binkey36

On 2/2/2024 at 11:16 AM, mcrcruiser said:

 We are looking into 2026  for a Hawaii cruise from San Diego R/T  . Anyone  have any  idea when HAL will release  the 2026 Hawaii itineraries ?

 

 TIA 

Just booked r/t San Diego to Hawaii,Tahiti and Marquesas for Feb 2026  so you should have access soon

Thank you all for the replies and the menu!

It has been a few years since we sailed on Princess. Do they still have a British Pub lunch in the Wheelhouse on sea days. Thanks so much in advance. 
sailing on the Sapphire Princess April 2022 to Hawaii....with lots of sea days 😊

You could leave the ship at Port Chalmers, rent a car from one of the Dunedin car rental companies and drive to Christchurch, return rental car to the Christchurch branch of which company you choose, stay overnight then get a taxi to the train.

 

Will be interested to know what you decide.

Our Oz/NZ cruise cancelled our stops in Port chalmers and Dunedin, due to an incoming severe storm. Just be aware, if you are able to make your alternative arrangements that weather can/will change everything. We missed our last two stops in NZ and headed directly to Oz. We didn't know the last two stops were cancelled until we came back to the ship in Picton (delightful little town to walk around...by the way!).

We were in San Diego last month and rode the HoHo Trolley, [fully narrated], doing the entire route twice in one day. Got off the trolley near the Coronado, walked around the property, and then checked out tourist shops in the area before re-boarding the trolley. The lines can be long to purchase tickets for the Midway and then having to wait in the sun to enter. We picked up tickets at a kiosk/visitors center along the waterfront, not far from the Maritime Museum. We got a discounted rate, age and military, and at the same time, also got tickets for the "seal tour boat."

We had a nice lunch at Harbor House overlooking the water; the trolley driver recommended the restaurant.

 

Darcy

The Fish Market, right next door to the Midway, also has very good food. We are planning to go there for dinner on our pre- cruise night in February 2017.

The Wyndham Bay Harbor is right across the street from the cruise terminal. It is also within walking distance to the USS Midway, Gas Lamp (or is it Light?) District, and little Italy. Coronado Hotel is across the bridge....so maybe a taxi? I can't recommend any tour companies in that area, but the hotel or Trip Advisor might be good to check for that info.

Thanks for the "heads up" that with the latest Specialty Restaurant price increases, the beverages must have increased as well.

 

The Wine Packages, Spirits and Beer for Stateroom, and Wine and Champagne for Stateroom lists have been updated on my website:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/hal-beverage-menus/

 

Of note is the deletion of Sambuca, big increases in beer package prices, and an estimated 25% increase in spirits prices.

 

The 15% Service Charge is included in the prices.

Fortunately, we paid the same price (ordered last month) for our J&B Scotch on our Feb 2017 sailing as we did on our April 2015 sailing....through the HAL website (Gifts & Services). I always seem to order early....so it is one less thing on my 'list' to do.

Agreed. As a veteran smuggler on other lines, I saw no reason to even bother on our most recent cruise on HAL. I simply ordered what I wanted in advance, at a reasonable price, and it was sitting there waiting for us.

 

Well strictly speaking I guess I did smuggle. We had a couple leftover airplane bottles from our flight out and I smuggled them in my pocket rather than throw them away.

 

Yes, TSA completely doesn't care if you put a bunch of 50ml liquor bottles in your one-quart clear ziplock liquids container. :D

LOL....this sure brings back memories!

Compared to RCCL's draconian policies HAL is great. I would see no need at all to smuggle. RCCL won't allow buying a bottle onboard for cabin consumption. When I had our Rum Runners I used one for having a Brandy nightcap in the cabin. Room service was way too slow. HAL's policy completely fixes that. The bottle rates are only a little more than liquor store prices in the Seattle area and even without the Explore 4 drink package the drink prices are reasonable - same or lower than Seattle restaurants or bars.

..

I absolutely agree. It is so much easier to buy our preferred libation from Guest Services, long before we sail. It is in the stateroom when we arrive. No worry and no hassle. No more Rum Runner flasks or trips to the Naughty Room. The price of the bottle ordered is very reasonable. So very easy. (Of course...we never tried Shamboozle to see if they worked as stated...lol)

Where was this?

Pago Pago

Has anyone been asked by or advised by the Medical Department to leave the ship? I've always wondered how one would manage in that situation. It can be rather scary, I would think, especially if the passenger is traveling solo. Does the Port Agent look into getting the passenger to the medical facility in port, look after luggage, contact family or friends stateside, help make arrangements for flights home, etc.?

