NukeTim

While looking at Navigator for the Main Dining room (Not Lido) menus for our upcoming transatlantic cruise, the ‘menu’ tab / link only shows a Brunch menu for both the Breakfast menu and for the Lunch menu.  Anybody knows what’s up?  Brunch menu shown is limited compared to the old breakfast and lunch menus.

On my February, 2023 NewZealand cruise on the Noordam, the matre’d refused entry into dinner in the dining room to a man in shorts and request he go change into long pants.  Don’t remember if it was a gala night or not.  Other than long pants, anything else was accepted for dinner.

I won $25 on-board credit in Premier Prizes.  I did drink the better wines at dinner, but thought that if I wanted them I would only be charged a few dollars a glass extra over the Plus limit.  Didn't sit in the Premier seating for the production show.  Specialty restaurants wer  nice, but two dinners worth about $75.  I ate half of a premium desert during the whole cruise & that was too much.   For me, Premium not worth it.

2 hours ago, New2cruise2022 said:

If this is purely proactive because of anxiety over the mere possibility of being delayed and missing the cruise, then take steps and actually mitigate your risk and bring you some piece of mind. Insurance is nice but it only protects your monetary investment, it doesn’t actually reduce risk or improve your chances for a timely departure. 
 

You stated luggage and mobility as concerns for not arriving earlier, but as with anything, there is a way to overcome some of those concerns. If you feel good about your situation, do nothing and have positive thoughts that your flight will arrive in a timely manner so you can make your cruise and enjoy planning. If you can’t have this kind of peace of mind, then change your flight for the day before and spend the money to have the transportation and lodging to be really able to enjoy your trip. 

Thanks.  Good Advice.

This summer and we do have Princess transfers.

2 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Need a little more information:

 

Time of year?

Do you have Princess Transfers?

 

 

I have not heard good things about Heathrow lately.  Good Luck.

I know, I know,to never fly in the day of the cruise departure; and I don’t think we ever have.  However, with our mobility issues, the amount of luggage, and the hassle of getting to and fro from London Heathrow hotels (no dedicated hotel shuttles), we’re arriving morning of Island Princess Southampton departure.  Booked a non-stop with 8am arrival, but have read all sorts of posts about delayed flights due to weather and cancelled flights due to mechanical issues.  We have the Princess Platinum insurance and even bought the airline flight insurance.  So, trying to be proactive and requesting advice and suggestions from others who missed their departure.  We do not have EZ Air (booked with mileage).  Was Princess Flight delay line available and did it help?  Would the airline change our flight to get us to next port of call instead of Heathrow?  Start praying for Friendly Skies?  And advice appreciated.  thanks

If the shower size is a problem, don your Princess robe and go up to the Lotus Spa change rooms on Deck 15 (Sun deck).  Change rooms have a steam room, sauna, and full size showers.  No charge.

I booked Premium Plus and on my booking it shows all the added benefits including the 2 dinners at a specialty restaurant.  Went to the Medallion App and was I able to book regular dining reservations, but when I went to book the specialty dinners at Sabatini's or steak house it showed a credit card charge.  Called customer service and they could see I had Premium Plus but said that specialty dinners had to be booked onboard.  Comments?  Experiences with this?

We had non-refundable OBC from HAL as well as our gratuities pre-paid through an HAL promotion.  We could not use the non-refundable OBC for extra / additional gratuities to our cabin stewards.

15 hours ago, bobjoek said:

We too had a similar experience.  Did you file your claim with HAL directly or with their insurance (AON)?  I filed the expenses for quarantine hotel and meals with HAL insurance beginning of August.  Since it’s only been three months guess I have to wait another month or two.  We were quarantined in our cabin for the last part of the cruise and paperwork given to me said we could make a prorated claim of the cruise fare for missed days of cruise.  I guess this would be with HAL directly and not AON insurance.  Has anybody done that?

 

With the HIA promotion, my spouse and I each have shore excursion credit.  My spouse does not / cannot go on shore excursions.

I’ve booked 2 shore excusions under their name & credit.  Will I be able to go on those excursions in their place?  How can I check

into the shore excursion on Navigator in their place?

