HALrunner

We are interested in renting a car and exploring Newfoundland on our own. Are there any car rental agencies close to the port? If not, approximately how much would a taxi cost from the port to the airport? 

There is also something called a Future Cruise Request that you can purchase onboard to get on a waitlist of those first notified for a cruise that is not yet published.  Regardless of the length, it is $100. I'm not sure how it works from there. Perhaps, when they call you an additional deposit is needed to secure your cabin? Cruises 22-50 days require a $300 deposit when booked onboard. Hopefully others will chime in...

I have been noticing this, too. It is a nice surprise as usually after clicking on something the price is higher not lower!

2 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

I would say that a full World Cruise, or segments thereof, are absolutely worth it. They offer a travel experience unlike any other. The fact that the number of World Cruises, and the number of repeat World Cruisers, amongst many lines is increasing seems to support this. 

 

Seeing as how HAL seems to consistently sell out the current World Cruises on the Amsterdam, I have to wonder if they could do as well, or better with a Vista Class ship (specifically the Noordam as she has had the fewest number of alterations and is closest in feel to the S&R class vessels)? Would people abandon HAL for other lines of they did this?  Would certain ports that are popular with World Cruise guests have to be dropped?  I would think the availability of standard verandah rooms at a lower cost than the Vista Suites, along with the abundance of Signature/Neptunes would do well and the additional of an extra 300 cabins would help open more space for segment bookings, which can be highly profitable in their own right. 

 

 

You bring up some good points. I have spoken with a few Future Cruise Consultants about the 2021 World Cruise. When I bring up Amsterdam deck plans, they have included a vague disclaimer about any given itinerary could be on any ship.....

I think the 2020 World Cruise is completely sold out. 

31 minutes ago, CGYCruisingFamily said:

Having said that, we just got off a 17 day circle Hawaii and were surprised on the holiday cruise with 60 under 12’s that they combined the 3-7 and 8-12 groups into one with 2 councillors for that age group.. Not overly fair to our 10 year old to be doing activities for 3 year olds. The program was still chalked full of activities but not all age appropriate. Our son decided most days to do the many activities on board during the sea days and at night when the ages in Club HAL were older, he went. There were also 40 Teens on board and one councillor for the Loft. Our older son often would go play games at night with them but said they often didn’t follow the Loft schedule.

I'm surprised about this. That is a lot of kids and not enough counselors. Your recent experience, and the OP's, makes me wonder if Club HAL is one of the newest victims of cutbacks? Fingers crossed this is not the case! 

We were on the NS in December for the crossing. Seventeen kids were on board (including teens) and there were three counselors. The kids & tween programs were combine, which is not unusual for sailings with few children, but they tailored activities to all ages. 

23 hours ago, Djk2018 said:

Currently on a 22 day cruise with the kids, 2 years in the planning.  Most days (sea days), Club HAL is only open 3.5 hrs a day, and 2 hours in the evening! It’s open 9a-11a and 2p-3:30 then 7p-9p. The single provider staffing it is trying hard, but it seems they are understaffed and so they are only able to provide a few hours of coverage a day.  Is this typical for most cruise lines kids clubs?

I'm sorry you are running into this on your trip. Club HAL is a usually fantastic program- your kids are missing out on a lot of fun!

We primarily only cruise when school is in session and on long cruises. There have been some sailings in which our kids are the only ones onboard. We have never been on a sailing where there is only one Club HAL counselor. I'm guessing something came up last minute with the other Club HAL counselor- broken contract or illness, perhaps. On sea days they should be open 9-11:30am, 1-4pm & 7-11pm.  

On one cruise, the counselors crossed off the closing time of 11pm and changed it to 10pm. We called them on it and they made up a bogus reason for the change. At the next port we contacted our TA, who contacted Seattle (HAL HQ). The next day we received an apology from the staff and the the normal hours resumed. 

Club HAL staff are part of the entertainment department. I wouldn't bother talking to the front desk, but reaching out to the entertainment director to share your concerns. If you get nowhere, perhaps you could try contacting your TA/Seattle. 

p.s. Our kids are 4 star mariners and absolutely love HAL above all other lines. The comment that HAL is not really for kids is an urban myth that gets brought up on nearly every kid related thread on this board- but rarely (perhaps, never?) by someone who has actually brought kids on HAL!

