MikeD4134

I just checked the Indonesia Immagration Site, the VISA on Arrival can be applied for online and the cost is less than $33.

2 hours ago, kazu said:

 

That’s the way it has been as long as I can remember.

 

 

I think not.

She is correct

Seems odd that I was just now, able to make reservations for 3 separate nights on the Koningsdam, In February and March 2024.

I would call HAL and inquire about getting an access cabin.  Regrettably, people who do not need an access cabin take them to enjoy more room, HAL does warn people if they do that, they will be removed if someone who really needs the cabin asks for it. 

I would Book it now, then check a couple of weeks before, you sale this January and see what the promotions and benefits for booking on board are like.  If the deal is better, cancel the 1st booking and rebook on the ship.

Good Luck with that.

On 10/29/2023 at 3:36 AM, JanDom said:

Hello to all HAL Cruisers.

We were on a 14 days cruise with the Rotterdam in May.
During this cruise we turned from a 3 star to a 4 star Mariner…. And nobody was interest in that…. Back home we wrote a nice email if we will get any informations about that but we never ever got an answer.

The only way we know that we turned to 4 star is when logging in on the HAL homepage and have a look in our Mariner account.

For us it seems a little bit like they are not interested in us any more.

(we are in our early 40‘s and plenty of time to do a lot more cruises in our life).

We are pretty sad about this situation, because HAL always was our favourite cruise line. 
 

Does anybody of you had this before?

 

Thanks and greets

Janine 

Just checking to see I have this correct.  May 2023 you were on the Rotterdam enjoying a 14 day cruise.  During this cruise you determined that you had acquired the necessary Cruise Days to qualify as a 4* Mariner.  You are now upset that nobody noticed.  People tend to be unhappy when expectations and reality do not match. Your expectations are all incorrect.  You do not qualify for the next level, until you complete all he requirements, and Sail on another cruise.  The fact that you were not a 4* Mariner, probably explains why nobody noticed.

Why are you sad?  Is it because you wrote a very critical post to Cruise Critic about HAL Without doing any research which would have shown that everything was done correctly, making your post just plain wrong and full of misinformation

The FREE ones.  I love free stuff.

16 hours ago, Lakesregion said:

General note somewhere says that OBC shows up on your account by day two of the cruise. Do take a print out of the confirmation. A paper trail for everything, bookings, OBC, flights, etc are of great value when the clouds crash particuarly right now when mischief a foot around the world.

On my 13+ cruises the credit has always been on my statement on day 1, as soon as I embark.

On 9/28/2023 at 10:02 AM, lais said:

The port opens at 10:30. Last year they were allowing porters to pick up luggage after 9:30 but this year could be different because it depends on Union rules.  
your luggage cannot be mixed up with off loading bags as offloading bags are inside the terminal.  
also there is still construction on the pier which could be a hold up. 
10:30 is a better time to drop off your bags. 

Unions do not make rules.  They negotiate Terms and Conditions of Employment, and management or the owners or government regulators make rules.

You cannot. It shows up on your Booking Confirmation, send them an email and they will email one back to you.

The priority Bording is built into your assigned boarding time. As a 4 Star I am usually in the 2nd or 3rd boarding time group.

My last cruise sailed from Aukland, It was great they checked your boarding pass and if it was not your time you got to wait in the hot sun outside the terminal until it was your time.  Everybody breezed through every step of the process as there was no backup caused by selfish people who show up when they please.  HAL should require every port authority to force people to comply with the time schedule, everybody wins by not wasting time sitting in a terminal waiting your turn.

On 7/28/2023 at 11:47 AM, cruisemom42 said:

Well then, that renders Gift Cards relatively useless if one doesn't want to use toward cruise purchase price (at the risk of not being covered by insurance) and one can't use them for things like HIA or Gratuities...

 

I have read my Cancelation Policy twice today and see no reduction in benefits for paying the cruise fare with gift cards.  The cruise fare cancelation costs are what is covered.

