REOVA

Not Nepresso but company called Mocoffee. Supposedly Nepresso pods don't work, but I'm not a coffee drinker. 

1 minute ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

There was a priority line on 2020 - you can see my earlier post on Devils island, where I explained how it worked.   I'll have to look back at some 2018 posts to see about the situation then.

I just remember getting up early to stand in a long (4/5 star) line for a tender ticket in 2020. 2018 we were in Neptune so didn't notice due to priority then. Even so Henk had difficulty with a few passengers (only time I've seen him angry). 😳

 Unlike previous World cruises,  no tender priority for anyone except Neptune's and Presidents club.

2 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Unlike previous World cruises,  no tender priority for anyone except Neptune's and Presidents club.   80 pct of ship is probably 4 star and up so it doesn't really matter.  

 

If memory serves me, no priority was on 2018 and 2020 tender. I remember getting up before dawn to stand in line to get a tender ticket as 5 star (and a line already formed when I got there which was longer than non priority group.). Also remember some passengers being a bit aggressive in the stairwell and line to get off. 🤪

Glad it wasn't too hot this time as camera lens fog was bad in 2020. At least people could get in the Bain des Bagnards to cool off (but rocks are slippery). 

2 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

 nice to see a live band on stage!

YEAH! Greatly miss the stage band. 

1 hour ago, HSBC said:

If I booked a cruise directly from Holland America website, how can I know whether this is refundable or non-refundable deposit?

Thanks!

The web site terms will show if non refundable (before you book). You need to call your TA to get various prices and costs of add ons (like OBC, refundable deposits, etc) if not wanting HIA. 

We always bring mouthwash (although in smaller bottles) as well as 2 empty plastic drinking bottles. We refill the bottles after security to the plane and use them on the ships and excursions. We never throw them away on the ship but if we need new ones we do that in port so they can be recycled. HAL doesn't want to have to recycle them or fill them up in trash so they frown on bringing them. (Plus many end up in the water which I see regularly while I do clean up locally). 

Yes Barbara Haenni is irreplaceable, RIP. 

You will love Tobago. 

I found no benefit with using PCC since they work for HAL and from what others say, there is various misinformation depending on who you talk to (That goes also for calling customer service). I always use a private TA or big box agent for the benefits (lower price, additional OBC, etc).  Seems odd that they wont send you a quote that you can get online for free. Maybe do a dummy quote online and then discuss what PCC is offering. There are different prices for basic non refundable and HIA that only show up on HAL'S website. A TA can provide other options (I just booked a refundable deposit which was slightly more than non refundable and then booked wifi separate since we don't need the HIA). There may be a promotion for 3rd or 4th but you have to find out if you booked a 3rd now would they require a new booking if removed, and would you lose any benefits if different from the time of initial booking. HAL is wishy on that as a pricing specialist/manager would have to adjust if customer service won't. Curent promotions are "Time of your Life Sale" which includes balcony upgrade for the lowest cabin category, OBC, reduced deposit, beverage, excursions dining and wifi and 50% off for kids. Also promotions for Alaska and Europe so you have to check HAL'S website to make sure. Even free 3/4 guest is only on select sailings for 4 and 5 star. I dont see a free guest for other mariners. What sailing did you discuss with the PCC? 

Usually goes back to the form of payment. 

Don't ever remember having access to thermal area in Neptune Suite (unlike other lines Suite amenities). You do get 1 day access (on sea day) depending on Mariner status. 

48 minutes ago, Johnny B said:

 Many passengers love the daily presentations in the World Stage, today’s being The Deep Blue:  Life Below the Water’s Edge. 

Can't believe they are reshowing this again on a GWC. At least it's filling for the first day at sea. 

48 minutes ago, Johnny B said:

 

 Often there are local experts who speak about ports or just things in general.  One of our favorites was an astronomer whose lectures explained the night sky and who then organized a nighttime sky-viewing from the ship’s top deck.

 

Yes. Same. I still have his thumb drive that he gave us to map the sky. Hope you have clear skies and following seas. 

Make the reservation now and apply the credit online when you book. Unless you have drinks (without a drink package or extra order) you shouldn't have extra charges.  We usually have issues with our Mariner credit unless we remind them at dinner. 

You may have luck with guest services on the ship. At least they may give you $11 OBC since it won't need to go through accounting to credit card. But you will probably need to use it or lose it (non refundable).  I had to get them to call Seattle on a different issue and they resolved it. 

