Nang

36 minutes ago, ACorgan said:

We’re booked for a Canada/NE cruise later this summer (Neptune Suite on Zaandam) and I have a few questions:

 

1) A friend is interested in joining us and it looks like the pull out couch would work fine to accommodate a third person. What’s the best way to go about adding an extra person to an already booked room? Should we reach out to the big box store we initially booked with or directly to Holland America?

 

2) The two of us that are already booked are under the “have it all promotion.” If I understand it correctly, you can’t apply “have it all” to a third person in the room. Does that mean the third person will be required to purchase the signature beverage package, since some people in the room already have it? Just trying to understand what the end costs might be for this additional person

 

3) We already booked a dinner for the Pinnacle Grill with our complimentary “have it all” dinner credits, but would like to change it, both to add our third person and because I’m fairly sure that we booked for one of the gala nights (bar harbor) and we’d rather eat at our fixed dinning in the MDR on the gala evenings. I don’t see an option to change the reservation, but I can cancel it. If I cancel it, do we get our dinner credits back or do we just loose them? Do we need to wait until we’re on the ship to try to change nights?

I’ve found this whole thread to be extremely helpful and am hopeful that someone might have some insights regarding these questions. Thanks!

1) HAL will not "deal" with you given you have booked through a TA. You will need to liaise with them.

2) As you have already identified the 3rd person will need to have the beverage package. I expect they will need to pay full price rather than the HIA 50% rate but am no expert on this aspect.

3)Just cancel your booking and rebook for all 3. I am sure your credit will "reimbursed".

15 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

If you insert the travel date range post 18th April, then the result is "No test required".

Doh!!! I need to pay greater attention to the detail.

Use this website with some caution. As far as I can tell it provides information that is current but it makes no mention of changes announced but not yet in effect which is disappointing. For example, from 18 April those fully vaccinated (booster not required) can enter Australia without a Covid test prior to or post arrival. There is no mention of this impending change. It could easily have mentioned that changes are imminent and included a link to the appropriate Australian Govt web page.

11 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

They were done on European/Med cruises last year, however reading the HAL European Cruising requirements for 2022 (which only commences on May 1st), it states that they will be done if required by any of the European countries and currently the countries do not require it.  However, within the FAQ for Cruises from Europe, it says that for Back to Back cruises passengers will have to disembark and be tested before continuing on the next cruise.  It would seem strange (to me) that they would be testing continuing cruisers, but not the new cruisers joining the ship.

 

Guests on back-to-back voyages will need to disembark the ship at the end of each voyage, receive a complimentary viral COVID-19 test, and will be permitted to board the ship again once they receive a negative test result. 

Date of effect: The cruising requirements issued by HAL last week are in effect now  - see extract copied below  from https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-europe.html#testing .....

Updated March 25, 2022

Until further notice, these are the requirements for our cruise guests on European sailings ...

B2B requirements: The FAQs you quoted above must be out of date as there is no mention of testing required for B2Bs in the just released HAL Health and Safety Guidelines for 2022 Europe Voyages . See the FAQs linked above and the guidelines below which are linked in Download Europe Cruise Protocols PDF 

12 hours ago, N 2 Sun said:

Many thanks to all above who have responded. It is most helpful for me. 
 

My husband was very concerned that cruisers might still be subject to frequent Covid tests on board which might result in false positives and therefore a quarantine situation which is unacceptable to us. 
 

With no one mentioning it above, I gather that those are no longer being done. Correct?

 

Thank you. 

Correct, will only need tests if required by countries being visited and in Europe many/most are not (assuming you are boosted).

No pretravel testing required. HAL has advised that within Europe no testing is required beyond that specified by any governments of the countries on your itinerary, at least that is my reading of ....

HAL requirements for European cruises are now posted on the website.   https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-europe.html#testing

Edited to add ... There is some discussion in 

6 minutes ago, zgscl said:

Free money is always nice. I tend to think of airline credits like this as I have long since spent the money and paid off the card. 

 

Not sure if you use an actual credit card or a prepaid debit type card, but as someone who works in the hotel industry we have seen a lot of issues with Australian banks keeping authorization holds on US transactions for an extremely long time. If this applies at all I would highly recommend using the cash for the deposit rather than swiping a debit or prepaid card at all. 

Mainly use a credit card when on holidays but also carry a travel card (just a debit card with funds loaded directly to it) in case we need to get cash. Never heard of the authorisation issue you mention and have not noticed transactions listed as pending on my credit card account for lengthy periods but I probably just focus on whether the transactions are known to me. Always pay our ship account with the credit card and never been queried by HAL or ther cruise lines but if its a common occurrence I expect they are not alarmed and just "wait".

Why was this last part included?

..... but we strongly encourage all guests take a viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) prior to leaving home to avoid travel disruptions associated with a possible positive test result on the day of embarkation. 

What test would we need to take on the day of embarkation? Only if we have symptoms? Only if one of the countries on the cruise itinerary require a -ve test?

Thanks for all the responses. It will be good not to get a big hit on my credit card at the end of the cruise. I've had these $USs for so long it almost feels like its "free money".

We have a bunch of $US that I bought a few years ago when the Aussie $ was not performing very well against the $US (for trips cancelled due to Covid). Rather than converting back to $US (I can't see us using them anytime soon) and taking a huge hit with the current exchange rates I was hoping once we were on board the Rotterdam for our Viking Sagas/Northern Isles cruise to prepay the auto $15:50/dayx2 tips with cash. Is this possible? Alternatively could I use this cash to buy on board credit or "load up" our on board account which would be used to pay the staff appreciation/tips when our account is settled at the end of the cruise.

We will also have $400 OBC as part of HIA/Sea you soon promotion. If we do not use it all does the balance contribute to the staff appreciation payment?

In the past I have just used our CC to handle all payments but I believe that I have read somewhere or been told that it was possible to use cash. TIA.

Something to consider when considering SCTI ...

https://www.scti.com.au/about/understanding-travel-warnings

When the travel advisory is at a ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ (level 3) or ‘Do not travel’ (level 4) level, we call this a ‘travel warning’. It is important that you understand how these travel warnings affect your cover, before you purchase your insurance. 

Thanks everybody for your responses. Exactly the information we needed.

Looking to book one of the few cabins left on a Northern Isles Viking Sagas cruise this July on the Rotterdam. Currently looking at cabin 4062 which is an obstructed view cabin on deck 4 with a lifeboat providing the obstruction. Are the lifeboats above, directly outside the cabin or below the balcony (ie is the view under, directly at or over a lifeboat)? Tried a google search but found nothing useful.

We have more choice for a sailing later in August but prefer to go at the "warmer" time however we would be happy to hear from experience Iceland cruisers that our concern about the weather is misplaced . TIA

On 12/3/2021 at 6:13 AM, kenphy said:

Unfortunately for us, we are flying on January 1 (New Years Day -- no testing done anywhere) and won't arrive in Ft. Lauderdale until the FLL testing is closed for the dy.  And, trying to make an appointment on New Years Eve anytime after 4:00 to do the 48 hour thing (sailing on Sunday at 4:00) is impossible.  If anyone has an idea, please let us know.  Apparently, the rapid test is not accepted, or we could do it on Sunday morning at the local Ft. Lauderdale CVS.

 

HELP

According to the HAL website a raid test is acceptable for cruises from the USA  - https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html

Guests must be tested with a medically observed SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) viral test that could be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). 

Antigen tests include:

• Rapid antigen test 
• Viral antigen test  
• Antigen Chromatographic Digital Immunoassay 
• Antigen Chemiluminescence Immunoassay  
• Antigen Lateral Flow Fluorescence
   

NAAT include:

• PCR - Polymerase chain reaction  
• RT-PCR – reverse transcription real time PCR   
• Quantitative PCR (qPCR)  
• Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) test  
• Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) test  
• Molecular test or molecular diagnostic test  
• Isothermal amplification  
• Droplet Digital PCR or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR)  
• Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)

Hmm, this BF promotion does not seem to apply to us Aussies. I can access the links to the promotion on the HAL website but they skip to another page after a second or two which then shows the HIA and See You Soon promotions only. Tried a dummy booking  for April and October 2022 Trans Atlantics which we have already booked and only get these promotions as well with no mention of gratuities being included. Have put in a call to our TA but given we are ahead of USA time I suspect this BF promotion is not coming our way.

Take note of what is said above - they are correct. Have been next to the lifts on the Koningsdam and have just booked the same again on the Statendam. 

Confiming Ruth's advice ....   from the HAL FAQs https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html  

Can children sail, if not vaccinated?

Thanks for the replies and I would appreciate any "intelligence" you might gather Obnxshs.

Our cabin is not far away but under the Merabella so we too may get the base boom but it won't bother me as I won't be in bed before BBs is done and dusted.

I always participate in the Roll Calls and will soon pay it a visit.

Our DD has just booked a cabin on the Rotterdam to do a Baltics cruise October next year which is on deck1 immediately below the BBK Kings lounge area. She has a young daughter and is a little worried about the band noise which may filter through and keep her awake at night. The little one is not a normally a fussy sleeper so the noise would need to be fairly intrusive to cause a problem. Should she be concerned? TIA

We are also booked on the cruise and will continue on the next leg to New York. So looking forward to it after too long a Covid enforced hiatus.

