Boatdrill

Thanks for sharing your experience on NCL. I'm curious about your thoughts on the design of the ship, inside and out, such as ample outdoor public space, and unobstructed sightlines to the ocean. Is there a wrap around walking or jogging deck ? For a Carib/warm weather cruise, is there enough outdoor space to accommodate lots of people comfortably ? How is the interior public space ? Is there a theme...glitzy, or soothing ? Colorful ? For example some large Princess ships have a hotel lobby type feel (also found in the wide passageways from lounge to lounge). Their interior decoration seems to have an Italian influence throughout. Sorry for all the questions. Just curious about what the ship looked like.

And across the Atlantic too ? Fans sing it when the NFL has games in Germany and UK.

Please see Heidi13's post #23 "Japan is also in the winter months and is further north than they usually want to travel, when making it around the World in 100 - 130 days."

Perhaps it's because at that time of year, it's winter in the North Pacific.

Like the couple who were visiting friends in Haifa on October 7.

Beware the advertised/published low price...it's often for a room in the lowest category (example VH in the Verandah category) or it's a non-refundable deposit.

Sometimes people who are late returning to the ship have legitimate reasons which are out of their control. The decision to pull the gangway is a serious one, and not meant to punish anyone.

What happened to you is ridiculous and completely avoidable. Shore Ex should NOT assume people will look at phones (if they have them) for updates. Either they send a note to your room the day before your tour, and/or call you in your room and leave a voice mail advising you of the change. Granted, that may mean they have to deliver over 100 notes to rooms, or make many phone calls. It doesn't matter. It's their job to communicate with you in the most reliable manner, which is as close to "in person" as possible. The dopey Navigator App doesn't cut it.

In the past I learned that If you call Reservations Accounting at HAL, don't choose the number prompt for Refunds. Chose the option for "Everything Else" (or whatever it is) and an agent will answer. .

Try this number: 1-888-663-5384. Reservations Accounting. Monday-Friday 7:00 am-5:00 pm Pacific time and/or email them at reservation_accounting@hollandamerica.com Good luck ! If the $11 is important to you, it should be important to them.

It was a link to the Daily Mail article about this story. I posted it on the Holland America board, and it was moved to this forum.

What do the scores mean ?

Sorry, had to share. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12904413/Royal-Caribbean-cat-smuggled-cruise-ship.html

Question: would it ever make sense to book CO just to get the upgrade, and do without the other perks ?

Well the news has hit the internet... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12881225/MSC-cruise-vacation-Bahamas-boston-canada-storms.html

Both single. 🙂

I know someone who met her future husband at HAL Lincoln Center Stage. When she arrived for the performance, the room was full, but there was one seat remaining. She asked the gentleman sitting next to it if it was taken, and he said no. They were married about a year later (and still are !) .

For another "wow", the new Icon of the Seas will debut In January. A friend refers to it as the Eyesore of the Seas.

Well....they have 11 ships. Do they need more ?

Or......HAL could return to the traditional theme nights in the MDR. French night, Italian night, etc. They're festive and crowd pleasers, with the appropriate menus as keepsakes (I have many from past cruise lines). Wine selection reflects the nationality of the evening. Tables decorated with national flags, No need for a new restaurant !

Koningsdam Crew/Pax: 1036/2650 Westerdam Crew/Pax: 812/1964

Just curious as to why you didn't cancel your second PG lunch with the host/hostess when you left the PG ?

Oh yes, it's very fair for the initial booking to be transferred to an agent of the customer's choice. Agents do more than just sell a cruise and then wait a very long time -sometimes a year or more- for their commission. And rarely is the booking "all sorted" and nothing else needs to be done. After the booking is transferred, it's now handled by the agent. The agent responds to requests by the client, such as: change in fare (for example add on, or remove, Have It All), change in dinner seating, change in room location, change in room category (from verandah to suite) and on and on. Room category fare changes sometimes lower the commission, and sometimes they increase the commission. Sometimes HAL lowers the fare, and if the booking is then refared by the agent as a courtesy to the client, the commission will decrease. If the booking is later cancelled by clients, the agent is not paid the commission. If the booking is cancelled after the commission has been paid to the agent, HAL recalls the payment, and the agent is left with no commission, despite the work already done. This is one reason some agents charge their clients an upfront fee to ensure they are compensated in some way for their work on the booking. Clients may also ask for pre or post cruise hotel recommendations, and the travel agent can book them for the clients. The agent will usually receive commission directly from the hotel. However, if the client asks the agent to add a pre or post cruise HAL hotel to the booking, the agent will not be paid commission from HAL, nor the hotel. Remember: the HAL rep may complete the initial booking, but they're paid for their time, no matter what happens to the booking later on.

It's a beautiful day in San Diego today. Your sailaway will be around sunset, yes ? The sky colors should be gorgeous. Have a great cruise and Happy Thanksgiving !

Just curious...why do you want a hole punched in your key card ? Not long ago it meant that the bearer wasn't old enough to drink alcohol. I have a feeling we're not talking about that....:)