1st Time HAL, 1st b2b, many questions!

[Hugahav]

DH and I are sailing on our first HAL cruise on the Noordam next February. We're relatively new to cruising (this will be our third) and we're doing this one as two 10-day back-to-back cruises. We've never done this before and have a few questions that I hope: a) haven't been asked 5,000 times before and b) aren't really stupid. :D I tried doing a search but came up with zip, so here goes:

 

1. We have a Cat. VD guarantee, will we be assigned one cabin for the full 20 days or will we have to change after the first 10 days?

 

2. I plan on bringing my laptop to stay in touch with family at home. If I purchase the $100 internet package and don't use all my minutes during the first 10-day cruise, will they roll over to the second cruise?

 

3. Should we tip at the end of the first cruise or wait until both are completed?

 

4. I plan on purchasing the 20-pour wine card and possibly the cocktail and/or coffee card as well. Do these have to be used up before the conclusion of the first cruise?

 

I would appreciate any help/tips/info from all you wonderful veteran HAL cruisers! DH and I are eagerly awaiting our first HAL experience and hope to meet some of you on board. Thank you in advance!

[sail7seas]

DH and I are sailing on our first HAL cruise on the Noordam next February. We're relatively new to cruising (this will be our third) and we're doing this one as two 10-day back-to-back cruises. We've never done this before and have a few questions that I hope: a) haven't been asked 5,000 times before and b) aren't really stupid. :D I tried doing a search but came up with zip, so here goes:

 

1. We have a Cat. VD guarantee, will we be assigned one cabin for the full 20 days or will we have to change after the first 10 days?

 

When you make your booking, select a cabin which is available for both segments. We do many b-to-b's and we always stay in the same Suite.

 

2. I plan on bringing my laptop to stay in touch with family at home. If I purchase the $100 internet package and don't use all my minutes during the first 10-day cruise, will they roll over to the second cruise?

 

YES. Any left over minutes from the first segment will carry forward to your second segment. That did not used to happen it does now. We carried minutes forward on Maasdam this past August.

 

3. Should we tip at the end of the first cruise or wait until both are completed?

 

 

We always give our additional 'over and above' tips at the end of the first cruise and again at the end of the second cruise.

4. I plan on purchasing the 20-pour wine card and possibly the cocktail and/or coffee card as well. Do these have to be used up before the conclusion of the first cruise?

 

You can use your coffee and wine cards on the next segment.

I would appreciate any help/tips/info from all you wonderful veteran HAL cruisers! DH and I are eagerly awaiting our first HAL experience and hope to meet some of you on board. Thank you in advance!

 

 

B-to-B's are fabulous. Hope you have a great time. Any more questions, just ask. :)

[Hugahav]

Thanks so much Sail! So it sounds like we might be moving after the first segment since we booked a guarantee and not a definite cabin? I was hoping to be able to stay in the same cabin for both cruises but I guess that's what I get for playing "guarantee roulette". LOL!!

[sail7seas]

It isn't a big deal to move. The stewards will help you.

 

They will bring a rolling rack for all your hanging clothes. The drawers are interchangeable between the cabins. They will move your already filled drawers from one cabin to the other.

 

You will only have to toss your bathroom articles and 'things' around the cabin counters etc into a suitcase to move them.

 

With the help of the stewards (who do it all the time), won't take long at all.

 

[sail7seas]

It just occured to me that with moving from one cabin to another, you may wish to speak with the Internet Manager to be sure you don't lose any internet minutes you have left. He/she can correct it if you find there's a slip up because of you being in a different cabin.

[Hugahav]

It isn't a big deal to move. The stewards will help you.

 

They will bring a rolling rack for all your hanging clothes. The drawers are interchangeable between the cabins. They will move your already filled drawers from one cabin to the other.

 

You will only have to toss your bathroom articles and 'things' around the cabin counters etc into a suitcase to move them.

 

With the help of the stewards (who do it all the time), won't take long at all.

 

 

Thanks so much, that's a relief! I was picturing having to fold, pack, and haul suitcases around in the middle of the cruise. This doesn't sound like a very big deal at all. :D

 

It just occured to me that with moving from one cabin to another, you may wish to speak with the Internet Manager to be sure you don't lose any internet minutes you have left. He/she can correct it if you find there's a slip up because of you being in a different cabin.

 

Great info, thank you once again! If it turns out that we have to switch cabins, I will definitely have the Internet Manager check this.

[RuthC]

HAL will make an effort to place you in the same cabin for both cruises. There is a possibility you may not have to move.

