Jalex63

All I can add is:):)

Last May when we arrived in San Diego there were 800 Canadians on board in addition to a number of Brits, Aussies and a smattering of other nationalities. Could you imagine the logistics involved with meeting each and every one of them during the cruise?

I see what you mean. I was not aware that citizens of Canada or countries currently operating under the visa waiver program were required to "report", as it were. Not a tremendous world traveler and learn something new all the time.:)

While I am certainly not at all knowledgeable about controllable pitch props on ships, I am familiar with them on aircraft. They are not really very complicated and the ones on aircraft usually operate on hydraulics. I am going to assume that a similar method of prop control would exist on a ship and am therefore confident that while it could not be repaired in the water, it should be a quick repair in dry dock. I hope.:D

I have only traveled thru San Diego one time and that was for a S Pacific cruise a couple of years ago. We too heard of the possible delays at San Diego and were a little concerned. However, as it turned out we were not delayed and were off the ship in plenty of time to make our flight home.

However, there have been many times we have arrived in Ft. Lauderdale and experienced the same delays involving foreign passengers failing to show up for immigration and have heard the same announcements "MR & MRS XXX please report (a point) for immigration purposes. While I do assign some of the blame to the foreign passengers, I also blame HAL. I mean this happens all to often and means to me that HAL is not going far enough in making certain that these passengers know what is expected of them on debarkation day. I think a rep of the ship should meet with each and every one of these passengers sometime during the cruise so there is no mistake in what is expected.

Thank you for the information.

Which ship were you on?

This last time I happened to be on a Seabourn Ship, but I have had it checked on a HAL ship a couple of years back, I don't recall which one it was, think it might have been aboard the Rotterdam because that was a 30 day cruise. Point is I know I have had it done on HAL.

It is not my intention to throw fuel on to the fire, but I see many mis-understandings being presented and so feel it necessary to address this subject. First, I have been taking Coumadin since 1993 so am very experienced in dosing it. Usually when I go in to the doctors office for an INR and it is off I end up telling the nurse what I need to do and she will run it by the doctor who has always agreed with me.

Secondly, cruise ships can and do perform INR's at passenger request. Last year I was on a cruise where I suspected my INR might be high so I went to the infirmary and had it checked. It was high and I reduced my does for a couple of days then followed up with another INR on the ship. Of course they do charge for this service.:)

Since I started all this with my original post, I figured it only right to advise on our decision. Since I received more response than I ever imagined and the responses pretty much cover all points of the compass we have decided to stick with a ships tour. Now I only have to figure out which one.:)

This is interesting. We have visited Costa Rica a couple of times on cruises and never were aware of this. We are booked on a Panama Canal cruise this Oct and were never advised of this requirement. I mean, we have passports, but you would think it would have been made clear on the booking that they were required?

Actually, it is the Old Town section of Cartagena that I am most interested in seeing. A few of you have stated that it is very walkable? Were there any difficulties regarding the vendors that supposedly can be overwhelming in some areas?

Another thought, I wonder if there are any private tour buses that hang out at the dock and take on cruisers for tours? I think it might have been last year in Aruba that we did this. There was a small tour bus, think it held about 20 and we paid $10. pp and it turned out to be an excellent tour.

Well I just finished reading up on the security warnings by the State Department on all of the central American stops on this Panama cruise, which include Columbia, Nicaragua, Guatemala and NONE of them are really safe places:eek:. Even ships tours can be dangerous and in some of these areas tour buses have been stopped and everyone robbed. Taxi's it turns out can be just as dangerous.

I realize that the odds are all with us in that nothing is likely to happen, but I am not sure that the reward is worth the risk. My DW says she is not getting off the ship at these ports of call. I will probably talk her out of that position, but I am not sold on doing anything other than a ships organized tour, even if they are not rated high among previous passengers.:(

I would not go off on my own in Cartegena.

I have the same feeling about the entire country of Columbia. This is why I was really surprised by these words which I copied directly from Trip-Advisor:

"Cartagena, a gorgeous fishing village on Colombia's Caribbean coast, has excellent beaches, a historic old town (that's entirely walkable) and beautiful colonial architecture. It's also one of the safest places in the country, so it's no wonder it's a popular port of call for cruise ships. Need a break from exploring the cobblestone streets? Stop at an outdoor café"

Since there is no Roll Call for this cruise, I guess I will attempt to make some sort of arrangement with a private tour company on my own as I really would like to see some of the sights. Perhaps with one of the companies recommended by previous posters on this thread.

