MARLEY225

Had this same problem yesterday when I tried to do the health questionnaire.  It no longer came up at the end of the check in.  Made two calls, and was told it didn’t have to be done anymore prior to sailing.

Just off this ship Dec. 27th - one of our ports was Grand Turk.  I didn't leave the ship at this port, but met a woman on the sun deck by the sea view pool who told me she received a note from Guest Services the day before telling her she was not able to leave the ship at Grand Turk because she was unvaccinated.  

If you go on the Navigator app and call up your cruise, then go to plan on the bottom and bring up my itinerary.  This will bring up each day and it tells you what days are dressy nights.  I'm on a cruise starting Dec. 17 thru 27.  Our dressy nights are the 18th and 23rd.  (Note - not Christmas Eve or Christmas Day).

I cancelled my Volendam - March 22nd cruise on Monday - received my credit to my card today.   I guess I should have followed my PCC advice and waited a bit now that they have cancelled the next 30 days' trips.  I would have gotten a better deal.  Oh well.

5 hours ago, Qcruise said:

In light of current events and how it's unfolding......Seattle is off the table and Vancouver is considering closing it's cruise port......no Alaska cruises until further notice....??   Not good.

I do know, but I just got an e-mail from Holland with private fares for Alaska cruises!

I just found an old cruise planner book and see that, yes, indeed the 77 day cruise ends on March 22, the start day of my 14 day cruise.  Who knows that ills will be on that ship upon its return after having many stops in Brazil and their last stop is Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, which is the only Caribbean island with Corona Virus as of now.

This is very interesting.  When exactly will this 77 night cruise end?  Not on Marh 22nd, I hope.  That is when my 14 day cruise starts on the Volendam. I was seriously considering cancels before this, but after reading this, it will be a definite cancellation.

My departure is March 22nd.  I have NOT received one single message from Holland.  All my information has been gotten from all the wonderful people here on Cruise Critic!

3 hours ago, thyme2go said:

SempreMare,  HAL did not send me a notice with the missing info AND the breach in one email.   I am the one who put that together as the email I received had the title "Missing  Information" which is not that unusual and I expected there to be one or two piece's of info missing........when I looked for the missing info i I discovered that everything when I made the reservation was no longer there.   

Two of us are traveling and these were the lists (slightly different) under each name.      

 

Person #1

Emergency Contact Name
Emergency Phone
Emergency Full Address
Passport Number
Country Of Passport
Issuance
Passport Issue Date
Passport Expiry Date
Invalid Travel Document
Type

 

Person #2:

Country Of Residence
Emergency Contact Name
Emergency Phone
Emergency Full Address
Citizenship
Passport Number
Country Of Passport
Issuance
Passport Issue Date
Passport Expiry Date
Country Of Birth
Invalid Travel Document
Type
Us Address While In Us

 

I don't presume to be on top of everything but it just seemed odd to me to be asking for  info that should have already been in their system..........especially after the breach.  

Are you sure this request is actually from HAL?  I would call them direct and ask them about it.

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

 

There was not a lot of discussion about corona among the passengers I met. The subject did come up briefly at dinner one night when Italy began reporting cases and Venice cancelled the Carnival celebration because that's such a big deal. I think we were taking comfort (however false it might be) in being far from China and enjoying the warm sunshine. Sticking our heads in the sand (water?), maybe, but I do admit to giving myself some time off from news exposure when I'm on vacation.

 

 We did have a pre-boarding questionnaire that asked about symptoms and travel to/through China and the other affected countries. I did not see anyone pulled aside for screening. The ship was healthy, no Noro. I did come home with my usual "cruise cough," but that's my fault as much as anything. I'm very susceptible and the AC is so dry and I didn't do enough to keep my respiratory system moist. Stupid because I travel with nasal saline spray for the plane but didn't think to use it on the ship. So when the guy behind me on a tour was barking like a seal and not covering his cough, I was a ready target for the germs. 

 

The captain held a Q&A and one of the questions was about corona. He said it's a constantly changing situation and all cruise lines can do is proceed as scheduled until something happens to change that. He said that HAL is watching reports from WHO and CDC, and will do whatever is necessary. And then he made the pitch about washing hands and covering coughs. I'd don't mean to make it sound like he shrugged off the question. But, really, what else can HAL do? Nobody knows where the next "pop" of corona will be. You can't prevent what you can't predict. 

 

March 22 is 3 weeks away. If you cancel now, you're out the money. So I'd say wait. Don't burn the money yet. Just make sure you have good health coverage as part of your travel insurance, just in case there's a problem. And decide closer to the time.

Thanks for the information.  I am currently watching the on going situation with the Corona-virus and will decide in the days to come exactly what to do concerning my March 22nd cruise on the Volendam.  I have Hal's Platinum cancellation plan, so I would get back 90% of the cruise cost.  I'll look into getting additional travel health insurance as you recommended.  As far as my airfare paid, I can still go to Fort Lauderdale and stay at a condo I have use of for the time I would have been on the cruise, if I decide not to take it.  Again, thanks.

Thank you 3rdGenCunarder for you intensive review of your cruse.  My question is - was there any issues concerning with getting on the cruise as far as health questions giving the ongoing Corona-virus situation?  Or any other health scares while on board?  I have an upcoming cruise on March 22nd and I am debating whether to go or not?  Thanks.

