Fivelinks

I have always enjoyed on Solstice class being able to open dividers between balconies before and have been told on the Edge class ships this is still possible. I see on the deck plans there is an icon for connecting balconies but don't see where this could occur. Does anyone have actual experience with this? I am booking several Concierge Infinite Verandahs on Ascent with friends/family and didn't know if this was possible. If not, we don't need to worry about being side by side. Thanks in advance for feedback!

On 1/13/2024 at 3:54 PM, Katefromupstate said:

Since we live here and have our own car, I’m not familiar with taxi prices.  I would call the hotel the morning you get here and see if they will take your credit card over the phone.  If not, I think you could grab a taxi as soon as you get off the ship and easily make it back for your 10 am excursion.  It’s a short ride, and you could ask the taxi to wait in front of reception while you buy the day pass.  
 

Land sailing is lots of fun.   We do it everytime we have guests come to visit us.  Enjoy!

I've been thinking of trying Chogogo when we visit next week also but since you live there can I trouble you and ask is there a beach with a nice restaurant/bar you would say is better for a day of relaxing? It's my birthday when we are there and I want to make the best choice. I also thought about Windwood and appreciate any feedback you have. Thanks!

22 minutes ago, sarellen8385 said:

How can I tell how much onboard credit I have going into a cruise? Where on my account will I find this information? Thank you.

I have only been able to see mine on my confirmation e-mail from HAL. You can call customer service and ask them to send you an updated confirmation. 

On 12/12/2023 at 10:59 AM, islandgirlejfan said:

Thanks for the replies!  We are going to be in Bonaire on a Wednesday, so it should be all good!

Just curious where did you end up going and how was it? We will be in Bonaire on my birthday at the end of January and are considering going to the resort, but I don't want to waste my day if it isn't good....

When you board rather than fighting the crowds going to the buffet, we have found the dining room to be open on many HAL ships but if not, the New York Deli is a great place to eat. No crowds and delicious food like fresh pizza, deli sandwiches, and yummy salads. Grand Dutch Cafe also great for snacks and coffee.

The food in general is a step above most lines. Our favorite places are specialty restaurants Rudi's Sel de Mer for the bouillabaisse or whole Dover sole. Also worth the money is Tamarind and Pinnacle Grill (best value is lunch).

I echo others that the crew on HAL is the best at sea! I have been on several other lines and while I enjoy many positives about them... hands down HAL has the most genuinely willing crew that are there to see to your every need.

Enjoy!!

On 8/2/2023 at 4:17 PM, islandwoman said:

I hope that someone who has redeemed points will post the details of their experience.

What I have stated is correct as I have done it mutiple times. When you make a HAL purchase $4001 and higher you will take 2.5% and multiply that by your total points. I just did a $5000 cruise final payment and had 32,000 points. My statement credit was $800.

20 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

Fivelinks, I don't understand what you said here because I found this on Barclay's website at the "Terms & Conditions"  for "Holland America Line Rewards Visa Card":

"Statement credit redemption value toward Holland America Line purchases will vary based on the amount of the Holland America Line purchase. The sum of eligible transactions made on the same date will be assigned to the appropriate rule as described below:

Holland America Line purchases within the last 180 days:

$50 to $499.99 will have a redemption value of 1%

$500 to $1,499.99 will have a redemption value of 1.25%

$1,500 to $2,000.99 will have a redemption value of 1.50%

$2,001 to $4,000.99 will have a redemption value of 2.00%

$4,001 and up will have a redemption value of 2.50%" 

(underlining is mine)

Now I'm even more confused because I don't know what Barclays means by "The sum of eligible transactions made on the same date".

The sum of eligible transactions made on the same date will be assigned to the appropriate rule as described below: This simply means that you can't split the transaction or add mutiple HAL purchases like I referenced for making a deposit in one transaction, then coming back later to pay in full. Those two amounts don't combine. Therefore, to have a redemption value of 2.5% of your total points the transaction you are redeeming them for must be $4001 and up. Be careful if you make more than one HAL transaction and be sure you are redeeming against the highest cost to maximize your credit.  

This is what I have done in the past and have been told to do so by a representative at Barclays. Feel free to give them a call and they will use your scenario / transaction(s) specifically to advise you how best to redeem.

2 minutes ago, VermeulT said:

ok but spending $5000 on HAL at 2 x points is only 10,000 points.  To get the 25,000 points you are referring to would be a $12,500 on HAL or a lot more on non-HAL purchases.

