oakridger

Room service carcasses should never be put in the hallway (nor anything else)!! It's a big safety hazard for emergency egress as well as for just keeping clear pathway for scooters, etc. HAL used to put a card on all the room service trays asking you to call room service for a tray pick up and to not put them on the hall floor. I wonder why they don't do that anymore. My room steward took mine away when he came in. I was in a veranda room last and ate my room service breakfasts on the desk. Signature suites and Neptunes have a larger veranda table that is at dining height. ~Nancy

Oh wow! So happy that the safety procedures in place worked well! That kind of gets your adrenaline pumping!!! I'm enjoying your perspective as a new to HAL cruiser. Thanks for reporting. ~Nancy

Congrats @RD64! You're right about always at least asking! ~Nancy

For the better I take it? 😁

The good thing about Southwest is you can usually change to the later flight in the day if you realize that you won't make it for the 10:50 and cancel/change in time. I don't remember the exact policy but check on that. Good Luck, ~Nancy

Ah ha! I had a pier 27 cruise port schedule is why the June 19th wasn't showing! Thanks! However, it looks like the Emerald Princess will not be at Pier 27 as I thought but will possibly be at the older Pier 35 or even Pier 30/32. That's why it isn't listed on the cruise port schedule I was referencing. I couldn't find out online where it's scheduled but not at pier 27!! Pier 35 is a little further from the ball park and bier 30/31 is much closer and near to the Brannon St. muni stop @Philob mentioned. ~Nancy

Thanks for getting "us" started on "our" cruise!! 😁 Have a fun time at HMC tomorrow! ~Nancy

Yes, the Rotterdam is still on an angle but less of an angle than Konningsdam so it's better. Last year there was a thread with comparison pictures, and you could see the difference on those pictures. ~Nancy

Have you checked out the BB King Club, Billboard on Board Pianos and Lincoln Center Stage? Does the Ocean Bar have a band for dancing a few sets per evening? (they did in October 2022). Are there any shows at all on the Main Stage? Singers, comedians? ~Nancy

Those are the two I have personal experience with. Both have worked well for me. @scottca075 likes parking at BART, but since I'm not comfortable with BART these days I would choose the SFO location and get taken directly back to the pier by taxi/uber. If you use BART for your 11 people it would cost 11 fares plus then you would need to get from the BART Embarcadero station to the pier with luggage. (About 1.1 miles per Google) If driving from Visalia, then you will probably be coming across the Bay Bridge into the City. Take everyone to the pier and drop them off and then drive down to SFO area to park yourself. Taxi or Uber back to the pier is what I still suggest. Seems efficient to me!! ~Nancy

Park at one of the offsite SFO parking lots (that's where I park if I drive for a flight from SFO) then take an Uber/Lyft to the pier. Drop your group and luggage off at the pier then go park. That's what I would do. ~Nancy

Just looked at the Pier schedule and no ships are showing on June 19th. What ship are you on? If going from the main cruise terminal try this to start. How good a walker are you? 2.2 miles one way. Uber will be surge pricing. Someone else with recent experience can offer better details. I love Oracle Park. It's a good baseball stadium! Pier 27 to Oracle Park - Google Maps

Thanks for that real time "data"!! Now I know I wasn't just imagining that the beds I had last fall "felt" wider than my queen size at home. ~Nancy

I just Googled a dummy booking for June 7, 2023. I came up with $52 one way or $104 round trip. (sorry about the formatting) Train Timetable | Rail.Ninja 6 results sorted by Departure timeTravel timePrice 08:25 48m 09:13 Flam Central Station Myrdal Central Station SIGHTSEEING TRAIN Train #1852 Flamsbana from$52 1 passenger - $52 Select Seats 09:30 58m 10:28 Flam Central Station Myrdal Central Station SIGHTSEEING TRAIN Train #1854 Flamsbana from$52 1 passenger - $52 Select Seats 10:45 58m 11:43 Flam Central Station Myrdal Central Station SIGHTSEEING TRAIN Train #1856 Flamsbana from$52 1 passenger - $52 Select Seats 12:00 1h1m 13:01 Flam Central Station Myrdal Central Station EXPRESS TRAIN Train #1858 Flamsbana from$52 1 passenger - $52 Select Seats 14:35 56m 15:31 Flam Central Station Myrdal Central Station EXPRESS TRAIN Train #1862 Flamsbana from$52 1 passenger - $52 Select Seats 16:00 55m 16:55 Flam Central Station Myrdal Central Station EXPRESS TRAIN Train #1864 Flamsbana from$52 1 passenger - $52 Select Seats

Did you notify guest services for a maintenance call? Did they send a repair person? ~Nancy

