rodndonna

When a person knows enough to self-isolate (we've been at this for almost 3 years) , I can't imagine that they need to be told that staff are also people, so they need isolate from as well. That is my point, we all know what we should be doing. What is sadly ironic, is that the people that are most worried about keeping the cruise ships protocols in place, are the people I am 99% confident would do the right thing. The people who wouldn't do the right thing (risking others including staff) would not and will not report or isolate. I think the protocals are now just providing a false sense of security to people who assume the cruiseline can keep them safe from other passengers.

I am still surprised when I see threads where someone says "It's like they (cruiseline) don't want to know or have us report" - I really believe they would prefer we stop telling them and deal with it ourselves unless it really requires there intervention medically.

I really think that this what many (most) cruisers have been doing for quite a while now. The only problem is that like with any contagious illness, there are the always some people who then don't self-isolate, but of course those are also the folks that would never have informed medical in the first place. I think the people who self-report, by nature, would self-isolate, so not sure why reporting to medical would be beneficial (assuming symptoms are mild).

Have you ever sailed or booked Carnival on-line. I LOVE their web booking. When you select a a cruise it then shows you on one page ALL the code booking options available to you (usually about 6 different options) with prices and perks neatly summarized. Not suggesting to go book Carnival, just saying of all the cruise lines, I think they have the best website for reviewing options.

We've done 3 cruises now with HAL. First was fixed dining (late) and service was excellent. Second cruise we tried anytime (eating later) and service was somewhat hit and miss, depending on how busy it and certainly not as personable (which makes sense) Third cruise we went back to fixed dining and found the service was excellent. Although we like some flexibility, we are now going to stick with fixed dining for HAL for our upcoming cruises.

We were very lucky and were able to grab 2 'free' cabin offers from last year (when they were really generous in them). We have played the Casino more on those 2 cruises than previously, but alas, no more email offers. We are not surprised, as we are still not the sort of players that ever expected to get them. That being said, we do received what I would consider to a 'good' discount on many cruises that I don't get emails about, and only seem to see the pricing when I log in and follow through a booking (the discount does not show up on the initial pricing for me). Worth looking at if you don't get an email 'free' cabin offers.

I have to check that out.... I am having a hard time imagining 'rowdy' on a HAL ship 😃

Don't forget about the Tamarind bar... I say that because in 3 HAL cruises I have never remembered that there is a really nice bar there (small and great window seating) until we go to the Tamarind to eat and I see it and say to myself "wow, this is quite a nice bar, we must come here" and then I forget again. We cruise in 2 weeks and it will be on my list to go there at least one evening for a pre or post sinner drink (even if we are not dining at the Tamarind that night)

If you are fixed dining, no problem. Anytime, may be a bit of a wait (less for later dining times). We now go with late fixed dining for 2. We like "any time" but find the service better with fixed dining.

Walking the promenade. Sounds trivial, but if you like outdoor walking and deck walking like I do, it really is hard to find a nicer promenade on a cruise ship these days than the ones we have had on HAL.

I agree. Not sure when (or if) I could get back to risk dining with a stranger in an MDR setting and be OK with then coughing openly (something that annoyed me previously, but now REALLY bothers me). We've had 3 cruises since the restart, got Covid on the 2nd. We have a cruise in 2 weeks, and am more worried about now about picking up flu (not had in 30 plus years) or RSV (have never had). Not worried enough to not cruise though, just enough to take extra precautions. Am happy this cruise is a warm weather one though, last 2 were cooler climate cruises so felt a little more "cooped-up" with a lot of sick sounding people at times.

Sounds like a door (or something) flaping against something like a wall to me - that would be my guess. Hope you solve it - very curious

I see an ad for the last week or so - $50 referrals, so $50 OBC to the 'referred' and $50 FCC for the personal making the referral (s) for each referral(s)

Is it showing on your CC as a 'pending' transaction or is it actually a "posted" - sometimes errant charges (and holds) show up in there and then get sorted (before being posted).

For many people, the sound of the wake is one of the main draws. For some (like us) is in incredible soothing to listen to on the balcony, sadly though, can't hear it in the room.

Companions have a huge impact. Luckily, we are both pretty go with the flow, but admittedly, I would be more to overreact or get upset if something does wrong. My husband is unwaivering in his ability to make the best with what we are dealt, and I become very conscious about not wanting to be the downer and it helps to bring me back around and make the most of our holidays.

Sometimes I have problems if there was any "auto-fill" of the name or address (even if I backspace and retype). I have had to enter all from blank os some websites. Edit: This weekend we were checking in for an upcoming cruise and it kept failing o the card I was entering for onboard (no error, just didn't accept it). That was on the website, and after multiple attempts, we weren't able to do it, until we started through the Navigator app. Odd....

The good thing about the political shirts and hats is, for us, we have been warned to just avoid the wearer.

After you booked, did you try a mock booking to see if you could still get seats at that price? It may be that it was only allowing a certain number of seats to be sold at that price, and then the price would increase. Giving them the benefit of the doubt though....I don't expect that is the case. Like booking hotel rooms, "only 1 room left at this price" ... seems to always be a ruse...

I fully expect they will, because we booked a year ago for early December -🙂

Travelling as a couple, I never thought of that problem. As a couple, one of the things I don't like about buffet eating (among a few things) is it always feels like "tag-team" dining.

Yes, its seems to be a little less cooperative for the last few days. Our window for booking flights would have just opened this week, so didn't really try much though.

You can just go to guest services and they will apply it (them) to your account. For our last 2 cruises, June and Sept, remaining unused balance was refunded to our credit card on file. Was surprised by that, so not sure that will always be the case (as opposed to refunding unused balance back to gift which is what I would have thought to be the rule)

We did a HAL Alaskan cruise in June and then Norway in September. As in your case, we found the Alaskan cruise to be 'really' informal and was thinking Norway might be the same. We coincidentally had virtually identical weather for both cruises and had packed identically for both. In our case, the Norway cruise was not nearly as informal as Alaska, and thinking it might be a result of many more Europeans on that cruise.

yes.