elmac40

Yes-we were lucky to see them on Saturday when we disembarked from Rotterdam (number 7!!)

Thanks to everyone for the info-looks like a bit of a wait in Lerwick! 😩

Hi. Currently on the Rotterdam with a stop at Lerwick on 1st May. I’m a UK passport holder. 
 

I’m curious-does anyone have any experience of what it’s like to enter the UK at Lerwick? My understanding is that UK Border Force will come onto the ship. Are the queues long? Thanks

11 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

It is par for the course in North America, but I have not come across it in UK/EU.  Out of interest was it a UK contact phone number or dot CO dot UK email address?

I also have booked directly and used the UK office for telephone contact until the recent change.  Now the UK number goes to a call centre somewhere out in far east/Asia, so I call the Rotterdam office.

Hi

its a UK telephone number and uk email. She’s been very helpful with a question had.  👍

Hi

Just being curious.  I have been sailing with HAL for about 10 years and am a 4 star mariner. When booking my cruises I book them myself on the HAL website.

I recently received an email from a personal cruise consultant at HAL wishing me Bon Voyage for my forthcoming cruise.  It also states "As your Personal Cruise Consultant, I am here to assist you with all your reservation needs, providing specialised service and sharing insider tips and recommendations with you. This is a complimentary, one-on-one service for you. In the future, I will be available to assist you with your reservations from start to finish."

Is this a new offering or is it offered to everyone?

Thanks

9 hours ago, cruiseaholic78 said:

We will be sailing on N.S. From Rotterdam, no flights booked however we (would be) are able to book transfers see attached. 
The transfers can be booked separately wether you have booked with Flightease or not, I think this is exactly what the Op is looking for.

 

Hi. Just to confirm we booked our own flights. We made HAL aware of this and they gave us the location and pick up time at the meeting point. 👍

1 hour ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

Other choices

On 4/8/2024 at 1:33 AM, grannyshell said:

Here's the situation: we are flying into Amsterdam 2 days prior to our cruise departing from Rotterdam. If we stay in Amsterdam, could we make our way back to the airport on the morning of the cruise to take advantage of the HAL airport transfer to the cruise terminal in Rotterdam?

We’re doing almost the same and will get the HAL transfer.  We arrive 3 days before our cruise and are staying outside of Amsterdam. I would normally just get a train to Rotterdam and then a taxi to the ship, however on the embarkation day it’s the Kings Day holiday so we’re not taking chances with taxis, etc. 

We’ve booked a HAL transfer from Schipol to the ship so will get the train back to Schipol and meet at the Meeting Point as instructed by HAL. 😃

Thanks to everyone who responded-much appreciated! 

Hi everyone

I’m doing a cruise on the Rotterdam at the end of April. Before it, I’m going to visit Keukenhof gardens and was planning to buy some tulip bulbs while there. 

Am I allowed to take packs of bulbs on board? 
 

Many thanks 

@Cruising-along thanks so much for the info! Much appreciated! I was actually reading up on the visa process-there seems to be a lot of conflicting info. We’re flying into Singapore and then sailing into Indonesia so wasn’t sure. Think I’ll contact the Indonesian Embassy in London and get their advice. Will probably just end up going online and buying the Visa in advance just to be on the safe side. 

2 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

See Post #8

.

I did this tour and it was excellent.

 

You can visit Komodo private or ship's tour. Private tours can only be done with Indonesian government tour operators. You cannot go ashore if you have not booked a tour.

 

Thanks so much for the info. It’s TopKomodo tours that I’ve contacted and they’ve been great to deal with. 

Hi

As part of my cruise in December, I have a stop at Komodo. Can’t wait. 
 

For anyone who has recently done this stop, can you confirm if you are able to use local companies rather than HAL? The HAL excursions are basic but local companies offer a better variety. 
 

There has been speculation on the roll call that only HAL excursions can be used. I understand that you have to be pre booked on a tour in order to come ashore there. 
 

Any info appreciated 

2 hours ago, margo2011 said:

My family member just called us from St Croix said yesterday they did not get off the ship in St Thomas till 4-30 pm due to being ticket number 700 + to have documents checked by US immigration .They ended up short walk as had to be back onboard for sail away at 7pm really disappointed missing this lovely port and having to be up at 6am .

k 

So sorry to hear this - US immigration not well known for it's efficiency for us overseas travellers 😞

13 hours ago, redlock said:

Don't know if Marella allow this but some of the American lines have stopped opening the dividers, saying they wont open them due to fire regulations.

Thanks! I usually sail on Holland America and I've seen the balconies there being unlocked for travelling families

On 2/3/2024 at 6:12 PM, margo2011 said:

Hi I’m asking this on behalf of family who are travelling on the 15th February from the Uk and have been told they now need a Visa for visiting Barbados along with an ESTA for  for St Croix and San Juan .Can anyone confirm this please .They have tried contacting their travel agent and Marella but no luck .

 

thank you .

Best to check with the FCO UK Government website for UK travellers. 

Hi. I’ve booked 3 Deluxe Balcony cabins together for a cruise next year. Question-does anyone know if the balcony dividers can be unlocked so that we can have one large balcony? 
 

My first time on a Marella cruise! 
 

Thanks

Lynn 

Hello from Scotland and Happy New Year! 

We’re embarking our cruise on the Noordam in Singapore in December this year. 
 

Quick question-is the cruise terminal that HAL uses the one located near Marina Bay? 
 

Many thanks

10 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Thanks, I just moved a booking to a 22-day S/America on Oosterdam. Back in my Princess days, I really enjoyed those fwd decks on Island/Coral.

 

BTW - another great result in Cyprus today, watched the match live over here.

Yes great result! Just need Norway and Georgia to do us a favour on Tuesday and draw!! Scottish fans have already started booking flights to Germany!✈️

I was on the Oosterdam in March this year in South America for 14 days and Two weeks ago on a Mediterranean cruise for 7 nights. On both cruises the deck was only available for passengers for one day on each cruise. In SA for glacier viewing and in Santorini for the sunrise. 
 

Enjoy your cruise 😄

General consensus is most people like the Oosterdam. I was on the Oosterdam in February for a South America trip-loved it. Loved it so much and be booked 2 HAL cruises for next year! It would be interesting to ask what are YOU looking for in your cruise ship? 

Many thanks to you all for your comments 👍

Hi-we’re looking at a cruise next year-6 days in a Verandah stateroom on the Koningsdam. Is this categorised as a “suite” to attract the bonus Mariner points  or is that for stays in Signature or Neptune suites only? I’m 13 points away from my 4 star Mariner status (dreaming of my free laundry!😂😂). Thanks 
 

I’ve just printed our luggage tags for our Neptune suite and it has PRIORITY in yellow letters on it. Haven’t been allocated my boarding time yet so can comment on that. 

Here she is just passed the Erskine Bridge  - many people at Bowling Harbour to wave her off!

I can appreciate the disappointment on this thread, however another option (which I have no idea if it is feasable) is to get on a train at another location and arrive in Venice by train.  Stepping out of the Venice train station onto the grand canal is a wonderful experience.  Appreciate with the number of pax it might not be feasable but just a thought 🙂