All true, but the people that handle baggage at the S.F. cruise port belong to the Longshoremen and Warehouseman's union is what I was trying to say. As mentioned, I do tip a bit going into the terminal but when getting help on the way out I give them much more for the time and distance they walk/schlep my things. Also, on my most recent cruise I required wheelchair assistance (hopefully that is a temporary situation) both directions and I sure wanted to tip those people for wheeling my not very small self around! Had they not been there I wouldn't have been able to travel. ~Nancy

Unfortunately, you won't get those in a Neptune Suite on HAL unless you pay extra for them!! You MAY get them in the Pinnacle Suite, but I have not, and probably never will, travel in one! Currently Veuve Clicquot on board including the 18% gratuity is about $147.20. A bit shocked because in November on Nieuw Amsterdam it was $105!! Have a fun cruise, ~Nancy

Can't use the package in the shops.

@WCB can answer, but your question has been answered by several people already in your other thread. Pictures were included: Do you still have a question about this? Happy to answer if you do. ~Nancy

I agree, going into the terminal, all you do is hand them the bag and they put them on carts. Just seconds of work for them. Leaving is an entirely different circumstance where they do walk with you out and help through immigration and out to the taxi/Uber/bus area. In the USA I have tipped going in but much less than leaving. The Longshoremen here in San Francisco make around $100,000 per year as their base pay. ~Nancy

Neptune Suites have included unlimited laundry service, priority embarkation and debarkation and tender boarding. They also have the option to eat in the separate Club Orange Dining Room for breakfast and lunch. The Club Orange dining room on Rotterdam is very inviting, quiet, good service. Club Orange Dining Room has the same food as the Main Dining Room plus one added entree choice for dinner. Mimosa for breakfast whether in the dining room or for room service are included in the fare. The Neptune Concierge can help with dinner and excursion reservations and do any of the tasks that other people have to go to the Guest Services Desk for. Hot breakfast for room service and 24/7 room service is no charge except for a few upcharge items and alcohol. Most tip the room service delivery folks, but not required. (don't know if they still have the Bose audio system???) The robes are for use on the cruise, not to keep. From HAL website: SUITE AMENITIES AND COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES Vista Suite Signature Suite Neptune Suite Pinnacle Suite Binoculars for use during your voyage ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Fresh flowers ✓ ✓ Choice of firm, medium or soft pillows ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ No-host mini-bar ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ In-suite coffee/espresso machine ✓ ✓ Bose® SoundLink® Mini Bluetooth® audio system ✓ ✓ Complimentary mimosa with in-suite breakfast ✓ ✓ Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning ✓ ✓ Welcome glass of sparkling wine at dinner on embarkation day ✓ ✓ Premium in-room dining breakfast menu ✓ ✓ Premium bathrobes ✓ ✓ Exclusive tote bag ✓ ✓ PRIORITY ACCESS Vista Suite Signature Suite Neptune Suite Pinnacle Suite 1 On select ships. 2 Not all suites within each category feature accommodations for extra guests. 3 Whirlpool baths are not available in Signature or Vista suites on Nieuw Statendam or Rotterdam, or in Vista suites on Koningsdam. 4 Club Orange private dining venue is open for breakfast and dinner on Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam. Neptune and Pinnacle suite guests on all other ships receive priority seating in the Dining Room for breakfast and dinner with an expanded menu. 5 On Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, breakfast is available for Pinnacle and Neptune suite guests in the Club Orange private dining venue. Use of the exclusive Neptune Lounge and personal concierge service ✓ ✓ Cocktail party with the Neptune Lounge Concierge ✓ ✓ Club Orange private dining venue ✓1 ✓1 Breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill5 ✓1 ✓1 Priority check-in/disembarkation ✓ ✓ Priority boarding for tendered ports ✓ ✓ Priority dining and seating requests ✓ ✓

On Rotterdam last fall I used the throw pillows from the couch for the seat of the balcony chairs. I was able to see above the railing while seated that way!! Without the cushion the railing was right at eye level. I covered the cushion with a towel and took them inside when leaving. Worked for me! ~Nancy P.S. I will ask for padded cushions next time in case they are available.

Thanks for clarifying that! You are correct. Upsells or upgrades only get the one Mariner point. ~Nancy

I normally sleep in a queen bed at home. The queen beds (two beds put together) on all the HAL ships I have been on feel wider than my home bed. The split beds on Vista and Signature ships which are then called twin beds are comfortable and wide/long enough for me! I'm 5' 6" and quite "round". 😉 ~Nancy

That's funny about the cookies! Reminds me of when my brother lived overseas for many years, there were a couple of times I flew to visit with a half a suitcase full of Cheeze-Its crackers! Now that he lives back in the USA, he rarely even buys them. 🙄 Continue on with the next phase of the big floating party! I'm enjoying it from my chair! ~Nancy