CJcruzer

1 hour ago, SilvertoGold said:

Do you receive  the $99 deposit and the tips paid only when you book with the Have it All promo?  I don't feel the promo is worth the price for us so we will be booking cruise only.

I do not find the terms all that clear.

Thanks for any insight :)

you do not need to book the HAVE IT ALL promo.  Black Friday/Cyber Sale perk of reduced deposit and prepaid crew incentive is available  with advantage fare, refundable deposit bookings - as long as the sailing is coded/applicable for Black Friday promo.

Carol

at what time is the NY Deli and Pizza open on Pinnacle class ships.  If arriving at a port at 12 noon, would they open earlier than the norm?  I believe Lido buffet regularly opens for lunch 11:30 AM - perhaps on a 12 noon arrival in port lunch could start earlier ? (11 AM)

Thanks

Carol

can you post how many “gala” nights there were in total?  and what dates?

Thanks

Carol

I sailed Feb 2013, 22 day total package with add-ons and NOT ONE DAY of rain.

Carol

I used Skytrain last time disembarking in Vancouver, to get to the airport. easy peasy. 

nice hotel I have stayed twice - Blue Horizon Hotel, on Robson - walkable to Stanley Park, HOHO stop I believe is right by the hotel. Robson has plenty of shopping, restaurants - not far from cruise terminal

www.rome2rio.com is your friend !  you can get distances, various travel times, depending on modes of transportation or walking.

Carol

just got the email note the *per stateroom at the end ofthe sentence.

I just looked at the wording from my TA as to what HAL said

“But the booking deposit has been effectively satisfied and waived in the system for the FCC amount which will eventually show up.”

I have cancelled some shore excursions recently, due to cancelled cruises. Refunds t0 credit cards showed up on my credit card profile within 2 to 3 business days (do not include weekends).  There will be no email notification of this, just keep checking your credit card statement entries on a regular basis.

If shore excursions were purchased using HAL gift card, these are handled manually and may take up to 3 weeks to either be refunded to your original card, or sometimes a new card is issued for the refund amount.  I have had both cases, no rhyme or reason to it.

As soon as my cruise was cancelled by HAL (recently),  i filled out the form for FCC - as I had another cruise I wanted to book  (not a replacement cruise offered by HAL, but one of my own choice).   

My TA already had the new cruise on hold - and spoke with HAL that I wanted to use my FCC from the cancelled cruise (10% bonus of the deposit I had paid) - someone at HAL looked up my request form for FCC, saw that it had been approved.  The HAL rep said no problem, it will be applied to the new booking, but may be a while - in the meantime HAL issued an updated confirmation of booking showing deposit paid - BUT no amount deducted from the grand total until the FCC  is “created”.  Apparently HAL has something in their computer system which holds that booking with a paid deposit notification for these FCC’s awaiting action.

My TA forwarded the booking info to me with updated invoice,  and said in the eyes of HAL, I am booked and paid deposit.  When the FCC is manually “created” - it will be applied against total owing (both original  deposit amount and the 10% bonus).

Still waiting after 2-1/2 weeks but my booking is active, I have booked shore excursions, etc so just have to play the wait game.   My TA will be following up.

Hope this helps

Carol

22 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

22 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

How about if the cruise line has a transfer bus from the airport to the ship? That would keep you off the streets. It seems to me that that is the only way it would work.

and how are the officials who are monitoring this to know about that arrangement?   HAL reps would only have access to waiting area after passport control and baggage claim.    

Carol

1 hour ago, Roz said:

Over in the river cruising forum we've been discussing this, and you can be in the Netherlands for 12 hrs. before you have to quarantine.  This allows people to transfer planes or trains without quar

Just now, ontheweb said:

If you are allowed to transfer to the ship within 12 hours (a big IF), the new norm might just have to become flying in the day of the cruise.

the way I read it, transferring WITHIN the airport, to another flight.  Not really sure how transferring to the ship fits in with this directive.  The officials will have no way of checking if you are transferring to ship via HAL pre-arranged transportation.  That means you could be hopping in a cab, going to a hotel, etc - all of which would now require quarantine.   

Carol

2 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

I had a laugh when looking up pricing, I had been eyeing a quick Get Away (not that I need another cruise between this Saturdays and my NCL in November) but I just priced what I was considering on the Koningsdam and the price has gone up $110.00 per person 😁 That covers them adding the Pre paid Crew Incentive plus a little extra. Not sure that is the case with all of them but the one I was looking at I last checked the price on Monday.

does not surprise me in the least…😉

Carol

Have to go down to the terms and conditions for the fine print….

Crew Incentive and $99 Deposit are valid from Sept 2, 2021 – Sept 10, 2021 and only on Fall 2021 and Winter/Spring 2022 Mexico, Caribbean, California Coast and Panama Canal Cruises.

Carol

4 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

 

Take 2 - the first time I posted it went poof!

 

Carol, it was very interesting to hear your personal experience while visiting Ishigaki.  Did your tour operator have his own boat or did you utilize a ferry to get to Taketomi?

 

I'm interested in the figures on the roofs of the buildings.  What is the purpose of placing them there?

