TTFromSommersTown

I was just on the 34 day cruise from 3rd December to 6th January and I can tell you that I heard of no problems with A/C or toilets etc. during the cruise. The ship was in very good condition and the crew were as friendly and efficient as usual.

The EXC problem provided a lot of interesting talks and the entertainment was also very good.

The only complaint I would have with the Maasdam is that it does not have the middle set of stairs/elevators that the newer ships do, so I just did a bit more exercise than I expected. 

I got off the 34 day Maasdam Cruise, from 3rd December to 6th January, just over a week ago and I would like to provide a bit more information on what happened in Fiji as it seems there are always some people that wish to blame the Cruise Line for something that they had no control over. I will also add that they dealt with it in a very professional manner.

We had been in Tonga, where they had a total of 4 active measles cases at that time. When we arrived at Savusavu Fiji, there was a hold up of over an hour before the ship was cleared. The first two Tenders, that had about 100 people on them were allowed to go ashore. The first excursion was on the next Tender and that was then held at the ship for some time before they were all asked to get off and go back on board. All ships tours were cancelled at this time and full refunds provided, as well as the all day Happy Hour being announced.

The Captain then announced that the local Medical Officer Of Health had refused to allow any further passengers to disembark and that all passengers from the first two Tenders were being recalled. It was because the Island was totally free of measles cases. The Captain made regular updates over the next couple of hours saying that he was working with HALs Chief Medical Officer and would be on a conference call with all parties including the national and local Medical Officers of Fiji.

The outcome was that anyone born before 1956 or 1957, I cannot remember which, would be allowed to go ashore that day.

A letter from the Captain was sent out detailing what was agreed for the next three Fiji ports. If you were born before a certain date, which depended on your Citizenship, you could go ashore. There were various Countries listed that included Canada and the EU as 1970, others had different dates. If the Country was not listed then it was 1956 or 1957. Any people born after these dates would require a copy of their vaccinations. Free internet was provided for people to contact home to get a copy sent. This was especially useful as we had the New Zealand Youth Choir on board with us.

This is to the best of my recollection and I am sure that I have not covered everything that occurred at this time but it certainly covers the highlights.

According to something that I found on the Internet just now, they have now filed for Chapter 11. HAL still does not have any notice up on the Web Site to say that they are out of business but they still are pointing cruisers to Cruise Line Formal Wear to order your TUX.

I am leaving for my cruise tomorrow so I cannot follow up with my PCC.

Just a heads up, on the Princess Boards there is a thread that Cruise Line Formal Wear has gone out of business. This is what is on their Web Site now and apparently the phone number is not working as well. Not sure if they are answering emails but it looks like I will have to take my suit with me for my Christmas/New Year cruise..

As you are going from Vancouver in Canada, to San Diego in USA, this is not a violation of the PVSA. It is where you start and end the cruise that matters.

I will be on a 34 day cruise in December and I think that I will save up all of the junk mail and then once a week I will hand deliver it to the Spa etc. when I am on my walk about and ask them to dispose of it. They generated it so they can recycle it. Also it will save my room steward some time. If enough people do this they might get the message.

This only applies to cruises that have on board charges billed in AUD& and not in UD$.

It is common. and legal, in both Australia and New Zealand to have the cost of using a Credit Card as opposed to a Debit Card applied as an additional charge instead of it being incorporated into the bill. This places the Credit Card cost on the individual that uses it instead of charging those that pay cash or use a debit card for something that they do not use.

2 hours ago, erewhon said:

 

Use the official government websites to obtain the Australian and New Zealand ETA'S.

Thanks for the suggestion but I have already used those sites to obtain my ETA's.

I know that if I receive an email from this company then I will report it to the appropriate Canadian department. This is a breach of privacy laws in a lot of countries because HAL cannot share this type of information with third parties without specific consent.

I have received a few email for my next cruise regarding Australian and New Zealand ETAs but they have all been from HAL.

Thanks to everyone for your help, this is the most polite and helpful Forum on Cruise Critic.

I am on a 34 day cruise leaving Sydney on the 3rd December, returning on the 23rd December as a Port Day and then disembarking at Sydney on the 6th January.