[Krazy Kruizers]

DH and I are sailing on our first HAL cruise on the Noordam next February. We're relatively new to cruising (this will be our third) and we're doing this one as two 10-day back-to-back cruises. We've never done this before and have a few questions that I hope: a) haven't been asked 5,000 times before and b) aren't really stupid. :D I tried doing a search but came up with zip, so here goes:

 

1. We have a Cat. VD guarantee, will we be assigned one cabin for the full 20 days or will we have to change after the first 10 days? HAL will do their best to keep you in the same cabin.

 

2. I plan on bringing my laptop to stay in touch with family at home. If I purchase the $100 internet package and don't use all my minutes during the first 10-day cruise, will they roll over to the second cruise? You can roll over the minutes to the next cruise. But you will probably find that the minutes get used up very quickly.

 

3. Should we tip at the end of the first cruise or wait until both are completed? We always tip at the end of each cruise when we do back-to-backs. Even for the room steward -- gives him a chance to use the money if her needs to do any personal shopping in a port. Dining room steward and wine steward -- we also tip them at the end of the first cruise -- they are rotated -- very rarely have we ever had the same dining room staff for the second cruise.

 

4. I plan on purchasing the 20-pour wine card and possibly the cocktail and/or coffee card as well. Do these have to be used up before the conclusion of the first cruise? We have often had punches left on our wine cards -- never had a problem using them on the next cruise. If your new wine steward would question you about the punches on the card -- just give him the name of the wine steward you had on the previous cruise.

 

I would appreciate any help/tips/info from all you wonderful veteran HAL cruisers! DH and I are eagerly awaiting our first HAL experience and hope to meet some of you on board. Thank you in advance!

 

Hope this helps.

[Terpnut]

So if you like your dining staff, can you request the same seating and staff? Even if they rotate out of a particular section, can't we work with the maitre d' to request the same staff?

[sail7seas]

We ALWAYS have the same wait staff if we make that request. If you like your dining staff, speak with the Dining Supervisor for your section or the Dining Room Manager (Maitre d') toward the end of your first cruise. They have always arranged our wait staff stayed the same for our next cruise.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

It's never happened for us -- dining room manager would merely come by our table near the end of the first cruise and ask if we wanted the same table for the next cruise. He would also explain that even though we would be staying at the same table, our wait staff and wine steward would be changing.

[sail7seas]

That's a shame, KK....... Again, why do you have such bad luck?? I'm so sorry to hear all these things happen.

 

We have never been refused when we requested the same dining team take care of us for the following cruise. As you know, we have done a great many b-to-b's, as have you.

 

[innlady1]

DH and I are sailing on our first HAL cruise on the Noordam next February. We're relatively new to cruising (this will be our third) and we're doing this one as two 10-day back-to-back cruises. We've never done this before and have a few questions that I hope: a) haven't been asked 5,000 times before and b) aren't really stupid. :D I tried doing a search but came up with zip, so here goes:

 

1. We have a Cat. VD guarantee, will we be assigned one cabin for the full 20 days or will we have to change after the first 10 days?

 

2. I plan on bringing my laptop to stay in touch with family at home. If I purchase the $100 internet package and don't use all my minutes during the first 10-day cruise, will they roll over to the second cruise?

 

3. Should we tip at the end of the first cruise or wait until both are completed?

 

4. I plan on purchasing the 20-pour wine card and possibly the cocktail and/or coffee card as well. Do these have to be used up before the conclusion of the first cruise?

 

I would appreciate any help/tips/info from all you wonderful veteran HAL cruisers! DH and I are eagerly awaiting our first HAL experience and hope to meet some of you on board. Thank you in advance!

 

The only question I know the answer to, Carol, is the wine card question. You can carry them over cruise to cruise. I kept mine in my passport case after our '07 cruise, and used it again this past February on the Noordam. Same goes for the coffee card. I also think the Internet minutes but can't be positive.

 

I'll be waiting for the answers to your other questions, too...it's our first back to back! I do know that we're in #5187 on the Voyage of the Good Nuts (1/23) and in #5186 on the 2/2 cruise. We were in #5188 last year. Carol, "mamaofami," was in #5186 last year and will be in the on the Voyage of the Good Nuts!

 

I think things can be left in drawers and moved from one stateroom to the other by the steward. I imagine the stuff in the closet can just be transfered sans suitcases. But, I don't know for sure.

 

I'm curious about the logistics of staying on the ship vs. leaving on turnaround day.

 

Glad to see you posting on the main board! We're doing the 1/23 and 2/2! So will overlap with your the 2/2 segment.

[sail7seas]

Sheila....

 

If you wish to stay on the ship on 'turn around day', you need only go to Immigration in the terminal and return to the ship. We always make sure to go when the last group for disembarkation has been called as we cannot get back on the ship until all who are leaving have gone.

