Tampa Girl

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*.

The news announcement have said both Pfizer and Moderna. I don't remember if there were others mentioned.

Perhaps both: HAL's rule because Canada requires testing?

Perhaps you could get that document from HAL. Scanning and sending 22 pages is not always easy.

Which benefits have been removed?

I am a little confused by this thread. HIA is Have-it-all? We are looking at the 35-day VOV cruise for July, 2023. The difference between non- HIA, which does not include gratuities and the HIA, which does, is only about $1,125 pp. for the 35 days. Since we will enjoy the included beverage package, the additional $2,250 to the total cost appears worth it. However, I don't remember what the daily gratuity is for a Signature Suite - $20??? Also, is it always possible to make a last-minute change to adopt the HIA or is one dependent upon the mood of the TA or PCC? And what is last minute?

Did the Med Grand Voyage sail R/T from the U.S.? I don't remember and that has not been sailing for several years.

I agree that a smaller ship would be preferable. However, since you don't like the Zaandam, what other smaller ships do you have in mind? Is there another choice besides the Volendam?

I am not sure why this is such news. HAL has been sailing long cruises out of various U.S. ports for a long time. I think that all of the Grand Voyages (WC's, Grand Africa, Grand Asia, Grand South America, etc.) have been going out of U.S. ports. The Asian non-Grands have been sailing from the U.S. West coast on cruises of more than 15 days for years. And they have been sailing out of San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, FLL, Tampa, etc. HAL always been known for its long voyages and out-of-the-way ports. It surely beats flying across one of the "ponds" to board a ship. Love the long cruises! We are currently booked on the '24 WC, and I will be curious to see how close the 2023 WC and the other forthcoming Grands will be to the pre-Covid days. Predictions?

Good news, but only for those who take cruises less than 15 days. Particularly disappointing for those who like the longer cruises. Think I will wait a little longer.

Sometime after final payment, HAL sent a list of the available brands. You check off your preferences and they magically appear in your cabin.

We are looking for an annual policy which covers med evac. and which would cover a 128-day WC. The medical is not so important because our health insurance covers us throughout the globe. I looked at GeoBlue Trekker and if I read it correctly, it doesn't cover any trip over 45 days. Did I misread this?

If a miracle happens, perhaps HAL will reinstate it?

There has been in the a lot of discussion in the past about whether the extra tips go into a kitty to be divided up. It was posted that if one removes the gratuity, then and only then, do the extra tips go into the kitty. If the ship's stated gratuity remains in place, the stewards are allowed to keep the extra tips. It was further reported that the stewards get a list of those passengers who have removed the gratuity.

Is the requirement for "pre-cruise" testing satisfied by a testing done by fully vaccinated people within three days of sailing? The article did not elaborate.

I don't remember the number, but we had a NS on the Zaandam about four doors forward of the NL. I don't recall any noise. OP - we could give you a better idea if you provide a cabin number.

Thank you very much.

What countries are scheduled for your cruise? And does anyone know if masking will be required for a late November western Caribbean cruise (Jamaica, Cayman Islands,

You bring up a good point. Neither HAL; nor the CDC have control over what foreign ports will require, and on longer cruises, testing may be required because of the particular ports visited. Further, there is a thread on the 2023 WC about foreign ports requiring quarantining in the particular foreign port when testing comes back negative. If that is the case, my guess is that HAL is unlikely to dispense with pre-cruise testing and certainly not during the cruise because of the the possibility of in-port quarantine. Since Covid appears to be intent on hanging around, I am not too optimistic about doing away with testing, at least regarding longer cruises.