mouseterd1

Hi - HAL used to provide a button/link on their website booking/your account platform making it easy if you needed to cancel a booking  -- but not anymore, it appears after quite a time searching for it. I find that very interesting, you can book to your heart's and wallet's content online, however, when it comes to cancelling a cruise, that is a different matter.  So, while I would normally have canceled early when I found out I need to cancel, instead - I'll just let my booking run out 'unpaid' on the due date....as HAL are not making it easy anymore...not even an attempt to answer in its Q&A - deeply buried in the 'cruise contract'....and no email address provided. Just a small matter, but it bothers me. [I have a non-refundable deposit]   Am I the only one?

Hubby and I unfortunately and I say again unfortunately found ourselves above BB Kings - they played every night --- could have easily been avoided by us --- if we had known, but way too late as we lay down on our 1st night out of 35 nights. We complained and we were offered $500 compo...not nearly enough for what we had to endure. Ship was full. This was just before covid. I can't believe that HAL's practice of not making people aware continues....but then again, WHY - marketing, markets around any/all problems - how do they sell, sell, sell. But NEVER again for us.

I'm trying to decide whether or not to bring my own stainless insulated water bottle.

I can't recall what the do's/don'ts (or ease of) about filling water into it from the Lido are....or is there another option to fill on board. I'm not really all that happy about drinking commercially filled bottled water either (and I know there is always the bring it aboard option) or pay for it if purchased on board. Thank you for your comments.

Hi, I am writing to you from Auckland NZ. We have some wonderful wines as does Aust. Our reds and whites can be found at very reasonable prices under $10 nz. Best value is from Supermarkets, excellent prices (close to the port). Paying your corkage on these wines still makes then very affordable and above ENJOYABLE.

Happy drinking. Always Moet.

Thank you - just the info I was looking for.

For those of you who bring wine aboard and pay corkage on your cruises - is it worth doing so boarding in Auckland, cruising NZ and Oz, with respect to those countries cost of wine, [then plus the $18 corkage fee]? compared to a wine package or just purchasing on ship at dining or lounge.

I don't know whether we should search out 'cheaper' wine to bring aboard or not. We like wine and like to have a bottle more often than not with dinner. From experience in other countries you can find great wine for nearly half the cost of ship wine even when you add the corkage fee paid. - Thank you !!!

Hi all

I WANT to pack light, however, I'm an admitted packer! For this cruise it is seeming more and more like it will be 3 - 26" cases and a carry-on for two of us. [The plus is that Air New Zealand lets us check 2 free bags each.] We like formal night and usually eat nightly in the main dining room.

I guess my question is - for the longer cruises, are 3 - 26" cases too much? Have you and would you pack 3 for two people, or just get down to paring down like crazy and do without. We do like to dress and have nice things with us....and I can't decided about some items :halo: ?!?!? [ya, I know] But I'm still struggling thinking about 3 - 26" cases and where to put them empty....do 3 go under the bed?, or to there and one in closet space? The ship is Holland's Noordam.

Thanks in advance for your insight and wisdom from those who cruise longer passages.

Does HAL provide you any nightly 'turn down' pillow chocolate treats? I love a little chocolate nip at night, or should I bring along some good chocolate for my evening nip? :p

Uh no! On the Breeze, we had to purchase the treats. I don't remember any free treats on Princess aside from what was available at the Lido.

WHAT is HAL in the dark ages? I can't get a cookie or treat if I wish one without buying a drink? REALLY? It is a gathering place. Purchase the drink, or NOT, but food - treats and all should be FREE. Take a Princess cruise and learn the difference of service at their International Cafes. Great food, great service, all fresh and appealing for all to enjoy, whether or not you purchase anything or not...the purchase of a drink is not expected....and the food includes appealing interesting salads, little sandwiches as well as the sweets that change daily. Princess is doing something very right. Actually it is the best place on a Princess ship to spend the later part of the afternoon. AND the food at their cafes is not repeated or available anywhere else on the boat....certainly not at the buffet troughs.

I'm about to take my 1st HAL cruise and I'm already not liking what it appears that HAL is dishing out to its paying customers :( !!!

Thanks everyone - I very much appreciate your advice for the items you consider valuable to have with you away from home! I now realize that I need to bring along a few more standard good to have items. I now know I don't pack enough! LOL. Clothes I'm good with :eek: ...other stuff, not so much.

