2inSETexas

We’ve always used a limo service. It will cost more than the train, but it is nice to have someone meet you after you clear customs, take you and your luggage to the car, and drive you straight to your hotel while you relax. We’ve done this three previous trips and have used Blacklane.com for two of the trips. They are very realiable.

3 hours ago, Crew News said:

Rudi's is still taking reservations for my Apr 27, 2024 Alaska cruise.  I will will investigate Rudi's future in a few more weeks.  Maybe even create a live thread.

Rudi’s is listed on our August 24th Northern Lights cruise. It’s still listed on HAL website. https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/onboard-experiences/dining/sel-de-mer notes King Crab Meat on the menu.

55 minutes ago, cbr663 said:

I am surprised that they are requesting 2 copies of the passport that will be collected at check-in as someone will have the verify that each copy is an actual copy of the passport.  That can make for a very long and slow check in process.

From our experience, it had almost no impact on check-in. There was just an additional kiosk to stop at to submit the copies. It only takes a quick glance at the passport and copies to confirm they were legitimate copies. 

1 hour ago, AKJonesy said:

@2inSETexas and @I like vacation nothing personal I am asking you to disclose, but are either of you taking prescription medication with you to Japan?. I'm trying to suss that out and not sure about the language and pre authorized form, if the doctors letter is required, etc. I did get an answer on supplements, but they didn't answer regarding bringing those in original containers or what. So I will have to write back. As far as supplements, they are fine. 

We didn’t have any problem with any of our prescriptions. We didn’t pre-disclose them, but did review the Japan list of unapproved meds (none were on the list) and kept them in original containers.

8 hours ago, I like vacation said:

We are on the Westerdam next week for the 14 day Japan Explorer cruise.  I just received an email from HAL at 10:53 PM with some new to me requirements.  Has anyone had a similar experience?  Is this a requirement for Japan?  We have surrendered our passports to HAL on other itineraries before.  Here is the text from the email:

 

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION
In order to streamline our embarkation process, all guests must bring two photocopies of their passports which will be collected at check-in for your cruise. While color copies are preferred, black and white photocopies will be accepted. In addition, guests should also keep a photo of the passport photo page on their personal device to ensure a digital backup is available. Copies should be clear, good quality images on letter-sized or A4 paper.

 

As a reminder, all guests on this voyage are required to present a passport book that is valid for six months after the completion of travel at cruise check-in. Please ensure the name on your passport matches your name as it appears on your booking. Your passport must contain at least three blank pages for entry and exit endorsements and any required visas; guests with insufficient blank passport pages may be fined by shoreside authorities. To expedite your embarkation, please register your passport via Online Check-In or in the Navigator app.
Ships'

This was required of us on our February cruise on the Westerdam. The copies were to expedite the visa waiver requirements for our stop in Shanghai, China. One of the copies was endorsed by Chinese officials and was used in lieu of our passport while stopped in Shanghai. Our passports were returned to us prior to our Japan stops.

14 hours ago, dobiemom said:

I think being on airplane mode prevents the phone/watch from updating. So I do the same thing as others have mentioned: When on a cruise I turn OFF the automatic time on my phone and set it manually, changing it when necessary. Then I KNOW I’m on ship time.

This reminds me of a European river cruise we took a few years ago. We had our time setting on our iPhones set to manual, but realized not everyone did it that way with the event of one particular morning. On one stretch of the Danube, Serbia (on the port side bank) was one hour behind Bulgaria (on the starboard side bank). The main channel ran along the Serbian side of the river so those with iPhones set to automatic were an hour behind the ship’s time as we were approaching a Bulgarian port. We wondered why so few passengers showed up at breakfast that morning. 😆

3 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

I have booked a cruise on a Dutch flagged ship that will not cruise anywhere close to the United States. At present, our roll call is about 50/50 from UK/Canada/Australia and USA. On a foreign-flagged cruise ship, with multiple nationalities, I having difficulty why you would expect me, as a non-American, to follow your standard while enjoying my daily walks.

