RBB
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Location
Arlington, Virginia
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Favorite Cruise Line(s)
Celebrity, HAL
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I don't know about the other world cruises, but Holland America's isn't scheduled to reach the Red Sea until the middle of April. A lot can change in 4 months.
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Thanks for the answers & clarifications.
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But you get both of those with just one FCD; is there any additional advantage to using two or three of them on a single cruise?
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If you lose the OBC on extra OBC's used on a single cruise, what is the advantage of buying them in the first place? Any other benefits involved?
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Sometimes it is 3 points (has been that for a few months this year). The best return is to redeem points for an account credit, but you can only redeem up to the amount of your largest HAL charge in the last 6 (I think) months. So the best time to do it if you have a lot of points is within 6 months of paying off a long HAL cruise. We register our HAL card with the ship on a cruise to get the double or triple card points, then use a different card in port. That way if there is a problem with our land credit card it won't cause trouble with our shipboard account.
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First leg of a Grand Voyage cruise observations
RBB replied to DaveOKC's topic in Holland America Line
Probably because the Vancouver to San Diego segment is more in the nature of a repositioning cruise than just a part of the South Pacific legendary cruise. Most of the passengers for that cruise are boarding in San Diego, just a few dozen of them coming from Vancouver. -
First leg of a Grand Voyage cruise observations
RBB replied to DaveOKC's topic in Holland America Line
Actually, this is not a "Grand Voyage," it is a "Legendary Voyage," which is a new category of longer cruises that are a level below Grand Voyages (although the cruise you are on predates the new category, it is part of that category of cruises now). Its good to know, though, that HAL is elevating the food and service on these voyages as well. -
Grand Voyages have special amenities packages but they are tied to paying in full for the cruise early, usually about 4 to 6 months before departure. The amount of the amenities depends on your cabin level, but at least in ocean view cabins you get prepaid crew gratuities (a sizable amount on a cruise that long), luggage transfer services between your home and the ship at both ends of the cruise, two pieces for each passenger, and some other smaller things. There is more in higher level cabins, including free shore excursions and some free wifi. We have always found this well worth paying up early. And if you pay a little earlier than that there is a 3% discount on the cruise fare. You can get the required payment dates and full list of amenities from your TA or PCC.
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I understand Westerdam had a drydock in January, so I am wondering what had changed and what shape the ship is in after the drydock. In particular: 1. Do all the veranda cabins on deck 4 have interactive TV's now? 2. Do all the veranda cabins on deck 4 have the new glass door walk in showers? If not, which ones do? Anything else that is new and/or different from other HAL ships would be of interest too. Thanks.
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John and Diane Hope to Finally Sail Away from Perth
RBB replied to tennisbeforewine's topic in Holland America Line
Sorry you can't go on, we have really been enjoying your postings. But we will be on board the ship with you next year, so I hope you get your computer in tip-top shape for that! Rick -
This has been discussed on the Inside Cabin's cruise critic blog. It seems that Gambia is simply charging US visitors the same amount the US charges Gambian visitors. Apparently some countries, such as Canada, don't charge for visas for Gambian visitors so Canadians on board are getting their visas for free. So I guess the people to complain to are the US government, not the Gambians.
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2023 Grand World Voyage with The Inside Cabin
RBB replied to The-Inside-Cabin's topic in Holland America Line
I hope you have a good tour. We did this excursion last Fall on the Grand Africa and it was not ready for prime time. Way too much time sitting and waiting on the bus, they had failed to arrange in advance for us to see the inside of the cathedral, the visit to the costume museum was not guided and there were no English signs, and we didn't see a number of the places listed on the tour description (which was the same as yours). The shore excursion folks agreed and (after some negotiation) gave us half our money back. I am hoping they learned something from the experience and have fixed this tour, which sure would have been interesting if conducted competently. -
John and Diane Hope to Finally Sail Away from Perth
RBB replied to tennisbeforewine's topic in Holland America Line
For those of us without Facebook, what have they posted? Are they OK? Did they leave the ship?