My 91 year old father and his 81 companion were transferred off a ship last year. Both were hospitalized. Both had HAL insurance. The Port Agent NEVER contacted them. A social worker was kind enough to make their travel arrangements and take them to the airport. It was the most disappointing example of customer service I have ever seen. HAL did compensate them at a later time. But the whole situation was frightening and horrible.

I would answer, no. On our last cruise with HAL (April 2015), you paid for an internet plan. Then you could access the (very slow) wifi from your own device, or from a computer in the library.

Actually you can request your TA to contact the Ship Dining Room co-ordinator and request a specific table. I have done this in the past. I usually give a couple of options. I have been successful at getting the table I wanted. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Just had to say HI Glen. Hope all is well. We were sailing on the Oosterdam, this time last year!

The ship sent a bottle of hand sanitizer to all the rooms.

 

Wow! Did they have that much on-board or did they pick it up in port somewhere?

I can only assume the ship had the hand sanitizer on board. It was the super duper Purell. Since we are entering flu season in the northern hemisphere... I would love to find that super duper Purell here in the states.

Hi binkey36,

 

I was on the ship during this South Pacific cruise…

 

I had witnessed an evacuation due to a medical emergency.

I also note that several passengers were inconvenienced by a bad flu.

I do not keep good memories of my medical condition to return from this cruise.

I had for a week to recover.

 

Good luck with your intentions.

I do not think the amount offered by HA is sufficient to cover the inconvenience you've had on the Oosterdam NZ + South Pacific Crossing.

 

Holacanada

Thank you. Hopefully, your next cruise will be better. I know that there were many, many people who got sick with the flu.

I am very happy to advise that HAL has resolved this issue with my Dad. I was contacted yesterday afternoon by a representative and discussed the issues involved. Today the situation was resolved to my father and his partners satisfaction. It is nice to know that HAL does provide customer service in resolving complaints.

First of all, that sounds absolutely horrible. I know how much planning, anticipation and excitement goes into a cruise, especially an extended more exotic one like that. How disappointing, for sure.

 

I think to answer your question on what is fair, I think you need to try to separate issues that are unfortunately bad luck, vs things where HAL was negligent or directly responsible. There is no doubt in my mind many horrible things happened to you and your family. The issue for compensation is which ones of those things were caused by HAL, or perhaps where they should have performed differently.

 

I think in that regard, the voltage problem, if the ship was faulty, they should offer to replace the broken equipment. No question. If it were a bad setting, or overloaded (perhaps the stateroom had extension cords and multi use adapters?)...that might be another story. I dont know the details on that.

 

Regarding the outbreak, unfortunately that happens everywhere. It can happen in a shopping mall, a hotel, etc. On a cruise people are stuck together for an extended time, so things pass easily. Perhaps the way I would look at that (and I wasn't there, so this is a question you can answer), is did you think HAL took reasonable precautions? Was there hand sanitizer and its use encouraged? I dont know the protocol for the Code Red's, Orange as it pertains to Upper Respiratory. I am in healthcare, and can say that usually the URI's spread differently (airborne) vs Noro. Even with those codes, there may have been little they could do. Perhaps they could offer masks but I dont know if they carry them or that is reasonable to expect.

 

The insurance is usually a 3rd party, I'm not surprised HAL didn't follow up (although I am disappointed). With the issues you had, I certainly think you are justified in your dissatisfaction and at the very least deserve an investigation into the various issues to help determine any culpability.

I agree. I know that on a cruise of that length illness is a possibility. I believe that the maintenance issues of the cabin are the major complaint. It would seem to me that with all the cabin issues, and their illness (quarantined) they should have been moved to another cabin.

If HAL had offered to pay for the burned out converter, i dont think my dad would have been as unhappy. They just continued to react below any normal expectations of customer service, and their unhappiness grew accordingly.

That is terrible to hear!

 

Honestly, and this will read as hard as granite but needs to be asked/understand/said/addressed, why did they go? Clearly they're not physically strong enough for something of the sort as the flu caused them to be medically discharged, why did they go?

 

In general and not directed at the OP but anyone/everyone who reads this, if your physical condition is one where you're not able to amble about on your own power, need supervision as if you're a toddler, or your reaction times can be measured with a Sundial, just don't do what you're thinking of doing because you are over estimating your abilities and criminally under estimating the liability you are to everyone (the other passengers, your family at home and the provider of the event).

 

Really.

I agree, if you are not fit to travel, you should not.

That is not the case for my dad, however.

