REOVA

If they do, I'm sure there will be alot of upset passengers and they will have to allow folks to reserve times throughout the ship. Fixed dining is easier for the crew and we used to do it years ago but found we didn't always make it to dinner each night at the same time and didn't like leaving table mates eating by themselves.

I did that as DW doesn't drink. Also was able to find different wines around the World to try and buy and bring onboard.

We print everything I to a hardcopy folder just in case. You can pull up the boarding pass and "screenshot" it in your phone photos in case your phone gets wonky with service in the terminal. They need a clear scan of the bar code on the pass, so if your phone has smudges, scratches, or cracks, it may not work efficiently. I also have my light level low on the phone so that causes issues with scanning. We do the same with excursion tickets from Nav App because we've had some guides require the bar code on the excursion ticket instead of the cabin keycard (it's easier and faster for them). We always print our luggage tags at home and bring them. We don't put them on until just before leaving for the poet (we borrow a stapler from hotel).

Great review. We just did Neptune Suite on Rotterdam so "revisiting" was nice (except they put the library back on the Rotterdam in place of one of the rooms near World Stage. We do agree that the venues in the music walk are very close together and when the band overlaps, you do get multiple songs going, which wasn't enjoyable trying to listen to BB King band in one ear and hearing Rolling Stone Rock band in the other 😆. We were also tracking TS/Hurricane Nicole and the weather Channel was put on one of the "special" channels, either of channel 100 or 200. The captain also did a couple of nice video presentations of where the storm was, where our route changed and why and what effect the location and winds would have. This was put in the ship information channel. Glad you enjoyed the ship.

Rotterdam had snacks in Billboard, although it's over near the far wall, so if you weren't looking for it, you wouldn't know it was there.

For Neptune/Pinnacle suite, Club Orange is included complementary and on KDam (P class) it's where you eat breakfast, not in Pinnacle Grill like on other R or S class ships.

Its open the same time as MDR hours for breakfast and dinner only. We usually walked in each night at different times without reservations. On Rotterdam it was never full when we ate breakfast or dinner (dinner 6-6:30 ish) but breakfast on disembarkment day was crowded. Very relaxed on P ships.

We've seen spotty service in dining room for the past 4 years (even pre covid) but there are many crew who go out of their way to make it better (or try). I do notice the bigger the ship, the more hurried the crew (staffing issues?) And more issues pop up. There appears to be many new crew faces nowadays and since we try to converse with them and get to know them, it's easier to try and help them learn and rectify. We always talk with asst maitre d' about happenings (or other supervisors we meet) just to let them know what we see, not actually complaining to them, but helping. Many times things can be fixed if someone who knows the big picture (from kitchen, bar to table) can work the kinks out. Helps in their planning and training. I love having great service, but also love to help them modify for the better in their process (if they are willing). Post covid I'm sure we've all seen more spotty service both on the ships and in our hometown.

Its an extra per diem cost depending on ship and days which allows expedited embarkation/disembarkment (simolar to Neptune/4*/5* guest), a separate line at customer service and excursion desks onboard and some minor gifts. I've heard that you get a cabin upgrade within a category and some have liked the upgrade and some have stuck with original selection. What we Iiked about Club Orange is the ability on the Pinnacle class ships to eat in the CO restaurant which is quieter and more efficient than the large MDR of those bigger ships. On non P ships you eat in the MDR, usually in a better table (by a window) and you can order the 1 different entree on the menu for CO members. That wouldn't be as appealing to me on other ships but we like it on the P ships.

But if you prepay excursions or expenses with credit card prior to boarding, you can ask once onboard to use OBC and return money to credit card account which is refundable at end of cruise.

The R class ships do not have the rooms for BB King. They do have a band in Ocean Bar which some of them (as well as pianist) may participate in a show on World Stage, but the R class are not set up for music like Music Walk on P ships. And unfortunately One Step Dancers, Canteres and BBC shows on World Stage are redundant. If they brought back the singers, stage band and dancers from the previous talent agency, it would bring better entertainment to the R class. But we still like sailing the R and S class ships better than P class.

On Half Moon Cay, the clamshells are probably already booked but if you can, book 1 (comes with 2 chairs) and offers great shade as it's hot and sunny there. Get off early and walk past about 2 lifeguard stands and pick one near the lunch spot. Then you can head to lunch a few minutes before it opens (about 11 am) and grab lunch, find a table and eat before the crowds come and be back on the beach to do more walking. There will probably be 2 ships there so gets crowded. Also take pool towels with you (not the HAL beach towels) as someone stole my HAL towel while we ate lunch and they charge you for those.

Usually you can watch the NFL games in cabin either channel 110 or 200, I forget the exact numbers and which one (the 2 special events channels). May depend on if ship has rights to broadcast from the specific network game is on.