On 12/28/2018 at 11:33 PM, mcase131 said:

Thank you, we will be there on the 7th of January. 

Please report back! 

On 1/1/2019 at 3:19 PM, cathi007 said:

Thanks, I forgot all about this post, lol

I'm curious to know what you found out! Please report back:)

Thanks to all for the tips and advice! I will check out the other properties that you suggested. Happy Travels:)

A few years ago we stayed at what was the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 and really enjoyed it. I see it has been sold/rebranded and is no longer a Hyatt property. If you have stayed since the change, can you please tell me if they still have the yard games (giant chess, cornhole, etc)? Or can someone recommend another resort style property? We will be staying for a few days post cruise and do not necessarily need to be so close the the port. Thanks

Every day they place two large (1 liter, I think) bottles of water in your ice bucket. You can use them in the cabana or take them back to your room. The cabana attendant will also get you any other drink you might want (ice water, lemonade, tea, bar drinks, etc).

We typically cruise when there are only a few kids onboard, including (and sometimes only) ours. We have found the staff is typically very flexible and accommodating in this case. Sometimes they offer to take the kids to the evening shows or other events happening around the ship. The only caution is on some sailings, such as Maasdam EXC voyages and the Prinsendam they are eliminating Club HAL- so confirm before your book!

We won't be there. I doubt HAL will ever top the naming of Eurodam. So fortunate to have been in Rotterdam for that. Excellent entertainment, and seeing Queen Beatrix.

When is it?

Thanks SO much!

Thanks so much for your detailed review! We will be boarding the Rotterdam this Sunday with our two kids, so this is very helpful.

I hope we cross paths with you on a dam ship someday as your "traveling with kids" philosophy matches ours! In January our 8 year old earned his 4th mariner star:)

None. Please read here about how the system works:

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/desc/about_inspections.htm

 

Once again, there is no evidence that there was an inspection or that the ship "failed." It is simply case of irresponsible gossip being spread.

Thanks so much Homosassa!

If true, what would the implications be for a cruise that departs this Sunday?

We spent some time in Bruges many years ago and agree it is a lovely city! Just in case we decide to skip it on our upcoming cruise (d/t a crazy itinerary for the rest of the trip), can anyone comment if there is something low key near Zeebrugge worth seeing/doing? If not, do I gather from this thread that a prearranged taxi is the least hassle method of getting between Zeebrugge and Bruges for a group of four.

Thanks so much for your detailed review! It sounds like you were incredibly patient with the plumbing and noise issues in your cabin! Sorry you had to endure both of those on your vacation.

Did I read correctly that the suites on the Rotterdam do have the interactive flat screens but the lower cabin categories do not? We are more library people than TV people so, at any rate, we are happy to hear the library still is well stocked!

The new HAL site has been frustrating for the last few days. I'm trying to price a few different cruises and when I start a booking it will not let me "edit" the stateroom choice to anything besides inside category.

I was just asking about this today, your timing is perfect! Thanks so much for sharing this.

I'm resurrecting this old thread in hopes Cqis, or others, will chime in with how this turned out for them!

We are looking ahead to either the 2020 or 2021 World Cruise. Does anyone have a rough estimate of when the 2020 WC will open for bookings? Also, how do these deposits work? Is it refundable/transferrable until final payment is made? If so, is it only transferrable to other Grand Voyages? Thanks so much!

A friend of ours was offered some Calvados and thought it was Cider, so he knocked it back. He got rather squiffy.

 

The cheese is good to. We loved the sea food. We were in Normandy, but we did have one day when we drove into Brittany.

Any recent updates? Kazu, did you find anything?

Thanks to the OP and all for sharing their stories about what exactly happens when you get sick onboard. We have always wondered what kind of care is provided, costs, cleaning protocols etc. One question I still have is if hand sanitizers were available upon entering the dining venues on the NA? Or other ships recently for that matter?

On our recent Eurodam cruise we were disappointed that hand sanitizers were not posted in most places around the ship as they have been for many years. Specifically all the dining venues except the Lido were lacking the sanitizers. We wondered if this an informal study by HAL to see if rates of noro, influenza etc increased without the sanitizers or simply an oversight. Along the lines of when they eliminated the Code Orange for the first few days of each sailing. Any thoughts?