 

Surely, since the World has different standards, it should be based on the majority of the pax, which is what I have always done in 40 + years of cruising.

HAL is a Dutch flagged fleet, as the above comment notes. But the direction one walks around the ship isn’t an American standard. I’ve yet to see a track meet anywhere in the world where the participants move in a clockwise direction around the track.

I have no problem passing on the left or the right, but it is those that choose to wander from side to side as they walk ahead of me that makes the choice of where to pass (or when) a challenge.

8 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Do you see your credits in the booking onbthe website? Select the credits,  it should take you the booking page. There should be a box to check that says "Complementary Dining" or something similar. 

 

This has been discussed here a fair amount. How far out are you from sailing? If more than 5 months, it may not be available yet.

This may have been discussed a fair amount, but has it been discussed since HAL changed their website? I also have used the complimentary dining before for two guests, but the new website does not have an option to apply complimentary dining on the website format. At least not that I can find.

Like the OP, need help finding how to apply the complimentary credit for dining from someone who has done so on the updated website. Thanks.

On 2/1/2024 at 1:54 AM, OlsSalt said:

Did someone mention egg tarts? I am so all in!

Apparently the early Portuguese traders brought egg tarts to Asia. Something to look for in Lisbon too. 

 

Wonderful adventures and photos already, and you have not even gotten on board.  Glad to hear HK is still worthy for spontaneous exploring ...after reverting back to China.

The tarts here (at least at our hotel in HK) are good, but not as good as in Lisbon.
 

We are in HK just for two nights before joining the cruise, but we spent 10 days here back in 2017 including Disney. The daughter of a good friend worked at Disney and was “very close” to one of the face characters. My wife enjoyed the experience in HK as her first trip to Asia. I had been here before on business trips. 

This stay is just for acclimating to the new time zones.

Hope to see you Saturday or during the trip.

😊

I’ve had a suspicious twist to the process. I used the app to connect to my brokerage account, then after getting confirmation of the OBC (next day) I changed the brokerage account password. Today, I found my account locked out as if there had been unauthorized attempts to access account. I have now unlinked the app from my brokerage account. I plan to advise Carnival and HAL of this suspicious activity because of the app.

On 1/11/2024 at 12:55 PM, HowiefromMaui said:

It's best to print and scan your brokerage statement page showing your stock portfolio to a file AFTER blacking out your account number before submitting it to "perks"..

They should not have any need for your account number.

I’ve had a suspicious twist to the process. I used the app to connect to my brokerage account, then after getting confirmation of the OBC (next day) I changed the brokerage account password. Today, I found my account locked out as if there had been unauthorized attempts to access account. I have now unlinked the app from my brokerage account. I plan to advise Carnival and HAL of this suspicious activity because of the app.

On 12/10/2023 at 1:40 PM, moonriver54 said:

Well...you almost made it all the way!  I apologize and realize this is off-topic, however my wife and I are considering a  river cruise aboard Ama Waterways next spring.  Do you recommend Ama?  We've cruised twice aboard Avalon and loved them, however we wanted to experiment with a different river cruise line.  Any thoughts/comments would be sincerely appreciated!  Thank you.

We’ve only sailed AmaWaterways on Europe cruises. This sailing was our fourth. We very much recommend them. They took good care in planning around the flood levels and the tanker in the gorge.

52 minutes ago, notamermaid said:

Basel is now rising fast and at Maxau gauge the rise has started. 700cm is expected for midnight there. Interestingly, authorities expect the Moselle not to be hit that much by the current rain. But the levels will rise there as well, just not like on the Rhine.

 

Over on the Danube many tributaries to the river show elevated levels now.

 

notamermaid

 

On the AmaMora. We stopped short of Basel last night, mooring at Breisach. We will stay here through disembarkation Monday. Still seeing traffic in the nearby locks.

