Bouff

This is strange. We were on the Zaandam in September and prepaid our gratuities in Sterling. Our statement evidences that we paid $15.50 per day and we were not asked for any more. When was the crew appreciation amount increased?

I am disappointed to read this thread.

We last cruised with HAL in September 2018. On that cruise and on our cruise the year before most food in the buffet was served by the crew. This was, of course, pre covid and even then we thought it was a great innovation. It is disappointing if HAL are changing back to the old ways.

That said, we cruised on another line in September this year and the buffet was fully self serve. I am glad to say that we were not aware of any health issues on that cruise.

You need to get your host to drop you at Largo della Pace. From there there is a free coach transfer service to the relevant terminal for your ship. It was all very well organised and our driver even gave us a commentary about the history of Civitavecchia! They help with your luggage as well. We walked to the shuttle service from our nearby hotel. It was not a problem. I hope that helps.

Just now, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

There are still Caribbean ports that are requiring testing and/or they are still in process of clarifying the requirements. 

 

 

 

Greece is requiring this, not Celebrity. Celebrity has to follow the rules, however illogical they are, until they get the all clear from the port country. 

The issue is that we are unable to find anywhere stating that Greece does require this.

1 hour ago, El_Rolfo said:

This one's weird, looking at the greek government site there is no such requirement but still seems to be here for cruises stopping in Greece. And the test taken almost 10 days before arriving in Greece most likely is of no use anymore (as for example Apex stops at most ports before arriving in Greece).

I agree with this entirely. I have done the same  research and come to the same conclusion. Why are Celebrity requiring this?

DAni, I do hope you are right.

We're booked on the Reflection 16th September which calls at both Ashdod and Haifa. Those ports are the reason we booked the cruise. Final payment due in about 4 weeks. This is our third attempt for a cruise and wondering whether to give up now.

We have sailed both HAL and Celebrity and enjoyed both. Service levels are similar on both.
However, of late we have felt that HAL has suffered significant cutbacks. There are now very limited daytime activities on sea days and on our last HAL cruise the evening entertainment in the theatre was very poor. There is also much less music in the bars although they have introduced the music walk.

One thing HAL got right was the buffet restaurant where almost all the food was served for you which we consider much better. With the Coronavirus all lines should be introducing this.

I hope that helps.

Interesting discussion. I have had an issue with a UK Agent too. Long story short. We originally  booked with HAL but as the destination was South America we switched to a Holy Land cruise. Then HAL sold the ship! I then booked a Celebrity cruise to the Holy Land and the monies I had paid was transferred to the latest booking. After Celebrity changed their package on 17th November I worked out that I was overpaying. The agent I had made the booking with has been laid off so I could only communicate with Admin. I asked for a reprice but was told that this could not be done. I decided to cancel that booking and make a new booking with another Travel Agent as I would still be saving money. The new Agent's Admin rang me to advise me that I could apply to Celebrity and get my original deposit back by way of a FCC.  If the FCC is forthcoming I forward that to the new Agent and they apply it to the new booking. Why didn't the original Agency suggest that? Something doesn't seem right. That said I am waiting to see if Celebrity do in fact provide a FCC.

Sorry, it came up on a news compilation site on my iPad. The source was USA Today. I hope that is of some help.


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I have just spotted a news item that reports that a law suit is being brought against Holland America by passengers who were on the Zaandam in March. Looks like more bad news for HAL.

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Our last cruise was on the Zaandam August/September 2018 to Alaska.

The EXC guide was excellent although sadly I do not remember her name. She was an Alaskan and her knowledge was excellent and her talks really added to our cruise experience.

We have recently booked a South American cruise with HAL. This will be a new destination for us and a good EXC guide will be much needed. It will be most disappointing if we do not have the added benefit of such a person.

Our thoughts and prsyers too are with HAL crew at this time. So sad, 

I have obtained pricing from a US online agency and was given two prices for a 14 day South American cruise in 2020. The basic price was US$550 per person less than a booking which included a free beverage package (not the full explore 4).

We have recently returned from a 14 day Alaska cruise with HAL and booked the basic fare. We then prepurchased beverage cards totalling US$500. This covered nearly all our beverages other than wine in the Dining Room for which we purchased a wine package. We certainly spent less than theUS$1100 (2 x US$550) than the fare we have been offered with a beverage package. I guess it depends on how much you drink!

We are Elite on Celebrity although our first two cruises were with HAL. We returned to HAL last year for a Panama Canal full transit and were not disappointed. We are booked with HAL for a 14 night Alaska cruise later this year. We noticed cut backs on Celebrity with Activities staff and the same is true on HAL. Not a lot to choose between them so it comes down to itinerary and price.

We did a Panama Canal transit cruise on the Eurodam last April. Because of the number of non port days, or sea days which we love, we booked a Cabana in The Retreat for the whole cruise. It was worth every $, we were very well looked after. I would say go for it!

We are in the UK with UK Passports and have booked our next HAL Cruise to Alaska with a US Agency. Yes we had to pay an ‘International Fee’ but it was still cheaper than booking with a UK Agency.

If you wish contact me at bouffanttoursattiscalidotcodotuk.

We stayed at the Albion Hotel in South Beach which was fine and reasonably priced.

When we did a Panama Canal transit in April we were told that Panamax ships will continue to use the original locks. This is because the new, larger, locks use more water.

We were on a 16 night Panama transit cruise and had 3 Gala Nights. Being a Brit who likes dressing up I took my DJ/Tux. I was pleasantly surprised at the standard of dress on Gala Nights with quite a number of gents in DJ's/Tux's and most in suits.

As you are on a European itinerary I think you will find more Brits and Europeans on board and there will be a fair number dressing up.

Go for it - I did and didn't regret it!

We booked earlier this year during the 'buy one get one half price' offer. If we booked now it would be cheaper but as we are on the UK we can't do anything about it. Not impressed.

Sadly HAL seem to have given up on 'lounge' music. We were on the Eurodam for the Panama Canal cruise in April. The band who played in the Ocean Bar on a few nights were the main stage band. If they were playing for a cast show or a guest entertainer then there was no music in the Ocean Bar. We are not dancers ourselves but have always enjoyed the music and watching those who do dance with our pre dinner drink(s). Whist Billboard and BB Kings are good for live music we consider them to be after dinner venues not pre dinner ones. I suspect that the situation has arisen from cost cutting and as a result a reduction in the number of musicians on board. I only hope HAL read these boards and react to what so many of us are saying.

We returned from the Eurodam trans Panama Canal cruise last week. Our last HAL cruise was in 2007. The service we received from the crew was fantastic, the food was the best we have enjoyed a cruise. We enjoyed the walk round promenade deck missing on most other lines. We thought the ship was in excellent condition and we saw lots of ongoing maintenance being undertaken. Yes there were some minor disappointments as there were clearly fewer activities staff but that is true of other lines as well.

Hi Mary, I am guessing you are on the Eurodam as we are calling at Corinto that day. We do have a Roll Call running for the cruise and I am trying to co-ordinate some private shore excursions.

I have checked with the operator I have found and he has assured me that he is prepared to offer a tour to Leon City on Easter Sunday. I appreciate that there may not be much open when we get there but it would be interesting to see the City.

We are sailing on the Eurodam next April with the ship scheduled to arrive in San Diego at 7am. Before flying home to the UK we are planning to take Amtrak to travel to LA for a few days there. There are fairly regular departures from San Diego but I am wondering whether the 10:41 might be a bit risky and perhaps we would be better off booking the 11:57.

Any views would be welcome.