*Miss G*

9 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

We were 4 days short when we moved from 3 to 4* and I was bummed b/c we always pay for laundry and I really wanted that perk. We were quite surprised when we were not charged for laundry. We did not ask, it just happened and we were very appreciative. 

I've read posts by cruisers who say to notify GS or talk to the Mariners Desk and ask them to change your status, but I believe policy is policy and we knew going in we were short. But we said a big "thank you" when it was gifted to us.

My experience was the exact opposite.  I needed four credits to move to 4* and called the Mariner Society to check on the process.  They told me I would move to 4* during the voyage but I would not receive any benefits until the next voyage.  I paid for laundry.  😒

7 minutes ago, POA1 said:

Did they just credit the $X you pad for CO toward the upgrade cost?  In other words, if the uprade cost $500, you only paid $500-$X?

Yes, that is correct.

Always read the fine print:

2 minutes ago, POA1 said:

The only time I've seen anything that impacts CO is an upsell to a Neptune. The NS category includes CO. Someone reported that their CO fee was refunded on a Neptune upgrade. I kinda think it was @DaveOKC 

Yes, I have been able to have my CO purchase applied to the offer a couple of times. 

Found my screenshots!  Also my notes on notifications.  These observations are from 2022 and I never made note of them in 2023.  Will remember to make note of them next month.

Navigator App

The Navigator app now notifies you if there is a chat message, a new charge has been applied to your account, or it’s time for dinner or an excursion.  It is not perfect, by any means, but it’s a good start.  It’s not specific in its notifications, as yet, so you have to figure that one out for yourself.  For example, if there’s a new chat message you will be able to see it in your inbox on the top right-hand side of the screen.  But if it’s for something else you will have to use intuition, like noticing an additional charge on your statement.  I appreciate progress, even if it’s slow.

These are the two types of notifications I can see on the iPad (and iPhone).  The first pic is from the Notification Center on Lock Screen and the second is on the Navigator icon in the Dock with an unlocked screen.

And then here, of course, is the notification within Navigator itself:

1 minute ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

I use iPhones - I get notifications for events, dinners, and appointments.   But I don't get a notification for a new chat message.   I have turned on every notification possible - but I don't get a notification for new chat messages.   

Weird.  I get them on mine.  I think I have some screenshots somewhere.  I’ll take a look.

Welcome back, @Scrapnana!  It’s so lovely to see you.  🥰

@The-Inside-Cabin, I get notifications on my iPhone and iPad.  Do you use an android?

Editing to add:  Notifications need to be turned on in settings.  These are mine:

51 minutes ago, HermmyGranger said:

Does this mean that the only option for getting food at lunch on embarkation day is the Lido?

Depends which ship you’re on.  If it’s Pinnacle-class you also have the Grand Dutch Cafe, Dive-In, and New York Deli & Pizza.

I’ve been doing a lot of research and it seems that Brest was razed to the ground by the allies, during WW2, to capture it from the Germans.  Sadly, that means that almost everything of architectural significance is gone.

There is a city tour bus but it doesn’t look appealing (to me).  The map can be found HERE.

The cruise port appears to be in an industrial area.  I may opt to take the shuttle into town if the weather is nice.

Kind of hard to be well-attended when your entire staff sends you to the Lido Market.

1 hour ago, Grandmaanne7 said:

Thank you so much! Obviously my TA doesn't deal with HAL very often. 

 

P.S. I love your signature! 😊

I re-read my response and I don’t want you to think I was telling you off.  My comment was a poke at your TA who couldn’t be bothered to look things up and then doubled-down by making stuff up!  Just admit you don’t know!  One of my pet peeves.  Sorry.  😞

3 minutes ago, Grandmaanne7 said:

Thank you so much! Obviously my TA doesn't deal with HAL very often. 

 

P.S. I love your signature! 😊

You are welcome.  It was pretty easily googled with the words “Pinnacle Grill Holland America”.  I’d be looking for a new TA.  

1 hour ago, Grandmaanne7 said:

HAL newbie here. I have read that children eat free in specialty restaurants yet my TA informed me that we will have to pay $54 for my 12 year old granddaughter when we dine at Pinnacle Grill because she is the 3rd person in a cabin with the HIA promo. She will most likely choose the chicken strips off the children's menu so $54 seems a little excessive to me. Can anyone clarify for me? TIA

Sorry… off topic, but… every time I see a pan-handler, I think “I wonder what will happen when no one has cash?”  I must admit, I’m curious to know.

4 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

and the oblivious elderly lady who kept standing in front of everyone’s photos was enough to make me want to poke my own lenses out

Great pictures.  I was hoping for one with the oblivious elderly lady.  🤭

27 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Is AARP credit one per stateroom, per booking?  We are both signed up with HAL for it, but only get one credit per booking.  Is everyone else finding this too?

Yes.  When I asked my PCC to add it to my booking he made sure to let me know that it can only be one per cabin; not one per person.

8 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

Absolutely.... Our American friends talk about the cost of adding TSA and then I say "That is included in my $50 bucks every 5 years!"  

 

Nexus is a great deal for us Canadians.

The program is available on both sides of the border; not just for Canadians.  I don’t post about it because I don’t want a price increase.  

4 minutes ago, Roz said:

 

I just had this same conversation with my sister.  When I retired I was hoping to be able to take advantage of last minute deals, but there are no bargains out there.  If anything, fares have gone up.  The price of nothing, including cruises fares, has gone down.  

I find the best deals are the private fares.  Other than that, I monitor an online site, fairly regularly, as sometimes you can catch a blip of a great deal, but those are gone just as fast as they are posted.  You have to be quick.

On 3/8/2024 at 1:16 PM, Debbie C said:

Daisi, how do you like Avalon? Have you traveled on any Globus tours?

We loved Avalon!  My sister had done a Globus tour prior to our booking the river cruise and they gave us a loyalty discount.

27 minutes ago, Hobar said:

What is earliest I can find (brewed) coffee on board, and where?  What time does Neptune lounge (or whatever it is called) open? (Kongingsdam, if that makes a difference.)  I don’t want to use the in-room coffee machine because I get up early and don’t want to wake suite-mates.  

I think you’ll find this thread has your answers:

8 minutes ago, Jim_P said:

I did it from a Samsung tablet, but you should be able to do it using airplay from an ipad (if not, Im pretty sure there is an Ipad app specifically for mirroring with samsung TVs).

 

You just press the "source" button on the TV remote, and then select "screen mirroring". Then the TV will wait for you to connect a device. On my samsung tablet it was the "smart view" app, on an Apple it would be airplay or a screen mirroring app. Then once they're connected if you start a video on your device it will play through the TV instead. 

Thank you so much!  I really appreciate you taking the time to explain.

On 2/25/2024 at 1:08 PM, Jim_P said:

Mine isn't . Screen mirroring works though if you want to watch your own stuff.

Wondering if you would be able to share how you achieved the screen mirroring?  I will have my iPad so I am hoping you did it from one of those.  Otherwise… never mind!  Haha

Okay, well, since this thread was resurrected… I’ll bite.  My Dad’s first job was in Cunard headquarters in Liverpool.  Coincidentally, he mentioned them this morning and he pronounced it Kuh-nard, with the emphasis on the second syllable.

1 hour ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Click and zoom in to see how the crowds in the viewing area around the warriors 

Whoa.  😮

How wonderful you were able to visit the terra cotta warriors.  I find them fascinating.