Boatdrill

Was there a bathing suit on underneath ?

Sorry to hear this. BB Kings was always packed when I've sailed and the bar revenue must have been the highest on the ship. This is similar to when HAL took out the intimate Piano Bar room (often SRO) and replaced it with a scripted piano "bar" in the wide open spaces by the noisy casino. A brilliant move that benefitted not one passenger.

The cruise lines you mention have brought back First Class from the golden days of travelling by ship, and call it something else. The nice amenities you receive in First Class aren't free. HAL has resisted the class distinctions, and has only put a toe in the water with Club Orange. Even then, Club Orange is a tough sell to many HAL cruisers; they believe the value of the amenities isn't worth the asking price, and instead choose to use that money for something else on the cruise, that has more value to them. Thankfully there are different ships and amenities for everyone to choose from. I prefer HAL"s class-less cruise experience and don't require member-only areas to have a great cruise. I've done the multi-class cruise experience on the old liners, and more recently Cunard. On Cunard it's a grand tradition. On the newer lines, it's a marketing tool. Some want it, others don't.

I cancelled my CVM Medical appointment after the US testing requirement was lifted, and received a confirmation email from them saying they were processing refunds as quickly as possible. There was no mention of a $50 cancellation fee at that time, nor when I booked the appointment. If there's a cancellation fee, it will nearly wipe out the refund for my test. 🙂

At least they didn't throw the deck chairs overboard ! (true story).

I see now that her opinion is referring solely to the food quality on the Rotterdam, and not HAL in general, although she told you "the HAL food quality has gone so downhill since COVID." It sounds like your agent has always steered you in the right direction according to what kind of cruise experience you want. An acquaintance who is in the TA/cruise business refuses to sell Carnival Cruises. He's very familiar with their product and just can't recommend it to his clients. One of his clients (married couple) book Carnival cruises online when they have friends want to cruise together on CCL. When that couple want to book Princess or HAL, they use him.

Interesting. The food on my Zuiderdam 10 day cruise in April was excellent as always. Sorry to hear that your TA didn't have a good cruise on the new Rotterdam. I'm confused though when you write that she did "her first HAL post Covid cruise last month on the Rotterdam" and that "the HAL food quality has gone so downhill since COVID." The Rotterdam began sailing less than a year ago. It didn't sail pre-COVID, only post COVID. How would she be able to know about the quality of food in the entire fleet, when the ship she was on has only been in service since October ?

What does "giving over the tanoy" mean ?

The CVM Medical test site at the Vancouver Convention Center "is only closed until July 1st" according to an email I just received from them in reply to a question about rescheduling my appointment on July 6th. Their full statement: "At this time the Convention Centre location is only closed until July 1st and your appointment will not be affected."

A side note...if the US government would lift the negative COVID test requirement to enter the US, that would help bookings.

If you're ever in the same kind of situation again in the U.S., call 9-1-1 and ask for the Highway Patrol or police. Provide the description of the bus, location and direction of travel. They'll stop the bus, check on the mechanical condition and passengers' health. If another bus is needed, they'll handle it. Don't worry about a delayed arrival at the ship - it will wait for you.

Not sure how you would know where you caught COVID ? In any case it sounds like an awful transfer. .

I'm on my 4th attempt today to reach HAL regarding changing a return flight booked and fully paid through Flight Ease. The change cannot be done manually through Flight Ease, nor through the airline's website. Call #1 at 3:33pm: "Expected wait time is more than six hours". (I hung up) Call #2 at 4:38pm: "Expected wait time is more than six hours". (I hung up) Call #3 at 5:34pm (general reservations line): "Estimated wait time is less than 5 minutes" (call disconnected at 5:48pm). Call #4 at 5:48pm (general reservations line): "Estimated wait time is less than 5 minutes". It's now 6:17 pm and I'm still on hold. They close up at 6:00pm, so who knows if everyone has left their desks for the day, or they're finishing up calls.

It's closed now. Take a look at the CVM Medical website.