I'm curious what others these days consider good to take with them in their 'medical' kits for the just in case scenarios, besides -

band aides

over the counter pain meds

hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes

cough drops, or the like

sea bands

I got to thinking about this as I pack to cruise shortly. I realize there are many basic things a relatively healthy person can take with them and I know too much can be too much - however, I don't want to miss something obvious and easy to get prior to leaving home --- so I ask what do you consider essential to my list.

I'm not thinking about sun tan stuff, just 'medical' items would could prevent a trip to the ship's doctor. I better add bug repellent to my list as I'm going to the South Pacific.

Are you coming form Vancouver? Surely you will be wearing warm clothes traveling to and from home. Those should do nicely for the few cool days you will have on board.

Thanks for all your great comments. Yes, coming from Vancouver, however, it has been rather warm here of late. I have gone from airport to airport wearing capris, especially when flying to a hot area, as I never wear the pants again and they are heavy. But for north Pacific deck walking I think I will take a long pair of something with me.

As for our 'screen name', it is not spelled 'turd'!!! But, then again, said the same way!...there is somewhat of a story.

Thinking about books to pack - but perhaps I don't have to think too much about doing that - if the Statendam has a good library? I'm not much for reading on tablets....seemingly, I just have to hold a book when reading. Perhaps, one day I may adjust. LOL

I'm a packer, trying to reform! So, from experience do you think I will need long pants or just capri pants for deck walking on the San Diego/Hawaii and return leg of a South Pacific/Tahiti cruise [Feb 13-March 15]? I know that the Hawaii/S. Pacific leg will likely be much warmer with it being quite hot/humid in February in French Polynesia...than I am going to like it there, that is.

I am not normally one to be cold and I'd rather leave the long casual pants at home. Thanks for your insights....:)

I'm boarding in San Diego for 30 nights.

Question - Can we board with our suitcase/s, then get off to make a "wine run"....of course, ensuring that we are back well before sailing time.

And can anyone tell me a close by store to purchase wine at the San Diego port? I'll just be looking to purchase inexpensive California reds...basically the cheaper the better to have the $18 corkage applied. I'll save import/other reds for purchase at the dining table every so many nights during the cruise. My cost averaging method!!! LOL [hopefully, no one gets me wrong when I say cheap California reds --- but they are, when you are Canadian - you should see what they sell for in Canada!]

I think I understand, but want to make sure. I have read HAL's fine print on the website and hope it is still current practice.

Each person in the cabin can bring aboard 1 x 750ml bottle of wine with no charge upon embarkation and only at embarkation for free.

At that time of boarding or any other time re-boarding, if you choose to bring on any other wine bottles, you will be charged a corkage fee upon boarding of $18US per bottle....and that bottle can then be drunk in your room, or dining room, or at any other public bar location. If that is the case, then HAL has the same 'rules' as Princess does.

For 30 nights, I may wish to bring on board at least 12 extra bottles. I would have them secured in a box with me upon boarding.

Not a bad deal....if it works like that. We like our wine and usually can drink a bottle a night between two people at dinner. For other nights we will order from the wine listing and pay more...therefore our 'habit' will average down somewhat. :D

Thank you.

First time on HAL ship.

Is there a convenient electric plug in in inside cabin bathrooms on the Statendam for a electric toothbrush. Cruise is for 30 nights. I love my electric toothbrush, if possible and not too much a hassel. Or, go manual? :confused:

thanks

Can anyone give me any perspective on booking main deck cabin L529 (inside cabin) or their experience from a cabin close by....noise, heavy seas, etc. We are not prone to motion sickness, however, have never booked an inside forward cabin before on any cruise. But we obtained a pretty good price on a 60 night cruise.

We've done inside, view and balcony cabins, but never forward on a smaller ship.

Also what shape is the Statendam in? I've read some of the reviews and I must say I have doubts and questions. Having never cruised HAL before, I worry about the quality of entertainment and activities. We are early 60's and active.

Any insights that you wish to bring forward would be appreciated. Our cruise would be to the South Pacific and the Pacific coast - CA to Lima, Peru.

Thank you !!! :)

YUP, entered the contest, then for days now can't log in!!!! Called Princess a couple of times now and the same answer - we are working on the problem....really, it is taking that long!!! So re-registered today, Sunday. That did work to get me log in access for now. However, like another poster wrote, being Canadian, the registration form will not drop down a province to enter, so I entered a U.S. state and a postal code for that state and that worked. [i guess I will have that to fix that up later when things appear to be back working again.]

