Umbarger

I am arranging the meet and greet for my sailing.  This is my first time arranging it since covid.  Does the cruise director and department heads still attend meet and greets since COVID?

Linda 

Been there, done that.  I feel your pain.  Unbelievably frustrating.  I have finally found a wonderful agent who is worth her weight in gold. She is so good at returning my calls that one day If she ever doesn't call me back I can rest assure she's dead.

I applied for this and was denied since it was not good for the cruise I was on. I believe it's valid on very few cruises 

We cruise both and like both.  Entertainment goes to celebrity. Food is good on both.  Celebrity has a younger crowd.  It's true everyone seems to go to bed early on Hal.

Does anyone know how they verify this?  All they asked was name and branch of service.  I thought they would want some sort of proof.  Like a DD214.

My agent just found it.  Yes it is on going.  She had to call Holland America 4 times before getting the correct answer.   I have applied for the offer.  

My agent reported this promo ended 

12/31/21.

I emailed my travel agent.  I'll report if we get this credit or not.

Linda

We are still traveling.  Just not to Asia.  

I find the lectures on HAL to be soooo boring.    

On 2/13/2020 at 3:52 PM, boom_boom said:

We are active in late 60s with extensive cruise experience in the last 20 years. But, we sailed only on HAL, Oceania and Celebrity during that period. We always get a balcony and often a suite.  We sailed Carnival and RCI once each and hated them both. We're looking at the Quebec to Boston on the Gem in late September. But some of the reviews i read make Norwegian sound more like Carnival than our other experiences. Interested in thoughts from regular users of Norwegian. I like the timing of this cruise and the ports. My other choice would be the Queen Mary 2, but Cunard sounds very stuffy. And, more expensive.

We have done HAL, Celebrity, Carnival and NCL.  I don't think you will like NCL.  It is more like Carnival and RCCL.  HAL and Celebrity are both much better than  NCL in my opinion.  I still cruise NCL but after HAL and Celebrity you really have to lower your expectations. 

We have eaten at Moderno 3 times.   First time was just okay.  Second time the meat was so tough we couldn't eat it.   The final time they served the sides and we waited and waited for the meat.   We finally got tired of waiting, so we ate our sides and left.  

Never again.  

On 11/7/2019 at 8:24 PM, DAllenTCY said:

Yes,  Dolly is aboard this voyage.   

 

I did not visit with her this time, but her name is on the manifest.

 

David

I visited with her.  She was proud to report that HAL gave her the Panama Canal cruise after the South Pacific cruise for free.  Dolly is not walking well at all I'm afraid to report.  

Linda 

Been on both.  Very hard question.  However, I think I need to give it to Celebrity.  I found the Buffet food on Celebrity much better than HAL.  MDR were good on both lines.  

HAL ships have no water slides, go carts or rock climbing wall.  It is  a cruise ship.  Lovely areas all over the ship.  We call it the blue hair cruise line as people are elderly but we don't mind  as we love older people.  I believe older people are better behaved.  No seat saving, lounge saving or drunks.  Food is great,  much better than NCL in my opinion.  Service is also a step above NCL.  We still cruise NCL often and enjoy them as well.  

On 10/5/2019 at 1:17 PM, rsangiovanni said:

My wife, 7 year old daughter and I are planning our first trip to Hawaii in 2020 and will be flying from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We’re having a hard time deciding what would be the better option:

1. 7 nights in O’ahu , followed by Pride of America cruise, and one more night in O’ahu. 
2. 6 nights in O’ahu, 4 nights in Big Island (split between Kona/Hilo), and 5 nights in Kauai.
3. 6 nights in O’ahu, 4 nights in Maui, and 5 nights in Kauai.

 

We got a good deal with POA Cruise ($5400 for a balcony, all free offers, WiFi, and $100 credit per port). If we decide to do the no cruise option, we can use Hilton Honors points for the stay at Big Island and Kauai so the only cost would be our flights, food and car rental when needed; it also helps that we are Hilton Honors Diamond status and that will give us free breakfast, WiFi, no resort fees, and a possible upgrade in those resorts.

 

While it will probably be more expensive to go with the cruise option, we like having food/drinks included while on the cruise, the ability to see more islands, and not having to waste time boarding airports and checking in... but are a little afraid of it being too rushed since the cruise does not spend too much time on each island. 

 

We would appreciate any help and insight. Thanks!!

I've been to Hawaii over 20 time.  Sometimes just land,  somtimes on cruises.  

I highly recommend option number 1.  You need 7 nights in Oahu.  There is so much to do and see there.  The cruise at the end will give you the chance to taste each island.  

NCL no longer allows the decorating of doors.  

We have stopped cruising Princess.  We found better prices and better perks on other lines, like NCL.  We love the drink, internet and shore excursion perks that Princess just doesn't offer.  Also love the different free dining options on NCL.  

If this lady was as bad as the OP states. She was a danger.   They should have taken her off the ship at the next port.  

I am a scooter user.  I have muscular dystrophy and have been using a scooter for the last four years  I have never ever hit anyone but I have been driving one for years.  I have been hit by able bodied people. They walk right into me.   I don't think people see me because I am in a lower field of vision.  

I think part of problem is people rent one maybe once a year.  They don't practice.  They also put it on full speed.  That is ridiculous on a crowded ship.  

This woman gives us experienced scooter users a bad name.  

Thank you very much!!!!

6 minutes ago, daisy-mae said:

 

I think it would be easy to notice a person of about the same height standing directly behind me and invading my space. On the other hand, a scooter is lower, the front usually protrudes at least a foot in front of the operator, and I can  understand how someone could back into it without realizing that it is there.

What then if it was a child standing directly behind him.  They are lower. 

So who's fault is it when you back or walk into someone?  

Handicapped people are easy to blame I guess.  

5 hours ago, Umbarger said:

 

Thank you for your apology.   You just don't realize the independence you lose when you become disabled. 

I don't want someone to get my food for me.  I want to get it myself.  Because I am disabled do I have less rights than you?

 When an area is crowded everyone needs to be responsible for themselves and look where they are going.  Backwards or forwards.  

Able bodied people just don't and won't understand until they become disabled themselves.  Be very thankful you are not in a wheelchair or scooter.  You do not know what tomorrow holds.  

Be careful, TriumphGuy,  karma is a heck of a thing.  

54 minutes ago, TriumphGuy said:

I had the same experience on our last Princess cruise. I was in the very crowded buffet line and unbeknownst to me an elderly man drove into the buffet area to see what was being offered. He was right behind me when I backed up slightly to get around my wife. I backed into his scooter and he yelled "WATCH OUT!" in a very aggressive and angry voice. I almost fell over backwards over his scooter.
Why are these allowed in the buffet area? I understand wanting to see what is being offered but in a crowded situation it is a danger to others. This is where buffet staff can be really helpful in assisting those who are not as mobile.

So handicapped people are not allowed to eat in the buffet?  Not allowed to look at the food? Handicapped people aren't allowed in crowed areas?  Perhaps you should have looked behind you before you stepped backwards to get around your wife.  The scooter driver wasn't even moving.

Yes, you should have "watched out"

I have a roll call on the NCL Gem roll call page.  The problem is that there are three different roll calls for the same cruise.  Can someone tell me who I contact to get them merged.  

Thanks so much, Linda