MikeD4134

The 20 or so times I have eaten lunch at the Pinnacle, not once have I had a reservation, and the place is almost empty. It is open only on Sea Days.  Just ate there today, over the top good.

On 5/26/2023 at 5:53 PM, OHCruiser said:

There is no "enforcement". Clean & neat "resort casual" seems to fit the bill all of the time.

 

We no longer pack "dressy" clothes.  We don't enjoy dressing up & we don't want portraits.

 

We usually eat in the Lido--often the same food from the MDR served buffet style--and go to the show.

 

I'm over having other people care what I'm wearing.  I want to be comfortable when I'm on vacation.

 

Best way I know to be comfortable, buy cloths that fit.

Exactly

1 hour ago, POA1 said:

Nope. Cruised in December. Next one is at the end of March. The info has to do with a change on the 25th of January. My PCC used to be able to edit our check in time. There was a short window between the time boarding/check in was assigned and the time boarding locked. Your time used to be editable prior to "lock."

 

My guess is that most people were unaware. I knew about it because we were on the Nieuw Statendam right after she returned from Europe. We had boarding group A, with a check in time of 1:00 pm. We're also 4*with priority boarding.

 

I thought that was kind of late, given that FLL iusually starts boarding at 11-ish. So I called. The late start was due to the return from Europe. Extra inspections, crew turn, etc. The last check in times on our sailing were around 2:30. That happened to be really close to all aboard.

 

I called about our upcoming trip - for a completely unrelated reason - and the new procedure came up. I don't interpret it as "everyone shows up at once." I read it as meaning you can safely get there 90 minutes prior to the departure.

 

I simply wanted to pass along the change. I won't see a boarding pass for a few weeks, so I guess I'll know when I see ours. Our old one, pre January 25, read like you describe yours. You can see it below. If I remember, I'll follow up when the new one arrives.

 

Thanks, that makes more sense now.

2 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

I'm not quite following.  The purchases I make on HMC for drinks, chair rentals, etc. are paid to HAL and taxes to HAL will not be increased? 

 

Is the article only referring to purchase of items at the vendor stalls directly from non-HAL shop sellers which will be taxed directly to the guest buying the souvenir?  

 

~Nancy

If you buy something on the island HAL will charge you the tax, just like any store you shop in, you buy something at CVS and if it is taxable, CVS charges you the tax and sends it off to the state.  When you are on a HAL ship in Miami port and you buy a drink, they charge you Florida sales tax.  Hope this helps.

55 minutes ago, oakridger said:

Half Moon Cay is already way too expensive to rent chairs/clam shells/umbrellas and especially the hugely overpriced "Cabanas"!!!   I can't imagine that cruise lines would just eat the cost of any increased taxes and not pass that along to the passengers.  Apparently, people are still paying for these rentals, so the prices won't go down until they stop.  

 

 

~Nancy

Just read the article, HAL has no increased costs at all.  The individual making a purchase will be charged 10% VAT (sales tax)

41 minutes ago, POA1 said:

 

1/25/24 - Change to Assigned Check In Times Program

 

We have phased out assigned check in times.

 

Note that guests who had a time assigned may arrive to the terminal to check in from noon to 1.5 hrs prior to the published departure time.

 

If you see a message that states "To Be Assigned" on your eDocs or Navigator boarding pass you are allowed to check in any time between noon and 1.5hrs prior to the published departure time on your itinerary.

This is the Official communication from HAL.  It is completely contrary to your e-mail.

1. was that e-mail about this cruise?

2. Why did they send it out.  I find it difficult to think that HAL would want the entire passenger list to show up at once.

3. Have you cruised since they sent you that notice, if yes, what was the procedure?

4. I have communicated with a couple of folks that are on Konigsdam right now, and they boarded at their assigned times, which was regulated by employees of the Port.

5. I am not trying to pick a fight here, just wanting to be sure we all have current, accurate and correct information.

Thanks for the copy of the e-mail.

Boarding Procedures

We strongly encourage you to complete the check-in process at our website at hollandamerica.com and to download the Holland America Line Navigator App. Go to the Navigator App and upload a photo.After you have completed the Online Check-in process, please print a Boarding Pass or access your electronic boarding pass on Navigator. Upon arrival at the pier, you will need to present your Boarding Pass, have your passport and applicable visas verified and your picture taken if you have not uploaded a photo on Navigator. Your stateroom keycard will be delivered to your stateroom.

