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Posts posted by CNSJ
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Since you are using the gift cards for gratuities and other OBC expenses, you can add them to your account yourself as long as it's a week or so before you sail. Just logon to HAL website, select 'my account', 'my bookings,' 'extras', and then "On Board Credit.' Buy OBC in any amount in increments of $5, $25, $50, or $100. You would buy eight $100. Then checkout using your gift card to pay. You can see your OBC purchase just like other pre-cruise purchases.
If you cancel cruise, they refund back to your gift cards.
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Are you roundtrip Vancouver? If so, it really doesn't matter. HAL tries to get the wildlife to show up on both sides of the ship (contracts vary).
If you are Northbound or Southbound, then, it matters a bit more.
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Great photos! Love Cadiz! Love Spain.
We enjoy Spanish, Greek and Croatian ports the most in the Med. Lisbon is outside the Med, but we love it as well!
Just have not had as good a time in the Italian and French ports. To each their own I guess.
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2 hours ago, Ready2go11 said:
Agree 100%!. The Captain is personable, fun, informative and clearly loves his job and loves being on the sea. We love listening to his noon and other reports.
Is there a way to know which Captains are on which ships? When picking cruise A or B, that might be the deal breaker!
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We had great service and enjoyed the ACT Bug Bus Anchorage to the ship. They picked dup at the Captain Cook Hotel and dropped us off at the ship. Easy!
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11 hours ago, Ready2go11 said:
Captain Wouter van Hoogdalem
We said with Captain van Hoogdalem transpacific in the Fall of 2022. (In our opinion) He was by far the best of more than a dozen HAL Captains we have sailed with. He handled the tail end of COVID like a master, and was the most open and candid we could hope for. We often found him enjoying meals in the Lido and seemed to love his job!
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6 hours ago, Ileneilene123 said:
How do you purchase the AARP gift cards? Is there a direct link? Thanks.
You need to (1) Join AARP - Its cheap. (2) Log into ARRP website. (3) Go to AARP Rewards section of their site. (3) Scroll down to the gift card area, select "See all rewards"
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My understanding:
The max onboard spend mariner points for a 28 day cruise is 56, one for each day of cruise (28) and a max onboard spend of 28. If you book a suite (not an upsell) you get double cabin points for 56, but are still limited to one per day for onboard spend.
If you had HIA, you get usually get the max points based on the cost of the packages.
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On 3/31/2024 at 7:01 PM, foodsvcmgr said:
1978 Italian Line “Leonardo da Vinci”.
I believe I did the same cruise Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas. About the same time, the SS Emerald Seas again to Nassau. I was 15, and they rented me a Honda motor scooter.
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There is something to be said for having some cash USD$ and widely accepted credit cards whenever you go ashore. Depending on the port, I also take my passport.
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Reading the stories today about the NCL Passengers who missed last tender at an African port visit.
It seems they had to chase the ship to catch up. Sometime I book HAL tours when the ramifications of missing the boat are extreme. Having to get from Zeebruge to Rotterdam, or Crete to Santorini is easy.....but remote parts of Africa.....I'll take the HAL Guarantee.
From the Guardian:
In a statement, a spokesperson (from NCL) said: “On the afternoon of March 27, 2024, while the ship was in São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation, eight guests who were on the island on a private tour not organized through us missed the last tender back to the vessel, therefore not meeting the all aboard time of 3pm local time. While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom, in the daily print communication and posted just before exiting the vessel.
“When the guests did not return to the vessel at the all aboard time, their passports were delivered to the local port agents to retrieve when they returned to the port, as per the regular protocol. Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed for the guests to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call. Given that these guests were on a private tour and did not return to the ship at the communicated all aboard time, they are responsible for any necessary travel arrangements to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call, per our protocol.
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Recently had to cancel a cruise where cruise fare payments were made with gift cards. Her sure to keep the gift cards (e-gift card emails) - as you will need the gift card numbers and PINs to reuse them.
Saving 10% is a very nice deal. Plus you can earn (with some credit cards) another 1-2% in cc points. Be savvy, cruise more.
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I look forward to trying the King Crab of the Southern Hemisphere!
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It is my understanding that the small amount of King Crab available is from Russia. Enough said.
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Thank you for all you do and help with Cruise Critic.
Enjoy your cruise and an early Bon Voyage to you!
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Thank You BermudaBound2014 for a simply wonderful live blog. Truly appreciate the detail and opinions. Helps all of us cruise smarter. Look forward to a similar itinerary in 2026.
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As with most cost-based travel decisions, "Is a suite worth it" depends on what you could do with the cost difference between a Verandah (or in this case a Vista Suite) and a Signature or Neptune Suite. Sure, an upsell is nice and is usually a bargain, but even then.... it depends on your financial situation.
For some folks, thousands of extra dollars for business class airfare and a Neptune suite mean much less cruising. Then again of you only get two weeks vacation a year, and want to have a great time, maybe its worth spending the money....
No clear cut answer unless you are wealthy and cost is no object. In those cases....why not a Pinnacle Suite?
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Very familiar with San Diego from my time in Navy and afterwards.....1 am, solo woman.....you should take a taxi. Since it's Amtrak, you'll be late....at 3 am, still need a taxi or Uber.
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Very short walk on flat sidewalks. Area is safe.
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3 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:
Dutch Tea on Zaandam
I am not sure what Dutch tea is. Isn't most tea imported from Asia?
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2 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:
In the meantime I’m lounging at an empty pool enjoying a cool breeze and margarita
Perhaps the most rational post ever on CruiseCritic.
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Yes, they have been serving Espresso and Cappuccino (and of course derivatives of each) in the mornings! There can be a line at the Grand Dutch Cafe and/or Crows Nest Explorations Cafe.....
Great coffee is one key to good cruise!
Best Coffee on ship in my opinion is Lunch/Dinner Coffee at Pinnacle Grill.
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Talk to your fellow travelers (face to face on ship) about who they use. Unlike the "old days" your TA doesn't need to be geographically nearby you (but keep in mind timezone differences). Just the same country in most cases. If you are referred to them by someone, mention that person's name. TAs live on repeat business.
Try a TA, if you don't like their service, switch. Easy.
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Drcody - Welcome to Cruise Critic, you should post and find others who have similar tour ideas in the Roll Call for your cruise. Look under Roll Calls - Holland America Line - Oosterdam - April.
Enjoy your Transatlantic Cruise,
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AARP Gift Cards
in Holland America Line
Posted
Yes. This is what I am talking about. You can use the AARP purchased HAL Gift Cards on HALs website to buy/pay for just about anything, cruises, specialty dining, internet access, spa time, and just plain old OBC. No need to wait until on ship or go through your TA, unless you are paying for cruise fare.