I know that when I originally board on the 3rd December, I am unable to leave the ship before it sails.

On the 23rd December I will be an in transit passenger and will be taking a shore excursion in the morning. My question is, will I be able to return to the ship at about noon for some lunch and then exit again for a couple of more hours of sightseeing before all aboard time.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Not sure if this will help, but can you not sign into your account for this cruise and do a screen shot of it. It should say something like "CRUISE CANCELLED" somewhere on the page.

You pay at the time of booking on the web site with a credit card. There is a small additional charge of up to 3% to use a credit card in Australia and New Zealand, they do not charge it on debit cards. This includes hotels, restaurants etc.

I think that you can also arrange the shuttle when you arrive at the airport at their kiosks near the arrivals section.

There is contact info on the web site if you need any clarification.

I will be staying at the Hyatt Regency both before and after my cruise on the Maasdam on the 3rd December. I am using the Redy2Go (www.redy2go.com.au) shuttle both to and from the airport as well as from the Hotel to the ship.

I am travelling alone so the cost of AUD$22 each way from the airport and AUD$15 to the ship is very good value. If there are more than 2 then it may be better to take a Taxi. The web site is very easy to use and the info is easy to find, they also have private cars as well.

They give a discount if you are doing a return trip, for the airport it was AUD$41.80 return.

Hope this is of some help to you.

Just to let you know that I did post about this at the beginning of July. I applied and received mine on the first day that it was available, very easy process.

On 7/7/2019 at 7:37 PM, TTFromSommersTown said:

Just to let you know that New Zealand will require an eTA from the beginning of October for those people that were previously exempt. From what I have read the only ones that are now be exempt will be Australian citizens.

 

I noticed this in the last couple of days as I had my cruise in December re-fared. I know that this applies to Canadians and I am fairly certain that this also applies to US citizens as well.

 

You will be able to apply from the middle of July, but I would suggest that you wait until the end of July at least to make sure that the kinks are out of the system.

 

p.s I applied for my Australian eTA on Friday and from the time that I pressed enter on the last page until it was approved was less than 10 seconds.

Thanks everyone for your kind help.

I look forward to my visit later this year and meeting a few folks over a pint in the local pub.

First let me say that this forum is the most kind and helpful one on Cruise Critic.

I was born in England and for over 30 years lived there before emigrating to Canada where I have lived for over 20 years. When I am England on holiday I tip as the English do and when I am in Canada I tip as the Canadian do.

I will be in Sydney for a few days before going to New Zealand to visit relations and then returning to Sydney. I then will be taking a 34 day cruise on the Maasdam. The cruise will visit New Zealand, Tonga, Alofi, Fiji, New Caledonia, South Australia and Tasmania.

I would like your help with tipping so that I can conform to the the Australian/New Zealand way.

In England it is normal to tip the following.

1) Taxis, between 5 and 10%. Often just rounding up to the nearest pound so on very short journeys may be a greater percentage.

2) Airport shuttles to Hotel/ Cruise Ships, 1 or 2 pounds

3) Bars, nothing unless the bartender was very good or you are a long time customer.

4) Cafe's (MacDonald's type) nothing or a few pence if rounding up the bill.

5) Good quality restaurants/hotel restaurant,  up to 10% if service is very good. 

6) Tours, 5 for a half day up to 10 pounds for full day. Includes both tour guide and driver. May be more if tour is exceptional.

Please let me know what changes you recommend from the above English way. I understand that Australia and New Zealand may be slightly different so all comments are welcome. 

Thanks in advance for your help.

35 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Been following this discussion with some chuckles about 'where' the port is....

 

Just to educate you on the reason this 'is and can' be an issue for the OP and other passengers in a similar situation is, there is a section of the port which is considered to be U.S. territory and as such, one must 'technically' enter the U.S. to get into the port, it is call U.S. Customs.

 

Same thing for airports around the world where most of us go through U.S. Customs before boarding flights back to the U.S. in many airports. These areas are considered the U.S. no matter how small or large the passage area is and everyone is subject to U.S. laws accordingly when transiting through these areas.... with the possible exception of Diplomats.

