take us away

Best to use zip bags and regular ice but if you need the gel packs, the medical department has a freezer and they may let you use it - recommend more than 1 ice pack though. Have them freeze my gel pack for transporting my meds and have never had an issue (but not coming in several times a day.

Another advocate for the Boi Bumbo show - have seen it twice and was amazed each time. Recommend you buy this tour before you leave as not a big facility and a popular show. At the small Amazon ports, there are many children with a parrot, a small monkey, etc for photos and they do expect $1, so bring a stack if so inclined. The river is amazing and the lectures were excellent. Have fun!

Have never seen HAL responses here but have always gotten a response when I have sent HAL an email with a question or a concern.

The room steward graciously removed a chair for us - no problem. He did need to check with his supervisor 1st so it took a day.

How does one find out if a large group is booked on a cruise?? HAL just opened at TA cruise in March 2019 and there are very few available cabins so I am wondering....

Can anyone help here? Thanks in advance!

if you have selected assigned dinner seating, you will be at the same table with the same table mates unless there are some 1 segment passengers or there is a request for a change

May want to transfer your booking to a travel agent. The big box store with the dollar fifty hot dogs may give you a substantial shipboard credit. Find the number on line and check. Fare is the same as published cruise line possible extras. Have fun sailing again!!

may suggest a true travel agent as have found better fares great extras and excellent service. the bigger the agency, the better the perks. you can easily have hal move your reservation yo a travel agent. have fun and enjoy yhe marvel of the canal

Have gotten in the habit of always going to the port at least 1 day before we sail - just to be safe - and have not missed a cruise yet, even when I came from MN. Did my own air because of going in early.

HAL airfare will get you to the ship. Have been on a cruise where we sailed about 6 hours late waiting for a flight coming from the east coast thru a snow storm that had about 20 HAL-booked passengers on board.

It is my impression that there is a 'bank' on board so they can exchange monies if they want but most staff wait and do this on shore. The staff buys their internet time, they have a bar and they used to have a small sundries store so they do spend a bit of US$$ on board. IMO, if you have US$$ it may be best to tip with that but if the ship is staying in Europe for a while, euros would work well.

Pickpockets are prevalent in many ports and they are getting creative. The young child who bumps you with an ice cream cone is classic. Do not wear jewelry - or keep it to a minimum. I usually wear only my wedding ring off the ship and leave the rest, like the diamond, in the safe. Had a discussion with a table mate once who said she only wore her zirconiums off the ship, never her diamonds; she did like her gaudy jewelry. After the MD sewed up her ear lobe she finally decided to not wear jewelry of any kind.

Stay on the major through ways and avoid less public areas if you wander. There is safety in numbers so if you do wander, bring friends. Invest in a cross body travel purse with a strap that is not easily cut - Amazon and eBags have several. Never keep a wallet in the back pocket - watched as a German tourist had his wallet and cell phone removed from his back pockets in a blink of an eye - in Florence! Only carry a bit of cash and a credit card. Had a port lecturer who used the 'bank of Barbara' for her extra money and her cards. Have adopted her 'tuck it into the bra' when I plan on shopping and have extra cash and a credit card.

Be extra vigilant about your surroundings as we are obviously rich tourists - but this is true for any where you travel. Just because you are on an organized tour does lessen the risk but you still need to be careful anywhere you go!

Sorry your friend was not invited to the festivities for 4 star and above. If you had shared a cabin, it may have been different but 'rules are rules'. I travel as a solo but have friends who have our TA's tie our reservations which only ensures we will have dinner together, nothing else per my TA. Did you speak with the hotel director or the concierge about bringing your friend?

We need a thread entitled "Dumb Stuff To Get Worked Up About For No Reason Because It's Not True." Maybe hand out some prizes.

excellent idea - I have some extra ship pins to contribute for prizes

You have to be careful and send the pressing out on its own. We never had a problem with press only. It's less work than laundry + pressing.

If you send your pressing out as a separate item, it makes life easier for everyone and prevents any misunderstandings. Have heard horror stories about combining wash and iron-only - one was washing the silk dress sent for pressing only.

