Indianadaytripper

21 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

They said Henk's last world is 2025 - no indication if he is retiring or will be doing other cruises.

Henk is retiring after the 2025 Voyage of the Viking.

13 hours ago, Scrapnana said:

Sorry for the delay.  Internet/Computer issues (and almost everyone on the ship has them).

 

Monday, October 10

Onboard!

 

I had booked the shuttle for noon but when I left my room just before 11 (check-out time), I met the shuttle driver in the lobby.  He said there would be no problem going to the terminal early, so I went.  It was fine.  Turned out they were not checking assigned times just like pre-pandemic.  My assigned time to check in was 12:40 but I was on the ship by 12:05.

 

Had some trouble with my key card but my room steward helped me and I left my electronics and went to lunch.  I was very good with only one slice of pizza and a bowl of fruit salad - no desert.  Wonder how long being good will last?

 

Muster drill is now very different (and in my opinion, much better).  We have to go to our lifeboat and have our card scanned (on our own) and watch the safety video on TV.

 

When I returned I realized that I did not have the refrigerator I was supposed to have.  Something to work on tomorrow.  Since I can’t make tea, I am on my second Diet Coke.

 

Walked around the ship for awhile and then back to my cabin to work with getting logged in to the internet.  I was able to log in with my phone and iPad but not on my laptop.  The line at guest services is about twenty deep and never gets shorter so I will wait until tomorrow to solve this problem, too.  As Scarlet said, “Tomorrow is another day.”

 

My two suitcases that I brought with me were delivered and I have emptied them.  My room steward will divide the bed when he changes the sheets (I told him not to worry about it until then - no sense wasting a clean set of sheets).

 

It is really hot out and with many of the doors open, much of the ship is hot so I went to the Crow’s Nest to start today’s blog on my iPad.  Found out that some of the letters on my Zagg keyboard don’t work anymore (like the “e” which is rather useful) so I will be using the keyboard on the screen of my iPad until I can get my computer to accept the internet. 

 

Another bag had arrived when I returned to my cabin and I emptied it.  Just a couple of minutes later the last one arrived.  It was getting harder and harder to find space for everything!  My shawls are in three different places so I think when the room steward separates my bed and I can get the cases under them, I will put all 33 of them in one suitcase.

 

The 4pm sail-away became the 5pm sail-away, which became the 6pm and finally about 7:15 we left.  

 

I was late getting to dinner but there were only two people at the table (we were told three more are assigned to the table) and they had ordered but not been served and didn’t mind my tardiness.  They are Bob and Judy (not the Bob and Judy from previous cruises who I spoke with today).  We had a great meal and pleasant conversation.  I was asked to find out if there was an up charge on the Shrimp Cocktail and there is - $8.50!  It used to be on the always available menu for free.  My friends Kathy and Mike from the 2018 and 2020 world cruises came over to talk as we were finishing dinner.  They are doing the same itinerary as I am.

 

While we were eating it was announced that we were heading back to Fort Lauderdale for a medical disembark.  Poor person.  Hope she/he will recover.

 

The entertainment for tonight was called “Origin Story” which told about the 150 years of Holland America.  The  Cruise Director (who is now called the Cruise and Travel Director), Jeremy, narrated and it was interesting to hear how HAL differentiated itself from its competitors.

 

I walked around the deck afterwards and checked on the length of the Guest Services line - there were still 10 in line so I returned to my cabin to finish this post.

 

P.S. Five minutes after posting this I tried googling "how to connect with internet on computer on a Holland America ship" and I had the answer!  Typing this on comuter now!  One less thing to do tomorrow.

Smooth sailing until next time! 

We were on the Voyage of the Viking this past summer, the Zaandam had a terrible time with internet. Some received most of their paid internet service back in shipboard credit. We received half of our package price back in shipboard credit. Would have liked the use of internet rather than the refund. By the way we did receive free shrimp cocktail on dressy evenings.

16 hours ago, Crazy For Cats said:

The Wajang theater is in use.  Today’s movie is listed at the top of the right hand side.

