TBcruisers

Except for Grand Voyages where many men wear tuxedos/dinner jackets, very, very few wear tuxes.  A few are in tie and jacket and fewer still are in suit and tie.  There are lots of men who just wear a collared shirt and slacks.  On gala nights I'll often wear a jacket with a crew neck shirt.

Bob

Hi, Jacqui.  Please remove me from being included on the 2020 128-day Grand World Cruise and, instead, add me as being on the 2020 77-day Grand South America & Antarctica Cruise departing Ft. Lauderdale on January 5, 2020.

Thanks so much,

Bob 

Thanks, Jacqui, for all you do to maintain this thread.

Please add TBcruiserguy to: Amsterdam – 04-Jan-20 - Grand World Voyage

Bob

We are currently aboard Rotterdam and there are NO guest laundry facilities. The ship laundry bags are tiny and VERY expensive! Disappointed in HAL

I agree that the bags look small, but you'd be surprised how much can be stuffed in those little bags. Although we now get free laundry, we used the laundry service many times before reaching free laundry status and have always been pleased with how our clothes were laundered.

Bob

I wonder if Juneau will have fireworks and if the Noordam will stay in port for them today.

 

 

Roy

We were in Juneau for the Fourth many years ago. I know I saw the fireworks set up on the opposite side of the passage, but what is still a vivid memory is the parade they held. The starting point of the parade was at the port right in front of us as we docked (we were on the old Star Princess). While standing at the rail a gentleman from Sweden looked out and exclaimed. "Look, Smokey the Bear!" We all laughed and we felt as if the parade was welcoming us. It was a great experience being in Juneau on the Fourth.

Bob

Thanks to all for your well wishes. First time to the Far East for us and we're really looking forward to it, and very much excited to be joining great friends (retiredoncologyRN) who we first met on the 2015 Atlantic Adventurer.

Bob

I want to add my sincerest thanks to all of you for taking the time and making the effort to chronicle your travels. Since I'm taking my first GWC next year I have more than a passing interest in your blogs. I'm certainly learning a great deal in addition to enjoying your postings.

Bob

About 10 years ago, HAL had the best BBC - Baileys Banana Colada. I have not been back since then but we are sailing HAL this summer and hope they can make it just like they used to!

I don't mean to disappoint you, but on my last several HAL cruises the BBC's have tasted more like piña coladas -- not as "bananaee" as before -- but they are still delicious. Since I keep ordering them they must taste good enough to me, and I have turned many fellow cruisers on to them and they love them.

At first I thought the 50% meant 50% of the plan limit - meaning if you had a 6 GB plan - then you could use 3 GB a month indefinitely internationally. But after reading your post again, I realize that it may mean - that you must have some domestic use to compensate for the international use so you don't exceed the 50% of your total use.

 

I decided to call ATT for clarification as well as chat on line so I would have a transcript of what they said. The chat agent and the live agent both said the same thing - that I could use up to 50% of my plan limit, internationally, indefinitely, without any domestic use.

 

I tried to talk them out of this, and get them to claim the more restrictive interpretation, but they held firm. So I will plough ahead, but be ready to get "removed" in two months. Although the disclaimer "may be removed" is still a factor but since I have their assurances in writing - I suspect I may prevail.

 

Here is the chat transcript. Appreciate hearing from anyone else...

 

 

Aldin : I understand you have questions about the International Day pass

Pete : I will be on a 4 month cruise - all overseas - no USA use, so now I wonder whether the limit is 50% of the plan or my total use?

Aldin : Thank you for that information.

Aldin : As per checking on the specifics of the AT&T International Day Pass.

Aldin : If international voice, text, or data usage exceeds 50% of total voice, text, or data usage for two consecutive months it will be the only time the feature will be removed.

Aldin : That means the plan limit.

Pete : so if my plan is 16GB a month I can use 8 GB for 4 months

Aldin : Yes that is correct

Pete : thank you for clarifying

Aldin : No problem.

Pete : I was concerned that the 50% meant that I must use some domestic

Aldin : Oh alright.

Pete : But you cleared it up - I can use 100% international as long as I don't exceed my plan limit of 8 GB a month

Aldin : Yes that is right!

Pete : Thank you

Thanks so much, Pete, for taking the time and making the effort to check on this for all of us AT&T users. It is very much appreciated!

Bob

We did not change cell phone plans. After much review we decided to stick with ATT and use their $10 a day plan which gives you the same service you have in the USA while in any other country.

How do you handle this for a world cruise? Per the AT&T website: "This option may be removed if international talk, text, or data use exceeds 50% of your total talk, text, or data use for two consecutive months." Since a world cruiser is gone for nearly 4 months, wouldn't this option be removed and, if so, what do you do?

I ask since we'll be taking our first world cruise in 2019 and I'm so appreciating the advice of experienced world cruisers.

Bob

Many thanks for expending so much time and effort in updating us on your travels. It is of special significance to me since we'll be taking our first world cruise in 2019.

Bob

We too were confused when we weren't given the customs form on our November cruise. We went to the front desk and they said we didn't need them, but couldn't tell us why we didn't need them, so they gave us one. Customs in Ft Lauderdale never asked for it. They only asked if we purchased cigarettes or liquor.

