jabcruiser

23 hours ago, IPB4IGO said:

Today, two days after we were disembarked, I was able to contact HAL's Family Assistance Department. It seems they were closed on Sunday and Monday.

I learned that we pay for the quarantine hotel, then submit the charge to HAL for reimbursement. We get a flat $100/day/person for meals. We will be contacted after we get home with the details of the reimbursement process.

After five days we can go home. 

 

 

So, they told you only 5 days then you can leave?  I was under the impression it was 10 days. 5 days way better than 10.  I wonder if they are still using 10 days on the actual ships when quarantined.  So glad you are taking this in stride and wish you many wonderful future cruises - COVID FREE.

Jane

Are the food trucks there in Papeete? We are on a HAL cruise going in March, hopefully.

Thanks,

Jane

10 hours ago, 0106 said:

Thanks for your wonderful report (and blog) and the beautiful photographs.  

Is there a “movie” screen at the aft pool? My husband was hoping to watch the Super Bowl there.  If not, where do you think would be his best option?  

They used to have a BIG Super Bowl event in main showroom area - World Stage I guess it is called.  Huge buffet spread and since our Bronco's were playing we purchased VIP seats which was really great.  Lots of give-aways during what would have been commercial breaks.  Who knows what they will do now with Covid??? 

Jane

38 minutes ago, sassy~one said:

Hi there, can you please let me know, if someone leaves the ship and need to be in quarantined, how do they get to a hotel? Who finds the hotel? Who pays for the hotel?  I have not seen anything about this.  I'm b2b2b in a few days, and have a healthy amount of fear about being kicked off the ship in the middle of my sailing with limited amount of FLL hotel info. Thanks so very much.  Debbie

You might want to review info on HAL site regarding Covid Protection Plan:  

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/COVID-19-protection-program.html

Doubt if anyone on this board knows anything more than this.

Jane

Just went on Optum sight which gives no expiration information.  However HAL website says do not order prior to 2 weeks before cruise. Radeas says one month prior.  We leave 02/27. Guess too early, especially if they give no expiration info.

1 hour ago, nimiq said:

The problem with this now is that I think in the Lido you can’t self serve yourself any drink as before like water, juices, tea and coffee.

 

Not sure you can actually give your bottle to a crew member to refill.

 

Thanks

Eric 

Yes. They fill water glasses.  I pick up glass and pour into my water bottle.  Pick up another and pour in if necessary.  Very easy.

Water is free onboard.  Just bring a bottle, or purchase one in gift shop onboard, and fill it up in Lido. Very easy.  I will have no problem doing this and have no intention of "purchasing" water on board. Never have, Never will. 

Jane

On 11/1/2021 at 5:56 PM, opa&oma said:

We were just on a 12 day Celebrity cruise and as we are Elite Plus, have been on many.  The food in both the MDR and buffet was extremely disappointing, some downright bad.  We also are HAL 3 star Mariners and have always thought their food was just as good as Celebrity's.  So, if both lines are now so disappointing, I guess we all had better adjust our expectations. 

We did not have great experience on our only Celebrity cruise fall 2019. MDR food was ok, but buffet was awful and Very Unsanitary. Hopefully our HAL cruise in March will be better food wise.  We have always liked HAL food choices and always thought food at Lido was very good.  Service was very basic on Celebrity also. Certainly not what we are used to on HAL. Celebrity sweets looked fancy and pretty, but no taste at all except pure sugar.  Yuck.  Taco bar a joke- no salsa, no jalapenos, no taste.

Unfortunately, I assume the HAL taco bar didn't make it thru the pandemic.  Will be missed.

Jane

11 hours ago, liamur14 said:

When is your FP cruise?  All  FP cruises are cancelled  now till Mid Sept and that may be extended. Cook Islands are the problem .

Not until next March. Hoping things are better by then.

Glad we decided to avoid Italy/Venice for awhile and booked a Hawaii/French Polynesia cruise instead with our FCC from cancelled TA last year.  Interesting article from CNN on Venice transportation issues right now.  This in addition to the problems caused by ban on cruise ships in Venice. Wonder if people will even be able to get to Venice from the alternate ports.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/venice-armed-guards-boats/index.html

Jane

On 7/21/2021 at 4:53 PM, richmke said:

Any thoughts on Travel Insured International, Annual Multi-Trip Protector?

