Haljo1935

Just off NS where we had table 201 - a 2-top upstairs to the left all the way to far side by the window. It had a partition shared w/wait station to the left and a 4-top to the right with a reasonable space between. At first, we thought we would be requesting a different table as we thought we would feel like we were Baby in the corner. But it turned out to be a great table- out of traffic pattern but not hidden so servers could not "forget" us and far enough from other tables there was no compulsory conversation. When CO became unbearably cold and on nights we didn't have specialty reservations, this became our preferred dinner spot.

Unable to locate the picture, but when we had it last week, there was no banana on the side, so I think it was in the cake.

Don't have dimensions handy - I have a ridiculous assortment of luggage due to picking up pieces while traveling through the years. None are perfect, but many are very close; the ones I seem to prefer are soft sided and all of them but 2 are Samsonite. The wheels (dare I say it) have held up on all but 1 and all zippers (which have been well tested) still work. Just returned yesterday from a trip where my luggage was well over weight (AA marked it as 90#) again arriving w/functioning wheels and zippers. My friends brand new, never before used hard sided luggage arrived scratched, dented, dinged and with 7 out of 8 wheels broken, 1 completely missing. Eek! Advise to new travelers: edit contents packing less than you think you need, utilize laundry services and purchase quality luggage with looong warranty periods. Resist the urge to coordinate your luggage, opting instead for quality pieces. Also, use services such as Luggage Direct to minimize your luggage handling allowing you more time to enjoy your trip.

As today is final due date on a March cruise, I gave up and called in. Amazingly short hold time, especially given the number of current posts regarding website issues. Hopefully kinks will work out soon.

Hey @kazu yes, GS for dining. For excursions, it has to be done through SED as GS doesn't book excursions. It can be confusing 😕

Agree.

Congrats! Safe travels, enjoy your cruise. Good to read HAL is honoring their promotions w/less pushback.

Yes, that has always been my experience when booking nonrefundable, including casino rates.

You can book excursions to ensure you get what you want then once onboard, go to Shore Exc Desk and have them move them to OBC. They can do this even if those excursions are now sold out. Before you leave the SED, you will see the credit & new purchase in the Navigator. If not used, the credit will be refunded to the card you put on file (which may or may not be the same card you initially used to purchase the excursions- only you will know that) or you may collect cash from GS. I do this every cruise (including the one that just ended yesterday) w/o issue. Just be aware it must be done at Shore Ex, not GS, and before you go on the excursions. Enjoy!

Lots of crew swapping out. Not fully visible here, but the line of them for passport control was lengthy.

Bon Voyage and safe travels to you all!

Bon Voyage @seagarsmoker Bon Voyage @Petunia1950

Bon Voyage

As others have said, HIA doesn't appear to mini-bar, so if you're looking to maximize HIA value and minimize spend, empty it (yourself or by cabin steward (and restock using HIA purchases. This last cruise, we grabbed the HAL tote bag everything we left the cabin and made stops by GDC and other bars to grab a few drinks for our fridge. However you work it out, just be sure your cabin steward knows any drinks consumed from the fridge were from your inventory, not HALs. Enjoy!

You can share internet if the person buying the package doesn't mind the other person using their log in. If the 2nd person doesn't need it at all, no sharing required. Excursion dept can tell you the latest flight arrival time for which they'll allow you to use their shuttle. The port is very close to the airport so Uber and Taxi are viable options.

@Gunther1 If your legs have different booking numbers, they will be linked in terms of HAL knowing you're staying onboard as an "in transit" passenger, but your onboard account will not roll to the 2nd week - OBC will be settled for the 1st leg and whatever was associated w/the 2nd leg will show on your statement. If booked as a single cruise under 1 booking number, the OBC rolls to 2nd week because it's all still the same cruise.

Congrats and welcome to the world of B2B. In FLL if the ship has to "zero out" you will have 2 choices - you can meet up w/other in transit pax to do the kindergarten walk (all follow in a line escorted through passport control & led back on board) or you can get off and spend time in port then get back on before All Aboard time. Yesterday we had 2 people doing that who joined our airport excursion and we took them back to port before we went to the airport. Turnaround Day is special - enjoy!

We noticed that, too. Very curious. 🤔

Fresh squeezed juice (hope it's back in stock, lol), banana pancakes, Cuban sandwich and hummingbird cake. Now I'm hungry.

Maybe that's the issue - redesign optimized for W11? That would account for those of us (which is many) not on W11 having issues.

Ypu can book excursions w/o ypur TA - just as you can book specialty dining, add spa packages, etc on your own directly w/HAL. If you want to reference or anything that changes the base cruise, you have to go through your TA, but add one ypu do not. Hope it works out. I cannot do anything and have final payment due - ugh.

Yes, $55/day for HIA; that was a very recent price increase, so hope to see it sit there a while. Thermalpass is $50/day, $149/7 days, $299/14 days - no discount for pre-paying.

I quite enjoyed the Peruvian Chicken when I had it last week. Very large portion (half chicken) so we shared it. Nice selection, Michelle!

Correct, no chocolate rim mentioned in the description and the one made at Lido Bar (deemed undrinkable by cabinmate) did not have one. But the one she rec'd from the pros in the Ocean Bar had one. She quite enjoyed that one and the chocolate rim really made the drink. The next one she got from Ocean Bar, the chocolate was swirled inside the glass vs being on the rim. It was the liquid squeeze chocolate like they use in a chocolate espresso martini.

All great days - we have to help those who cannot help themselves, which at times can be heart wrenching. The quote is a good one. I'd give the meal, drink and wine a try; not been to the port, instead I offer a picture from Turks last year on my birthday (little preview for those on NS heading there tomorrow). Important days in history. Got home 11:15pm from airport - very long day yesterday- already miss shiplife😪 Will be heading to clinic this morning to see if they can give me something for this pounding sinus headache and stuffy ear then PT for shoulder and lots of work throughout the day. DH says fur babies missed me - sent these pics as proof. I think all they prove is they love each other and love to sleep, lol. Currently sunny 41° headed to 64°, rain 🌧 forecast for Friday.