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4 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

You are fine without it....IMO.

 

Here is what we use it for (sometimes) and what is the alternative:

 

boarding pass at embarkation ......print it instead

ordering at dive in & NY pizza......order at the counter and get pager for when ready

daily schedule......paper schedule delivered to your room

communicate with guest services......visit guest services

use text feature to tell Her Majesty that I am at the bar.......leave paper note in room

Menu at MDR......view it on TV

onboard account (I think it is on there)......view it on TV

 

Others may have more but from our experience, anything you can do on the app, has an easy alternative.....Again, not missing out, IMO.....we've been known to lock away our phones and we are just fine.

 

Enjoy the cruise........

 

 

In addition - if you have ship tours they will show up on your TV to verify meeting location and time and you can use your ship card when you check in for the tour.

2 minutes ago, kb4683 said:

 

Thank you.

 

They are 2 different booking numbers, booked directly with HAL and the reservationist said she linked them.

If that is the case you will be good.  If you have on board credit on the second cruise it will not show up on your account until the second cruise starts.

14 minutes ago, kb4683 said:

Does HAL close out the folio after the first cruise and start a new one for the second?  IIRC, both Princess and Celebrity roll the folios over.

 

We will be sailing on Eurodam 3/6/24 to 3/27/24.

 

Thank you --

If they are on the same booking number they will roll over.  If they are 2 different booking numbers your TA can combine them and then check with guest services when on board.  We have done many back to back cruises and they always roll over through the end of the cruise.

We recently cleared the waitlist on 2 tours in the Caribbean for Jan 2024.  There are also lots of great private tours you can get.  Calabaza in Barbados, Bernard in St Maarten, Spencer Ambrose in St Lucia.  etc.

5 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

This may help:

 

This is GREAT information - we are boarding the Rotterdam for 42 days so this tells me to wait until the day 2 to purchase my package and save $130!!!!!!!  Thanks so much for posting

We got our 700 day Medallion a couple years ago but I don't remember that it came with a pin.  The original posting showed a 300 day pin.  I guess I will ask the Mariner Rep on the Rotterdam when we board next Sunday.  We will go over 900 days on this cruise.   If would be nice if HAL wants of entice return guests to add a new level for Mariners.  We were 5 Star many years ago.  by the end of 2024 we will have 925 "heads in beds" days.  The next level requires 1400 "heads in beds" days (President's Club).  If they want to entice more Mariners to book maybe a "Captains Club" level at 1000 days.

Several years ago we had dropped off the rental car and took the shuttle to the port and the ship had not arrived because the had to standby for an at sea emergency.  This was in FLL and they took our luggage.

3 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

On February 25 the Nieuw Statendam is scheduled for terminal 26 and Rotterdam is scheduled for terminal 19.  The terminals are across the street from each other, but it isn't a short walk.  Probably 1100 - 1200 ft through the parking garage and across the street.

 

  

 

What website do you use to see the port schedule that far out?  When I look at the Port Everglades site I can only see the next 7 days.  We will be boarding the Rotterdam on Jan 14, 2024 and wondering which terminal.

Please post the link to your blog - I had it by can't find it.

We have not gotten a Welcome back email offer after in the last 3 years and have done 8 cruises over that period.

Safe travels - will follow your adventure from the Rotterdam in the Caribbean

Looking forward to following you around the world or where ever this cruise ends up going.

2 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

Well, after a long drought we finally once again are getting a FREE Interior cabin.  We were getting these two years ago, but during the past year they wanted $199 (no OBC back) for a 7 day cruise.  This time the cruise is for 7-10 days.  Hopefully we are back in the system again.

 

We are 5 star with 850+ days on HAL and never got an offer for a free/cheap cruise.  I guess they figure they have us locked in already

On 10/8/2023 at 9:49 AM, jules815 said:

Are you able to go all the way out on the bow of Nieuw Statendam? 

During "special" times like transiting the Panama canal the bow is open to guests.

1 hour ago, ChinaShrek said:

I actually wish the ships had a ship cat or a ship dog. That would be cool, 

Just remember that many of us have allergies to Cats and Dogs.  My eyes swell shut if I am around a cat.

10 minutes ago, NJCoupleForFun said:

We will be in an upcoming cruise on the Eurodam. I am a relatively accomplished linguist (degree and all!) and enjoy interacting in foreign languages.  I have experience on NCl and Carnival that most service personnel are Filipino or Indonesian.  What nationalities are the most popular in Holland America or more specifically in Eurodam?  Is the nationalities different for the cabin crew vs the restaurant crew? 

Your cabin stewards and wait staff are primarily from Indonesia.  The bar staff and cooks are primarily Filopino.  There are others including from the Netherlands in the Dutch Cafe'.  The HAL crew members are OUTSTANDING.  

Thanks so much for all you postings - we board 3 weeks from tomorrow for 6 weeks of pampering on the Rotterdam

3 hours ago, QuattroRomeo said:

18 minutes ago, Nattyg1723 said:

Lol, thank you! 

Looks like they have a Catholic Priest on board for this cruise.

It won't be the first night or the last night but you should have 2 dressy nights

Never heard of a CVP.  They have PCC - Personal Cruise Consultants.

3 hours ago, QuattroRomeo said:

We docked on time this morning in Grand Turk. Finally some better weather! We enjoyed Bajari Beach and it wasn't crowded at all. The waves were pretty strong today and it rained a bit on and off, but still beautiful and relaxing! One of our favourite spots.

 

 

Was this a ship tour of something you did on your own.

10 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

I've had my share of problems with the website and the app, but I was gratified yesterday when I was able to complete the online check in for my 1/13/24 cruise and get the luggage tags and boarding doc emailed to me.  I'll have to get the boarding pass re-emailed to me later since the check-in time is not yet listed.  I hope it works as well when I have to do it for real.

 

As a tangential aside, if I'm not using HAL's air service, why do they ask for details about my flight arrangements during the check in?

You will probably need to wait until about 1 Jan to print your boarding pass as it needs to have the bar code on it.  That is what is used to check you onto the ship at your first boarding.

13 minutes ago, QuattroRomeo said:

Roughly 144 folks waiting here in World Stage for the next leg. Some sort of delay getting people off today. 

Looks like you have Jeff as your turn around day guide.  He can be rather funny sometimes with his stories of past turn around days.

1 hour ago, 0106 said:

The pool is NOT closed.  It is leaking from the corner closest to the Lido and the bar.  Look at the pictures in posts 184 & 185.  The crew squeegee the area constantly.  There are often “wet floor” signs.  I advise caution because it can be slippery if you are not paying attention.  It was like this in February and October of this year.

Thanks - we were on board in February and don't remember that wet area.

QR - What leak in the Seaview pool?  Is it closed?