LadyVol1

This is cabana pricing for the Nieuw Amsterdam, effective October 1, 2023. My guess would be that it is applicable to the other ships, too, for a Retreat cabana. I don’t understand why HAL is now making a cabana price sheet per ship. I asked for the others but never got a response. I also submitted this to halfacts. HAL_2023_NA_Cabanas.pdf

Thanks. I’ll book it now.

ashank1m - If booking onboard do you think the OBC is per person or per cabin? I'm trying to decide whether to book my YC now using Black Friday ($200 per cabin) or wait until December when I'm onboard. I have the YC booking "held" so I'm in no danger of losing the cabin.

gmbhardy - I'm trying to figure out whether to take advantage of Black Friday ($200 per YC cabin) and book now or book onboard Dec. 1. Did you get $200 pp or $200 per YC cabin when you booked onboard? (I have my YC booking on hold for a week so I won't lose it.)

I always arrange our air using miles but because I stupidly booked the October Octantis cruise “late” (in April) after Polaris was cancelled, good award flights were gone and since Viking emailed that business class air was included we went with it. What a mistake. 🤦‍♀️

It’s our own fault. Well, mine since I told my husband we were going! The Arctic to Antarctica itinerary was going to be great and when that was cancelled in April I immediately jumped on this one. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Our two other Viking experiences have been less than stellar so like I said, I should have known. I should have just taken the Polaris cash refund but instead I used that money (not FCC) to book this cruise. 🤦‍♀️ We are supposed to be business class and have it in writing but Viking is saying only economy class is available from BA to the US. NEVER AGAIN. We’ll see if we’re on the Octantis in October.

I'm so "done" with Viking and its super secret info (and other frustrations). Seriously. We're on this same cruise (10/13/22-11/22/22) and getting info is like pulling teeth. After spending 115 days total on Viking ships, this will be our last Viking booking. It's just too irritating. Here's hoping this is a good experience once we're ON Octantis. For what it's worth, our flight from EZE is at 10:05PM and the Viking Air rep told me the instructions specified that any flight from EZE after 10AM would work! I made sure to clarify/repeat "AM" and "PM" and she was adamant that a flight from EZE after 10AM was allowed for this itinerary.

bkh62 - If you’re on Octantis right now, could you please post a full copy of the daily program? If possible, a sea day version and a port day version would be appreciated but anything is better than what I have (nothing 😉). Thanks.

Since I get hives when I get cold I wasn't going to do it but I guess some people were miffed. However, I don't ever recall seeing it stated in any of the Seabourn literature that passengers could jump in the water. Had I seen that, I probably would have told my husband he needed to do it!

I know you’re asking about Viking but when we did Antarctica with Seabourn the polar plunge was in the swimming pool with ice added. They said “liability” when asked if we could do it for real. Just another data point for you.

If someone is on Octantis right now, could you please post the entire daily program for a sea day (or take screen shots if it’s only online)? Thanks in advance.

Thank you very much. The Holland America website was updated May 19, 2022 but they don’t indicate what was updated. I was hoping the complimentary test section was what was updated.🤷‍♀️

This is per the HAL website when you click on Canada and US cruises. I’m trying to figure this out since I have a September Koningsdam cruise that ends in Vancouver. 23 hours after the 7 AM disembarkation I have a flight to the US. I’ve called Seattle to see if they will give me a test since the website clearly indicates that Holland America will, but Seattle can’t figure it out either!  From https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html#testing (Updated) If my home country requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test result for re-entry following my cruise, will Holland America Line administer and cover the cost of the test? Vaccinated guests disembarking in Canada needing a COVID-19 test to return to their home country will be responsible to arrange and cover the expense of that test. Please note, tests are not required for guests disembarking in Vancouver and returning to the U.S. via motorcoach. For all other cruises where a guest requires a COVID-19 test to return home and can provide proof of flight within 24 hours, Holland America line will provide a complimentary test.

Thanks. Since I can’t get a definitive answer from HAL Seattle, I’m just going by the HAL website: “For all other cruises where a guest requires a COVID-19 test to return home and can provide proof of flight within 24 hours, Holland America line will provide a complimentary test.”

Was HAL giving free Covid tests on disembarkation morning for those with flights home (like back to the US) that were scheduled to leave within 24 hours of disembarkation? Or were the free HAL tests for those with flights within 24 hours of disembarkation given the day before disembarkation?