AryMay

35 minutes ago, chicopaige said:

As a retired educator I was able to get verified by submitting an online copy of my paycheck from the website of my retirement site

Thanks for the suggestion.

I just uploaded an online copy of my pay information as well but got the following reply:

The online document shows it is coming from the teacher retirement association and doesn't have any reference to the school where I taught. I have emailed SheerID and am waiting for a response.

To make things even more complicated, the public school where I taught is now closed (which was why I retired.) 

I called my PCC yesterday and he is trying to figure things out as well...

Fingers crossed I can get this done...

I see that this promo is for educators too...both active and retired.

I am a retired teacher but when I filled out the form to verify my status I get a message saying that more information is needed. The information they are requesting needs to show that I am currently employed (which I'm not.) 

We have two cruises booked in early 2023 and it would be nice to get the credits applied to these cruises, but doubt it is going to happen if 1) the offer is only for new bookings and 2) there doesn't seem a way to get status verification if I am retired.

Have any other retired teachers been able to get verified for this offer?

3 hours ago, cwd79 said:

We are thinking about 3339 on Zaandam and concerned about noise from above. Anyone have any input? I saw some posts of people staying in 3339 and saw pics on halfacts but wasn't sure about any noise issues from above. Appreciate any info. Thanks

I was the one who posted the photos of 3339 on halfacts. We spent 23 days in this cabin in 2018.

Most of the time this cabin was great. Loved the location and how easy it was to get out to the promenade deck. The bathroom had also just been updated with the big shower which was very nice. I will mention that the cabins on Deck 3 are a bit smaller than ocean view cabins on Deck 1 and 2. 

As for noise...the only time we had issues was towards the end of our cruise. For several nights when we were in rougher seas, there was a loud banging in the ceiling. The cabin is directly below the Wajang Theater which at the time was being used for America's Test Kitchen demonstrations. I thought perhaps there was some cabinet door banging, but was told everything was locked up when not being used. Crew came to check out the problem, but at a time when we were docked so there was no noise then. The sound only affected us for a few nights when the ship was rocking a lot.

Here is a link to my blog post from when we initially had the issue:  https://mysouvenirmemories.blogspot.com/2018/04/sea-day-7.html

We had booked the cheapest inside guarantee cabin for this cruise so we were more than happy to have been upgraded to this cabin. 

6 hours ago, AKJonesy said:

Our last b2b was on two HAL ships at Ft. Lauderdale vs staying on one.  We were given instructions at least a day if not 2 in advance.  I know we took our luggage with us and I don't think there was a transfer option, but I could be wrong about that.  We disembarked as late as allowed, then was told how to walk over to the other berth which was a short walk through a parking garage. 

This is what we plan to do in February. Previously we have done B2B on the same ship, but never a side x side so I am slightly anxious about the process. Hoping we just have a "short walk" as you mentioned (although I have visions of hoofing it a long distance to the opposite side of the port.)

28 minutes ago, KroozNut said:

No contradiction... The difference is in the terms 'fully vaccinated' (first two primary doses), and 'Up to date' (booster doses).

But if you read the last paragraph it states a booster is required to be fully vaccinated. 

1 hour ago, AllureOfVacation said:

I can not find in their documents what "vaccinated" means. We are double vaccinated and boostered. But the booster shot is like 10 months ago. Are we still considered vaccinated? Is this somewhere to be found in HALs protocols?

To me some of the definitions sound like they contradict each other.  In one place FULLY VACCINATED does not require a booster and in another section FULLY VACCINATED requires at least one booster. Am I reading this wrong?

23 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

So what are Princess' rules 

1 hour ago, Djb4CC said:

For those following along, there have now been changes on the HAL website regarding the health protocols on Sept 1, Sept 6, Sept 8 and now Sept 9.  
 

if you have recently looked at the faq and the enhanced document pdf, there have been changes.

 

seems like the communications have been handled very poorly regarding all of this.  They wanted to jump the gun without thinking through the issues for their customers.  Really would hate to be a PCC or TA this last week or so.