Thanks 

I guess the Wajang theater is there and having movies. Or is that history? Didn’t see any movies listed in the daily

Thanks for posting. Sure hope the internet is ok for VOV

I watched the last part of stage two today exciting but not as exciting as most of the mountain stages. Still impressive. Not many know what these bikers do to get to this caliber 

We’ve been on several world cruises. All of the positive things I’ll agree with above. A couple of negatives if you have possibility of a bad tooth don’t take a chance get it fixed before you go. No dentist on world cruise since 2014 if I remember correctly. If you happen to get a bad cabin it’s quite possible you’ll be stuck with it whole trip. I’ve seen nightmares. Same thing when your traveling with someone be certain you can be comfortable with them for a long cruise. 

19 hours ago, VTcruisenut said:

we usually stay at the Ramada By Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise port 

it's clean, good priced, has a bar and restaurant and free shuttle from the airport.  You can buy the shuttle over to Port Everglades once you check in.  They fill up fast for pre-cruise.  Good luck!

That’s where we stay and will be there tomorrow night. Airport to room to pier 159 and change. Stayed there several times in past. Have also parked and cruised there also. Been several years since we done that.

Wife and I antigen tested today for Wednesday cruise, had results in thirty mins. Cruise lines can do it at the the pier. Just like another cruise line tested us at the pier building early last month, results 30-40 minutes 

I’ve had problems for years, and believe Holand America is incapable of permanently fixing there site for us IPad users

What’s everything think about Holland America’s overall big boss Donald Arnold’s big pay raise of 19% to 13 million in 2020

My advise when finalize your travel of any kind make a hard copy of what ever you agreed too!

Capacity is I believe means full to capacity. If that is the case none of the world cruises I’ve been on is close to capacity. Think of all the singles and cabins meant for up to four. The rooms left for entertainers and special speakers. Passengers  leaving for all types of reasons. 100 less than full capacity would be easy for me to believe is normal, but I could be wrong.

If we didn’t have future cruise credits paying for our next two cruises we wouldn’t be going. 

They are punishing the cruise industry, to much power in my view. Even with some cruise lines requiring 100% passengers and crew. In my view it’s way overboard.

My favorite was party boy Gene Young he had the best entertainment and activities in my view wish he was back with HA

On March 15 China started issuing China Visas only with official proof of COVID-19 vaccination to U.S. citizens.Visas issued prior to March, 28,2020 aren’t valid at this time.

 Looks like people who don’t get vaccinated won’t be doing cruise ship cruising. And probably not traveling to to many of the worlds destinations without being vaccinated in my view.

1 hour ago, KirkNC said:

Heck, in Durham NC, Duke students are on lockdown for a week due to CV.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/duke-students-covid-19-lockdown-week-due-rapidly-escalating-outbreak-n1261060

 

 

Big news around here no Duke in the tournament, first time in a long time.  
but glad to hear Greece is accepting vaccinated cruisers 

We took the %125 for 2020 WC it paying  for the 2022 WC less port fees and taxes. Plus had over $11000 fcc for next years Voyage of the Vikings. We’re well satisfied since Holland gave us 125% for last years world Cruise that we onboard over 60 days. Plus they paid us back for unused port fees.

Booked the 180 day insignia WC , have a question about clothing space after viewing a A3 stateroom video closet space seems to be lacking for a WC. We’ve been on several Holland America WC which have plenty of space. Anyone here with a opinion, thanks

I believe the u.s. Supreme Court has weighed in on vaccinations and found in several cases brought before them that requiring them is legal if in the publics best health interest. In the case of cruise ships, I would say it’s in all our best health interests and the people we interact with in other countries while traveling. 

Not a fair question for many. Thousands have cruise credits, some many thousands of dollars, that cannot be redeemed for cash. For those it’s sail or give it to cruise companies.For those that sways vote enormously. 

9 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Again to clarify, it's not just CCL, Carnival Cruise Line, but it is good on all cruise lines owned by Carnival. We have successfully used it not just on Carnival, but also Princess and Holland America. And there are other cruise lines owned by the Carnival Corporation.

If you had read the original post for this thread you would know, it’s spelled out.

Just now, ontheweb said:

Just to clarify, by dividend I assume you mean the shareholders' OBC, as they no longer pay a dividend.

Yes that is a dividend in my view, if you don’t cruise CCL you get nothing.

Very welcome news received, pays a very good dividend especially true for  a frequent cruiser. thank you for the update