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All ports on the 7-Day Jewels of the Mediteranean are walkable except Piraeus (Athens). Athens is about a 20 minute taxi ride from the port. Checking in early allows you to avoid the crowds, eat the lunch included in your cruise fare, have a shorter line making Specialty Restaurant reservations, allow time to explore the ship before sailaway, and have your luggage unpacked before dinner. You pay only the difference.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. As a hobby photographer, I have been wearing cargo pants on Gala/Dressy nights for years but I do add a sport jacket. In my experience, half of the Main Dining Room (MDR) men will wear the minimum requirement of the dress code and the other half will be in jackets with or without ties. There will be a few tuxedos and long gowns. Wear what makes you feel comfortable.

Pressing is included in laundry items listed below.

Thanks to you for reporting the link issue. I count on CC members to keep so many links current in my battle with website gremlins.

The amount may be minimal in comparison but each ship may just have an arbitrary number to charge. FWIW the Premium Plan and Surf Plans are the same cost for 42-51 days but the Premium Plan is cheaper than the Surf Plan for cruises longer than 52 days. Refund to update the latter??

My apologies. I had to upload a newer version of the tables but was timed out in changing the earlier post link. Actually, there are three possible links: Home Page Link for Internet Prices HAL Menus and More Internet Prices Internet Price List Page

I have a copy of the surf plan rates for 1-100+ days. From 1-6 days, the difference is $2. For the following days 7-20, rates differ randomly from $2-$13. For days 21-25, rates differ from Premium by $12. Days 26-31 differ by $12. Days 32-41 differ by $1 with days 42-31 being the same rate. What each ship charges for upgrading MAY follow the above. There may also be just a standard rate. I don't know but I will try to find the answer. A quicker answer may be found by posting this question on individual live threads to see a pattern.

Just for clarification. Wifi calls are included in the Premium Plan with the Stream Plan only adding access to streaming video services.

For planning purposes, here is a table of internet prices for both the Premium and Stream plans: Internet Prices 2024

Here is a link to the a table of charges for both Premium and Stream internet plans, purchased before or after boarding, for both a single or four devices, and from 1 to 100+ days: Internet Price List

Correction: Days 15-20 are a few dollars cheaper for stream packages and I will try to get updated info for all days greater than 14.

After reviewing my upcoming cruises (7, 14, 12, 9, and 17 days) internet purchase prices (20% savings) and calculating the onboard purchase prices, I have determined the following daily internet charges for up to 20-day cruises: Premium Plan Onboard Prices (5* Mariner discount can be applied): 1 device - $22.85/day 4 devices - $32.85/day Premium Plan Online Prices (5* Mariner discount can NOT be applied): 1 device - $18.28/day 4 devices - $26.28/day Stream Plan Onboard Prices (5* Mariner discount can be applied): 1 device - $34.99/day 4 devices - $49.95/day Stream Plan Online Prices (5* Mariner discount can NOT be applied): 1 device - $27.99/day 4 devices - $39.99/day Onboard purchases will be charged to "non-refundable" OBC with 5* Mariners granted a $30 discount to the total charge. I will try to obtain the stream internet prices for cruises longer than 20 days and post a full table soon.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. Only one person needs to buy. Others can use the same connection but not at the same time.

They did on Feb 3 in Port Everglades.

The latest HAL internet change for the Surf plan is: "Only available with Have it All fare." The Stream plan states that it adds video streaming (Netflix, Disney+, etc) to the already video calling/messaging and WiFi calling of the Premium plan.

Three

Since I usually have a good bit of OBC but like to make Specialty Restaurant reservations to secure a preferred date/tame, I do the following: Prepay for Specialty Restaurant dining as soon as reservations open on the HAL website. Once onboard, ask Guest Services to refund my prepayments (Guest Services is not able to cancel reservations only refund). Dine at my reserved time. Pay with OBC. Refunded prepayments will go to your "refundable" shipboard account and if not used, will be returned to the credit card on file with the ship.

You would still need to purchase some button eyes to get the full effect of the towel animals.

After I purchased one in the Explorations Cafe, I received another one as a gift. I have two copies. The towel folding instructions are very detailed and would be an interesting skill to show off at a party.

Welcome to Cruise Critic and to cruising. Treat your first visit to Alaska as a a sample as you cannot see or do everything. Keep a list of what you want to see/do when you return. Make a list of everything you eat and keep your daily programs (delivered each night) as your friends/coworkers will ask. Your daughter will meet kids from all over the world in Club HAL, enjoy lots of food choices, see lots of seaplanes and eagles, maybe spot some bears, and will beg you to return for another cruise. July is salmon season and bears will be seen near streams grabbing salmon returning upstream to spawn. As fish parts are discarded, eagles will be on alert to grab the uneaten scraps. Provide your daughter with some cheap binoculars so she can look for eagles (ice cream cones in the trees) and some good binoculars for yourself to search for bears/eagles/whales. Eagles in the tree tops Here is a link to a typical HAL Alaska daily program: Alaska Daily Program Here is a link to a typical Club HAL kid's program: Kids Club HAL Program There is no charge for kids under 12 in Specialty Restaurants if they eat from the kid's menu. Here is a link to the daily Main Dining Room kid's menu (bring crayons to color the pictures that change every day (menu is the same)): Kid's Menu There is a link to other HAL menus in the lower right corner of my signature below. I will be in Alaska in April and will be posting the latest menus that you will be served on your cruise. MDR Dressy nights should be on Day 2 and 5. Half of the men will be in polo shirts (no jackets) with the other half in jackets & ties. Perhaps a handful of tuxedos and long gowns. 24/7 room service is free with the exception of a few items: Room Service Menu Tongass Trading Company at the pier in Ketchikan had lots of souvenirs for both kids and adults. There are many experienced HAL Alaska cruisers willing to help you maximize your family cruise experience. Feel free to ask lots of questions to help in your planning.

As a former resident of both Athens and Istanbul, my tourist list for Athens (the port of Piraeus requires a taxi ride to Athens) is the Plaka for shopping and eating, Parthenon (Acropolis) to stroll through the same halls as Homer, and any beach. Istanbul stops should include the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, and definitely the Grand Bazaar for shopping (a youngster will meet you at the entrance and lead you to whatever you wish to purchase). Both of these cities are huge and not walkable. Negotiate with a taxi driver for a full day. FWIW close your eyes when riding in the taxis in both cities if you are easily panicked.

Food options are significant. Nieuw Amsterdam also includes the Tamarind Restaurant, Morimoto By Sea Restaurant, Tamarind Bar, and NY Pizza (Deck 9 by the outdoor pool). NY Pizza has individual, made-to-order (choice of ingredients) pizza pies served in a take-out box. In addition to pizza, NY Pizza also has salads and desserts. The Noordam pizza is by the slice, not made-to-order, and is presented under a heat lamp in the Lido Market Lido Market salads are only available when the Lido Market is serving lunch and dinner The Tamarind Bar has appetizers available during the hours that the Tamarind Restaurant is open.

Similar in that it serves specialty coffees and very limited snacks.

Here is a link to a recent Daily Program showing typical entertainment times. Example Daily Program. Of course each ship may vary.

It is my experience that the last laundry turn-in occurs on the evening before the last cruising day (not Embarkation Day). Laundry List