NiceAunt

Just booked the Greek Islands Cruise round trip Athens/Athens for August/September 2025. We will probably go to Athens a day or two ahead of time to allow for travel delays, etc. Has anyone gone to Athens a day or so early? If so, where did you stay?

Greetings! Has anyone stayed in a Sky Suite on the 8th floor of the Constellation recently? There are some concerning photos of a balcony cabin as well as the public areas on the 4th floor on a Facebook page for this ship (water leaks, wet/dry vacs in the hallways, stains, painters tape around the doors, etc). The pics are from someone on board now. Not going to change our minds, just curious. Thank you!

Thanks! Didn’t know he was with a trip insurance place!

Thanks, Smokey, I'm aware of that. Just doing some research first so I can be better informed.

Blessedwith10 - I was searching the forums for this same topic and found your post. May I ask you to please post if you are successful in doing this ahead of time? I am cruising on Holland America soon and trying to do the exact same thing. They won't allow it - said I have to cancel each person and rebook at the current rate, which makes no sense at all when all 6 rooms are paid for and as cruiseguy just said, one of the original people on the booking is staying on the booking. Just trying to see what the other lines will do before I call back and ask to speak to a manager at HAL. Like you probably do, there are specific reasons for needing to have this done ahead of time and not switching once one board.

Thank you, Steve. I think it’s likely too late. The trip is next month. Can I PM you?

Adding to my above post.....just occurred to me that travel insurance may be out of the question as the father-in-law's condition is likely considered a "pre-existing condition". I looked at several insurance companies websites more closely and see that many have a 60-180 day "look back". I think I just answered my own question but if anyone has any other suggestions, I'm open! Other than telling them they shoud have bought travel insurance to begin with!!! 🙂

Hello! Has anyone with travel insurance had to file a claim when they could not travel due to a non-travelling family member became seriously ill prior to departure? Our daughter's father-in-law was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and may be under hospice care (at home) prior to our family cruise. Our dauther and SIL are on this cruise with the rest of our family. They (daughter and SIL) have not yet purchased travel insurance. I called a few companies... Allianz, Costco, and both said a cancellation for a non-travelling family member would be covered for a "life threatening situation" or "hospitilization". I asked both agents if "hospice care at home" would be considered life threatening and was told yes, but I admit I am skeptical. The cost of the insurance is only a few hundred bucks, and would be worth if it in fact works. It's a risk I know. The agents on the phone say it would be covered, but then we could try to file a claim and it is not covered. The other option is to do nothing and let our daughter and SIL cancel out prior to sailing if they have to and then move another one of our party into their assigned cabin (getting all details squared away with the cruise line ahead of time of course). We have two elderly adults travelling with us who are currently "rooming together" and we could just absorb the cost of our daughter and SIL's cabin and move one of the elderly into their cabin so they have a private cabin. The single supplment is 150%. So basically same amount of $$ spent and the elderly adults get private cabins. Thoughts, anyone? Thank you!!!

Hello! Important question here. LOL! My family of Philadelphia Eagles fans (and one Kansas City Chiefs fan) will be onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam’s Thanksgiving Cruise. The highly anticipated rematch between the Eagles and Chiefs will be the Monday night game. My gang wants to watch this game and are assuming it be shown on the ship. I hate to be skeptical, but wondering if it’s even possible on this ship? We were on the Zaandam in January and were able to get the playoffs but the reception wasn’t that great. Anyone been on this ship recently who can comment on the quality of the TV reception? Many thanks!

Hello! My husband and I are taking our blended family of 11 on a Thanksgiving Cruise. Adult children, spouses, nephews, mother, in-laws, etc. We are all adults ages 25-80. I would like to give everyone a small cruise memento when we board. My husband has requested no family tee-shirts, hats or can koozies. I was thinking of a magnet with our picture and date of cruise, or maybe a small tote bag. Prefer to stay under $20 per item. Any and all ideas are appreciated! Thank you!!!

For those of you who had to quarantine, were you able to quarantine in your own room or did they move you to another area designated on the ship for quarantining? Thank you!

We are room 9067 this December. Our firstCelebrity Cruise. It was the last room left on this cruise which made me kinda nervous…how was it?