 

$94/person. $100,000 Medical, $100,000 Medical Evac, and $150,000 Security Evac.

 

Regarding Medical Evac: It is when you need immediate Evac from a remote location (middle of the ocean or rain forest) to a hospital, that it can get quite expensive.

I am also looking at Travel Insured Int'l which is Crum & Forster company. Only $94 annual and kicks in when traveling over 100 miles from home is my understanding.  Available for up to 80 years old. Can add trip cancellation and other coverage on an as needed basis.  We generally get trip cancellation thru USAA which uses this company anyway.  Never had to file claim, but my sister did last year after a COVID cancellation.  Took a while, but reimbursement came through.

Not really interested in GeoBlue as that is a BC/BS company and being in the medical insurance field for many years too many awful experiences with them(generally NOT) paying claims.  Even within my own family refused emergency surgery charges for my niece traveling to Colorado.  They are basic idiots is what it comes down to and please watch for "Usual and Customary".  Their UC reimbursement might be 10% on the dollar.  Not kidding.  Make sure you understand before purchasing.

Does anyone have any experience with the Travel Insured International Multi-trip plan ? We have always purchased individual trip cancellation/medical/ evacuation policies for each cruise.  But that getting pretty expensive as we get older.  Considering an annual plan for emergency evacuation/medical and taking advantage of the trip cancellation coverage which comes with Chase Sapphire.  Anyone please chime in.  Thanks.

Jane

4 minutes ago, cruisingator2 said:

I think the Bahamas is just the start.

Agree.  Each foreign port will set their own requirements for entry just as they have always done.  Doesn't matter what Florida says or CDC.  Many of the ports are in nations that have not had access to vaccinations on a wide scale level.  As the new variant is spreading rapidly many, I believe, will adopt "vaccinated only" entry requirements.  They do not want their hospitals overrun and want to protect their own citizens.  Many of them will consider the protection of their citizens primary over monetary considerations.   

Yes, Just saw this.  Thank you Bahamas.  

I have tried pricing out Princess vs HAL several times and Princess always significantly higher.  We do unobstructed veranda on HAL.  However, no sofa in Princess veranda(at least that is my understanding from my research) so must upgrade to mini-suite which always comes at much higher price.  Yes, sofa for comfort is a necessity for us. Finally tried Celebrity in Nov. 19 just before the dreaded COVID put a halt to our cruising.  Great price with drinks included so decided to go for it.  Unimpressed by service and lido food.  Main DR food was good, but we usually eat buffet lunch and few dinners.  Food just not good and the desserts huge disappointment.  They looked beautiful but tried several and no taste at all except plain sugar.  Yuck. So funny their "taco" bar never, ever had a bit of salsa, jalapenos, or anything at all for some spice.  Yuck.  Everyone touching all of serving utensils always has grossed me out, even pre covid. Trying to get a drink involved waiting in line, generally in full sun for at least 10-15 minutes.  Definitely not up to HAL standards.  

Post covid we do want to sail on some other lines so may get to do Princess at some point.  We have friends who only sail them.

Jane

Hmmm. Interesting idea.  We also on this 35 day Hawaii, Tahiti, Marquesas cruise Feb 2022.  We live in south Fl.  May have to check this option out.  Another 2 weeks of cruising sounds good to me.  Just need to get DH on board.  Love your idea.  

Jane

Still same issues. Going to try big box web sites.  Probably going cancel and rebook our TA to Italy/Greece so trying investigate what future cruises available.  Can't wait to have to try and call HAL next week.

Jane

12 minutes ago, eurolady said:

Thank you Jane for your input.....I did not mention the emails that have gone unanswered!

That's too bad.  Sorry to hear that.  Sounds like they are hard balling but keep trying to spread the word anyway.  I feel so badly for you and others who lost so much.  But at least you are healthy and not currently on a cruise to nowhere.  Have they figured out a port yet to disembark?

