TheLizardHouse

Apologies, as this has likely been covered . . . I’m already reading up on the Celebrity Edge, which I’m doing with friends out of AKL in Feb 2024. The cruise critic overview for inclusions, states: Gratuities, but only for those booked in Australia or New Zealand and paid in AU and NZ dollars. Were there some changes with legislation? I’ve got a vague memory of hearing something ages ago. This would be great if so! We have $800 OBC, but the specialty restaurant prices are really hefty, so it’s mostly gone already. 😬

I just did. Apparently it doesn’t start until the next voyage, which is a different answer to the what the beverage Manager said yesterday. It’s poor communication to send this message out to everyone, without further explaining what the details are. A small glitch, in a nice cruise however.

dchip, that’s awesome. It was sensible to take a screenshot shot, I was wishing I had done so too.

This was on Navigator and sent out in a seperate email, I never saw it on the website. I ended up speaking to a beverage manager today, who said it was just for the Westerdam. 🤷‍♀️

This was a promotion extra to HIA. The ‘and more’ part, was that for all beverages over $11 you would only be charged the difference in the price, rather than the full price - which is apparently the current arrangement with HAL. I had set my sights on a $14 French rose, but wait staff haven’t heard about this deal. HAL make these promises . . .

Currently on the NA in Juneau, and from our perspective at least, all goes well. There are around 1200 pax, lovely staff and food, and reasonable compliance with mask wearing. After HAL made a huge deal of the Have it all and more’ offer, it seems they are not honouring it. Service staff onboard don’t know about it, and a Manager told me, it was only being trialled on the Westerdam. We both got a notice on Navigator, and I got a seperate email as well. A lot of fanfare, for a promise that isn’t being delivered. 😏

It is a basic courtesy, for HAL to get in touch with passengers, if they are canceling or changing plans. There are flights and hotels to reorganise, and HAL are very quick to get in touch if money is owed. 🤨

I’m no longer seeing our D3C trip listed on the HAL website.This is a 14 day double Denali, departing Vancouver on the 31st of July on the NA. It’s not listed as sold out - has simply disappeared. Looking at what Alaskan cruise tours are listed, it looks like the cruise is still going ahead, which is reassuring. So, I’m wondering if we will end up with a shorter land option, or just what is going on. We’re left to speculate, and ask questions. Thanks HAL 😕

Thanks Idtr The menu looks tops. https://www.theblackbeardenali.com/

Following this closely, as we are in the same position. I don’t want to cancel the land portion of our D3C double Denali, leaving from Vancouver next Month. This trip was about using FCC, not accumulating more! Looks like packing snacks is a good idea, also maybe the excursions from Denali that include dining. At least we know to have suitably low expectations. @denmor428 thanks for the heads up, and yes, it would be great to know what excursions were cancelled, and why.

Well, that’s a very good question, I wish I new.

You would hope that the cruise lines understand what many people here already do, and that is that there is no 'getting back to normal'. You have to provide seasonal workers with flights, and decent accommodation for example, or you just wont get the staff. Accommodating five staff members in one apartment is just not possible these days, for 'hygiene' reasons alone. I get that the cruise lines are wanting to recoup $$$ asap, but everything hinges on staffing, and for that, dollars need to be spent to improve conditions. (And passengers being rude and objectionable, also doesn't help). One small consolation for those of us with land tours booked - this looks easy enough to organise yourself (if needed). There are dozens of train based options available, we have a Grey Line 'diy' trip as plan B. Either way, it will be an adventure. 😄

I looked through booking dates for the cruise tours, and many weeks were listed as ‘ unavailable’. The week of 7th August is also unavailable, but I’m not sure if that is land first, or cruise. Clarification: McKinley Lodge looks to be out of action from the present to around the 10th of July. The land tours earlier in the season went ahead, so something’s changed.

Same for the N.A. on the 31st of July.