Just booked first HAL cruise on the Oosterdam

[seniormiss]

Just booked cruise on March 17 to Mexico. My first cruise on HAL, have sailed on Celebrity and Royal Car. Very excited. I live in So. Calif. and am wondering about the dock in San Diego. I have limited mobility, hopefully can get a wheelchair to help me get on the boat, then I will be OK. Also wondering about parking at the site, how far would I need to walk, I doubt if I could get a wheelchair from the parking lot, I wouldn't have any trouble driving there if the parking was very close.

Any information about the Oosterdam would also be appreciated.

Would like some information about trip insurance. Why not just buy the insurance HAL offers?

I absolutely love this site, it has already helped me so much, you people are wonderful. Please let me know if any of you will be on this particular cruise.

[fcorey]

Seniormiss, welcome, you may want to check out the Oosterdam roll call page. I know there are some CC'ers here that will be on your cruise. I am on the O'dam on 10/7/06 for a mexican riviera cruise, from what i've read here the port is only minutes from the airport and is one of the easiest or most convenient. I am sure you'll be able to find what ever information you are looking for here.

[Southbound]

Welcome, seniormiss. If you go to insuremytrip.com you'll be able to compare policies, prices and coverage of many companies. The prices of travel insurance purchased through a TA or cruise line tend to be higher.

We've sailed on the Oosterdam and you'll be pleased with your decision. HAL's crews are very adept at assisting and very considerate to pax with mobility problems.

You're correct about the folks here being helpful. That's a large part of what this board is all about. There are many seasoned cruisers here who will be able to answer your questions and you'll find the folks in general to be generous with info, tips and recommendations.

[Nasmas]

Just booked cruise on March 17 to Mexico. My first cruise on HAL, have sailed on Celebrity and Royal Car. Very excited. I live in So. Calif. and am wondering about the dock in San Diego. I have limited mobility, hopefully can get a wheelchair to help me get on the boat, then I will be OK. Also wondering about parking at the site, how far would I need to walk, I doubt if I could get a wheelchair from the parking lot, I wouldn't have any trouble driving there if the parking was very close.

Any information about the Oosterdam would also be appreciated.

Would like some information about trip insurance. Why not just buy the insurance HAL offers?

I absolutely love this site, it has already helped me so much, you people are wonderful. Please let me know if any of you will be on this particular cruise.We were on the Oosterdam in April and my husband was in a wheelchair. We stayed at the Holiday Inn across the street and took the shuttle to the pier. We went thru the gate and some nice young security guard called ahead and had them meet us with the wheel chair. If you're traveling with someone, you might have them park the car. The staff & crew of HAL were so accomodating to us. They took us thru the check in line and to our room to pick up the chair we'd rented and then to the lido. The young man offered to stay with us until the room was ready but I told him we would be fine. And, on the last day, they took us to pick up our luggage and loaned me a cell phone to call the hotel to pick us up. The O is a beautiful ship and we absolutely loved it. Have a great time

[seniormiss]

All this information is so helpful. Another question for the seasoned travelers is...I'm a bit confused about the dinner times, are there really 4 different seatings for dinner..I don't understand the upper early, etc, etc.
Thanks

[RuthC]

I'm a bit confused about the dinner times, are there really 4 different seatings for dinner..I don't understand the upper early, etc, etc.
Yes, seniormiss, on every ship except the Prinsendam there are four dinner sittings.
Think of it as two sittings that have been split a bit. Every dining room has two levels---an upper and a lower. The upper level arrives for dinner; one half-hour later the lower level arrives. A little more than two hours later there's a repeat of this for main sitting.