WeRockChalkKU

Hi,  haven’t cruised for forever.  Ready to start back up. Years ago would go through the website that had several companies present offers and competed for your business.  I would put in for what I wanted and within a very few minutes I had an offer or two; it was an automatic type of response even if it was after normal business hours or a weekend.  Then a couple of other companies would also make offers within a day or so.   A few hours ago, I filled out a new request but I haven’t had any responses.  Is that what others are experiencing?  Just curious what the latest is with that type of situation.  Thanks for any input. 

23 minutes ago, sambamama said:

Here is the situation.  I just got ahold of the tour company.  I have not been refunded the money on the Ronda tour yet, and I had to put in another 20% of  my own money to him. I don't know if he will refund that or not.  The Rabat tour operator made a mistake on the date, so there is no refund-I have a credit with the company. I am not thrilled about that-and don't know if I can get that covered with travel insurance or not.  I will send out checks for the Rabat tour, but if you booked on both, I will wait until I see what is going to happen. I don't know if I booked with my credit card company that gives me travel insurance or not, and I don't think it fair that I take a hit of another 20% just because I organized this.  I was supposed to go away for 7 weeks to Africa, and that fell apart right before I was supposed to leave. MA is in the top 5 of states with COVID, and I have been swamped trying to get guys out of jail.  I don't think I ever want to host tours that the money is not paid directly to the company again as it was a nightmare and even more now that the cruise is cancelled.  The email contacts are good-but I have been buried with court work and trying to recover for my Africa trip.  I am planning to refund people-but I need to wait for my refund and check on trip insurance.  

Yes, this all sounds like some of the issues we are dealing with from various other recent cancellations. I guess in our case we had canceled the cruise in January and you had said at that time you would refund our money. That coupled with having emails bounce and no contact from you after the January post here on CC just had us concerned. No one could have ever predicted everything COVID that happened right after that. Yes, having to prepay foreign companies adds to the difficulties.  Will watch for additional updates from you. Good luck. 

7 hours ago, sambamama said:

Well, the trial courts are closed, but work still goes on. Closed means no one can go in. But criminal work does not stop. People who are not held-their cases get postponed. But there are people in jail and new arrests and people whoses families or doctors are trying to have them civilly committed as they have alcohol or drug problems. So court goes on, but it is either by video conference or by teleconference. It is more challenging this way, but better than doing nothing. Governor Baker made a law where you must wear a mask if it isn't possible to be socially distant. A few businesses have been allowed to reopen, but MA is still in bad shape. Over 3500 people have died, and there is still very active outbreaks. We have been hit very hard with nursing home outbreaks. The nursing home near me, the Soldiers Home in Holyoke had 83 veterans die so far. Crime, at least, is down, although there has been a rash of homicides--mostly gang related. So I am still working-I just don't meet clients face to face any more. 

Hi Stephanie, a couple of us from the October 3rd Rotterdam roll call have been trying to get ahold of you. Glad to see that are doing as well as can be given this pandemic. You have various deposits for tours you organized and since cruise is cancelled, we were wondering when we could expect those returned to us.  What is your current contact info? The ones we have either haven’t worked or were incorrect.   Thanks, Les and Terri

1 hour ago, whitford said:

Worst Web site in the cruise lines. Must loose mega $$ a day.

Yes......it is beyond frustrating. Shocked HAL continues with it knowing how user unfriendly it is. 

Heard the ship held in port is an MSC while they evaluate if a crew member has the virus. 

13 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

I agree.

 

But, sadly Chef Kish is not there cooking the food.  

 

So true but hopefully HAL chefs can make attempts to replicate and come somewhat close....hope folks post about their experiences 

Chef Kristan Kish was very impressive when she was on Top Chef. So despite the premium price, I bet we will be signing up for it first chance we get. 

A little dab of toothpaste will work as a temporary “glue”

Thanks for the info. 

We’re not in BA until December 2020. Sounds like there is no telling what the preferred currency will be. 

Appreciate all the information. 

Struggling with finding consistency between the websites. Is there one that is possibly more accurate than the others?

thanks 

Does a Pop Up Sel de Mer fall under the special events or do you get your Mariner discount? We are on a 7 day Veendam and it’s showing up on HAL site as accepting reservations. 
thanks for any info

Hi,  

Does HAL still offer this and if so what is it called? Years ago it was called Chef’s Table or Cellar Master Dinner but have no idea if those continue. We are on Veendam 7 day Caribbean and I see that you can pre book the special one night pop up Sel de Mar but was hoping for the paired wine dinner. 
 

thanks for any info

Does the stockholder credit top out after 14 days? So that if you had a 22 day cruise get you any additional OBC? 
 

thanks for any clarification on this. A while back someone posted a link to an explanation but of course I can’t find it. 