7 hours ago, moonriver54 said:

Having spent several years aboard ships in the US Navy...I view river cruises much the same as I did deployments in Navy.  They're an adventure.  An itinerary is merely the place where you begin the adventure.  The itinerary invariably changes, adding to the adventure.  Go with the flow and enjoy it!  One way or the other, your cruise ship company is going to ensure you get to your original destination.  And you'll have many wonderful stories to share regarding how that evolution occurred!!

We have just reached Lahnstein, and are now moored.

9 minutes ago, notamermaid said:

According to news/police reports the river at Bacharach in the Rhine Gorge is currently blocked by a tanker. River traffic is suspended. The plan is to pull the ship back into the navigation channel.

https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/rheinland-pfalz/mainz/tanker-liegt-quer-im-rhein-bacharach-102.html

 

If I interpret the data correctly (weak signal) on marinetraffic. com a tugboat is at the scene.

 

notamermaid

 

 

Wow! In Cologne today and scheduled to be passing through there tomorrow.

This has become an unfortunate trend across the industry, I’m afraid. Our last HAL cruise on the Zaandam, two crew members who were already doing a great job reminded us that their contract renewal depended on it. Our last cruise on another line, we were reminded everyday for the last three days how important good reviews were to them for their next contract. I agree that excessive pressure is being placed by management on crew to get good reviews, if not overtly than with sufficient “hints” that crew members feel the need to remind their guests. I will give good reviews where deserved, but would prefer to not be reminded regularly.

I have found RCCL’s digital process unpredictable at best, irresponsible at worst. A few years ago we purchased digital downloads and had the pictures very soon after the cruise (within a day or two).

Our recent cruise the process has been terrible. We purchased 5 digital pictures, and were told they would be sent via a link on email within 4-7 days. It’s been 10 days now and still no email (others in our travel group have already received theirs). We called RCCL and they told us the ship was wrong, it takes 10-14 days. They assured us the purchase was still in progress, but each day I’m expectating less and less from RCCL. Absolutely terrible process.

I’ve never sailed a cruise line where I didn’t have my digital pictures before I even left the ship.

It’s 5 am in Rotterdam and she is nearing the Beneluxtunnel under the Nieuwe Maas.

48 minutes ago, Destiny0315 said:

Yes this is the live stream cam of where the Rotterdam is scheduled to dock before 7am. Marine Traffic is showing the ship moving at 10kn and it will be starting its navigation into the harbor in the next 2 hours. Here is a site with all the cams available to watch its journey. You can also scroll down to the official port arrivals and departures listing and 6:15am CET (12:15am EST) is currently listed for the ship.

https://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/experience-online/webcams# 

Rotterdam is now in view on the outer most webcams at Hoek. https://webcam-hoekvanholland.nl/pages/cameras/waterweg-ingang.php

23 hours ago, macaroni said:

We got off the Rotterdam recently in the Caribbean. We had the best food in the MDR. 

I suppose it is a matter of taste. We recently did the Zaandam Panama Canal cruise. On one occasion the MDR menu was unappealing enough that we booked last minute ressies at PG (at the time 3-star Mariner discount) and another occasion paid the up charge for the lobster tail. Loved both the extra charge selections. I’d rather pay a bit extra for a good meal and be happy with it than grumble about what was offered at cost. We also sailed the Rotterdam 150th TA last October and it seems all the meals were great: OC, PG, Tamarind, Canaletto, and Rudi’s.

7 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Good Afternoon Folks (morning in North America),

 

Today started early (too early) when our Captain brought us alongside the small commercial port at Omaezaki.  Apparently, we are the first "large" (to quote our guide) cruise ship to ever dock at this port and the locals wanted to show their appreciation.  So at 6:30am a very loud drum band started playing (within feet of the ship) and those of us on the Port side were abruptly woken up to the crashing drums.  It must have been hard on the crew, whose cabins were within a few feet of the drums.  As it was, our deck 8 cabin was rattling :).  The port seems to be a modest size container operation which also is an export center for new cars and small trucks.

