glorialagos

On 12/4/2022 at 12:42 PM, blueexpedition29 said:

IF you spend any reasonable amount of time in the casino over the course of your sailing, you are likely to receive a casino cash offer towards the end of the sailing.  The $$$ amount of the offer will likely be somewhat commensurate with the time and $$$ you spent in the casino for that cruise.  IT is not clear to me that that relates directly to any future "free cruise" offer you may receive. 

What would you consider "reasonable" amount of time?

I cruised on Rotterdam last February and did not spend a penny in the casino.  I am booked for Nieuw Amsterdam this February and would love to spend some time playing slots.  I have always considered slot play as a "donation" to the cruise line but it would be FUN to actually receive something back. 

Thanks.

On 11/29/2022 at 4:34 PM, vicd1969 said:

 If you have the budget, highly recommend springing for the thermal suite pass. It's even nicer than the one on the NA. 

Oh no - I am sad to see that the NA thermal suite is not as nice as Rotterdam's.  I was on the Rotterdam last year and loved the thermal suite.  I will be on NA this February and have already booked the thermal suite.  Could you share what the difference is between the two?  Spending time each day in the thermal suite is one of the highlights of my cruise!!!  Thanks.

4 hours ago, KroozNut said:

 

Can you provide some additional detail on this apparently stress free testing option? Seems almost too good to be  true. At  this point, we're planning to utilize CVS's free tesingt option, which has worked very well for us in the 2-3 times we have used them in the past 2 years... no issues at all.

Our CVS now charges if the test is for travel.  I believe it was around $140?  That is why I decided to go the Binax at home route, and it is more convenient for timing.  Testing tomorrow so wish me luck!!!

5 hours ago, BelleEpoque said:

 

I have spend lots of time reading a mystery now and listening to a sci-fi audiobook on the heated stone chairs in the spa lounge, so you’ll be happy there. (My advice is to prebook

the thermal spa if you can as the price goes up if you book it on board.)

 

I have seen the yoga class on the schedule at least twice. (There is also a stretching class, cycling and total body conditioning class. I think that only the cycling class has an extra fee.)

 

They have had popcorn on Deck 10, which overlooks the lido, at night when movies are screened on the big screen next to the lido pool. 

Sounds amazing.  Thank you for answering those questions.  Yes, I have the spa package booked and cannot wait.  I do hope to get some yoga in, and stretching sounds wonderful!

Thanks so much and have a relaxing time.

Can't wait to hear and thank you so much.

I will be boarding the Rotterdam in two weeks.  My husband passed away in June and it has been a very difficult year.  I am traveling with a dear friend but I am happy to see how many solo cruisers there are.  My husband loved to cruise, so did I, and we took many.  I know the first without him will be a struggle but I am looking forward to it very much.  I have only taken one HAL, to Alaska, 6 years ago.  As 50 year olds, we felt like the youngsters on the ship!  (it was also an Alaskan cruise so older crowd)

Can't wait to follow your journey.  Our itinerary is different but I am most looking forward to hearing about the ship.  I also love to be out and about, visiting the gym (love yoga classes - please report if there are any) and have the spa pass mostly for reading books on the stone chairs.

Here's another question - is there anywhere to find popcorn onboard?

Have a wonderful trip and thanks again.  I'll check back daily.

Update from those who have already done this?  Thanks.

My friend and I will be cruising on Rotterdam leaving February 20.  We wanted to do the sunset cruise in Aruba but I guess we should have booked sooner.  We are waitlisted and wondering if it is very likely that we could get on this excursion?  Another option is to go independently but I worry that with the strangeness of covid cruising, we may only be allowed to use HAL excursions, or the port may be cancelled. 

If the sunset cruise is not available, any other suggestions?  Neither of us have been to Aruba.  We do not want to snorkel and prefer something more than a beach day.  Touring the island sounds interesting.

Thanks to anyone who can help!

17 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

I put the pencil on it. I check the bottom line prices between HAL and my big box warehouse club's travel website.  If HAL is cheaper, I book with HAL and then transfer the booking to the big box and then get their gift card as a bonus.

 

 

I don't understand how you could transfer a reservation?  Please explain how this is done and why the travel website would want to do this?  Thank you.

Can anyone share how the spa package is?  I believe I saw the heated stone chairs?  I absolutely love those!!  How about the hot tub?  Sauna?  Has it been very crowded?  This is what I am most looking forward to!!

Thanks and enjoy.

My friend and I have chosen our cruise and are ready to take advantage of the Black Friday sale.

What is best - book directly with HAL?  Or should we go through one of the online discount sites?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Now that I know "when", could someone help with the "how"?  My friend and I are planning to book a February cruise on Rotterdam and are happy to see the Black Friday sale.  Now - where do we find this?  Do we book directly with HAL?  We normally use ***** or similar sites.  Do we need to book with a travel agent?