Please Note: This online procedure must be completed prior to your sail date.

If you completed the Online Check-in, please have the following documents ready to present at check-in:

• Express Docs including your Boarding Pass
• Proper proof of citizenship
• Applicable Visas

U.S. government security regulations require us to submit certain guest information to law enforcement authorities at least 60 minutes prior to departure. To meet this requirement, we must have the necessary information in our records at least 90 minutes before departure. If we do not have your information by this deadline, you will be unable to sail. Guests are urged to complete the Online Check-in process before leaving home. Guests who wait to check in at the terminal risk being unable to sail even if they arrive at the terminal before the vessel leaves. You will be responsible for all costs you incur to join the vessel at the next port.

Ship Identification Card: Upon completion of check-in you will receive a ship identification card. This ship ID card serves as your identification for security procedures when embarking and disembarking the ship, and for making purchases on board. It is also your access card to your stateroom.

Please Note: Please have your ship ID card and a valid picture identification issued by an official government agency ready and available whenever getting on or off the ship, as you will need to scan your ship ID card at the gangway for boarding. Also, although not required at the ship gangway, you may be required to present a valid picture ID to pass through terminal security.

Embarkation Time: Your assigned check-in time is printed on the Boarding Pass page in your Express Docs.

IMPORTANT: Due to COVID-19 Health & Safety protocols, please arrive at the terminal at your exact assigned check-in time to help facilitate capacity control and distancing.

You may also receive arrival documentation from Immigration when arriving at the airport. Please keep this available for check-in.

To allow us to expedite immigration clearances in the various countries you will be asked to surrender your passport to our staff upon check-in. Some clearances will require face to face inspections, details will be communicated to you onboard. Rest assured that your passport will be fully secured by our staff.

Regardless, it is always good practice, when traveling, to make copies of your passport pages before departing.

Our embarkation procedures are smooth and easy—you carry nothing but your hand baggage, and everything is beautifully organized. Although embarkation may begin as early as 11:30am, our previous sailing guests will have just disembarked and we will still be in the process of preparing the ship for your cruise. We anticipate that your stateroom will be ready at approximately 1:00pm. Therefore, you are welcome to make yourself at home in the bar, lounge or pool areas. Your baggage will arrive in your stateroom later that afternoon. The Lido Market embarkation buffet and the Pool Grill will open at 11:30am.

4 hours ago, kazu said:

 

My experience is that the luggage you bring on has to be X-rayed, placed on the belt moving for X-Ray similar to the airport and thus be carry on size.

 

If your cabin is assigned very last minute, the stevedores have tags where you can write on your cabin number.  Most times guarantees are assigned in enough time to prep your tag and luggage.

I have carried my full-size luggage on to the at the San Diego Port in the past.  It fits thru the x-ray station at the security station.

1 hour ago, daisy-mae said:

Just wondering if we are allowed to carry (wheel) our luggage on board rather than leave it with the baggage handlers?

We are still waiting for our cabin assignment and (call me paranoid) we would not feel comfortable handing over our bags if the cabin number is not displayed.

Yes, you can carry it on the ship. walking up the ramps may be difficult.

7 hours ago, POA1 said:

They changed that on 1/25/2024. It's now the boarding time. We have a booking coming up and received an email to that effect.

 

I don't know if that will clear up confusion, or just make a new kind.

Can you back that statement up with proof.  A copy of that email.  I did not receive any such correspondence.  My boarding pass specifically Says check - in time. 

"Embark Date/Assigned Check-in Time/Group Saturday Feb 17 / 10:20 AM / Group ID: A "

5 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

Someone needs to tell the port workers in San Diego that we are the customers and they should be working to make us happy.

They are making me happy.

On 2/2/2024 at 8:49 AM, Sir PMP said:

Agree with Mary, there should be no cruising this time of the year off the coast of Norway.

I have sailed with Viking on that itinerary, and it was a great trip.  Saw the Northern Lights, drove a dog sled, great 4 days in London before the cruise.  Being the off season in London many prices were reduced and historical were not very crowded.  The ship could not leave Norway because of a storm, so Viking put us up in a 5* hotel, supplied meals for the 2 days delay, and provided tours at no cost.  No good reason not to go, just be prepared to make adjustments. 

