londonben

4 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

Generally, the price of a beverage package on HAL is more than what you would pay before your cruise for "Have it all" which would be beverage package, Wifi, some specialty dining and some shore excursion credit. Typically priced at $50/pp/pd (includes the drinks and dining gratuities) for the HIA package. 

 

I don't think you can do better on board if you are looking for a beverage package.

Thanks rodndonna.

We had already eliminated the have it all package as I don't drink alcohol and my wife may have a couple over the whole cruise. We were hoping to purchase the non-alcohol option.

Would prefer to use onboard credit, but would purchase pre-cruise if it would save on cost.

Ben.

Do Holland America drinks packages tend to be more expensive if purchased onboard than if pre-purchased?

We have some onboard credit and would like this to go towards cost of drinks package.

Thanks,

Ben.

8 minutes ago, mahasamatman said:

 

Yes, it should be. Note that the new policy seems to forfeit OBC from FCD if you make any reservation changes.

 

Thanks mahasamatman, I think it may require a phone call to Celebrity.

We purchased one on Apex in March this year, and when the TA tried to use it Celebrity informed them it had expired in 2018. This was resolved, and applied to the cruise we booked, but I wonder if it maybe got incorrectly marked as a changed booking somehow.

Ben.

Does anyone if onboard credit from using a FCD should be shown? I can currently see our shareholder benefit, but not FCD onboard credit. 

3 hours ago, JanetAlice said:

Two part question.

-We are arriving in Southampton at 6am. We are planning on walking off our luggage . Do you think it’s safe to have a private transfer arrive at 6:30am

 

May I ask where you are getting the 6am from? If this is the docking time, there is a fair chance of a delay before disembarkation takes place as the ship has to wait for clearance from the post authorities.

As suggested earlier, customer services onboard will have the most accurate estimate for disembarkation time.

14 hours ago, dobiemom said:

I usually wait until final payment… just in case I change my mind. 😉 

Due to the way it works in the UK, we are on the hook for our entire package no matter what happens.

That is why insurance at time of booking is so important for us.

Not that I would change my mind anyway. This trip is for ME 😀

9 minutes ago, Crew News said:

As soon as you book.  Note that this OBC requires annual approval by Carnival so cruises after mid 2024 have yet to be approved for this OBC.  For those cruises, you will have to wait to submit until after the OBC is approved next April.

Thanks Crew News. we are booked for December this year, so i'll apply.

Do you apply as soon as booking or do you have to wait until closer to the sailing date?

1 hour ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

Yup, cutting off travel from China doesn't seem so racist now, does it.

Or that effective either, seeing as Italy banned travel from China before the US.

This 3 days ago.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-uk-plans-to-buy-antibody-tests-which-may-be-gamechanger-in-fighting-covid-19-spread-11960554

22 minutes ago, clo said:

Really? So they're going for a serological antigen/antibody test? Is that pretty unusual?

This went out in the UK last week.

https://www.channel4.com/news/rapid-coronavirus-testing-kit-developed-slashing-results-time-for-covid-19-diagnosis

Ben.

11 hours ago, That sinking feeling said:

If the government allowed Manchester united to play soccer tomorrow there would be 70,000 there.

 

I think you will find that the government has not prevented them from playing.

The UK Government has not yet issued a ban on large gatherings.

There is an old thread about this topic you may want to look at.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1653748

 

I don't think anyone got off Celebrity Infinity last year before 7.00 am at the very earliest at the end of the cruise in Buenos Aires.

Thanks for the reply Lunenburg, turns out there is not much of a viable alternative so we'll have to hope it all works out OK.

Ben.

Can anyone give me an idea how disembarking at Buenos Aires is?

I think I read somewhere there is no self carry off for the luggage.

How was customs and immigration?

Thanks,

Ben.

Hi, we are booked on the Celebrity Eclipse due to dock on 23rd December.

Our flight was for 13:00 but has been moved forward to 11:30. Ezeiza airport.

For those with experience of disembarking in Buenos Aires do you think this will still be OK?

Thanks,

Ben.

Apologies for the miss-spelling in the title. Don't seem to be able to edit.