Thanks for any tips.  I'm ready to be booked and then can start planning our trip!

So glad I asked before booking.  Thank you all.  I think we will check out deck 8!

I would love some help in choosing a cabin on the Rotterdam's sailing Feb 20.  My friend and I will be cruising together, no husbands, and will definitely want spa time. We would love any info on the spa package.

We also are seeking help with choosing a cabin.  We want a balcony and have considered the spa cabins on deck 10.  However, we are not sure that is a good location for everything else.

Is there anyone who has been on deck 10 yet who could provide us with some advice?

Thanks for any help.

Is one allowed to bring any beverages on board when embarking?

Do you know if there are hair dryer in each cabin?

Also, what can you tell me about room service?

Still hoping to learn about the spa.  Does anyone know?

On 12/20/2019 at 2:03 PM, Bobbingbob said:

Thanks all for up to date info. Brian, thought you must have some insider help! Great to know Smeralda is all set to go.

Bit worrying about the noise issue, though, and really rather surprising. You would imagine new eco tech powered engines would be quieter, wouldn’t you? What do I know?! Will be disappointed however if it does turn out to be a noisier ship.

Hope the first cruisers will be kind enough to post some early reviews as I am sure many of us will be very interested to read them.

Happy Christmas to all or Happy Holidays if you prefer.

 

First cruisers have not left very positive reviews.  Do you have any "insider" knowledge, Brian?  We are sailing in 3 weeks.  Hopefully the kinks are worked out.

Thanks

On 1/4/2020 at 5:06 PM, Italian_Cruiser said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a 10€/person/day mandatory service charge. I paid extra for the SPA access (105€/person/cruise for unlimited access) and for a dinner at the 'restaurant lab', WI-FI access is also for a fee everything else is included (drinks are included according to your drink package).

 

I never take excursions. Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma and La Spezia city center are reachable by walking and/or by the free shuttles provided by the port authority. 

 

 

I

On 1/4/2020 at 5:06 PM, Italian_Cruiser said:

Thank you for your help!  It has been hard to plan this cruise with no reviews and the first ones I saw have not been very encouraging!!  I am interested in knowing what the spa has to offer?  I mainly like to relax in a hot tub (without kids) and love the heated stone chairs - do they have these?  Also, is there coffee available in the morning anywhere?  We do not have a drink package.  Will there be free drinks available - water?  coffee?  tea?  Or is there a charge for everything?  I don't mind paying but just need black coffee, nothing fancy, especially in the morning but would love to have it with desserts at dinner.  Thanks!

On 1/4/2020 at 5:06 PM, Italian_Cruiser said:

 

If you only want to see sloths, you can simply send a Facebook message to Daniel Johnson's and they will pick you up and return you to the port. You have plenty of time there. No worries about getting back. We loved the sloths and monkeys! Best pictures of our trip!

We loved the starfish. I have not seen the turtles but the starfish were fun to see and get pics with. I think teenage girls would love it.

Your best bet is to visit Daniel Johnson's Facebook page and message them. They reply quickly and I am positive they can easily transport you to Little French Key from the Hangout. They had lots of taxis, drivers, waiting while you are visiting and when you are ready to leave, they will send you in the right direction. They are very easy to contact and answer quickly.

I read that there is a place to see sloths in the Roatan. Going there in 10 days!!! Sloths are my favorite animal. We are booked on the Gumbalimba excursion. Are there sloths there or do we need to go some place different?

 

 

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I don't know about Gumbalimba but I can assure you that holding a sweet, slow, lazy sloth was one of the highlights of our entire cruise. Daniel Johnson's was the place we went and I do not know of any other place where sloths hang out. (they literally "hang out" - they are not in an enclosure, live in the trees and seem to enjoy doing very little). :)

We were on deck 6, aft balcony. If you are not out late, you might hear some slight noise from the comedy club but other than that, it was a good location - easy to get everywhere. Always used the stairs. And, as I answered in the ping pong post, there is definitely at least one ping pong table, windy when moving. I looked through the Fun Times and I do not see a ping pong tournament, just basketball. I could have missed it though. We did try wifi some and it worked fairly well, slow.

Does anyone have any experience with Dustin Gabriel. I am a first time cruiser headed out on the glory on 5/20 and would love any information that could be provided.

Thank you

Just be glad it's not Eric who we just had on the Glory. Can you say annoying? Dustin will be awesome, I am sure!!

Just got an email and automated phone call from Carnival regarding the Glory sailing this coming saturday, saying they will be performing routine systems testing, and to please add 2.5 hours to my scheduled check-in time.

 

Anyone know what this testing might be and if it will actually take 2.5 hours? Seems weird when the ship just came out of dry dock. This will probably make check-in/embarkation a nightmare.

That does seem strange. If it's "routine", why hear about it two days before? I am curious to see how it goes.