crystalspin

Hi Jenny! Welcome to Cruise Critic! I see you found your Roll Call, and that your honeymoon cruise is just a few weeks away -- congratulations! The ability to re-fare depends on being before "final payment" and/or penalty dates -- fares often drop dramatically after that date as the sailing approaches. Final payment is generally three months before sailaway so it sounds like you booked within that window. For future knowledge, re-faring for reduced rate or new/added promotional perks also depends on having a refundable deposit AND there being equivalent cabins still available. Re-faring is essentially cancelling and re-booking with the TA or cruiseline rep doing the 'work' behind the scenes. Finally, the cruiselines may have different policies. The "board" for NCL is here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/64-norwegian-cruise-line/ You can read threads and ask more questions there! Again -- Welcome to CC!

Cliff, Here a recent thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2891919-current-life-boat-drill-procedure/#comment-64256373 It's captured in Bruce's first answer, but there are some points to think about from the Chief!

Well, if you like (can drink) Two-Buck Chuck, you will probably not find wine by the bottle at $22 on board (unless you are high star). Yes, I know Two Buck Chuck is no longer $2, but the equivalent is true. I figure VERY cheap wine or very expensive wine is worth paying corkage. Whether either is worth the hassle of carrying it on, I can't say. We (middle of the range drinkers) find it a wash adding the corkage to the bottle price. Especially using Mariner value.

Where is the WOW emoticon?!! I took a screen shot yesterday of when I finally got the website to complete a dummy-booking -- showing the included crew appreciation. Then I emailed my PCC (not in on Sat/Sun but hope to get her attention first thing in the morning tomorrow) with a request to cancel-n-rebook to the same Vista Suite we have on our upcoming B2B. Moving from a upper-forward Verandah to lower Midship VS. As far as BF, no savings, but they did bring back the Crew Appreciation at least on this cruise.

We never make reservations on HAL. Pre-pandemic we would always tell the M'd "Seat us wherever is easiest for you" and get a BIG SMILE as they were always to fill a larger table. Have not decided how it's going to be on upcoming cruise(s). But if you are open to sitting with others, you will not have to wait. Our one cruise with Royal Caribbean, the M'd expected us at a certain time and 90% or more of the time if we were there then, we were seated in the same corner of the MDR (same servers) at a "two top" that was barely separated from others: just far enough apart that they had individual tablecloths.

If you have a refundable deposit (i.e. HIA or Advantage fare) and are before Final Payment or Penalty Date, a re-fare with new promo is the same as a new booking -- but of course you lose any perks from first that are not also in the new.

I saw this too. And no indication if the deposit is even refundable. Private fare plus crew appreciation plus SBP for two plus ONE premium/pre-purchased Wifi plan -- is more than HIA. So the $600 in ShoreEx and six dinners are "free" for our SoPac cruise. ETA: Also the website is flaky+++ this weekend, assume due to increased BF traffic. Flakier than usual! Had to wait until late last night to even see my Private Fare, and it still won't bring up any of my three current bookings (to compare perks); fortunately I save all my confirmation emails. Whether it shows Crew Appreciation on the very same pseudo-bookings is random -- sometimes yes sometimes no. I took a screenshot and and emailing my PCC for first thing attention Monday!

Could not find -- only references to the Club Orange dining room as it applies to Suite Guests...

I grew up "dancing" with my dad -- not skilled ballroom dancing, but living-room dancing to various "oldies". My husband was very uncomfortable on the dancefloor, but I told him: "I will lead but make it look like you are leading!" It's a matter of subtle pressure...

When was this ever?

It is more similar than different in all of Alaska. Ketchikan (perfect spelling) is a little farther south and so a little earlier sunset and later sunrise. But it is "light late" and early! Funny story: after first cruise to AK in 2009, we rented car and drove inland. We were in Palmer AK on the Summer Solstice, staying at a bed-n-breakfast on the second floor of the house. The people kept sheep and other animals -- sometime after midnight, my mom and I looked out the window down at the pasture and laughed to see the sheep running in circles madly and well-lit! Here is a NOAA calculator for sunrise/set: https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/sunrise.html

To the OP: no charge for the beer or espresso drinks, either, if you have-it-all with Signature Beverage Package -- everything is under $11.