Hi! My husband and I are taking our entire family on a cruise for Thanksgiving 2023 on the Niew Amsterdam. Ages 25 to 80. We have booked 6 veranda cabins on Deck 7. No one except the two of us and two orhers have ever been on a cruise before. I have been reading a lot that the NA may be headed for dry dock either the week after our cruise or a few weeks after. Either way, very soon after. This will be our 2nd HAL cruise. Our more experienced cruising friends are telling us to avoid this at all costs…that the ship is in not great shape if going to dry dock. I did read a few posts that there are/have been propulsion issues, air conditioners in such disrepair that they are leaking, toilets overflowing etc. I understand dry dock may also be things like refreshening paint, carpet,etc, not just major repairs. I also realize not every cabin experiences these issues. Obviously, no ship is without problems from time to time and everyone’s definition of problems is different, but it’s a lot of money to be taking our family on a trip that may end up being not so nice if things are in a state of disrepair. We obviously want them all to have a good first cruise experience. I get it that everyone’s opinion is different, but should I be worried about the ship heading to dry dock right after our trip ends? Pros? Cons? Thanks for any opinions.

Yes! Thanks for catching that typo!

Our family of 11 will be on board the Nieuw Amsterdam from 11/18-11/24/2023. Thanksgiving Day is on 11/23 and we are currently scheduled to be in Grand Turk that day from 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM. I am going to make a reservation for all of us for dinner at 6:00 PM (groups this size can dine at 5:30, 6:00, 8:30 or 9:00) and this must be done in advance in writing per the Shipboard Services staff I spoke to on the phone. I am fine with that and will fill out and send in the proper request form. We really don't like dining at 8:30 or 9:00 PM. My question has to do with the excursions available in Grand Turk. The excursions for this cruise are not up yet, but from my research it doesn't appear that there are many excursions that would have some of us gone all day and pushing on that 6:00 PM dinner reservation. Is that a correct assumption? Looks to be things like a couple of hours on the beach, snorkeling, maybe a buggy ride, renting a golf cart for a few hours, going to Margaritaville, things like that. Based on that, it appears that a 6:00 PM reservation time should be just fine. Appreciate any comment from anyone who has done something like this. Thank you!

We are on board the Holland America Zaandam right now. My husband had a a tooth break off yesterday and the concierge is looking for a dentist for him to see in Puerta Vallarta while in port tomorrow. Hope your experience was okay!?

We are on the same cruise, also Deck 7! In a Neptune Suite.

Thanks, that is exactly the plan! She would never do this on her own, or would do it as inexpensive as possible. She just told me she can't go anywhere this year because her investment account is down. I don't think she realizes we are going to treat her.

Thank you! When I said HA was probably older clientele, I meant that as a positive, not a negative! 😁 I’m 62 and my husband is 72. A few more family members are now joining us. Other than 2 who are in late 20’s, the rest of the family are between 40-55, maybe one age 80. So no “kids” that we would worry about not having enough kid stuff to do. I hadn’t given much thought to cabins. I prefer traditional balcony or verandah-so I will definitely will check out the Celebrity boards. My husband and I have decided to do the Holland America Panama Canal cruise in January and it will be on the small ship, the Zaandam. I think that will give us a good flavor for Holland America and then when we get back, I can narrow it down better between the two. Thanks again!

Hello! So based on everyone's calendars, we have come up with 2 options: Holland America Neuw Amsterdam - 7 Day EC Cruise to Bahamas, San Juan, St. Thomas, T&C Celebrity Apex - 7 Days to San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Puerta Plata Both look very nice. The Apex is a new ship put into service in 2021. I realize it's all subjective to what people like. My husband is leaning towards the Celebrity because it's a newer ship. My thought is the HA will likely be older clientele, i.e. not a lot of kids. Thoughts anyone? Many thanks in advance!

Thanks! I should have also included that this will also be her very FIRST cruise ever, so definitely want to make it memorable for sure!

Thank you! Will do that! Appreciate the suggestion.

HI everyone. I've searched around the site and am not sure where to post this so am starting here. My 80-year old mother wants to go on a River Cruise this summer, specifically one from Paris to Normandy. She is very active and gets around great. She still kyaks and hikes so no issues with mobility. I have had all sorts of recommendations, from Viking to Tauck to Uniworld. They all seem fairly comparable or am I missing something? I'd like to get a room with a balcony and ideally travel in July which is her birthday month. We don't need super super fancy but she says this is the last year she will travel, so I'd like to do it up nice for her. Any and all pros and cons of each of these lines are welcome. Thank you in advance! And if this should be posted somewhere else, or someone can direct me to where I could find the comparisons, it would be greatly appreciated!

Yes, that would help! Anywhere on the East Coast is fine. Our daughter has been surfing the internet and saw two she likes. 1) Celebrity leaving Fort Lauderdale on 11/21-11/30 through Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao. (My personal favorite) 2) Holland America leaving Fort Lauderdale on 11/18-11/25 through the Eastern Caribbean.