We took the ferry across.   Regarding the figures on the roofs, red clay roofs are often decorated with Shisa guardians. The Shisa looks like a cross between a lion and a dog and they protect against evil spirits.

Carol

In 2017, we were on the Volendam visiting Ishigaki.  A group of us arranged a private tour to Taketomi Island.

Carol

1 hour ago, highscar said:

What!!!  I’m booked on 14th Jan. Where did you hear this.  

The January 14 sailing should bot be affected, please read my post above, as the Koningsdam will be taking over the Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas 35 day sailing, in February,   That was the reason for the Jan 31 Hawaii sailing of Koningsdam - in order to free it up for the once a year South Pacific cruise,

Carol

The Jan 31/2023 Koningsdam cruise was doing 18 day HAWAII, along with. it also being a collector cruise for 25 days, HAWAII & Mexico.

The Zuiderdam had been scheduled  for the February 2023  HAWAII, TAHITI & MARQUESAS - 35 day cruise.   This is a popular itinerary and only available once a year.   The Zuiderdam was recently announced to be the ship for the World Cruise in 2023, starting January 03,2023.

So obviously, Zuiderdam cannot do the Tahiti, South Pacific cruise that year.  As Koningsdam is already doing cruises in the San Diego area, it was chosen to do the South Pacific 35 day cruise, thereby forcing cancellation of the January 31, 2023 sailing to Hawaii.

This announcement was on the heels of HAL cancelling the 2022 world cruise and also the 2022 South America, Antarctica Grand Voyage cruise,

As there have been rollovers from the 2021 and now 2022 world voyages, I guess HAL thought it best to go with a larger ship (Zuiderdam) for 2023 World cruise.   They have a LOT of cruisers to reposition over, never mind any new reservations.   I believe using the Zuiderdam will allow for 550 more capacity, and of course eill have more verandah staterooms than. the  older S and R  ships.

This change in deployment does NOT affect the January 14 sailing, asfar as I know.   The South Pacific cruise apparently will start in February 2023, so should not affect the January 14h Koningsdam itinerary 

I was booked for the Jan 31 Koningsdam, 25 day HAWAII & MEXICO, but have since chosen another cruise as replacement.

Carol

In the “good ol’ days”, there used to be a discreet sign on the water feature that stated during busy times, limited to 20 minutes.  That would be if you saw people standing around waiting for a thermal recliner to free up.  

Carol

Anyone have an idea when HAL might be putting on their bonus gift card promotion again?  

Carol

3 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

Have not stayed in them but K11057 & K11058 have windows that overlook the jogging track and sliding pool dome. Pictures of 11058 on Nieuw Statendam (sister ship) are on halfacts.cpm. Someone once posted that 11058 is next to a sliding door and 11057 is next to a door that can slam.

thanks, just checked and only ones available are K11015, K 11016, K11011, pretty much upfront, and top. 

Carol

3 minutes ago, KirkNC said:

No, maybe storage?  There are cabins below and the promenade above.  Not sure.

yes, I was looking at the cabin E1017 above that area.   it is an outside versus. booking K up. on sundeck.   That is pretty much what is available - no K’s or L’s left on decks 6, 7. 🙁

I am debating between the option between a K inside on sundeck and E1017 oceanview.

As far as placement, I see above E1017 is the men’s washroom outside the theater, and the microsoft studio.  What would be the white area right by there?  Just want to make sure it would not be anything that would “noisy” late at night, early AM ( like under the galley, moving things around, etc).

Also any experience with the K’s on Sundeck? I would imagine they would quiet? 

thanks in advance for advice/input.

Carol

18 minutes ago, KirkNC said:

The J’s are the smallest inside cabin I have ever seen on the K’dam.  The I’s are bigger and have a sofa.  No sofa in the J.

thanks Kirk.... there are K’s available on the sun deck  ....  and E1017 which may not be as quiet.   Do you know on deck 2 what the area by the men's washroom, near the microsoft studio, is?   

Thanks for the quick response.

Carol

Are the I’s larger than the J’s.  Also how does the configuration differ?  Any good suggestions?

I know there have been some discussions, or threads - but thought I might get a response faster than me scrolling or searching.
 

Thanks in advance for advice.

Carol

33 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Looks like the church in Ravenna was worth a trip there to see it.  Beautiful walls and ceilings!

The Unesco Byzantine mosaics are spread among 8 sites.   I forget how many we visited, possibly 5 or 6?   I know one site was closed that day, another is a bus ride outside of the city itself.

Here is some info and the 8 monument sites: 

Ravenna, an important port, was known under the Romans and Byzantines as Classis. It developed into a major centre of Christian art and culture on the instigation of Galla Placidia, the wife of Western Roman Emperor Constantius III (and regent of that empire herself for a few years). She was a fervant Christian and was involved in the building and restoration of various churches throughout her period of influence

The 8 inscribed monuments are:

• Neonian Baptistery (c. 430)
• Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (c. 430)
• Arian Baptistry (c. 500)
• Archiepiscopal Chapel (c. 500)
• Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo (c. 500)
• Mausoleum of Theodoric (520)
• Basilica of San Vitale (548)
• Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe (549)

Carol

some more Ravenna pics