sandiego1

We took the red eye from SAN to FLL once before a cruise (no choice because of work commitments). We booked a hotel for the night before. We called the hotel to let them know we weren’t going to check in until 6AM and to not mark our room as a no-show and/or give it away. We arrived the morning of our cruise, had breakfast at the hotel, and then slept for 5 or 6 hrs. Showered and Ubered to the port. It worked out perfectly

Sorry you tested positive! At least it’s early on the cruise and you won’t miss too many ports. I hope you remain symptom free!

If you think Hilo is a wasted spot, then you haven’t hiked in the VNP. It’s a beautiful park with great vistas and hiking. Been there (not on a cruise) 4 times. We’ve flown in a doors off heli over lava several times and it was thrilling. Ride bikes down to the shoreline where the lava was flowing into the ocean. What a show! So many great things to do from the Hilo side of the Big Island.

Yes, the travel clinic documented all the risks in writing before we got the vaccine. Only one pharmacist at our local Costco was certified to do the YF vaccine. Many of the local CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid pharmacies I checked didn’t offer it because it’s a live vaccine. Before I was allowed book the appt, I was required to talk to the specific pharmacist that would give us the vaccine. We discussed the risks, etc. both on the phone and when we showed up to the appt. She was very thorough, even explaining that the location of the shot on your arm was different because it was a live vaccine. I am 60 so could have received the waiver (but I’m a a mosquito magnet and mosquitoes can’t read the waiver if I showed it to them). DH is slightly younger so he had no issue qualifying for the vaccine. We also researched the CDC and other websites on our own so we were well informed. Thankfully, neither of us had any reactions other than a very slightly sore arm.

The Costco pharmacy administered the vaccines and filled the prescription for Malaria meds. The Yellow Fever vaccine wasn’t covered by our insurance. Costco’s price was substantially less than my Dr

It depend on where the cruise is going. Some require a booster within the last 5 months. It’s on the same HAL webpage as the COVID test requirements for your particular cruise.

Per my discussion with Henk, they are not adding the Dutch Cafe to the Zuiderdam. The majority of the work is “behind the scenes” repairs and refresh. There won’t be too many passenger visible changes. Another cruiser (I think it was WCB) spoke to him recently and reported that HAL will convert the old screening room to a library.

I bought many gift cards to pay off our World Cruise last May. I can’t make 10% return anywhere else 😀

No irons for personal use. You can send it out for pressing.

One may order dinner from the MDR during standard hours regardless of the type of cabin. It’s not a special service for only Neptune suites. We’ve done it a few times.

About 6 months in advance. I wanted time to get all the vaccines. With COVID booster and flu shot too, I wanted to space them out a bit- especially Yellow Fever as it’s a live vaccine. I knew we would be getting several vaccines for this WC. I had a reaction once getting the flu and pneumonia shots on the same arm on the same day. Never again as there is no way to determine which vaccine was the culprit. The one down side is that if the itinerary is changed and a new country added, I’ll have to check the CDC website to see if any additional vaccines are required. However, at this point I’ve had so many that I believe the only ones I’m missing is the new monkey pox and Japanese Encephalitis.

Vaccines depend on the itinerary. Every country has a different requirement/recommendation. I recommend that you find a good travel Dr or clinic. They will analyze the itinerary with you and then make specific recommendations for vaccines, prescriptions, and OTC meds. My Dr’s office has an associated travel clinic. For our 1st WC, I had medical coverage through my work so we got all our visits, vaccines, and meds at a very deeply discounted rate. I retired about 8 months before that WC but was covered under that insurance for 18 months (sweet deal). Now I have to buy medical insurance and travel clinics are not covered. I found that Costco has an online service for $40. It was great! I entered all of my info and itinerary online. About 2 days later I received a 70 page report via email. All vaccine and med prescriptions were automatically sent to my local Costco. The only downside is that it isn’t offered in every state. Luckily it was valid in my state. We had to get Yellow Fever vaccines for our upcoming WC. At Costco, they were $178. At my Dr office it was $385 plus an office visit fee. It was going to be almost $1000 total for both is us!

My experience with connecting doors on HAL ships, is not good. My DH and I could hear people talking, TV, and other sounds that we would have preferred not to hear 😉 We always book a cabin without an adjoining door. We have really good hearing so that may be a factor.

Your Voyage # is in the HAL confirmation

I buy my policies exclusively through Steve. He has a wealth of information that can’t be matched!!

There are several rental car locations that will pick up at the port and drive you to their local facility, not at the airport.

Agree! That's why I originally wrote " If you have meds that must be kept at a particular temp, you may give them to the medical center"

There was an earlier question about needing to add ice to a cooler to keep items cold. In this sense, the units in the cabins are not coolers. Perhaps they could be classified as a “chiller” instead of refrig? I’ve had great luck adjusting the temp dial to keep things quite cold. But they definitely don’t keep food at a very low temp for long periods of time like a full size refrig.

We always close the lid before flushing for that reason!

@tensixmom they are refrig but not super cold. If you have meds that must be kept at a particular temp, you may give them to the medical center

Outdoor blankets and umbrellas are in suites and balcony cabins. Not in inside or oceanview

Yes

I only drink water - now soda, coffee, tea, juice, or alcohol. I bring a refillable water bottle and fill it in the Lido or gym. When eating in the MDR or Lido, the wait staff is diligent about keeping my water glass full. I have no issues drinking the water on the ship, including from the cabin bathroom faucet.

You would definitely need a deviation approval from HAL. And you would need to pay for the full cruise. There are all sorts of restrictions on where passengers can disembark.

Not true. However you are not supposed to use the plug in the bathroom for anything but a shaver. Perhaps that is why you had trouble with the plug. In over 200 days drying my hair on HAL ships, I have never experienced the my hair dryer plug falling out of the outlet.