 

You will get a letter the last night of your first cruise giving you dining hours, Immigration Instructions and your new ID card will be enclosed.

 

When you leave the ship to do Immigration, you scan off with the old card. When you reboard, you scan on with the new card.

 

You may wish to look back at the start of the thread where there were comments that drawers are interchangeable between cabins. The stewards will take your filled drawers to your new cabin. They will bring a rolling rack to hang your clothes from the closet so they are easily transferred.

 

Your internet minutes do carry forward to your next cruise if you have any left. Be certain to speak with Internet Manager to avoid confusion seeing you will be in two different cabins. We are always in the same cabin for b-to-b's, so the minutes automatically stay with us.

[innlady1]

Sheila....

 

If you wish to stay on the ship on 'turn around day', you need only go to Immigration in the terminal and return to the ship. We always make sure to go when the last group for disembarkation has been called as we cannot get back on the ship until all who are leaving have gone.

 

You will get a letter the last night of your first cruise giving you dining hours, Immigration Instructions and your new ID card will be enclosed.

 

When you leave the ship to do Immigration, you scan off with the old card. When you reboard, you scan on with the new card.

 

You may wish to look back at the start of the thread where there were comments that drawers are interchangeable between cabins. The stewards will take your filled drawers to your new cabin. They will bring a rolling rack to hang your clothes from the closet so they are easily transferred.

 

Your internet minutes do carry forward to your next cruise if you have any left. Be certain to speak with Internet Manager to avoid confusion seeing you will be in two different cabins. We are always in the same cabin for b-to-b's, so the minutes automatically stay with us.

Thank you, Judy, for all the answers to my questions. Glad to hear about the rolling rack...now that I think about it, I've seen some in the hallways on embarkation/disembarkation days!

 

I would love to have gotten the same stateroom but by the time I decided to upgrade from a VC to a VA on the stern, those were all that were left. Actually, I was very lucky to get what I did!

[sail7seas]

You never know........ you might get lucky and it will free up.

It really isn't a big deal though. The stewards will help with the move and it won't take you long.

 

The only things you need to toss in a suitcase are your bathroom items and anything you have on the counters/closet shelves like cameras and such. Make a note to remember to empty your safe!

 

[cf_chuck]

It just occured to me that with moving from one cabin to another, you may wish to speak with the Internet Manager to be sure you don't lose any internet minutes you have left. He/she can correct it if you find there's a slip up because of you being in a different cabin.

 

The internet log on is a combination of name and cabin. This has to be reconciled if the cabin changes between segments.

[m steve]

That way you will keep the same cabin, table and might find that the cost is lower and if a stockholder, your OBC will be higher.

I saw that I just hit 2700 messages. I wonder when I will cross the Dow moving down?

[Krazy Kruizers]

That's a shame, KK....... Again, why do you have such bad luck?? I'm so sorry to hear all these things happen.

 

We have never been refused when we requested the same dining team take care of us for the following cruise. As you know, we have done a great many b-to-b's, as have you.

 

 

 

It doesn't bother us -- just gives us a chance to meet more crew.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

The internet log on is a combination of name and cabin. This has to be reconciled if the cabin changes between segments.

 

It wasn't any problem -- In August 2007 the first week we were in cabin 004 and the second cabin we were in 001.

The internet manager just asked us not to log in between 10 AM and Noon.

He changed everything for me.

[jtl513]

The only question I know the answer to, Carol, is the wine card question. You can carry them over cruise to cruise. I kept mine in my passport case after our '07 cruise, and used it again this past February on the Noordam. Same goes for the coffee card. I also think the Internet minutes but can't be positive.

HAL does not want you to carry over beverage cards from one ship to a different ship because the service charge has been allocated to the first ship and the servers on the second ship get none of it. A b2b would be different, of course.

I have used the last couple of punches on a wine card on a second ship at the same time that I purchased a new card, so the seller knows that s/he is not being stiffed. My DW had a carry-over coffee card refused on two different ships, but she did not buy a new one at the same time.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The only question I know the answer to, Carol, is the wine card question. You can carry them over cruise to cruise. I kept mine in my passport case after our '07 cruise, and used it again this past February on the Noordam. Same goes for the coffee card. I also think the Internet minutes but can't be positive.

 

I'll be waiting for the answers to your other questions, too...it's our first back to back! I do know that we're in #5187 on the Voyage of the Good Nuts (1/23) and in #5186 on the 2/2 cruise. We were in #5188 last year. Carol, "mamaofami," was in #5186 last year and will be in the on the Voyage of the Good Nuts!

 

I think things can be left in drawers and moved from one stateroom to the other by the steward. I imagine the stuff in the closet can just be transfered sans suitcases. But, I don't know for sure.

