CruiserN1

Yes, I'm on the roll call. If you're booking a snorkeling trip, I'm interested. Not really interested in an island tour. I tend to find those pretty dull.

HAL informed us last night that we will not be calling at Barbados as scheduled on our March 18 cruise and instead we will be calling at St. Vincent and Grenadines. This is a bummer because we had a snorkeling catamaran trip booked (on our own) that we were really looking forward to. I'm not finding any good options for a snorkeling trip in SVG. Does HAL typically arrange new shore ex when a port changes? As of now nothing has been posted.

Just made a reservation at Canelleto for our March 18 cruise. There was plenty of availability. Sure wish I'd reserved earlier under the previous price, but I did buy internet and laundry prior to the price increases for those, so it is what it is.

WIsh the arts and crafts would be added in time for my Mar 18 cruise. I really enjoy sea-day crafting and just bring my own supplies because the offerings tend to be few or none.

If you really want to get mad, poll the people sitting around you on a plane on what they paid for their ticket. And yet everyone gets from point A to point B at the same time. That's just how life works, unfortunately, when dynamic pricing is in play.

Bought the premium internet and unlimited laundry a few weeks ago for our Mar 18 cruise. Feeling good about all the money I saved 🤣 None of our shore ex changed price, but I've routinely seen prices increase on those on past cruises. Part of the motivation to pay in advance I guess.

I'm thankful for this thread. We're sailing Mar 18 and I tried to book Caneletto yesterday and didn't see it listed. I was puzzled and wondered if it was fully booked and I just waited too long. A new menu is a much better situation. Looking forward to trying it out in a few weeks. Though honestly, no one makes Italian food like my Nana so I'm a tough critic of Italian restaurants.

I also recommend magnesium lotion. It works so fast on leg cramps it's like a miracle. We never travel without it.

Will be in St. Kitts on HAL Rotterdam on the same day as the Norweigan Epic and RC Voyager ships are in port. I really want to snorkel. I've checked with all of the snorkel tour vendors recommended on this board and none have availability due to being booked out by the cruise lines. I tried to round up a few others from my roll call to book a charter but no interest. HAL is only offering one snorkel trip and the reviews aren't great, so feeling hesitant to book it. What beach would be my best bet to snorkel from shore? Ideally a place with some amenities as my husband doesn't snorkel but will be happy with a cold drink and a lounge chair.

I've never cruised with HAL before but on other lines I usually stop by the fitness center on embarkation day and ask about fitness classes and passes. I find it's better to talk with the person who's actually running them about what's offered and when, and then decide if I want to buy a pass or just pay for a couple of classes.

I wish HAL would put in a water fountain bottle filler in the Lido (and elsewhere) to make it cleaner and easier to fill reusable bottles. The kind I'm talking about are like the ones you see in airports where you put your bottle under a spout and the water starts flowing. Much more sanitary than what some people do in the Lido with the water spout there and just easier than filling up the bottle glass by glass.

Looking over the daily programs that have been posted, I see that some exercise classes have a cost next to the name of the class and some do not. I'm assuming those that don't are free. Do you need to sign up in advance for the free classes? If so, is that done in the Navigator app once on board or do I have to go to the fitness center to sign up in person? I'm also wondering how good the free classes are, so if you've taken one I would appreciate your perspective. Sailing on Rotterdam in March.

Thanks for posting the daily schedules. We're doing the same itinerary in about a month, so it's been interesting to see what activities are offered. It seems like HAL is second to none in its enthusiasm for teaching people to fold origami. Seems to be a class offered nearly every day.

In my experience it is difficult to see wildlife from the ship. You have to be in the right place at the right time and be looking in the right direction, and even then and with binoculars, you won't see very clearly. The ship is just too far away from where the animal is most of the time. I believe many of the excursions are accessible.

Apparently yes, there is a limit. I tried to add it to our Mar 18 cruise on Rotterdam and TA said it was sold out.

No, it just showed up in my HAL account.

Wonderful, I've reached out to the special needs department. Thank you all for your advice.

Thanks everyone. I see that HAL requires 90 days notice. We just booked this cruise a few weeks ago and depart in 39 days. Am I too late to make this request?

We'll be sailing on Rotterdam in about 6 weeks, our first on HAL and also our first since my husband's doctor put him on a low sodium diet. I know there is an option to request low sodium meals. Has anyone done this? Can they prepare any/some dishes on the regular menu as low sodium or do they have a separate low-sodium menu? Husband is concerned he'll be served flavorless meat and veggies if he requests the low sodium meals.

Nope, you will need an internet connection

If you're texting on iMessage on wifi you will be fine. If someone texts you who is not on iMessage, it most likely won't go through on wifi. Same if you are trying to text someone who isn't on iMessage.

Well, I'd prefer that it be covered also but I'm not willing to pay for a full suite, so we'll live with it. An inside was never a consideration. Did that once and once was enough!

I've never sailed HAL before but am a 1* Mariner because we've sailed Princess before. I see there is a Welcome Onboard Lunch for Mariners 1* and above. Where is this served?

This is the email I received from HAL after requesting the credit: Unfortunately, the appreciation is for new bookings only and this reservation was created on January 6th, 2023. We have a seven-day window to add the appreciation onto existing bookings. In the future, we recommend requesting the onboard credit at the time of creating the booking or contacting us within the week of creating the new reservation. We apologize for the inconvenience. We cannot wait to welcome you onboard the MS Rotterdam in March!

I work at a university and was able to get verified just now. My cruise is already booked, did it about three weeks ago. Is my TA or HAL the best way to see if they will apply the educator promo retroactively?