Haljo1935

All this "I got a bucket" "I didn't get a bucket" "bucket - what's a bucket" "ice, wait what - you can get ice in your cabin?!" talk has definitely convinced me to pack my Girl Scout 👩‍🎨 sash and a few zip bags. I will have ice in my cabin, lol. 🧊 🫢🤫

Bingo

So long as it was issued by the state of AL, not a 3rd party, she should be able to use it. I say "should" because of the new Real ID requirements that were not in place when it was issued. Even people with current DLs that expire after Real ID deadline will have to get new ones to travel. So, she/you might want to check on the Real ID component. If she plans on doing any type of traveling going forward, she really should get a new one.

Lobbyists can fix a lot of things...

@Veinless if it's available at one of the ports, you can legitimately buy there, the ship will hold until last night then deliver to your cabin at which time you can give to your friend. The delivery is made well before luggage gets set out, so you'll have time to get it to them. Lucky friends 🤭 Safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

Can't comment on the exact equipment available, but will say your "young adults" should have to issues using it as over 16 are allowed to use w/o parents. They'll have a great view.

I think I'm going on your booking, lol! We did CO to get an aft-facing verandah and when we first tried to add CO it was sold out, called back and was able to add it due to a cancelation. Now, if we can only get HIA added, I think we'll have the perfect package. Safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

Right. And I'm asking why? What is so different about the Koningsdam or it's processes to cause that. Ugh

By chance, is the HAL you passed on Nov 26-Dec 10 Rome->FLL? That's the one we're doing. I do miss the seemingly endless entertainment in the Piazza on Princess; we'd pick up a light snack and coffee in the International Cafe and enjoy the music. Don't get that on HAL.

Would be interested in reading your comparison of them afterwards. I'm doing my first TA this fall (Thanksgiving Rome->FLL) and first TP (Yokohama->Seattle) next spring; both HAL. Excitedly anxious and curious. We considered a TA on Princess instead of a flight for another Rome cruise, but canceled the booking, so will be interested in your feedback to see if we may want to do it in the future.

So what is this issue, do we think? Seems to be isolated to the Koningsdam. Having been on 3 other ships, before and after Koningsdam, I don't understand.

The cost has changed again; not sure the date, but it is now $25pp/day up to 13 days and $15pp/day on cruises 14 days and longer. If you were you charged $25pp/day for either of the upcoming cruises are they less than 14 days?

As @Horizon chaser 1957 said, your excursion is an excellent choice - you'll get off the ship and just return at end of day by All Aboard time; it will seem almost like just another port day for you. I highly recommend getting your new cabin keys early morning before breakfast and remember to get your name marked off the list at the in transit meeting location. Safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

Hey @washiotter first, Welcome to HAL!! Second, a tad late to the party - sounds like it was a great party, too! I kept passing by this thread b/c I have not been to and have no plans to go to the Baltic, but finally decided to read as I really like Nieuw Statendam and am curious about first-timers insights. So glad your family had a complete experience - from absolutely amazing to the bucket o' tears, that's a complete experience! 🥳 Panama Canal was on my very short bucket list; was able to go at the Covid restart and it was everything I hoped. I hope you will go and take Mr14 & Ms18 - based on their reaction to the Baltic cruise, I think they will really like it. Especially for a budding engineer, it's pretty amazing. If you do go, be sure to attend the pre-port presentation as it does a great job of describing the locks, what to expect and shows videos of previous visits. I got so much more out of the passage through the locks b/c I had been to that presentation. The day of crossing the canal is a looooong day, though. I spent 5 hours on the bow (some of it in the rain) beginning at 5am to experience the locks before getting off the ship to go on an excursion. Completely worth it, no regrets, would do it again, just be prepared. Also want to mention for your next cruise, please be sure to complete the medical form for Mr14. That alerts the chef and service staff of his peanut allergy. On nights you're in MDR, they will bring him the menu for the following night and will note his allergy on it after he makes his selections. He can always change when y'all order if he wants, so not set in stone, but sure helps prevent (or at least minimize) the potential for disaster. You may already know to do this, but having read the "don't eat that" experience, thought I'd mention it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures and hope your next adventure is even better than this one!

Was on a Princess ship that had an active Noro outbreak, which neither of us caught. Immediate change in protocols: nothing on tables or counters anywhere - had to ask for salt/pepper/sugar/etc which crew would apply for you, no self serve anything including tea bags/cereal/etc, hand sanitizing stations put up throughout ship, signs on every public restroom to only use if necessary and to wash hands, very frequent announcements reminding passengers to use restrooms in their cabins when possible and only use public restrooms if absolutely necessary, stay in cabin if feel unwell and call Medical, no public gathering/all shows canceled. There were noticeably less passengers moving about the ship as the days went by. It was taken very seriously and the ship seemed to take immediate swift action to mitigate the outbreak.

On HAL the room service cold cereal is no longer delivered in a box, it's in a bowl. And yes, all room service except for a few items is no charge.

Thanks - we didn't need paper boarding passes on Carnival right after Covid (sailed from NOLA) and not at all on HAL, so I'm trying to be prepared.

Once you cross over the little road behind the ticket hut, there will be golf carts driving people around. You can flag one down to take you further down if you don't want to walk. Friendly and free (golf cart rides, not clamshells, just to be clear, lol).

What about other drugs that require refrigeration (not insulin)? I guess just better to visit medical and be safe. My sister (who will be my cabin mate) has always just put her meds in the mini fridge even though we both comment on how not-cold they are. She does get a sharps container and nobody has ever mentioned to her a medical fridge. Is a medical fridge an actual mini-fridge or more like a cooler?

Not so thrilled to hear the ship was warm. We tend to be warm-to-comfortable wearing s/s t-shirts & sandals on most ships, so that's a bit concerning. Maybe they'll get the HVAC figured out before we board in Sept. 🙄🤔🫠

HAL, part of the CCL family, charges $50 for a name change. Just did one this week. Of course, it cannot be pax 1, as that is who the rate is tied to. And yes, they charge the fee just because they can. Other than the hourly wage paid to the person who physically changes it in the system (3 min or less?) they do not incur an expense they're recouping.

Ships may handle execution a bit differently, but the process is dictated my customs requirements and local authorities. It's really not a big deal, so long as ALL in transit passengers check in as required per the instructions they receive. I like turnaround day - it feels a little different and special. 🤭 Your willingness to be flexible will certainly help make it smoother and less stressful.

For sure offer something to the people who schedule the elevator repair people! May Eurodam 2 mid-ship elevators (1 being starboard glass elevator) were out when we got on and did not work the entire cruise. People on the next 2 weeks reported they did not work, so there's definitely an opportunity with HAL elevator maintenance.

That is great! Would love to see pictures if you take some and are willing to post. That should be a very heart warming, special port day.💜

Interesting. Why would HAL make bookings available to TA over direct agents?