Mary229

Bon Voyage

4 minutes ago, Goldenrosebags said:

We wrongly assumed that by using flight ease they would try to help us catch our cruise somewhere. They didn't try to do anything at all and hung up on us 3 times. We understood that they would be busy but we talked to people who got on halfway through the first week so we know it was doable. Delta got us on a flight eventually and gave us money for various other things. Our problem was that HAL made no attempt to help us get there and we couldn't afford another flight last minute on our own. They could have tried to fly us with a different company if Delta was having the worst problem ( which they were). I know HAL has no guarentee to give us our money back. But considering what they lead everyone to believe about their flight guarantee we were hoping for a replacement cruise. That's all.

I agree that the FE statement should be rewritten. I did fly Delta that week on my own, no FE.  I was concerned and did actually book a second refundable flight to be canceled an hour prior which is what we did. It was a crazy, weird situation.  I am still hoping HAL offers you some help but you will need to be patient. 

5 hours ago, syesmar said:

@Goldenrosebags You may also want to check with your credit card to see if they have travel insurance. I’ve successfully used them as a supplement when my regular travel policy or airline didn’t cover everything I expected (ymmv). 
 

So am I to understand that if a person purchased their airfare from HAL and missed the first part of a B2B due to a missed flight, that there isn’t compensation from HAL or FlightEase? I had always understood that confidence to be reimbursed/compensated in these types of situations was a reason so many chose to purchase air from a cruise line.

HAL has no legally binding warranty or guarantee associated with Flight Ease.  It simply is an offer to assist and possibly wait for the person. They did indeed take their flight, it was delayed. Once you do not take the refund offered by an airline and actually step onto a flight to your final destination the airline has fulfilled their obligation.  (I was on a cruise that did wait for a plane full of FE pax, not the proper recourse but that is another story)

37 minutes ago, Goldenrosebags said:

Do you have an email that you sent your's too? I'm just wondering if it's different than the one they gave us on the ship.

I think I used guestservices@hollandamerica.com. 

@FlaMariner  for me I would be happy to do a crossing in 7 days as a replacement for air travel.  But if I am going to pay for a 14 day TA I would like a little variety and a few stops outside of the Caribbean.  I agree though, sailing is better than flying. 

I have had an expensive situation with HAL, nothing related to yours. It took 3 months and there were many long lulls in conversation.  Be sure you have written a concise letter detailing the precise course of events (can be sent by email).

12 hours ago, jlawrence01 said:

On what dish is this sauce served at the Dive In?  It sounds like something that would be interesting.

You can ask for peanut sauce with your fries. It is not this spicy version.  It is not always available.

12 hours ago, Sea42 said:

I love Virgin Marys. Does the "brightness" come from citrus?

Citrus, cayenne, some Indonesian spice and generous Tabasco

7 hours ago, Rubyfisch said:

I love good cocktails - my favorite is a virgin paloma - grapefruit juice, lime juice, seltzer, and a hint of salt.

That sounds good. I will try it next cruise. 

Non-alcoholic drinker here.  I have concocted, with the help of a bartender, what I call the Sassy Mary.  It is a “ bright” version of the Virgin Mary.  Bright means it lights up your mouth. 

@Sir PMP  recently we enjoyed the spicy version in the MDR from the Heritage menu.  It is much better than that offered at the Dive In.  Thanks for the recipe

37 minutes ago, Homala said:

It’s to Canada, Greenland, Iceland and back to Boston. I wish it was the one to Northern Europe, although returning to Boston will make our flights much easier than flying to or from Europe. Maybe next time. This will be our longest cruise (25 days) and, while I think we’ll do just fine, I want to build up the days a bit more before committing to even longer. 

I have done both and I have to tell you I like the one you are doing much better.  I just finished it and was absolutely delighted with this port intensive journey and even though I did enjoy VOV very much this is better IMHO.  It was one of the best cruises I have done in quite a while.  When you do it they have upgraded it to a Legendary Voyage, I think, and that should make it even more special.  
 

I signed up for the 2026 cruise which does the same thing but round trip from Rotterdam.  I expect to like that one also. 

I understand those not wanting to wander around a Caribbean port but there are so many other places they could stop instead.  I do have a rather disappointing transatlantic cruise coming up, wishing it would stop in the Azores rather than the Caribbean but it fits my schedule. If they were to remove those two ports and get me home earlier that would be fine but then they couldn’t charge me for 14 days, right😬. 

If I understand club Orange correctly you can only switch to the cabin in your exact category.  If you bought VC, then only VCs.   I always opt for the larger room but it would really depend on the itinerary, how many sea days and length of cruise

Does anyone have the recipe?  I forgot to ask.  
 

here are the bread pestos from Canaletto if anyone wants them

1 minute ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Note that I did say “added” security feature.

Yes but I don’t think it is security at all. 

3 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

I wonder if Boston just maintains a heightened alert for their ports?

No, this is a new development since I last sailed in 2022

3 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

To be clear, I had water/ice in my metal bottle and had to empty it in Boston, on embarkation, prior to security screening.  The liquid had to be completely emptied.  There was a fellow making us do it, and watching us to ensure it was done; he was also collecting the plastic bottles to the side.  This was on July 27/24.

I understood. Maybe they are cracking down to stop people from bringing liquor onboard 

We are noticing the same thing.  Some long cruises are over 50% sea days, I will vote no with my wallet to that. I cruise to go places and have no interest in being in a civilian navy

one reason may be the larger ships but there is no reason it becomes acceptable for me

@igraf  I was intrigued by the new itineraries myself. I have done the Riviera twice, once by choice and once as part of a return from South America.  These new itineraries put this cruise back on my list. 

50 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

Correct.  We had to empty our water bottles, even reusable ones. I've never had to do that before (but it's been a few years between cruises for me!).  Shampoos are still safe. 

That is weird.  I have never heard of that.  I did not have one on embarkation day but I did at every port.  I wonder if that is a Boston rule exclusively 

Too much good food in Boston to worry about a meal that will be repeated quite often during a 24 day cruise.  I do believe the 2025 version is classified as a “Legendary Voyage” with more interesting food choices but not on embarkation day. 

The only appetizers besides nuts and my own cocktail glass salad is during the occasional sail away party which might occur once on a 2 week cruise and usually at the lido bars.  Whoever sent that letter is clearly out of touch.  Maybe that is the issue - so many in Seattle have never sailed a typical sailing. It should be a requirement 

I agree that good customer service would dictate a grandfather period. Sorry this happened 

Sometimes the cruise terminals have a widows and orphan fund for mariners where they collect unused foreign currency. I passed one today in Halifax.  American Airlines (and perhaps others) also has a program onboard some of their international flights