silversneakers

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

As long as they have that Covid policy on their website they are responsible for the expenses outlined there.  I would demand reimbursement but by their policy which does state 

 

2. All elements of the Covid-19 Plan are excess over any valid and collectible insurance.  Guests will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, as defined below, incurred but not covered by their insurance meaning that the guest must file a claim with their primary insurer, and submit any excluded or uncovered expense.
 

 

expect this to disappear January 1, 2023. You should immediately download a pdf copy of that page for your future reference.
 

I looked at RCCL’s  policy and it only covers Covid medical treatments onboard with a proration.   I think CCL bit off more than it can chew and is trying to offload its responsibilities- too bad- next time don’t offer such a generous policy for the sake of bookings. So that you know they offer medical onboard treatment, direct Covid treatment not complicated or due to a preexisting condition, reasonable hotel expenses for the stated quarantine period  (nothing about them booking the hotel), air change fees(nothing about them booking the flight more paying for the flight), a food per diem and a proration of cruise expenses .

 

*one thing to note, in isolated areas such as Alaska those travel fees can be quite expensive and may not be covered by this policy.  This policy covers the airline fee not additional airlines or transport. 

This is why you should have travel insurance that includes COVID coverage AND be your own gatekeeper with a "just in case" plan.

I think in today's environment, we should all expect that Covid will be lurking around us somewhere. Per the statement from our current President, the pandemic is over.  If you have taken all the precautions, then there really isn't anything more that you can control.  When it isn't COVID while cruising, the NORO virus will be popping up.  Do the best that you can and enjoy each day.  

15 hours ago, Dr.Dobro said:

Okay, this post will wrap up the Mosaicultures shots, for good or ill, for the enthralled and the bored alike.

 

These are from the Farm section of the exhibit. Lotsa fun stuff here.

The Man Who Plants the Trees dominates the farm, kind of a Father Nature figure.

Every farm needs cows and horses....

...and a couple of dogs, of course.

I could buy either of these as a real dog. Amazing work!

 

Butterflies hang out near the chickens....

...and the farmer himself is out in the fields, joining the plow team.

Not sure how readable it will turn out to be, but here's a list of all the plants used in the exhibit. I think if you blow it up, the small type will hold.

 

This volunteer is explaining the construction of the sculptures, including the underlying metal frame for support and irrigation.

 

And that's what we did in Quebec before setting out back down the river. Just remember.... no matter where you dock in Quebec, you get a nice view of the Chateau Frontenac.

But at Pier 30, you also get a clear, unobstructed view of the Chateau Smoke-a-Stack on the other side of the ship.

.

Back soon.... S & C

 

Amazing pictures.  Thank you for sharing.

9 hours ago, Germancruisersss said:

Prices for the inside guarantee on Volendam sailings in September just dropped 200€.

Does HAL still offer compensation in that case? I remember having that 10 years back on Prinsendam and the difference was added to our OBC.

Thanks

No price adjustment after final payment....I just went through this scenario.  However, you may get an upgrade but in my case the upgrade was not in a good location.  No OBC was offered but if you have a TA, they could probably try that option.

31 minutes ago, dfish said:

Elliot Advocacy has contacts for higher up personnel.  When one of my concerns went unanswered I emailed the president.  Try Guest Relations again and cc to Gus Antorcha.

 

guestrelations@hollandamerica.com

Phone: 1‐800‐599‐8256 or 206‐626‐7393

 

Executive Contacts

Primary Contact
Michael Stendebach
Vice president, food, beverage and guest services
450 Third Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119
mstendebach@hollandamerica.com

 

Gustavo Antocha
President, Holland America Line
450 Third Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 281-3535
gantorcha@hollandamerica.com

 

officeofthepresident@hollandamerica.com

 

https://www.elliott.org/company-contacts/holland-america/

 

 

Yep, go right to the top.  This has worked for me with another cruise line.  I also mentioned that I worked for a Fortune 500 company as assistant to the CEO where no complaint (no matter how small) did not go without attention from that office!

On 9/3/2022 at 8:20 AM, Roz said:

I arrive in Vancouver on Oct. 1 and sail on Oct. 2.  Is the testing requirement a HAL rule or Canadian Gov't. rule?  Do I time the test based on arrival in Canada or ship embarkation?  Do I need test results to fill out the ArriveCAN application?

I believe it is a Canadian government rule.

13 hours ago, whogo said:

September 7, 2022

 

Mussel Mania in the Lido again last night, another winning meal, all big black mussels, none of the little white ones in white wine sauce. We feasted, remembered to have some vegetables to round out the meal. Mrs. Whogo watched a few minutes of the 2022 Elvis movie, left when it became too crowded in the Wayang Theater. Felt the movie was promising, we will watch it sometime.