20 hours ago, kazu said:

 

I would be happy to add you, Mike. A bit of detail really helps for me to be accurate

 

Is the Koningsdam the 35 day one already on the listing?

 

Is the Westerdam one the 53 day already on the listing?

 

If they are not, please let me know the details and confirm either way.

 

Those are nice voyages you have planned 🙂 

 

thanks so much.

Yes, you have correctly identified the 2 cruises. It is an amazing set of trips 212 days at sea in the next 14 months.

Hello Kazu,

MikeD4134

Please add me to your list.  Konigsdam  February 17, 2024; Westerdam September 1, 2024 Mike's Birthday 9/3, Nancy's birthday 10/11.  Zuiderdam World Cruise January 4, 2025.

Thanks

I live in a secure apartment complex, I also have insurance, so this is not a thing I pay attention too.

On 1/5/2024 at 8:32 PM, DAllenTCY said:

I'm curious as to what a photocopy of a passport will do for you?

 

I've never heard of such a suggestion in 19 years working for HAL.

 

David

If you lose your passport, it helps the people at the embassy getting it replaced.

3 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Its a check in time, not a boarding time and they are assigned 10-14 days out. Many threads on the topic here. Here is one from yesterday:

 

 

What is the difference between a check - in time and a boarding time?

12 hours ago, Herkimer18 said:

I just applied for a CCL onboard credit from the world cruise department as usual.  I received the credit along with an email saying that in the future the credit would now be handled by www.stockperks.com/carnivalcorp 

When I went to that web address it had me download an app to my phone and set up an account,  Then it wanted the user name and password for my brokerage account.  I certainly don't plan to give that information.  Anyone have a work around for this?  

I created my account and at no time in the process was I asked for that information.  Anybody who would give out the username and password for their investment account, should save some time and close their account and send the funds to some stranger.

On 1/14/2024 at 1:33 PM, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

I thought you only had to be 18 to join.

 

https://www.aarp.org/membership/

 

 

Thank you for the education.  I have been a member for 20 years, and when I joined you had to be 50.  Obviously, they changed that requirement.

2 minutes ago, MikeD4134 said:

A Group is any collection of passengers not staying in the same cabin.  If you only had 2 people at your table, were you both from the smae booking?  If yes then the discount applies.

Not my rules, HAL's rules from their website.

2 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

2 of my most recent cruises (Nov & Dec on NS) when I ate in PG, both dinners were put on my card and charged 50%. The same server made a point of telling the table next to us that he put both dinners on 1 passenger so they could get benefit of the discount. We weren’t a "group," we were a small number of people dining together.

A Group is any collection of passengers not staying in the same cabin.  If you only had 2 people at your table, were you both from the smae booking?  If yes then the discount applies.

16 hours ago, crystalspin said:

There is no age requirement to joining AARP. HAL and only HAL as far as I know, started a program last summer where IF you are an AARP member, and verify it BEFORE booking, you can apply that confirmation to get OBC amount depends on length of cruise and class of cabin:

Offer Details

CRUISE LENGTH	Inside & Ocean View	Verandahs & Suites
5- to 9-day Cruises	$50 per stateroom	$100 per stateroom
10+ day Cruises & Cruisetours	$100 per stateroom	$200 per stateroom

You must be 50+ to join AARP

You can assign your booking to your TA when you make the booking on board, a lot less complicated than adding them later.

Just now, Haljo1935 said:

As 4* you are also able to treat others to specialty dining at discount - just have them all put on your ticket. 

That is not correct,

From the FAQ Section in the Mariner Society Section.

No. Benefits are intended for the personal use of the applicable guest and those sharing a stateroom with the guest on the same booking number. Not applicable to groups. Holland America Line reserves the right to limit benefits if necessary.

Here is HAL's official as of today.

Crew Appreciation is a daily (adjustable) amount added to your onboard account and pooled in order to recognize the many team members throughout our fleet who contribute to the guest experience. 

The daily Crew Appreciation charge is $16.00 per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $17.50 per guest per day for suite guests. The charges are subject to change without notice.

The Crew Appreciation charge is paid to Holland America Line team members and represents an important part of their compensation. An 18% service charge is automatically applied to all beverage purchases, bar retail items, specialty restaurant cover charges, all for-purchase a la carte menu items, and all Spa & Salon services. Local sales taxes are applied where required.