VMax1700

Probably same wine, different mark-up 😁

From memory it only offered early (ie 5.30pm) or late (after 8pm) on the app. It was necessary to go to the desk or phone.

Well I just logged in to my account and it worked fine, until........ I selected "Manage my cruise" from the home page, then "Build your experience" and then "Dining Reservations". I was impressed when it told me that we had multiple cruises booked and offered me the two correct booking numbers. I selected the one I wanted and was a bit surprised to see that instead of a 14 day Med cruise, I was booked on a 7 day Alaska cruise on a different date! Maybe I won a free cruise?? 😁 Anyway, do note that although the cruise is in May 2024, the countdown clock is telling me that we depart in 30 days. Also again the cruise is in May 2024 and First Payment is showing as due on July 1st 2024. Now I am totally confused!

Maybe stay overnight in Naples and visit Pompeii and/or Herculaneum if you have never visited the area previously?

Remember that the Baggage claim area in European airports is 'Airside' and there is no public access, also once you exit the area, you will not be able to re enter. So either wait within the baggage claim area or go to the cafeteria as suggesed by euro cruiser. One other small thing is, as far as I remember, the information screens in the baggage area only show the carousel number to which each flight's baggage will be delivered. They do not show expected arrival time, so if one of you has a delay, you could be hanging around for a time.

Just checked our 14 day NSDM cruise in April/May 2024 and it currently shows every night available for both Pinnacle Grill and Sel de Mer, however Tamarind has two nights 'greyed out', so I am thinking Indonesian Rijsttafel on one and Morimoto on other.

The positive from this situation is that one would have early awareness of a large group onboard and perhaps take avoiding action.

That is what I thought too, but still live in hope!

I believe that some cabins in this area have requests to keep the drapes closed during hours of darkness and not to use the verandah light, due to light wash towards the bridge.

As non alcoholic drinks do not count towards the limit/target of 15 on the Elite package, can we get the larger alumimium cans (screw cap) of water, or are we still restricted to the pull tab cans?

We were there in September on Rotterdam. Below is copy of the Daily Program which gives information, also a snip of my live from thread, which mentions the HoHo bus and taxis. Helsinki centre was a good distance from the dock. There was the option of the Red HoHo bus (either book direct or book through the ship) or a shuttle $12 return. There were taxis available a short distance from the ship (maybe 100 yds). Also there was an ATM on the pier beside the ship.

Locally, two Michelin starred restaurants have announced, in recent weeks, that they are changing the focus of their restaurants to bistro/tapas type establishments even if it means losing their stars. Their reasons include the hugely increased cost of prime quality foods, staffing costs and general overhead increases (energy etc) leading to them being unable to provide the required quality plates at a price that would sustain a top class restaurant. Their options, they stated, were to reduce qualtiy or increase prices or change their focus. As cruise lines can hardly change their focus on providing a MDR type meal and they are loathe to increase prices, then the onnly option remaining in to reduce quality. Unfortunately it is the same everywhere. Joe Public wants to pay as little as possible, but still get the best quality product. Finding the middle market is difficult.

A circuit takes approx 1h 45 mins to 2 hours. For those arriving to Dun Laoghaire it is possible to pick up the green HoHo bus beside the train station and do the tour. A ticket for the Dart train to return to Dun Laoghaire is included. https://dodublin.ie/city-sightseeing-tours/cruise-ship-dun-laoghaire

Sign up to get exclusive deals Why am I suddenly getting these pop ups? Very, very annoying. Don't think I will sign in to boards until this is removed.

No problems in 2023. Used Amsterdam Schiphol airport several times and everything was moving well. Only delays were at Immigration counters on flight arrival to AMS

You will get the best answers on the Florida Departures board. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/386-florida-departures/ This question is asked regularly there.

The 'Jones Act' actually titled the Merchant Marine Act 1920 refers to carriage of goods/cargo (clue in the title of the act) and does not have any bearing on the cruise industry. The cruise industry and Passenger vessels in general are covered by the Passenger Vessel Service Act 1886.

Actually the quoted post is not helpful at all, as neither the website nor the 'cruise line directly' will have the specifics of the December 15th sailing, which is the information that OP asked.

Water and ice available 24/7 in Lido. Still water only.

thanks for the info. Presuming the date is March 2024.

For our last cruise the process was as follows: I pre paid online the gratuities. The price quoted was in Euro (our booking was in euro as we live in the euro area). Our payment was processed in euros. The rate used by HAL was very beneficial to us and much better than paying USD onboard. When we arrived onboard our statement showed credit for the gratuities of $224 ($16 x 14 days) for each of us.

There is a lot of incorrect information in this post. Elite package is up to $15 per drink. If you go above the limit of your package price then you pay difference plus 18% gratuity. A reasonable quantity of 750 ml wine bottles may be brought onboard but they are all subject to a corkage charge of $20 per bottle (no free bottles). There is no need to bring a corkscrew. Mostly there is a corkscrew in the stateroom already and if it is missing then just ask your room steward.

That one looks very similar to the usual menu.

I would love if this was a real menu that HAL will be offering, but looking at the 'tab' at the top of chrome it does say "menu-mockup", so maybe, maybe not 🤔

Thanks for the info and links. Currently looks like a group booking.