FlaMariner

more reasons why Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale FLORIDA is the best port ever.

42 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

We have found that most ship worker like routine including servers . If they see the same people at the same time at the same table they establish a rapport and routine with you . That's why when we eat in the MDR we choose a fixed time .

Agree.

This is the value proposition for fixed dining.  We love it.  Based on our experience, when we have strayed from fixed dining over the years, we have regretted it......From what I've observed, it is so much more efficient for both the passenger and the dining room staff when in fixed dining.

(Before getting counseled on here, I realize any time dining should work well and you should expect great service no matter the dining experience you choose...just passing along our observation and experience over the years....If it's not fixed dining, we do not want it....FWIW)

I signed up for the state department updates for our April trip....Interesting email received today if you are around in Greece/Athens/Piraeus and want to do something.....Luckily it's not "season" for us cruisers.

The following strikes are scheduled for Wednesday, February 28, 2024 (12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.), unless otherwise noted:

• Taxis will be on a 48-hour strike beginning Tuesday, February 27.
• The National Railway will be on a 24-hour strike.
• The Attica/Peloponnese Suburban Railway will be on a 24-hour strike
• Air Traffic Controllers in all airports throughout Greece will be on a 24-hour strike.
• Port employees/ferries in Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrion (Attica) will be on a 24-hour strike.
• Athens Green Line Train (Line 1) will be on a 24-hour strike.
• Athens Metro (Lines 2 & 3) will be on a 24-hour strike.
• Trams in Athens will be on a 24-hour strike.
• Buses in Athens will operate only from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Trolleys in Athens will operate only from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
• Buses in Thessaloniki will be on a 24-hour strike.

Other organizations may decide to join the 24-hour Panhellenic General Strike for February 28, 2024 without prior warning.  Please monitor www.apergia.gr and local media for last minute strike notifications.

From package #1, this is my go to red....and Her Majesty's go to white....but we enjoy all and are not wine picky people.  

Toro de Piedra Cabernet Sauvignon Chile

Caliterra Chardonnay, Chile

(we've only purchased package #1 and when they were out, HAL substituted a package #2 wine a few times).  

I'm sure they would be glad to sell you a package #3 and let you enjoy bottles from #1 and #2 with no problem.....but I've got no personal experience doing that.

Enjoy the Sommelier Wine Package......we enjoy it. 

6 hours ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

What about people playing games or reading during busy meal times in the Lido? Irritating when you're holding your plate and there's no place to sit down.

While frustrating, that's totally legal/OK in my book.....

They are occupying/using the valuable "real estate".....It's when the valuable "real estate" is left to not be used/occupied/enjoyed by others that a chair hog makes.....

big difference, IMO.

1 hour ago, happywandering said:

i will grant you that asking crew to enforce the rules puts them in a "unfriendly" spot. 

Very true.

Totally un-winnable for the crew......What the crew is thinking......

If I do not get rid of the chair hog stuff, then non-chair hog folks (who want a place to lounge) are upset.

If I do get rid of the chair hog stuff, then chair-hog folks (who are the chair hogs) are upset.

Perhaps this is a job for HAL security......working HAL security has got to be somewhat of a lighter duty than say security on Carnival....  Perhaps they can come around like the meter maids do and document and confiscate chair hogs possessions several times a day......Make it a fun activity....perhaps have security come out with a Sousa march being led by the HAL dancers as they go around with authority to help end the nightmare.......LOL.

I love complex first world problems.

Here is the official definition of a chair hog (Websters (not really)):

Chair Hog:  a person who “reserves” a deck chair in a prime location… and then go off to do something else on the ship

38 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

It's all about the math. 

Agree.  The math has to work out along with what you value......Including benefits we would never buy, want or need makes the package not work for us.

I always take a look at HIA before a cruise but can never make the math work for us.....primarily because most of the items in the HIA package have no value for us.

Specialty Restaurants:  We've "been there, done that" w/the surcharge restaurants and we are perfectly content enjoying the MDR every evening. 

Excursions:  HAL excursions are over priced and too crowded for us.  We prefer small group tours we find independently or (based on the port) plan our own DIY day. 

WiFi:  We have no need for the internet when we are on the ship.

Drinks:  We enjoy that!  But w/our 4*s, we enjoy the Sommelier Wine Packages at 1/2 price...and we have been known to enjoy Happy Hour also. 

I'm glad we have choices....and everyone needs to do their own math/value formula.

For us, HIA would be a waste of $$$$......We don't want to "Have It All" to enjoy our cruise. 

2 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

Earn bonus credits when you pay a published fare for a suite

This above from the HAL website is the disclosure that you do not get "bonus" points for suites purchased as an upgrade as an upgrade is not a "published fare".

5 minutes ago, RuthC said:

Just move their towels (after an appropriate wait for them to return), and if they do return, claim the lounger was clear when you sat down. 

I wish it was this easy @RuthC!!!!!!

....but in reality.....

they put personal stuff so you end up moving their personal stuff (where do you put it?) and then they might yell at you for breaking/stealing their ray bans or expensive suntan lotion.

they also will return and say.....we just went to the bathroom and to get a burger.....we were only gone 5 minutes.

....and their accomplices may be nearby and will vouch for them.....

also, I would not want to lie and tell them it was clear when I sat down down.....I'd have to tell them the truth. 

