Mountainduo

6 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Are you in Amsterdam, or Rotterdam? Check where you are docking...the location might be more of an industrial dock, if I understand the situation correctly.

 

Yes, you can go ashore after checking in.

It is Amsterdam....at the center city Cruise Port Amsterdam, very close to where we want to be.

Thanks to all of you who responded.  The responses are a definite reassurance.  We will certainly doublecheck all aboard time as we leave.

This may seem a silly question, but after years of dozens of HAL cruises (5-star Mariners) we have a need to do something we've never done before.

We embark on a cruise in Amsterdam Saturday' our embarkation time is 11:30.  After we go through the check-in process, and go to our mister station to be scanned, can we easily go ashore for two hours, returning well before the  all-aboard time of 4:30?  Is it the usual process leaving and returning to the ship like any port day of the cruise?

Thanks!

3 hours ago, Windsailer said:

Just keep in mind that many of the wines on the list are not actually available. On my recent NS cruise there were 4 wines that I wanted that were not in stock - two by the glass and 2 by the bottle. So don't get your hopes up about a specific wine!

1 hour ago, SilvertoGold said:

Also keep in mind tht it depends on where you are sailing. Huge difference, for example, between wine list for Australia/NZ and Alaska.

You're both exactly right.

I'm well aware that the wine list is just a listing of what MIGHT be on board, and often only 50 or 60% of the premium bottled wines are available.

The first thing we do when the cruise begins is get a message, through guest services, to the Sommelier with a list of all the wines we're interested in, asking which ones are available.  The days of wine stewards in the Dining Room are behind us......asking for a specific bottle of wine when ordering dinner has proven very difficult/impossible in recent years.  We try to find out what's available and order it in advance.

I just wanted a current wine list to see where to start. 

3 hours ago, just_cruising_along said:

A fellow cruiser, @CruiseNews keeps up a wonderful website, you can find menus, etc. here:  https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/   

 

Here is the wine list: https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wine-List-2023.pdf

Perfect.  Thanks.  That's exactly what I was looking for.

Does anyone have a copy, or know where I can get one, of the current HAL Wine list???

I seem to get to it on the menu page of the Navigator App, but when I download the file, it's blank.  A pdf file, or jpeg pictures of the pages, would be great if anyone has access to one.

Thanks

Thanks to all for your responses.  Interesting..  I'll look at the site tomorrow, but I suspect we'll decide to skip the appointment, go early, and see what we find.

We fly out of Amsterdam Schiphol Sunday.  We usually go way too early to Schiphol, worried about security.  

I've seen mention in several posts and roll calls that now one can make an appointment for a timeslot for security at Schiphol.  We're debating trying to make an appointment, but nervous about how it would really work out.  

Posts have mentioned that they made an appointment, but I've seen nothing about how it actually worked out.  If anyone has made the appointment and gone through the process, I'd appreciate hearing how it actually worked out?  Was it easy?  Do they give you good directions on where to go?  Thanks!

I've cruised a lot, but never spent a minute in the casino.  Next cruise, that may change.  How does it work to try a few poker or slot machines, just for 20$ or so??

Do you need a casino card with credit on it?  Or, does the room card work?  I can't believe the room charge would put 25 cents onto the account for playing a single pull of a slot!

How's it work??  Thanks

4 hours ago, hancock said:

Try www.ridesas.com.  Have used it many times and is quite reasonable.

Thanks, hancock, I'll have a look at that.  Your answer seems to imply that you don't think Royal Caribbean arranges transfer buses for their passengers, or transfers luggage from ship to airline.

We will be disembarking in Miami, and need to get to the Ft Lauderdale airport for a 12:50 flight.

Does Royal Caribbean have transfers?  Also, do they have luggage direct service to the airline in Ft. Lauderdale?

Thanks!! 

This morning I got the usual "Important Notification" email saying simply that my assigned time for my upcoming (July 17 departing Amsterdam) cruise had been assigned or changed.  (The assigned time previously had been 1:40pm, Group C).

Now, my boarding pass reads that the assigned check in time is 11:40am!  I have literally taken dozens of HAL cruises over 15 years, and I have never known embarkation to be before noon.

Something new???

12 minutes ago, MAVIP said:

Yes, the name of a commercial tester with 12 locations in Amsterdam and one close to the airport  is spoedtest dot nl see their website (in english too).   No tests at pharmacies in NL.  Enjoy your stay in the Netherlands and your cruise. 

Excellent.  Many thanks!

I found a location "Schiphol/Hoofddorp" which is just 5km from our hotel.  We will book an appointment.  You've been a great help.  

Best wishes for a healthy, sunny cruise!

16 hours ago, MAVIP said:

We board the Rotterdam Sunday May 1st in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  We use a home test at Friday April 29 to decide whether we will visit a commercial tester at Saturday April 30.   HAL asks all passengers to present a medically supervised test result (antigen or PCR) upon embarkation to prevent long queues of passengers who have to be tested in the terminal.  That is my (and other passengers') interpretation of the new April 14th rules, chequed by quite a few passengers by calling the HAL office. 

