REOVA

They don't have the full license for the commercials, which weren't any good anyway, but better than the obnoxious redundant network promos.

It's a shell game. HIA will change (and pricing) from when a cruise is first released to before final payment depending on what HAL needs to fill cabins. I booked a cruise a year ago and both HIA and pricing have changed twice since. The latest, the price went down thousands and HIA benefits reduced/changed a little. I was able to reprice at a lower rate and remove HIA and the savings on the price was much greater and still came out ahead even using the savings to cover the HIA items originally booked. You have to check the rates of the cruise fare AND the difference in HIA to see if its worth it. Sometimes the cruise fare is higher when the HIA looks better. And a good TA can price out items that you cannot find online.

Pinnacle ships show at the Lido pool screen, other ships are at World Stage screen. They don't have rights to the commercials (which really aren't what they used to be).

Texting will depend on your phone (model and age). IPhone uses MMS to send messages via internet so you can send and receive from other iphones (blue and green text used to differentiate non iPhone/iPhone). Android is different and usually uses SMS and needs cell tower so in airplane won't work. (You have to be able to modify settings for internet use for Android).

Ours had pop top metal cans (screw cap cost more) and we would get multiple cans and store in fridge (after we had cabin stewards clear out fridge). We used the water for night drinks and refill our water bottles for port excursions.

FLL is a quick and easy port. Usually the ship begins to board about 11:30 (give or take 30 mins) to allow clearance and turnover of prior cruise. You can check in when you get there at 10:30 just like you describe.

Those ports are not prized for long itineraries. It's the quick trips in Caribbean wilth larger ships that are more profitable (and with cookie cutter itineraries). The longer itineraries are based out of the 4 corners (SD/LA, SEA/VAN, BOS/NY and FL). Most of the other embarkation ports are short trips or just a port stop on other cruises that you cannot embark on (locally). As Bruce stated, not enough ships to be gone too long (nor demand yet).

You can also ask for more hangers from cabin steward.

You didn't mention which HAL and Celebrity ships but it could have something to do with what services the ship needs in port and the cost divided by how many passengers are on each ship.

Enjoy the spa package as the first 5 days after embarkation are sea days and usually excitement of getting in makes for a long time without ports. We love sea days, especially after busy (tiring ports) but doing that many initially with the anticipation of new cruise can make initial sea days long for some. And the SD zoo is one of the best. Depending on what exc you like (beaches, history, cultural, food) will dictate which excursions. I prefer local tours for more private in depth experience. I spent a month on Oahu with a friend many years ago and there are many places to see. If you like snorkeling, visit Hanauma Bay (Wed-Sun) via a tour. Limited visitors allowed and sells out quickly. (You can do it on your own by signing up online days in advance with State REc but getting there and back is more difficult - no UBER.)

I take a lot of photos with my phone. Also use it for reminders of ship events (NavApp) but main use is photos. And we also use it to keep in touch with Family back home. We are usually sailing longer itineraries though. If you are doing a 7 day or don't need contact with Family, you can get by without it on the ship.

Well....on the 2020 World Cruise (which started in FLL and was supposed to end there) we all had to leave the ship and catch flights from Perth AUS back home. There were no charter planes back to FLL for 1200+ passengers (no matter how many petitions passengers signed). They did reimburse up to $1250 if you booked your own flights (and gave us a great refund and FCC). It was an extraordinary situation (and stressful for all) but for that distance, I doubt charter flights for all would have been an option. HAL does try to compensate but not to the extent of exceeding corporate profit. I would bet that a flight from Norway to UK would be an allowance and probably not a charter. The reverse flight (UK to Norway) may be different if they get a flood of cancellations. But as mentioned, HAL plans its cruise itineraries in the seasons for less possibility of these issues.

Does he think the flavor was better, how it was cooked or something different? It would seem they use the same lobster (or maybe not). Thank you.

Read the fine print. They do offer discount flyers on the ship but you have to spend a minimum amount or some items are exempt from purchasing with the discount. So if they're "marked up" 100% (or more) and you have to spend $5,000 to get $500 off.....but it is interesting that HAL stopped printing maps, puzzles, trivia, etc to reduce "environmental impact" but ads for spa and EFFY are plentiful. I guess profit centers are exempt from environmental impact. 🤪

Better safe ... but I'm sure many will miss Europe. Looks like the last segment of 2018 except the change of Ghana. (Which we didn't do). Time for safari bookings.

And the Neptune "lounge" was a converted cabin with balcony.

They won't discount/sale for current cruise (until its the last cruise in the area). Usually the sales are on past itineraries to offload merchandise. You may find a sale price on a parka with "Alaska" on it on your Caribbean cruise. 🤣

We loved the Prinsendam since it felt like a actual ship and went to better ports. Because it was not built for HAL and changed owners a few times before HAL acquired it, it gives hope (very small) that HAL may acquire a smaller ship instead of building more larger ones. She just went through another refurbishment last year and then sailed past my home still looking stylish.

"MSC will add .... native and adaptive trees, grasses and shrubs as part of a landscaping plan to further diversify the landscaping and provide erosion control." Doesn't say where but hopefully they will work on YC beach. We were there a year ago and I found rebar in the water, probably from what used to be there (industrial) before MSC but was told the Hurricanes bring things in (?).

From Travel Weekly November 2023 "MSC will add excursion centers to support watersport activities and island tours, a dive and snorkel center, and additional food and beverage outlets. Also coming to Ocean Cay: the MSC Foundation's Marine Conservation Centre, a facility that will be a base for biologists, coral reef experts and students. It will house interactive pavilions, a lecture hall and coral exhibition tanks, providing educational opportunities to guests on the importance of the marine ecosystem and the need to protect oceans. Plus, MSC will install a third solar farm as part of its aim to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions for Ocean Cay and an advanced wastewater treatment plant. It will plant native and adaptive trees, grasses and shrubs as part of a landscaping plan to further diversify the landscaping and reduce erosion. New accommodation buildings will provide amenities for island staff, which will increase in numbers from 150 to 280."

If you have a good TA they can probably call HAL and negotiate but if the current HIA is less than what you booked and the same delta in lower price, HAL considers it same even if base price is lower. But I just called my TA because the fare was $2k less and the current (lesser promo) HIA difference was only a few hundred difference. So I had TA reduce the fare. I actually also canceled HIA to save even more since we won't be using excursion or drink package (5* will just buy wine package), dint need the restaurant credits and can purchase wifi package separately. Kept same cabin and booking number. But it will depend on who you talk to at HAL since consistency is not a HAL strong point.

Not Nepresso but company called Mocoffee. Supposedly Nepresso pods don't work, but I'm not a coffee drinker.

I just remember getting up early to stand in a long (4/5 star) line for a tender ticket in 2020. 2018 we were in Neptune so didn't notice due to priority then. Even so Henk had difficulty with a few passengers (only time I've seen him angry). 😳

Unlike previous World cruises, no tender priority for anyone except Neptune's and Presidents club. If memory serves me, no priority was on 2018 and 2020 tender. I remember getting up before dawn to stand in line to get a tender ticket as 5 star (and a line already formed when I got there which was longer than non priority group.). Also remember some passengers being a bit aggressive in the stairwell and line to get off. 🤪 Glad it wasn't too hot this time as camera lens fog was bad in 2020. At least people could get in the Bain des Bagnards to cool off (but rocks are slippery).

YEAH! Greatly miss the stage band.