I started a different thread after trying to find the protocols for full transit Panama Canal cruises. I think these cruises should be part of the enhanced protocols (as they are calling them) but other than a slight mention in a press release from August 15th I can't find anything on the website. 

I thought this oversight would be corrected on this newest update but I don't see it if it is.

My concern is that there is nothing in writing on HAL's website that spells out the rules for Panama Canal cruises. If I hadn't read that press release I would have no idea that our cruise falls under the "Enhanced Protocols". (And the HAL representative that I talked to could not find any mention of it either.) The cruises listed in that pdf file only go out as far as January 3rd and our cruise is January 21. 

This is the FAQ (which was updated yesterday) which one could easily assume applies to the Panama Canal cruises:

U.S. Sailings (Does Not Apply to Alaska, Canada)

Vaccines:  It is highly recommended that all guests be up to date on their vaccination status. Vaccinations are not required.

Testing: No pre-cruise testing is required for vaccinated guests. Unvaccinated guests 5 years and older must provide results of a negative, medically supervised or self-test taken within three days of embarkation.

I just checked the protocols on Princess' website and rules for Panama Canal cruises are specifically spelled out. 

Can anyone find the current rules for vaccinations and testing for full transit Panama Canal cruises on the HAL website? The following is part of an August 15th press release, but I can not find this information anywhere else on the website. (Bolding is mine.) If this is the case, surely it must be included somewhere else besides a press release. 

Protocols for cruises 16 nights or longer (plus full Panama Canal transit, trans-ocean and designated remote voyages, ages 5 and older):

All guests will be required to submit a medically supervised COVID-19 test with written negative result. The test must be taken within three days of embarkation.

Guests must be vaccinated or request an exemption.  

Also the pdf file "Enhanced Health Protocols" states that for enhanced voyages (which I think applies to Panama Canal cruises) a booster dose is required.

I was on the phone with a HAL representative for about 45 minutes yesterday and she could not find the rules. I am booked on the January 21 Zaandam cruise. Some friends of ours may also book the cruise depending on what the Covid requirements are. (And I do realize that all rules can change by next January.)

5 hours ago, whogo said:

Monday, September 5, 2022. At sea.

 

I laughed when I read that "Adult Coloring" (at 11 am) is still being offered as a cruise activity.

This was listed for our Eurodam Alaska cruise in May. On that ship the activity was held in the Digital Workshop so I just assumed it would be some sort of digital art class. I had attended something similar when HAL had their partnership with Microsoft and enjoyed the class. I decided to give it a try.

First surprise was that the "Digital Workshop" was just a room with tables and chairs...no computers or anything that could remotely be considered digital. Next surprise was the staff overseeing the activity did nothing more than point to a stack of color book pages and a bucket of colored pencils when I arrived. And that was it!

I stuck around and finished my "art work" (and could at least enjoy listening to the classical group playing next door at the Lincoln Center Stage) but decided there are much better ways to spend time on a cruise ship!!! 

My finished art work. (Could have used a few more shades of green for the trees!) 🙂

26 minutes ago, brnowl said:

I expect that is one of the adjoining cabins that you can get for family, friends.   When you are not together with others, I feel sure the panel between will be closed and locked.

I don’t think so. If you look at the photo I posted above, the adjoining cabins are marked with a + between them. 
 

The balcony divider is also missing between these Deck 7 and 8 port side cabins on the deck plans of sister ships Koningsdam and Rotterdam. I’m assuming if the balcony really was odd it would have been noted on Cruise Critic long ago…but I’m still curious. 
 

Perhaps I should bring a bed sheet to hang up between the two balconies just in case? 🤔😁
 

I have just booked cabin #8146 on an upcoming cruise on the Nieuw Statendam. On the deck plans, the balcony divider is not shown between that cabin and the adjacent cabin 8148. My PCC assured me that it is just a misprint, but I notice the same thing on other websites and also the Navigator app. (He has been wrong before. 😠) The divider is also missing on the deck plans between the corresponding cabins on deck 7. (7144 and7146)
 

Has anyone been in any of these cabins who can put my mind at ease? I have this fear of showing up and realizing that we are sharing a balcony with our neighbors!

