nimi17 Posted October 10, 2021 #1 Share Posted October 10, 2021 (edited) Ahoy! First time HAL cruiser here, onboard celebrating my 40th birthday 🥳 🎂🎉 This will be my first time also writing a LIVE(ish) trip report of any sort, so please be patient with me as this writer seeks to find her sea legs. DH is currently noisily snoring away. I just wanted to get this post started up before I do anything else this morning. Hopefully, we will be onboard in 4 hours (1 p.m. Boarding group A) and I will have a lovely photo commemorating San Diego’s return to cruising on the beautiful Koningsdam. Wish me luck and please feel free to ask questions (I had SO MANY while researching HAL, the ship, COVID testing, etc.). I won’t be springing for WiFi but doubt I’ll have any troubles responding while in port each day. Cheers! 🥂 Edited October 10, 2021 by nimi17 21 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida_gal_50 Posted October 10, 2021 #2 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I absolutely ❤️LOVE that people are doing live from reporting now. Have a wonderful 40th birthday. You picked a lovely ship. I’m looking forward to hearing everything you have to share. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igraf Posted October 10, 2021 #3 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I am quite pleased that this cruise did not get cancelled, and that a third HAL ship is now taking on passengers. igraf 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoastsue Posted October 10, 2021 #4 Share Posted October 10, 2021 What a fabulous way to celebrate a milestone birthday! Enjoy. We will be taking this cruise on 11/7. It is nice that several people are doing reports from onboard and will be good to get different perspectives. Bon Voyage. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhsocal Posted October 10, 2021 #5 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Look forward to your future posts. Will be interesting to see if your shipboard experiences will be similar to those on recent Alaska cruises. Have a wonderful time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love the beach Posted October 10, 2021 #6 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Have a wonderful time! I Love Koningsdam! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion B Posted October 10, 2021 #7 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Happy birthday and happy cruising. Thanks so much for posting. I will follow every word to hold me until December. Is sailaway 4 PM (as is ours)? I want to make sure I am glued to the live webcam to cheer you on with a glass (or two) of wine. Bon Voyage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianbear Posted October 10, 2021 #8 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Happy 40th!! Wonderful way to celebrate it and you picked a great ship. We really loved the Koningsdam and hope you do too. Looking forward to following along. Bon Voyage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lido deck main Posted October 10, 2021 #9 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Happy 40th Birthday. Hope you have a great cruise. Will be following. Hopefully you will be embarking soon. I think the weather will be nice for sail away. Bon Voyage 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taters Posted October 10, 2021 #10 Share Posted October 10, 2021 What an exciting day you have in store! Thank you for taking the time to write about your experience. DH and I are eagerly anticipating our B2B cruises on Koningsdam next month. I hope you have the best time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofwoo1 Posted October 10, 2021 #11 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Wish i was celebrating my40 th have a splendid time and keep us informed Regards Bob tidly from a christening in liverpool England 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croozer Posted October 10, 2021 #12 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I'm going to be on the sailing next week, so I will be hanging onto your every word. I hope you have a marvelous time and I look forward to your posts. Thank you for doing this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavArch64 Posted October 10, 2021 #13 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Happy Birthday and Bon Voyage. Booked on Koningsdam on this itinerary March 20, 2022. Have fun! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimi17 Posted October 10, 2021 Author #14 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Dropped off at the cruise port at 1:03 pm. Was able to pull into the lot right alongside the check-in area. Am currently queued up in line to have my documents and boarding pass reviewed. Was not asked which boarding group I am in prior to entering the building and getting in line. Do not know if they are turning away people who are arriving before their assigned boarding times. Line is moving quickly so far. I see 10 check in stations. 12 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimi17 Posted October 10, 2021 Author #15 Share Posted October 10, 2021 (edited) Make sure your hands are free as you’ll need to hold up the documents yourself! They are not allowed to touch them although YMMV as I saw some indeed handling them (your paperwork). Required documents: 1) passport 2) vax card 3) COVID test result 4) boarding pass Edited October 10, 2021 by nimi17 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobiemom Posted October 10, 2021 #16 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Bon Voyage! ⛴ Happy b-day! 🎂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madera1 Posted October 10, 2021 #17 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Thank you for posting and hope you have fun on HAL as you celebrate your 40th birthday. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimi17 Posted October 10, 2021 Author #18 Share Posted October 10, 2021 5 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said: I absolutely ❤️LOVE that people are doing live from reporting now. Have a wonderful 40th birthday. You picked a lovely ship. I’m looking forward to hearing everything you have to share. Oh yes, the live TRs I’ve read definitely inspired me to write one myself. And thank you! I am loving everything I’ve seen so far. She is a beauty for sure 🥂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimi17 Posted October 10, 2021 Author #19 Share Posted October 10, 2021 5 hours ago, igraf said: I am quite pleased that this cruise did not get cancelled, and that a third HAL ship is now taking on passengers. igraf That was one of my major concerns when booking this cruise. Our booking was through a Boyd Gaming casino offer and we chose this one because it was later in the season. Turns out all of the other cruises that were available prior to this were eventually cancelled and ours happens to be the first one to sail. 🛳🤞 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimi17 Posted October 10, 2021 Author #20 Share Posted October 10, 2021 5 hours ago, westcoastsue said: What a fabulous way to celebrate a milestone birthday! Enjoy. We will be taking this cruise on 11/7. It is nice that several people are doing reports from onboard and will be good to get different perspectives. Bon Voyage. Thank you! I am eager to read them all 🤩 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimi17 Posted October 10, 2021 Author #21 Share Posted October 10, 2021 5 hours ago, jhsocal said: Look forward to your future posts. Will be interesting to see if your shipboard experiences will be similar to those on recent Alaska cruises. Have a wonderful time! Thank you 🙏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimi17 Posted October 10, 2021 Author #22 Share Posted October 10, 2021 4 hours ago, Love the beach said: Have a wonderful time! I Love Koningsdam! We are loving her so far too! 😄 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cat shepard Posted October 10, 2021 #23 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Have a wonderful birthday cruise! A great way to start a new decade & “new year”! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimi17 Posted October 10, 2021 Author #24 Share Posted October 10, 2021 4 hours ago, Marion B said: Happy birthday and happy cruising. Thanks so much for posting. I will follow every word to hold me until December. Is sailaway 4 PM (as is ours)? I want to make sure I am glued to the live webcam to cheer you on with a glass (or two) of wine. Bon Voyage! Thank you, Marion! Our sailaway is 5 pm I believe. 🤞 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion B Posted October 10, 2021 #25 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Thank you nimi17. I figured your time might be different because you're doing the coastal and we're the Mexican Riviera. It's after 5:00 in my time zone, so I've already uncorked the wine - and it's the good stuff - New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I'm so happy for you and all others onboard. Seth's Facebook video already put me in a celebratory mood. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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