PaperSniper4

Is there a charge? Or are those drinks complimentary for GS and above guests? Doug

Another question - I've read about the concierge lounge.....something about self-service bar. Am I correct that one can pour himself a scotch or make a martini? Are all the fixings there for a martini, like olives, vermouth, etc. And of course, is that included if one is booked in a Grand Suite cabin or higher category?

Funny you mention that cabin. I just saw it 'way aft and we do like aft balconies. We much prefer the smaller, older ships of any cruise line. We have only sailed on a couple of those gigantic mega-ships and not much impressed us. It felt like being in a huge hotel instead of a ship at sea. Nice hotel, but still, we like cruising!😎 Doug

Super, thanks, that addresses many of our concerns. Yeah, I know what you mean about the lack of sky/sun. Usually a slight negative, but then again often a positive.

Thanks, that is good to know. Noise line scraping chairs, shows, etc is something we always try to avoid.

What is a "ck"?

We generally book a generic mini-suite or something about that category on Celebrity, HAL, Princess and NCL. We already have a Spacious Balcony Cabin(2B) booked on the Brilliance for fall 2024. However, I am now wondering about upgrading to a category GS. The videos I have viewed indicate it's a much larger and nicer cabin with a bathtub which my wife prefers. Negatives are those GS cabins are all under the Lido deck. Noise could be an issue perhaps? I am not familiar with what amenities come with a GS cabin. Royalcaribbean.com didn't give me the information I need to make my decision. For instance, many videos I saw indicated one could order diner (etc) from the MDR and have it delivered to the cabin. Also, the larger GS cabin appeared to have a place to eat inside in addition to out on the balcony. We're not interested in a butler or anything like that, but are there are other perks included with a GS such as beverage included in the mini-bar? Are there special "suite only" dining areas like Celebrity offers? Thanks for your thoughts, you experienced RCI sailors. 😎 Doug

Yep, my mistake my other two cruises scheduled are from NOLA, but the HAL one is from Port Everglades in October. I was told 545pm/1745 also by HAL customer service for our October Brilliance ot Seas cruise. Who knows? That cruise is about 18 months from now......Maybe it will be that time? Either that or at 430pm!😉 Doug

I know, I know. Remembered right after I pressed ENTER to post. We have three cruises scheduled in the next 18 months. Two of them are from NOLA, the third is our Nieuw Amsterdam cruise from Port Everglades. 😊

Maybe they are reacting to all the old folks on their cruises who historically do things earlier...including going to bed earlier! I know we do, but our typical dining time at home is 6pm, and bed around 10pm. Twenty years ago you could subtract about 2 hours from our times. Ha, yeah, bed checks might be next! <g> But come on HAL, 5PM is too early for even us old farts! The chat I had said dinner was 545p, but that would be far from the first time I've gotten incorrect information with any cruise line's customer service. Doug

For our Caribbean cruise from NOLA in October, I hope you are correct about a later dining time than 5pm.

Yipes! Was it 1700/5pm the other nights also? We eat early, but that's early for even us. A month or so ago I did a chat at hollandamerican.com and was told the early fixed/traditional seating was 1745/545pm (N Amsterdam October 2023). That time would be great for us. If we have to eat at your earlier time, we'll be having cocktails only minutes after arising from our afternoon naps!😳 Doug

Most do, yes. In our situation and health, I am more concerned about having to cancel for a reason NOT covered, but covered under the insurance (Cruise line or independent company) CFAR clause. It's tough booking a cruise way early - so much can change in a year! Grand kids get married for instance. Doug

I have found that booking so far in advance is the only way to get the cabin category and location we prefer. So we do the same thing. We booked an October 2024 RCI cruise about two months ago. That's about 18 months in advance. I have never had to cancel due to our health, but we have for other family members and of course "the virus" in years past. So you are smart to get a refundable. At our age it only makes sense to always get a refundable deposit and insurance for at least that deposit immediately. If we can only get a non-refundable deposit, we'll insure just the deposit then then remaining balance two months prior to the final payment date. The two months is to protect us from that nasty "pre-existing" clause in every insurance we've gotten. Doug

I'm more worried about the non-refundable deposits.

