GRACECRUISE

Our March cruise that was cancelled was on the free offer.  At that time we upgraded to a verandah.  Just got the new one with free casino play and free drinks in the casino.  We will have to pass, just not comfortable with to book again yet.  I do play the slots.  Hit 2 good jackpots last Nov so played more than usual.  Maybe that triggered both of the free offers.  Hope they offer it again next year, may we will be ready.  For the record I hate not cruising!!!!!

Got or refund in for cancelled March cruise.  Also got a free cruise offer.

We got this offer in January and booked our 11 day March Caribbean cruise with it.  We did upgrade to a nice Veranda.  It cost 3 of us $1800 total.  It would of been a great cruise.   Of course, it was cancelled. 

I hope we get another offer.  

I hope they ban perfume.  That is my sneeze trigger.  

I contacted our travel insurance after cancelling the cruise.  As long as HAL refunded all of my money and I was out nothing, they refunded 100% of the cost of the trip insurance.  

I should be getting off the Rotterdam today after an 11 day Caribbean cruise and driving from Florida to Nashville.  Hope I didn't get to much sun or drink to much!

I hate it that I am going to have to cancel my dads 88th birthday cruise.  But I can not take the chance or the guilt if he or mom were to catch it.   I have not pulled the trigger but with 2 weeks out I will have to do it soon.   If it were just me I would go.  He catches the cruise crude on 14 day cruises sometimes, so can not chance it.

What make this one bitter is that we finally got the free cruise casino offer and had a fantastic rate.  Looking at 2 week fall cruises to move it to - this whole two week cruise will not cover one person in the fall!  Drats!

I normally book thru TA but booked through HA this time.  Where do I look to see OBC on account?

Got through to Holland.  The poor ladies try so hard to answer the questions.  Very nice and patient and was I. I thought that under the compassion policy you got the regular 4 year FCC.  The compassion policy is there if you are outside the May 31 window and want to cancel with a doctors note.  All FCC need to be booked prior to 12/31/2020.

She has to go one a chat forum to ask questions to the next level to get answers.

I did find out FCC is cruise fare and Port taxes and fees are credited back to credit card.

I have been trying to chat or call about the 'Compassion Policy'.  They are not answering either they are so busy.  Does anyone happen to know what is needed for Compassion Policy to kick in.  My dad is 88 and seeing his doctor on Monday.  I know we are cancelling the 3/27 birthday cruise.

We are on the same 10 Rotterdam.  Thankful we are driving to Florida and can avoid the airport madness.  Looking forward to the cruise.  Being cautious and packing extra medicine.  

i do like the casino.  Not a drinker but enjoy the slots.  Last cruise I hit two nice bonuses on the machines.  I did play more than normal but I came  home ahead.  I got on email for with a casino promotion of about 20 to 30 cruises.  Half started with free inside cabins and the others started at $99 or $199.  Then you could upgrade to whatever level you wanted up to neptune suites.  They had no Neptunes for our sailing available.  Had no plans to take a spring cruise but we head out in a month!

We got the casino free email about a month ago.  I called HAL and could get a 'free' inside cabin.  You had to pay the $200 each for taxes and fees.  We upgraded to balcony.  For the 11 day Rotterdam we ended up paying about $55 per day per person.  So we took it.   Neither the welcome back ZPM nor stock credit will  apply.  This is first cruise with no OBC.  

Wonder if they eliminated the Comment Card?

When I went through special services for my dads large print menu due to his macular degeneration I did ask if I could get him a printed paper.  The Rotterdam said no.  They don't care.  I will try again on the ship. Comment card every day.

Lesson learned....quite a few years ago someone on our floor brought cans of beer on in a duffel.  My luggage can in and smelled of beer.  In the laundry room was a beer soaked duffel bag with some busted cans of beer.  Found it when I did a load of laundry while unpacking.  Not something I planned to do.  Luckily nothing ruined.

Just got a note from Holland that they will not be on the Rotterdam.  There is no way my parents could read it on a phone or kindle.  Its a shame because I got them a balcony and my did love to read  his morning paper with his coffee on the balcony.  Have to make sure to pack him some good books.  

Such a shame.  Hope they done  stuff my mailbox full of ads.

Does a 4 or 5 star discount apply?

We have opted to go with the wheelchair. I do not think we can manuver in the halls.  Thanks for all of the info.

I plan to call them Monday prior to booking anything.  Also checking to see if any Neptune Suites available to upgrade to.  Thought that might help with space.  Found a scooter that comes apart with base, seat and battery so that is a possibility.

Sailing on Rotterdam in March.  Cabin 6215  Thinking of renting a scooter for my dad rather than wheel chair.  He uses walker around the ship.  The scooter will be used in port mainly.

I am hoping someone who uses them will be able to tell me the following:

Is there enough room in the hallways for the scooter to turn to get into the room?

Once in the room, past the closet is there enough room to get around the bed?

I do not want to leave out in hall or at elevator.  That is a hazard for sure.  We have not sailed the Rotterdam for a while.  Our last cruises have been on NA in signature suite.  This is a vista but not that big.

Thanks for any insight.  I have not booked either wheelchair or scooter yet.

We dropped one in the box for 3 FCD on our Dec 7 cruise.  Asked for the email notification to be sent.  Never got the notification and never charged for it.  Notified HAL once we got home they said there was nothing they can do.  Would always make sure to get hard copy on ship and never go email route again.

Glad to hear morning paper is back.  They stopped on our Dex 1 xruise then brought it back in the 3rd.  That is when they told us as of Jan 1 it would be gone.

We found Splenda hard to find on our Dec. NA cruise. Our first four days of 14 day  cruise it was in Lido and main dining room.  then gone.  

 I did find it in Explorations cafe when I would get morning coffee.  We only use in iced tea but I took a handful two morning and we took with us to lunch and dinner.  So it was on ship but only there.

I did mention on comment card.  There was pink and blue sugar but no yellow Splenda.  A couple nights later we were in Pinnacle grill.  A man dressed in a uniform came in and found our table.  He called me by name and told me he had been looking all over for me.  Guessing he was the supply master and he had a handful of Splenda for me.  Told me it had been misplaced when loaded and now found.  So for the rest of the cruise we had Splenda.

The cut that I hate is the morning paper.  My dad is 87 and loves to read the paper in morning.  With his coffee and chocolate croissant he would read the paper on the balcony and then do crossword and sudoku.  He can not read it on a phone. The little things they cut to those who have cruised for 10 years or more are the ones that hurt.

In Dec it was $50.00 and fantastic,  First time we did it and would do it again.  As 5* we did get 50% discount.