By the way, off topic, but did anyone happen to watch the CNBC special last night on the corona virus?  Pretty scary because most of our pharmaceuticals are made in China.  Disruption in supply chain could cause world wide shortages of lots of important life saving drugs.  Just makes one wonder how far this is going to go.  

Jane

18 minutes ago, eurolady said:

I have spoken to HAL's hotline twice a day....each time I call I get a different person and a different response...most are clueless (hangup and callback if you get anyone named Annie😲)....each time there is a different answer to the same questions or the conditions are a different rendition....nothing is offered in writing....almost all calls require hold time while the person on the line goes back to a supervisor.    I am shocked at the lack of and quality of customer service displayed. 

You are communicating with the wrong people.  They have no decision making power.  Personally I would present my case in a calm and rational statement to someone who can make a final decision:  OAshford@hollandamerica.com

He knows they did wrong. See what happens. Certainly can't hurt and at least you will know you went to the top.  Also, I agree to spread the word throughout all your social media contacts, local TV consumer reporters, etc.

Jane

7 minutes ago, sail7seas said:

Given the statement, westerdam  has no where to  go that will. accept the ship, where would you suggest they go?   Port Everglades?  Will they let her in?   🤷‍♀️🙉

It will be interesting to see where they end up and when.  Australia?

17 minutes ago, wearesiamese said:

Why don't you have travel insurance with "cancel for ANY reason" coverage?!

2 minutes ago, Level six said:

Thank you ted144. 

 

For the other poster. I have been on over 30 cruises and never had to cancel.  I am young and healthy.   I have insurance but it is not paying in this instance. 

 

Also,  before you make rude statements, maybe learn some empathy, it is a good thing.

 

 

Agree.  I see there is a "heart" like button.  Too bad alternative not offered.  Rudeness seems to be catching just like coronovirus and flu.

18 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

They did exactly do that...follow the lead of the health organizations.  I suppose it is up to the customer to decide whether they should have been a step ahead and a little more pro-active in the steps they took.

 

There are varying opinions here whether HAL's response was adequate, but I bet dollars to donuts that there will be some management shakeup over decisions that were made regarding Westerdam

I haven't piped in on this thread yet, but will take the opportunity to do so now.  When this thread first appeared about HAL not offering refunds, not canceling or offering an alternative cruise(which they were not at that time), and cancellation insurance not covering; I actually emailed Mr. Ashford.  That was on Jan 28.  I told him I was very disappointed in HAL's response and that I believed they would regret their decision because not only would they likely have many unhappy guests, they were likely to face denial of docking in Japan when the cruise terminated.  This was before the Princess ship fiasco even began.  Now I see that Westerdam is being denied entry to all Japan ports.  What a fiasco.  Those poor people, many of whom have saved for years to take this "bucket list" cruise.  I wonder where they will end up?  Anyway, I actually received a phone call the very evening I sent the email stating the guests welfare and safety were their top concern(haha), blah, blah.  The next day I received a follow up email from some service representative basically stating the same thing and they had increased sanitation and screening procedures.  I was actually surprised to receive any response and do appreciate that.  But obviously the guests' welfare was not their top concern.  Bad decisions were made it appears.  Now Westy doesn't even have a place to disembark those currently on board apparently.  Wonder how much fun they are having just sailing around with no ports to go to. More than those on the quarantined Princess ship at least.  I can't even fathom being cooped up in an inside cabin like that.  Another reason to book Veranda at least. 

Anyway, so sorry to see my premonition come to fruition.  Just hope we don't get to Italy in April, have someone get sick on TA portion and end up quarantined there.  Just don't know how far this is going at this time. 

Hope for the best and a quick resolution and a quick vaccine development.  But, as I told my DH if I have to go(i.e. die) there is no better place to do it than on a cruise ship and they can just bury me at sea.

Jane

1 hour ago, lvz2cruz said:

You might not be happy on Veendam. 

It is older and smaller. 

