HAL Koningsdam 10/10/2021 Coastal California Trip Report LIVE(ish)

[nimi17]

Ahoy! First time HAL cruiser here, onboard celebrating my 40th birthday 🥳 🎂🎉 This will be my first time also writing a LIVE(ish) trip report of any sort, so please be patient with me as this writer seeks to find her sea legs.

 

DH is currently noisily snoring away. I just wanted to get this post started up before I do anything else this morning.

 

Hopefully, we will be onboard in 4 hours (1 p.m. Boarding group A) and I will have a lovely photo commemorating San Diego’s return to cruising on the beautiful Koningsdam.

 

Wish me luck and please feel free to ask questions (I had SO MANY while researching HAL, the ship, COVID testing, etc.). I won’t be springing for WiFi but doubt I’ll have any troubles responding while in port each day. 
 

Cheers! 🥂

Edited October 10, 2021 by nimi17

[Florida_gal_50]

I absolutely ❤️LOVE that people are doing live from reporting now.  Have a wonderful 40th birthday.  You picked a lovely ship.  I’m looking forward to hearing everything you have to share.

[igraf]

I am quite pleased that this cruise did not get cancelled, and that a third HAL ship is now taking on passengers.

igraf

[westcoastsue]

What a fabulous way to celebrate a milestone birthday! Enjoy.

We will be taking this cruise on 11/7. It is nice that several people are doing reports from onboard and will be good to get different perspectives.

Bon Voyage.

[jhsocal]

Look forward to your future posts. Will be interesting to see if your shipboard experiences will be similar to those on recent Alaska cruises. Have a wonderful time!

[Love the beach]

Have a wonderful time! I Love Koningsdam!

[Marion B]

   Happy birthday and happy cruising.  Thanks so much for posting.  I will follow every word to hold me until December. 

   Is sailaway 4 PM (as is ours)?  I want to make sure I am glued to the live webcam to cheer you on with a glass (or two) of wine.

   Bon Voyage!

[canadianbear]

Happy 40th!!  Wonderful way to celebrate it and you picked a great ship.  We really loved the Koningsdam and hope you do too.  Looking forward to following along.  Bon Voyage! 

[Lido deck main]

Happy 40th Birthday.  Hope you have a great cruise.  Will be following.  Hopefully you will be embarking soon. I think the weather will be nice for sail away.  Bon Voyage

[Taters]

What an exciting day you have in store!  Thank you for taking the time to write about your experience.  DH and I are eagerly anticipating our B2B cruises on Koningsdam next month.  I hope you have the best time!

[Woofwoo1]

Wish i was celebrating my40 th have a splendid time and keep us informed

 

Regards Bob tidly from a christening in liverpool England

[croozer]

I'm going to be on the sailing next week, so I will be hanging onto your every word.  I hope you have a marvelous time and I look forward to your posts.  Thank you for doing this.

[NavArch64]

Happy Birthday and Bon Voyage. Booked on Koningsdam on this itinerary March 20, 2022. Have fun!

[nimi17]

Dropped off at the cruise port at 1:03 pm. Was able to pull into the lot right alongside the check-in area. Am currently queued up in line to have my documents and boarding pass reviewed.

 

Was not asked which boarding group I am in prior to entering the building and getting in line.

 

Do not know if they are turning away people who are arriving before their assigned boarding times.

 

Line is moving quickly so far. I see 10 check in stations.

[nimi17]

Make sure your hands are free as you’ll need to hold up the documents yourself! They are not allowed to touch them although YMMV as I saw some indeed handling them (your paperwork).

 

Required documents:

1) passport

2) vax card

3) COVID test result

4) boarding pass

Edited October 10, 2021 by nimi17

[dobiemom]

Bon Voyage! ⛴ 

Happy b-day! 🎂 

[madera1]

Thank you for posting and hope you have fun on HAL as you celebrate your 40th birthday.

[nimi17]

5 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I absolutely ❤️LOVE that people are doing live from reporting now.  Have a wonderful 40th birthday.  You picked a lovely ship.  I’m looking forward to hearing everything you have to share.

Oh yes, the live TRs I’ve read definitely inspired me to write one myself.

 

And thank you! I am loving everything I’ve seen so far. She is a beauty for sure 🥂

[nimi17]

5 hours ago, igraf said:

I am quite pleased that this cruise did not get cancelled, and that a third HAL ship is now taking on passengers.

igraf

That was one of my major concerns when booking this cruise. Our booking was through a Boyd Gaming casino offer and we chose this one because it was later in the season. Turns out all of the other cruises that were available prior to this were eventually cancelled and ours happens to be the first one to sail. 🛳🤞

[nimi17]

5 hours ago, westcoastsue said:

What a fabulous way to celebrate a milestone birthday! Enjoy.

We will be taking this cruise on 11/7. It is nice that several people are doing reports from onboard and will be good to get different perspectives.

Bon Voyage.

Thank you! I am eager to read them all 🤩

[nimi17]

5 hours ago, jhsocal said:

Look forward to your future posts. Will be interesting to see if your shipboard experiences will be similar to those on recent Alaska cruises. Have a wonderful time!

Thank you 🙏 

[nimi17]

4 hours ago, Love the beach said:

Have a wonderful time! I Love Koningsdam!

We are loving her so far too! 😄

[cat shepard]

Have a wonderful birthday cruise! A great way to start a new decade & “new year”!

[nimi17]

4 hours ago, Marion B said:

   Happy birthday and happy cruising.  Thanks so much for posting.  I will follow every word to hold me until December. 

   Is sailaway 4 PM (as is ours)?  I want to make sure I am glued to the live webcam to cheer you on with a glass (or two) of wine.

   Bon Voyage!

Thank you, Marion! Our sailaway is 5 pm I believe. 🤞

[Marion B]

   Thank you nimi17.  I figured your time might be different because you're doing the coastal and we're the Mexican Riviera.  It's after 5:00 in my time zone, so I've already uncorked the wine - and it's the good stuff - New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

   I'm so happy for you and all others onboard.  Seth's Facebook video already put me in a celebratory mood.