BarbandDaleT

We took it last year for our Princess cruise and loved it. The train stops right at the dock. I am assuming it is the same for HAL but they took our bags at the train station and we next saw them in our rooms. The trip was lovely and we would do it again. 

31 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

I understand the concepts. I wouldn't say a flight to Canada is an international flight in the same vein that a flight to Europe or Asia is. For example,  a flight to Canada from SFO leaves from the domestic terminals, where flights to Asia or Europe leave from the international terminal. So 2 hours early, as we were for our SFO-YYZ flight last summer was plenty.

I am sure most people do understand. But airlines are no longer liable for your flight if you don’t arrive by those times.  If you choose to arrive later and they are over booked, they can bump you without covering a hotel stay, meals, etc. At least this was true when I was a travel agent.   But maybe you know better. 

53 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Curious if you have any actual stats on this "happens too often".

Sorry, only anecdotal.  We watch many cruise vloggers on YouTube who always recommend later flights and I am a former travel agent who recommended later flights 20 years ago. It really only needs to happen to you once for it to be too often.  
 

I also want to point out the OP had a 12:35pm international flight.  This means they were expected to be at the airport by 9:35am.  Ship arrival maybe 6 or 7am, then waiting for port authority approval to go ashore, then going through customs and immigration.  Then transportation to the airport of about 30 minutes in Seattle.  Wow.  Tight fit.  One immigration employee not showing up for work leaving them short staffed could eliminate your cushion.  

On 2/20/2023 at 6:05 PM, KroozNut said:

 

What's the 'inconvenience' in walking around the casino to get from point A to point B? If you're not playing (casino), no harm, no foul, right?

Apparently you are fully able and have no difficulty walking.

We are taking our first cruise with HAL and we are used to dining on other cruise lines without set dining times.  We basically eat when we are hungry, so this varies from day to day.  On other ships we usually head to the main dining room when hungry, ask for a table, and are seated.  We only plan ahead for specialty dining restaurants where reservations are necessary.  
 

Will this work on the Westerdam?  Do you think we will have issues without a reservation?

We are sailing HAL for the first time soon and this sounds a little depressing.  

I would never book a flight that early to return home after a cruise.  What you described happens too often.  We look for flights after 3pm, or the next day.  We also arrive a day or two prior to cruise departure.  Why put yourself through the torture of trying to meet an early flight?  

Bought Vibe passes today for the Bliss Panama Canal in January 2023. Keep in mind it’s a 15 day cruise and the pass is for the whole cruise.

Just cruised Princess and the included drinks package allowed for drinks up to $15.  Many, if not most of what we wanted was included in that.  We didn't have the premium package.

On 7/12/2015 at 6:36 PM, srice said:

 

 

Ship. Regal Princess 

 

Class Balcony

 

Deck Riviera 

 

Stateroom # R436

 

Category BF

 

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern  Port Midship

 

Connects With Cabin #

 

Accessible No

 

Quiet Yes

 

Balcony Size. Normal

 

View Normal

 

Privacy Issues  The balcony a couple of cabins down juts out so we could see them and they could see us when standing.  No big deal.

 

Wind. None

 

Soot. None

 

Problems. Room was a little small.  We kept bumping into each other.  Bathroom door is basically in the closet.

 

Comments  We were given this room as we reserved a guaranteed room.  We thought there might be issues being so close to the elevator, but there weren’t any.  In fact, we liked being so close to them and the stairs.  It was perfectly quiet.  The elevator took us straight to the buffet and pool area.  Convenient.

I find it amazing that people would say cabin doors are magnetic.  I think they mean they are metal and you can use magnets on the doors.  

I have convinced my husband to try Princess for a Christmas sailing this year.  He is not a lover of formal attire.  How formal will the formal nights be, and will it be more formal for a Christmas sailing?  Also, anywhere we can look up which nights will be formal?

We have been sailing NCL, but decided to try Princess for the first time.  We don’t drink a lot, so the tips alone on a beverage package would be way more than we would drink.  However, we often will buy a bottle of wine and drink half and save the rest for another dinner.  NCL would seal it, store it, and bring it back to our table for the second dinner.  Does Princess do this?  If not, what do we do?

I just hate the price of the bracelet and it looks like a bangle, which I couldn’t wear.  Your idea is very interesting.  I wonder about just using it like a charm?

On 10/1/2021 at 9:47 AM, Dreamer333 said:

Just a heads up to anyone pre-purchasing a bracelet (for medallion)... size up if your wrist measurement is very close to the bracelet measurement.

 

I measured my wrist, and according to the measurements I should be a size small. But bracelet arrived and its a bit too tight because of it's shape (slightly oblong). 

 

Hopefully it will be an easy process to exchange onboard, but just wanted to give you a heads up.

Is this just a simple bangle bracelet or does it have some kind of clasp, etc.?  Thanks in advance!

My only reason for the NCL Baltic cruise in August 2022 is to see St Petersburg.  It has been on my list since I was a teenager and I am getting to the age where the flights to Europe are too taxing from Minneapolis.  I am intrigued by the day flights from NYC.  That might extend my European travels a few years.

But, if the St Petersburg stop is canceled, I am not interested in the entire trip.  I seriously wonder if the other passengers booked will agree, thus making the cruise a loss for NCL.

Please don't wear perfume on a cruise. Many people have problems with perfume and are stuck at a table or on a shore excursion bus with people who are wearing perfume and it is unbearable. Thanks!