Timing was good! The price of my cruise didn’t go up and I got the lower deposit! 

This is a long shot after 3 years, but hoping the original poster will see this.

@52Daffodils

We are booked in cabin 8146 on the Nieuw Statendam and am also curious about the "no line" between balconies on the deck plans. I've checked the HAL website plus another site that shows deck plans and both show no separation between the balcony on 8146 and 8148. 

Just curious what the situation is. Has anyone else ever stayed in these two cabins...or 7146 and 7148 which also have no balcony separation shown on the deck plan?

Any idea if HAL will be coming out with a Labor Day Sale or special offers?

Just playing around on the HAL website and wondering if one plans two cruises back to back but on separate ships, how difficult is it to get from one ship to the other at Port Everglades? Is this situation referred to as a "side to side" rather than B2B? 

We have sailed out of Port Everglades many times, but I have never paid attention to where ships are located in reference to each other. Are HAL ships usually docked close enough to each other that someone (plus luggage) could walk between the ships? I can't image that a taxi or Uber would be willing to transport you such a short distance.

We were on the Eurodam for the first cruise to Alaska this summer (April). The weather was less than perfect and crew were handing out umbrellas to passengers as we got off at each port (didn't matter what cabin category you were in.) When we returned the wet umbrellas were collected and placed in a large container. That seems to make more sense than everyone dealing with wet umbrellas in their cabins.

6 hours ago, crystalspin said:

 

It appears that some OV's have had the tub modified to a walkin shower! 3339 is one. How to find the others I do not know.

https://halfacts.com/r-class/3339-zaandam/

 

I am the person that posted the review on halfacts for the cabin with the walk-in shower (#3339). For some reason the link above does not lead to the correct page.  Hopefully this is the correct link:  https://halfacts.com/r-class/3339-zaandam/

Prior to our cruise in cabin #3339 in 2018 I received the following notice:

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION:
This is to advise guests who've booked Ocean-view staterooms on board Zaandam that during the April 2018 dry dock, the bathrooms in the below staterooms will be updated to a shower-only configuration:
Lower Promenade Deck: D3331 - D3370
Main Deck: C2564 - C2647
Please note, this change does not affect all Ocean-view staterooms, only the
specific staterooms noted above. We thank you for your attention to this matter
and look forward to welcoming you on board.

If getting a shower (rather than a tub) is important, this should help you choose a cabin.

Another option for Puerto Madryn would be to go to El Pedral. We did this tour in 2019 and loved it! The small group tour included a meal...lamb roasted over an open fire. We were up close and personal with hundreds (maybe thousands!) of magellanic penguins and saw other wildlife too. I will note that the day we were there it was sweltering...so hot that the poor penguins were panting. 

Here is a link to the El Pedral website: https://www.reservaelpedral.com/en/dia-campo-eng/

And a link to my blog with more details and lots more photos from our day: El Pedral Penguin Tour

If seeing penguins is high on your list, you should book tours in more than one port. You never know when a port might get skipped due to weather. 

3 hours ago, Navybikermom said:

Just got mine delivered today!

Same here. Hard to put it down. 
 

We spent 45 days on the Zaandam in the year prior to the shutdown and did both the South America and Panama Canal routes which makes it easy to visualize everything in detail.
 

Our cabin on the SA cruise was right by the medical center. I shudder to think how scary that location would have been in March 2020 when passengers and crew were lining the hallway waiting to be seen for Covid symptoms. 🤒🤧

Here is a great YouTube channel to get a feel for what life in Longyearbyen is like:  Cecilia Blomdahl Videos. 
 

Cecilia and her boyfriend live on Svalbard and her interesting videos show what daily life is like on the island. 

We did the rapid NAAT test at Walgreens for our April 30th Alaska cruise. Our results were available in 45 minutes.

We had no problems uploading the test results to the Verifly app.

The first time we visited Vancouver (in 2014) our hotel provided free bikes for use. Touring by bike was a wonderful way to see the city and especially Stanley Park. 

Here is the blog post I did from our morning bike ride around the park:  Biking in Stanley Park