Tampa Girl

We are currently booked on the March 1, 2026, New Zealand/Australia 50-day "Collectors Cruise". What is the difference between that and a "Legendary" cruise, and is the onboard experience any different from 10-day cruise?

Probably not just once per cruise. Isn't this what used to occur, pre-pandemic? "As night falls on Gala Night, guests can retreat to the comfort of their cabin and be greeted by the "Sweet Dreams" turndown service, featuring the irresistibly smooth Lindt LINDOR milk chocolate truffles or Sea Salt milk chocolate truffles once per cruise."

Thank you for providing FTC information. In reading the following proposed FTC rule information, I question whether this rule and California's new law are the gamechangers that several posters hope that it will be. For instance, the FTC rule refers to "hidden fees and taxes", and the analysis of the California law requires that "all costs, fees and taxes" be clearly and readily available to the consumer. HAL clearly reveals what the estimated fees and port taxes are if one takes the time to do a mock booking. This information is not hidden. Whether a deposit is refundable is also clearly stated during the booking process. If it is refundable, the clause will reflect when cancellation penalties commence. If it is non-refundable, I have always found that such is clearly stated when the cruise is published. The daily gratuity, however, is another matter, and it is dependent on the cabin class that is being booked. Still, HAL needs to include that cost in a mock booking. OTOH, that puts HAL in the position of unintentionally encouraging passengers to opt out of paying the gratuity once they are told that the gratuity is not mandatory. Hmm, perhaps it is time for fresh look at the not-so-mandatory gratuity. In short, I am happy with HAL's transparency re fees, costs (except for the gratuities), taxes, refundability or non-refundability, there are probably other costs which I have overlooked.

When did California get the jurisdiction to pass a nationwide law?

I agree. As another retired attorney herein, I think that it does not apply solely to health and safety reasons. The first sentence in that paragraph begins with the provision that a passenger may be disembarked, refused to be embarked, confined, quarantined, restrained or have their accommodations changed if for the reasons stated, all separated by "or" and each divided by commas, and ending with "or in the judgment of the captain..." The use of "or" and the use of only commas and not semi-colons, which could shed a different interpretation on the final example, indicates to me that the stated examples were separate and not related or dependent upon just health or safety. As an illustration, DH and I experienced a situation on the 2018 Grand Asia, where a passenger's wife was confined or restrained in her cabin after several stolen items belonging to fellow passengers were found in her cabin. That was not a health issue. While it could arguably be considered a safety issue for the benefit of other passengers, the restraint was more likely as punishment. Consequently, my legal experience tells me that it is quite possible that a court could find that "or in the judgment of the captain, is a sufficient basis for changing a passenger's accommodations and that the paragraph covers far more than health reasons.

Aren't the balcony cabins on the Zaandam also larger then the Koningsdam's Vista Suites?

What is the Neptune Class? How many passengers, etc?

I'm not so sure about the Elliott company, either. They gave the street address for HAL, but no city.

A reminder, please.... how recent must the proof of Carnival stock ownership be with respect to the date of embarkation?

Thank you so much for sharing these plans. They are greatly appreciated.

To which Carnival corp. publication are you referring, pl?

Logical question: Do these groups or their individual members have precedence over their dining preferences, or are they, as a group, assigned to a particular slot, like main dining?

Correction: There are verandah cabins on the Volendam. They are called Vista Suites, and they are somewhat larger than the verandahs on the later classes of Hal ships, such as the Vista class.

We were in a Signature suite on the Zuiderdam (a sister ship) last summer. I am a light sleeper and the rolling carts did bother me. I would not book any cabin under the Lido deck pool or buffer, but that location doesn't bother other people. It is strictly an individual matter.

I don't think that you can accurately compare any line's non-Grand Voyage with their world cruise. If you want a comparison, check CC's World Cruise site to compare the other cruise lines' world cruises and grand voyages. HAL, BTW, does a wonderful job in these sailings. All categories are up several notches: Food, service, lectures, entertainment and, of course, ports that the larger ships cannot get into.

Unless Japan's policy has changed in the last four years, simply carrying the prescription meds in their original container, which gives the date and the physician's name, is sufficient pre-authorization.

I thought that you did state the correct ship.

Sorry, I assume you were familiar with it since we had been talking about cancel for any reason. My bad!

Is Costco CFAR?

However, the Standard Plan (80% refund) is available to everyone regardless of residency, excepting residents of the UK.

You will have no problem getting entrees served without sauces. As long as it is the same meat and cooked by the same procedure, i.e. fried, broiled, baked, etc., there should be problem.

If a balcony is your second choice, why? There is more privacy, more cabin space, and no traffic outside the balcony cabin. I am afraid that I have never seen the value in a lanai.

Neither the '23 nor the '20 WC are fair examples of any ships' WC. The '20 was aborted mid-cruise, and the '23 was the first post-pandemic.I think if you read the blogs from HAL's '24 WC, you will see a considerable change - for the better! 2023 was the first WC since the aborted '20 WC, and it was on a larger ship. It was immediately post-pandemic, and there were made cutbacks. It appears that the '24 WC is back to the pre-pandemic wonderful WC cruises that HAL is known for. The blogs are worth reading.

Luggage direct and air credit are not standard HAL perks.

What is the earliest date of the brokerage statement on which one can apply for the Carnival OBC? As I recall, it had to be no more than two months old.