buying a few new essentials.  Not really packing yet because if I bring out the suitcases, my 3 dogs start to act funny so we wait until the last minute.

No app.  The Octopus card is a card is just a money card that can be used on the subway, buses, ferries and even at some stores and vending machines.

Public transportation will take you to the HK Park but not inside.  As for the Peak, you can take the Peak Tram which is a one time thrill or use the buses to get to the top for a spectacular ride.

1 minute ago, Hoyaheel said:

 

The problem as I read it is that they were not Country A-B-C compliant - their specific itinerary was HOng Kong - Shanghai - Hong Kong because the last cruise port prior to Shanghai was Hong Kong AND the flight home goes through Hong Kong. Hong Kong IS a separate region for TWOV purposes, but you still can't go there immediately before and after a Chinese city to be TWOV compliant.....

Totally agree with you Hoyaheel.  You cannot go HK - Shanghai and back to HK.

51 minutes ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

 

We use them to cover the chairs out on our verandah.

 

When we aren't using them, we also put them in a cupboard.

That seems like a good idea.  Thanks for the tip.  I will even have chair clips to hold them.

We are sailing HAL for the first time next month on the Westerdam in Asia and I am looking forward to the food.  We have been on Costa, RCCL and our favourite Celebrity.  We have always been satisfied with the food in the MDR and only paid for a specialty restaurant on our last cruise when my hubby was kind of pressured to do it on embarkation night.  I didn't plan on doing it on our upcoming cruise but we got a perk of a free dinner in the Pinnacle Grill so we'll have to check that out.  During a sea day but NOT a gala night.

1 hour ago, GulfShoresCruiser said:

We would never miss gala nights in the MDR.....that's the best menus in the MDR for the entire cruise......that's our opinion.....of course, ymmv.....

Totally agree.

Last year on the Celebrity Millennium the staff was pushing their Japanese restaurant at a lower price on the first night and hubby bought it.  😞  I was so upset that we missed sail away from Hong Kong because of this.  I told him ....NEVER AGAIN.  I also agree the best menu in the MDR is on Gala Nights so we won't miss those.

15 hours ago, mom says said:

However we are aware of one couple who did have a big problem with it. It was their travel agents fault. Their return flight from Shanghai to London had a connection in Hong Kong. This disqualified them from the 144 hr TWOV because our last stop before Shanghai was Hong Kong. They ended up having to leave the ship before we left Hong Kong. 

Not sure I would blame this all on their travel agent.  They should have read the rules for the 144 hr TWOV and advised the TA that they could not go from HK to China and back to HK.

2 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Whether or not you use those beach towels that are in your cabin, do not put them in the bins by the pool or you will be charged for them -- about $29 per towel.

Thanks.  Good to know.  We won't be using them so I guess I'll just put them away in a cupboard.

Thanks Daisyloo for the info.  We are on a March Asia cruise (not Caribbean) so I am not sure we will need a towel to take ashore.  Even at the warmer ports a bit further south, we do not plan to visit a beach.  We live in Cozumel so we get our beach time any time.  🙂 

15 minutes ago, PDXgranny said:

We had to have that form, one copy per person of your hotel reservation in Shanghai and one copy per person of your flight reservations, and passport to present to Chinese immigration. 

Thanks for the info.  We are doing the opposite.  Flying into Shanghai and sailing out on the Westerdam.  Thanks for the info about one copy for each person of our hotel reservation and cruise documents.  I only had the one copy for both of us.  I will make more copies now for sure.  Plus the passport pages.

1 hour ago, BruceMuzz said:

The result?

If you are clear on the 144 hour visa rules and opt to follow them, you may still have difficulties.

If you choose to purchase the regular visa, you most likely will not have any problems.

You pay your money - or not - and then take your chances.................

I think coming in via the ports is a little harder than using it at the airports.  There is very clear signage for the 144 hr TWOV line that you have to go to before going into the regular immigration line.

As for a via; yes it would be easier but for us (Canadians living in Mexico) it is not.  We'd have to make a special trip to Canada for a week or more just to get this visa.  We don't plan on travelling to China enough to warrant it.  Been there a few times already with a 5 city tour for 15 days back in 2006.

On 2/4/2019 at 10:27 PM, Elmo007 said:

I have a question: 

Flying into Shanghai evening before cruise

All ports are in Japan

Fly out the day we return to Shanghai 

 

Do I qualify for 144 transit ? I assume 2, one for before cruise and one for after cruise?

Where are you flying in from?  And out of?

1st one would be  Country ? to Shanghai, China to ?, Japan

2nd one would be ?, Japan to Shanghai, China to ?? Country

These both work.  I assume your cruise is longer than the 144 hours of the first transit?

On 2/4/2019 at 9:30 PM, Copper10-8 said:

Catapults

Hahahahaha

This may be a dumb question but I couldn't find an answer anywhere.

We are use to sailing with Celebrity.  They don't leave us two towels in the room that you have to constantly exchange for clean/dry ones.  You would just go to the pool area and help yourself to however many you need.  They even have nice little blankets for those days in Asia that are a little cooler.

We are sailing in less than 4 weeks on the Westerdam and wonder how they do their towels.  I am hoping similar to Celebrity. 

Also just curious if there are blankets available to use on your balcony for those cooler days/evenings.

TIA

Betty

So without VPN, what do you get exactly on the internet?

I assume I will not have access to my e-mail (Gmail), Google Calendar, maps.google, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.

Thanks

Betty