Haljo1935

Taxes and port fees have to be paid regardless, so that is a wash to both the passengers and HAL. When we got the offers last year, the cost to upgrade from free inside was minimal - most times we paid $25 - $75pp to move from inside to balcony (VB not obstructed). This year I have only received 1 offer; the cost to upgrade was $299 for Ocean view and $499 for balcony, so substantially more than last year, but still a good deal.

Congrats! That does sound like a pretty good deal. I say book what you want when you get these offers and don't fret if you don't receive them - life's too short to stress over something you can't control.

Nope - you have a lot of company on Worry Lane.

My only experience w/Guarantee on HAL was April this year. Did a verandah guarantee - cabin assigned about 2 weeks out; was a spa verandah so a very nice upgrade. One day before sailing got new cabin assignment to SS, so it turned out to be a very good deal. I feel like that's not the normal and would not be inclined to do a guarantee on a regular basis.

I'm sure your granddaughter will be so excited. We will not be participating during either of our cruises - we just aren't fun like that anymore. But it will be fun to see all the different masks as we people watch. We just don't like the packing and prepping required for theme and formal events anymore, but like that the ships continue to have them for the passengers that do participate. So, we hope we're so my killing our own fun, not others, lol.

Congrats on receiving the offer. I personally have no experience with the "come back and play" offers other than seeing them in mailboxes during a cruise as I've never received one. The casino offers I used to get were casino rate cruises that did not include casino $$.

Really too early for a cabin assignment as they're usually done couple weeks before right up to day of the cruise. No need to be concerned at this time - at least I wouldn't be.

Like @flatcircle the current offer I received (the ONLY one I've gotten this year) included one I already have booked. I called in to compare prices and it was much lower, but required payment in full at time of booking. So, being booked doesn't seem to prevent one from getting an offer and seeing one you're paying "real" money for essentially being given away stings. Reading about offers on "your" cruise is one thing, having one sent directly to you is quite another. I really do want HAL to be health and if offering huge discounts on certain sailings helps them achieve that, I'm ok with (well, actually I'm not, but I can get there), but they should update the algorithms to remove current bookings before sending them out.

@Sea_Silver I do not have experience w/Grand Voyage HIA, so I'm not able to assist. You should be able to get an answer from Guest Services; hopefully someone on here will be able to provide insight. Safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

We did that onboard in the MDR with the Maitre D. Don't know if that's the correct way, but it worked for us.

@Saint Greg thanks for sharing these amazing photos. Visitors were not allowed (due to construction) to go near Lady Liberty when we went several years ago, so your pictures kinda help complete that trip. 🥳 With your blessing, will be using these to help plan our upcoming Sept trip - you'll be our tour guide in abstentia!

Welcome back!!

Haven't tried CO, but have also experienced egg issues in MDR - I order "over hard" or "hard fried" and will receive with a yolk that is still not fully set. Can't speak for buffet as I get an omelet there.

If you're seeing it in American's system, you should not have an issue. Congrats and enjoy your cruise.

Oops, I realize I pasted the wrong link, so it likely won't show up - sorry CC, I didn't mean to! 🙄 Just do an internet search for cruising ducks and you'll find everything you wanted to know Cruising Ducks 101, if you will. Basically, you can hide ducks for people to find or search for ones that have been hidden. If you find one, you can keep it or re-hide it for someone else to find.

Yes, checking closer to the date should give you several options - it's a large place and busy airport. If I were cruising out of Galveston I'd fly into Hobby. Safe travels - enjoy your cruise.

@ladyj1138 I don't think anyone here said they have an issue with legitimate service dogs - just the opposite, as @3Shelaghs recently said: Safe travels - Enjoy your cruise!

I'm good for now 🤭 but Princess IT makes it easier if they want referrals (which have the lowest customer acquisition cost). I'm not really inclined to clear cache every time I want to do a referral.

I was near Day Zero during an 8 week stay Jan-Feb 2017. The fires did not help. I also felt comfortable at the V&A Waterfront; that's a very different place than just walking the streets. Cape Town is beautiful, the people very approachable and great ambassadors of the country.

You do absolutely want to do this once onboard as trying to do it beforehand will, as you learned, require actually changing the bookings which creates $$ issues. A quick stop by Guest Services with the people (and the medallions) involved is all you need to do. It is important you actually get the medallions tied to the right people in the right cabins to keep the statements correct. Enjoy your cruise!

Houston Hobby is closer to the Galveston port as it's on the south side of town. Houston Intercontinental is on the far north side of town and Houston traffic is brutal. With that said, IAH (Intercontinental) is bigger, newer (not new, just newer) and cleaner. It is also on the fringe of town, not really in the city. Some people prefer that to the smaller Hobby airport. Hobby is IN the city which makes it difficult to access during the week.

The link at the bottom of your post worked for me on my phone using Chrome. However, once on the site at the referral place, there was nothing to click.

I live in flip flops while on the ship for AK cruises. Don't like wearing actual close-toed shoes. It will not be cold on the ship. Enjoy your cruise!

Yes you absolutely can. 🤭

Parts of Cape Town are fine for walking around, but others are not. And never at night. Please be sure ypu know where Townships begin and avoid. Lovely place but not without issues.