 

As such, ALL U.S. bound/departing cruises must conform to various U.S. Maritime Law's in this regard AND X is complying with the laws accordingly, or they can be fined for deliberately violating these laws.

 

From the Port of Vancouver website " All passengers embarking in Vancouver will go through screening and U.S. Customs and Border Protection as you are considered to be entering U.S. jurisdiction upon boarding the cruise ship. Please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for more information and required travel documents"

 

The only fault I see here is X's timely notification to the OP of this issue. This has happened before and discussed before but not in the recent past, that I can find.

 

Only Congress can make changes to the law(s), start there first and not to X. X will not take a bullet for a passenger who wants to do it otherwise, as I Am sure they and other cruise lines have, in error.

 

I trust a good work around will be found for the OP...

 

bon voyage

If you are correct in what you have stated above then every one way trip between Vancouver and LA or Alaska or Hawaii cannot be allowed.

If you are not correct then the entire trip that the OP wishes to take should be allowed as it is legal.

I notice that Celebrity keeps referring to this trip as violating the Jones Act and not the PVSA. I am also wondering if there is a difference in definitions between the Jones Act and the PVSA that is causing Celebrity to keep refusing to allow the trip.

I notice also that Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo has not come on these Boards and offered to get this corrected. 

2 hours ago, dada.mv said:

Hello everyone, 

i have an issue, the last february i booked a cruise in the carribean for 2 person for 10 days, the price was 1400 euros each.

Now i've just tried to view if the price was increased and surprise! the price for the same cabin became 850 euro each.

What can i do?

I see that you have booked in euros so I expect that you are somewhere in Europe. The answers that you have been getting to refare your cruise apply if you booked in North America.

You may just have to cancel and lose your deposit then re-book at the new fare however that may still give you some savings.

7 minutes ago, ThePenguin1 said:

 

On behalf of Australia, we apologize for your lengthy delay.  This process should take no longer than 2-3 seconds.  I`ll get the tech guy`s onto it right away.😁

Please what ever you do, don't get the IT involved. Please Please DON'T. The next person will have a weeks wait at least if you do.

Just to let you know that New Zealand will require an eTA from the beginning of October for those people that were previously exempt. From what I have read the only ones that are now be exempt will be Australian citizens.

I noticed this in the last couple of days as I had my cruise in December re-fared. I know that this applies to Canadians and I am fairly certain that this also applies to US citizens as well.

You will be able to apply from the middle of July, but I would suggest that you wait until the end of July at least to make sure that the kinks are out of the system.

p.s I applied for my Australian eTA on Friday and from the time that I pressed enter on the last page until it was approved was less than 10 seconds.

I think that most of you here are missing an extremely important point and that is that the OP is from the UK and was almost certainly booked on the RCL co.uk web site by a UK Travel Agent. The Cruise Contract that has been quoted a number of times is from the US site and is not applicable in this case.

UK and EU consumer law is much more strict than the US law and gives the consumer much greater protection when a company changes what they have paid for. 

Nobody has mentioned that RCL took their deposit and their final payment without ensuring that they held an Oceanview or higher Cabin for them.

I am booked in a Neptune Suite as a solo and when I did a dummy booking for my 34 day cruise in December, the OBC was $600. When I did the same dummy booking for two people, the OBC was again a total of $600.

It looks like Holland America is at last giving something to the solo traveler (that will be the day). From Post #13 however it seems that either the Booking Engine or the T&C are incorrect.

""and suites receive US$300 per person (US$600 per stateroom).""

22 hours ago, PatLuv said:

We've now been on 2 HAL cruises,and have loved every moment.Looking at a Panama Canal Cruise  at Christmastime next year. Any thoughts? We've never done a holiday cruise,so we thought this would be fun!

You will love the Volendam and Cruising over Christmas 2020 on a partial Panama Canal Cruise. My first cruise was on that ship.

I was on the Zaandam over Christmas and New Year in 2017/2018 and the ship was very nicely decorated for the holidays complete with a large tree. They had all of the normal Christmas activities including carol singing and Turkey etc.

I had no complaints about your pointing out that the Maasdam was different, it was the last point that annoyed me. I accept your apology.

I will say that apart from my first cruise, I rarely see any of the shows except the crew one, I prefer listen to Piano player.