I believe the Canaletto is the only one with day-of-the-week specials -- that could affect which night you want to try for there. Here is Roger's recent menu with that list: https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Canaletto.pdf You can see the additional menus linked from this page: https://rogerjett-photography.com/

Hi Lynn! We have a pretty good roll call going for this cruise! No real private tours lined up though, so you can start reading on the 11th 'page', and read the previous at your convenience!

Hi VJ: You are correct. The airport in SAN is very close to port. You can, but should not have to, roll off you luggage. Just choose the earliest porter-handled luggage-claim group on your disembark form. I am not that familiar with SAN cruise port to advise if you need to line up your own transport (as I would from say, San Pedro) -- you might make your own thread to ask that. Although SAN is now my home port conveniently located only 14 driving hours from SE Utah.

I did a 26-day TransAtlantic + Mediterranean (plus travel days) with two carry-ons and two knapsacks (for two people). I did all of the necessary "laundry" with hand-wash in the sink, including one-time-only a pair of my husband's nylon trousers. To be sure, I had nothing but time on the first half of the cruise! This is just to show that it can be done. Not to recommend. I have not and will not do it again! Ship's laundry is NOT that bad a deal. If you have things you simply do not trust to the laundry, the eco-dry-clean is honestly equivalent price to shore-side drycleaning. If you are going to use ship's laundry, pack for seven days, but send out your first load or bag on the 5th night or 6th morning. Then again on the 10th. This will give you "slack" to get home etc.

When my husband of 32 years and I were dating, I wore his letter-sweater to work, and my immediate supervisor commented that he didn't think dr'spin was that old. (Because it was also his high school year!) When I related it to DH, he replied, "I have to warn you, people think I am about ten years younger than I am." (due to his baby-face!) I replied, "I have to warn you, I will always BE about ten years younger than you am."

Of the mass-market cruiselines, Holland America and Princess have been doing Alaska the longest, have more permits to take you into Glacier Bay, and have the infrastructure to offer the most comfortable & well-organized Cruise-Tours (sea+land trips). We have sailed Alaska three times with HAL. But the largest ships were 1400-1600 pax, and I would hesitate to pick a much larger ship for the reasons Hank mentions.

Many people wait until boarding-date and rush to the various venues, to book with OBC. I assume many do not get their preferred dates and times due to advance reservations! If there are specific nights you want, or times, especially if they are the common middle-of-the-evening times -- book ahead! I wanted to eat at Rudi's on NYE (also our anniversary), and had to choose from 5, 5:30 -- or 9! (ETA: and this was months ahead of the cruise!) Many like to eat in the MDR on Gala nights -- those will be your second night and the sixth night.

I'd love to look at the current listings for different-sized Xmas trees on my Dec. sailing, but HAL will not let me log on! For hours now.

I have read that it is $10+18% ($11.80) per person per day. All adults in a cabin must buy the same package. If you like nicer wines or top-end liquor, that is less than a drink a day... This is more than the difference on line if you were buying in advance, because the SBP in the HIA is considered discounted. Another factor is, some and possibly all ships are apparently using the "Have-It-All and More" policy of only paying the difference (+service) if you buy something over $11. There should be a placard stating this at the bar when you go to upgrade to Elite, or ask the bartender!

Hi Lynda! What week? It could make a difference... with the holidays for one. @CHIEFWINEMAKER Welcome to Cruise Critic! There have been multiple convos and no agreement on your question. Guess we will see for ourselves!

We are planning an independent walking "tour" of Mazatlan on our first B2B visit [Holland America's Salsa and Salsa (i.e. dance and cooking) ship's tour with ShoreX credit for the second]. Read this thread from my post #9 on for some recent feedback. And this one for MUCH DETAIL of the route and sights/sites:

Both of your questions in this sub-forum are awfully specific to NCL. Suggest you should ask on that "board" to find someone who knows: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/64-norwegian-cruise-line/ I really love to answer cabin questions -- those that can perhaps be gleaned from deck-plans -- but yours cannot. Sorry!

Suggest you ask the board! Go to https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/103-holland-america-line/