Our upcoming cruise includes a stop at Cartagena, Columbia and I cannot seem to get much information on the exact set-up there regarding the dock area, etc. I have read thru many of the reviews posted elsewhere on Cruise Critic, but still have not had any luck in finding answers to my questions.

After reviewing all the comments from former HAL visitors it appears that the excursions offered by the ship are poor at best, most if not all not being recommended. So we are thinking about doing our own thing, but it appears to me that the ship may dock far from anywhere interesting within walking distance. We are thinking maybe about taking a taxi tour or a taxi somewhere interesting.

Anyone with experience able to help us out with this one?

I usually tip our room steward $20-$50, depending upon the length of the cruise, on the first or second day and ask that our ice bucket be filled a couple of times a day during the course of the cruise. This has worked out well for me.:)

From your question, I assume that you booked a "gurantee"? I have been told that cabin assignment could be as late as the time you arrive to board, but I have booked several guarantees and have never been closer than a week before I knew. Make sure you look at your reservation on HAL frequently because a couple of times my cabin assignment showed up there before I was formally notified.:)

Holland America buffet does have shorter hours, especially at lunch. I get irritated coming in mid afternoon from a port day and the main buffet is closed. The salad bar, pizza and grill areas and a sandwich area stay open all afternoon. The buffet seems to totally close down about 8pm.

I have noted the buffet hours on the last couple of cruises to be different than I had remembered from the past. I am almost sure that the lunch buffet used to end at 1500 and the evening at 2100, now it is 1400 and 2000? Are these new hours fleet wide or is are the former hours just my bad recollection? Also on our last cruise aboard the Prinsendam there was no late night snack.

We will be sailing the Veendam itinerary from FLL to SAN next month and are hoping for the usual HAL experience.:)

Just downloaded our doc's for our upcoming Panama Canal cruise of 17 days. Says 3 formal nights. I also agree with what was posted earlier regarding the Lido, seems to be getting more and more crowded on formal nights? You can just guess why I know that?:rolleyes:

Actually, I believe that originally this dress code arose in the British Military ranks with regard to the wearing of Whites (uniforms). It was so strictly enforced within the British army that because of the heat in India year round they came up with a special uniform to be worn in Tropical Climates during the "winter" months. From there the idea of not wearing whites, such as white dinner jackets spread in to society in the Victorian era. However, the rules did still apply in recent years even in the US Military and maybe still does?

I understand the policy of cruise lines that they do not refund insurance purchase money. But, I don't agree with it. Until final payment date there is nothing to insure since you normally are allowed to cancel up to that point and receive a 100% refund. Therefore in my logic, the cruise lines are "ripping" the public off in this regard.:mad:

For what it is worth, I always use a TA and they never charge me for the insurance until final payment.:)

You also might note that final payment date is not the day on which you begin to incur penalty for cancellation, it is the day before final payment date that is the last date to cancel without penalty. I have talked to several cruisers who were unaware of that little catch.:eek:

Don't recall the cost, but last time out of Tampa, a few years back, we used the Valet parking. Really convenient and when we returned I handed my claim check to the valet and had my car with-in 3 minutes. I would recommend it.:)

Maybe it was covered, but I didn't see it if it was, but can you order a more expensive drink and just pay the difference over and above the $7.00 value:confused: limit?

Mrs. wants to know if anyone can tell her the price of having a Cocktail Dress dry cleaned on board?

Veendam, 17 day Panama Canal cruise departing Ft. Lauderdale Oct 22, 2014 arriving San Diego Nov. 8th. allowing me to attend the Khe Sanh Veterans annual reunion in San Diego Nov. 9th-15th. Semper-Fi:)

Actually it has been my experience that the only reason you need the boarding pass might be to access the terminal, that is the only time I have been asked to show it and once you get to the check in counter they don't really even look at it except to see your name.

Once I saw this, I had to go and take a look too. Don't think I particularly care for it either, but probably will grow used to it in the long run. Looks to me like HAL is trying to do away with thinking of cabins as being in a particular category and now just want to sell them based upon location on the ship? I did find that the fee's and charges are listed early in the process, but you have to look for them and then do the math yourself if you are not going all the way in to the booking.

Personally, I always use a TA to book, but do use the web site to compare so that when I contact my TA I already know what I want. Made it easy for me, don't know how well it will work out with this site.

Biggest benefit of the TA IMHO is that I always get an on-board credit from them and their insurance is about half the cost of HALs plans.:)

If anything, I think that movement in the mainstream has largely been going in the opposite direction. Many lines are now building bigger ships that highlight more dining venues that cost extra. Even HAL started charging for dining in their Italian restaurant that used to be included. These Package deals being offered may make it appear more all-inclusive, but you are generally paying a lot extra for them.