Woofbite

My big box TA checked three promotions and all were higher in price than value of extras but he called

HAL to double check and came back with free gratuities for a single balcony VE 22 days in December 2020.

All other OBCs and fare remain unchanged.

19 hours ago, Woofbite said:

Where did you see that offer?  When I look at the website I can't find it and if I start a dummy booking it never appears.

 

I found it this morning.  Offers say they apply to stateroom based on double occupancy.  Do they apply to a single? Seems they should so I'll call later to find out.

Where did you see that offer?  When I look at the website I can't find it and if I start a dummy booking it never appears.

17 hours ago, Woofbite said:

My real time example:

I recently booked a $13,600 future cruise on board HAL and received a $300 deposit and $300 onboard credit for a single.

Returned home and emailed my usual big online TA and they offered an additional $150 on board credit for switching. 

A local TA offered to add $600 OBC plus free wi-fi. 

Friends told me about their deal with a big box store and I discovered for my booking they would add $1165 on board plus the normal store 2% refund and 3% credit card rebate,  That was simply too big to pass up. 

(I also promptly bought a hundred shares of Carnival stock, figuring that $250 cruise price reduction and 4% yield exceeds what my savings account generates.)

I should have mentioned I had to spend $120 to join big box store at the Executive level to get the 2% back on all purchases, including travel.

My real time example:

I recently booked a $13,600 future cruise on board HAL and received a $300 deposit and $300 onboard credit for a single.

Returned home and emailed my usual big online TA and they offered an additional $150 on board credit for switching. 

A local TA offered to add $600 OBC plus free wi-fi. 

Friends told me about their deal with a big box store and I discovered for my booking they would add $1165 on board plus the normal store 2% refund and 3% credit card rebate,  That was simply too big to pass up. 

(I also promptly bought a hundred shares of Carnival stock, figuring that $250 cruise price reduction and 4% yield exceeds what my savings account generates.)

Powdered booze?  What a great idea.  Has anybody tried this stuff:  https://palcohol.com/

Might even pass ship security but probably costs more than shipboard drinks.

I pre-ordered a bottle of Vodka on our recent Alaska cruise on the Amsterdam with the expectation it would be waiting in the cabin upon embarkation for a departure

with friends.

It wasn't.  When I checked with the front desk, (room service phones were busied out), they said orders were usually delivered about half way through the

cruise.  Does this make sense to anybody?  Is that standard on their other ships? 

A couple of days ago, it priced a single cabin for me at $900 more than the same cabin for two people!

I elected not to book.

The only problem is the thing is already so popular the wait for food exceeds my ability to stand and there is no where to sit while you wait to be called.  Wish they could expand it somehow in addition to offering more food options which will increase demand even more.

On 8/7/2019 at 7:39 AM, christinand said:

Thanks, are there any solo diners who have thoughts on which is a better option?

I'm single but usually travel with a couple.  Since I have a pretty severe hearing loss, Early Dining is a frustrating experience due to the noise as I sit and nod and try to smile when appropriate while not hearing a thing anyone has said for 20 minutes.  Gets a little embarrassing when someone asks me a question three times and I simply sit there and look at them like an idiot!

We always go to Anytime Dining and ask to reserve a specific table for a particular time for the entire cruise.  Works perfect for us.  If we will be late or decide to go to the Pinnacle or eat on shore, we simply let them know as soon as we can.  I would do the same if traveling alone without hesitation.

Google Fi is the best I've found. 

Plan starts at $20/month for unlimited calls and texts. Data is  $10/GB until 6 GB. After that data is free for the rest of the month. Service costs the same in 200 countries.  The phones switch seamlessly between 2 million Google hot spots and T-Mobile, Sprint, and USCC phone networks. I've had good luck most places I've been.  Here's the coverage. https://fi.google.com/about/international-rates/

The downside is that the system works with any unlocked phone but best with the specific ones Google sells.

Anybody know what exactly one tours on the Zaandam?

Most ships offer kitchen tours (free). Some ships offer bridge, engine room, and other out of bound areas at a cost ($150).

Relax. I wasn't talking about you personally. I was talking about me and people like me.

If the shoe doesn't fit, don't try to wear it.

Who are you calling old and decrepit? You can’t possibly be referring to me even though you reposted my comment. [emoji848]

 

 

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That has to be the Westerdam - probably the ugliest ship we've been on. Queen Mary 2 one of the most impressive but unfortunately nothing else lived up to the grandeur of the ship.

Other than some really fugly furniture on some HAL ships, I always thought the majority of the decor was nice. Yes, it's dark but it was typically maritime colors....like dark blues and woods, with paintings of old ships in the stairwells. Here are some contrasting pictures, starting with the furniture I'm speaking of and followed by the route they took with Koningsdam:

 

 

 

You don't it because you're old and decrepit but don't want to admit it yet.:):)

They will make accommodations if you can’t stand. All you need to do is ask. I’ve seen a crew member bring a chair on deck for a woman who couldn’t stand. And they’ve let my mother use the elevator because she can’t do the stairs. So all you have to do is ask and you will be accommodated. [emoji848]

 

 

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Hey, when you get old an decrepit maybe you will realize how difficult it can be to stand and stand and stand. It is really hard to concentrate or care about what anybody is saying when all you can think of is, "Lord help me get through this before I have to sit down right here on deck"!

Really??? If the 25 minute process for the muster drill is enough for you to choose a different cruise line, by all means, feel free to choose other than HAL. I can’t believe the “first world” problems people think are important enough to complain about! Get real people! Heaven forbid 25 minutes of your expensive vacation was “wasted” standing outside on the deck of a cruise ship!

 

 

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Are they allowed to flame dishes such as Crepes Suzettes thse days?

We did the SDM on the Konigsdam and thought it was okay.

 

We did the SDM pop up on the Eurodam and it was nothing to write home about ..... In fact, the Crepes Suzettes were as thick as pancakes. Complete fail. Won't go again.

I'm betting it will only be a couple of years before nothing is included in the fare except a cabin. Similar to airlines.

All restaurants will offer a menu with everything priced as on land, theater seats will be reserved at different rates depending on seats, movies available at a fee, etc. Just my guess.

I still think it’s disappointing and wish they left the upcharging to the specialty restaurants. As with most everything, if they see that people will pay this in the MDR for crab legs, it will only be a matter of time before other upcharged items (like a “better” cut of steak) make it onto the MDR menu. [emoji45]

 

 

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