REOVA

I thought they had them next to the sinks in the Lido.

Usually will on sea day for 7 day.

1. Deposits are usually less when booking onboard and OBC is usually more (barring any sale program that might come up later). Booking cruises within 90 days of offering will get you bonus OBC depending on Mariner level 2. Deposits usually ($100) need to be paid with credit card. At least FCC cannot be used for deposit so just assuming credit from a gift card (have not used them) is same but check with HAL. Future deposits booked are usually good for 4 years toward a cruise. So HAL can hold your money longer if you want. 🤔

Unfortunately, like any industry, nothing is consistent and finding staff and monitoring set protocols is not 100% possible. There will be gaps in processes, which is a reason you should never believe any claim of an organization that they have protocols in place for this and that. As long as you protect yourself, (mostly sanitizing hands and masking as needed) you should be OK. Even before pandemic we watched crew wipe chairs with towels and THEN wipe tables off which does not follow sanitary protocol (top down). No one wants to eat off of table wiped from where someone sat. But it happens everywhere. Protect yourselves and understand that gaps will always exist.

If you have a TA, they may have comped you. Someone posted about keeping their booked cabin by having TA redo booking to less expension cabin in that category and doing CO free upgrade to the desired cabin and saved money. But you would need to be careful that none of your other perks change if rebooking.

For 2020 COVID claims, there are many who were denied (myself included) when trips were cut short due to it not being a listed coverage. My insurance agent (Steve at Tripinsurance) had many customers' claims denied. Policies are different and the language needs to be specific. Tornados at home is a separate type of insurance than travel insurance.

If your cell is not in airplane mode, it's trying to use cell tower or roaming with the ships satellite. That gets expensive. You can call with wifi on various apps (FB messenger, Whatsapp, FaceTime, etc) that don't use cell service as well as checking your email. Not sure if they offer single day wifi on ship but each package costs less as days pass, so maybe towards the end you can get the last few days package for wifi.

I was speaking of travel insurance and regarding the 2020 claims that many were denied. I would think a trip cancellation, change, sickness or damage (during excursion) would need specific language including volcano eruptions.

Insurance usually doesn't cover Acts of Nature unless specifically named. This was the "excuse" for denying claims for COVID cancellations in 2020.

With your HIA did it include 2 dinners? If so you would have been able to select those to apply to dinner, plus you have 2 dinners for 5*. Your statement has 1) refundable section which will be where any refunds on the credit card would show from prepaid items and you get that back on card at end of cruise. (I ask for cash at Guest Services so it doesn't go on credit card and lose points). 2) non refundable credits would be OBC from HIA or HAL that you need to use or lose. So check if the dinners were HIA (which won't be charged on statement) or applied to your prepaid dinners (that should be credited back to you).

Just because OP got through doesn't mean HAL will pass you through. Protocol and staff seem to change with the weather. We did the online proctor test which was easy and they send you an email with the confirmation of supervision and test results. Hope you have a smooth embarkation as OP did and a great cruise.

When you go to dinner make sure matre d' marks it as comp Mariner dinner and then check onboard statement later at night.

Once you get off ship, good luck. Need to clear it up before disembarkment. Still waiting to hear from HAL but going through credit card company for refund since emails are not being responded to (except the auto - "will respond in 48 hours")

We actually did have people stare walking buy (probably curiosity not knowing the venue) but we just stared back while eating😆. Didn't feel any different than sitting in a Cafe in Europe and people walking buy (at least on RDam, KDam is more glass/open). And yes much better than dining in Pinnacle Class MDR.

Was each cruise in different parts of the World? Was curious if the differences were ship location, ship size or passenger count. I find the "premium" wifi means nothing if there are more passengers or in drop spots. 😒

Haven't sailed NS yet but we loved Rotterdam CO restaurant. Very quiet, intimate and easy. On KDam we didn't try it but it looked more industrial and not as comfortable than RDam.

CO breakfast in Pinnacle Grill is similar to Neptune Suites benefits which we've done. It's a nice breakfast but same options each morning (you could probably ask for something unique) but I prefer the variety of Lido as I eat a large breakfast so ordering in the restaurant makes me feel gluttonous🤪.

I thought I read that a recent (6 mos ago) cruise had to test passengers onboard to enter a port (Mexico, Aust?) I may have dreamed that however I remember pre covid, we had to line up and walk past an infra red camera to take everyone's temp before a port, so I would say, in these dynamic times, anything is probable. Otherwise testing for HAL was pre embarkment but other lines (including parent corp) had to test before entering next port. Another line used to do the "spit in tube" testing daily instead of nasal swab. Hopefully we don't regress (like I have here 🙄). However, if you feel sick (or another passenger calls medical on you), expect a call that they will be coming to test.

We continue to wear masks on ships, in stores, at restaurants. But when eating is an issue if crowded. I am also Novid 🤞🤞 but DW got it on ship in July, we both quarantined. Fortunately (?) Ship ran out of rooms set aside so we stayed in our booked cabin (we always book a balcony now). Masks work as medical staff know for years. Difference is yours are thrown away each use and hands sanitize. Many people don't realize how often they touch hand to face, eyes, nose, etc thinking the mask doesn't work. And if their hands are not cleaned...viola. DW said she wouldn't report to Medical after our experience. 😁 Don't you need Dr test result for insurance claim?

The benefits depends on what Mariner level you are, what cabin you currently book and number of days itinerary. You pay upfront for whatever the per diem at that time. So if it's $50 per day for a 10 day cruise, you pay $500. For me, it's not worth it unless on Pinnacle Class ship as I don't like the MDR on the big ships. On other ships you eat in MDR with 1 extra selection offered on the menu so not beneficial to me. IMHO There may be benefits for others but they don't entice me or the cabins I usually book.

HAL's network does restrict VPNs and some commercial websites but you should be able to use those commercial sites. HOWEVER, remember on HAL's network any purchases or personal information entered may not always be secured. You may be safer using your phone protocol on shore.

As someone posted above, depends on how staff is feeling each time but it is a posted HAL policy. They probably expect an honor policy and if scanner doesn't catch you then you are expected to walk over to desk and "check in" with the corkage person. If you don't they follow up on CC posts and send you an invoice. 🤣

LoL. My DW (and I) were quarantined for 6 days and she says she will never do room service again 🤣 I guess it's ingrained now. The lounge has downgraded (repeated or deleted items) post covid but it depends on who is working as well as the passengers as we have met some great friends sitting around. Still nice to pop in and see what is going on. Yes. We go back and forth depending the itinerary, number of days and of course cost. Used to do it more with daughter. But we don't need the space now but every now and then it's nice.

Usually near a door or elevator is busy and noisy but Neptune Suites are set back and usually the bathroom and closet area buffers the noise. But you also don't have as many people using the Lounge as the elevator/stairwell. Plus access to Lounge is from both Port and Starboard sides so not all Suite guests will use your side. Jumping across the hall to grab fruit, yogurt, juice, etc will be nice. Just remember what times the Lounge opens and closes.

Ha. In theory. We were first to Port last month and bags first on empty luggage rack outside terminal. Didn't get bag to room until ship was moving 4 hours later. That was a 1 off but it happens. So much for priority luggage tag. 🤣 There will be bumps when traveling so just need to sail on. Would be nice to have tags scannable and tracked like airlines do. 🤔