FlaMariner

Interesting..... I have the opposite problem.....I generally want all the appetizers, entrees and desserts and have a hard time trying to pick just one of each.

Even on the "dressy" night, kaki pants and a collared shirt meet the requirement for the guys........enjoy the MDR. Just change out of the flip flops, shorts and t shirts and you will be fine....enjoy the journey....

Yep. And Shin Yokohama Station seems to be an easy 11 minute connection from Yokohama station....via JR so can use our JR Pass all the way. I've found the "Japan Official Travel App" to be a great source for train schedules.

Seems like most HAL cruises we have been on has some type of port fee adjustment......to our benefit. Some are port cancels but mostly it is adjustments (small amounts) to the port charges.

Guesses..... lots of drinking to fit into the 5 days so business case not positive? computer not set up to program HIA for less than 7 days?

Nice start.....I look forward to your factual, actual review LOL......you know it.....LOL Enjoy the journey......

Gotcha..... Do you know if everyone gets stamped? or do I need to ask for it or get in the "stamp line" or any other considerations?.....I can easily see me 6 hours later trying to get my rail pass and there is "no stamp for you so no rail pass for you". Thank you!

I've never been judged or had my plastic water bottles confiscated when boarding/roaming the ship.....And I do not see any rule to that sort in the FAQs or anywhere else on the website (Please others correct me if I missed this?). We were last onboard in April 2023. (Also, the spigot water is very good as is the regular tap water served in the restaurants) Welcome back and enjoy the journey......

Will do!

Never been to Japan....but heading there next month!!! We are spending 5 nights at the Yokohama Bay Sheraton and Towers.....Why? It's near the cruise ship pier (a few stops on the rail line), It's across from Yokohama station (so we can take day trips via rail to Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa) and we can take the Narita Express train to Narita when done....and we used points.

We have Japan Rail pass vouchers. To activate them, we need to take the Japan Rail vouchers and our passport with a Japan applied "Landing Permission" stamp in our passport to the Japan Rail Travel Office once we enter Japan. Is this something that is part of the normal Japanese procedure when dis-embarking a ship at Yokohama? (All the info I read is based on arriving in Japan at the airport....and we need our Japan Rail Pass activated once we arrive)

Yes. It does not say "long sleeve" so as I read it, it meets the requirement....for collared shirt. My dinner dress every evening (dressy or casual nights) is always kaki long pants and a long sleeve sports shirt. Done.

We've never been charged a service charge when we have bought the thermal spa visit pass....(either online prior or onboard embarkation)...Me thinks the 18% service is just for "spa services" (massages, haircuts, facials, etc.) but not "thermal spa" access. (I'm comfortable being corrected if that has changed recently.....last spa pass was bought by us in 2022)

Try this.... Log into Holland America Line Find your booking/cruise & go there then.... "Arrange Flights & Transportation".then.... "Flights" then..... "Book & Manage Flights" and then flights booked thru Flight Ease show up (at least it just did that for our upcoming cruise/flights) Also, our TA invoice has the flight info. Enjoy the journey.....

There are no "gala" nights. There will be "dressy" nights but it's not much different (for us, no different) than "smart casual" evenings....here are some helpful FAQ's from the HAL website....Enjoy the journey! Most evenings smart casual attire is appropriate. Shorts, pool/beachwear, distressed jeans and men’s tank tops are best left to the daytime and are not permitted in fine dining restaurants. Dressy Nights evoke the grand traditions of cruising as guests dress to impress for special events on board, including our five-course gourmet dinner in the Dining Room. For gentlemen, collared shirts and slacks are required in all fine dining restaurants. Q: Why the change from “Formal” To “Dressy” night? A: To many, the “Formal” term was misleading as it implies a specific type of dress (black tie or tuxedo) that has never been a requirement. “Dressy” still implies festive or dressy without misleading guests to bring attire the majority of guests don’t wear. Q: What about ladies’ dressy attire? A: Dressy attire is appropriate. Dresses, skirts, and slacks are all acceptable. Q: Are a jacket and tie required for men? A: Jacket and tie is the preferred attire in all fine dining restaurants on Dressy Nights, though it is not required. Guests without a jacket and tie were allowed in the fine dining restaurants before the new wording so this is not a policy change. Q: Are jeans allowed? A: Jeans without holes, tears or embroidery are welcome on most evenings in all restaurants, but on Dressy Nights jeans are only allowed in the casual dining restaurants. Q: Can I wear shorts in the main dining room? A: Not at dinner. The dining room is considered a fine dining restaurant and shorts are not permitted. Q: Is the dress code the same on Grand Voyages? A: Yes. The policy applies to all Holland America Line voyages.

Here is the wine policy....$20 corkage per bottle.....From the HAL website: Revised Policy effective June 1st, 2021 Guests 21 years and older may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less). Limitations apply. Wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused.

Read this on the World Wide Web so it must be true...... There are no docking facilities in the Villefranche port of call. Cruise ships anchor in the deep bay and use tender boats to transfer the cruise passengers ashore.

Looked up Villefranche, France (near Nice) for our April 2024 Oosterdam cruise and nothing is listed on our TA invoice/itinerary or on this HAL link to indicate it is a "tender port" but I thought it is a "tender port"? Any intel?

Agree. Uber/Lyft is the best way to go......

From the CDC site....for Japanese Encephalitis....based on this, not applicable for our 5 night visit. Recommended for travelers who Are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live Spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis Frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis Consider vaccination for travelers Spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets Going to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be there Not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or travel to areas with no clear Japanese encephalitis season.

+1 Our strategy as well.....We now travel with a carry on bag and a backpack. We are able to shlep our stuff right to the stateroom, avoid check baggage fees and can easily handle the steps and train rides along the way. And we have clean clothes pre-cruise, onboard and post-cruise.

Corkage $$$ = bringing onboard to drink...no matter where

Sometimes a pen and paper is the most efficient method......

I have an email in my inbox when I get home.......seems like it is just a day or so.

We like to arrive early (to get the party started....or rather, to get to lunch).....We've cruised 4x since the unpleasantness and boarded in Amsterdam, Santiago/San Antonio and 2x at Port Everglades and we've always been welcomed in no matter what was listed on whatever document regarding whatever boarding time. Enjoy the journey......