We ran into some problems - One time the vendor off the ship said he couldn't scan my cabin card and needed the code on the digital ticket (?l) so we always screenshot the ticket and save to phone. One time we tried to embark the ship with a screenshot of the boarding pass and it didn't work and the attendant said sometimes the scanner needs the actual pass from Navigator for initial boarding. You may be able to have ship print out tickets (or your copies) if you need to.  Rarely clitches happen but having multiple options can prepare for tech issues. Also our phones are always in airplane mode on ship but Navigator allows for communicating amongst our party when separated and check times of events we want to do (you can create a specific schedule of selected events you want). In port our phone plan works like at home for internet, email and texting so we can communicate with tour guides or others on land if we need to change or plan meet ups before going back to ship. 

Might I also suggest each bringing some type of hanging storage bags (like shoe bags or collapsible shelves, for various storage needs) as well as strong magnetic hooks (more than 5 lbs) as many of the ships have magnetic walls. For those that don't the trim/frame usually are and hanging a small bungee cord on the hooks helps as a hanging line. May not be the prettiest but provides more storage. Some people bring a retractable curtain rod and hang things up. We usually fill up closets with just 2 people. Signature Suite should be cheapest for the size with 3rd guest "free". 

51 minutes ago, mtnesterz said:

The only butler service I am aware of is on Silversea.

MSC Yacht Club has the best value for butler service (and suite amenities). The HAL ships are not as large as some of the other lines with Butlers (MSC, NCL, Celebrity) which is the best part of HAL but you won't find that same service on HAL. The concierge in Neptune are very helpful but again not the same experience of other suite experience. 

20 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

looks like a different itinerary than last year.  No Africa and No Aust/NZ,

 

 

There usually is a difference each year. Africa used to only come up every few years and that is what we waited for (2018, 2020)  and even those varied the routes to Africa (of course 2020 went without passengers 🤪). 2025 heads to Africa again (kind of a mix of 2018 and 2020) but then cuts back up to Suez (unless things change by then). 

Fare winds Pete and Judy. Look forward to your always level headed review of 2024 and its comparison to 2023 and prior. 

Last November a couple got married on HMC. Not technically on ship but HAL coordinated it. 

2 hours ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

Just a note to agree with one of @OlsSalt's suggestions: we try to be close to the Neptune lounge, as we tend to pop in frequently with any question that might occur to us, and we've found the concierge almost always very helpful and obliging.

We also use a lot of ice, and it's often easier to go and ask the concierge to get ice (which they have nearby) than to have it delivered.

But being further away adds more steps on a cruise that you may find yourself eating alot more than you usually do at home. 😉

We ask the cabin steward to remove everything from the fridge and get our own drinks through HIA and put in. That way we don't worry about charges for what was taken. Plus it's stocked with what we choose. 

1 hour ago, highland cruiser said:

Our TA is on our file when we do onboard bookings.  We are always asked if we want the booking to go to our TA.  It is done per our request automatically.  We only had to fill that form out the first time we used our TA.

We weren't asked and they used a prior TA on a new booking and we didn't know until we got an email from the TA. Had to use the form to transfer from the old TA to new TA afterwards. I would think PCC would be treated the same to new TA as long as it's within the time frame and will probably lose and "amenities" that received with PCC. 

You can and if you walk past the chairs and clam shells (and cabanas) you have a very large area to yourself and even good snorkeling right off the beach. We get the clamshells since we spend most of the day there and go to the buffet and then back to our clamshell. 

1 hour ago, lyndarra said:

The trick with X burgers is to order one with a turkey pattie instead of beef. The beef patties are usually cooked in bulk and then stacked on a tray until ordered. The turkey patties are cooked on request.

We do the same with pizza on Pinnacle ships. Have made to order so it's fresher. Also we ask for no salt on fries at fast food at home so we know they have to cook a fresh batch. But I digress....

1 hour ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Thanks - with 90% joining for the entire WC, it certainly makes it feel like a single WC. Our first WC on Princess only had 25% on for the entire cruise, so was a series of B2B's.

The GWC is a winter home for many every year. (Some only do alternate years or specific itinerary- Africa or Europe- ) A few have been known to stay on the ship for most of the year. Prior to shutdown most of the cabins were sold so segments were used for fill ins. Segments are more available now it seems. 

4 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

You have all the same pax for the entire WC. HAL doesn't require segments to fill the ship?

There might be 10% change in passengers on the segments but for the most part its a big family reunion and bonded friendships that will last a lifetime.