With HAL suddenly closing down it's onboard testing, and now the abrupt closure of the Convention Center testing site, disembarking guests are being herded like sheep to the airport for testing. HAL gave no reason for their policy change, and CVM Medical has provided no explanation for theirs. Who's pulling the levers behind the curtain ? CVM Medical ended their email to me with this creepy note "We thank you for your patience during these unexpected times." 🤨 That bus to Seattle is looking pretty good right now !

I just emailed CVM Medical to ask about the Convention Center closure, and the status of my confirmed appointment on July 6 after I get off the Zuiderdam. Their reply came immediately. Good Day! Thank you for contacting CVM Medical. Please know that your message has been received and we are doing our utmost to return your message in a timely fashion. If you are writing regarding your rescheduled Vancouver Convention Centre appointment. We are working through these as fast as we can. We are working date by date. Your appointments will be scheduled to the same date and time as your previous appointments unless other wise specified. Antigen Tests will all be rescheduled to Vancouver International Airport 3211 Grant McConachie Way L:evel 3 – end of US departures, counters 289 to 298 Before security Richmond BC V7B 0A4 PCR tests will all be rescheduled to our Richmond location 7311 Westminster Hwy 8th Floor – Skyview Room Richmond BC V6X 1A3 We thank you for your patience during these unexpected times.

I have an appt booked and paid for at the CVM medical site at the convention center, after disembarkation from the Zuiderdam in early July (Wednesday), before I go to the airport. I haven't received any email from them about closing up shop, but their website for that location now reads "No services". This is a huge disappointment and feels like piling on after HAL bailed out of it's onboard testing. Thank you for posting the news. I probably wouldn't have known about it until very late in the game.

Apologies in advance for this question, which I'm sure has been answered somewhere. I searched other threads but couldn't find it. Does anyone know the approximate departure time of HAL's bus transfer from the Vancouver cruise ship terminal to SEATAC ? And is the trip about 4 1/2 hours ? Thanks.

Thanks for the info. What is considered an early flight ? Also, where was the wait for the taxi (cruise terminal, convention center, downtown hotel) ?

Of course it's understandable that if HAL is understaffed on the land tours, those tours need to be adjusted. My "issue" is that HAL was apparently advertising and selling the tours before everything was in place. If there was concern even a few months ago that the tours may not be fully staffed, and that having less staff would undermine guest services and the success of the tours, the number of people allowed on the tours should have been limited, and a wait list started. No fully paid guest should be asked to give up their seat at this late date. HAL sold land tours, and is now subtracting from the offered product. Maybe it would have been better to start with limited availability, and then increase capacity later, if possible. The change in onboard COVID testing is similar. HAL offered pre-disembarkation testing for the convenience of their guests, which added value to the Vancouver sailings. Then HAL rescinded the offer (subtracted it) and left fully paid customers to make their own arrangements. Looking back, maybe it would have been better to not offer the onboard testing at all, and then if it became possible, add it. That would have made guests very happy, and HAL would be a hero for relieving the disembarkation testing burden on their guests. JMHO.

if that's the case, HAL should have put a limit on the amount of people they were willing to take when they marketed the tour. When they reach that number, the waitlist is started. To ask a fully paid guest at the last minute to change travel plans because of an abrupt change in available space, and then set the price for the inconvenience, is poor customer relations.

What does "move lags COVID requirements" mean ?

Halsey's Typhoon by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. "The True Story of a Fighting Admiral, and Epic Storm, and an Untold Rescue"

On the Zuiderdam April 3-13, 2022 cruise, we had: - Turn down service - as requested. I feel I'm paying HAL enough money that they can provide me with first class service. - Bar nuts: in Pinnacle Grill Bar (we didn't go to any other bar pre-dinner) What I hope HAL brings back, or starts: The MDR as a special place to gather and meet new people over a nice dinner, and have conversations. In other words, put down your phone and talk to one another. Encourage people to come to the MDR for special nights that they will share and remember. French wine night, Spanish tapas night, Champagne night, Officer at Your Table night. "Savor the Journey". Right, HAL ?