billbunger Posted October 22, 2023 #176 Share Posted October 22, 2023 10 hours ago, mexico8 said: I have a mobility scooter and I think the power worked above the desk when I was charging my battery during the night. We would plug it in before going to bed and during the night when I got up to use the bathroom the battery would be charged so I would unplug it. I am surprised by your comment that the power does not work when the lights are off. I did not find that on other ships we have been on, HAL and Azamara etc. It is just the USB ports that loose power the power outlets are still live. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbunger Posted October 22, 2023 #177 Share Posted October 22, 2023 The Captain has announced the azipod repairs will be completed shortly and we will sail tomorrow at 8:30am. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mexico8 Posted October 23, 2023 #178 Share Posted October 23, 2023 7 hours ago, billbunger said: It is just the USB ports that loose power the power outlets are still live. Thanks for the clarification. Now I understand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted October 23, 2023 Author #179 Share Posted October 23, 2023 (edited) The last day of the Panama Canal portion of this thread was interesting. Two of my visits to the Front Desk that day to gather information allowed me to overhear several complaints about the little time to spend $200 p/p OBC in the Shops and others in line commenting, "I can spend it for him," . With no disembarkation paperwork or in-transit card yet received, a dreaded second visit to the Front Desk on the eve of disembarkation was reuired. Fortunately, I arrived at a very opportune time with only 10 passengers ahead of me, all complaining about their statement charges, when suddenly 20 additional passengers joined the line behind me giving me a sense of good fortune in choosing my time to join the queue. As I returned to my stateroom with my in-transit card and disembarkation letter in hand, I knew I was ready for Disembarkation/In-transit in the morning. FWIW my Room Steward placed another copy of both documents on my bed while I was at dinner later that evening. As has been reported many times here on CC, the best of part being an in-transit passenger is seeing so many pieces of luggage in the hallways and knowing that none of them were yours. Disembarkation/In-transit Day was both bewildering and frustrating. Being the first cruise of the FLL season, new ground support personnel, a different terminal than normally used, and erratic CBP systems were in my future. Fifteen minutes after the required meeting time in the theater, less than half of those required to be there had decided to appear. Announcements, followed by Security and Room Steward motivation, the last in-transit passengers decided to join us around 10:30 AM. Returning to my stateroom after a brief sojourn through the cruise terminal passport review, I noticed no new key in my mailbox and the old key not working. Another visit to the Front Desk was necessary if I wanted to access my stateroom For this Front Desk visit, I was just 13th in line behind incoming crew members but eventually received my new, hole-punched, stateroom key that successfully opened my stateroom door. Shortly after my Lido Market lunch, my Room Steward appeared with a newer stateroom key. Indeed, the red light appeared whenever the first new key of the day was tried but the newer key caused a green light. With a smile and a nod, my Room Steward disappeared, and my thumb passed slowly over the yet “unpunched” newer stateroom card. As a committed lanyard wearer, after being locked out of my room while wearing only pajama bottoms on a previous cruise, a “hole-punched” stateroom key was imperative and another visit to the Front Desk now necessitated. Visions of the dreaded Front Desk Embarkation Day chaos in my past haunted me as I maneuvered, through the hallways of recently, waited on overstuffed elevators, and families delivered luggage and disoriented passengers seeking their assigned staterooms, in sear I sadly counted the 24 passengers ahead of me in the Front Desk line who were seeking the resolution of their issues and decided that the line was shorter than the more than 100 that I have seen in the past. I chose to remain in the line. “No ice in my stateroom, not enough hangers, no USB-C connections, etc.” rippled through the voices of those ahead of me in line. I noticed a crew member screening some of the passengers ahead of me and when he worked his way back to me, I reported only needed to have a hole punched. Much to my great surprise, a red-handled hole puncher appeared from his right front trouser pocket and my second new stateroom key of the day was upgraded to lanyard-capable. While attaching my now punched stateroom key to its lanyard clip, I glanced back at the nearly 30 more passengers that had joined the line behind me. A feeling of great satisfaction that I had overcome the dreaded Embarkation Front Desk Line, swept through me. For a fleeting moment, all was right onboard. More later. Edited October 23, 2023 by Crew News 13 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadarocks Posted October 23, 2023 #180 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Your patience is admirable sir. I know I would not be so accommodating. