REOVA

9 hours ago, aprilsp88 said:

So ocean bar band is the house band which consist of 5+ musicians? When we cruised Veendam in 2019, there is no house band, and no DJ. They used a computer to play some mp3 music in ocean bar after the band, the sound quality was not good. I'm glad now there is a DJ playing in a larger lounge.

Yes. The DJ is one of the entertainment/trivia staff probably with the same mp3 machine, they use for music trivia. I guess you could call Ocean Band the house band now. HAL used to have a house band for the World Stage as well as Ocean Bar Band, now just Ocean Bar musicians (who were good). 

6 minutes ago, DinkyDee67 said:

Can HIA excursion credits be used for post cruise transfers?
 

We both have US$20 remaining after we have booked excursions using the HIA excursion credits. Are we able to use these to offset the cost of post cruise transfers to the airport? The credits are displayed when viewing the basket containing the transfers but do not appear to have been credited.

You may want to check with EXC desk but I believe unless you book a post tour excursion AND transfer, it may not work. 

Jim. Maybe if you sail again on KDam, RDam or NS you can ask for 2 tiles from crew. The tile has all 3 ship names on them so hopefully that will catch you up. 

58 minutes ago, Scrapnana said:

My only complaint of the entertainment is that we are getting more evening movies in the World Stage instead of live entertainment (especially on port days) than I remember from the past.

Yes and same complaint.  Since they switched talent agencies (pre pandemic) there are only a few dance and Cantare shows produced that repeat across ships and maybe a comedian. The fillers are movies 😔 if you are on longer than 7 days, expect repeats on same ship. It's like they don't expect you to cruise too long or on another ship within the same year. 

16 hours ago, aprilsp88 said:

@ScrapnanaI'm following your other post and blog. What do you think about the entertainment onboard Zaandam? Who's the band in ocean bar? Do they play Jazz only or other dance-able music?

We were on in July. The options for entertainment is Ocean Bar band which changes members different cruises, (who plays a variety of music and there is a dance floor), a DJ in crows nest at night for dancing, a piano bar and the Lincoln Center/Explorer's Lounge for classical/chamber music. The World Stage has the usual Step One Dancers, Cantare, BBC video with live music and sometimes members of the ocean bar or piano player will play with dancers. 

6 months? Probably fluctuate $7-$11 (or $0). But depends on not only economy but virus breakout again (flu, Covid, etc which people seem less concerned about now), war, employment, supplies, year end(calendar and fiscal) market selloffs, debt calls, etc. 

Six months is a short term strategy so obviously depends on why you want to buy. For those that purchased 2 years ago or longer, this is a bargain and helps DCA. But for longer term, there are alot of variables: Do you plan to cruise more often and how long each cruise? Many have received OBC (or past distributions) that more than covered the stock purchase. Will they bring back distributions, will they cancel stock OBC program, will CCL sell off the brand you sail the most....lots of questions depending on why you want to buy. If you are trying to time the market for just a specific stock purchase, many "experts" say its not a good stock because of debt. I didn't buy to include in my portfolio (only bought 100 shares) because my portfolio has different goals, questions and planning.  So the questions I had was can I continue cruising and get the benefits that come with it. If you buy now, no matter where the price is, after 4 or 10 cruises (depending on length) your cost is recovered and you have 100 shares (or whatever numbers you plug in). So if its before you recapture any of the benefits (that hopefully will continue as you cruise), the worst case is CCL filing BK and you've lost money. As you know, longer term is where the benefit will come for this stock

It's a shame HAL (CCL) didn't order new ships designed around her, between the Vista and Signature ship orders. Especially before the Pinnacle Class. Is the goal to keep Seabourn small (new expedition ships), Carnival large and HAL in between with no overlap? Maybe they can bring bread and butter in on Pinnacle Class but still offer their "marketed" longer itineraries on new(er) smaller ships (<1200). I don't think they will have a problem selling out smaller ships, smaller ports and "re- rebranding" HAL even by offering both options. 

We were on also but port side and the cabin creaked continuously. We know people have tried shimming the panels. The first night it bothered us but we "got used to it" but we've never had a noiser cabin like this. I was curious if Rotterdam has more of an issue than others. 

Credit balances decline as you us them and its use them or lose them. They also are individual credits so another suggestion (which may be obvious to some but maybe not) is if you and partner do different excursions, but there are some that only 1 person needs to book but good for 2 or more guests, decide whose credit to book under. I usually do more active excursions and DW is happy to get off ship and walk in town. We booked a clam shell in HMC using her credit so I had more to use for other excursions. There are other examples or multi person excursions so plan ahead to maximize credit. We were able to use all credits and not have any left over (or spend extra) on a recent cruise. (We usually book private tours or do self tours but since we had credits, we found things to do with HAL). 

