gomama5996

Woohoo!  Thank you - I am ready to go!

It seems to be better than it used to be but it's still pretty wonky. There is nothing pre-cruise that you can do on the app that you cannot do on the website. I was thinking how much better it was behaving and then last night, boom, all of my dining reservations disappeared from the app. LOL - So just be forewarned and don't be alarmed if things appear and disappear while using it.  I really love it onboard though - lots of very useful features.

Kazu - Yes - It is the 19-day Panama Canal leaving on April 7th.  Way back when I booked it, it was a 17- day leaving on the 9th.  Love it when they add a couple days to my itinerary!! Thank you.

This info is from the FAQ section of the HAL website - and yes, you can open it yourself, "corkage fee" is just the term for the charge. 

Revised Policy effective June 1st, 2021

Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages on board for consumption or any other use except as follows:

Guests 21 years and older may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less). Limitations apply. Wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused.

Wine purchased during company-sponsored shore excursions that visit local wineries are exempt from the on-board corkage fee (offer limited to one bottle of wine per person).

Thank you all for this info! Solves my problem - don't know why I have such a difficult time finding what I need on the HAL website. 

In the past we have always each brought along a bottle of Cabernet to have in our cabin. I realize that now we can STILL do that but will be charged a $20 corkage fee per bottle.  So my question is ...

Is there a place on board that we can purchase a bottle for our cabin?  It seems like I recall the alcohol in the gift shop is held until the end of your cruise. If they even have wine - seems like I'm only remembering bottles of liquor.

I did notice that a "bonvoyage package" can be purchased for $47. But that is for a bottle of sparkling champagne upon departure.  Also, in the past we have purchased a wine package of 6 or 8 bottles that were kept and served to us in the various restaurants, but I'm unable to even find THAT on the HAL website.

Just seems like the hassle of finding a place to purchase wine upon arrival in Fort Lauderdale is not worth it anymore when we have to pay $20 per bottle on top of that. Would prefer to just spend $40 or $50 and purchase a bottle directly from HAL.  Anyone know if this is possible?

Thanks!  (Leaving next month on the Nieuw Amsterdam / Panama Canal crossing!)

We will be disembarking in San Diego after a Panama Canal crossing in late April.  We originally had four hours before our flight home - perfect timing for us. We just received notice that our flight was cancelled and the new flight will be ten hours after disembarkation. No problem, but now to find something to occupy our time rather than sitting in the airport. Fortunately there are lots of things to do nearby, but what to do with our luggage?

I found a luggage storage company only a half mile from the cruise terminal called Bounce. They have locations worldwide and a handy phone app to reserve/manage reservations. It looks ideal and the price is right but would love to hear of some firsthand experience.  Has anyone here ever used the services of this company? 

Thank you!

A couple of weeks ago I called HAL with a question prior to making my final payment. I was also going to add insurance and make my final payment on the website. I was told that THEY had to add the insurance and that I could not do it myself. So I went ahead and had them do it and made my final payment over the phone. Since then I have booked a couple of shore excursions, as I always have, with no problems whatsoever. 

I'm always the one to book the cruises in our household.  My DH and I, together, decide where we want to go, but I am the one to actually call our PCC and book it.  I am totally aware that the published price on the HAL website is not what we will be charged, but DH is not.  I call our PCC and she then gives me the Mariner#/Casino rate.  We just booked a Panama Canal for April 2022 and we saved $978 total with the discounted rate versus the published rate. Then (my favorite part), I go tell DH what the new rate is and he is thrilled!  He thinks I possess some sort of cruise-fare-booking voodoo.  LOL - then I go buy a new pair of shoes!  (Shhh! Don't tell …)

On 5/11/2020 at 8:06 PM, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

I HAVE!!!!!  On April 30th I put down a deposit on the 3/31/22 Volendam 16 day Panama Canal.  We'll physically be transiting the canal on my 50th birthday.  The pricing with an agency group discount, my casino discount and the "Have it all" promo made it a deal too good to pass up - especially when the timing was so perfect!!!!!

Same with us! We booked a Panama Canal in April 2022 Nieuw Amsterdam and I turn 60 on the actual day we will be transiting.  Such a bright spot on the horizon!

Just booked the following cruise to celebrate my #60 Birthday!!  It's a LONG way off but feels good to do something that feels "normal".  And crossing my fingers, since it is so far away, it will for sure GO!  

Embarkation Date:  Apr 9, 2022

Ship:  Nieuw Amsterdam

# Days:  17

Cruise:  Panama Canal / Ft Lauderdale to San Diego

Who:  My DH & I

Thank you!

I remember those giant bags. We used to have two of them in the 90's and used them when we would travel to Asia for several weeks at a time for my dh's business. They were huge! They never worried about weight back then either. Once I curled up in one and my dh could almost zip me up in it!  I was less bulky back then. LOL - and much more limber. And easier entertained. LOL.

Hi there!  My dh and I are booked on the following cruise:

Ship:  Eurodam

Date:  Sept 29, 2019

Cruise: 16 day Collector R/T Vancouver - Hawaii

Bill & Jeanie

Thank you so much!

Thanks - hmmm, with the "1" wine choices probably not good for us. We prefer the "3" cabernet. 

I appreciate your input.

We purchased the "Sommelier Suite Cellar No. 3" wine package on our last cruise. This is the top tier wine package and we chose it as we particularly like Wente wines that are available in the No. 3 category.

For our upcoming cruise in September, I see something available called the "Cellar Master Package" that includes: 2 wine tasting events, 2 evenings at Pinnacle Grill, 6 bottles from the sommelier cellar, a Holland America Line commemorative bottle and wine gift.

Would anyone happen to know what category (No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3) is included in this package?  OR if you can upgrade it?  Upgrading is not an option when ordering it on the HAL website.

What were the wine tasting events like?  Would you purchase it again?  We will probably eat at PG a couple of times anyway, so this might be the best deal. 

Also, can it be purchased on embarkation day? Or must it be purchases ahead of time?

Thanks for any information you might share!

I always tip hotel housekeepers and only a few years ago, when I began participating in another travel message board, learned that many people do not. I'm in my 50's and remember as a little child my parents leaving change for the maids at the old Travel Lodges and Howard Johnsons. They told me that you should always tip anyone that scrubs out the sink and shower, handles your bedding, or cleans the toilet after you have used it. They also taught me to treat others the way I would like to be treated. And believe me, LOL, if I made a living wiping up other folks' hair, etc. I would certainly appreciate a buck or two on the nightstand!

Perfect - thanks for this great info!

Okay - got it. I wasn't clear on the diff between an "upgrade" and an "upsell". Glad I asked ... :)

Thank you for the responses!!

We have quite some time before any upgrades would be offered but my question is:

Are upgrade offers only offered when you book directly thru HAL? Or, if there are any available, will they send an offer to my TA with a potential offer?

Just wondering so that if one happens to go to her rather than me, I can instruct my TA as to a threshold that we would be willing to accept so that she can jump on it for us.

And thanks so much for all of the excellent info regarding cruising on HAL again for the first time since 1995!

Jeanie

Oosterdam

October 16, 2015

21-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer / Wayfarer

Celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary !!