SFO Peter

yes.  Sorry I did contact Ship's Inventory not Guest services.

 Holland America Line Ship Inventory at 1-888-628-8107 or 206-626-7381.

Peter

1 hour ago, POA1 said:

And there is no wait list for CO.

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Guest Services said they put me on the Club Orange wait list for a Feb 2024 Koningsdam Cruise  I suppose it is so that I don't keep calling them!

Peter

We buy imported still water on board such as Acqua Panna or Evian on board.  You can get it at the Coffee bar and it is usually in glass bottles.   We do not buy purified water.   If you are drinking the Ships brand of water - you are drinking purified water.  Read the label.  We do not drink alcohol so imported water is a treat for us.

Peter

Marriott Club Lounge rooms are very expensive.  I know because we book Marriott using points. Also just looked at Marriott Amsterdam.

It is probably a lot cheaper to cruise around Europe!

Peter

Fast Trains are one of the best modes of transport for Europe.   We were going to take train from Amsterdam to Paris in one day until we read that one guy ran amok on the train.  We use Marriott hotels so we can cancel and book on the fly.   Rick Steves recommend to get cash from ATM at Banks and not use Debit or Credit cards due to fraud.   Cards should be ok to use for shopping at well known brands.  We have Schwab debit card that charges no ATM fee.  Do watch you tube videos on how to protect yourself from scammers and thieves.

Peter

4 hours ago, erdufylla said:

I just wanted to pop in and say thank you to everyone offering advice and info about Club Orange. I just talked to my PCC, and after crunching some numbers, it came out cheaper to change my reservation to a lower-grade stateroom option and add CO, which gave me not only the same category of room I was aiming for in the first place, but also a room I got to pick myself (instead of just guaranteed class) and all the other CO benefits on top. It never would have occurred to me to do that had it not been for you all. So thanks! 🙂

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Good for you.   We are all learning.  I could not add CO to my Feb 2024 sailing because I was too late and CO was no longer available (offered).   I did manage to book it on Koningsdam Oct 2024 sailing.

So to get CO one may need to book early.  I am mostly interested in the CO Cabin Upgrade.

Peter

Koningsdam CO.  21 day Hawaii & Pacific Coastal Oct 5, 2024  $15 per person daily.

Paid upfront but using Advantage Fare.  Upgraded from lowest Verandah to Spa Verandah (I know it is just a Verandah) but wanted cabin location. Used HAL PCC.

Peter

15 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I put their names on the envelopes and a note inside to say this was extra above the crew appreciation. I leave mine in my room on the last night before I leave for dinner.  I hope you hand theirs to them.  I don’t know how they could know it was for them with the word gift.  That could mean anything.

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yes I give it to them by hand.   The envelope has the recipient first name as well as the giver name on it.  For example I give Main Waiter and his Assistant separate envelopes.   I also give it to them two nights before disembarkation.  Especially the main dining room because sometimes you may decide to eat elsewhere night before disembarkation.

Peter

6 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

We recently returned from a 2 week cruise where we left the ship with a zero bill.  Both our refundable and non-refundable OBC covered our multiple spa appointments, all crew gratuities for our stay ($17.50pp, per day) and a few other misc. items.  We have already received $125 refundable credit back to our bank card.  We used USD cash to give extra gratuities.  

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I use envelopes marked >> Gifts<< so hopefully they will know they do not have to put the extras in the shared Gratuity pot.

Peter

1 hour ago, 2ferfun said:

Great news!  We are buying this OBC ourselves so it sounds like we are in good shape!  Thanks so much!

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Just by Casino Chips.  I have done this many times.   They will give you a card to go get the >>money<< from the Casino.   For my recent Japan cruise I bought 3k.   Casino did ask me at what tables I plan to visit and I said here and there.  I did play and lose $20 at the tables.  No problem.

Peter

good information.

Thanks

Peter

ok.  thanks all.  very reassuring.

Peter

Can anyone tell me the fastest way to change from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 at Honolulu airport.  Hawaiian Airline booked me a flight from San Francisco to Japan with a connecting flight of Honolulu to Japan with only one hour for the transfer.  I am traveling with a 98 year old.  I looked at several youtube videos but could not find something related.  Should I use terminal bus or walk?

Peter

Hank thanks for the reporting.  You reminded me that I usually borrow a cloth napkin from the ship when eating out in Japan.   Those tiny wet naps don't really do much for a messy eater like me.

Funny thing in the height of hot summer we ordered noodles and it came cold (refrigerated).   I almost sent it back but I then realized that they serve cold noodles in summer.

Peter

It is in HAL's interest to get the percentage of Covid below 10 percent on its >>reporting<<.

It is also in  HAL's interest to protect passengers from not fully vaccinated passengers to keep infection low.

I have read between the lines and do not have an issue with HAL's boarding requirements.

Peter

Hankyu rail from Kobe with a change in Osaka to Kyoto is cheaper (but slower) and puts you close to the river in Central Kyoto.  Shinkansen is not too close to central Kyoto.

Peter

you can still pay for 24 hours of internet.    I have been doing this on board.  I do it to confirm flights at the end of the cruise.  I would think you could do 24 hours as needed.

Peter

You can do self administered test.   It is simpler and convenient to do self administered non-supervised  test.  The test does not need to be medically supervised.   

Embarkation day is day = 0.   One day before embarkation day at any time of day is day = 1 etc.

Peter

If you are fully vaccinated and from the US Japan does not require testing.   You should complete the Japan Fast Track to see if you are eligible to enter Japan.  We are already cleared to enter Japan for April 10 cruise.  HAL requires you to test for Japan cruises because the ship has to keep Covid cases under 10 percent for the ship to dock at the Japan ports.

Peter

On 2/9/2023 at 8:42 PM, irvington said:

I've been to Japan for 6 weeks, but it was in the mid 80s so I'm pretty rusty! I'm taking a transpacific cruise this fall on Silversea and it ends in Yokohama. Although I'd love to travel around Japan, I will really need to get back to home and work. But I'm thinking it may be stressful to try to fly out the day we dock, plus I'd like to have dinner with a friend who lives in Yokohama. I will ask him for a recommendation for a hotel, but I'm thinking this may be a better place to get a recommendation for a hotel that is convenient as a stopover between the cruise port and the airport. One of the things I know has changed about Japan is the prevalence of English, so I shouldn't be concerned, but the last time I was there I was glad I was traveling with a native speaker. So although I think of myself as a fairly confident solo traveler, I'd love to stay somewhere that gets at least a bit of foreign travelers.

 

Any ideas?

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if you are flying out from Narita Airport the JR Narita Express is right across the street from the Yokohama Sheraton.  It is at Yokohama Station not the Yokohama Shinkansen Station.

Peter

1.  Get Money from ATM

2.  Buy IC Card and put money on the card (like a Debit Card).

you just Tap and Go on most trains and buses.  Mom and Pop and Temples usually accept card.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L-Y6m1RWrs1JrU-Oz-d9JdSpywlOheFk/view?usp=sharing

On 1/3/2023 at 6:12 AM, jenp123 said:

 

I am looking at doing the 18 day cruise to Hawaii that leaves diego Jan 31.

 

I am curious what day the weather turns "warm".  I understand that it is weather/system dependent but I am curious how many sea days in do you get more "Hawaii weather" as opposed to "San Diego weather".  Just wondering if a few sea days will be potentially good for suntanning.

 

 

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My experience is that half way to Hawaii the weather changes from breezy and cold to warm (not hot).

Peter

Our experience was that we told them we needed the FCC from Covid to apply to final payment which was coming up.  We worked directly with HAL on the phone and they calculated and applied the FCC to final payment while we were on the phone.

Peter

if doing FastTrack you will end up with something like below