CruiserBruce

Welcome to Cruise Critic! What you have booked is commonly referred to as a "Guarantee" booking, or frequently shorted to a "GTY" booking. You could be upgraded to any higher level cabin. Realistically, you will most likely be in the "V" category. There is always the possibility you could end up in the VH category.

Plus the Alcatraz Island ferry is immediately next door. Purchase tickets in advance. Taking a look at Google Maps or similar sites would be very informative.

No...typo on my part. You can't make a flight of this distance in a 737. It should be a 777-300.

No discount at any time, that I am aware of.

Discussed here frequently. Taxi or Uber.

The last place a ship wants to be in a hurricane is tied up to a dock. So the option would be for Rotterdam not to return to port if they are likely to get caught in the storm while in port.

Its the other way around. Indonesians are typically the room stewards, and Filipinos are typically waiters and bartenders.

Pretty sure DL8606 is going to be an Air France plane, so you should be looking on Seatguru at Air France 737-300ERs. Yes, I see there are several models...you may not know exactly which model you are flying until a few days out. However, it looks like you might be flying on the version that doesn't have Le Premiere class seats, based on a random check of dates.

Of course HAL is not perfect. Nor is ANY other cruise line. People frequently seem to forget the tons of money the cruise lines lost during Covid full shutdowns, and they think HAL should just throw more money away before occupancy rates build and get consistently full.

Have been in the Retreat cabanas on Eurodam and N. Amsterdam. There isn't a hot tub. There is a shower, I am pretty sure. No bathroom in the Retreat...you have to go towards the Crow's Nest. There are showers in the Lido pool area, I am pretty sure, and a bathroom far closer than going to the Retreat.

There aren't any things at the Retreat you wouldn't have in the Lido, except perhaps a little more sun. I don't think you can use the Retreat, but don't know for sure.

Agree. All depends on how much time you spend watching the ocean. Almost definitely dolphins, flying fish and a few other sea creatures. Whales are a lower chance, but not impossible.

The only female steward we had was a very long time ago on RCI. We arrived in our cabin on embarking day and immediately met our steward, who had been used in a picture in the brochure for that cruise. Immediately recognized her!

I would ask on the Princess board, but I would expect it to be in the next month or so.

Well....first of all, nobody is forcing you to cruise HAL...I am sure you can find other cruise lines that have policies and procedures you like. And, for 4 and 5 star Mariners, and suite pax, they have in fact been flexible when they can board.

And never has.

A month long dry dock? That is longer than average for a cruise ship...usually its extremely well planned out and scheduled, all supplies and parts are present and really for install, and the drydock is held to 2 or 3 weeks. Every day without pax costs the cruise line money.

You aren't going to see northern lights in June or July. It stays light essentially around the clock...you need darkness for northern lights.

You should see whales then. The numbers might be a little low...but they have been arriving sooner and sooner, both in Mexico and in Hawaii.

Just a quick look down the board:

Probably starboard, but I don't know your sailing route. An you never know when there will be lava reaching the sea.

You don't tell us what cruise ship or line, but most have some situation to exchange money. It will likely be at poor exchange rates and with fees. We tipped in US dollars in Iceland this last summer...gratefully accepted. But be aware tipping is not anywhere near as expected in those countries as in the US (assuming you are from the US). All other purchases can be via credit card.

Well...it doesn't really matter what side the ship to be on. The only real issue would be if you are sailing past active lava at Kilauea...which is frequently done in the early evening. You will tender at Kona and Lahaina, if those are among your stops, and the ship will move to protect the tender operation from wind and currents. Backing in at Honolulu means either side can be against the dock, depending on which dock they use, and there is island to see all around you. Lihue would be starboard side to dock...but again, scenery all around you. Most of your sailing around the islands will be at night.

Beverage packages are absolutely accepted in Pinnacle and the other specialty restaurants.

The common rating on a lot of the tenders is 100 as a tender, 150 as a lifeboat.