laura1960

9 hours ago, Keen2Cruise said:

Did you find a resolution to this? I'm curious because I use a scooter with a lithium battery. 

 

My first voyage was last September, and despite requesting an accessible room, I wasn't sent a medical declaration form. Taking my scooter onboard wasn't an issue, and no one even asked. However, I have another trip due in May, but this time round, they have sent a medical declaration, and I'm a bit worried. 

We didn't really find a resolution. We opted to leave the scooter at the hotel, and the hotel staff were fine with that. However, once aboard, we saw many people with scooters and electric wheelchairs (with lithium ion batteries...we asked!) and they said it was no problem.

So I would plan to bring your scooter, but just have a back-up plan just in case. 

Thanks, cantgetin, this is just the kind of info we needed!

Has anyone taken a mobility scooter with lithium ion batteries aboard the ship? I am getting mixed responses on this. People at sailor services have said yes, no problem, website says no. Filled out the special services request form, but have heard nothing back saying definitively yea or nay. I eventually got a form letter, basically stating what's on the website. My husband can walk short distances, but since breaking his neck in 2016, he doesn't have the stamina for long walks or standing in a queue for hours. Most battery-powered mobility devices ARE lithium-ion; it's difficult to find something for rent that doesn't have lithium-ion batteries.

There's nothing Virgin-specific on the disabled forum on Cruise Critic. We may just rent a small collapsible wheelchair for the cruise.

Also, many of the venues for the shows are primarily standing...are there areas for wheelchairs/seats?

Is it true that I can't use my OBC to prepay the Internet package?

Update: called my TA from AARP, and she said it's been added. I also got confirmation from SHEER ID that I am officially classified as a healthcare worker. I plan to take my confirmation email and xray license just in case!

17 hours ago, wandrr said:

Yes, we received the credit after boo

17 hours ago, wandrr said:

 

Note that there is some question about "Out-of-USA" passengers, but that might not arise in your case. It looks like sometimes we "evil furriners" get it, and sometimes we do not.

Hell, it was a global pandemic.  Discounts should apply to ALL military, health care, first responders, and teachers, wherever you call home!

Has anyone successfully applied a military/first responder/healthcare worker/educator OBC AFTER their cruise was booked? And does it matter if you didn't book directly through HAL? I just found out about this, and have already applied and been accepted as a healthcare worker.  Website says new bookings only,  but I've heard people say they received the $100 OBC post-booking.

The checkout is still not working....and final payment is tomorrow! The IT department at AARP (if they even have one) sucks. This has been going on for what, like three weeks now?

I'm still getting the message that cart checkout is currently unavailable. Dang, because final payment is next week. Hope it gets fixed soon.

Interestingly enough, I no longer see the HAL $500 value card available, just the $100 one

In early July, I booked a 12-day New Zealand cruise on the Noordam for Jan 2023, using the Celebration Sale. I booked with AARP,  largely because of various promotions offering a $600 deposit and $250 in on-board credit. I called HAL about another matter, and asked if they could verify that I had $250 OBC. The HAL consultant could only verify $150, referring me back to AARP. Obviously, I'd rather have $250 (this momma likes her frou-frou coffee drinks, a glass of wine with dinner, and maybe a frou-frou alcoholic drink at the show). Has anyone else had this issue, and how do you get it straightened out...before you leave, or on embarkation day? Also, when does OBC show up on your card?

Thanks for all the helpful advice! Yes, I nearly had a heart attack when I looked at the prices for New Year's Eve. We land in Sydney the afternoon of the 31st, and if previous transpacific/transatlantic flights are any indication, we will be walking zombies/blithering idiots after the long flight and probably will not be up to braving the hordes to see the fireworks. We will likely just watch it on the television, like I suppose the majority of Australians do.

I had originally booked a small, refundable place in Chinatown that got mixed reviews, but now I see that it may be permanently closed. It's still available on all the major booking sites, oddly enough, but no recent reviews of the place. It's called Dixon Residences. As back up, I booked a hotel by the airport (Holiday Inn Express). Will probably cancel the Dixon place if I find anything more about it.....seems a bit sketchy.

We have one full day (Jan 1) in Sydney before the cruise. We have done the usual sights (city tour, Bondi Beach, Circular Quay, harbour tour, Opera House tour, Blue Mountains visit, aquarium, etc) three years ago. We may do the Taronga Zoo, or possibly another harbour cruise.

Just now, Chiliburn said:

You are going to have to get a taxi or Uber to white bay cruise terminal.

So you can stay anywhere you like .

Do you have a preferred hotel chain or style of hotel?

Cheap! Or at least not $400 a night like some of the Sydney CBD ones. We did stay at Park Regis last time and enjoyed it.

Thanks all...it does look like it's about a 20 minute cab ride to the port, so you're right, staying in the CBD might be more interesting. We stayed there a few years back and loved it.

24 minutes ago, Jean C said:

Hi, if you google Sydney cruise ship ports schedule you will be able to check where your ship is scheduled to dock.

 Ooh, thanks Jean! It looks like we are cruising out of White Bay! I didn't find this when I was googling earlier.

Hi, booked a cruise from Sydney to New Zealand Jan. 2-14 on Holland America's Noordam. I note there are two cruise ports in Sydney, one in Circular Quay and one in White Bay. We have a couple days in Sydney before our cruise. I am getting an early jump on hotels just because that's how I roll, and hoping to get a hotel relatively close to port.  Anyone know which port Holland America uses? I don't see anything about it on the documents.

Thanks for the info! And ewwww on the fake nails. Who does that????

Thanks for the gorgeous pix and great commentary! We will be getting on the ship Sat Dec 9. I'm packing right now. This is an odd question, but can you tell me if there are a lot of coat hangers in the closet? I only have a dress, a pantsuit, and a few other things to hang, but DH likes everything hung up in the closet. Are there about 10-12? If not I will slip a few hangers in my suitcase.

You know, drvmywifecrazy, that's a good point. Perhaps we will visit the pirate/shipwreck museum near the pier, and possibly walk around a bit. May play it by ear once we get there.

To 411, we are a party of two, but could join a larger group.

I'm having a tough time finding a city tour in an air-conditioned van that does not cost an arm and a leg. Most of the tours feature an open-air taxi kind of set-up, which look like a hoot to me, but probably not a good option for my husband, who has a fused neck (he broke it in 2016). He walks and can climb stairs and everything, but jostling around with four other people on a bouncy, winding road on a plastic seat for a couple hours would be problematic. I've located several taxi and limo services that offer tours in a/c controlled vans, but they are pretty expensive. If we found an open-air vehicle where he would be allowed to sit upfront in the cab with the driver in a regular car seat, that would work too.

We're looking for a group tour that will take us to a few must-see spots.

Any recommendations?