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wholeheartedmom Posted October 23, 2023 #181 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Is there a way to know what sick cases were/are on the ship, and the breakdown of those types? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted October 23, 2023 #182 Share Posted October 23, 2023 7 minutes ago, Wholeheartedmom said: Is there a way to know what sick cases were/are on the ship, and the breakdown of those types? Most of that would be privileged info. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted October 23, 2023 Author #183 Share Posted October 23, 2023 57 minutes ago, Wholeheartedmom said: Is there a way to know what sick cases were/are on the ship, and the breakdown of those types? I will ask but the ship will probably not wish to provide such information. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOPPERTESTER Posted October 23, 2023 #184 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Hi Crew News, Good saga on the cabin keys. You mentioned you are on a B2B. Was it two bookings or one long booking? Just want to know if under a long booking do they need to change the cabin key on turnover day (for some). We are on Rotterdam next month on 9 & 12 night segments but booked as one 21 night trip. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LAFFNVEGAS Posted October 23, 2023 #185 Share Posted October 23, 2023 23 hours ago, billbunger said: It is just the USB ports that loose power the power outlets are still live. I agree this is what it does but does anyone else find it strange that they disconnect the USB that uses very little power keep live something that takes up more power. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted October 23, 2023 Author #186 Share Posted October 23, 2023 48 minutes ago, CHOPPERTESTER said: Hi Crew News, Good saga on the cabin keys. You mentioned you are on a B2B. Was it two bookings or one long booking? Just want to know if under a long booking do they need to change the cabin key on turnover day (for some). We are on Rotterdam next month on 9 & 12 night segments but booked as one 21 night trip. Two separate cruises according to HAL. It is my experience that the longer cruises combining segments into collector cruises keep the same key but B2Bs that are not designated collector cruises by HAL Sales change keys. YMMV FWIW my Disembarkation letter was a "collector's voyage notice". For sales purposes, this was not a collector voyage. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakridger Posted October 23, 2023 #187 Share Posted October 23, 2023 2 hours ago, CHOPPERTESTER said: Hi Crew News, Good saga on the cabin keys. You mentioned you are on a B2B. Was it two bookings or one long booking? Just want to know if under a long booking do they need to change the cabin key on turnover day (for some). We are on Rotterdam next month on 9 & 12 night segments but booked as one 21 night trip. On my last Collectors cruise (10+11 days) on Rotterdam in November 2022 I had one key that worked for the whole 21 days, and it had the dates printed on it. I stayed in the same cabin for the entire trip. ~Nancy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbunger Posted October 24, 2023 #188 Share Posted October 24, 2023 We have never had to re-key on B to B cruises before, but today my key stopped working. My wife’s did not. I got a hair cut this morning at 8:00am and when they scanned my card nothing showed up on their charge screen in the spa. I think they thought I was a stowaway. I got a new key at guest services 5 minutes later. As per cruise news our Florida disembarkation letter was sent as a collectors cruise but it was originally sold to us as a 28 day cruise. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted October 24, 2023 #189 Share Posted October 24, 2023 3 minutes ago, billbunger said: We have never had to re-key on B to B cruises before, but today my key stopped working. My wife’s did not. I got a hair cut this morning at 8:00am and when they scanned my card nothing showed up on their charge screen in the spa. I think they thought I was a stowaway. I got a new key at guest services 5 minutes later. As per cruise news our Florida disembarkation letter was sent as a collectors cruise but it was originally sold to us as a 28 day cruise. Agree. Have done a number of B2Bs, both as Collectors Cruises, and with separate booking numbers. Never have needed a new key. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Haljo1935 Posted October 24, 2023 #190 Share Posted October 24, 2023 2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said: Agree. Have done a number of B2Bs, both as Collectors Cruises, and with separate booking numbers. Never have needed a new key. @billbungerWhen I have 2 booking numbers on B2B, I have had to get a new key 100% of the time. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeponcruising Posted October 24, 2023 #191 Share Posted October 24, 2023 On 10/22/2023 at 1:25 PM, Crew News said: Cancel payment only at Guest Services Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted October 24, 2023 Author #192 Share Posted October 24, 2023 1 hour ago, keeponcruising said: Thank you! I converted all of my prepaid dining to refundable credit yesterday and retained all of my reservations. The Front Desk knew exactly what to do and why I was doing it. Unfortunately, there are more than 2000 other passengers not aware of this process. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianbear Posted October 24, 2023 #193 Share Posted October 24, 2023 8 minutes ago, Crew News said: I converted all of my prepaid dining to refundable credit yesterday and retained all of my reservations. The Front Desk knew exactly what to do and why I was doing it. Unfortunately, there are more than 2000 other passengers not aware of this process. The thing is, if everyone starts doing that they might stop it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted October 24, 2023 Author #194 Share Posted October 24, 2023 26 minutes ago, canadianbear said: The thing is, if everyone starts doing that they might stop it. Or maybe allow OBC to be used when making reservations before the cruise as some other lines allow. 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadarocks Posted October 24, 2023 #195 Share Posted October 24, 2023 12 minutes ago, Crew News said: Or maybe allow OBC to be used when making reservations before the cruise as some other lines allow. And maybe recognize what their customers' Mariner status is and bill Specialty Dining accordingly when booked online. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted October 24, 2023 Author #196 Share Posted October 24, 2023 Just now, canadarocks said: And maybe recognize what their customers' Mariner status is and bill Specialty Dining accordingly when booked online. Amen. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted October 24, 2023 Author #197 Share Posted October 24, 2023 (edited) Embarkation Day ended with a visit to the Lido Market Late Snack for a bowl of potato chips. Of immediate note to me, as well as the Asst Lido Manager, was the average diner age at least 20 years younger than the Panama Canal passengers. There was even a line at the NY Pizza that I had not witnessed over the past 16 days. One entire side of the Lido was filled, and I later learned that 300 meals were served which is significantly higher than the 40 that I was used to seeing. The first day of the second cruise segment began and ended in Fort Lauderdale with the Nieuw Amsterdam still undergoing repairs. Breakfast in the Lido Market was a stark contrast to the repositioning segment. Passengers consumed their meal and departed. I saw only one book reader occupying a table after their breakfast dishes were cleared and very few diners in search of tables. With a younger demographic, plates were piled high with bacon, waffles, eggs, pastries, etc. while the yogurt line not busy. On a personal level, I quickly found a table for the first time in 16 days. This day was our CC Meet & Greet and as promised by the Events Coordinator, Maria, there were at least nine ship officers present, that included the ship’s Captain and new Hotel General Manager, Mark Pells. Sadly, and based so many people taking advantage of the free shopping mall shuttles, the officer contingent outnumbered the CC roll call members. I seized the opportunity gather information. After nearly seven years on the Nieuw Amsterdam, Captain Jeroen von Donselaar will be moving to the Eurodam next March, He shared some of the upgrades coming in the December 2023 drydock: All new Crow’s Nest windows, remodeled Fitness Center, add Rolling Stone, new carpeting and furniture, air conditioning and heating upgrades, azipod replacement, and Starlink upgrade are planned. The table selection at 12:30 PM in the Lido Market for lunch was unlimited with so many passengers off the ship and shopping in Fort Lauderdale. There could have been no more than 50 people present while I was there. I learned that at 1:30 PM, the returning mall shoppers filled every Lido Market table. My second dinner in the MDR was efficient and completed in 50 minutes, perhaps, because of the smaller portions. I remained still amazed at the big changes since my May cruise on this same ship. The only identifiable change that I can identify is the new MDR Maitre’d, Damien. The magician/comedian, Fred Moore, was quite good and very funny. The Late Lido Market Snack was filled with more diners than Embarkation Day and required more crew members to clean the tables. More later. Edited October 24, 2023 by Crew News 10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianbear Posted October 24, 2023 #198 Share Posted October 24, 2023 4 hours ago, Crew News said: Or maybe allow OBC to be used when making reservations before the cruise as some other lines allow. When we cruised Celebrity that’s what they did I think it was allowed after final payment (been a few years since we sailed with them). 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianbear Posted October 24, 2023 #199 Share Posted October 24, 2023 4 hours ago, canadarocks said: And maybe recognize what their customers' Mariner status is and bill Specialty Dining accordingly when booked online. Wouldn’t that be great! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regan3 Posted October 24, 2023 #200 Share Posted October 24, 2023 1 hour ago, Crew News said: He shared some of the upgrades coming in the December 2023 drydock: All new Crow’s Nest windows, remodeled Fitness Center, add Rolling Stone, new carpeting and furniture, air conditioning and heating upgrades, azipod replacement, and Starlink upgrade are planned Do you have any upcoming trips planned on Nieuw Amsterdam so you can report on the upgrades? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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