 

That HAL tests at embarkation must be a relief for passengers who arrive from other countries the same day or the day before embarkation. 

MAVIP---

Later in May, we also will board the Rotterdam on a Sunday in Amsterdam.  We will be arriving in the Netherlands from the U.S. in the morning the day before, staying in a hotel in the area of the airport.  If possible, we would prefer to get a medically supervised test on Saturday, rather than add that to the busy process at embarkation.

Are such tests readily available in the Netherlands, perhaps at pharmacies?

Thank you for any advice!!  Enjoy your cruise!!

7 minutes ago, Alphen said:

If an excursion has this option, you will be able to book this as a waitlisted excursion and you will be notified as spot(s) become available. If you are not able to book it as waitlisted (you only pay until you lift the option when it becomes available as open), it is probably booked full anyway.

 

We had this recently, booked it as waitlisted and got a notification by HAL when spots became available, they will hold them for a short time (I think it was 72 hours) to book it, these available spots will not be visible for others, until you choose not to book and then they will become available for others.

Thanks!  I just looked at seven or eight of the ones of interest, and I see no place to waitlist any of them, neither on the page showing all the excursions for a particular port, nor when I choose an excursion and read the detail.  Only the "BUY NOW" button appears, but it is gray.  I guess this means even the "waitlist" is filled up.

Just this week we booked a cruise on the Volendam in May.  Obviously, we're "late to the party".

At first glance, aside from the very expensive private and flight options, it appears that all of the shore excursions are unavailable; I assume that means fully booked.

I see no way to "waitlist" a shore excursion.  Is that indeed the case?

Thanks

4 hours ago, br111 said:

Greetings from the 11 Day Panama Canal Sunfarer on board Eurodam!

 

First, let me say that the first half of the cruise went off without a hitch - we got into HMC, Aruba, Curaçao and even surprisingly  Cartagena without a problem. The captain said it was only the second time they were allowed to call in Cartagena. 
 

The only sign of COVID was the absence of the cruise director and one of the dancers (both have subsequently returned). 
 

Then, around 10pm the day before the partial canal transit, a letter was slipped under our doors cancelling all shore excursions because the Panamanian authorities had suddenly required all guests going ashore to be tested which was impossible with such short notice. Upside, though, was getting to see us transit through the canal both directions which was pretty amazing!
 

We did notice, though, that a Norwegian ship had managed to dock in Colon, raising the question if the testing requirement was perhaps related to the number of cases on board Eurodam specifically. Suspicions were further raised that night at 8pm when the Captain announced that due to “some” COVID cases being discovered among passengers and crew, Costa Rica was not allowing us to dock the next day. 
 

So, plan was for a day at sea and then to add Cozumel today. At least that WAS the plan until the Captain just came on this morning at 9am and said that overnight there had been “multiple failures” on the starboard azipod and despite working through the night, it is completely inoperable. So now operating with just the port azipod, we’re doing 16 knots and headed for Fort Lauderdale, still planning to arrive as scheduled on Sunday. Unless of course the port azipod goes down in which case I assume we break out the oars.

 

Fingers crossed for those boarding on Sunday. There was no further mention of how serious a fix is involved. 

 

Despite all of this, we’ve had a great time. There are only 659 passengers on board so it’s almost like a private yacht and the crew could not be more friendly or helpful.

 

Happy to answer any questions and will update if we get any further info on the Azipod for the benefit for those boarding. 

 

Thanks for the "heads up".  We are among those planning to board on Sunday....we fly to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow.  Needless to say, your news left us a little nervous.  Somewhat reassuring, however,  to hear they think they have the part they need and apparently think they can fix it Sunday.

If there are any other announcements or updates, please keep us informed!  

Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

Thanks for all your responses....clearly a range of points of view.  Each helpful.   This gives us a lot to think about.

Best wishes for health and safety to all!

11 hours ago, HALrunner said:

I understand.

My answers are not fool proof, but I hope they will at least help give you an idea of the situation. 

 

1) All HAL ships are 100% vaccinated (someone may pipe up and say 99.something percent, but that is the exception and very rare)

 

2)  Everyone must have a medically supervised test with in two days of boarding.  .

 

3) There are a few situations where ALL passengers are tested on board, when required by a port/Panama Canal, or on longer journeys. Crew is tested weekly.

 

4)Masks are required in all public spaces except when eating or drinking, Currently N95/Kn95 for all crew and encouraged for guests. These are provided onboard. Our experience on NS and Eurodam over the past few months has been very good to excellent mask compliance by guests and crew.

 

5) No contact tracers currently on HAL. Although while on HAL excursions, bus seating arrangements have been document presumably for this purpose. 

 

6) Currently there are sectioned off areas of decks with verandah cabins that are used for quarantine. Yes, fresh air and sunshine on your private verandah.  

 

7) Exact numbers are unknown and not shared. 

