bd1958

The spa staff gives tours on embarkation day. they will show you around and you can decide based on what you see. I've reserved in advance and I've purchased on the ship. sometimes it is priced less once on board. I've only rarely seen it crowded. most of the time there are only a few people and sometimes there is no one and you have it all to yourself.

I purchase the spa package most every time I cruise. I like the extra space it provides when the cabin starts to feel a bit small. Around the bubble pool are relaxing loungers. it's very quiet and relaxing. I never see kids there. in the locker room there are showers which come in handy as well, which means one person can be getting ready in the room while the other is showering at the spa. on rare occasions it gets a bit busy but most folks don't stay that long. I have usually paid $150 for one person on a seven day cruise.

Congrats, Roktory. Still waiting here. checking twice daily...not being patient!

I believe we are all talking about March 4 on the Rotterdam. 12 days and counting. Still no assignment. Neptune Guarantee.

Ok, I take that back...if you are waiting for assignment that means you must be guarantee. Still don't understand why I was not offered upgrade/upsell. I'm working with a new TA and have specifically asked her to be on the lookout.

Hmmm. I'm on the Rotterdam March 4 for 7 days, Neptune guarantee. did not receive PS upgrade offer. To those who did receive offer, are you reserved room? Is that why you got the offer?

Bruce

the decision of when to fly depends on where you're flying from. If it's from a cold weather area I would not recommend flying in the day of the cruise. it's just too stressful with so many variables that could wreck your plans. If you're staying in the general area of the port most hotels have a shuttle service for a fee. Taxis / ubers are preferred by many because you can pick the time. The shuttles tend to be sardine-like unless you book through HAL at one of their sponsored hotels, and take their sponsored shuttle. they handle your luggage and you go directly to your terminal.

I've done six Caribbean cruises on HAL, all in March, and I've never seen more than a handful of kids. You'll have a great time and how exciting to be on a new ship. After years of going with a HAL personal cruise consultant this year went to my AAA travel agent to talk about insurance and found that I could get the same best price as I had already been offered by HAL plus about $150. in perks...a no-brainer! I have found that flights and hotels are pricier mid-later month in march.

I believe if upsells are available you will get an email or if you booked through a TA they will and then contact you. If it was happening, in my experience, you would have received notice by now. You can (or your TA can) call directly and ask. The have an office just devoted to upsells. I've been told by HAL that the crunch time for folks considering cancelling is the weekend before, so with 10 days out if you start calling now you might score an opening not through general upsell program but through a sudden opening. It's worked for me several times and they don't seem to mind you calling every day.

Bruce

If you book the veranda and prefer the suite, I've had luck moving up to suites (for the upsell fee) in the last week before the cruise. Sometimes calling every day to check for late cancellations, even up to two days prior to sailing. I guess that call would have to go to your TA?

Good luck getting the room you want.

Bruce

We loved our aft wrap on NA deck 8. Yes it's below the lido deck but we never heard a sound from up top. Private, roomy deck though the room itself is somewhat smaller than the other Neptune suites. It's also a long walk to the spa but I would not hesitate on that room again.

Bruce

I never get seasick but last year we had a particularly rocky day at sea and I (along with most of the boat) was feeling pretty queasy much of the day. finally I took a meclizine (I had never taken it before and did not know if there were side effects) because we had a dinner at the Pinnacle and I didn't want to feel bad. I felt better very quickly and was kicking myself for not taking it sooner. So, for me, I won't take it in advance but won't hesitate if symptoms arise.

Bruce

My mistake....when I replied that they could be split I was thinking Neptune when you had said pinnacle. Apologies for adding more confusion.

Yes it can be split.

Oh, No! I don't want to buy something I would only wear to dinner on a cruise!

 

My preference? I would suggest segregating the MDR:

 

Those desiring a more casual dining experience would reserve As You Wish Dining and would be seated on the lower level. Shorts, jeans, polo shirts, and ball caps would be allowed. No swim wear. The matre d' could exclude those in thongs, etc.

 

Those desiring a more formal dining experience would indicate Traditional Dining. They would be seated on the upper level allowing them to look down upon the greater unwashed. There they would sip their sparkling wine and observe the dissolute masses on the lower floor while filling out their Fashion Police Scorecards.

If you take away the sarcasm and ridicule, I believe this is a workable concept. Give more people what they want. Clearly this issue is divisive over personal preference. I'm growing tired of each side taking the inventory and defining the other. It cheapens the debate. Each side has its own points.