Sadly, as @3rdGenCunarder referenced, chair hog type people are not very nice....IME and IMO. It's a character flaw....same folks that board the ship and go right to guest services and start yelling......

(this is a fun topic, BTW)

44 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

Taken 8-9 AM on Eurodam last winter. I eat breakfast in the pool area,

Our preferred breakfast dining area is the pool lido deck and we are usually up early in the am....On occasion, we will watch the chair hogs creep up and begin their daily assault of claiming "their space" right by the pool...They bring all manners of "personal stuff" to make their claim.....It is quite funny.....then they go away......

sometimes I happen to notice when going to/fro/by the lido during the day that their "area" is rarely occupied.

It must be some sort of tribal instinct and helps explain the land rushes across the USA western plains when the west was first settled.......I think it is a human trait to "claim space". 

I'd love a shrink to examine these folks and report back to us. 

I'd also love for HAL to make it clear with a timed mark on the chair and then once the timer goes off, the personal items are sent to lost and found.  The real estate is too valuable and in such a great location to not let folks use it.

16 minutes ago, Ksqrd said:

If you are in a suite and get double points, do you also get the spending bonus on top of the double suite points?

 

Yes....

From the HAL website.....

As a member, you’ll earn Cruise Day credits for every day you cruise and for each purchase you make onboard. Earn bonus credits when you pay a published fare for a suite or penthouse and for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases.

Chair hogs are an ingenious sort.....I have no use for them.....A blight on humanity.....The ultimate in selfishness......."My unused seat is mine all day because I can"

@teeejh

Our first HAL cruise was on the Zaandam in 2002 and we've been hooked ever since.  We were in our early 30's.  Our kids were pre-teens and with us and they are now 3 star Mariners in their 30's. On their own now and they prefer HAL. 

We have also sailed on the Koningsdam (and her sister ships).

If all things were equal with date and ports......

.......we'd sail on the Koningsdam.  

Why?

• More venues.....Dutch Cafe, NY PIzza, Lido deck with an upper tier balcony area, movies on deck, larger music walk theaters....much nicer thermal suite spa if you are into that. 
• Opportunity for a balcony stateroom at a reasonable price (major reason for us based on itinerary)
• Still a "small" ship.....a nice "mid sized" ship and not one of those dreadful "condo of the seas" ships on other lines.

Both ships are fantastic.  We would be happy on either one.....Welcome back to Holland America Line and have a great time no matter the ship....as long as it is a 'dam ship.....as our dining room waiter tells us. 

1 minute ago, Boatdrill said:

What's a Sea pass card ?  

I'm thinking it is what we call the keycard.

Mine is kept in my pocket.  Easy access. No hassles. 

2 hours ago, DShock said:

Is there a beach for Suite Guests only?

No.  

You must share the entire beach with us inside cabin steerage folks.......but the good news is that you can easily spread out and enjoy the beach......never crowded......You can also rent a cabana and you can have that to yourselves.....but they even allow us inside cabins folks to rent cabanas.

Enjoy Half Moon Cay....it's paradise on planet Earth. 

Has anyone taken the bus from the port of Giardini-Naxos to/from Taormina?

This is our DIY day and our goal is to enjoy Taormina.....Not in a hurry. 

If so, where do you catch it? Crowded?  Any issues returning to the port/ship?  Any tidbits of intel appreciated.

2 hours ago, Taters said:

We will arrive into Ft. Lauderdale on Volendam on October 19, 2024.  We wanted to spend one night there before flying home and I was stunned to see rates for IHG hotels (Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, etc.) in the $500 per night range.  I did a quick search and found that Taylor Swift is performing at the Hard Rock Arena on October 18th and 19th.  Needless to say we decided to just fly home.

That's an example of "Swiftonomics" (economic lift when Taylor Swift concert comes to town)...........smart move to just get on a plane and head home.

got it solved....

Issue #1. my email ends in .net and that was not acceptable

Issue #2. then my credit card was rejected and there was a note on the screen that "EU requires multi factor authentication, call your bank".....changed to another card and it worked....

Others in our group had the same issues.....beware and you are all now informed!

I could not get to the card entry point.......the error message appeared after submitting personal data and then went to the PAY page and you had to agree to terms and conditions first and then the error message.....

So, tickets are available to purchase thru the Sagrada Familia website for our April visit to Barcelona........After selecting our tickets and entering our info and then proceeding to the payment page, I get a message ERROR TRY AGAIN.   Ugh.

Any intel as to what I may be doing wrong?  

Amtrak has a train in the afternoon from Tampa....that stops in Fort Lauderdale....You'd have to arrive the day before though.

2 hours ago, Globaliser said:

 

That seems like a bargain for business class. On the Singapore Airlines website I can see almost exactly that price for premium economy.

My bad...that's what we booked PREMIUM ECONOMY.   $1,156.80.

We always travel in steerage and this is our first time buying a higher class.....given the long flight.....As far as we are concerned, this is a major upgrade purchase for us.......

18 hours ago, zitsky said:

Does anyone know what average prices are from east coast USA to Singapore in Business class?

Not understanding all these very high prices...and clueless about average prices...but.......I suggest you go to Singapore airlines and look at RDU to SIN...

I just booked ATL to SIN (via JFK) in business class (JFK - SIN) and the ticket is $1,157.  We travel in October.