Haljo1935

Yes, you absolutely can send laundry out embarkation day. I would send it out as early as possible. If your cabin steward is busy w/turnaround tasks so you don't see them, just call Guest Services and let them know you have a bag ready for pick up. Tip: roll tightly and stack tightly - you will fit an unbelievable amount of clothes into a single bag.

Ues, HAL assigns your check in time. You will likely see it in the Navigator App before you get a barcode on the printed boarding pass. No, you don't select a time like you do on Carnival. Welcome to HAL; safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

Day pass has been $50 on all the ships I've been on last 18 mos. If you decide to move forward w/the full pass after using the day pass, they will convert it and credit what you paid.

I'm stuck in a loop - FE says contact American for seat assignments and upgrades, American says call FE. I usually can manage everything through American Advantage app once the booking shows in my portal, but not this one. Used FE for April/May flights and did not have this problem.

Very interested to hear if anyone has done this, I would like to pack some next cruise.

I relate - it's like having 2 full time jobs - the one that pays me and the 1 I pay. I don't have time for 2 full time jobs - I have a cruise to take!!

Bob Wills is good, no doubt, but Lyle and his Large Band are just amazing musicians.

I'm ready for the trip - thanks for letting us come along. Safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

Lyle Lovett is the REAL TX King!! Irving Nimitz class '77 (me, not Lyle, lol!!)

PREACH!!

I believe @TravelBluebird had a cabin there during the TA; perhaps she can give insight or the link to her YT.

I would send it again and add "follow up" in the subject. My Carnival credits were applied while I was on the phone (called to ask a question and they did it right then). HAL took 2 days.

Where's the ice, lol?

Checking in to see if recent cruisers have an update - have the ice issues been resolved?

Thanks for the laugh - maybe they're setting us up to watch a whole new category of Pier Runners!!

Flexible and reasonable certainly are key to enjoying a cruise (well, let's be honest, most things), so you're definitely packing the essentials!! Port and ship likely impact how tight (or loose) the boarding windows are enforced. I only mentioned San Diego as I saw it mentioned here in another response; your port could operate entirely differently. You certainly would not have gotten that time if HAL didn't intend for it to work w/the planned departure time as I do believe their goal is to leave with every paid passenger on board!! 🥴

I can hardly wait - come on October, I have a tasting invite in my future!!

Yes that's how we've done it. You can do this for excursions.

This is how it has worked for us - you can another booking number to bring in people w/separate bookings. You can do it for excursions, too.

We sailed out of San Diego Nov 26 on Koningsdam and were allowed to simply go through the check in, security and boarding process with no regard to assigned times. We were prepared to wait (not in the sun!), but didn't have to.

Thank you!!

I would log in on HAL just to see if there's a price difference. There might not be, but you can see for me, there definitely was. If there is, your TA can still get the lower rate for you - they just give HAL your Mariner number. Looking is free 😉 I did get Club Orange, with the great prices, it was a bargain. I wouldn't get HIA at that price, I really think if you do the math, that price difference doesn't work. I hope it works- I'm excited for you!!

Aligned with above on navigating flights and airports - you should find those doable. I have done the Boston tour w/airport transfer (on HAL) @*Miss G* referenced and quite enjoyed it. It gives you an opportunity to see a bit of the city w/o worrying about luggage as it rides on the bus with you. I would imagine NCL would have something similar - definitely won't make an early morning flight. If you go w/HAL, there should something like that for Montreal, too. I've not been on NCL, but cruise HAL regularly and believe your mom would be comfortable on their ships. The itinerary for HAL is awesome! Agree w/ @Alberta Quilter about Saguenay - it is lovely. It was substituted last year when we were cruising a week after Fiona went through the area and found it to be the silver lining. Also find the Oceanview cabin a better choice than an inside, especially if you do the longer itinerary. While there are certainly plenty of places on the ship to enjoy the views (be sure to go to the Crow's Nest) you both may find being able to relax in your cabin while still enjoying the views to be a little sanctuary. Especially given you considered a balcony, a well located Oceanview is a great next choice. Get portside if you're able so you maximize cabin views. How exciting for you to be planning such a great trip for the 2 of you. The itinerary is very nice and the ports lovely. You will be able to see a lot no matter which way you go, but HAL checks a lot of boxes for your mom's demographic and the enhanced itinerary is a bonus. Afternoon tea on HAL, especially for a mother-daughter cruise, would be special. You can note the booking as a birthday celebration for your mom and they'll do a little something special for her (HAL will). Please be sure to use a wheel chair to make the airports and the ports easier. Navigating 2 airports is really no different than navigating 1.

You might call Carnival and 1) have the booking noted as a special occasion for the day after he proposes so they'll give her a cake at dinner and 2) ask if they can arrange to have the cabin decorated during dinner. They can likely lean on their crew so it doesn't pull your steward off task. And everyone will be surprised cuz you will never have seen any of the decorations! Then after the first day (so all the embarkation tasks are out of the way) ask your cabin steward if they are aware of it. If answer is no, ask them to please check on it for you. Congrats!

He cannot get any more time off work; getting almost 2 full weeks was a struggle. But it's a nice thought.