But re-registering IS NOT the solution, I want to be left with. Princess needs to fix this and much faster than they are, as it has been DAYS now. I hope they are monitoring this thread.

I hope they are monitoring, and if so, - they need to comment. :(

Thanks to all who responded.

I think I have the 'picture' now. NZ car rental places have basic insurance built into the price. However, you can purchase 'top-up' excess insurance, which you likely need to, over and above what comes with the car rental. I do know that most, if not all, US and Cdn credit cards, or private insurances on your home vehicle will extend to NZ.

Thanks to the poster who mentioned windshield insurance as I had wondered just why and what that was...now I know, may be something to think about also.

I think, for the cost, I will go ahead and purchase what they are offering as 'excess' insurance top up to be on the safe side --- driving on the 'wrong side' of the pavement and all !!! :D That could be interesting certainly in and around Auckland!!!!

Hello

Can anyone help shed some light on insurance coverage, either required, or just "should have" to be on the safe side when renting a vehicle in New Zealand. Somewhere I thought I'd seen that there is 'some' insurance built into the rental pricing, but I'm not sure.

I'm Canadian, but when I rent in the U.S., I just decline additional insurance to either my Provincial insurance or to a credit card. Simply not confident what to do about New Zealand upcoming land travel after cruise.

Any facts/ideas would be helpful, for anything on the topic for car rental down under. I know there are many experienced Princess travellers to help me out.

thanking you all, in advance. :)

What time would you allow to catch a flight out of Sydney international after cruise arrives in port. I expect to be nearly first off, of the transfer people to the airport. I think we dock around 7 a.m. into Sydney. I was thinking I could make a 11:30 a.m. flight as I hate waiting until much later in the day. Anyone have an idea? Thank you.

I've cruised Alaska before and have read along with you....great posts and pictues.

But because you started your posts saying you were a HAL newbie, I'm very curious to hear your thoughts re your HAL experience in comparison to your other cruise lines. Please comment on the ship itself (size, its venues, activity areas) entertainment, quality of food, staterooms etc and anything else you feel is valuable info for someone (like me) trying to decide on perhaps my 1st HAL cruise after cruising Princess and Celebrity. I'm looking at the Oosterdam for a cruise in New Zealand/Australia waters.

I'd appreciate reading your perspectives to help make my decision, as I've heard great things regarding HAL from the loyal HAL'ers who remain loyal cruise after cruise, just as there are the loyal Princess and Celebrity cruisers. For me, I just want a good overall experience for my cruise dollars.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but perhaps you would finish up talking about your onboard experience.

Wishing you good future travels and I hope your Denali experience was everything you wanted it to be. :)

Have you consulted the S-class cabin sticky (above these posts). There may be some comments there that would be helpful.

Thanks for your help steering me to S-class cabin info, but there was no mention of those particular inside cabins in the wonderfully compiled spreadsheet, all veranda cabin info.

Can anyone share their experience in any of the bow cabins - that are located or turned and run aft to stern length - on Solstice Class ships [Eclipse, Equinox, Silhouette, Solstice, Reflection]. Such cabin numbers are 7174, 7146, 7148, 7152, 7160 and repeat on decks 7 thru 11?

I'm wondering about the noise level of the cabin with two of the cabin's exterior length walls running along the corridor, both the inside corridor and the veranda cabins.

Also, what is the motion like lying/sleeping as to where the bed is placed in this cabin configuration in moderate seas. i.e - is the motion felt in a head to toe movement or is it a side to side movement.

Experience from those who have stayed in these cabins would be appreciated. I am weary of these cabins and due to a last minute booking find that cabin is my only option....and the sailing is still a year away!!! I guess at final payment I could have my TA try for another same class cabin, or upgrade.

Appreciate your comments and insights. :cool:

If you are dealing with Princess directly, the agent you speak with should confirm this information for you before they go ahead with the transaction. I would imagine that charges that will be processed in US $ could be put on your US visa and the Cdn charges on your Cdn visa. If dealing with a TA, you could be specific with them as well as how you would like the charges to be processed.

:cool: Just got off the phone with Princess in CA and purchased OBC, coffee card and internet - all processed in Cdn$. My trip was paid in Cdn$. I guess I will have to wait a few days to see if the OBC translates to US$ in my onboard account. At first I was told the OBC would be in U.S.$, but when it was keyed in for purchase, the program corrected to read out to be billed in Cdn$....ya!