BlackJack2

Volendam – 14-Feb-17 – 28 Day China, Japan & Far East Collector

BlackJack2

Thanks!!

Thanks for the info.

How much time would you recommend spending at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City? Our guide is allowing 45 minutes. Is this enough time?

The lack of detail precludes any meaningful answer. First off, was this cancellation you mentioned for THIS trip or a prior one? This trip, in Feb. 2017. Next, who was the "they" that cancelled? AA. Next, was this a schedule change or just your booking? Schedule change. Next, what was the resolution of that prior cancellation? Rebooked at slightly lower fare, but a completely different route. Finally, what is your concern now in light of the past? Has anyone had this problem with HAL’s Flight Ease – Flexible Fares program? If HAL has to rebook us again, and the fares are a lot higher, will HAL charge a significant higher price for the tickets? Should I ask this question on the HAL Forum?

We have HAL’s Flight Ease - Flexible Fares for our upcoming Asian cruise – we don’t pay for the flight until final payment. They have cancelled our flights once, but now I am kind of worried that they will cancel the flights again and we will have to book at a higher price. Has anyone had any experience with HAL’s Flight Ease - Flexible Fares program?

Hello –

Need recommendations on Halong Bay cruise tours. We would like to cruise for about 8 hours, with some swimming, kayaking, cave visit, and floating village visit. Can anyone recommend a good tour company? Do any of the tour companies let you pay the day of the tour without any deposits?

Thanks!!

We will be docking in Laem Chabang, Thailand for an overnight visit to Bangkok on Holland America’s Volendam in February.

Can anyone recommend a good private tour? We would like a private guide/driver to pick us up at the port, tour Bangkok, spend the night in Bangkok, do more touring the following morning, and then a return to the port. Thanks!

In Singapore, has anyone stayed in the Village Hotel Albert Court by Far East Hospitality? We are currently looking for hotel rooms - we need one room for three people. Thanks!

I took your advice and called the Mariner Society. On the same booking number, the 2 Star's card is flagged with 4 Star privileges. Thanks!

Thanks for all your help. We are on the Volendam. I believe sofa is one of those flip beds and we will have the cabin steward flip it to the sofa side during the day.

How easy is it to convert the sofa in a triple cabin into a bed at night and then back to a sofa during the day? I hate to make more work for the cabin steward – so was wondering if it was something that they can easily change back and forth.

We are Four Star Mariners and we will have a Two Star Mariner in the cabin with us on our next cruise. Does the Two Star Mariner priority board (priority check-in) with us? And, does the Two Star Mariner have priority tendering with us?

~Thanks!

Thank you!

Has anyone stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay? Or stayed in this area of Singapore? And if so, is it close to a MRT subway station?

Could someone clarify what is meant by "elevator noise"? Is it the actual noise of the elevator going up and down and the doors opening and closing, or are we talking about passengers talking when waiting for or entering and leaving the elevator?

The actual noise of the elevator! A lot of times the elevators clang when the seas are rough. I was wondering if you could hear that noise in the cabin?

We are booked on the Volendam, inside cabin MM 1923. This cabin is located right beside the aft elevator. Will we be able to hear the elevator noise inside this cabin?

I checked out HalFacts, but this cabin was not listed.

That turned out to be a good move, because Craig decided to join us for the entire hour. Gave us a chance to get to know him, and share info we have gathered on this long voyage. There are so many angles in the cruising industry, and Craig seemed very up-to-date with the changing industry and how it is affecting the HAL group. Explains why the cruise experience on HAL trips will be conforming to a different standard in the future. Just hope these changes will still fit our needs.

Bill & Mary Ann

What are the changes that HAL will be making in the future?

Looks like a Princess ship - very narrow outside decks

In Jan 2016, my daughter did a harborside wedding with Princess – Caribbean Princess, out of Houston. It was the most stress-free event we have ever hosted. The wedding and the reception were fabulous; both were held up in the Skywalkers Bar. Princess did an outstanding job. We boarded the ship first, around 11:30 AM. We were allowed in our cabins to change. Did a quick rehearsal at noon, without the bride, the ceremony was at 12:30 PM, and then an hour & half reception. All guests that were not sailing left the ship at 2:30 PM. About an hour more for photos with the ship’s photographer and then the muster drill. We did not feel rushed. We did not use the chapel on board – don’t use it – it is very small and claustrophobic feeling. The only downside - you are limited to 50 guests.

How do you manage your medications during a Grand Voyage? For those of you that need to take medicine, how do you ensure that you have sufficient quantities before you go? How do you get your doctor to prescribe enough in advance? Specifically, medicines that are limited to 30-day refills.

There is a photo of a possible itinerary in this blog from the world cruise but they say the itinerary is not finalized yet.

http://www.theinsidecabin.com/?p=1627

Thank you for the info!

Word has it that the Grand Pacific Voyage is to be re-instituted in the Fall of 2017. I believe it was announced recently on the World Cruise as reported by two bloggers on that voyage. It has been around 60 some days and usually begins after the Alaska season at the end of September and goes to early December.

Thank you! Do you know when HAL will post this itinerary? Other ships have itineraries past September 2017, but not the Amsterdam.

Does anyone know what the Amsterdam's itinerary will be in October 2017? Or when that booking information will be available? Thanks!

Thank you!

Do you tip the wedding coordinator and officiant?