REOVA

You can also book both (assuming not on same day) if you have OBC to use. You will need to prepay by credit card and them go to exc desk to have them switch the payment. Make sure they do it and not lose the booking since it's waitlisted.

Your PCC (or TA) also has the price for every add on in their system so you can ask about base fare and add premium wifi or whatever you want to compare prices. Messing with the add ons is different than repricing and will require a new booking with potential to lose your cabin choice (rarely but depends on bookings). You may find something that works better by asking then a lot of questions. Hopefully they have good answers that work out.

What is your camera set up?

Our daughter (3 star) who cruised with us (5 star) many times when she was younger gets many cruise deals to an email I control. We get zilch offers, so I just don't tell her about them. 🙂 Besides she has to work and has a young child so probably wouldn't go anyway. 🙄 It's is a marketing ploy with added fees (taxes/port) or upsell to higher category. Smart on HALs part.

And only 1 sea day coming back (after 6 ports) But we do get an extra hour at sea. 😅

Used to be in Ocean Bar or Crows Nest (before conversion of EXC). You may want to speak with the CD when you board to see if they might arrange it if enough interest. Definitely not Rolling Stones Lounge unless during daytime if requested and arranged by activity staff. Doesn't hurt to ask.

Correct. Use the website on laptops. Apps are for mobile devices.

We would choose MSC Yacht Club for Carribean (but they are working on their private island so check itinerary as they may not include it next year, which is a treat). HAL would not be our first choice but not our bottom either. They offer a generic cruise and we are not Pinnacle Class preferred cruisers but that would be your best bet if you choose Carribean with HAL. We prefer the smaller ships, longer itineraries that go to more exotic islands and yes we like more sedate cruising with more port intensive visits.

Yes. Sadly not so on the Pinnacle ships. I agree that they look more like a bookstore than library with just a few chairs to sit in and not a place that lends itself to stay long.

The chat feature is good for finding cruise friends and meeting up when yiu are not together on the ship. You do have to adjust your notifications as there can be a delay in getting notified.

Try to call again and see if they will give OBC or other benefit by not rebooking. Some people have been lucky.

The beer "cans" on the pool deck are a nice touch. Would be nice if they brought back barbecues on deck (I know it's no longer allowed) as the smell of grilled brats and pretzels would be a nice touch with the beer.

It's not an upgrade to a different category. You only get upgrade within the Meta category you booked. Many people do it to pay the lower rate and try for a better cabin but some keep their cabin as a "better" cabin in HALs view is not always better in the passenger view.

Your statement can be broken down into refundable (which balances will returned to your credit card at end) and non refundable (which you must use or lose it). But I doubt you will have trouble using the $200 OBC. Also, you didn't ask but excursion credits (like with HIA) ARE passenger specific so each person has to use their specific amount as they are not combined to cabin statement like OBC. Just FYI.

The lanyard and bags are nice suggestions as everyone would be able to get some use. One thing I always download from HAL website is a map of the cruise itinerary. Printing that with whatever else you want on a shirt, lanyard, bag, tag, etc. keeps the memories of where you went.

Ahh so the gifts were really meant for someone else. Guess you have to leave them in the cabin. 😉

Call your TA. There is a form that you (and they) need to sign and they should be able to get it from HAL to transfer the booking. You only have a limited time after booking.

Correct. You can use anyone's device on the ship, but you have to log in under your credentials. And then remember to log out when you are done. Which is harder to remember. 😁. In the old days when they charged by time, people would forget to log out and find a large bill. Now, even if you have a single plan and try to log into a device, it will ask you if you want to kick off the other device (unless you have a multi device plan).

You each need a separate log in to Navigator app or HAL website if on laptop/pad. The person that is logged in is connected to the plan purchased for that person/log in. So if you purchased a multi plan, everyone, on each device, would need to log into your navigator account to use the plan. Your wife could not log in under her account unless she has purchased a package under her account. A multi package only allows you (the purchaser) to log in on multiple devices but has to be logged in under the purchased account. Maybe one day they will allow access by cabin and allow multiple cabinmates to use the cabin wifi, but that would limit their profits (and overload the system).

They actually are given to everyone on the Grand cruises. Glad they are bringing back the cabin gifts. The Grands are supposed to be special voyages and over the years (even prior to the shutdown) HAL cut back. But sounds like they are listening to feedback.

Just from a cheapskate viewpoint (me), we used to just get 1 plan and take turns logging in as needed since we didn't use our phones except wifi calling (even with a teenager many years ago). Then we got separate plans so one of us was not "patiently" waiting to use the internet. And at times depending on where you are in the World, the ship does not have internet so we had a few days "wasted" and didn't splurge on wifi (until HIA came with "free" internet). Definitely purchase a premium plan prior to boarding (as it used to increase on board) but it will depend on how often you need internet, what itinerary you are on and if you need 4 devices connected at one time. Each device would either share a login (multi device) or have its own login (single device) but I would think it would put more load on the bandwidth with four (again probably depends on ship and satellite) and may affect performance but have not tested it with more than 2 devices.

The attendant that brings your food will not have access to the cabin, you will need to open the door. And they will need you to clear space on the table /desk / cabinet that you want the tray placed on. They just drop off the tray. They won't stay around and cut up your food and spoon feed you. Very disappointing 😞. If you want anything particular in your cabin (fruit, drink, snack, etc) let the room attendant or concierge know. Ask questions, otherwise you won't know.

Maybe the OP is thinking about initial boarding for 4/5 stars and now includes CO and thought is was also onboard (which I don't remember ever seeing onboard). I doubt HAL will ever let 5 star be CO since they want to sell that "benefit" and it would crowd the restauranton Pinnacle ships. But they will have to do something since there are many more 4/5* onboard now, especially Grand voyages where the embarkation lines are shorter if you aren't 4/5 and there is no priority except for Neptune and above. Maybe they think we'll age out or go elsewhere. Reaching 4* laundry was a great perk but nothing beats haggling with customer service for 100% refund of your 5* meal at alternative dining. 😀

Other than Neptune/Pinnacle Suites, you have to purchase Club Orange separately.

You can bring a "reasonable" number of bottles onboard, of which all are subject to $20 corkage each bottle. If you carry on, after going through ship security there will be a table where they will count your bottles and put your name on a list. (Check your statement to make sure amount is correct). If you bring bottles in your portered luggage and it doesn't make it to your cabin, it's probably below deck in the naughty baggage room and you will get a call (when they get to it). Sometimes people are able to sneak bottles on, but not always.