crystalspin

Canned water is included. It is very flat in flavor and you might want to bring a refillable bottle and fill it in the Lido. The "and more" actually refers to paying the difference (plus 18% service) when a drink is more than $11.

Cliff, the OP already has a cruise in mind and it is almost upon us, not going to get Launch-Fare OBC. Neither is any TA going to give much if any OBC for a 4-day cruise. @DarfunSometimes a PCC can "see" things not available on the website. They are of course employed by the cruiseline and can only operate with the boundaries thereof. I love my PCC and she has in fact saved me money and made my life easier. You are already within Final Payment I believe, so no deposit will be refundable, and cabin availability will (probably) be diminishing. If cabin is of no concern, just keep watching -- I don't know of any app or website that does what you asked for. Good luck!

HAL has (white) Zonin Moscato, for $9/glass, $35/bottle (which you can take to your room), so consider the cost-with-corkage vs the trouble of carrying it on.

Welcome to Cruise Critic! P&O UK or P&O Australia? CC has separate 'boards' for them.

On a laptop or tablet, you can enter https://navigator.hollandamerica.com/#/ And it will ask about logging the other device off. My husband went between his laptop in the cabin and his phone elsewhere. We each had our own plan via HIA...

HAL, that's all!

We could not text (nor make voice calls) with Surf on recent B2B on Koningsdam. iMessage may have a work-around DNK as Android/Samsung here. I think I have read on CC that WhatsApp will work on Social but I do not have others ready to use that one! Facebook Messaging is indicated as working on Social, here: https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/onboard-packages/cruise-ship-wifi.html

Welcome to Cruise Critic! I put Southhampton, 6-9 days, and Mediterranean in the Find A Cruise option at the top of the Cruise Critic page, and got only this one cruise (which isn't even the Mediterranean, telling me you probably cannot GET to the Med and back in under 10 days): https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?port=149&depcity=129&length=6-9 So if you take out Mediterranean, you get 85 possibilities and much sooner range of dates: https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?depcity=129&length=6-9 I have not cruised with Celebrity, but I feel confident that they are similar to other mainstream (not luxury) lines. You should not remove auto-tipping as it rewards all the people who make your cruise special, including ones you never see to "tip cash near the end". Drinks packages would be extra and both people in a cabin would normally have to purchase, so buying as you use will be better when one person doesn't drink alcohol. You can sign up ahead of time (while making the booking) for early or late served dinner in the dining room, or any-time-dining which would let you eat in the buffet if you like. Bedsheets are probably changed once a week, meaning on turn-around day for a 7-day cruise. The bed is made up daily. The ship will have laundry service by piece or some times by the bag. Some ships have self-serve laundry; you will have to research that once you pick a line and ship. You can take prepackaged snacks on board as well as your own teabags. You almost certainly canNOT take your own liquor but may be able to buy a bottle for your cabin from the cruiseline. Here is the UK board where more specific questions might be answered! https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/544-uk-cruisers/

If the excursion is sold out with a waiting list, and you cancel to rebook, you go to the end of the waiting list. If the excursion is a "must-do" book it and inquire before cancelling! Lunch in the Pinnacle Grill (or Pinnagrill as I like to call it) is very nice.

I have no experience with those lines, but if suddenly tickets to either appeared in my wallet, we would take the same as we wear on HAL, or for that matter, University events at home: For DH, dark pants and a guayabera (Mexican wedding shirt, of which he has three long-sleeved ones); for me shiny leggings and a sparkly tunic or tank with sparkly cardigan. ETA: I may be @awhfy's Twin! On shore DH might wear tuxedo pants below the guayabera, but wouldn't pack them for a cruise.

Hi Bob! Welcome to Cruise Critic! I have no insight, but thought I would give you some direct links for other 'boards' on CC that might be helpful: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/49-msc-cruises/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/28-family-cruises/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/544-uk-cruisers/

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/49-msc-cruises/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/544-uk-cruisers/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/545-the-pub/

We are booked So.Pacific in Feb 2024 and Iceland/Greenland/Canada in July-August 2024, so I guess I would favor #2.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/64-norwegian-cruise-line/

I have SAS "Tour" sneaker-look walking shoes in Dust. I took them for off-the-ship excursions on recent B2B alternating with negative-heel clogs and flip-flops on the ship.

For some of their cruiseline giftcards, you do, but not HAL or Princess. Carnival yes, go figure. One thing to be aware of (not just you CM, but anyone reading) -- if you are counting on vacation protection from your credit card -- any amount you pay with giftcards will not be covered, even if you purchase the giftcards WITH the credit card. Once this was explained to me by our Chase banker/rep, I stopped buying the AARP cards. OTOH, a card or two applied to OBC would not be a problem, I guess.

Buying on ship and "stocking up" in your cabin fridge. This is often recommended.

Right, that is what I meant to say. @magictam If you are asking if your purchases add to your Mariner Status *before* the cruise, no, everything is added shortly after your cruise is completed (when your moneys are totalled). The $$ are credited whether you pre-purchase or buy on board. You cannot get more than one money-day per actual sea day. You can also get a third day per sea day by booking a suite (at full price, not a paid upgrade or "upsell" price). In general, having the SBP or HIA results in max spending by itself, although I came up two points under max on the second half of my recent B2B...

Pre-purchases count the same as on board spending. ETA, if you spend it!

Call the cruise line (or have your TA do so) and request your original caben back -- they almost always say it can't be done. But if you get an aft balcony back -- have it marked no upgrade! What the company calls an upgrade (concierge-level in this case) may not be more desirable to the cruiser.

We received three separate invitations to submit reviews (of the three HAL ShoreX we took on our B2B over New Years). The first one was waiting while still on board, the last came three weeks or a month after the cruise! We had one like you said, not as represented, and two that were among the best ever excursions, and I made sure to mention both displeasure and compliments!

The $1-deposit was a short-term promotion. We did our part to book in January 2023, using $600 in FCD bought on board! The $1-deposit mostly affects those wanting to book the "Best Price" non-refundable fare, I think. At least it would for me, if I didn't see the value in HIA.

@MaisonRoseEspresso drinks and wine/beer at the Grand Dutch Cafe are included with the SBP as part of the HIA so feature on any package that would include the beverage elsewhere.The snacks are also free. There were a few things (packaged candies? I think) that had a charge also. The draft beers were not available on either of our K'dam B2B cruises.

Nah, make the call ASAP. They will do their best!

What @taxmantoo said. It helps if you are signed up for Fixed Time Dining (early or late) so you are at the same table day-to-day.