When DW tested positive in July and I negative, we both had to quarantine. Wonder why they changed policy. Their reasoning, understandably, was anyone close contact and in the room could be contagious even if testing negative. We both received FCC for daily cost while in quarantine. We wear masks onboard but believe it could have been on an excursion where we ate and drank where we may have picked up virus. I'm not sure requiring tests does anything since they won't retest if positive (but tested me 3 out of 5 days because I was negative) and so many cruisers reporting false positives, cancelled cruises and each ship in medical have variety of procedures/crew on how they test.

On Zaandam in July we got 4 cans of water no problem. On Rotterdam last week we could only get 1 can of water. HUH? I think it depends on the crew but I am sure you can contact a supervisor if there is a problem.

I believe the shared intention is each person orders an entre and its brought out on "serving" plates instead of to an individual. We did that in July but we did individual ordering last week. Word of caution, Pinnacle Grill just started imposing a surcharge on extra appetizers (Rotterdam) unless one of your appetizers is in place of entre. Hopefully the other dining venues don't follow protocol.

You should be fine. We were told just to have recovery letter and test. However depending on days after first positive test, there may be a port that won't allow you off and you will be flagged in the system. I.E. even though DW had quarantined and negative test after 6 days, Ireland required waiting 10 days from initial positive and she had to stay on board in port.

They probably will show a game on the pool screen. The on-demand channels have a channel on which you can watch games in cabin. Either one of the two special event channels (100? or 200). The on-demand sports channel usually has soccer or cricket games and the bar usually has soccer but not sure they couldn't change it if everyone agrees. We were disappointed they didn't broadcast the World Series but I'm sure TV rights were not given.

PVSA won't allow you to board if both ports are in US but if the ship sails to a foreign port not under PVSA you should be able to join ship.

Yes good advice to wear mask and wash hands/sanitize regularly. Its amazing how many people are not even washing hands (even after using restroom) and then touching counters and food items. But its not just on ships, its in life in general. The number of people in World Stage coughing with no regards for others (not covering mouths) is unfortunately high. Not just relating to COVID but respect for others on any level. And as stated, many people will not get tested for fear of having to quarantine. (Yes some are non symptomatic but others are not). Just off Rotterdam and midway it was announced that if you feel sick, go to medical (hint hint). Then more crew began masking. But infection cases were either not announced or said to be low. Fortunately we did not catch anything (we think) as we were not as lucky on Zaandam in July when cases went up over 200, requiring masking mid way. In my experience with folks taking Paxlovid is that it calms the symptoms but extends the time people feel sick. (I'm not a doctor nor not a large sampling study but just expressing real life observation of people I know).

Have not sailed in Pinnacle but you can always ask cabin steward to remove items from fridge that you won't want (if fee based) we always do. As for tea kettle, not sure they would have these. They do have coffee/pod machines but I find the taste of coffee in my tea ruins it. I would get hot water from Neptune lounge (or have them deliver each morning) and steep your tea.

If you've seen the shows on other HAL cruises, they will be the same (Step One, Cantare, BBC) which is sad that they switched agencies and got rid of the house band, singers and dancers. We liked Music walk, the Rock Band was great but played the same songs every night (they have a 50-100 song list with 3 sets most nights), BB King band was great but the piano players in Billboard were poor (and also repeated songs AND script). Its like they think new passengers come each night. 😉 Depending on the musicians you may get good or bad players on music walk. They did have a comedian on World Stage and also in BB King lounge one night (although he was on same time as rock band down the hall and hard to hear). They do offer trivia 3 times a day, pictionary, guess games, etc with extertai ment staff along with Mah jong, bridge, etc and there are plenty of games up in EXC lounge/crows nest and you can pay to do paint class. We find the first sea days harder due to anticipation and working up to itinerary so maybe bring some books or reading material. Coming back may be less anxious after tours of the islands.

I dont think we need to worry about bonuses based on what they have received during the past years in stocks, salary and bonuses. The Benchmarks for bonuses are usually not high or outrageous but based on realistic goals under current conditions. If those are met, bonuses are paid. I don't think they are expecting profit or unobtainable production during these restricted times. I'd be more curious to know what percentage of HAL passengers are the same that sailed 5 years ago as opposed to those that are new in the past 2 years. The benchmark might be gaining new passengers, short sailing increase on Pinnacle ships in core itineraries (Alaska, Caribbean, etc) until the other markets open up.

It seems to depend on the port. In Port Everglades they have a desk you go to and they check if vaccinated (even if not required they track who is and isn't on the cruise last week), then they send you through security to xray bags, then you go to either 4*,5*,Club Orange line or regular line and they scan passport, take photo and check 1 question health questionnaire on a tablet. Then you wait to board and have your boarding pass scanned (bar code needed on pass) and go up the gangway to the ship. Keycards are left in an envelope at the cabin door. We did Verify, had printed copies of vaccines and boarding passes as well as copied on cell phone just in case to cover what they may ask for.

Last week there wasn't a separate line but you checked in at a desk before going to security scan. I was able to bypass the desk and go straight to security, which may have just been a blip but it worked having Verifly. Who knows what they require as it's not consistent anymore.