zelker

Thanks for your continuing report. Looking forward to hearing and watching the organ when we board next month. So how do you know the schedule for it? Also, have they started decorating for the holidays yet? Assume they still haven't switched to the interactive TV/system yet or you would have mentioned it?

I'd call HAL and talk to them about what it qualifies for and get their pricing. I almost always book directly with the cruise line and then have it transferred to our travel agent within 60 days of putting a deposit (must transfer before final payment), who then applies any discount/perks they may offer on top of what HAL is offering. And yes, you have to be a Costco member to book with them.

Not unless you opt for the Have It All package.

No, not limited to those and no, no list. Just look on their website and you can tell which ones have it because it clearly shows Black Friday Sale on each one. Find a Cruise - Search the Best Cruises for 2022 and 2023 (hollandamerica.com)

We booked one for December 2023 also and since that cruise was announced less than 90 days ago, they are still offering the Mariners Early Booking bonus OBC Mariner Society Early Booking Bonus | Holland America Line I asked about it to confirm and she said yes, it was applicable and it shows on our confirmation. Unfortunately I didn't write down the price for the cruise we booked before the sail started so can't compare.

I wound up calling HAL this morning and asking if gratuities were included since I couldn't see them for any online-bookable fare either. She said they were so I was able to have her book us on an Advantage fare (refundable deposit). Got our booking confirmation and they show on there as well. BTW, we also got some Mariner OBC because it's still within 90 days from when this cruise (Holiday 2023) was opened for booking. 👍

Friends currently on Noordam said they are allowed to get 2 beverages at a time also.

You're welcome. Sorry I can't divulge my source but I can tell you I didn't get it from O.

We have a roll call going. Not a lot of activity but there has definitely been mention of Nicaragua and whether we'll actually stop there.

Premium air "deal" already showing on their website - Cruise Packages Including Custom Flights and Transfers | Oceania Cruises It's all so confusing. Hopefully by the time 11-22 gets here, it will become clear what is and what isn't included.

Per the brochure that I posted a few days ago, the sale is only for bookings made between 11-22 and 11-30 and yes, it appears it's only for Verandahs and only adds gratuities. NOV2225157 Black Friday Sale.indd (oceaniacruises.com) Hope it works out for you!

can't find anything online for the rescue from yesterday yet

I just called SB and was told that the pricing I see for the specific cruise we're interested in are, in fact, the Black Friday prices. I mentioned that it would be nice if they indicated it on the website and she said they had actually posted the "splash" about it last Thursday (by mistake), then took it down, and that their IT department certainly needs to get it together. I laughed and said "yes, that seems to be a widely shared consensus". 😜

Clink on link to see available cruises and T&Cs. Must be booked between November 22 and 30. NOV2225157 Black Friday Sale.indd (oceaniacruises.com)

Here you go: For all sailings departing prior to February 1, 2023 as well as the 2023 Grand World Voyage and the 2023 Grand South America Antarctica Voyage, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $15.50* per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $17.00* per guest per day for suite guests.For sailings departing on or after February 1, 2023, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $16.00* per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $17.50* per guest per day for suite guests.

Oh, gotcha. Thx for clarifying.

What’s not a thing? The Mariner discounts? They still show under benefits, and we got them in July on NS, didn’t even have to ask.

Thanks for posting the two menus. AND, if I'm reading it correctly, additional appetizers will actually be $8.26 after the 18% service charge is added.

We're also 5* and wondered about this and/or will they give us our 50% discount on additional menu items? We don't sail until December 20th so hope you'll post back here. Enjoy your cruise! Thx.

No testing required for this cruise (I know because we're booked on it). You can verify it yourself by going to this link on HAL's website and entering your booking number, first and last name (don't need the voyage number). It will show you protocols for all cruises that embark by the end of this year. Booking or Voyage Lookup (hollandamerica.com)

Kirk - we ran into the same thing on Viking Ocean last November, with the same wide-eyed, glassy stare when I questioned getting a refund for missing Nicaragua. Not only did we not receive any compensation for port taxes/fees, but we also didn't receive compensation for the included shore excursion that we paid for as part of the cruise fare (and what Viking so proudly advertises as included - one free excursion in every port). We're booked to do our first Oceania cruise at the end of 2024 (South America/Antarctica on Marina) so guess I'd best prepare myself now for the inevitable missed port on a 39 day cruise and no compensation. Barb

I've never been told we couldn't bring flowers onboard in the South Pacific. We were allowed to bring flowers onboard in Fiji (2019), Maui (March 2020), and Raiatea (March this year).

The nurse on Zuiderdam came into each of our cabins to test us. She had on a mask and gloves and we all had to wear our masks before and after she swabbed. Then she stood there and waited the 15 minutes for the results. She logged all the info and once she was done in our wing of Covid Town, she took the results to the medical center and we waited for the official call from the doctor. Not everyone landed in jail on the same day so not everyone was eligible to be released the same day either, e.g., testing was staggered.

When they moved us to "Covid Town", we left everything in our existing stateroom and just took what we needed for isolation, then returned "home" when we were released. BTW, hopefully they've offered to do laundry for you if you need any done. Did they give you a thermometer so you could monitor your own temp? And have they been sending little "goodies" (treats, coloring book pages with colored pencils, playing cards, brain games, etc.) every day?

When the moved us, we left everything in our existing stateroom and just took what we needed for isolation. BTW, hopefully they offered to do laundry for you if you need any done. Did they give you a thermometer so you could monitor your own temp? And have they been sending little "goodies" (treats, coloring book pages with colored pencils, playing cards, brain games, etc.) every day?