oakridger

I was in a Signature Suite on NA this fall, and disembarkation room service breakfast wasn't offered. It must be for Neptune and Pinnacle only then! I miss this option which set HAL apart from several other mainstream lines!! ~Nancy

From @LMaxwell- "Is the CO menu MDR menu with additional entree, or a different menu? (Pinnacle class)" It's the MDR menu with one additional entree. Same if using CO in the MDR.

When I was on Nieuw Amsterdam and Rotterdam this fall, all the shore excursions were tied to your cruise card/Navigator App. No paper tickets. To get on the excursion you had to show the "ticket" on your phone Navigator App or present your cruise card.

I would go to Guest Services during the first leg and let them know you need to be included in the pre Hawaii testing on board. They may already be aware of that but it doesn't hurt to confirm! Sounds like a great trip! ~Nancy

This was answered on the post you started yesterday!!!

Some TAs will check for price drops, and some don't. Some give OBC and some don't. You should discuss this with a prospective TA before you book with them. My TA does both and that's why I keep booking with her! Laws/regulations for TAs and fares are different depending on what country you are in. Where do you live @regan3? ~Nancy

On the September/October 2022 Nieuw Amsterdam Alaska and Panama Canal cruises there were no outside lecturers or commentators....only the Cruise Director reading a script and a presentation in the Main Stage with Information and history of Alaska and the Canal. Those were OK but not the same experience I've had previously with a local expert or guest subject matter lecturer. I really miss having enrichment lecturers on all cruises. ~Nancy

When I was on NA for the Panama Canal cruise in October there was a very good 4 or 5 piece band in the Ocean Bar almost every night. They played several (3?) sets per night. One night a couple of the BB King horn players jammed with them for a little while! I wonder why some cruises have something in Ocean Bar and others don't. ~Nancy

@kazureported today while currently on the Konigsdam that the per bag price is $20/bag. It seems HAL is switching prices back and forth. My two cruises in September and October were $30/bag then $20/bag. This was for Alaska, Panama Canal and Caribbean.

@LMaxwellThanks for one of the most levelheaded reviews I've read! I agree with much of what you observed but will add that my most recent experience on the Nieuw Amsterdam in October with the Steiner Spa group was fortunately better than yours. I had a mani-pedi and they never tried to upsell me any products at all! I was pleasantly surprised. I rarely use ship spas because of the high cost and upsell pressure I have experienced in the distant past. As far as no lobster on either of the dressy nights, I also think they are wrong for doing away with that. It is a tradition!! I have had not so good lobster in the MDR (which I asked for and received a better replacement tail) and also some really great tasting tails! Did people know that Carnival Cruises still currently offer lobster on one dressy night?? 🦞 (Not that I am suggesting going on a Carnival Cruise) If they can offer it on their $50-100 per night cruises, then why not HAL? ~Nancy

That Opera House fireworks picture is just spectacular!!!!

Thank you for all your reports from this voyage! I'm still looking at going on Noordam again in the future. ~Nancy

Thanks for the info on the Westgate! I have stayed at a couple of the regular cruise port area hotels in San Diego and they were good, but this looks like the place I will try next time especially if I will be there 2-3 days. Bon Voyage! ~Nancy

Just to clarify, hot food is served for breakfast room service in all cabin categories.

Thanks @RuthC. I will keep an eye out for that type of offering in the future. I'm not one for most ship excursions, but I do like a HOHO bus to get that overview when I'm in a new place. ~Nancy

I had an upSELL offer from a selected Signature Suite to a Neptune Suite. I didn't accept it though because it would have been a couple thousand more for a 15-day cruise and I love the Signature Suites! ~Nancy

I think that is what is currently done. All ships pool into one fund then money is distributed. This is the way I read it from below. Anyone else read it as all ships go into one pool? On the HAL website today: "All of the Crew Appreciation and Service Charge payments made by all guests on all ships in our fleet are pooled, net of credit card transaction fees. The pooled funds are distributed throughout the year in the form of compensation, including bonuses, to crewmembers fleetwide who interact directly with guests and/or behind the scenes throughout every cruise, including those in the Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue areas." ~Nancy

Answers on the other thread you posted regarding the coffee.

That sounds like a wonderful itinerary! I haven't been to any of those ports (cruise was cancelled in 2020) but they all sound like winners! Have a great time. ~Nancy

I remember Christopher. He was fine as a waiter, but I thought it was a bit odd when he asked me how old I was! I don't mind when people know my age, but I have never had a crew member ask me that. 🤷‍♀️ Maybe I reminded him of his grandma....Ha ha!! ~Nancy

Thanks @RuthC! And the bus actually let people Hop on and off at their leisure like the ones in many cities? Or did a bus make a stop, and everyone got off while the bus waited then left again with all the pax accounted for? ~Nancy

@pghflyerIt may depend on when your cruise is. Is it many months from now or next week? Which ship? What itinerary? There are many variables on the schedules not least of which is many ports are still readjusting for Covid shutdowns and loss of vendors and their staff. I have seen shore ex both added and deleted within several days of the scheduled excursion. I haven't ever seen HAL offer a HOHO bus. ~Nancy

Taxi. Set price from the airport. Convenient. ~Nancy

Yes, I have always experienced drinks of cold water, or something warm on cold itineraries at the gangway getting back on board.

I'm "pretty sure" something was offered for Mariners but I don't generally go to them so I can't remember the details. Someone else hopefully can answer. ~Nancy