Most ships are at 40%-60% occupancy, some much lower. 

 

 

HALrunner---

Thank you so much for taking the time to succinctly provide the general information I was looking for....your answers are very helpful.  Clearly, you did understand and appreciate our situation.

This is the first I've opened these pages in two years.  I used to read here all the time, but, like so many things, it all changed with Covid.

We are 5-star Mariners who have enjoyed many years of wonderful Holland America cruising.  But, for the past two years, we have chosen to stay as safe as possible.  We are healthy, fully vaccinated and boosted, yet we still avoid large crowds and still wear masks in most indoor situations.  Now, friends and family are saying "it's time to get out and live again".  That, combined with January temperatures in the northeast, has us very tempted.  We are seriously considering a February cruise out of Fort Lauderdale.

We have many questions.  I'm sure I could read dozens and dozens of pages of dozens of posts and eventually find all the answers.  But, I'm hoping to shortcut that process here, with the help of those more current with the situation.

Quick questions (quick answers are fine)---

Are some, or all, Holland America cruises for vaccinated passengers only?

Is testing required at the port on the day of embarkation?

Is there any further testing (of all passengers onboard) during the cruise?

Are masks required indoors on the ship?  

Are passengers required to wear "contact tracers" to determine close contacts among passengers?

If a passenger tests positive once the cruise in underway, what type of cabin is used for quarantine?  Specifically, are there verandas for fresh air and sunshine??

Is it known how may passengers have tested positive on specific January cruises.  A lot?  A few?  Are actual numbers announced? Rumored?

How full are most ships?  Does Holland America limit total numbers?

Many, many thanks for any help.  We wish you all safe cruising!!

I stand corrected.  I knew about the PVSA....I guess in my moment of disappointment I overlooked it.

I guess the only option is Bermuda.  I would still be interested in a Bermuda round trip!

I stand corrected.  I knew about the PVSA....I guess in my moment of disappointment I overlooked it.

I guess the only option is Bermuda.  I'd still be interested in a Bermuda round trip!

Canada has just extended it's cruise ship travel ban until Feb 28, 2022.  Disappointing.

We were looking seriously at a NYC-NYC cruise on Insignia in September.  Like many, we anticipate that, even with vaccinations, we will be hesitant about air travel throughout this year.  The prospect of departing and returning to by our own car was a big attraction.  It wasn't particularly about the itinerary, we just wanted to enjoy a cruise, with safe travel.  We also were thinking of a NYC-Montreal cruise, knowing we could rent a car in Montreal and drive home.

The Insignia was scheduled to come from Europe late summer, spend two months in New England, and then head for the Caribbean.  It would be great if Oceania still offered some revised itineraries with US ports. How about a simple NYC, Newport RI, Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, NYC???  Or NYC, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, NYC?  Or add Bermuda to the mix.   Also, I know cruise lines sometimes offer 7-day round trip cruises with Bermuda as the only port.  Boston or Baltimore could also be the home port.

I know they could move to the Caribbean early, but autumn is so pleasant in the Northeast, and cruises of this type would better serve the large Northeast population.

I really believe there is a demand for this type of "first step" back to worldwide cruising.

Am I alone??

Canada has just extended it's cruise ship travel ban until Feb 28, 2022.  Disappointing.

We were booked on back-to-back NYC/Montreal cruises  this fall, which meant we had a New York to New York cruise.  Like many, we anticipate that, even with vaccinations, we will be hesitant about air travel throughout this year.  The prospect of departing and returning to by our own car was a big attraction.  It wasn't particularly about the itinerary, we just wanted to enjoy a cruise, with safe travel.  Yes, there will be options from Miami, but a northern port in the autumn would be great.

The Whisper was scheduled to come from Europe late summer, spend two months in New England, and then head for the Caribbean.  It would be great if Silversea still offered some revised itineraries with US ports. How about a simple NYC, Newport RI, Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, NYC???  Or NYC, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, NYC?  Or,  I know cruise lines sometimes offer 7-day round trip cruises to Bermuda.  Boston or Baltimore could also be the home port.

I really believe there is a demand for this type of "first step" back to worldwide cruising.

Am I alone??

Kazu

A wrinkle---I got adventurous and decided to book the preferred suite online.

Throughout the process, it was listing the cabin number we chose, and we completed all the steps.  Went for the 7-day hold option, and we got a booking confirmation number.  We thought we had succeeded, BUT when we look at the confirmation we see "Guaranteed" but NOT the specific cabin we had chosen.  Did that ever happen to you???

thanks

Ohmygosh!!!!

That worked, first try.  Not sure what I'll do now.  My travel agent called them today and could only get a suite on deck 4.....which I booked and have a booking number.  Now, it appears I could book the suite I prefer; of course, that would mean at that moment I would have two.  I guess i could have the travel agent cancel the first one tomorrow.....or, I could wait and explain the situation to the travel agent and see where he cold get with it.

Anyway, MANY thanks for the suggestion....I thought I was an expert at roaming around the website, but now i have a new trick!