Same for us in Tampa in November. We asked our porter on the way to Customs why no declaration forms. He said they haven't been needed since September or October -- he thought the rules were changed.

Bob

Thanks to all for your bon voyage well wishes. We're looking forward to sailing again with two other couples we met on previous voyages and, hopefully, making some new friends along the way.

Bob

Please add the following for TBcruiserguy:

October 13, 2018; ms Rotterdam; 15-day The Atlantic Coast

January 22, 2019; ms Amsterdam; 113-day Grand World Voyage

Thanks, Jacqui,

Bob

Thanks to all for your wonderful well wishes. This is most definitely a bucket cruise for us, one which will be especially appreciated by my wife of Swedish/Norwegian heritage. Oh how she loves to leave the Florida summer heat for colder climes.

Bob (and Kathy)

Wife and I have booked the 29 day cruise from and around Japan to Vancouver in 2018. The itinerary includes an overnight stay in Shanghai (two days) and includes the statement "requires visa" *** The following are the responses from the two different HA reps:

 

1. Since there would be no other stops in China, a visa would not be required.
   
2. If we choose HA approved tours, an umbrella visa would be issued by HA and separate visas would not be necessary.
   
3. It is recommended that individual visas be obtained in case if potential problems.
   

Neither agent could explain the printed visa requirement on the printed HA documents, and neither could send me anything in print stating that individual visas would not be required if we book Shanghai tours through HA. I would appreciate any insights as relates to the contradictory responses. It should also be noted that I also read that we could not board the ship without visas. HELP!

Thanks for posting this. Hope you will post this on our roll call thread as we will also be sailing the 29-day Japan...N. Pacific Crossing. I'm very curious to learn the answer to your inquiry. I know your #2 response received was how we traveled in Russia (there it was on an approved private tour sanctioned by the Russian government) so there was no need to obtain individual visas. But, as you say, the HAL documentation advises that we can't board without the proper visas. "HELP" is right! We need to know how to proceed, even if it will be financially painful.

Thanks again,

Bob

Just got back from 14 days on the Rotterdam. The club is located in the crows nest on deck 9. They play 3 sets at 8:45, 9:45 and 10:45 except their day off on Tuesday

I wonder what the status of the B.B. King All Stars will be after the Rotterdam's dry dock in October/November of this year. If her Crow's Nest is converted to the new Explorations Central there seemingly would be no venue for the band since there's no Queen's Lounge. If anyone has knowledge of the proposed plans for the Rotterdam's dry dock, please let us know. Thanks.

Bob

Kazu, thanks for all you do to maintain these listings. Unfortunately, my physicians have recommended that I cancel the 2018 World Cruise and I have. They feel it may be a bad thing to be in an underdeveloped or remote part of the world should I have a flare up and need specific medical attention not available on the ship. Please remove me from that cruise. :(

So, instead, we have booked a couple of shorter cruises which, as of now, are acceptable to my doctors. We are sailing November 4, 2017 on the Rotterdam out of Tampa on a 15-day Southern Caribbean voyage. We have also booked the Volendam's 29-day Japan, South Korea & North Pacific Crossing out of Yokohama departing on April 11, 2018.

Thanks,

Bob (TBcruiserguy)

As always, thanks, Jacqui, for maintaining this thread. So enjoyable!

TBcruiserguy is booked on the following cruises:

- the 38-day Voyage of the Vikings on the Rotterdam departing on August 2, 2017

- the 113-day Grand World Cruise on the Amsterdam departing on January 4, 2018

Thanks again,

Bob

Hi. Thanks for all you do to maintain this thread.

Please add the following for us:

14-day Southern Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Tampa (my homeport -- yea!) departing November 25 on the Oosterdam. It's a treat to be able to take a HAL cruise of more than 7 days from my homeport.

Bob

Thanks so much for posting here and for maintaining your entertaining blog. As a former appellate attorney I appreciate those, like you, who write well. I am very interested in reading about your adventures, especially since we are contemplating taking the World Cruise in either '18 or '19.

Smooth sailing,

Bob

Celebrating the New Year with a cruise booked?

 

Don't forget to let us know here so we can all wish you a Bon Voyage!

Happy New Year!

We will be sailing on the Zuiderdam for the 24-DAY BALTIC, FJORDS & HIGHLAND ADVENTURE departing Copenhagen on June 22, 2016.

TBcruiserguy (Bob)

Thanks so much for your bon voyage best wishes. In looking at the milestones to be reached on this cruise by others, my 100 days of sailing on HAL pales in comparison. But, hey, I just retired in June so now I'll have the time to increase my cruising opportunities.

Thanks again,

Bob

As is the case with several others, our first HAL cruise was on the Noordam III. It was a Western Caribbean itinerary out of Tampa in 1995. We loved HAL from the beginning due to the quality of the staff, both in service and in character - wonderful and cheerful people who seemed to enjoy their jobs. I especially loved the personalized painting on the ladies' Dutch hat - still one of my favorite souvenirs from our many cruises.

We're booked on the next Freedom cruise departing Port Canaveral this coming Sunday, July 26. I've seen nothing to indicate our voyage may be delayed or canceled (no messages yet received from RCI), but I'm following this thread to see if those onboard (who are thankfully safe) have any further information.