FlaMariner

My experience has been that booking onboard is not an advantage but buying a FCD is a very good deal. Why? The last couple of cruises (spring and fall 2022) I had the prices for future cruises we were contemplating from our "large online TA" and met with the onboard cruise lady and the prices (even pricing in OBC) was not as favorable. The FCD is a no-brainer. It's free money (OBC) and a low deposit. Also, no risk because the $100 deposit is refunded if you go four years (I think that is the time frame) without a HAL cruise (not going to happen w/us). Also, we've been known to buy more than one FCD while onboard and when we bring the family, I grab FCD's for them.

Here is a recent thread that you may find helpful also....

We are all about the Sommelier Wine Package..... We prefer to buy onboard. Why? Use OBC and also we order it from our waiter the first night in the MDR. I'm not sure but think he might get credit for the sale. Ordering pre-board or on-board matters not with price. Yes. We always get the cheapest package (#1) and many times they will substitute a bottle from package 2 or 3 (higher priced) if they are out of a certain type of wine in package 1. Also, other wines may be offered rather than the ones on the form. If you are wine picky, this may not work for you. We are good with whatever and enjoy every glass/bottle we have been served. YMMV. That was once the case but no more, according to the rules. But we did not know this and the bartender at Billboard gladly served us a bottle from our package....but do not expect that. The rule now is to drink it in your room or at dinner. So when you are dining, order your wine off the package list and enjoy. If some is left over, the waiter will secure it for you for tomorrow...or another night...or take it to your room....And tomorrow you can finish off that bottle or order a new one based on the menu. We only order one bottle at a time. Yes. see above Dining room or room.....and I believe dining room could mean surcharge dining rooms also. I'll go find the fine print on that again as that is new. We often take a full glass with us when leaving the dining room and finish it wherever we end up. We enjoy the Sommelier Package....And 3/4/5 Mariners get 25/50/50 percent off. Enjoy the cruise...and the wine onboard.

We always buy package #1...the cheapest package and on our last couple of cruises, they did not have a few of the package #1 wines and they end up giving you a bottle from package 2 and even 3. And once you know what they are out of and what they substitute, it's a nice upgrade. LOL.

If it was me and I did not like something that HAL was doing, I do/did the following: include the feedback on my post cruise survey send an email to HAL w/my comments when onboard, send a navigator message to guest services and I might go to Guest Services and ask them "where can I get a drink after midnight?" If it was something that was very important to me and impacts my vacation greatly, I'd consider taking my $$$$ and my vacation elsewhere...... Good luck w/keeping the bars open after midnight.......for us, it is not important but I understand it is important to other folks.

the very big online TA we use makes this easy...... You can search by lowest suite price and then sort by daily pp cost......I wish I could tell you who but then I would be sent back to cruises critic jail. I don't look good in an orange unless I'm at the Orange party.

The HAL operating hours fits our lifestyle......I'm fine with a midnight closing of a bar....And I have never witnessed "last call" on a HAL ship. And didn't our Mama's say "nothing good every happens after midnight?"

Continuing the upsell drama...... sailing 3/24 Oosterdam South America 17 night booked VF balcony got 2nd email offer today (3/6 at t-minus 18 days), from big internet TA (Yahoo...they continue to send me the upsell emails!) move from VF balcony to Signature Suite SS to SZ for $499. No Neptune offer. I said....YES if we can get an SY on Starboard side....BOOM. Done! I'm not going to tell Her Majesty...let her be surprised when she opens the cabin door.

The charge is by the room so if the laundry leaves/returns to the same room with the form filled out w/the one room, then just one charge........If the cabin number on the form is another cabin, then another charge. That make sense?

Based on my experience of boarding most recently this past November (Nieuw Statendam, Port Everglades as well as 3 other cruises since the unpleasantness), boarding times do not matter. We arrived at 10am ish and were welcomed to check in and we were onboard by 11:45am. Boarding began at 11:30am. Boarding is so efficient now you will never stop moving until you are in the waiting area. Ignore the boarding time and enjoy the Rotterdam....she is a beauty.

10 days prior was our experience from our November 2022 Nieuw Statendam cruise.

Check here..... https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/9-canadanew-england/

So I recently booked air thru Flight Ease. The next day, our TA sent me via email an updated Booking Confirmation with the flights added. Also, when I go back in to Flight Ease (thru the HAL website), I can view/change/edit the flight.

So we have the Geo Blue Trekker.....It's the annual $250 plan for Her Majesty and I. We've never had a claim until recently so thought I'd pass along our experience. I've always been skeptical of getting $$$ back from a claim w/travel insurance and this claim is not much but passing this along..... Her Majesty had to visit the infirmary onboard a recent Holland America Line cruise.....The bill was $224 for lab work, etc. I took all the paperwork and payment receipts and filled out the claim form. A check for $24 came to us promptly. There is a $200 deductible. Yes, I realize this was small but was pleased with the service. I thought there would be an automatic denial and more complicated hoops to jump thru. The basic paperwork provided to us from Holland America LIne was sufficient. All good.

Grateful I do not need/want internet when cruising/traveling.......but we are keeping a close eye on the cost of the thermal suite!!!!

Good one! I was still able to go back and edit that step in......

For what benefit do you think you will gain using Verifly?

All correct...if I recall correctly.....From our November Port Everglades Nieuw Statendam cruise: hand over luggage and several dollar bills to longshoreman (we skip this step and carry on) Enter building and first kiosk asked "are you vaccinated?" (that should now go away) security scan/check passport scanned at kiosk (hope for green light) and given "all clear" paper surrender "all clear" paper to obtain boarding group card wait in area board when group called scan boarding pass at gangway (on iPhone) go to room and keycard waiting eat lunch Am I missing a step? HAL has this down...Very efficient.

If you call on your own, I strongly suggest you: 1) have credit card ready 2) have deck plan ready 3) be ready to make a decision now (others are waiting on the line and no dilly dallying) 4) understand that if you do not take the offer because you want to talk it over with the spouse and then you call back in 10 minutes the offer may not be available and you should not be mad at HAL.

Most all of our lido buffet meals are eaten outside along the tables on the starboard side of the lido pool area. There are also a few tables on the port side of the lido pool (near the lido bar and the 24/7 coke kiosk) and in the center area near the stairway that goes up to NY Pizza. We rarely eat inside.

FWIW.....Looked up the cruise and it is showing SOLD OUT for balcony and suites w/insides going for $699 & outsides going for $749.....looks like they were successful filling the high $$$ cabins. Enjoy the cruise! My source is a very large online TA website.

Correct. Did not take the offer.

Awesome. I'd love to know that formula. Wonder if I walk slowly thru the casino if that will help?

According to Mr. Google, the Carnival Annual Meeting is 4/27

Casino? (I so wish I could cruise FREE...that's fantastic)