FlaMariner

What purpose would Verifly serve? It serves no purpose if it was used for uploading documents not needed (vaccine cards & test results). HAL's "online check in" covers the health form. I'd love to hear from peeps that have cruised since the requirements were dropped to confirm. (I've deleted mine and hope never to go down that route again)

Our favorite quiet places on HAL: the promenade deck deck 10 above the pool on Pinnacle Class pool lido deck....no loud music playing...we find it somewhat quiet all the time the Crows nest the top sun deck....forward (rarely anyone up there) Ocean Bar area around Lincoln Center on older ships and the BBKings lounge when nothing going on the sitting area at the thermal suite and the warm loungers (if you buy the thermal suite)

That's great news for all of us that like to cruise........We need them making $$$ again.

Never heard of that but I do know Dr. Thunder.....LOL.... Different strokes for different folks.....love that we all can board a HAL ship and enjoy the journey......

LOL. We are not all trust fund babies w/unlimited vacation time as I've been told on here....LOL.......LOL.....I get it. I'm glad all folks can board a Holland America Line ship and have a great vacation.......It's not much different than 150 years ago....I would be in steerage (inside on deck 1) and others on here would be in a Neptune (first class) and enjoying the Club Orange special entree of the evening. It's all good for all folks. That's what makes it so great, right?

Remember if you are going to Puerto Rico or St Thomas, It's just like being in the good ole USA. Phones work the same as if you were in Cleveland.

Yep, that's the job of your travel agent......and it is worth taking the time to link them as it makes dining and other things easier for HAL to serve you.....

Crisis on Carnival....no more 24/7 ice cream....LOL.....those cutbacks continue........LOL....only can get ice cream from 11am to midnight....the horror of it all....LOL. Next thing you know, HAL will not put a peppermint patty on my pillow.....yikes... end of times....LOL.

I'll still be there!

We used to do this....We kept clothes that we said were "one more times" and we used them for our travels and then would just throw them away as we traveled......works well with holes in the undies...LOL...never mind what mother said....LOL. Lately, we only carry a carry on bag and backpack only (no matter the travel length) and we use the HAL laundry...."Rinse and repeat" as they say......This works out well when we head to Europe for a week land tour and then bring our carry on full of dirty clothes onboard a trans Atlantic ship and boom, all good to go...... We are flying to Machu Pichu in March for 5 days before boarding a 'dam ship to sail back to Florida.....That plan will work well for that also.

That's a great question.....I do not see it listed on deck 1 or at the Crow's Nest on the deck plan. I bet it is on deck 1 though, across from guest services????......If no-one confirms, I'd ask as you enter the ship or head down to deck 1. Enjoy the Nieuw Amsterdam!

Agree but if we are fine with the included coffee, iced tea, hot tea, hot chocolate, orange juice, pineapple juice, grapefruit juice, milk and water, I can't make the math work for us....... And we have no use for $100 shore excursion in the Caribbean & we have no need for the internet & we are fine with the MDR..... Everybody needs to do their own business case....For us it is a no but I can easily see how others would jump at this as a good deal...... We enjoy our 3 Star Mariner discount on Sommelier package 1 and we head to the thermal suite and a few others things for splurging.....Glad we have choices! I love this thread....keep the suggestions coming.

Your experience has me wanting to give this another try. I tried it last year on an excursion and they came back and because of some minor variation (I forgot what it was but seemed minor at the time) they would not honor.....So I thought all excursions have something small different and this would never really work. I'll try again and thanks!

I like the food on HAL...It's one of our top reasons for cruising HAL (and that includes 2 cruises since the unpleasantness) Agree the staff is over the top good. Another top reason. Are there other things that relate to HAL downgrading? The only item I've read on this post is food and we all know, especially since I've been around my once teenage daughter, that food is subjective. What else is wrong besides Neptunes not being worth it?

My comment at the baggage carousel is "honey, let's leave with better luggage than we came with".....LOL...I guess somebody helped themselves....

LOL...banish her to Carnival also!

They are not allowed to push all the floor buttons on the elevators. If they do, they are immediately dispatched to the nearest Carnival ship where they will feel more at home. We find children on HAL to be very well behaved and our kids grew up on 'dam ships. Enjoy the cruise with them....We did and are glad they still sail HAL and they are in their late 20's! I never recall something that they had any restrictions beside alcohol and the casino.

We do not buy...... drink packages water/coffee mini bar (don't touch it and on long cruises ask that the stuff be removed) Club Orange/Retreat/Cabanas Suites Bingo/gambling internet speciality dining (been to all of them except Rudi's once....never felt it was worth the $$$ and love the MDR) cruise ship port tours (unless a one of a kind....we book small tours not w/ship) photos (been there, done that) We do buy.... thermal suite (and get our money's worth visiting frequently and love it) Spa (Her Majesty enjoys getting spa treatments...she sometimes gets free stuff from the embarkation raffle) Sommelier wine package (get package #1 with Mariner discount) unlimited laundry (can save on baggage fees and allows us to easily take cheaper transport like trains) drinks at happy hour (not big drinkers so could never justify drink packages) onboard Future Cruise Deposits inside or up to VF balconies (based on itinerary) My list is not neccesarily a cost savings list but is more about how we roll....which includes savings and splurges so that we are comfortable with the overall costs. I'm so glad we get choices on Holland America Line....We can make our own decisions about services/experiences that have value for us.

Her Majesty uses the Verizon "international plan" and it works well....At least in Europe in the Caribbean, Mexico....calls, texts and surfing w/her phone. (She has not used it on the ship.....the answer is based on land)

I think the Delta compensation is "up to $3800" per bag.......as much as it is a hassle and pain, many times I've wished my luggage would not make it....and I could get a full new replacement of everything! I think you did a great job with the situation......We've learned in travel that anything can happen and probably will at some point......

If you are cruising to St Thomas I bet you can buy there and save on the sales tax. Same for other "sales tax free" ports.

More details....It was the Princess Sky Eastbound Trans Atlantic cruise this past March....We met them when in line at the castle we were touring from our Lisbon port stop. They told us they were Philly, he needed internet for his business and it had not worked since they boarded. He said they almost left the ship in Fort Lauderdale because it was not working at embarkation. He was on the tour of Lisbon but they had been given permission to disembark in Lisbon and were heading to a hotel in Lisbon for a few days. The ship's next stop was debarkation in Southampton in 2 days. I agree it was nuts but there was much frustration from many passengers regarding the internet on that trip. I learned from our roll call that the previous Princess Sky cruise had nil internet and when we boarded, folks were given a letter telling them their internet fee would be credited. I understand you questioning this passenger experience but that was what I heard and also what we experienced. I'm glad I do not need internet when cruising and I would certainly not put my job at risk thinking ship internet will support me working remote.

Bed bugs just like Covid and Noro will happen........it's inevitable......And I'm sure HAL knows how best to handle and it is not "their first rodeo". We are 3 stars and never heard of or experienced bed bugs on a HAL ship.....Also, never experienced them at the Marriotts either (platinum)....But know that it will happen to someone sometime. Get out there............

My experience is you cannot rely on ship internet no matter what they say.....If you choose to rely on ship internet for work, you are making a very bad decision, IMO.

If you do not need to show your vaccine card and you do not need to show your test results then what would be the purpose of Verifly? (The health questionnaire is included with the online check in.) I've deleted it and said "good riddance".