sailingskyward

On the Royal as I type, and I watched crew members replacing mattresses on E-deck this morning. Deck 8. 

Early this morning, someone posted a screenshot onto the Holland America fb page of a news story which has apparently gone viral in the Philippines about an individual who got into a disagreement with her mother and allegedly took off her flip flop and slapped the mother. The incident occurred while the individual was at home with their parents. 

So some random member of the public attempted to shame Holland America for employing someone who would slap their own mother. Keep in mind, this did not happen onboard a Holland America ship. Nor did it happen when the employee was working. It occurred in their hometown back in the Philippines. 

So Holland America deleted the post and commented that the matter would be sent to Holland America Human Resources and that they do not comment on individual cases. Frankly, I wish Holland America had posted that what happened between two family members when the concerned employee was not working has nothing to do with Holland America. 

What next? Someone is going to demand Holland America fire an employee because they cheated on their boyfriend? 

I was on the ship on Vancouver to San Diego portion, felt the ship tilt sharply near San Diego but nothing too severe. 

Heard Captain Scott announce the itinerary change on the PA, and I'm sure many people were miffed by the change. However, it is in everyone's best interests to avoid a hurricane. I did wonder if HAL gave anyone the option to reschedule. Frankly, the contract of carriage states clearly that ports and itinerary can be changed at any time without compensation. 

Then, before disembarkation I heard the overhead announcement of a surprise CDC inspection.... what a morning for the Eurodam!

This is an annoying and predictable issue, in my view. Cruise ships schedule ports months and years in advance, yet on multiple NCL bookings I've had, they offer 2 full days in Havana (for example, arriving at 8am and departing the following day afternoon) but after final payment NCL sends a message "due to unforeseen circumstances we must adjust the schedule." Now those two full days in Havana becomes a Noon arrival and 6am departure the next morning.

So what they're saying is that on multiple occasions, they planned two full days in Havana and then right after final payment they need to reduce the time in Havana? Seems awfully coincidental... and very strange the port time isn't lengthened... always reduced.

Booked on Day 1 for the Dec 6th cruise, and somehow got a Single Balcony cabin for $1100 with a $300 onboard credit. And then randomly another $150 "Goodwill Shipboard Credit" was placed on the booking. So now I guess there is $450 to spend onboard during a 3-night cruise to Nassau.

At this moment I don't think I'll actually go, and need to make a decision before Final Payment. Am I being absurd for cancelling this cruise?

I got a missed call from HAL today, and then immediately afterwards an email saying Checkin will begin at 1:00PM on my upcoming cruise departing Vancouver. However, the email was written as "Checkin for your cruise no earlier than 1:00PM in San Diego" which is so confusing because we don't board in San Diego.

Still not showing on Amex Blue Sky card. Hmm...

A buddy who has Amex Plat shows the 15,000 MR point bonus offer on $750+ spend.

So have we established if Platinums are getting the 15k MR point bonus, and other (lesser) Amex cards are getting the $150 off offer?

I’m glad to have a discount on a cruise, but I wish they had kept either the original “Get $250 off a booking of $750+” from a couple years ago, or even the more recent “Get $100 off a booking of $500+”

Still thankful for this promo!

We experienced the same issue onboard the Eurodam in Alaska this summer. I spoke with a member of crew who said it was due to cavitation (air bubbles being generated off the propellers) and was not something they could fix. Essentially, once the propeller has been installed, the remedies are fairly limited. The vibration was especially noticeable in the main dining room. It was enough vibration that I chose to dine in other venues (including the buffet) instead of sit at a vibrating table in the MDR.

To the OP - Decorate your door and have a great time on your well-earned cruise vacation! Don't listen to anybody who tells you otherwise. You paid for the cruise and I think the door decor looks great most of the time!

After hearing multiple people say they enjoyed MSC YC, I called them to ask some questions and make a booking. I waited 26 minutes on hold before hanging up. When companies have such long hold times for prospective customers, it feels like they take customers for granted.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather stick with HAL than wait half an hour or more each time I need to call MSC.

I sail solo a lot. When I pay for 2 passengers, why doesn't the cruise line give me double points? Seems fair to me.