14 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I'm happy to arrive later. 3pm is fine with me. I'm not really interested in "enjoying lunch" if by enjoying you mean gathering a so-so plate of food from a buffet line and then finding a place to sit in a space usually heaving with people and bags.

 

I'd rather sightsee, relax or eat a nice lunch ashore, then board the ship. Generally there are no lines at these later boarding times. Keeping a small carry-on with me ensures I have something appropriate enough to wear to dinner should my bags not arrive; although I have to say that generally my bags arrive at my room not very long after I do.

 

100% Agree.  My upcoming Cruise I will eat breakfast at the hotel, wander around the tourist area located near the pier, check out at noon, take an 8-minute walk to the pier and drop off my luggage, then go to lunch at somewhere local for some regional food, proceed to board the ship at 3:00 p.m., no crowds,  you know the ones caused by the special people who think they are exempt from reporting at their assigned time, usually takes about 10 minutes total to board the ship.  My luggage is always in my room when I arrive.  My boarding time for the next cruise is B Group at 12:20, no chance I do that.

On 3/15/2023 at 6:51 PM, Eaglecw said:

We've never been turned away when we arrived at the Pier/Port earlier than we were supposed to be there. I'm sure they probably don't like it but it is what it is.

What it is, is RUDE

No Worries at all, I would never go to Mexico.

7 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

That’s incorrect.  For several months now you only pay the difference, not the whole thing.

Could you please post something from HAL which denotes this change.  I have been on a HAL cruise as recently as July 2022 and have always been charged full price for any drink purchased that is over the limit. In particular the Sake in the Tamerand

On 3/4/2023 at 11:08 AM, Hlitner said:

I have a few questions/comments about upgrading to the Elite Package.  My understanding is that no matter which package, if you buy a drink that exceeds the price limit of the package, you only pay the difference.  So, if that is true than upgrading the package is only worth a maximum of $4 per drink (the difference of the drink maximum price).  So, one would need to get several drinks a day that cost the higher prices to make the upgrade worth while.  But, that assumes you can even find a wine for $15 a glass vs $11 a glass.  We have been on too many cruises when the availability of wines by the glass is quite limited.  As to more expensive cocktails, that is certainly an option if you can find items that fall into that higher price range.  Limited inventory often makes this a problem. 

 

I also noted that the more expensive Elite Package still has that same 15 drink per day limitation.  

 

Hank

If you exceed the limit, you pay full price for the drink.  The upgraded package has a 15 drink limit, but it does not count non-alcohol purchases.

19 hours ago, Sea42 said:

Yes, when I enlarge the photo I see that, but there's no need to be rude.

Not rude, just a friendly suggestion.

The best discussion I have seen on a Cruise Critic Board in years. OP thank You.

speak with your money, do not eat there.

4 hours ago, Sea42 said:

It looks like the lobster would be $25, not $15.

get better glasses, the menu says $15

On 2/10/2023 at 7:20 PM, arlowood said:

The copy of the Viking letter I saw posted stated that the delay would be 24hrs not 48hrs ie the follow- on cruise would depart Monday 13th rather than Sunday 12th. Also to allow them to catch up time they would be cancelling the Amsterdam(Ijmuiden) port stop from that cruise. Passengers would receive $150 in their onboard accounts as compensation.

 

That of course is dependent on Venus making good time from its current position off Trondheim.

 

 

 

 

Don't quit your day job.  Everything you posted here is false.

I always eat lunch at a nice restaurant on land, then wonder over to the ship when the lines for embarkation are gone.  My Cabin is always ready, my luggage is in the cabin, no carting my carry on around. You are going to eat on the ship for 7, 14 or however many days your cruise is.   You may or may not return to the port you are sailing from; therefore, you may never have another chance to eat a great local meal. 

Everybody has different tastes, so I am not being judgmental here, just pointing out another option.