"At this time, deposit requirements for balcony, oceanview, and interior accommodations will remain unchanged".....AT THIS TIME. Anyone doubt this will be cabin and industry wide in a few years?🤔 Doug

Try this one, it worked a few weeks ago: world_cruise_reservations@hollandamerica.com

Yes, my TA said the same thing; new bookings only. He was only saying what HAL told him. However, I emailed HAL (world_cruise_reservations@hollandamerica.com> on 5/1 and asked if my military appreciation could be approved to our upcoming HAL cruise 10/2023. I had recently submitted my military (info to SheerID.com) on 4/1 and gotten an "approval" email from SheerID in a few days. In that email to HAL I requested verification of my Stockholder Benefit (which I had sent to that email 4/29) and requested that my military appreciation be applied to the upcoming cruise. Never hurts to ask y'know.😉 If they said no I'd have had no problem with that. I received an email within a week or too that delineated my OBCs, which was nice because they cannot be seen at HAL.com. The agent also explained " Onboard credit on your booking will not display in your cruise planner at HollandAmerica.com or on the Navigator app because it is for onboard spending because you do not have access to use it prior to boarding your cruise. Your travel agent can confirm the amount of onboard credit on your booking, and once you are onboard the ship you will see the credit in your onboard account via the Navigator app or the smart TV in your stateroom. If there is anything further, please contact General Reservations 877-724-5425." The next day I asked my TA to send me an revised invoice for the cruise, and it included the military and stockholder benefits. The underlined section above is unique to HAL in my experience. So we cannot see that OBC until we're onboard. If you apply for the benefit, ask your TA for an updated invoice. BTW, to best of my knowledge, the military appreciation credit is refundable and the stockholder benefit is not refundable. That is the case on at least Princess with whom we sail the most. Each cruise line probably decides about that. I don't know how it will work with HAL since this is the first time I've had a military appreciation benefit on the 5 or 6 HAL cruises we've taken. I was not aware they offered that benefit before.....they may have and I was just not aware of it. Our last HAL cruise was about 5 years ago. BTW and not asked but answered here anyway, HIA OBC (specialty dining, excursion) can be used prior to sailing. I have already booked <at HAL.com> a specialty dining for our Oct 2023 cruise, but the excursions are not yet available for booking by anyone with or without a HIA excursion credit. I was told a month ago the excursions would become available at HAL.com about 120 days prior to sailing. Every cruise line seems to have vastly different and random restrictions on that; even within the Carnival Corporation umbrella. Doug

Good idea, never thought of that. That would work fine for our favorite bartender/server. Any idea how I could specify to whom that tip would go? And how could I do it for our room steward, tipping that happens nearly 100% of the time. Usually in the past he/she'd be give a token amount, around $20 in cash; although we had one steward that got a lot more!😎 Doug

Good suggestion, Chief. We stopped taking nearly all shore excursions in the Caribbean about 15 years ago. That's where we sail 80% of the time; been there, done that. However, we will take an excursion or buy something onboard just to burn up that nonrefundable credit! We ain't leaving any money on the table!😎 We have our favorite places to visit, especially in Cozumel. But those are not ship excursions. We take a cab into town to visit our favorite bar/restaurant.

Ha, everyone is a comedian!😎 My wife did a spa treatment once on a Princess ship, and was very, very disappointed! She said never again, and I encouraged that feeling! Doug

Thanks. That's for any nonrefundable OBC ....has nothing to do with a CN/CF just to be clear. Like others have said here, we often find it difficult to spend our nonrefundable OBC since we buy very little on board. I had counted on using the $175 nonrefundable OBC we have on our next NCL cruise's gratuities charge, but now I discover I cannot do that. I won't leave that nonrefundable in my account when I settle my bill; we will force ourselves to spend it somehow on the ship! My wife will like that idea; me, not so much.😉 Another idea I just had.....since I cannot use the nonrefundable OBC to pay the "required" gratuities, can I use it to pay additional gratuities to certain individuals? For instance, we usually give cash to our favorite staff such as the steward, waiter, etc. I'd rather do that with the nonrefundable OBC if possible....better than blowing it on overpriced items in the ship's stores. That would save me money since the cash to the favorite staff comes out of my pocket during the cruise. Doug

Thanks. Unfortunately, in our case that nonrefundable OBC is nearly worthless to us. We have $175 (my memory sometimes is wrong), and we rarely spend more than $50 or so on the ship. Oh, we can force ourselves to spend it all, but that means buying things, usually at a high price, that we don't really need....or might not be able to fit into our suitcases!😉 Doug

So in my case, I could not use any nonrefundable OBC to pay for a/those CNs. That is clear. But I'm unclear on the rest. Let's say I buy two CNs on the last day of the cruise, a day on which I have no OBC in my account of any type. How much would me credit card/ shipboard account be charged? The cost of one CN, or the cost of two CNs? Next question; how long would I have to book another cruise? And how is my existing CN<s> applied toward that booking? Can it be used as ONLY nonrefundable OBC on that future cruise, making it nearly worthless in my case. Or would it apply to the total cost of my cruise? Or would it go towards the deposit for my cruise? Or would it be refundable OBC, that if not used by the end of that future cruise, could be refunded to my credit card.....or maybe kept "in the bank" for another future cruise? Thanks to all who are trying to explain how all this works. It is confusing to those as ignorant as I am!🤔 Doug

Thanks for the replies on my question. I'll have to study them and whatever other info I can find on CN/CF. Doug