iflyrc5 Posted February 2, 2022 #1 Share Posted February 2, 2022 I have never tried to do an Almost Live report before but over the last several months in reading all the Almost Live reports I have learned so much about cruising on HAL in this new age that I will try my hand at giving my view of what is going on and will try to answer your questions to give those with upcoming cruises an opportunity to ask questions. As background we have about 35 cruises on HAL with over 700 days on board since 1995 so are loyal HAL guests. We were on the Volendam doing the Grand South America cruise from Jan -Mar 20, 2020 when cruising was coming to an end. We were one of the last ships to come back to Ft Lauderdale that let passengers off. The night before we passed 14 ships off the coast with lights on but only crew aboard. Our 2022 adventure started 12:05 AM on Monday doing our proctored Covid test online. Since we were flying out Monday midmorning and the test is required 2 days before boarding we had to wait until Monday to do the testing. The connection and process was quick and smooth (I guess there were very few people trying to test that early in the morning) taking about 25 minutes for each of us (did it on a laptop) and by 1:15AM we were doing the happy dance and off to bed for a couple hours sleep before heading to the airport. Flight to Ft Lauderdale on Southwest was smooth and went from 10 degrees to 70 degrees in 2 hours and 6 minutes. We did a little last minute shopping today and will be heading for Port Everglades to board around noon with all our documentation in hand. The winter of 2021 was the first time in 15 years that we had not been on a DAM ship somewhere warm so we are really looking forward to getting back to the wonderful HAL crew and life aboard a DAM ship. We have been to all of the ports on these 11 Day eastern and 10 south cruises so we are not too concerned if we can't get off and probably won't in several ports. We are going to do our best to stay healthy so that we can come through with a negative test before each of our turn around days in FLL. That is all for now - will be back when I can get wifi setup on the ship. 12 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakridger Posted February 2, 2022 #2 Share Posted February 2, 2022 I'll be reading along. Thanks for sharing your story with us! Have fun! ~Nancy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ski ww Posted February 2, 2022 #3 Share Posted February 2, 2022 I'll be watching her come in this morning & hopefully the sail away. Bon Voyage, enjoy your cruise. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger_77 Posted February 2, 2022 #4 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Thanks for taking us along with you. Will you be waving at the webcam? If so, let us know where you'll be so we can watch for you at sail-away! Bon Voyage! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iflyrc5 Posted February 2, 2022 Author #5 Share Posted February 2, 2022 We will be on our balcony which is on deck 4 near the stern. I will have a bright yellow shirt and waving like crazy. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianbear Posted February 2, 2022 #6 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Great! Another cruise for me to go on….I mean follow 😂😂 Thanks for taking us along! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smlnd Posted February 2, 2022 #7 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Hope to meet you on board starting Feb. 13th. Thank you so much for posting this thread. Bon Voyage! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
510picker Posted February 2, 2022 #8 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Being a fellow Hoosier that will be on this ship in April, I will be reading along with great anticipation! Bon voyage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ottahand7 Posted February 2, 2022 #9 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Thank you - we will be following. We are driving to Fort Lauderdale and boarding on 2/13. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted February 2, 2022 #10 Share Posted February 2, 2022 I'm looking forward to hearing all about your cruise. Bon voyage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love the beach Posted February 2, 2022 #11 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Bon Voyage! Looking forward to following along! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Again Posted February 2, 2022 #12 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Thanks Ted, (and Barbara!) I’ll miss sailing with you this time, but hope you enjoy your time away from us this trip! Hugs to my peeps! ❤️Bon Voyage! 🛳 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prescottbob Posted February 2, 2022 #13 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Have fun kids ( I know you will). Extra hugs for Barb. Continue to be well. Bob & Judy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cccole Posted February 2, 2022 #14 Share Posted February 2, 2022 iflyrc5 - Your first post got me hooked!!!! Can't wait to follow along. Enjoy the warmth and beauty of your Caribbean cruise!!! Cherie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted February 2, 2022 #15 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Looking forward to following your cruise; thank you for doing the posting. Stay safe and stay well. Bon Voyage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger_77 Posted February 2, 2022 #16 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Watching sail-away; will look for you waving frantically! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted February 2, 2022 #17 Share Posted February 2, 2022 I think I saw you! Have a wonderful cruise. Bon Voyage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger_77 Posted February 2, 2022 #18 Share Posted February 2, 2022 I saw you waving (yay for the bright yellow shirt!) and tried to do a screen capture, but didn't do it right, obviously. Sorry. I waved, does that help? Smooth Sailing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mocruzer Posted February 2, 2022 #19 Share Posted February 2, 2022 8 hours ago, iflyrc5 said: We will be on our balcony which is on deck 4 near the stern. I will have a bright yellow shirt and waving like crazy. Think this is you. Have a great and safe cruise. 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StLouisCruisers Posted February 2, 2022 #20 Share Posted February 2, 2022 We definitely saw you! It was fun to watch for CC people. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prescottbob Posted February 2, 2022 #21 Share Posted February 2, 2022 BTW, it looks like you exited Indy just in time to avoid the ‘weather’. BTW2, masking rules for some of the Caribbean ‘clothing optional’ beaches will be changing soon according to internet gossip 😂. Seriously, stay safe. Bob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danceswithphones Posted February 3, 2022 #22 Share Posted February 3, 2022 1 hour ago, ger_77 said: tried to do a screen capture, but didn't do it right 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianbear Posted February 3, 2022 #23 Share Posted February 3, 2022 11 minutes ago, danceswithphones said: Great shot! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailawaygirl Posted February 3, 2022 #24 Share Posted February 3, 2022 will be following along too...our first HAL cruise...getting on Feb 13...can't wait to meet everyone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danceswithphones Posted February 3, 2022 #25 Share Posted February 3, 2022 15 hours ago, ger_77 said: tried to do a screen capture, but didn't do it right 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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