The best option is to take the public bus no. 2 or 3 from 'Småstrandgaten M'. This is a bus stop right outside the 'Xhibition' shopping centre in town. You can buy a single ticket for 37nok from the machines at the bus stop.

 

The no.2 & 3 go very regularly throughout the day, so there's no need to check timetables or aim for a specific bus.

 

You need to get off at 'Haukeland Sjukehus N' (10min journey). Spotting the stop is easy, as they have live displays in the bus showing the name of the next stop.

 

When you get off the bus, cross the road via the footbridge, then follow the signs to Ulkriksbanen. After a short stroll you'll be at the cable car station, then just ride up and enjoy the views :)

Excellent,

Thanks. We have just pulled in and docked.

Now to persuade Linda we need to go as high as we can.

Ben.

Is there a number for the local bus to the hospital, for the cable car/walk up Mt Ulriken?

Is it fairly easy to spot the correct stop to get off?

Thanks,

Ben.

That's a bit odd as our ship docks at 7am in late August and Alla expect to pick us up at 7.30am!

 

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Hi pukekolive,

probably worth asking them in the private message bit of your Alla account login, but I'm sure they will be in touch before August anyway.

I have been impressed with their communication.

Ben.

Hi.

Alla tours have replied to my query, and say they have been advised by the port that private tours are not to start until 1.5 hours after the ships docking time.

Apparently Alla tours have had that policy in place since 2014, so everything is the same for them.

I was advised to allow 40-60 minutes for disembarkation.

I will report my experiences once experienced.

Ben.

I'm sorry - we actually have absolutely no idea. The port announced that they will allow ships to let passengers on ship tours off first during the 2018 season, and independent excursion members will be given a later disembarkment time. Honestly, we don't know how these new regulations will affect passengers. Hopefully, people will post in May when the season starts so other passengers will be able to adjust their plans accordingly. My best advice is to email Alla closer to your tour to figure out how the new regulations affect disembarking. On previous forum posts, our best guess was they'd let you start later and end later, thus not affecting the total amount of time you spend in St. Petersburg (I was offered this as an option for my private tour, since I was traveling with a 3 year old and worried he wouldn't be able to stay on line for an hour and then tour all day in the city.)

That'll be us then as we are going early May.

I will report back accordingly.

I have contacted Alla to see what they advise.

Thanks.

I know this is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string, but we have booked a tour with Alla tours in St Petersburg. We will be on the Celebrity Silhouette, due to dock at 07:00. tour meets at 08:30.

How long would those who have experienced disembarking in SP before allow to get off?

Should we be queuing at 07:00?

Thanks,

Ben.

When you check-in at the port, is it just for the first cruise?

Would we need to take an express pass for subsequent cruise/s?

Thanks,

Ben.

Sorry for your loss and appreciate that Celebrity came good for you in the end.

I think the insurance cover for this type of event is often overlooked by many who cruise.

Especially as quite a few of us have elderly parents with varying degrees of health.

This is the policy wording from a 5 star rated travel insurance provided by a well know building society in the UK and very typicalof the T&C’s of a UK policy.

What you are not covered for (exclusions)

A terminal prognosisbeing given to a travelling companion, a member of your immediate family or abusiness partner prior to the journey being booked or the insurance being takenout, whichever is first.

1. A medical condition of a travellingcompanion, or (whether travelling or not) either a member of your immediatefamily or a business partner which has resulted in that person being a hospitalinpatient or being put on a waiting list for hospital treatment in the 12months before the start of this insurance or you booking the journey, whicheveris later.

Now this may or may not be known to you depending on how much information your immediate family choose to share.

I cannot find an upper age limit in the immediate family cover, which would indicate there isn't one but the policy holders age limit is 74.

If you cannot afford the cost of cancelling mid-cruise due to the unexpected death of an elderly parent of declining health it is very important you speak to your travel insurance company to find out the level of cover supplied.

Ben.

Check with the passenger services desk when you are on the Independence of the Seas. Since you are switching from one RCI ship to another, they may offer a shuttle.

Thanks for the suggestion Capriccio.

Depending where the ships dock you might be able to take the parking lot shuttle from Indy to the parking lot then back to Serenade.

Thanks for the suggestion.