 

Similar problem for her on the main stage with too many in the audience and she did not think comedian Steven Scott was funny. There was enough ocean motion to cause some cabin creaks, it has been a smooth sailing, especially in the St. Lawrence.

 

Enjoyed another calm, delicious dining room breakfast, coffee came reasonably quickly, it appears that only the assigned steward is allowed to pour coffee, maybe there is special hot liquid training involved.

 

We were willing to just wander the town of Sydney, again, but found a guide at an acceptable price to take us an hour away to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. Beautiful drive there, lots of water and forest, will be spectacularly colorful in a few weeks.

 

Paid our admission fee, the clerk was tired of explaining to visitors that there was no printed guide, no online guide. She may just be tired of life. Interesting museum, info well presented, Bell's wife got major mention. Wealth from his telephone invention allowed bell to experiment with kites, airplanes, hydrofoils and much more. Had a thing for tetrahedrons. Tested his hypothesis that ewes with more nipples were more likely to have twins, bred sheep that had twins, but after 30 years found no relationship between the number of nipples and likelihood of twins.

 

Mrs. Whogo wanted to see what was different about Canadian supermarkets, stopped at a large Sobeys. Lots more fresh fish and frozen fish than we see in the Midwest, also double cream that we never see. Some familiar brands, a few Canadian brands, it was a good stop. Also drove through through a First Nations reservation in Sydney. This one is the go to place for cheaper cannabis and cigarettes.

 

Mrs. Whogo took a long walk through the town and along the waterfront after a late lunch in the Lido, I took a shorter walk along the waterfront boardwalk, read the displays about Sydney's part in WWII and paid my respects to memorials to those lost at sea.

 

Only 9 of 17 correct in afternoon trivia put us in a three way tie, we won in the tiebreaker. How old was Shirley Temple when she won her special Oscar? What actress was a Bond girl in two films?

 

Dinner with the trivia ringer, Mrs. Whogo ordered the special whole lobster, served split down the middle with Bearnaise(?) sauce, I was only slightly splattered during its consumption. Collateral damage.

 

Temple was 6 years old, Maud Adams was a Bond girl twice.

Did you find your guide "in town" or at the Port?

33 minutes ago, spleenstomper said:

I do have double zipper compression bags and I am checking a large near 50 pound luggage. It’s Alaska and it’s rainy and windy and cold (ooh, just reminded myself that I still have to pack a hat and gloves). I’m concerned I’m going to get wet and need to change out the outerwear a few times. I’m solo so I don’t have my husband to share his extra space lol. 
 

Thanks for any tips. 

Monochromatic color scheme. Everything has to be worn at least twice. Layering for "iffy" weather. If I don't have something, I just buy it wherever we are....

4 hours ago, terrydtx said:

It has now gotten worse with more lies from Holland.  My wife just tested and was barely positive and she in in day 7 of her isolation quarantine.  The testing people told her that Holland set up testing for day 7 and if still positive not again until day 10, which is Friday. The Oosterdam Guess Services and the ships medical people all told us more than once that if she was positive on day 7, they would come back every day after and test until she was negative.  Just more bigtime lies from Holland on how shore quarantine would be handled. I am trying to get Holland Family services to change this but not holding out much hope. No one should be lied to and treated like we have from Holland or any cruise line..  

You can also test positive for up to 90 days.  Just curious, how can you know "barely positive"....

2 hours ago, happyglobetrotter said:

You should try yo convince all the passengers on quarantine on many HAL ships right now that the pandemic is over.... Variants are more and more contagious and some people still get sick from C all over the world. 

AND, it doesn't matter if you have had COVID before,  vaccinated and boosted, you can still get it again.

13 hours ago, Roz said:

I don't understand the 5 day quarantine on the ship and then 10 days on land.  Isn't that excessive?  At work we only have to stay home for 5 days after testing positive.

Quarantine time is dictated by the countries.

3 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

I am so sorry your vacation was wrecked by Covid. Two couples, our closest friends, had similar experiences on two different non-HAL cruise lines. I had symptoms the morning we disembarked Celebrity in April (in TPA, luckily for us a short drive from our home), and subsequently tested positive. It seems to be the times we live in as travelers.

 

I wish you and your wife well as you hopefully get home without too much more stress. 
 

But I do fear that if passengers take your advice to make their own decision whether to report suspected Covid, cases surely will continue to grow on board.

I would hope that people would be honest and report it and it makes you wonder if that is what is going on now....people not wanting to ruin their vacation but don't care about others!

11 minutes ago, JesseLivermore said:

home based should not be an excuse re: the latest updates.  

