Tampa Girl

Since the Zuiderdam is being used for the '23, '24 WC's and for the 35-day VOV, let's hope that the ship's December rehab will include a library. I am not enthusiastic about a 128-day WC without a library. The lack of it will be a big reason for cancelling the WC.

I think that you are correct. I am hoping or another Grand Asia but do not expect it any time soon. Possible 2024 but more likely 2025?

Agree. CCL's financials are very much of interest to CCL cruisers. They affect the price of the cruise, possibly the quality of the service, the perks, the quality of shipboard amenities, etc., etc. Comparing discussions of general medical info re the condition of the parent company ultimately controlling HAL is trying to compare apples and oranges. I, for one, appreciate this thread because it affects whether or not and when I will book a HAL cruise.

Have you examined what documents your mother might need to fly home from Grand Turk or St. Thomas in event of a medical emergency? "Guessing" that she will be O.K. would not be my choice.

Where is the ship going that does not require a passport? Question: Isn't there another government document that can be used in place of a passport? I also question why the first marriage certificate is required. The second certificate clearly shows both the former name and the new name. The second marriage certificate was the only document I needed to confirm my second change of name and for a new passport.

Yes.

If you do a search on this issue, I think you will find that the majority of responses are highly positive. I don't know what or even if CCL is still paying dividends. However, if you consider both the OBC's and possible dividends, what is not to like about paying $10/share, unless one doesn't cruise enough to make the OBC's worthwhile. Even then, if dividends are still being paid, there is still an advantage to buying shares.

That is a new Grand Australia voyage, isn't it?

That was bad luck, considering had there been space in the downtown basin, the Volendam's size would have permitted docking. It is the same size as the Amsterdam, I believe.

We were on the Amsterdam in 2018 and docked downtown. The Westerdam docked about a half an hour away. But what made the downtown docking so spectacular was being entertained by the light shows displayed on the commercial buildings partially surrounding the port. That was a sight! I doubt that this will be accessible to the Zuiderdam in '24. More 's the pity.

I couldn't agree more. Although we are booked on the '24 WC on the Zuiderdam, I am waiting to see how the '23 WC manages on the Zuiderdam. We were on the 2018 Grand Asia on the Amsterdam, and I am trying to visualize how the Zuiderdam can even come close to it. The Shanghai downtown port will certainly not happen.

We started sailing in 2004. Neptune Suite were called that at the time. Perhaps it was ten years ago when the name "Signature Suite" came into being?

That is the usual process. Our FedBlue covers us for medical around the world but we still have to send in the HAL list of charges to BCBS, who promptly reimburses us for what we had paid to HAL. No big deal and, no, it does not require an attorney. As far as HAL's cancellation policy is concerned, it is excellent protection against an unexpected cancellation, but it is not a general travel insurance policy. You are expecting of it more than what is represented. The good thing about it is, which I don't think are included in a third party CFAR policy, is that it can be purchased right up to the time of final payment and you can cancel up to the time of boarding. I'm not sure of the latter but someone can correct me. You do need a medical policy if your private medical insurance doesn't cover you outside the U.S., but do compare the costs of CFAR insurance with HAL's.

Unfortunately, it is the only advice that can be genuinely given at this time. OP is a seasoned traveler and knows well how quickly protocols and requirements can change.

Doesn't the Zaandam have only one category of balcony cabins, called the Vista Suite? I think that these cabins are somewhat larger than the regular balcony cabins on the Vista and later class ships.

Good advice because slip n' falls are not always cut and dried.

I understand "bad" champagne, but what is "fake" champagne? Although I hate to admit it, I have always managed to consumer the "welcome" champagne provided in the NS's. Blame that on the "we are finally here" moment!

Relating to my previous post, I do not think that the FPCA, which is entitled "Registration and Absentee Ballot Request" my be the form that you want to use.

Did you ask when the elections office when they will be sending out the Vote-By-Mail ballots? I may not be correctly remembering this, but I thought that the absentee ballots were sent out about a month before elections day. If that is the case, you would be able to obtain one before sailing and then mail it from the ship. You should get better service by requesting it in writing, since the law specifically permits such a request. See the following Florida Vote-By-Mail: "A request for a vote-by-mail ballot may be made in one of the following ways: By signed writing (e.g., mail, fax, or scanned attachment to an email) to Supervisor of Elections In person at Supervisor of Elections' office By phone to Supervisor of Elections The voter's request must include the following information: The voter's name; The voter’s date of birth; The voter’s address (If the request is to mail the ballot to an address other than the one on file, the request must be a signed writing. An exception exists for absent uniformed service voter or an overseas voter seeking a vote-by-mail ballot.); The voter’s Florida driver license, Florida identification card, or last four digits of the elector’s social security number, whichever may be verified in the supervisor’s records; The voter’s signature (if the request is written)."

Are you by chance in a Neptune Suite, in which case you would have been given the Club Orange selections? I don't know what the post-Covid menu practice is, but pre-Covid there was a separate menu for use by both Club Orange and Neptune passengers. I never found that the additional items were particularly enticing.

His initial upgrade, however, was from an inside cabin to a verandah. The notice appears to advertise an upgrade that he had already been sold. If it is an upgrade from one verandah to another, I also would question whether it would be worth it.

Sorry, off topic: Did HAL require removal of the Covid partner to quarantine in a separate cabin, and did the high number of cases affect admission to any ports? (We are booked on the '23 VOV.)

I am so sorry for your experience. The threat of being separated from DH during quarantine, particularly after disembarkation and having to pay unnecessarily for a second hotel room, is sufficient for me to avoid cruising unless HAL changes their protocols and the ports change their rule of requiring quarantine within their country. Unfortunately, I don't see cruising in my immediate future, although we have a VOV and a '24 WC booked. We can still hope.

Both, whichever you wish.

Thank you. I was not even aware of some of the perks. Do we still get 50% off wine packages (or is it only 25%?) Priority boarding on long voyages is not as important since there are so many 5*'s on the long cruises. The most important perk, IMHO, is the free laundry achieved at 4*.