FlaMariner

I believe that is there because the Carnival Board of Directors must annually approve the Shareholder Benefit. The expiration date has always been there but it is more a formality. Fingers remain crossed that it will be approved for another year. It is a great benefit. Turns the dividend yield into one of our highest performing yields......but not going to talk about the stock price.

Got the email from HAL this morning (2/28) that our 3/24 South America cruise no longer requires any Covid drama/requirements/protocols/hassles. (VERIFLY deleted!)

I'd base my "back onboard" time on what they tell me and post in the program and at the pier.....usually 30 minutes before sail time and enjoy the port.

So we deal with one person at the big internet TA and I've told her that we are very interested and to please send them....And she did! Hope that continues. It's a first. I did not ask about Neptunes but when I do a "dummy" reservation they are saying Sold Out. Not sure how real that is. I will be "dialing for dollars/upsells" again once we get closer.

Reporting an upsell offer...... sailing 3/24 Oosterdam South America 17 night booked VF balcony got email upsell offer yesterday (2/27 at t-minus 26 days), from big internet TA (yahoo, I've got them to send them now) move from VF balcony to Signature Suite SS to SZ for $749pp. No Neptune offer. Not interested.

Are you boarding the Oosterdam 3/10 in BA? If so, good news for you also, your roll call is reporting you got the email today that you are also free of Verifly!!!!! Verify that and then delete Verifly and enjoy the cruise!

FWIW, we were on the Sky Princess TA in March 2022. The internet was non-existent....from what other pax kept saying. No first hand experience. It was quite traumatic for many. Princess refunded everyone's internet charges. My advice would be to prepare for the worst (no internet) and if it works, all the better.

Others will chime in more on the specifics on phone/internet/calling/roaming/surfing etc, I am just going to suggest that you need to set a low expectation at work that you "may not" be able to stay in contact 24/7. And use that as you may also want to relax and enjoy the journey....if so inclined. I base this on the many passengers I have heard complain and become very frustrated because they were unable to call/surf/email/etc while cruising. "Ship" happens so best to set the low expectation and then if things are just crystal clear fast and fine you are still good. Enjoy the cruise.......

So all I can pass along is my past experience....... We've cruised out of Fort Lauderdale and Rotterdam since the unpleasantness and we never paid any attention to our boarding times (always 1pm or later) and showed up around 10am (perhaps 9:30am sometime) and we were always welcomed to check in and board (once boarding began at 11:30am) and did not have to wait at the curb/outside/in a line, etc. ...And welcome aboard Holland America Line...have a great cruise.

Just had the pleasure of deleting VERIFLY this morning..... ....got an email from HAL and our 3/24 South America cruise now no longer requires any Covid drama/requirements!!!!! Free at last!

...and the good news is things are getting much more sane out there.....Just got an email from HAL today and for our 3/24 South America cruise, the requirements for vaccine and testing were dropped!!!!!!! Yahoo.

We are fine with the surcharge free coffee and OJ. And Her Majesty enjoys the surcharge free tomato juice also.

On our Nieuw Statendam 2 weeks in November, it was visible (in the front) and the sauce was next to it. I have been on HAL ships where it is a hidden secret and was on the back counter. Perhaps the positioning of the bread pudding is based on ship class! Enjoy!

I've cruised 3x on HAL since the unpleasantness and the lido buffet seems just like it always has been....Lots to choose, many items freshly prepared. Same variety as far as I have noticed. (This is based on breakfast/lunch. We've never/rarely frequented the lido buffet for dinner)

Same. Got "anytime" once and we quickly turned it in to "fixed" as they let us have the same table/same waiters anyway.....but we did have to visit the podium every evening. That would be a deal killer for us also.......I could not handle sitting with the same fellow passengers (or even new passengers in anytime dining) every night. That was fun back in the day but not anymore. My version of "fixed dining" is a table for Her Majesty and I only or family or friends based on how we are cruising...at the same time, at the same table, with the same waitstaff every evening. Love it! (Also, when we go to the MDR for breakfast or lunch, we request our own table just like in a shore side restaurant)

the salad bar...where you point at the zillion of choices to add and the crew member makes it come to mind. Also, the bread pudding is out at lunch.... Her Majesty enjoys the stir fry...pick your noodles and what to include.... fish n chips are good eggs Benedict are my day 1 stop..... It's all good and we enjoy it because the crew serves you and there are a variety of "stations" to choose..... never got bored and thus far our longest cruise is 14 days.

LOL Just like when kids and we would go trick or treating in the other neighborhood because they gave out better candy (was more fun).

depends on where you are heading and for how long...... I'd suggest you check the HAL site (w/the specific cruise) to avoid any unpleasant surprises at the pier...... https://book2.hollandamerica.com/protocols/

Exactly. For us, it is the most efficient and fun way to enjoy dinner.....I realize YMMV but for us, fixed dinner seating is one of the highlights of the cruise for us....... no waiting ever (just go to your table and start reading the delicious menu) no worry if "they are backed up" and we need to be paged/wait whatever when we arrive waiters get to know us for ease of setting up the table (Iced tea is waiting, wife orders last because she cannot decide, extra salad dressing, decaf coffee w/dessert etc, etc) wine bottle from yesterday is already waiting fun times with "our" waiters

We've taken tri rail to the Fort Lauderdale Dania/FLL airport station and then the free bus to the FLL airport and then Uber to the ship. Very easy but think you are better just grabbing an uber at the tri-rail Dania/FLL airport station to Port Everglades. Not far. Right by the airport. We are looking forward to Brightline trains from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale later this summer.....We will be able to avoid the high price in season hotel rates in South Florida and take the train from Orlando the morning of embarkation....and the morning of debarkation back to Orlando. Here is Brightline...https://www.gobrightline.com

We first see our assigned table number when we get our key card onboard.

We were just asked. November 2022. Nieuw Statendam. Port Everglades.

This is what I see from the TA site when viewing a cruise that stops in GT Covid-19 Requirements: There are no vaccine or testing requirements for this sailing. Perhaps this means you can board the ship but cannot get off the ship in GT? We were there in November and there was nobody from GT checking anything when we got off the ship and headed up the beach to Jack's Shack.......They were glad to see us.

We always have early fixed sitting, table for two. One of our embarkation afternoon rituals is going to the MDR to find our table. When it is time for dinner on embarkation evening, we skip the long line and go directly to our table. The waiters are waiting for us and off we go....... Is that appropriate? Or should we wait to be checked in and shown our table? (I think the folks in the line are lined up because they do not know where their table is located and need a crew member to escort them to their table....and on day 2, everybody goes directly to their table...so why not on day 1?)

So you are going to use Verifly if the cruise does not require any Covid documentation? I do not understand the purpose of Verifly if Covid documentation is not required. Could someone enlighten me as to what I am not understanding?