Princess gives solo passengers double points. You can reach Elite on Princess (top tier of their loyalty program, free wifi and laundry) after only 8 cruises. However, they aren't quite as nice as HAL either in service or food.... just my opinion.

I've always paid 160% as a single in an Oceanview on HAL, up until the prices start to drop after final payment due date. At which point, the solo pricing typically goes to 200% but usually at a cheaper per person rate. From late 2017, I'm paying 175% as a single in an Oceanview on HAL, with many cruises actually 200% which until that change, had only been applicable to solos in Veranda staterooms and Suites.

I can feel HAL trying to encourage singles to book elsewhere, even if they don't say it. Just look at their "solo staterooms" on Koningsdam - they cost more than a solo booking a normal Oceanview! How does that make any sense to the buyer?

Does the pricing seem a bit high to y'all? I can't imagine they'll fill the ship at these prices.

Funny to see this thread, as about 3 hours ago onboard the ship someone commented how wonderful the bath/shower gel smelled, and I agreed!

This is the challenge with scented products I suppose, there’s never gonna be one which pleases everyone.

I’m onboard the Zaandam right now, and the Crow’s Nest is still lovely. All new seating surfaces and no EXC nonsense. Thank goodness HAL kept her Crow’s Nest the same.

Currently onboard Zaandam and she looks beautiful. Though, I can’t seem to find the launderette on deck 3

If it were a Neptune, then maybe. But I'd say no for a Signature Suite. Was this the first round of upsell offers? Or have you received previous offers?

The ship with the $55 port charges may have a long term contract with a specific port and receive a favorable rate. The ship with the much higher fee may not have the same arrangement. St. Maarten is a good example. Multiple cruise lines invested many millions of $$$ towards the construction of the dual piers to accommodate their larger ships, and also the terminal. They invested again to rebuild the terminals after hurricane Irma. I'm sure that Carnival and RCI didn't make those huge investments in a foreign port's infrastructure just to be nice guys. They received a very favorable rate for pilot services, stevedore services, supplies, immigration fees, etc. Other cruise lines who have not made such generous investments will pay the regular port charge rate that is considerably higher. Airlines have the same arrangements for the landing fees at airports where they make big investments in the terminals.

Thank you TAD2005 for this information. This is a very good point.

First, the court decision in a class action suit was not to have the cruise lines disclose port taxes and fees, as these were always broken out from the fare (in order to lower the fare), but to limit what the cruise line could include in the taxes and fees (they were putting operating costs like garbage and water into the fees, again to keep the advertised fare lower). Now, the definition of what is included in "port taxes and fees" is pretty tightly regulated.

 

Even two ships of the same size, with the same passenger capacity, calling at the same ports can have different port taxes and fees. Many times a ship contracts with a port for a guaranteed berth so many times a year, and this contract can run for several years. Now, the next cruise line comes along a year later, and wants some guaranteed berths, and the port sees that they are in demand, and charge this line a higher port fee than the first line. It's all about supply and demand. And a ship or line that only makes occasional calls at a port will pay a higher port fee than an identical ship that calls there regularly.

Thank you for this, chengkp75. Your explanation sounds far more plausible than when I wrote to HAL about it.

If there are two ships on two different lines, both with roughly same number of passengers, traveling the same route, but one has "Taxes & Port Fees" of $55, while the other has "Taxes & Port Fees" of $161, I genuinely question how truthful the lines are being about the fees.

While I'm sure many will jump to defend their beloved cruise line, I've not seen any researched analysis of what could possibly cause such a wide disparity in "Taxes & Port Fees" if, as we are being told, the fees are going straight to the port & government.

Without question, my preferred ships are the Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam. Love the wraparound promenade without stairs.

Are people getting the casino offers as a result of hitting a certain gambling threshold? Is there any data on how much of a high roller one must be to qualify for such offers?

Is there a central thread where we can post our upsell offers? I think that would be very useful to gauge the value of an upsell deal. As well, posting whether it was the first upsell offer, or second, or third...

Yes, Marabella was the previous jewelry shop onboard HAL ships. I can't recall ever seeing any passengers in there, or even any staff