marianoam

15 hours ago, marianoam said:

Is the Freestyle machine available for those with Quench/Signature/Elite Package? Or just for the Coca Cola Package?

I'm quoting myself. I just found out every package is allowed to use the Freestyle machine. For example, the description of the Quench Package in HAL site says:

Is the Freestyle machine available for those with Quench/Signature/Elite Package? Or just for the Coca Cola Package?

10 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

The "Self Test" is described on the testing FAQ's web page.  It doesn't appear to be an honor system at all.

 

FAQs for Cruises from U.S. & Canada (hollandamerica.com)

 

Vaccinated guests may use a medically observed self-test (sometimes referred to a at-home test) that meets the following criteria:

• Only medically observed self-tests will be accepted. The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Please note, antigen tests are accepted for fully vaccinated guests, but not for unvaccinated guests.
• The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. Some FDA-authorized self-tests that include a telehealth service may require a prescription. 
• The telehealth provider must confirm the person’s identity, observe the specimen collection and testing procedures, confirm the test result, and issue a report that meets the requirements of the acceptable proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Holland America Line has partnered with Optum and Radeas so that U.S.-based vaccinated guests can order an FDA-authorized at-home antigen test kit, shipped to home. These at-home tests include a telehealth service. Please place your order with enough time to be shipped prior to your boarding. Order your Optum test kit online here * (2-pack for $69.99 or 3-pack for $99.99). Order your Radeas single pack for $45 here. An eMed 6-pack is available here.

 

Optum Link https://cruise.emed.com?utm_source=carnival-corporation&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=two&utm_campaign=travel_ready_covid_test

 

EMed Link for 6-pack https://store.emed.com/s/product/detail/01t8c00000M7G8yAAF?utm_source=website&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=Carnival+6+Pack&utm_id=Carnival+Cruise+Line+-+6+Pack+Link  

 

Radeas Link https://cruise.radeas.com/

Those FAQs have yet to be updated. The last update was on June 30th.

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Perhaps lines are looking at it as a differentiator. And/or they may be drawing on data collected from recent email surveys about how passengers feel about testing and vaccination.

 

Then again, HAL just may be last out of the gate (as is often the case)....

Interesting. They may want to target customers who feel safe in an environment of vaccinated and tested people.

Sooner or later, however, they will have to keep relaxing their protocols.

How can I tell if something is included if I get one beverage and then check my account? What should I see there? A charge and then a discount? Nothing because it was not charged? A charge which would be discounted at the end of the cruise? Sorry, newbie at HAL here...

5 minutes ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

I have posted the complete fall 2021 to spring 2022 sailing list here: 

 

Wow! Thank you so much!

16 minutes ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

@marianoam I have been watching deployments from HAL carefully and when I see Caribbean posted will put a post on CruiseCritic. My VERY murky Crystal ball is telling me they will be out mid/late November in time for any Black Friday / Cyber week sales boost / promos. #watchthisspace

Excellent! Thanks!

4 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

HAL doesn't normally operate in the Caribbean during the summer months. So, really, you are waiting for Winter 2021-22 schedules.

Yes, I'm waiting for October/November itineraries.

8 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

Carnival is is booking through spring of 2023 actually. They are a different brand with a different market segment. It’s not unusual for their client base to book 15, 18, 24+ months out for a 3 or 4 day cruise and want to pay $25/month to pay it off.  Additionally far fewer of their ships change itineraries or home ports seasonally. Most operate the same itinerary pattern from the same port year after year after year, so easier to offer bookings further out.

 

By comparison most HAL Caribbean itineraries see very few bookings outside of 5-6 months prior to sailing, and even then the bulk of their Caribbean capacity sells within 120 days or less to departure.  HAL cruisers are more likely to make 1or 2 total payments.  There’s just not the imperative for HAL to release Caribbean sailings as far out as their competition. 
 

That said I think HAL are waiting to release Caribbean sailings until they get everything else in their portfolio settled. They just released some Sea of Cortez and Hawaii/Tahiti sailings on Zuiderdam for fall 2021 - spring 2022 last week that replace recent cancellations from the Volendam being redeployed.  There are still gaps in her schedule that I believe will eventually be filled in with full Panama Canal transits.  They are still working on reaccomodation of 2021 Grand South America guests to the 2022 Grand South America sailing (which has yet to be made publicly available).  They just made changes to Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam summer 2021 Europe sailings, and the list goes on.

 

All indicators point to 4 ships being deployed for the full fall 2021 to spring 2022 Caribbean season - Rotterdam VII, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam.  2 will most likely be used for 7 day Eastern/Western alternating cruises, 1 on 10&11 day Southern Caribbean sailings and 1 for 10/11 day partial Panama Canal Transits - all round trip Ft Lauderdale.  There maybe a few 10-14 day cruises on Zaandam/Volendam to fill gaps between other sailings in their schedules, but those are likely one offs. HAL is unlikely to return to Tampa for 2021/22.  This is a pretty standard and predictable schedule for HAL, so if you know what you are looking for look at what’s on the schedule for Winter/Spring 2021, know that fall 21 to spring 22 will likely be a cut and paste and just be patient, it will eventually be bookable

Great post, super clear. Thanks!

This starts to be weird... Still no HAL's Caribbean itineraries published beyond April 2021.

On the other hand, Carnival has already released their itineraries for all 2021 (and 2022!) Caribbean cruises.

How are we supposed to spend our FCC if the itineraries are not released? Something's not right here...

Hey there! I'm trying to reorganize a Caribbean cruise which was just canceled, but I can only see Caribbean itineraries for the first half of 2021. I know they normally stop in April and restart in October, but it seems that second batch has not been released yet for 2021. It's weird, because Carnival has already released those itineraries... Any thoughts?