 

In the question from islandwoman she already had the 15,000 bonus for signing up. However even if she had no bonus points and only used it for that $5000 purchase, you could still consider the $250 credit you earned as a total savings on that cruise. I like my HAL card for other reasons like cell phone insurance when I use it to pay that bill each month. Rental car insurance, some travel insurance benefits, and more. All depends on the benefits I find most beneficial as a consumer, and what rewards I want as to which card if any I utilize.

On 7/27/2023 at 9:05 AM, islandwoman said:

I have a recently acquired Barclay's HAL visa that now has 15,000 + points on it.  I have an expensive HAL cruise upcoming in November 2024.  What is the best way to redeem these points?  Or would it be better to use the card to pay for the cruise or part of the cruise?

A few things to consider. For HAL purchases $4001+ you will get the highest statement credit redemption of 2.5%. Your points are 2x on HAL 1x on all other purchases and the points you have at redemption are the number you multiply by 2.5%. Ex. 25000 points x 2.5% on a $4001 final HAL purchase = $625 statement credit. Keep in mind the purchase can't be split. Ex. $500 deposit one time then final $3501 payment later won't give you the $4001 to claim the credit from. Having said that when I booked my last cruise the deposit was only $50 so, I have put everything I could on the HAL card and paid it in full each month. Now my final payment is due and it is over the $4001 mark which gives me the 2.5%. I am going to take it a little further though and pre-book dining, shore excursions, and pay gratuities with my final payment to rack up the points. Once all of that hits my statement and the points are there, I will redeem the credit. It makes me feel like I got a nice discount on my cruise this way since it will post towards that final payment statement. Only if I plan to sail HAL on the next cruise will I use that card for my on-board spending. If not, I use the card with the best rewards at the time. Hope that helps...

On 7/31/2023 at 3:05 PM, islandwoman said:

Can you tell us how long it had been since you'd used that card when Barclays cancelled it?  I'd rather only use my Holland America card for double points on HAL purchases, but those might be few and far between. So I'd like to know how often I need to "waste" my purchases by using my HAL card for single points when I might have used a double or multi-point card instead. 

I was told by Barclays that you need to use the card at least once in a rolling year to keep it active and not loose your points.

I have always been able to get oat milk and have seen almond milk there as well. Like NanaJPB said they are always happy to go and get it if they don't have it already at that station... all you need to do is ask and so shall you receive😊

Having sailed both Celebrity and HAL equally, and having been on both sister ships to Rotterdam I agree you will enjoy it very much. You may even find you like HAL a little better... We are booked on Rotterdam in January after the past 4 cruises having been with Celebrity due to declining service that we experienced this year. IMO Celebrity has better itinerary's and HAL is much more expensive now than 2020 when we last sailed with them. But we found an itinerary we like on this newest ship and are willing to pay more due to the experiences with Koningsdam and Neiuw Statendam and the higher service standards HAL sets. A former HAL employee on Celebrity Edge told me some of the differences he has observed and openly admitted he wished he had stayed with HAL.

We also love the private island and like the music venues offered on this class of HAL ships better. Again, both have strong positives, but the service and food quality are what matter most to me and HAL wins both IMO. No worries and safe travels!!

17 hours ago, lx200gps said:

The closest Marriott property to PE is definitely the Renaissance on 17th. If you get a high floor AND have the right room orientation, the views of the port and the ships are quite nice.  It's also pretty much the closest hotel to the port. Only issue with the Renaissance is the construction of the new convention center going on right across from the hotel, but when we were there a few months ago, the views weren't blocked from our higher room. Slightly better views are seen from the Hilton Marina across the causeway/bridge, but it's obviously not a Marriott

Thanks for the information! This is one I am considering. How about ocean front hotels that are still close enough like Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa? It looks like the next closest then continuing down the beach I see Courtyard FL Beach, Marriott Beach Tower, the new AC Hotel, and Westin. Does anyone have experience with any of these and ease of getting from the airport day before then to the port the day of cruise?

I have Marriott Bonvoy points to use and will be flying in the night before my cruise out of Port Everglades. There is a good size group of us with a few new to cruising whom I hoped would get to see the ships in port from the hotel. I am looking for new/newer hotel from this group that is VERY clean with good places to eat nearby. Hopefully I can get some recommendations. Thanks!

I used to purchase annual policy from Chubb however they no longer offer extensive coverage only medical. If you don't mind please post what you find as I am having a hard time finding a new provider.

I like the big bottles of Aqua panna from the dining room to carry back to my cabin and have always been able to get them at dinner with no additional charge.  Anywhere else I have not been able to get around it. Please post if you try this and it still works.