 

I'm curious about the logistics of staying on the ship vs. leaving on turnaround day.

 

Glad to see you posting on the main board! We're doing the 1/23 and 2/2! So will overlap with your the 2/2 segment.

 

I answered Carol's questions a few posts ago.

One time we even had a couple of punches left over from one ship -- saved it for the next ship -- never was a problem.

All but once we have always been in the same cabin for our back-to-back cruises.

Once we get back to Ft Lauderdale everyone has to go through immigration. The night before you will get a letter giving you the time and place you are to meet to get off the ship to go through immigration AND you will also get your new ID cards. A person from the front office will meet with you and escort your off the ship - this usually happens around 9:30. You will need to take along with you your passport. When you are getting off the ship you will need to use your old ID card. In the terminal you will go through immigration and then go downstairs and wait to get back on the ship. Once the ship has been completely cleared and computers adjusted for the next cruise, then you will be allowed back on the ship. Sometimes we have had to wait only 10 - 15 minutes -- one time we had to wait 1 1/2 hours -- we got back on just a few minutes ahead of the new passengers. To get back on the ship you will scan your new ID cards.

You will not be able to move to your new cabin until it is completely cleaned up. But you might want to stop by there in the morning and introduced yourselves to the cabin steward and explain that you are staying on for the next cruise and would appreciate it if he could get the cabin cleaned as soon as possible. I ceriously doubt if you will be moved before you have to go through immigration.

[Terpnut]

I answered Carol's questions a few posts ago.

 

One time we even had a couple of punches left over from one ship -- saved it for the next ship -- never was a problem.

 

All but once we have always been in the same cabin for our back-to-back cruises.

 

Once we get back to Ft Lauderdale everyone has to go through immigration. The night before you will get a letter giving you the time and place you are to meet to get off the ship to go through immigration AND you will also get your new ID cards. A person from the front office will meet with you and escort your off the ship - this usually happens around 9:30. You will need to take along with you your passport. When you are getting off the ship you will need to use your old ID card. In the terminal you will go through immigration and then go downstairs and wait to get back on the ship. Once the ship has been completely cleared and computers adjusted for the next cruise, then you will be allowed back on the ship. Sometimes we have had to wait only 10 - 15 minutes -- one time we had to wait 1 1/2 hours -- we got back on just a few minutes ahead of the new passengers. To get back on the ship you will scan your new ID cards.

 

You will not be able to move to your new cabin until it is completely cleaned up. But you might want to stop by there in the morning and introduced yourselves to the cabin steward and explain that you are staying on for the next cruise and would appreciate it if he could get the cabin cleaned as soon as possible. I ceriously doubt if you will be moved before you have to go through immigration.

Is this the same on Mediterranean B2Bs? For example, if you stay within the EU, is there still a need to clear customs/immigration? Also, if you want to do a full day of excursions (we sail from and turnaround in Rome), can you get off early, or do you have to wait for the "escort"?

[MightyQuinn]

Is this the same on Mediterranean B2Bs? For example, if you stay within the EU, is there still a need to clear customs/immigration? Also, if you want to do a full day of excursions (we sail from and turnaround in Rome), can you get off early, or do you have to wait for the "escort"?

We have done two separate B2B cruises in Europe - Med/Black Sea (turnaround in Pireaus) and Bordeaux/Baltics (turnaround in Amsterdam). Each was sold as a Collectors Voyage. In effect, we purchased consecutive cruises as a single voyage with a single booking number. We were issued a single ID card for the entire trip when we initially embarked & we had the same stateroom & same dining arrangements throughout.

 

On the turnaround day when the first segment ended & the second segment began, we were able to leave the ship as/when we wished. We treated it like a regular port day & did our own independent touring. When we returned to the ship, we boarded using our original ID cards & did not go thru any additional check-in, screening or passport control. I believe the requirements may vary according to local port authorities, so YMMV. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Hugahav]

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to answer my questions! I appreciate all the replies and am feeling more relaxed about the details. M steve, our cruise is offered as a 20-day, and that's how I booked it, but I wasn't sure if the cruise line would still treat it as a b2b. It sounds like we may be staying in the same cabin after all. :D

 

Since we will have to get off the ship during the Ft. Lauderdale turnaround, I was thinking about booking one of HAL's shore excursions while we're there. We've never really spent any time in FL, except briefly pre-cruise, so it might be fun to tour around and see some of the sights. I was thinking about the "Land & Sea" excursion that includes 90 minutes exploring the Intracoastal Waterway. Have any of you done this? Would you recommend it?

 

KK and Sheila, I'm looking forward to meeting both of you in February!