This will be my first experience with the passport card; our state also does not comply with the license requirement although I think in a few years they will.... maybe. I also plan to carry it ashore as my ID to get back on the ship, instead of my state license which I would be more of a nuisance to replace.

I am assuming that, if I lose the passport card, they don't void my passport book... anyone know for sure? Thanks, m--

No, they do not void your passport as these 2 documents have separate numbers - asked once why and that was the reason. Also use this as my pier ID and have never had an issue - nor worry about losing my drivers license so I can drive when I get home.

What is everyone's thoughts about going to the bank and getting a pre-paid credit card? There's no exact formula for how much to put on that pre-paid and no telling what the amount would be if there was an emergency and hospital stay ... but for cruise purposes and gift/keepsake purchases ... maybe a good idea?

Did have some problems using a pre-paid VISA card in Europe a few years back but hopefully the chip will now alleviate that. Strongly recommend against using your debit card unless you set it up to access a separate account, as suggested above, so no one could/would have access to your main accounts.

May be a good idea to get a credit card from your bank for the cruise. You can always cancel this when you get home.

That was my thought, as well. Aren't the visas intended for a specific passport?

Nope - I have used my Brazilian visa in an expired passport twice with no issue

btw - if you are in a hurry, I did an expedited passport renewal and it was 5 days (mailed on Monday and received on Friday). The post office person did tell me that if you use a credit card, they will not process until the card has cleared so a money order = a bit faster service.

My new card and old passport came about 3 days later.

Has it changed?? There used to be a 15% tip automatically added to any spa service, just like bar service. Not sure as several mentioned additional tipping.

Diet Barq's was not included in the past and soda is not serve yourself. You can bring your container and ask the bar staff to use that if you like. HAL is a Coke brand user with several Coke products including diet and free plus an orange soda, Sprite, ginger ale, club soda and maybe a few others. Diet sodas are few and usually only Coke.

Here is the question. If they don't go to Moorea, where do they go normally? Do they just stay an extra night in Tahiti? If so, I can always take the ferry back to Tahiti. I checked the cancellation policy and i'd lose my points. And although I appreciate the comment about an excursion, I doubt that they offer an overnight at a hotel in Moorea.

If they find they cannot tender in until they get there, doubt they would go back to Tahiti. Similar situation happened to me in a different locale and they just leisurely sailed to the next destination.

Check your tours from Tahiti as have seen overnight 'over the water' accommodations on Bora Bora and/or Moorea offered, depending on the schedule of course.

Here is a link to the generic excursion HAL website for Tahiti with several overnights in Moorea listed which may be an option for you. For actual pricing, you will need to be in your reservation on the website.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-destinations/ShoreExcursions.action

HAL often offers an excursion just like you want. Although it will be more expensive, may be safer in the event they do not tender in - HAL will get you back to the ship. Have been to Fr Polynesia several times and never had an issue with getting into a port, but the weather can be fickle.

You should be just fine. Have cleared customs and immigration by 9:30 from a world cruise.

Take a cab to the airport - its faster (minutes away) and easier.

Have never had a problem wearing my glasses thru border patrol checkpoints even though my passport photo is 'glasses-free'.

Quick question re: providing proof of ownership of stock --

 

How much of the statement do they need? My statement is 70 pages long, and I was thinking of faxing the statement's cover page, plus the page that shows CCL stock -- page 7 of the 70 pages -- OR just the first 7 pages, along with the required booking info for my cruise. I can fax the whole thing but that seems like overkill.

 

Thanks!

Lana in Bellingham, WA

I use 1 page where the shares are listed and black out everything except my name and the company logo. After writing in my booking number, I make a copy and send it off - never had a problem with only these 3 things showing.

Thanks! We'll be registering separate cards at check-in.

But also check with the front desk as sometimes the system is not perfect.

Please tell me more about the cancellation insurance. I booked with them recently for the first time, transferring the booking from HAL as we booked onboard initially. I was pleased with their extras and did buy trip and health care insurance through them as they suggested but it was not free. I paid with their credit card. Did I miss something?

Thanks!

No, some credit cards have insurance but not all so it is best to be safest. You can explore your credit cards' benefits.