31 minutes ago, donandmelissa said:

We are sailing on Nieuw Statendam for the first time this Spring.  We are booked in cabin 5117.  From the diagram, it looks like it has a deeper balcony than most of the others in the same category, as it is on the diagonal just before the bump out for the suites.  Has anyone stayed in this cabin or a comparable one on this ship?  We are going to be happy, no matter what, but are curious as to whether we stumbled into a bigger balcony.  Thanks in advance for any information you share. 

It is a bigger balcony (deeper) but your view forward aft is limited as you'll be angled toward bow view (when not looking straight out). Also being deeper and the angle, decks above you can see onto the deeper part so be conscious when walking out for morning sunrise with others watching. We've seen some surprised guests that thought they were privately enjoying their balcony. 😁

A great recap and you sure made many crew members feel special. On Rotterdam they already show "City of the Sea" (maybe because it was longer than a 7 day cruise). It was interesting and much better than crowding through crew deck and bridge during these times (although we've done the later also). And mid cruise, masks came on more crew members but nothing was mentioned (other than during regular announcements a quick "if you are feeling ill please contact medical"). We also care for 93 yr experienced person and respect your precautions (we did the same). Thank you. 

31 minutes ago, MimNehoc said:

Good to know. Can you transfer your booking to your own travel agent?

When you book make sure to tell them which TA you want to use, otherwise it defaults to the last one used on current cruise. You can also choose not designate a TA but transfer within specific time after disembarkment. Otherwise trying to change TA requires a release from the booked TA and acceptance from new TA. 

The names in the cabin is what they go by not where the funds come from. So even if he wasn't adult and you booked them in your cabin, they still get the points. (If you were deciding to do that instead -  🤣). Our DD was 3 star before she was 18. ("Your welcome my child"). 

5 hours ago, cwd79 said:

We wished the Rotterdam had the automatic hand washing machines at the Lido like the Koningsdam had previously on our August Alaskan cruise. That was an experience that I've never had. Hands felt super clean after using it. 

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

Usually will on sea day for 7 day. 

57 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

We are thinking of booking a  Panama Canal Cruise  on  a HAL ship  during our upcoming  Dec 10th cruise aboard  Kpningsdam   . These are my questions :

1. what is the benefit with regards to a HAL   on board credit  ,also do you get more On board credit if you book a cruise within 90  days if the initial listing by HAL ?

2  ,Can we buy the gift cards  for $500  on the ship to get the 10 % bonus to $550 per gift card  .If so we could then use the   gift cards for  our deposits .We understand the  gift cards are out until Dec 13 ,2022

 

TIA 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. 🤔 

44 minutes ago, bdd123 said:

It is kind of hard for me to believe HAL does not clean with disinfectant.
 

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. 

6 hours ago, albingirl said:

For the very first time, we will have club orange on our next cruise.  I have no idea why, since I didn't ask for it in the booking process.  I have no need of priority boarding or tendering but they have kind of a nifty carryall bag that I'll be sure to use. As far as dining goes, I'm pretty much open to new experiences, so that should be fine by us.  I know you can upgrade within your cat. but I'm pretty much where I want to be right now.

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. 

5 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I can’t imagine you would have a loss.   As with Covid many businesses closed down and most of us were reimbursed.  There were a few outliers where the customer had to go through the dispute process.  If an airline changes or cancels a flight they are required by law to compensate.  If a lodging option closes then a dispute will find in favor of the customer.  Travel insurance never covers for lost time as when you schedule vacation.  So the question remains what would the purpose of volcano travel insurance be?  There would be no reason to insure that risk.  (I live in tornado alley so am well aware of hazard insurances)

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. 

1 hour ago, mcrcruiser said:

Can you add wifi  for one day at a time  or do you need to buy it for the entire cruise ?  

The only item we would use wifi for is cancelling  hundreds to thousands of e-mails  periodically so that I do not need to do it when returning at home . 

 

 Can you use your cell phone on the ship to call with out it costing a fortune ?  

 

 TIA 

 

 

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. 

4 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

There are homeowners policies for various natural events but I was questioning what a traveler would even need such insurance for? 

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. 

2 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

What would it be for?  I understand a homeowner having insurance for a volcano but what does a traveler need volcano insurance for?

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

5 minutes ago, dmcfad2 said:

One more question. When they refunded you, did they refund it back to your credit card or did it show as a credit on your onboard statement? I have the Have It All, plus crew appreciation included and onboard credit of $775.  I just started thinking that I may not even have any charges on my statement with all the perks I have, so how would I get that money back?  Will it show as refundable onboard credit? Do you understand what I mean? It’s so confusing. I probably won’t book ahead of time again. LOL

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). 

39 minutes ago, SedNabokos said:

Thanks for posting your experience.  Am boarding Noordam in Sydney soon and just got an email from HAL stating that we need "medically observed COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen)" which contradicts their generic advice for Australia.

 

Am pleased to hear that a self-administered RAT is OK, and we don't need to go through the hassle and expense to have a GP supervise the test.

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. 

5 minutes ago, dmcfad2 said:

Well, since one of the bookings is the last night of the cruise, I may have the same problem. 

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