All I'm saying is they may not have up-to-date info that has been published.  I've worked in that environment.

Remember a majority of the agents are home based and may or may not have received the latest updates.  Keep checking.

16 hours ago, OHCruiser said:

Yep.  Lowest deck, midship w/ the room type you want.

 

I also recommend generic meclizine over brand name Bonine--much cheaper. 

 

I'm very sensitive to meds, so I bought children's dosing [12.5mg vs. 25mg adult dose] and I find that it's perfect.  I can take half a pill "just in case" and then another half if the seas kick up.  You can also get chewables in adult 25mg.  It's a preventative, not a curative, so it needs to be taken in advance of any motion illness.

https://www.amazon.com/Meclizine-Hcl-12-5-Milligrams-Cplts/dp/B00P03F1LU/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3FFHMMRPZCE13&keywords=rugby+meclizine+12.5mg&qid=1662159165&s=hpc&sprefix=rugby+meclizine+12.%2Chpc%2C120&sr=1-3

 

I tried the scopolamine patches and I couldn't take the side effects--or the price.

Patches are controversial due to possible side effects.  In some people they can cause/promote psychotic episodes. I only know this from a recent accounting from a family member. When the husband called Medical as his wife was acting erratically, he was asked if she had the patch, to remove it immediately and then wash the area with soap and water for a period of time.  That fixed the problem.

Half Moon is really the beach.  Aruba tour around the island, same with Curacao. Haven't been to Bonaire. You might want to check out YouTube for some ideas....ParoDeeJay (cruise news) has some interesting reports on some of the Ports you are asking about. Hope this helps.

1 hour ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Visited a few Yarn Shops

Handmaiden Yarns @ Fleece Artists

 

LK Yarn Shop

 

Titanic Cemetery 

 

The Loop

 

Timbits 

 

Chocolate!

 

No Climbing!

 

The Bicycle Thief Lobster Roll!  

Looks yummy!  How much did they charge??  I'm hearing lobster is very expensive these days.

2 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Shorter voyages are $25/pp per day.  Longer voyages are $15/pp per day.

Good to know.  Are longer voyages considered 14 days or more?

On 8/22/2022 at 10:21 PM, Vict0riann said:

My suggestion would be to purchase Club Orange for your cruise. It is US$15 per person per day on Nieuw Statendam, I think.  For that you can upgrade to any stateroom in your category-  oceanview, I think it is?.  You get, as well, priority boarding and tendering, a dedicated CO line at the Front Desk and the shore excursion desk, a smaller dining room, mimosas for breakfast, a $50 coupon to the spa, and a couple of other little perks.  The first night in the CO dining room, a glass of bubbly, in your room a CO bag, and first dibs on getting a piece of jewelry cleaned in the Effy store on board.  

I just checked CO and was told it was $25 per person per day.

7 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

Yes, they are.  Yes, you may purchase Club Orange and are able to select your cabin.  I have not personally done this, but, read where others have.

Interesting.  Maybe I'll give it a try!  Thanks.

12 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

There is typically a nominal charge like $200pp, but you get this back in OBC.  I think this is why we refer to it as complimentary.  But, yes, you do pay port taxes.  It also helps reduce insurance cost.

 

Are the cabins all guarantee cabins?  And, if so, can you purchase Club Orange and be able to select a cabin?

8 hours ago, southernshug said:

It's is a casino offer, so I didn't really have a choice 🤷‍♀️

I think you can pay for an upgrade. Call HAL or your HAL contact.

On 8/16/2022 at 3:51 PM, ontheweb said:

Thanks for sharing.

 

Any comments about Scotland? Were you in Edinburgh, and if so was it during the time of the Military Tattoo?

Just a quick note.  We attended the Tattoo a couple of years ago and would love to go again. We joined (online) Friends of the Tattoo (it was around $35 to join) and were able to purchase tickets online before they went on sale to the general public.

20 minutes ago, Loreto said:

I asked Jennifer if I should address my email to her.  She said "no," that it will go to whoever opens the email.  They are all working from home/remote.  So far I have had replies from 2 different employees, neither was your guy,  Shivang. I have heard from Nisha Parashar and Puja Singh, which makes me wonder if a call center is answering the emails.  It doesn't matter, they seem to be adding the OBC.

Emailed my request on Monday and received OBC confirmation via email on Wednesday.

On 8/16/2022 at 9:39 AM, Copper10-8 said:

Yes on a negative Covid test taken within 72 hrs of embark. However, keep an eye out because Carniva Cruise Line (so not Carnival Corp yet) just dropped the neg Covid test requirement! My money is on HAL following that in the near future

I don't think Canada will allow it. It is my understanding they are still enforcing 10 day quarantine.