Any recommendations on best way / value for getting bottled water for our cabin?  We have the signature beverage package; so can we just ask for small bottles from a bar to take back? Seems like a hassle and a waste of one or two of our 15 daily beverages.  Is it better to just take it out of the room minibar?  Precruise purchased water packages seem expensive.  I saw than you cannot bring any water in a plastic container on board at any port. P.S. my wife will not drink the water out of the tap.  Suggestions?

I received an email confirmation from HAL for the stockholder’s benefit.  Took about 10 days to process. It said I would be credited upon embarkation.  It does not show up on my reservation. P.S. I booked directly with HAL.

Thanks for all the information and replies.  Decided to go to an airport hotel upon disembarkation and fly home the next day.  Will be checking in 4 hours early.

Has anyone had any experience with disembarkation in Amsterdam and getting a return flight back to US on the same day?  With the recent problems with flights at Schipol airport, we're going in early for our Rotterdam cruise.  On return, we have the HAL transfer to the airport and Flight Ease recommends flights after 11:30am.  Schipol is saying arrive at the airport 4 hours early.  Really in a quandary whether or not to book a return flight on disembarkation day.  Thoughts?

Anyone ever file for reimbursement from HAL platinum insurance for a trip delay?  It says there is a $500 benefit.  The reason I’m asking is that the only day I can get a free Mileage ticket is for arrival in the early morning on the day of the ship’s departure (leaving day before with overnight nonstop flight to Amsterdam).  I really wouldn’t want to cancel entire cruise, but I’d be responsible for meals, hotel, and flight to catch up to ship in Norway.  Have any of you filed a claim for such an airline delay?  I know, I really should go in a few days early but airfares to Europe this summer are sky high and almost as much as the cruise.  If I did but a Flight Ease ticket, do they just help or actually cover catch-up expenses?  Thoughts?

Just wondering what others are thinkings.  Looking at the HAL site I see that the April 15, 2020 sailing of the

Maasdam to Mexico can be booked (we were scheduled for the April 1 sailing).  Is it realistic to think that

cruising will restart the second half of April?  I'm thinking of booking a cruise in May but will it really 'go'?

I know there is a 'cruise guarantee' but I'm still waiting for my FCC from the canceled cruise.

We’ve taken the first nonstop to SJU on cruise day departure and never have had a problem.  If you have insurance or use Choiceair you’re covered if something happens.  Look to see if the day after departure is a sea day or a port as that may make a difference.  Of course, you’re more rested and can enjoy the afternoon of boarding day on the ship if you come in a day early.  However, hotel rates are not cheap in San Juan so you’ll be paying for it.

No, you cannot do this online with HAL. I have, however, called them and they will quote prices to you.

Thanks for the reply.

Too bad you have to call. Press 1, then Press 3, then wait & wait, get agent, look up cruise wait for Agent’s quote. Princess EZ air is the way to go.

From searched posts, I’m assuming it is NOT possible to get an airfare quote from Flight Ease BEFORE making a booking. Can someone verify this or am I missing something on the new site? If so, it’s a major flaw in the new site. For those of us not near a cruise port, airfare is a major consideration before I book a cruise. Princess EZ Air gives you a pre-booking quote. Wondering why HAL doesn’t.

Traveling this summer on the Regal 11-day cruise through the Baltic mainly to see the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Trying to plan for the 2 day stay to see the artwork, but don't want to see the other typical sights as I've seen most on a previous cruise (and always regretted not going to the Hermitage). Any suggestions on how or which tour to take that would let me see a lot of the Hermitage without following the herds and crowds? If you take a ship tour, can you break away after the normal tours, stay longer, and get back to the ship on your own. Suggestions welcome & Thanks.

Yes there is a big difference between Koningsdam’s inside cabins and the other ships. We had one and it is very small. No sofa, no table, no chair. Just a stool for the vanity dresser. The nightstands on either side of the bed are tiny too. Closet space was generous and the bathroom was pretty much like the other ships. Nice shower enclosure.

Really wanted to try DeLibrije last time we were on the Koningsdam and even made a reservation based on the on-line menu where it shows a beef entree (my wife does not eat seafood). Got onboard and the menu shows only seafood so had to cancel. Anybody been to DeLibrije on the Koningsdam recently to know if the menu has one non-seafood entree?

On the Koningsdam, we disliked that smoke from the casino filtered down the spiral staircase right into Music Walk & Lincoln Center. It really made those main entertainment centers unpleasant to sit in.