WatchHill

The so called Deals menu is a source of frustration because qualifications are not clearly stated. We’ve been verified for aarp, educator, and veterans but see nothing posted to our booking. At one time it was so easy to validate the share holders perk. Now you have to download an app and jump through hoops. Out TA send me the directions and half way through the process I was ready for a double Chardonnay. On hold with HAL to confirm and gave up. Other cruise lines we frequent make this process so much more user friendly. Love that princess lets us stack assorted perks and credits without question of their source

The OBC issue with HAL isn’t as user friendly as with other cruise lines. We got $200 from our TA plus $350 from HAL which is unspecified. Then I have confirmed retired educator and DH gets veterans plus I get another $200 with AARP. That’s a lot of OBC in addition to the HIA package. Oh and stock holder OBC. Vacations should be stress free but seeing all this $$$ that I can’t immediately use to book a few excursions or a cabana plus the two a la carte dinners, plus laundry package and upgraded WiFi makes me question why HAL! Princess Celebrity and Azamara passenger web sites had it all and let me take care of these things long before we got on the ship. I really don’t like standing in line on the ship to manage something that should be taken care of long before I arrive in FL and onto the ship. Darcy

Azamara even provides the laundry detergent and fabric softener - free!

For Hyatt check pricing at their Dania Hyatt Place location. The other side of the airport and ample restaurants nearby We are in Ft. Lauderdale a few days pre cruise and booked Hyatt house suite at Dania which works best for us as well be renting a car at FLL

I just rented a 4 person golf cart for our December 09, 2024 visit on Bonaire. We plan to pick up the cart asap when the ship arrives,about 8:30ish, then head to a beach resort to get our wrist bands and claim access to the facility. Our plans are to spend the morning touring; head toward the salt mines, slave houses light house and flamingo sanctuary. By about noon, we plan to arrive back at the resort, enjoy a frozen delight and light lunch, then enjoy the pool, beach and lazy river. Returning the cart later in the afternoon. I was hoping it was a credit card hold, but payment in full now, egh. Both DH and I have driven assorted golf carts, 2 & 4 person vehicles without any issues. I wonder if the so called "balance" problems were related to the poor road conditions on Bonaire.

Memories of my first ship are few, though there are pictures of my parents and me [pre-school age, early 50's], "dressed" for a stroll around the deck on the Queen Mary out of Boston to the UK. I think we returned on the Queen Elizabeth. DH has a far more interesting "first" leaving the UK for Mombassa and onto Seychelles in about 1960, with trips on the Uganda, Kampala and Karanja. He attended school in Nairobi and every 45 days traveled British India Line from Mombassa to Mahe to be with family. Our first real cruise was on the Volendam & Veendam, about 23K tons each, formerly the Brazil and Argentina. We did a Caribbean and Bermuda cruise on each. We spent many nights in the Crow's next bar, with Alex our bar tender, who greeted us with "Mr & Mrs M, vodka soda and vodka martini!" Darcy

We did a transatlantic out of Southampton, a day late leaving there, and once on the ship were informed we would not be stopping in the Azores, but going onto Bermuda and Nassau [egh} as planned. Sadly, no credit and leaving us quite disappointed. Darcy

We did a "tours by locals" walking tour with Maike, a guide. She and I communicated prior to the cruise to identify what we wanted to see and organize our time so that we could meet friends after the tour. She was waiting for us on a bench as we walked off of the ship with head phones for each of us. It was a wonderful experience having a local familiar with the historic and interesting sites, who was able to answer our questions and take us through the area. Darcy

There is an airport bus that travels the terminal route....along the roadway. The only terminals that have a post security connection is C to E. [Food options in T-E are horrid and $$$, so I walk to Wahlburgers in T-C for food. Airline food is IMO, awful even when flying Execuitive or Upper Class. And is a very late night flight, I can't handle more than a drink or two at midnight to get me across the pond.] The prior Logan interactve maps were much better, but since Terminal E was recently expanded, the newly posted maps are usless and lack any detail. When we flew TAP to Lisbon, out of Terminal C, friends who joined us came through Terminal B from Maryland and had to go through TSA check in again. TSA at Terminal E is much tighter. We have Global/Trusted and last month had to remove shoes, sweater, and computer/e readers, iphones, etc. Last week my sister flew to the UK out of T-E and said the cranberry bread was pulled out of her cabin bag and checked! Suggest you request wheel chair assisit to navigate the airport. It's a long walk in T-E and getting around the aiport will otherwise be a major challenge. Darcy

We recently had medical issues while on a transatlantic cruise.We have Medicare and a supplement that is very inclusive that covers us when out of the USA. I have a letter stating we have full secondary coverage. The secondary reimburses us for what Medicare doesn't cover and has a 100K medivac rider. We still opted into cruise/travel insurance, too. Of course we have to pay for medical services, then apply for reimbursement. That's the portion that takes time and lots of patience. First, we have to submit everything [itemized bills from the ship's medical center and final bill from the cruise and the dated itinerary] to Medicare and then get the rejection of coverage letter. Medicare will automatically submit to our secondary coverage. If anything isn't covered, then I have to submit to the cruise/travel insurance. I spoke with the cruise/travel insurance rep who sent me a claim form link to use once Medicare and our secondary claims are processed. Darcy

Probably the same at hotel to FLL. Normally we do a car rental when in FL, but this short stay was post transatlantic, [coming from the UK] so we didn't do airport to hotel. Give the hotel a call to confirm the cost pp. At least the van was large and comfortable, not a squished taxi with luggage on top of us. What hasn't gone up in price? I remember when the hotel transfers were free! Darcy

We had a verandah nearby and when I got off of the elevator, walked through that short corridor - it does have a second, open passage adjacent to 02 and 03. Those cabin maps aren't totally accurate. Darcy

Yes, from the hotel to the airport. Darcy

On November 3 we checked out of the Hyatt after staying one night post transatlantic cruise. It was a few minutes before 8: am and the shuttle van was sitting in front of the hotel. The cost was $8. pp cash to the driver.

This is something you need to speak with your medical team about. Shelf life of each vial and keeping it at proper temp prior to and after opening plus extra syringes and testing for a lengthy trip are best resolved by those who know your medical needs and can work with your insurance to obtain over rides in excess of the 90 day window