oakridger

Ah ha! I feel so much better now Roger!! LOL If the Crow's Nest has it then it might/should actually be available in other bars also. I have mixed feelings about the different bars having different menus. In one sense, it highlights some special drinks to try for people who don't already know what they want, but then may seem like the unlisted drinks aren't available there.....which I would hope they are! After dinner I enjoy the Ocean Bar to listen to live music while sipping a Tia Maria on the rocks! Can you think of other benefits for passengers or HAL to have different menus at each bar? ~Nancy

@Crew Newsjust posted this updated beverage package list with answers to most FAQs. He's currently on Volendam. Thanks again Roger! Beverage-Package-Contents.pdf (rogerjett-photography.com) My favorite after dinner drink, Tia Maria is no longer on the list but I can certainly make do with Kahlua!! 😉 ~Nancy

Well Hallelujah @Crew News!!! There it all is in glorious color! It's great that the FAQ spell out the answers to most of the questions I have heard from people. Now the HAL forum can move on to other very important topics, like what time is the Orange Party! 😁 ~Nancy

You have all inspired me to try it next time on the trans-Atlantic on Zuiderdam in May 2024! After many days on HAL ships, I've never gone! ~Nancy

You sure are going above and beyond with your posts and beautiful pictures! You certainly were lucky in Ketchikan with the weather. I think it's rained (as it does!) on the last 5 times I've been there. Thanks again and I'll keep watching for more! ~Nancy

Thanks so much @Crew News! I am keeping my written confirmation for my next cruise just in case but I have never actually run up against the 15 total drink limit. My next cruise is a TA so I suppose it's possible though! ~Nancy

Even today....as we speak (write) HAL has conflicting information. From HAL this was in my confirmation for May 2024 cruise: And under my booking in Manage My Booking is this (my bolding): "Our premium, Elite Beverage Package allows you to select from a variety of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, sodas, bottled water (sparkling or still, 400ml or less) & coffee. Only on the ms Koningsdam & ms Nieuw Statendam, the package includes Freestyle Coca-Cola which provides 100+ refreshing Coca-Cola flavors to choose from. Includes any beverage priced at $15.00 or lower (up to 15 beverages per day). Prices are per day at $49.95 if pre-booked online compared to $59.95 if purchased on board. A 18% service charge will be automatically applied to your purchase. The Elite Beverage Package must be purchased for the entire duration of the voyage. All adults over 21 years old booked in the same stateroom must also purchase the package. The package excludes purchases made in the Mini Bar, Chocolate Seduction, Room Service, beverages purchased on Half Moon Cay and any self-service draft beer. Packages are non-transferable or refundable. No sharing is permitted. Participants may order only one drink at a time and must be 21 years or older. Beverage Management reserves the right to evoke the package if misused and reserves the right to refuse service for any reason, including refusing service of alcoholic beverages to" intoxicated guests.

Having been through the Old Crystal Cruises/Genting bankruptcy debacle, I will say that credit card disputes can be filed much later than 30 days. My Mastercard dispute was filed about 6 months after the cruise was cancelled and I did get my money back (eventually). It was way more than $44 dollars! @Derbie you "shouldn't" have to go that route but for closure on the issue, maybe that would be the simplest thing this time. Shame on HAL for the poor service here!! Good luck, ~Nancy

If I decide to go on this route on a bus, I will definitely need to take meclizine (motion sickness med) unless I was the one driving! It would be worth it for the views at the top though!! Heights from inside a vehicle don't bother me fortunately. ~Nancy

The tiles? Sometimes you get one and sometimes you don't. 🤷‍♀️ ~Nancy

Lovely. More ridiculous receipts. I stopped signing them last November. What a waste of time for everyone. I am happy to hear that the theater is actually showing movies and the cookies are good! Thanks @Crew News ~Nancy

Norway uses credit cards mostly. My hotels even say on their website that they are "Cashless" and will not even accept cash!! Norway uses the Norwegian Krone, abbreviated as NOK. Current exchange rate is about 1.00 NOK = 0.93 USD ~Nancy

It's the Grand Hyatt at SFO, not to be confused with other nearby Hyatts. I've stayed there 3 times for early morning flights out. It's so convenient to just go up the escalator from the lobby to get on Sky Train to your terminal. It's not walkable to anything so if you want to be out and about, it isn't where you want to be. Prices fluctuate greatly depending on what's going on in town. I have paid less than $300 per night for a standard double room but the same room can go up over $600(?) when there is a convention. Great service from the front desk and the bar and restaurant. I'll stay there again before an early flight out of SFO! Transit Luxury Hotel Near San Francisco Airport | Grand Hyatt SFO ~Nancy

@thesmiths Found it! Here's the bus #130 drop off locations in SF. I wouldn't get off any further along the route than the Lombard and Fillmore St. or Van Ness and Union Street stop. Going further gets you into dicey neighborhoods, especially at night. Both the Lombard and Fillmore and Van Ness and Union Street stops are about 2 miles to pier 27. Or get a taxi/Uber. After a long day sightseeing and eating, I'd go the taxi/rideshare route!! Easier still would be to just take the ferry back at 6:20 pm or earlier. 130 Bus Route - GGT - SF Bay Transit Have fun! I love Sausalito! ~Nancy

Note in the schedule posted in #3 above by @GTJ that the last ferry leaving Sausalito to San Francisco is at 6:25 pm M-F. or 7:20 pm on the weekends and holidays. You will need a pretty early dinner to finish in time. I'm not familiar with the 130 bus route or if it has any drop off locations near the ship.

You can purchase the unlimited laundry onboard when you submit your first bag. You just mark it on the laundry list. I've never heard that it goes on sale or is less pre cruise. ~Nancy

Lido Pool (Picture also from the internet)

Aft Pool and hot tubs (picture from the internet)

I'm so happy to hear there is quite a bit of live music still happening on board John! When (?) some new classical music comes to take over from Lincoln Center Stage, then things will really be looking up! For me, the next improvement will be having subject matter experts giving enrichment talks in the afternoons! (not at night) on the longer voyages. Continue having a good time! ~Nancy

This works for me. It usually gets a smile from the Lido waiters! I use it at the bars too when I need to............... ~Nancy

Mmmm now I'm craving crab and clams! I'm enjoying your report. I love Sitka! ~Nancy

Last two times in Vancouver, pre and post shutdown, I decided to board after the throngs of people at about 2 pm. It worked a lot better. Yes, I'm excited to get my cruise started but not enough to stand in line for a long time! I checked out at noon then went and had a drink at the Pan Pacific bar and watched the ship from there and then boarded. ~Nancy

Story telling? Interesting! I have wanted to go to the Azores for a few years and was hoping to have a stop there on the Florida to Amsterdam TA on the Zuiderdam in May 2024. But, alas, it's not stopping there this time. First Europe landfall will be Cobh (Cork) Ireland. Thanks for informing us of the correct pronunciation....."Cove". I would have never guessed that! ~Nancy

Yes, HAL has a priority boarding line, but that's only for the HAL check in portion of the maze. The Canada and USA Border inspections are equal access lines for all ships boarding that day. Have a great cruise! ~Nancy

Excellent choice! That's the tour I was supposed to take last October when my ship docked here for the day but.....I missed it! The ship changed the tour time to earlier and I didn't get the memo. 😠 I love Scoma's both in Sausalito and San Francisco. Make a reservation. When I still lived in the City I used to take the ferry to Sausalito just for the fun of it to be out on the Bay. So fun!! ~Nancy