REOVA

Not in many Countries visited on GWC. And ship needs to collect them in some ports for local agents to review and stamp. Used to be you had to have a certain number of blank pages left in the book, even if not expired.

Wouldn't that have been caught while at home entering info to get boarding passes and luggage tags?

It may take a few years to find it, if it does exist. 😄 Currently cruise lines are just trying to get out of the red so revenue generation and cost cutting is the current model. I doubt Corp is sitting back and saying "let them eat cake or pay us more for brioche", but after 3 years on Pinnacle ships, one would think best laid plans. And the MDR excuse that "it's always crazy at the start of a new cruise" wears thin.

My DW used to say "stay in the non priority line, it will be faster since 80% of the passengers are 4&5*" (I then started listening to her 😁)

It may be specific carrier and you do have a newer phone. Or like you say difference in ship satellite and InFlight service. I was told SMS (cell texting) is not available when airplane mode is on but could use MMS data. I couldn't get texts to go through until in port. Also I don't remember if wifi calling was turned on when I tried. When you get on, see if there is a difference in texting with wifi calling turned off and on.

No arcade but I hear maybe video games in kids club but they wouldn't let me in to verify. 🙂 There is ping pong table at Lido pool and basketball or pickle ball. Movies are in the room on demand TV. There is a big screen at Lido pool that will have movie night once or twice depending on cruise days or a sports game. No theater on the Pinnacle Ships. Comedians can do 1 show or a set of shows for 2 nights depending on how well they are received, if another act gets sick, etc. Sometimes an over 18 show will perform at 10 pm.

I would check back about 90 days prior but in the meantime research the ports and see what you may want to see. You may be able to book private excursion (refundable deposit, pay as you go,etc) until HAL posts their excursions. And then if HAL doesn't post something you want to see, you are already covered. Many of the island ports might be small and not have many excursions and in those cases you may find a driver in port that will take you around. Just be aware that port changes and delays will affect private excursions so find options where you don't lose money up front. CC has forums with different destinations where posts are made about what cruisers have done. Also join roll call to see if anyone is coordinating tours.

I think someone previously posted that the port crew did not necessarily know about CO and they had to "remind" them. Not sure how often it happens or which port. Also same with boarding times which some follow strict, no matter status. You check in, get a boarding card and they call the letter/number on card.

Probably a carryover from when they had a sign out sheet. It's now honor system checkout.

You can do it onboard if needed. Waitlist shouldn't automatically assign you a spot when it becomes available. You should get a notice that it had become available and you have X time to confirm booking. At least that what it did for us. Hopefully HAL hasn't changed that process in a few months but never know.

Yes, since OP is not yet 4* or 5*

We tried Rotterdam in November. Just like KDam in 2019 we felt HAL couldn't handle the larger size. We've booked Eurodam for later this year and looking forward to getting back on her. The biggest difference with Pinnacle ship is the Dutch Cafe (yum), an extra restaurant (if you like Rudy's) and an extra music venue. If you want "better" service you can pay for Club Orange and eat at CO restaurant (which is recommended) instead of the larger MDR, . The food is the same, the shows are the same but service is worse (in general) and there are no loungers on the lower prominade deck 3 as it's too narrow on Pinnacle ships. Look forward to your experience onboard.

How many cases of wine in the Home Depot boxes? I remember 2018 the discussions of how much wine people bought. Of course now at $20 a bottle, it may be less amounts. And I remember the passenger that brought 25 suitcases onboard. Thank goodness for Luggage Forward. (Except waiting 8 months to get them home in 2020, but we'll forget that year). Hopefully there will be a tribute to Dolly this year. Fair winds and following seas Pete.

I would think if you have a good deal, you havent sailed HALand 2 ports that you haven't been too, then book it. We cruise for the ports. (We've even cruised CCL which we hate 🤪) The Pinnacle Class ships are larger and offer more dining and music venues (even if you don't drink) and are the newest ships for HAL. For that reason, I would say book it, try something different and enjoy yourselves. That being said, we call HAL the "geriatric" cruise line (we fall in that demographic) and we love the older ships and crusing the oceans and visiting ports. We like to relax onboard and going to shows. Unfortunately the shows and entertainment repeat across HAL ships so if you've seen them once, there isnt much else to watch. We used to travel with a teenager and she never had a problem finding something to do (and probably would book HAL on her own). But if it wasn't a Pinnacle Class ship, I would say not a good fit for you. So enjoy a new ship, the ports you haven't been to and the short cruise. Then you can compare your experience since you will never know what it will actually be based on the varied opinions that you will get here. Many of us have been crusing HAL for years and don't like the changes (some do) so to have a fresh perspective may be nice. Then you can come back and opine on your pros and cons so others will know. 😁

Might be.... and they save overhead. Until the reduction in service causes revenue reduction as well.

One of our cruises this year had water temp (not sure why) on it and some one asked if they would put air temp and they did. So they definitely have the ability to change the info.

Navigator chat has greatly improved over the years. In November an icon and/or "ding" was received (Android phone) when a message was received Intra-app. There were still times where messages were delayed but not as much as in July (or years ago). However it may also depend on your itinerary.

Google search will bring multiple (old) pages with dated info. You will be charged $20 corkage per bottle of (reasonable amount of) wine brought onboard, no matter where you drink it. That is if you get "flagged" at security (or in luggage) and must proceed directly to the alcohol patrol table.

They could put this info in place of FOX and MSNBC channels. Would be much more informative on a cruise than those channels. 🤞🤞 🤪

Pinnacle Grill charges for more than 1 appetizer as of November (at least on RDam), unless you want 2 apps and skip entree which DW has done.

Yes and as stated before, we noticed it in 2019 so it's not really a "Covid" reason - for us. Our memories with HAL have always been smaller ships with the best crew whom you actually can have time to talk with and get to know (and then see on other ships) and they were happy and relaxed. On the new ships you can feel the stress from the crew (yes many are new) and their tension carrys over to the passenger experience. (We've witness managers tell servers not to spend too much time at the table and also had extended wait times, even getting water in Lido after initial sitting for a while. Many of the experienced crew will tell you they like the other ships better.) Obviously not everyone will notice this and we try to make the crew feel better with their hard work and their attempt to do the impossible, but for some reason the coordination on Pinnacle ships hasn't been there for HAL. We do hope it will get better for everyone's sake.

You're no fun 🤣

Correct. Initially it looks like none of the Hawaii or South Pacific cruises are listed yet after April. But odd that it's not showing the ship at all.It doesn't return to West Coast from Port Everglades so maybe dry dock or sold.

We must check our statement daily and get things fixed asap before end of cruise. Once off....crickets from HAL. We've been charged for excursions we didn't take, drinks already paid for w/HIA, not refunded for prepaid 5* Mariner dinners or cancelled excursions (and that was all just the past 6 months). It's amazing they are still sailing. Yes. But unfortunately HAL will become known as "pay for service" cruise line. If you want nice dining and quick service on Pinnacle ships....pay for CO (even if you are 5*) sadly 😥. And it's not a COVID issue. Our KDam cruise in 2019 was the same. We never do MDR on the newer ships now. Was this in the "Let Us know" section of the app? They are usually responsive there but going to the EXC desk is quicker ( and of course paying extra for CO makes service quicker). 🙄

Fair winds and following seas for the GWC. We are sitting it out due to "new" ship, "new" HAL and many "new" kinks yet to be worked out but envy everyone who are venturing back after our last GWC "adventure". We would really enjoy finishing 2020 ports if they put those together again (Maldives were a bucket list.) Look forward to hearing about your cruise.