 My sister went on it when it was going to Cuba a year or so ago and hated it.   She couldn't understand why we keep cruising HAL.  I told her the newer, bigger ships have a lot more to offer.  It doesn't have an aft pool or BB Kings.  We have taken it twice and know what to expect but  only choose it when the itinerary is not offered on newer ships---like Bermuda or Cuba.

I kind of wonder that myself.  We have always sailed the Vista Class ships and the Koningsdam last December.  Actually like Vista class better than Koningsdam.  But since we love BB King and I always use aft pool, maybe won't be good fit for us.  We may try it sometime though if I see itinerary I like for good price.  Will see.  Thanks for info though.

2 hours ago, St Pete Cruiser said:

In case you haven't noticed, Holland America is returning to Tampa Nov, 2020, with the Veendam.

Thanks for update.  I hadn't seen that yet.  Have never been on Veendam.

Jane

We recently returned from a 6 day Celebrity cruise on Silhouette. This was our first sailing on Celebrity.  We normally sail HAL, but have also done Carnival cruises in the past.  Since we are very close to Tampa(and it is our favorite port) and HAL recently pulled out of that port, and Celebrity will begin sailing from there next year, we wanted to give them a try.  Found a great price on this shorter cruise so grabbed it. I must say was not really impressed with Celebrity. Yes in some respects it is comparable to HAL, but we just found it did not fit us that well.  Dining room food and service was excellent.  However buffet food not so good and I absolutely hated that everyone served themselves at the buffet.  Yuck - how many unwashed hands have touched those serving utensils?  Most of the food in buffet overcooked and about tasteless. Prepared in large batches and sits out unlike HAL which prepares smaller batches right at buffet station so always seems fresh and tastes very good in our experience.  The burger/hotdog grill was god awful.  Yuck.  Love HAL's Dive-In burgers and dogs. Also missed Taco bar on Hal.  Celebrity had a "Mexican" station in buffet area but was very lacking.  Salsa made with green peppers(I swear), and not a jalapeno to be had.  Tasteless and bland.  Very little, if any, drink service on pool deck.  Almost never cleaned up tables either.  First day I had conversation with assistant bar manager about this, but did not improve.  On our last HAL cruise, Willy was constantly cleaning tables in Sea View Bar area.  HAL drink service is sometimes little slow, but generally has been good in our experience. Silhouette was a pretty ship but no nice artwork/sculpture and no large flower arrangements scattered throughout ship like HAL.  Silhouette artwork pretty much consisted of photographs of nothing of interest.  Did not attend any evening entertainment events as we do not do the showroom song and dance shows and not much of interest.  We love, love, love BB King Blues Club on HAL ships we have sailed on. We did not try any of the specialty restaurants as seemed way overpriced to us.  Public area bathrooms were always very clean with cloth towels and no difference from HAL there.  Our Veranda cabin was nice with sofa and the veranda actually had a normal height table which you could actually eat on if wanted to.  But it severely lacked storage space, especially shelving I thought. Big closet but no shelves so could only hang clothes on too few hangers.  Half of closet basically left empty, but no shelves.  All in all we enjoyed this cruise.  But think we will stick with HAL in future as Celebrity did not really impress us.  Also, just a footnote, this cruise really began on a bad note when muster lasted one full hour.  Are you kidding me?  Everyone was complaining.  Check in very unorganized and no one knew where to actually "check in" so apparently delay trying to figure out the many " missing" people.  Then stupid cartoon, then stupid "spy" movie really put everyone off.  One hour of standing crammed shoulder to shoulder- not kidding.   Never seen anything like it on any previous cruise.

Just my thoughts.  I am sure others will disagree.  Everyone's likes and dislikes are different.  That is what makes our World such an interesting and beautiful place.

Jane

On 8/20/2019 at 6:21 PM, FRANKIEDNYC said:

If it's still on the menu the zuppa de pesce  (seafood soup) is outstanding and to me worth the price alone

Agree.  Always get this.  Way better IMHO than Cioppino  at Pinnacle Grill but very similar. DH always gets  veal dish.  I think they now have a "special" which changes every night as I recall. We much prefer Canaletto over Pinnacle for dinner.