VMax1700

I just connect my laptop by using a usb connection to my phone, which is running the app and connected to the ship wifi.

As they posted $15.50 per day then when you divide the amount posted it will be $15.50! When I go to Manage Bookings and try to pre pay grats it is HAL that shows the amount that is required, and in the currency of the booking. All I need to do is select the guest to pay for and give credit card details. If it is underpaid then it is HAL's responsibility. End of!

Looking at the website there is nothing bookable between 10th January and 2nd February. That is a total of 23 days!

You would have paid in pounds sterling and then this would be converted to US dollars and the total amount posted to your onboard account as On Board Credit (refundable). I wonder has HAL changed their (very generous) exchange rate? There is no way that Guest Services could say that you only paid $15.50 as you pay Sterling and HAL converts.

Just being inquisitive (nosey!) but do you or your dog get a different end of cruise questionaire? I'm thinking about in relation to the dog's requirements while onboard and during embarkation etc.

I would be the onboard IT specialist and start a revolution from within. 😉 Rem Bring passport and lots of patience.

We were on both a British Isles cruise in August and Baltic in September. In both cases we waitlisted cruises and some time later received confirmations. Also we noticed when onboard that there were more tours available than had been originally offered.

~Plenty of taxis outside the terminals. I have no idea of the price, but do agree the price before you enter the taxi.

You have just as much chance of encountering the self entitled in an inside, ocean view or verandah cabin. Unfortunately they have infiltrated everywhere these days!

The casino chips have disappeared? I think I have heard that one before! 😉

Caviar Exclusives is a Dutch company. But who knows the source of the actual product! https://www.caviarexclusives.com/kaviaar

Who is the current supplier? It was Equinix last month on RDM. Is it still the same?

But using WhatsApp requires an internet package whereas the chat facility utilises the ships intranet and only wifi is required.

I have found the exchange rate much better by a substantial amount. Worth saving! You can check the amount online. Have you a cruise booked? If so, log into the website and go to Already Booked > Manage My Bookings > Flights & Planning > Pre Pay Crew Appreciation. It shows you the amount at the bottom of the page. If you have booked through a travel agent then they should be able to tell you the amount. Sorry, I am presuming you are in Australia! There will be no exchange rate as you will pre pay the grats in AUD.

This is the question that I asked two different beverage servers in different locations and both confirmed that it goes directly to the server named on the docket.

I have used it to give a tip to 'favorite beverage attendant' by getting him/her to give me a docket to sign for a drink and then adding the tip. Taken from Non refundable OBC (as it is the only type I had!)

Although the Navigator app gets a lot of bad press here, it is very usefull when onboard as not only can you check your account, you can also use the 'Let us Know' feature to advise them of any errors on the account. This saves your time queueing at Guest Services. We had a couple of errors on our account (drinks charged which were part of package) and we sent a note on the Let us Know and the error was credited within 24 hours. Remember that is your OBC is from HAL then it is probably non refundable.

Welcome to Cruise Critic Hal board. Drinks prices are in USD so it may be a good deal to pre purchase the Have it All package which includes 15 drinks per day, up to $11 menu price (*), the Surf wifi package and shore excursion credit (amount depends on length of cruise). It is priced in the currency of your booking, so should cost you AUD 75 to 80 per day per person. It can be good value as it covers speciality coffee etc as well as the alcoholic drinks. (*) 18% gratuity is added to the menu price of drinks, however if you have the HIA package the gratuity is automatically paid as part of the package. If you purchase a drink above the $11 limit then you pay the difference in price + 18% grat. Also note that HAL is quite generous with its exchange rate for pre paying onboard gratuities. I have found a good saving by prepaying the grats on the website as pre cruise the grats are offered in currency of booking, whereas onboard the grats are USD. Enjoy your cruise.

Where and when is the cruise you booked? There is also the Mariner Loyalty OBC which is offered for booking a cruise within 90 days of its release on the market. For a 15 day cruise it would amount to $200 per stateroom.

Yes on both Nieuw Statendam in August and Rotterdam in September/October.

Just tried a couple of different bookings and it only shows $50 for 11 day cruise even if I book a Neptune. So the document I received is incorrect.

It is run by the casino, so whether it is 'gambling' or not it is probably just classified as 'Casino Spend'.

I used some of my non refundable to 'tip' beverage servers in the bars. They promised me that if their name was on the docket that I signed then they would receive the tip.

I had not expected the difference that is shown on the FCD certificate. I will try later to check it out by making a couple of bookings and see what actually happens.

That's why we cannot make ad hoc cancellations the way the 'Americans' (North and South) can 😁