On 5/7/2020 at 4:09 PM, Flying-Dragon said:

 

Several people have mentioned this - the bottom sentence on the announcement mentions cash refunds.

And what about the OBC of $250 pp they were offering in previous cancellations?

It seems this new batch of cancellations doesn't include the OBC. It's just 125% FCC...

On 5/8/2020 at 12:45 AM, wyobean said:

“In addition, we want to make sure you have ample time to use this credit, so we have updated the terms and conditions accordingly. Your FCC is now valid for 12 months from the date of this notification and may be used to book sailings departing through December 31, 2022.”

 

This was in my email. Did I misunderstand? I thought we had until 12-31-21 to book using the FCC or request a refund. According to this I only have until May 7, 2021 to book. Just curious if anyone kept a copy...I can’t find that I did...thought I had copies of everything!

You are right. The email sent on March 14 states that the FCC would be valid until December 31, 2021. Now it seems it's valid until May 7, 2021...

This is the email they sent on March 14:

3 hours ago, terry&mike said:

Again, I don't know the particulars of your offer, and there are a few different offers out there, I'm not sure what your FCC will be. In using your example, you could book your cruise for $1340 ($1000 + $340) and apply your $350 credit card deposit. When your FCC comes through to you, apply the $1000 to the $990 balance due. Once that is done, I would request a $10 refund of the over payment back to your credit card. In this example, your full $1000 FCC is used to pay for cruise fare, and you have used your credit card to pay for the $340 taxes. Also, I see you are in Argentina, and things may be handled differently there; I am in U.S.

Thanks! Super clear.

I have a related doubt. Last year I paid $800 + taxes for a cruise that was recently canceled. I should receive $1000 in FCC. If my new cruise is $1000 + $340 (taxes) and the minimum deposit is $350 (which I have to pay by credit card). Can I then later apply (almost) all my FCC to pay the rest? I would use $990 of my FCC.

If I want to do that, I need them to consider my deposit ($350) as taxes, as I can't use my FCC for taxes.

4 minutes ago, hope24 said:

When filling the application do I do it twice?  One  with my name . One with my husband's name .

The site is clear:

Please enter the following information below regarding your booking:

• Submit one request per booking
• Include one guest name per booking

39 minutes ago, elkay68 said:

Still have not received email, however our cruise is not until April 4th. Thank you for sharing.

Mine is April 15th and I got it a few hours ago. Check your spam folder.

I got that same offer. Is it $250 per person or stateroom? That’s not clear.

Anyone?

Hi, everybody.

Next month I will be sailing on Veendam. This will be my first time with HAL.

I like to purchase every drink individually, as I don't drink too much (and I drink basically sodas).

If I want a can of soda (instead of fountain soda), should I ask for it specifically? Do they offer both versions and with different prices? Or it depends of where I purchase it? (Buffet vs MDR vs bars).

Thanks!

1 minute ago, knittinggirl said:

We had our itinerary changed on the Veendam about a year ago.  We lost two ports before our cruise, and our 13-day cruise turned into an 11-day cruise.  We had a fare reduction, OBC and port fees adjusted before payoff date.

 

We also had a few ports cancelled on an ongoing cruise.  There we got a port fee refund.  We also had a port stay extended a few times, but no changes in the port fees. 

 

We had a port cancelled on our last cruise, and we ended up getting to Halifax a day early for an overnight.  Strangest thing, the port was allowing us off the ship, they organized extra EXC tours, but the shops in the port were not open until the next day, the day we were originally scheduled to arrive.

My cruise has been fully paid (it was a promo rate). When you got the port refunds, where they refunded to your credit card?

3 minutes ago, CJcruzer said:

 

It is probably a goodwill gesture on behalf of HAL for the change in itinerary, not actual port fee/gov’t tax reduction - those are usually not an even dollar amount, anyway,

 

So as it is being given by the cruise-line as compensation, I would likely say that it is NOT redeemable for cash.  A wine package, specialty dining, spa treatment should use that up fairly quickly.  Also perhaps booking  a shore excursion once on board ?    

 

Carol.

I just needed one excursion, which I have already booked in advance... I will try to cash it out at the casino... That cash would be extremely useful for the rest of my trip once I debark.

3 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

They're two different issues.  I believe the OBC is for your inconvenience and any refund of the port fees will be credited to your onboard account as catl331 says.  Yes, the port fee credit should be refundable.  But, honestly, your HSC will likely eat up most of that $200, unless you have pre-paid gratuities.  I never have any issue spending the non refundable OBC, even with pre-paid grats.

Yes, my gratuities have been prepaid. So I'm kinda stuck with $200 in OBC that I don't know if I need... Can I buy chips at the casino with that? Even if they are "promotional" chips? Or open an account in the slot machines?

Just now, catl331 said:

We've always gotten them credited to our on-board account ... like OBC.

As refundable OBC, I assume, as it's money you've already paid and belongs to you. Right?

But the e-mail with this $200 OBC clearly says that it can't be redeemed by cash. So maybe it is not related to port fees... 

Just now, Alberta Quilter said:

I've not experienced a cancelled port prior to the cruise before but have during the cruise.  While onboard, the port fees are credited to one's onboard account.  I would think that would be the easiest way for them to credit it back to you.  Did it not say on your notification of the itinerary change (or when you were offered the OBC)?

No, it just says that we'll be receiving $100 pp as OBC (courtesy), that can't be used in the casino or redeemed for cash. My TA just told me that port fees will be credited 7 days after debarkation.

So, I assume this OBC is a courtesy and the fees will be a credit. On my credit card? As a check? I don't know.