My father and his partner are very spry folks. Neither uses any sort of walking device, except a cane occasionally. Both were declared fit to travel by their doctor. To provide some insight...my dad is 90 and travels extensively by land and in his 31 ft RV, towing a car. He is able to drive safely, bend over to make connects to sewer, electric, and tow car etc. He is alert and is basically amazing for his age. To date, he has put over 400k miles on his various RV's traveling from Alaska, to Central America, to Labrador.

My husband and I are in our 60's. We also got the flu. We were also miserable for about 3 weeks-4 weeks after we got home. As you are probably aware, the older you are the harder influenza can hit you. People in the states have not been inoculated against Influenza B, which is what we had. Influenza B will be part of the vaccine for the flu for this winter, in the northern hemisphere, as the flu virus travels from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere (apparently).

On reading the coverage for HAL's Platinum Insurance, you should have gotten reimbursed for all your medical expenses. And it does allow for family emergencies while you are on vacation. HAL does not manage this insurance, it is through Aon Affinity on behalf of Transamerica Casualty Insurance Company. On the HAL website you can find a copy of the policy and everything that is covered. Hope you are able to get your refund soon.

Thanks so much for your insight. I am still working with the adjuster at HAL. Today, I was told they had finally found the scanned receipts and hoped to be issuing payment shortly. We will see.

My dad and his partner had travel insurance coverage through HAL. My husband and I had coverage through another carrier. I checked with my carrier before the ship left Pago Pago. If my father had died, or was hospitalized in critical condition we could have submitted a request for trip interruption insurance. Thank God, neither of those things applied.

I was on this cruise.It was an upper respiratory outbreak. I came down with it and had to go to the clinic and was given antibiotics. The ship's Doctor told me in all his years at sea he had never seen so many sick people. The clinic was open some night to midnight seeing patients.

 

The Showroom At Sea sounded like a TB Ward. I believe they did run out of some meds.

Hi Bruce! Hope you recovered from your bout of the flu as well. Bob and I are currently in Cudjoe Key, FL, enjoying your beautiful state.

Given that Pago Pago is part of American Somoa, the medical facilities are not third world. There may even be a chance you would be covered by Medicare, as I know for a fact that the residents of Guam receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

 

To the OP, wow, what a mess. I'm so sorry. Did someone contact HAL insurance when your father and his partner were taken off the ship in Pago Pago to let them know an incident had occurred? If so, did the insurance co. offer any direction or advice? The reason I'm asking is that most insurance requires that you let the insurance agent or company know ASAP when an incident has taken place. They open a ticket and claims are filed against that claim number. They usually offer advice, depending on the nature of the incident, as to how to proceed and what documentation to procure and file. If this wasn't done, it may be what's holding up payment of the claim. Surely HAL had a file on this, as I would think that when a passenger has to be taken off, there's a boatload (pun intended) of paperwork that accompanies that decision.

 

 

Let us know the outcome. How are your father and his partner doing?

 

Roz

Thank you Roz.

First, I must clarify why I did not disembark with my father. He is a very young 90. He did not feel that he needed my assistance on shore. All of us were told that HAL insurance had been notified, and would have someone take care of all issues for them when they were medically disembarked. I was assured that someone would 'hold their hands and guide them' until they got home. They told me the HAL port authority would also stay in contact with them. None of that occurred. I would also point out that it would have been a $20k hit for my husband and myself to get off the ship. My dad and his partner were covered for the unused portion of their cruise..we were not. If my dad had seemed to have a life threatening condition, I would have disembarked...damn the cost. But he did not. He was sick and tired of the cabin problems, response of the staff, and sick with the flu (Influenza B...cough...fever...chills....lousy).

Pago Pago is an american territory. It is not like being in the USA however. The LBJ hospital is the equivalent of a medical clinic...no wheelchairs...no gowns for the patients...very little of anything. My dad and his partner were so touched by the social workers attention and assistance that they have purchased and sent much needed items to the hospital.

Other posters indicated the CPAP might have caused the problem. It did not. The room steward directed my dad to use the power source at the vanity. That is the same outlet I used on this cruise, and many others, for my CPAP. The problem was with the outlet not the machine.

I actually hate revisiting all of this. I get upset all over again.

Again, I thank everyone for their insights, opinions and advise.

I'm very sorry for the poor experience your DF and his partner had on HAL.

 

Two things leap immediately to my mind:

 

If they have stated so firmly they will never sail HAL again, HAL has little motivation to be generous in trying to satisfy their request for compensation..

 

I cannot determine from your post if you disembarked with these two quite senior gentlemen? Did you stay aboard or go with them to assist with their needs?

 

You are absolutely correct, HAL has little motivation to be generous. Therefore, they are failing to compensate this couple at all.

