DH & I don't drink alcohol anymore, and that simple lifestyle change has resulted in so much savings on cruises.  Being teatotalers absolutely rocks! 🙂

17 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Whoa... Even better!!

 

According to this link, cruises as long as 21 days are not required to be vaccinated OR any tests. If the link at Hal's site is correct, that means the article published is incorrect and the relaxed protocols are not limited to cruises 15 days or less.

 

Example... I clicked on link for Nieuw Statendam that says "standard". That is a 21 day sailing departing in December, but the link indicated no testing needed.

 

 

 

 

Am I missing something? 

Nope!   I printed out the Protocols for our specific sailing in 2022, and you better believe I'm bringing it with us to the pier for check-in.

https://book2.hollandamerica.com/protocols/?voyage=all

HAL has the best itineraries, not to mention the wonderful crew!  I also like that their ships don't feel crowded (okay, yes, Koningsdam felt pretty crowded).  I love the older, smaller HAL ships the most.  The food & services are way above what I would expect for the money.  We really feel at home at on HAL, and we hope to sail many, many more times on their ships.

Thanks for this nice thread, by the way! 🥰

Specifically, what is on the HAL health assessment form that will be available within 72 hours of check-in? 

We haven't cruised since 2020, so haven't seen it.

Thank you in advance.

11 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Maybe to two of you can google highly recommend.  It’s not what the passenger decides 🙄.  I’m not surprised in the least though.  

If the waiter highly recommends the fish, you're still free to order the chickie.  We have options.  No astonishment necessary.

48 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Why do they bother with the “highly recommend” ? Too many people on here read that as optional 🙄.  

Only the ones who understand that "not required" means that it is optional.

This thread is about HAL's evolving health protocols.

HAL is saying that for some specific sailings, vaccinations are not required, and guests are not required to take a COVID-19 test prior to embarkation. 

I'm going to assume that they're okay with those protocols.

Wow!  I just checked our upcoming HAL cruise in December, and it says the same thing!  Looks like they changed protocol again, as of yesterday.  🥰 

 

28 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

Now with masks going away I think more and more ships will fill up. 

100% agree.

My husband & I don't usually join CC roll calls, or go to the meet & greets onboard.  That said, I wouldn't use the roll calls on CC as any sort of indicator of how full any individual sailing will be.  Just my opinion.

This is fantastic news!  Come on, HAL, let's get with it!

9 hours ago, dockman said:

because many of us are way too familiar with the give an inch and they take a mile attitude of fellow cruisers....i really don't get the help me find my room part...they do have numbers on all the doors along the hallways ....bigger worry is how long til up go political or religious stuff?  how long til, people put reserved signs on lido tables or pool chairs?  and then who gets to decide what crosses the line and what does not....keep it simple...no  decorations or signs in public areas period.

Never, on any cruise, have I ever had a "bigger worry" (or any kind of worry) about people putting political or religious stuff on their cabin door.  Seriously, it's possible to just walk right past that stuff with your vacation fully intact. 

It's funny that something as seemingly innocent as door decorations on a cruise ship could possibly become controversial.  Gotta love this board!

Fingers crossed that HAL follows suit in short order. 🤞

https://www.thestreet.com/investing/norwegian-cruise-lines-fully-drops-covid-testing-vax-rules

Honestly, I've never had a reason to call HAL customer service until the pandemic hit.  I'll bet that they're not only short-handed, but they've got millions more calls coming in than usual.  

We were on the very last sailing of Maasdam as "Maasdam".  We had just sailed away from Rarotonga when Captain PJ announced that we had been ordered to end the cruise because of the emerging pandemic.  It still took us another two weeks to make our way back to San Diego.  Such a nice little homey ship, and pretty much the best place can imagine to spend the first two weeks of "sheltering in place to slow the spread".  I'll remember the Maasdam lovingly.

38 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Mine is there this morning so yours is likely back.

Yup, it's all back!  (whew)

2 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

I believe it's weekly maintenance as I have the same experience, @mightycruisequeen.

I don't wanna say that misery loves company, but thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one experiencing this, crystalspin!

I just logged into my HAL account, and it looks all our account activity has been completely wiped.  My cruise history says YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY PAST CRUISES.  I clicked on My Bookings, and it says YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY BOOKED CRUISES. What??????  I'm gonna assume they're doing some sort of major overhaul of the website, and when I log in tomorrow, all will be alright with the world!  This is like a bad episode of Twilight Zone.

Now if they could just fix the online check-in debacle, that'd be so great! 

Thanks for the tip.  I just checked my HAL account, and same thing; they've extended the sail-by date to Dec 31,2023.

6 hours ago, LocoLoco1 said:

I just received Email from HAL that my FCC’s will be good for a while longer, well into year 2023. News to me…

I'm assuming that your FCCs were supposed to drop dead after Dec 31, 2022?

My favorite was Snickers Cake.  Don't know if they still serve it, but if they don't, they sure should. It was soooo good!