30 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

I don't see it that way.  I looked it up on VIA's website and it is just over 15 hours NF to QC, and about 12 hours to Toronto:

 

sev

 

There are several nonstop flights a day from Toronto to Quebec, about 1 1/2 hours.

 

Roy

Sorry...my bad.  I wasn’t paying enough attention and clicked on the wrong Quebec City. I was paying more attention to a football game as I was answering. Thanks for catching that. But Rome2 Rio site is usually very helpful in figuring out all your transport options.

Go to Rome2Rio.com website and you will see plenty of transportation options. 

Taking the train from Niagara Falls to Quebec City doesn’t appear to be very time consuming or expensive. 

If you you end up thinking that you’d fly anywhere within Canada to another Canadian city then considering the smaller local airlines. 

Hopefully you will also spend at least a couple of days in Quebec City pre cruise. 

So so many options and so many great places to visit. Enjoy! 

Just now, DebbieMacG said:

 Thank you for the feedback, congratulations on the upgrade! we have an interior accessible, I would’ve preferred a balcony but nothing is available, this is the reason we booked a retreat cabana as compensation. 

Go, enjoy your cruise and then please report back here afterwards. Others will be fit from your thoughts. 

I think that is the same group we had on one of our cruises. They all proudly wear there ID lanyards and stuck to their own group. The negative for us was that they were given all the fixed dining times and and we had to use the As You Wish dining times (or whatever it is called). They also did have crows nest and main lounge reserved for a couple of private events. The positive for us was that we got a major upgrade to a suite at the last minute and was told it was because the private group did not sell/fill that cabin with their group offering. So...we got a nice upgrade. Too bad it was just a 7 night cruise. 

We were on a land tour last month that ended in Vancouver and then we flew on our own to Buffalo, rented a car and drove to Canadian side of Niagara Falls and rented from an Air BnB.  Loved having the rental car because we spent a day at Niagara-on the-Lake. Wished we had stayed there longer and been able to do more wineries there. We had considered flying to Toronto instead from Vancouver and then taking the bus to Niagara Falls but glad we did the Buffalo way instead. Another option to get to Niagara on the Lake once you are in Niagara Falls is to purchase the WeGo passes in Niagara Falls. It is mainly a shuttle system around all the attractions but it also goes to Niagara on the Lake. Additionally there are all kinds of day trips from Toronto.  We just liked being able to do some of the attractions at our own pace and seeing the Falls several times day and night. 

You have lots of options...just figure out what works best for you. Good luck.

You can sign on to HAL site and under your bookings look up the prices for spa prices -  thermal suite and wine packages. 

12 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

It would be interesting to read others’ experiences with this.  Assuming you are doing the New England/Canada itinerary you will have already been processed by the Canadian authorities prior to your first port in Canada.

Great point. Yes, Quebec City would not have been our first Canadian port. So maybe we would not be required to be seen by Canadian officials in QC.  However maybe there is a difference with being previously cleared for a day visit versus being cleared to stay on land. Thanks

We are considering doing this in Quebec City and are US citizens. We had hoped to be able to wait until late afternoon to disembark due to not being able to check in to our Air BnB until that time and having a place for our luggage. If we have to meet with Canadian authorities sounds like disembarkation time be dictated by their schedule? Thanks for any help with this, 

On 8/16/2019 at 2:57 AM, breezer1955 said:

New cruises to HAL, having done a few River cruises.  I have looked right through and not sure if my question has been answered.  There are 3 of us in one room.  We understand about the signature drinks packages that if one has it all 3 have to.  As 1 of the 3  doesn't drink that much its not worth it.   Two of us are looking at the wine packages.  If for example I have a wine package can i share that wine with my sister or do I have to drink it all myself.  Not that that is a problem.  Can we have our wine in our room?  So many questions going through our heads.  We are so used to river cruise where the drinks are included..._ all day and night.    We are going on Hal to the Baltic in July next year.

Also you might want to take advantage of bringing 2 bottles of your own wine onboard with you.