The trend is toward more casual. And particularly in beach destinations, some people don't want to go through that much of a change for dinner. Fine. On the other hand, for some folks being on a cruise is entirely a special occasion and dressing for dinner/being in formal environs is an important part of it...a departure from the norm, like going to a wedding or anniversary or a special party. Who would want to take that away from someone's experience?

In the end we're choosing a cruise line and it has its rules. there are other cruise lines with other rules. The debate is taking place here (is it ever!) but it seems like the real argument is with the cruise line. When we choose a trip and purchase a ticket, aren't we agreeing to their terms? I don't know if anyone from HAL monitors these debates, but if they see the passion at which this issue is discussed, I hope they are working on a solution that allows more people to be satisfied. Clearly, it's not an either/or solution for the whole ship.

Sincerely,

Bruce

This is helpful. We are on that cruise in March. I was assuming Gala was on sea days. but the second sea day is the last night of the cruise and they don't tend to have gala on the last night because people are packing....I will revise my dinner plans.

Thanks.

Bruce

Hmm. Interesting observation. I will try that....although I've tended to buy the spa package so it's hard to tell. In my experience they would look at the back of my room card for the spa proof of purchase sticker before issuing a locker key. Thanks.

In my experience the lockers are not free. they are reserved for spa customers and those who purchased the spa package.

Adding to the positive reviews. it's the best beach I've ever been to. Even when there are two ships all you have to do is walk further down the beach to have more privacy if you want it.

I understand it's not always the case, but on the five HAL Caribbean cruises I've been on, the gala nights have been the sea days.

Bruce

Thanks for all the great information. I had been to trip advisor and it seemed woefully short on information on the guatemala and roatan sites. I think the site was not functioning properly that day. I will check with tripadvisor now that I have more data.

Does anyone have information on cancellations of private tours should the boat reach the destination? An easy refund seems to be the one advantage of a hal-based tour. My one past experience of Cosa Maya on the NA was that we could not dock due to high seas. I was feeling lucky I had not reserved anything private. Do private tours allow for sudden cancellations and give refunds?

Thanks,

Bruce

A question: we're looking forward to four stops in the Western Caribbean in early March. Costa Maya, Mahogany Bay Roatan, Santo Tomas de Castilla Guatemala, and Cozumel. Hoping to do some snorkeling at one or more stops. Any advice as to the better stops to consider? I believe from the ship's excursions they all offer trips. I have in the past booked private but i'm not adverse to booking with the ship. from experience, does anyone have advice on choices?

Thanks,

Bruce

I assume the comments about tone and shame are related to me. I admit to a snarky tone in the opening sentence to my comments. Apologies. I would edit it out but it's been copied several times so to change it would be irrelevant.

I do not feel shame nor do I feel as if I've disrespected the OP. She opened with an ethical argument and I responded with an ethical argument. OP (I believe your name is Kathy) admits she took advantage of the situation and also that she engaged in an experiment. I'm just saying that doing so invites negative feelings in one's life and in the world. My point gets to a larger piece of cultural criticism which suggests these kinds of actions are choices with predictable outcomes.

What if the 'experiment' was simply to point out the error to HAL and call it a day, getting to feel good about doing the right thing. That's a predictable, positive reaction, and we would not be having this conversation. Maybe we would be having a different conversation about something more important or joyful or interesting.

Kathy, i'm sorry you feel bruised and I will stop if you want.

Regards,

Bruce

OP: I don't know if you're cheap but I do think you're creating your own aggravation. You say you aren't trying to cheat HAL. But you knew the price was dramatically wrong when you booked it. Now you're claiming principle that they won't honor the mistaken price. Where are your principles? Do principles only work one way? It's pretty clear this was not bait and switch. You had a choice. You could have simply alerted HAL to their mistake and then felt good about doing the right thing. Instead you are putting this on the web stirring indignation.

If you were a business owner and you made a mistake, maybe you would honor it to the aggrieved customer. But wouldn't it make your day if someone pointed it out rather than take advantage of the situation? Wouldn't such a kind gesture renew (just a bit) one's faith in honor and integrity?

Right now, more than ever, we need to heed the call of integrity.

Sincerely,

Bruce Deveau

We took the NCL Dawn several years back, docking at King's Warf. It's a LONG way to the center of town from there. There are tourist things right there to walk to but otherwise it's a long cab ride or long ferry line to the city and most attractions. Once you choose a ship I recommend the small art gallery that is part of the botanical garden. it's a gem (as is the garden though not technically a botanical) which features several Winslow Homer watercolors. The paintings were not on display but the manager gave us a private tour of the vault to see them. I think he thought we had money. I hope you enjoy your trip.

Bruce