Based on your opening paragraph I am very confident you would much more enjoy the Nieuw Statendam. Newer and bigger, but not huge.

Relatively short cruise over the holiday period = families with kids.

I fully expect to be able to travel to/from NZ by December but am less confident the Australian Govt will be "over" the Ruby Princess experience by then and have allowed cruise ships with their international crew from all over the world back to Australia. What is my opinion worth on this - nothing, as is the worth of all opinions on this matter you will get in the responses.

I am going to go off on a tangent and suggest you flip your whole strategy around. Do a road trip around NZ and circumnavigate Australia on a cruise.

I have cruised around NZ and have spoken to quite a few people who have driven around NZ. Based on our NZ cruising experience (we were underwhelmed, nice holiday but nothing special) and how those friends/relatives who drove around all rave about how great it was I would strongly recommend 2-3 weeks driving in NZ and then a 4 week cruise around Australia.

NZ is very well set up for people to holiday in a small motor home and the distances to drive are nothing like Australia. NZ is compact, Australia is vast (even if flying). You do not get to see some of the best parts of NZ on a cruise, eg Queenstown. Of course the same can be said about Australia but I think this strategy is well worth considering.

Princess do a great around Australia cruise which you can start in a number of cities, I would suggest Sydney - it is a great city to explore on your own before or after the cruise (make sure you check out the Rocks area, catch a ferry to Manly). You can also disembark in say Melbourne and explore that city/region on your own after the cruise (or do Bisbane -Sydney, Adelaide to Perth). You get to see the Great Barrier Reef, Darwin, Broome, Perth, Adelaide (go to the Barossa Valley), Kangaroo Island, Tasmania, etc.  You could then fly to any particular destination not covered by the cruise (eg Ayers Rock). I know that Holland America also offer an Australia circumnavigation option and there may be others. 

5 hours ago, sailingdutchy said:

Thanks for starting this thread , getting sick and tired of all the bad news ones . My glass is always half full so we have booked like @DeeDee Groff the late September '20 cruise to Auckland , I have a deposit on the Premier Cruise of the Ryndam , whenever it is or wherever the itinerary ,  and am seriously looking at the Norway / Baltic cruise for next July  on the Nieuw Statendam ,

After that is booked we will be looking for a cruise for Jan / Feb / Mar  '22  to get away from the Canadian winter . ( Yes we woke up to snow on Sunday morning MAY 10th  ! NOT nice ! ) 

 

Tony 

I would be very surprised if the Australian/New Zealand Governments allowed international visitors by late September from anywhere but NZ/Aust. The Aust Govt has made it very clear not to expect to have our international borders open any time this year. Even Australian based cruises (Aussie ports only) have been cancelled until end August by some cruise lines. I do not mean to "rain on your parade" but .....

There will be destination lectures with tips on what to do/see and not a complete focus on HAL tours. Likely there will be a bit of history of the ports but you do not get a history lesson.

Fresh flowers do not rock my boat. We have never got them that I can recall but then I probably would not notice unless they were in the way (we don't do any higher than a standard verandah).

I have seen jigsaw puzzles on most of our 7 HAL cruises and definitely on our last one May 2019 on the Maasdam.

There is at least one trivia every day in my experience and usually 2 on sea days.

Don't think the MDR menu is on rotation (we eat there every night) and, if it is, it takes many days to get back to day 1 menu (if ever). I do not take enough notice of the menu to realise if it does or does not reflect flavours of the region when in the med. Other cruises I have done will every now and then have a special local item on the menu (I only notice if it is promoted as such).
 

On a med cruise you will not have many sea days so unless you are addicted to the net or need to do work stuff, I would just use the free wifi off the ship in cafes, etc.

Doing the med is my favourite, enjoy.

The ship is fine. The service is great. The food is typical HAL which I have always enjoyed. We had no issues with our cabin and we did not hear of anybody who had anything go wrong of note. The absence of a fridge in our cabin was not an issue that caused me any great concern but given the lack of nightly entertainment I would have made good use of an on demand movie service if it had existed.

The 21 day Alaska cruise in May 2019 had a fantastic itinerary, the oldest demographic we have encountered in 7 prior HAL cruises and the ship was oh so quiet and dull at night. No BB Kings, piano guy playing to a crowd of 6 at most, and not many shows/performances worth the effort. Lots of lectures which helped fill the time but only because there is nothing better to do except for the twice per day quiz.

We will be avoiding this class of HAL ship in the future unless the itinerary is a stunner.