 

DW and I took one of our rare cruise excursions (have to use our HIA credits) which was a 5 1/2 bus jaunt to the Kasuisai Temple and later to the Kakegawa Castle.  These places added another 100 or so steps to the "thousands" of steps we have climbed since arriving in Japan nearly one month ago.  The excursion was fine (folks actually returned to the bus on time) although our guide seemed to be obsessed with talking about all the wonderful traits associated with green tea!  We were again blessed with a near perfect day with mostly clear skies and temps in the high 60s. 

 

We suspect that the reason this place has not previously been a popular cruise port is that many of the attractions are some distance (in our case about an hour) distant.  We did not see the town (accessed by shuttle buses) but were told it is a relatively small and sleepy place.  Kudos to HAL for taking us to a new place :).

 

We are now into our 2nd fourteen-day cruise (we are on 3) and there is somewhat of a change from the last cruise.   This group of passengers seems to more lively, although last night that ended by 10pm.  When DW and I left the Rolling Stone Lounge (about 10:15) there were fewer than 40 folks in that lounge and the nearby Billboard lounge (with the 2 pianos) had even fewer folks.  The main show last night was a single showing at 7:30 of the History of HAL.  From the pretty crowded MDR (at that hour) there did not seem to be a lot of interest in that "fabulous HAL entertainment."  

 

Last evening was also notable because it was the 5th day (our of 15) when we have been overcharged for drinks (covered by our HIA package).  As, in the past, I sent a message to Guest Relations (using the Navigator App) and the extra charge was reversed by this morning.  HAL needs to get their act together on how the bars handle the accounting for the drink packages.  We again caution future HAL cruisers to check their "statement" on a daily basis (easily done through the Navigator App).

 

I want to again bring up an old pet peeve issue of mine.  Cruisers and international travelers really need to have a working Smartphone and know how it works.  On this ship, all the excursion tickets are generally handled via smartphones.  When you check-in for an excursion you are expected to show the tickets on your phone!  Hard copies are not sent to cruisers although I assume it is possible to get something by going to the shore excursion desk.  But that desk is rarely open (since we have few sea days) and the few hours when it is staffed can often find a queue with only 2 folks handling the issues.  Another weird issue is that although passengers can book alternative restaurants using the Navigator App, there does not appear to be a way to cancel a reservation without getting through to someone on the phone (this can often be near impossible) or taking the time to physically go to the restaurants when they are staffed and do not have much of a queue.  We hope that eventually HAL will improve their Navigator App and add a cancellation function. 

 

Hank

 

Loved reading this entry @Hlitner. I used to travel to Omaezaki on business several occasions. We could see the commercial port from the office and it was fascinating to see the large automobile carriers docked and loading cars for several days. It is a beautiful region and I fondly remember our drive to the office past the rolling hills that were covered in tea plants. Kakegawa was the train station we would use to get to Omaezaki from Tokyo. Sometimes we stayed in the city and sometimes at a country club hotel overlooking the ocean, Glad you were able to experience one of my favorite parts of Japan.

38 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

We attended Bill Miller’s talk on the great ocean liners this morning after breakfast, which was very interesting, and one of his pictures was of the Gripsholm, which was the ship my mother and I were repatriated on during the war.  I mentioned it to him afterwards, and he said he didn’t think he had ever met anyone who had been on that ship.  
 

Then we had coffee in the Dutch Cafe, and Joska came past with her owners.  Joska is a lovely (seeing-eye) black lab who is quite famous on HAL- she has over 700 days on board and has received her platinum medallion . Lunch followed. In the Lido.  I had a very tasty crab and shrimp salad in a bun, and only after discovered a new station, which evidently will be open every day with different specialties, just for the crossing.  Today it is the “Fish Corner”.  I must remember to check it first next time!
 

 

Sweet Spot corner was often my favorite place on the :Lido. 😋

Beautiful sail away: