Lis2065

Yay to scanners! Hope they implement it on the Oosterdam for my next cruise!

I grew up in Australia in the 70's and know the smell. Sometimes a bushfire or burn off can smell like it too. I guess it just depends what sort vegetation is burning!

Just found this story: http://www.theluxurycruisecompany.com/news/cruise-news/holland-america-line-name-new-ship-483/

I check on the website and then ask my TA to book for me. Then I monitor the prices and if they go down, ask her to organise for the price drop to be passed on to me.

This has worked for my upcoming cruise, I found out about asking for the price drop to be passed on here on Cruise Critic (thanks to CC I saved $600). I understand that you are able to do this right up until you have made your final payment.

I think that working with a good Travel Agent is critical. Others here will be able to advise if you can do the same booking directly with HAL, as I've always used a TA.

I must say that when I have contacted HAL directly about other stuff they have been great too.

I hope you book your cruise and have a wonderful time!

Great upsell! Good for you... I'd be tickled pink if I got that.

I too have been on a cruise where a fire alert was announced.

I am so very grateful for the professional way in which the crew dealt with the alarm and that, should the worst have eventuated, I was alerted early enough to act without being half asleep.

I wouldn't be expecting an apology, but everyone is different.

I was able to pre-order Makers Mark (not on the list of liquor) and it was in the cabin when we arrived.

Maxxboy you just made my day!

Chateau Collapso is a no no!

I cannot believe they making it so difficult to find out the final price of a booking. I usually will be looking at a number of future cruises to decide which one is best suited for us price wise, but this makes it impossible. Not sure what we will do now. I don't want to be bothering our TA with a lot of price questions. Hope they will redesign this.

That's the issue for me too... I don't mind updates to web pages, but usually they make a site more user friendly - not less!

I'm just sitting here wondering how to supercharge my mobility scooter so I can mow down all of those rich under 60's on my next cruise......

But wait, I'm under 60 and I don't ride a mobility scooter....

Not to worry, I have lots of friends I've met on cruises who are over sixty and a couple even have mobility scooters - perhaps they'd let me modify theirs!

Yeha!

For some reason I had it in my mind you were going to create a new thread called All Things Smoking or something like that.

Agree with this suggestion/comment. The other threads title may cause some confusion.

Thanks

Lis

Don't like the new website booking system at all! Have to enter all contact detail prior to getting the price, therefore cannot easily price a cruise.

It is clunky, not user friendly and appears to be aimed at limiting the users ability to check pricing.

I always used to check stateroom and pricing online and then book through my travel agent...

Now I am unable to check/monitor pricing online without providing significant personal information - not happy!

I think that would be a great idea.

Thank you

No, I'm not switching cruise lines, I really like HAL

No, even though HAL allows balcony smoking I will continue to book balcony staterooms on HAL

My family cruise HAL, Princess and P&O and go for itinerary and price when making their decision - balcony smoking is a non issue in the decision making process.

First Amendment rights.

Not everyone on the forum is from the USA.

As previously stated we will continue to sail with HAL.

We shared a table with another couple in the Lido one day at lunch. They were in their 70's from a European country (I shan't say which), and proceeded to tell us how much they hadn't enjoyed New Zealand, Australia was disappointing, the food in the MDR was always cold, he had heart problems and that this was each of their third marriages!

When his wife went to get him a cup of coffee at the same time my partner went to get another serve of bread pudding - he lunged across the table and grabbed my hand saying "you are magnificent, when can I get you alone"....

I laughed and said "Mate, you couldn't handle me"!

The only time I log into HAL site's is when I want to check my reservations and buy something or to print out my documents.

I have done many "dummy" bookings over the years.

And I do not get any e-mails from HAL or regular mail from them.

With you here - I log on to book restaurants and other things for a scheduled cruise.

I go back to the site and don't log in when I do a dummy booking to check if there have been any changes to stateroom prices - I'd hate to miss out on a price drop! The last one has covered our insurance and will pay for a few extras on our next cruise - very happy with that!

Please reply ONLY if you will continue to sail on HAL if smoking is permitted on balconies. No other replies asked. Please respect the statement.

 

We will continue to sail on HAL!

*I'm the reason they got rid of the dessert extravaganza.

Oh my - I love this! Have laughed so much my sides are hurting.....

Thanks!

Yes in fact I use happy hour to stock up on diet cokes for our cabin.

Excellent idea!

Dark Chocolate bread pudding? That would be sensational!

Vanilla and chocolate on the Oosterdam in January - my partner had some every day! He is hanging out for it again this coming January....

On the Norwegian boards they are suggesting that HAL are going to announce the same thing next week.

Iririki Island - you catch a water taxi to town from the dock for $5 pp, then get the ferry across to Iririki for about $15, maybe $18, and spend the day there. The price of the ferry comes off any food purchased.

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Ours arrived about an hour after we boarded - a surprise gift from our TA!