My husband and I were unable to disembark with them, because our cruise insurance would not have covered it. My dad's cruise insurance would not cover our fare either. I notified family members in the states of the situation. They attempted to get assistance for the parents, but none was provided.

Thank god for social workers!

What compensation did you ask for?

Our TA requested $1000 each in compensation, and reimbursement for the converter.

HAL's insurance does have concierge assistance. Apparently, they didn't have anyone to fit that description in Pago Pago.

My dad refers to it as his cruise from hell. It is truly a shame. He and his partner were ready to book a round the world cruise with HAL once they returned from this cruise.

I know it is unusual for a cruise line to refund any or all of a cruise fare. I also know that the flu might not be HAL's fault. But, you have to understand, this was a major influenza outbreak onboard the ship. Passengers and crew were lined up and down the corridors at the medical clinic. The clinic ran out of cough medicine, and over the counter pain and fever relievers. You could not be in any public place without hearing people coughing continuously. Unfortunately, no CODE RED was ever called. People were serving themselves at the buffet, etc. The ship sent a bottle of hand sanitizer to all the rooms. Lastly, there was no notification of an influenza outbreak prior to sailing. According to crew members, the outbreak started on the cruise before ours. Given my dad's age/health etc. he might have cancelled beforehand, if he had know.

I don't know what is right or wrong. I am not slamming HAL because of the flu. I just things should have been handled differently. The worst part, in my opinion, is that they abandoned an elderly couple, in Pago Pago.

I would like some opinions, insight, and advise from my fellow CC'ers. I apologize for the length of the post beforehand. I have to cover some ground.

My husband, father (90), his partner (80), and I sailed on the Oosterdam in April. It was a 36 day cruise from Auckland to Vancouver. Unfortunately, there was an outbreak of Influenza B on this cruise. It had devastating results.

The second day of the cruise, the vanity electrical outlet in my father's room shorted out. When it did so, it shorted out and destroyed my dad's CPAP converter. He has a heart condition, and use of his CPAP is crucial. He notified the pursers office. To make a long story short, it was not fixed until after it blew out the hairdryer and refrigerator in the room. This was about 1 week after the problem was report. We were unable to replace his converter until 2 weeks after this occurred. HAL has not offered to reimburse him for the converter.

Then my dad and his partner contracted the flu. They were confined to their stateroom. We were in the south pacific at this point. The HVAC unit in their room went out. Again, the purser was notified. The crew brought in a small electric fan to circulate the air. To further complicate the situation, the staff was not coming into clean their room. The air in the room was hot (90's) and it was foul smelling. They requested to be moved to another cabin. That request was not meet. Several days later, the HVAC was fixed. However, by this time it was determined that they needed to be medically discharged from the ship.

They had HAL travel insurance, so , no problem, right? Wrong. I was assured that HAL dealt with this situation all the time. They would be taken care of. That didn't happen. They were basically abandoned once they were taken off the ship. They were both hospitalized. The hospital social worker made flight and hotel arrangements for them to get home, once they were discharged. After submitting all required documentation to HAL insurance in May, we are still waiting for full reimbursement of their covered expenses.

My travel agent submitted my letter to HAL explaining what had occurred. In my letter, I explained that neither my father or his partner will ever cruise again. The cruise, the stateroom, being abandoned in the South Pacific, was a nightmare for them. HAL has offered $500 future cruise credit, a wine package, and dinner in the Pinnacle Grill. They are aware that my father and his partner will not cruise again. Therefore, it seems to me, that they are not offering anything at all.

I will be contacting the dept of ins regarding the HAL insurance, but I am at a loss as far as what to do about HAL.

Any insights or suggestions would be appreciated.

These last two opinions are so helpful.

Yes, food is so subjective and we are NOT foodies. My only gripe might be chicken so overdone it's nearly jerky, but that doesn't happen too often on a cruise. And there is always something else to choose if that happens.

Entertainment is something hit or miss for us. We usually have to get up early for an excursion so we tend to eat on the early side. By doing this we frequently miss the show in the theater. So we grab a drink at a bar and call it entertainment.

The status or decor of a ship doesn't bother me. The hallways and main rooms on a cruise ship are overused, and wear and tear will show. As I watch the waves unfold on the aft of a ship next to a worn spot in the carpet does not affect me at all.

'Nuff said. I think I'm going for it!!

Thanks for all the help in making my decision.

The Dive In serves excellent hamburgers, and the Canaletto Italian dining was very good. The Crows Nest is a great place to read, watch the ocean, play Pub Trivia and generally relax. The regular coffee...room service/lido/or dining room is the best I have had on any cruise line. There was no need to buy 'good' coffee, as on other lines. Have a wonderful trip!