VMax1700

Yes, I have phoned a few times. The number from outside USA is +1 206 626 7381 (DW and I both have a 200 minutes of International calls per month included in our package) I always send the stockholder request to Holland America UK (enquiries@hollandamerica.co.uk) They are always prompt and send a new Booking Confirmation showing the additional OBC. Perhaps if you email HAL UK and ask about upsell too?

That is the name that I was trying to remember. Not Rascals but Rogues!

Are these guys replacing Jukebox Rascals (??) who appeared on mainstage previously doing 50/60's songs and Frankie Valli ?

What's in a name? Well, it was known at the Queen's Lounge previously, and then BB Kings Blues club and now Rolling Stone Lounge. I was on Oosterdam last year when the rebranding started. The band playing was much more rock oriented than previous BBK. The male singer was seriously into Jim Morrison music. There was no horn section, which sets BBK apart. To me it was disappointing that BBK was no longer on the ship as I nearly always enjoyed their music. You are right in that there was little if any B.B.King Music, but the soul, RnB, funk was an eclectic mix.

That is correct. BB King was replaced with Rolling Stone Lounge on Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam.

I would like to see a Madeira + Canary Islands and Cape Verde itinerary. Probably achievable sailing from Lisbon or Cadiz.

So much for the 'rumour' about 'Starlink' being the answer 🙄

It's your crappy wifi 🤫

and English and Dutch!

This is from last year, but it was June 2022.

Butlers Buses are well recommended for tours from Cobh: https://www.butlers-buses.com/cobh-shore-excursion.php Alternatively the train station is just adjacent to the quayside and a 30 minute train ride to Cork City. Another option is to stay in Cobh, which is a lovely visit on a sunny day! Visit the Titanic Experience, which is located on the building site of the White Star Line's ticket office. https://www.titanicexperiencecobh.ie/ Or take a trip to Spike Island from Cobh https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/

Fishy, Fishy. Probably need to pre book if during high season. Dino's chipper (as mentioned by @phabric) has good hot food: fish, chips, etc. Try their 'potato pie', DW recommends it! Many of the smaller restaurants have been forced to close because of the huge increase in costs and the shortage of both skilled and unskilled labour. The Trident hotel, (short walk along quay side) has excellent seafood chowder and sandwiches, or a lunch special (roast beef etc).

Both Iceland and Ireland have multiple ports which welcome cruise ships. Perhaps you would get a more focused response if you mentioned the particular ports you will be visiting.

Not.

I believe they use 'Lavazza Blue' pods.

This is what the website says: Japan Protocols This specific booking and/or voyage follows our COVID-19 Japan Protocols for vaccination and testing requirements. Vaccination All guests 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated. Guests 18 years of age and older must have received a booster dose. Only one booster dose is needed to be considered boosted. Children under 12 years of age do not need to be vaccinated. If the vaccination certificate is in a language other than Japanese or English, it may be considered valid if it is accompanied by a Japanese or English translation and the content can be confirmed. Testing All guests ages 5 and older are required to take a COVID-19 test prior to embarkation. Medically observed PCR COVID-19 taken within 3 days before embarkation. Medically observed or self-administered at-home COVID-19 antigen test within 3 days before embarkation. Please upload all required documentation to the VeriFLY app for a quick and seamless embarkation process. Global COVID-19 regulations and protocols are continuously changing and we may revise or modify these requirements (effective immediately) to evolve in line with the latest practices at any time. Please check back regularly for any updates. These protocols only apply to the specific booking number or voyage entered. As of December 2, 2022

Just ask the hotel to call you an Accessible Taxi. Probably cost about €30 from hotel to terminal.

We have returned from MIA to both Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic and Dublin on Aer Lingus, but they have been later departing flights (9pm). On these occasions we used Larry's Limos to collect us at the cruise port and take us to Dolphin Mall for some retail therapy, then a cab to the airport. We did have an earlier flight with American Airlines (around 5pm) and we signed up for the cruiseline's transfer to MIA which included a tour of Miami. We got the tour, time for a coffee in a 'diner' and a walk on the beach before being dropped to the airport. Depending on departure time we would do these options again. What I would not do is rent a car and drive to Miami (on the 'wrong' side of the road). I do not need that stress after a cruise!

April 21, 2024 Nieuw Statendam, 14 day Canary Island Allure VMax1700 & DW p.s. Hope you are starting to mend (again) and the pain is easing for you. ❤️

Remember that in August it will be scorchio hot! Also the ports will be very busy as it is the main vacation time for all of Europe. On the soap....we were in a Signature Suite on Oosterdam lasty summer and there was Elemis liquid soap dispenser between the wash basins and in the shower cubicle.

"People working on the Holland America website now report to an IT leader who answers to HAL's Antorcha". 🤣

No, I was commenting on the end of the Microsoft classes and the introduction of the Navigator App to use onboard, bearing in mind discussions about cut backs etc. I was trying to be light hearted and obviously failing! Sorry if my 'joke' was misconstrued.

The classes are no longer offered. They were available during HAL's tie in with Microsoft, but that contract ended (during Covid, I think) and was not renewed. They introduced the Navigator App instead 🤣🤣🤣 (p.s. the comment about the app is facetious!)

Duplicate, sorry!

If you wish to download the file, here it is: HAL (ship-date) dry docks February 2023.docx