MikeD4134

8 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

I’d agree and possibly the OP can do that.
 

However when our January Hawaii itinerary was scrambled with ports dropped or dates changed, I could no longer get access to some of the shore excursion bookings I’d made & paid for online. Eventually HAL automatically changed or refunded.

Yes  HAL will do that, It happened to me on my Eurodan cruise in October.  So when I could not change anything by myself on the webpage, I called and they took care of everything, caneled tours on canceled ports and sold me new ones.

I would control the result.  Cancel the Excursion and buy a new one. 

Very good advice from the others.  I recommend you look at the top of the HAL Board and read New to Holland America? This is for you...AKA "HAL For Dummies"   Years of great info.

Just was on the Eurodam in October, Venice to Venice.  The ship was scheduled to be in Marghera, with check in at the Venice Cruise Terminal, 10-minute bus ride to the ship.  Very Industrial port no one is allowed entry or exit by themselves.  We arrived at the terminal and were informed because of the weather we were going to board in Trieste.  All of the check in process was done in Venice, then a 2-hour bus trip to the ship.  Upon our return we docked at Trieste and because we had a HAL transfer they put us on a bus and took us directly to the airport.  Folks with no HAL transfer were bussed to the Venice Cruise Terminal and were responsible for getting to their destinations.  Moral to the story is hope for the best, plan for the worst, HAL did a great job given they had 18 hours to put together the new logistics for boarding. 

24 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

So what?  One sits in the middle of a long row of seats where there is little to no room to place one's drink--if and when a Steward is able to get to you.  How about some peanuts or--heaven forbid-- if they are available a dish of Bitterballen to enjoy with your beverage?  Forget it!  Won't happen!  That is the reality of having a HH beverage during an early show.  

 

 

Indeed!  Saint Vincent, the Patron Saint of Wine

Never had a problem finding a Steward to serve us cocktails, sometimes we acquire our cocktails at a bar and bring them to the theater, as for snacks, we always grab a jar of nuts from the bar at Happy Hour or stop by the Lido and put together a snack tray.  Always a solution to every everything but you are correct it is easier to just whine.

20 hours ago, RuthC said:

Not if you go to cocktails at 7:00, it won't! Can't give up cocktail time. It's sacred. 

They serve cocktails in the theater.

In 2022 the Volendam is in Europe from May 15 until it Sails from Rome on November 5th arriving in Fort Lauderdale on November 19th.  Any other Information is bogus.

Yes you may reserve the cabanas before you sale, you call HAL Customer Service.

Never Hurts to ask.

The price is the same, and I have used both methods, never again using the online, some kind of communication break down, it took 3 days to get it fixed. Never had an issue purchasing it onboard.

Please remove me from October 2022 Rotterdam 10/2 "10 Night Baltic Jewels"

Please add to May 2022  Volendam  14 days May 29th, "British Isles Explorer"

Please add to March 2023 Noordam 39 days March 25, "New Zealand & South Pacific Crossing Collectors"

We are on the 6th thru 18th segment, thanks for starting this thread.

3 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

But when does that sail? After the 7 day restriction expires?

There are many longer cruises in Europe, not governed by the CDC

I am sailing on October 6th, I was offered a very nice upsell on September 10th.  26  Days

There is always a solution, some very good idea's here.

On a NCL cruise a few years ago, I had the drink package, and NCL does not include specialty coffee. I noticed that when I ordered an Irish Coffee the bartender got the coffee from the premium coffee stand next to the bar. So every morning after that, I would go to the bar next to the coffee stand and order an Irish Coffee, but have them hold the Bally's and Whiskey and whipped cream.  The bartender would get a large mug out and have the coffee stand fill it.  Premium Coffee with my beverage card.

More info from Rotterdam VII October 20, 2021 TA Rollcall, If you go to this Rollcall pages 258, 259, 260 are a discussion of this issue.

I don't think you need to check everyday.  The system runs at 50, 21, 14, 7, and 3 days prior to embarkation.  You should get an email with a pdf that says boarding time has been assigned/changed.  Then you'll be able to see the time on the boarding pass.  I wouldn't expect anything before 21 days.

Errors happen, call or use the chat function to let them know about your issue.

I was not being judgmental with my special people comment, just a general disclaimer so those folks do not start a debate with me. lol

Info from a post on the Rotterdam VII Roll Call

I don't think boarding times are based on Mariner Status. I spoke with HAL regarding my boarding time in Alaska -- yes, I realize that Alaska is not Europe -- but what I was told makes sense even for Europe.

I was told that boarding times are assigned by computer based on flight times as they didn't want people to have to hang out in the airport. I was in Seattle day before independently and therefore did not have embarkation day flight or HAL transfer. I was put in Group E. I called because I have high mariner status but was told it is all done by the computer.  I put in my day before flight times and moved up to Group C when the boarding times were reevaluated.

From HAL

PIER INFORMATION Venezia Terminal Passeggeri Marittima Fabbricato 248 30135 Venezia, Italy Please Note: Guests should not arrive to the terminal prior to their assigned check-in time, which is listed on page 1 of these documents and on the electronic boarding pass available in Navigator. For the health and safety of all, guests arriving to the terminal prior to their assigned check-in time will be asked to return at their designated time

Since the reason for specific boarding times is to ensure social distancing and increase our chances of not getting infected, I suggest you show up when you scheduled.  In Europe they do not want an over crowded terminal as everyone must be tested before boarding. 

If you are special people, the folks that think rules are for everybody else but they are only suggestions for you. Please disregard my advice and show up when you want too.

From previous postings from people boarding in Europe, if you show up more 10 to 15 minutes before your time, you our told to leave an return at your assigned time.

No idea what happens at USA ports. 

I am headed to Italy and Greece in October, and have booked several private excursions, all have limits of 4 to 6 people, smaller exposure to people = lower risk.

1 minute ago, MikeD4134 said:

You asked me a fair question that I answered. So here is a fair question for you.  Why do you think there are separate facilities for specialty restaurants?  Have you seen them, do you have any communication from HAL documenting their existence, etc.

Just trying to learn something new today, not looking for argument.

22 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

So the tamarind is on the 10 or 11th floor, I can’t recall.   The galley is on 2 or 3.  So they are carting food up the elevator I guess.  That makes total sense 😂.

You asked me a fair question that I answered. So here is a fair question for you.  Why do you think there are separate facilities for specialty restaurants?  Have you seen them, do you have any communication from HAL documenting their existence, etc.

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Yes, for sure the tamarind and sel de mer (stand alone) and I believe the pinnacle does as well.  What makes you think they don’t?

I have taken the tour of the kitchen facilities on 2 different HAL ships, neither of which had separate facilities for specialty restaurants.  The expense to do so would be far beyond the the upcharge for the restaurants.

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

If I’m going to pay extra it will be in the specialty restaurants where they are not cooking for a large amount of people at once.  I tend to go to specialty restaurants several nights.

You think they have a separate kitchen to prepare meals for the specialty restaurants?

Seem to be cutting it close.  HAL's communications all say 72 hours, If you sail at 5p.m., then any  test after 5 p.m. on Wednesday would be accepted.  If you go by 3 days, are you sure the cruise lines are not counting the day of the test, which would put you at 4 days.  Let us know if you get more official information.  Seattle is a very large City, you should have no problem getting tested Wednesday evening.