Dobby36

Once you travel with HAL and play onboard you will start to receive offers for future sailings with discounted or free rates, sometimes with extras like drinks, casino credit etc included too. I’ve gotten mainly shorter 7-14 day ones, but longer ones do get offered. Some 20-plus, but unsure if a hard/specific limit exists. . I’m not a huge player in the casino, so feel they are fairly generous. But others seem to have inconsistent offers or none at all. Anyhow, here’s a selection of ones I was recently offered, they came in an email with the details and a link to qualifying sailings. Alas, most are in the near future and make it difficult for me to use, as I already have a couple more cruises on the books through the end of 2023.

Just a note to say how amazing HAL laundry is. On other lines I haven’t been nearly as impressed. with HAL you can choose hangers or folded, everything comes back pressed, and they will honor special requests too. Such a great value!

If this is the 25 day Noordam South Pacific crossing, by chance? (April 2024) if so, it does not look to be boookable in shorter segments so I doubt the kids club will be operational if they are following the rule noted above for sailings of that length. i still say go for it! You know your child best, it if they are anything like my family they can have fun at the pools, watching some of the events/shows, and playing board games. Alternatively, the kiddos I know can entertain themselves on their devices for hours on end 😉

So happy it was helpful! I was pleased too.

I first saw this on the Zuiderdam in 2019, and have made sure to cross through the pool area on the mornings toward the end of each cruise since. Was such a treat!

It is a large lounge area with expansive windows toward the bow of the ship, and high up so usually lovely views. There are a variety of chairs and sofas and lounge chairs to sit. Often games and puzzles and books out. An interactive map or two (if they are working) as well as a combination coffee bar and traditional alcohol bar. one of my fav places on board and I always try for a VB category cabin to be just down the (short ) hallway from it. bar menu: https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Crows-Nest-Bar-Menu.pdf coffee menu: https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Explorations-Cafe.pdf they often have a tray or two of cookies and brownies etc. but otherwise it’s just drinks. Not food there. sometimes they have portions of it closed off for small events, games, talks, etc.

Just to add another data point: I saw this thread on 7/26 and got myself an AARP membership that same day. I verified it with HAL on 7/27, and got my confirmation email. It showed up on my future cruise credit area on my mariner profile soon after. And today I asked for an updated booking confirmation using the email noted above, and sure enough it has been applied as OBC for my September sailing (which was booked over a year ago) so there is one more instance of it being applied to an existing booking, FWIW

I am never without a cup or bottle of water, and so I tend to buy these as souvenirs and can be quite hard on them (I love the dishwasher!) so I can say from experience in the HAL gift shops it is hit or miss. Sometimes they have lots of versions, and various special designs. Other times it’s quite sparse selection. However one thing has been constant: the cups with lids and straws (regardless of material) are of poorer quality than the metal tumbler types.

Ok, will report back in early Sept!

I was scratching my head when HAL sent this around too. In my experience it’s always a wait until the transfer person makes all their notes and gets everyone loaded, etc. usually better cruise to airport than it can be airport to cruise, but I’ve still waited he better part of half an hour to even get moving once onboard a bus.

Hi. I’m booked to do this in 3 weeks, so can’t really report in it yet but sounds promising. When is your cruise? Maybe I can come back and update this thread.

@Gardyloo makes a solid case for the Alaska card. I have it too, and love it. The value is there with the companion fare and I’ve used their miles to book business class in Japan airlines, Singapore airlines, and British airways (albeit with high taxes on BA) i see the OP noted the Amex platinum. I have it too and highly recommend checking out an online calculator tool which helps you estimate the value you personally find from the numerous benefits. Some are worthless to me, others I max out monthly and come out ahead overall. Take a look at the math and you may be surprised how much you get from that initial $695 annual fee. https://www.asksebby.com/credit-card-reviews/amex-platinum-card

interesting! I’ve been on both the Eurodam and NA Tamarind twice. All 3 times we made Tamarind reservations and sat there, but I added some sushi items from the Nami menu to my order, since they brought those menus as well. BUT we just got charged the usual Tamarind cover charge. Maybe I was just lucky! I assumed it was all covered if you paid the Tamarind charge but Pika maybe worked her magic

I was thinking the same thing. Ive lived in the same zip code of the port for ten years plus. It’s by the water! so very rare to see 40s, ever. And currently we are just touching 80 or slightly over, but no where near 90. Kiwimom must be based far inland. The fluctuations on the coast are minimal.

And as you mentioned, @mame42 I suspect you may feel a bit chilly! 😉

There are plenty of tours depending on your interest, and otherwise the Little Italy and Gaslamp neighborhoods are within walking distance to the pier, which both have restaurants and shops to browse. The pier area has plenty as well and a nice long walking path around the harbor. There are also plentiful ferries to Coronado, one-two hour harbor cruises (would recommend for nice narration and views, for reasonable price pp) and other rentals/activities near the cruise ship. USS midway and Maritime museum (collection of retired ships and subs to browse through) are other walkable highlights for inexpensive half day activities.

It will be foggy/gloomy here, likely (especially at coast, less so inland) but not downright cold. Should be fine for a light jacket if drizzling or sweatshirt if just cool. As others have said, you can google the exact temps and days of average rain historically, but there is rarely a bad time to visit Americas Finest City! Enjoy.

As long as you aren’t too concerned @lx200gps with a few homeless folks, you should be fine. It’s a pleasant walk that time of year and that direction has some hills, but no worse than other routes. It’s no a unsafe area and you’ll see a bit of balboa park along the way too.

Yes, all the Vista class ships have these two only.

On our BA to Santiago cruise on Oosterdam this year we chose to have lunch in the pinnacle during the day of scenic cruising the Chilean Fjords. It was a wonderful choice. Some of those passages were quite narrow, and therefore afforded great viewing of the shores from the windows in Pinnacle, just above the waterline. We were able to spot a bit of wildlife and many small waterfalls, etc.

No experience with the celebrity tour, but this water taxi sounds promising. Gets you from ship to main harbor area where they will store luggage, then taxi across to water later to BOS airport. https://www.bostonwatertaxi.com/cruise-ship-special we have it booked for Sept and think it sounds just right for us to kill 6 hours before our flight, maybe do lunch and a museum or something.

The walk is do-able in nice weather, but I would count on using most of the whole hour you found on google maps, etc. it’s uphill, and as already mentioned you need to get around to the east side to enter. Once you are inside there is a fair bit of walking and hills too, but you know yourselves and can choose Uber or walking accordingly. The only other item to note is either way you cut through little Italy under the 5 freeway, or head to east village and cross over the 5 there, it will be congested with cars and quite possible a number of transients and tents, debris etc. So just be aware of that, unfortunately.

There is an Avis/budget in little Italy (1670 Kettner) that is about half mile walk from the cruise port. The main car rental family is further, adjacent to SAN airport. not sure if either have a shuttle that drops off at the cruise port, but I doubt it since the airport now uses an on-site consolidated shuttle to the combined rental facility, doubt there is much in incentive to maintain each’s own shuttle service. but a 15 min walk, or a $10 Uber should get you to the nearest rental agency. Enjoy!

Plus one for this company, we used them after the Oosterdam earlier this year for a winery tour and hotel transfer. Guide was a hoot, and so full of info. Would do again for sure.

I would save La Jolla for if/when you come back to SD for a long weekend. It’s pretty sea cliff areas and there is some caves to explore, seaside viewing and nice restaurants and shops to stroll around. But to be it does not stand out as a must-do for a one-day visit. It’s also a 15 (or more) min trip each way from the cruise port to downtown La Jolla