Definitely watch videos for both ships and see which vibe you like. We sail both HAL and Celebrity equally and make decisions based on how we feel about the ship for the region/destination we want to sail to. You can't go wrong with either, but each have their merits.  I find food, entertainment, and staff to be quite good on both however, overall service on HAL we have found to be a little better. I also prefer the music on HAL's Pinnacle class ships due to the diversity. Celebrity Edge series has more dining options which I enjoy, and the Solstice class has nice specialty restaurants like Murano. Neither are too fussy about their dressier nights, and there will be extremes both ways with everything in between. Good luck choosing between the two but either way you're going to have a wonderful trip!

On 4/11/2023 at 4:36 PM, Vict0riann said:

Do you know if they have spoken to your noisy  neighbours?  Once on Eurodam, we had a single lady next door who was lonesome, I guess, and maybe a bit deaf, and had the TV on loudly from 5 a.m. until late at night.  We talked to the Front Desk and they said they would ask her to lower the volume, and she did.  What a relief!

Just off of a Celebrity cruise where we had acrobats or something crazy happening up there. Guest relations called while I was standing there and it did help some... Keep pushing them to do something!

7 hours ago, newtocruiseinblue said:

Don't let the negativity drive you away. Why not go on your trip and decide for yourself? 
 

Here is a post from another thread: 

 

Well put! Each person must experience and determine for themselves. Perception is reality but each person's perception is a just little different.... I read all the comments about changes and had myself worked up prior to my 10nt on Edge last month. But... I kept and open mind and went to experience things myself. This was my 4th Celebrity cruise and 1st on Edge but other than cabin noise from elephants or acrobats above us that no one could control, everything was wonderful! I am a bit of a foodie and am all about good wine. Food and wine offered were high quality with a great selection to choose from, service for the most part was exceptional, and the ship was well kept with mostly friendly staff. I have sailed many lines including Holland America whom until recently, I thought was a step above Celebrity in terms of service and food. After this last Edge cruise, I am ready to sail Celebrity again and already have booked another 10nt on Silhouette.

On 2/16/2023 at 8:20 AM, janetz said:

Paying at the Miami port…as you leave?

Or can you pay ahead?
Thanks 😊

It is my understanding from the POM web site you pay when you leave. The only exception is in lot J where you pay upfront, and they give you a decal for your window showing you paid.

Great information, thanks so much! I will do some comparisons....

12 hours ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

 

Brickell is a safe area to stay in though parking is expensive overnight at many hotels.  As is Coconut Grove and Coral Gables.  

There are many great hotels in the Brickell area.  The Hampton Inn Brickell is a great hotel and they have a parking garage.  It all depends on what you want to pay for the night. 

 

Jupiter on down would be great to stay in if you don’t want to deal with the traffic and parking in Miami. Even staying 40 minutes away in the Fort Lauderdale area would make your drive the day of the cruise much easier.  The Dania Beach area has lots of hotels close to I-95.  It’s a very easy drive on 95 to get to the port and take the exit for the tunnel and you won’t have to deal with driving in the downtown area. 

We normally stay in Dania Beach when we go out of Fort Lauderdale. Any recommendations for a nice safe hotel in the Jupiter area I should look into?

On 2/14/2023 at 6:26 PM, Flymia said:

Miami is not some dangerous city you need to avoid. So don't stay away from the city just because of some fear that it is dangerous. Anywhere in Downtown Miami, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach. All safe and nice areas. And plenty more. That being said staying 3-4 hours away might make your trip easier or cheaper. No idea how long the drive is how you are planning on splitting it up. 

 

The port parking is ridiculously safe. The port is on an island, with two ways in and out with police 24/7. Not many safe places to put your car. 

 

 

 

Thanks for the feedback! Our drive will be 14hours and we want to stop around that 10-hour mark to get a good night's sleep. We have an early boarding time and want to avoid major commuter traffic so will leave the hotel super early. In terms of hotel safety, I'm not worried about our stay but am worried about leaving my high-end car sitting in the parking lot. Will do some research from Titusville down to Ft. Lauderdale. If anyone has any more recommendations or can share experiences where they stayed it is appreciated!

On 1/23/2023 at 12:14 PM, Host CJSKIDS said:

Couldn't agree more. As someone who lived in Brickell for 8 years, I wouldn't leave my car anywhere other than the Port. 

I'm nervous to leave my car even at the port but can't fly. Will definitely spend the money and park at the port thanks to your advice. Do you have any advice on where to stay that is safe the night before? We have been considering stopping 3-4 hours before Miami like in the Titusville area or something like that.

Coming in from Virginia the day of cruise on 95 and planning to park at Port of Miami. With the construction is there a best way to enter for parking in garage G?

Not sure if an overnight stay the evening before stopping 3-4 hours before the port is a good idea or not with traffic either. Anyone have any recent experience that can offer feedback?