TheEmerson

Yes you can order from the Indian menu.   I have done so by asking earlier in the week with my waiter in CO to have an Indian meal one night and Indonesian meal as well.   We talked about the dates and it happened.

And yes, you can have halal but the passenger needs to contact ship services now to set it up.   

2 hours ago, Gigi1977 said:

Our PCC was wonderful and we had been with him for years.    He left HAL for a year and in that year we had THREE different PCC - like a revolving door.   I discovered that Jim Picicci had returned!  Called had to speak to a couple of people and got reassigned to Jim.  He immediately called me thanking me for seeking him out.   I highly recommend him.  

Jim was also mine.   Now I have a decision to make.

One "hack" is start with the Coke Package, get your cup, then onboard upgrade to the Signature/Elite package.   One of my friends does that.

22 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

Except in the case of ports, the service is delivered through port infrastructure, they will set the price. 

The Port can offer a price for the Power Factor, Infrastructure Recovery Costs, etc.   And HAL like any other Cruise line will negotiate with the Port Authority for the best results for each.   HAL can offer what is covered in the futures contracts to offset/supplement or cover what the PF in the kVA used to the Port as part of the converstaion.  We will never be in the room during the negotiations to know what the final outcome will be other than the SEC Filings shows us.  Both sides want to use the shore power facilities but only when it makes sense to do so.   HAL in this case does not have to buy the service if it is not regulated into doing so.

11 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

The company will pay what the shore power suppliers charge there will be no locking in a price on some imaginary open market. That's like suggesting you can lock in a low price at the gas pump for your car. 

Large consumers of petroleum products and electricity can and do buy futures contracts to lock in stable prices.   The market exists and when you have to buy at that volume there are options to create stability in your costs.    In fuel market large consumers like airlines and cruise lines do book futures contracts that lasts for months at a time.  

One of the positives on a financial point of view is the cost savings over time by using shore power.   Longer you run the house load on shore power less hours you are putting on each of the PMs.  Say 8 hours on a turnaround day in the Alaska over one season would be roughly 7 days not running the engines.  Slightly over four years that will be one month of engine wear gone, one month of fuel costs gone, longer span between rebuilds.    Then there is the ability to negotiate on the open market futures on per kW generation.  Lock in a price per kW that is favorable then use that for the shore power needs while saving the available fuel on contract term on when you need to move the ship.  

Both.   Sailed the Oct '22 Rotterdam TA and both were well used.

2 minutes ago, anne_p said:

Hey Guys we are new to HA. What is Club Orange?I would also like to know about booking cabanas. The HA app said to go to the lido deck to book one. Do either of you know how much they charge per day for the cabanas? Thanks!

Call Ship Services for the price and booking.  

I was also informed at least on the Rotterdam in April that CO was sold out for the TA sailing.

This was pre-covid but when we boarded the Noordam 2016 there was already hot and cold apps, also fruit and truffles on the table.  Your millage may vary. 

On the Rotterdam TA in April I went from a Solo Oceanview to a Spa Ocenview as part of the category upgrade process.  That alone is cheaper than the normal 200% charge for a solo cruiser.  

Last week when finishing the 16 day Rotterdam TA I took the HAL transfer to AMS.   First note, there is a transfer to the Cruise Terminal OR the airport.   I booked the Cruise Terminal by mistake, so had to correct that one, but my error.     Loading the bus was easy enough and the drive to AMS was without complaint.    The only reason I took this transfer was that my hotel was just off the airport grounds so I could take the hotel shuttle to the hotel to spend the night.  Getting the bags off the bus was an issue but mainly because people were just crowding around the bus and not helping others.  

When it came to AMS, I got there early enough at 6am (from the hotel) and had no issues with getting my bags checked, security, etc.   Good thing as the lounge BA is using became full and had a line to enter when I left.    But overall the experience was good.  Now would that be the case for an afternoon flight I would not know.

3 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Club Orange for breakfast.  Less of a goldfish bowl effect with wood “walls” and no glass.  There’s a surprising number of tables, a lot of two-tops.

 

The two-tops are more flexible when it comes to making four tops so it works well.

1 hour ago, boze9999 said:

The CO hosts are Rini and Wilder @TheEmerson

Thank You.  

Typical Harlan causing trouble there on the balcony.  

Is it possible to see who are the hosts for Club Orange?

When I sailed on the Noordam (2016) in PS 7045 those signs were not present. 

Those are crew areas.  A number of junior officer quarters and cabins for entertainers, etc.  

19 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

Don’t wait.  HAL wants you to send the request in three weeks prior to sailing.  If you asked for e-mail confirmation and it’s been three weeks it’s time to call or e-mail to confirm that they received and acted upon it.

I have already submitted for both cruises I have booked.   The first one is almost at 10 business days old since submission.   There is still plenty of time.

1 hour ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

Holland is running 4 weeks behind doing the paper work..

Ahh, that explains it.  

For April 2023 I am flying out the next day.  The cost of an overnight hotel is worth the hassle at the end of the day.  

1 minute ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Wow, great price for a 21-day itin!  I love it when something nice happens.

 

I guess my confusion lay in the fact that I thought the October cruise was the only 150th celebration but if they’re going to do it again, I may book that instead!  😂

It is not 21 day tho, it is 16.

5 minutes ago, quickrate said:

We are also booked on this cruise but only for 16 days. We get off in Rotterdam. We are going to stay with the cruise even though the itinerary changed. 

Pat

Yup, 16 days.

The Anchorage Westmark is the oldest of the bunch but it is still okay.  Hopefully it gets a refresh in five/six years.  From your photos it is the exact same as we checked in on June 4th, 2016 after the train ride.

When you get to Anchorage have breakfast at Snow City Cafe.  We went there and was worth the wait.  It is a short walk from the hotel.