I was on the "Koningsdam" twice earlier this year.  The first time we mustered in the main dining room - way in the back away from the entrance.  This worried me, as I felt we would be at a disadvantage if there was a real emergency.  The second time, it was also in the main dining room, but very close to the entrance.  I prefer the other HAL ships where you go straight to the lifeboat area you are assigned for the drill.  

I was on the  Summit to Bermuda and New England late last month and play the slots.  The first time I ordered a drink at the casino bar - I paid for it.  After that, I did not. The bartender - Randy told me just to see him, though when he saw me playing he always asked if I wanted anything.  I either got a glass of wine, a vodka tonic, or Bailey's on the rocks.

After paying many times - $24.99 - to check in for my flight home and to print a boarding pass, I lucked out and a rep of the ship was by the computer area.  I bitched to him about having to pay the high cost for a few minutes of time.  He advised that I could use the cheaper rate of $14.99 - when you get to the page - scroll down and all the airlines are listed - use your airline to check in.  Hope this helps.

I was just on this ship late January into February.  The lido pool has an up stair deck where there are lounge chars that face the sea and are totally shaded.  You might enjoy this in lieu of the lack of deck chairs on the Promenade.

On ‎1‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 12:07 PM, VTcruisenut said:

I'm seeing some folks post reviews that state that there is now smoking allowed on some ships in Casino's?  Why would they take this step backwards and is there a list of which ships allow/don't allow smoking?  I personally don't like the smoking in casino's and hoping our upcoming cruise on the Oosterdam doesn't have it!  Thanks!

I was on the "Oosterdam" for Thanksgiving week and the casino was non-smoking for the entire cruise.

Another question for those who have been on the Koningsdam lately.  Is the casino smoke=free?

Thanks for all the comments about the Koningsdam.  I am a four-star mariner, but shortly I will be doing my first cruise on this ship. I have always steered clear of it because of the extra amount of passengers.  I like the 1,900 to 2,000 range.  I have two questions - (1) Is there a welcome 3-4-5 star mariner cocktail party the first day or any day? (2) I received today a notice of embarkment times done by deck level which start at 1 pm.  Four and five start mariners can do anytime between 1 PM and 4 PM.  I usually arrive at 10:30 and they let you on at 11:30 or noon.  Is this procedure of 1 PM embarkment start time normal for this  ship?  Thanks in advance for replies!

Although, while on a January cruise this year, a flyer I picked up showed HAL going to Bermuda in 2019, obviously this isn't happening. I have been going to Bermuda from Boston on a 7 day cruise in June for the past three years. I heard they do this every few years - discontinue going to Bermuda for a full week cruise. Sad.

7 Mile Beach is to the left of where the tender docks....(facing land)....will be be on an excursion , or simply diving from the beach? In any case, the Calico Jacks/Public Beach area has everything you would need for a beach day....chair/umbrella rentals, food/drink, restrooms, watersport rentals....if he could be dropped there, you can hop on the bus for the return to the tender....stop at the road when folks are waiting there!

Is Calico Jack's walkable from the tender drop point?

Just checked my booking on the "Zuiderdam" - Dec. 16 - 26 - with the Endless Summer Promo - it's $358 less plus $75. on board credit for a like cabin on the opposite side of the ship from where I am currently. I booked on HAL's site during a Top 10 Sailing Promo and had to pay the full fare at the time of booking. I now have a call into my HAL personal consultant to see if I can get some sort of adjustment. We'll see - I am a four-star Mariner (better mean something)!.

Update - after calling HAL - I obtained a $300. credit on a future cruise. Since I cruise all the time now in my retirement years, this was fine with me !

Just checked my booking on the "Zuiderdam" - Dec. 16 - 26 - with the Endless Summer Promo - it's $358 less plus $75. on board credit for a like cabin on the opposite side of the ship from where I am currently. I booked on HAL's site during a Top 10 Sailing Promo and had to pay the full fare at the time of booking. I now have a call into my HAL personal consultant to see if I can get some sort of adjustment. We'll see - I am a four-star Mariner (better mean something)!.

U.S. Citizen -- What is the order of procedures at the cruise ship terminal? Also, same question - once you get to the Montreal airport? How long would all these procedures approximately take? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the instructions, but I do know this. It just goes round and round when I say pick my own cabin. Nothing loads properly. I know it's not my computer, as it's only a few months old, and I had the same problem with old computer. Same issue if I try to use my ipad. It's just a crappy website. I think people would be happier having a quick, well detailed site, instead of fancy pictures, etc.

I have had this same problem since the new web site started. I must say lately, I have been able to get pass the whirling circles and was able to pick a particular stateroom. When this happened, I felt like I won the lottery! I have complained about this problem twice via feed back on the web site, and also verbally to my personal consultant.

The problem I have with the wonderful NEW HAL site - is if I am logged into my account, I can not pick a particular stateroom (the spinning circle appears) on any given cruise to see my pricing. If I do not log in, I can go thru the whole process and pick a particular stateroom, but, of course, I am not seeing my pricing. This has been going on for quite a while now. I have sent HAL feedback on this and received back an e-mail with a survey attached which I answered. This was two weeks ago. I sent another feedback to them yesterday, and haven't heard anything from them yet ! I even mentioned this to my personal HAL consultant, since I had to use him on my last two cruises because of the website problem.