HappiestWhenCruising

I don't have a lot of time to be online right now so not sure if anyone else already said this.

But I was on a cruise in Nov and bought $500 in casino credit.  You had to get like 50 inc. of $10.  But I got $100 credit on my AMEX statement.  When I was on the cruise, I expected that the $500 would be applied to my ship card to use for gambling.  However, they just handed me $500 in cash to do with whatever I wanted.  You could use that money to buy souveniers on shore, pay off some of your onboard account, or take it back home with you.  I thought this was great.

Thank you, you are the best for taking time to share :)

I am so sorry for your loss Lynn.  It's hard losing your mother.  Please take care of yourself.  

I'd really like a copy of your map and notes for the  3 amigos tour, please. Thank you.

satchfieldj@gmail.com

I had a problem the other day trying to fill out the information for checking in.  I was trying to put in my credit card number to be used while on the cruise and kept getting a message saying it was the wrong number or couldn't process my request at this time, it varied.  I then read some of the comments on here about trying Explorer instead of Google Chrome.  That;s when I realized what my problem was. On Chrome, when I'd start typing in the Credit Card info, it wanted to auto fill in the information.  My computer doesn't do this on Explorer.  The problem was that the prefill default was an expiration date for my card of 03/23

for month and year.  The website wanted 03/2023  That's what was wrong, it wanted a 4 digit year.  What a pain!

3 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

To answer a couple of questions, you can get breakfast in the Lido and eat by the pool or out by the Retreat.  As far as how crowded the pool is, as least as we found, depends on the number of kids are on board.

Thank you for your reply.

Thanks for posting this as we booked a cruise quite a few months ago on the Veendam for November 2019 and then all I was reading was basically bad reviews.  So its good to hear something positive.  If you could, can you answer a few questions I have about this ship:

1.  How was the entertainment

2.  How was the tv stations and movies you could watch.  We have an inside room, so that might make a difference.

3.  Was there a place where you could get your breakfast at the lido and sit outside to eat it on this ship?

4.  Was the pool crowded?  We are going to the Caribbean so that might make a difference too.

Thanks in advance if you get a chance to answer my questions.

1 hour ago, richstowe said:

Another alternative is buying wine after you pass security at your departure airport . It will of course be carry on luggage . That what we just did .Selection was of course limited .

BTW , never worry about asking a question that has already been asked on CC . If this was followed and only original comments were posted , there would only be a handful of new entries on CC each day . 😁

This is the kind of information I was looking for.  So you can buy wine after you get through security and take that on board in your carry on luggage? That would be my best solution if Detroit Metro has a store that sells wine!

Thanks for what you said about asking a duplicate question, too : )

That's why I usually always get beer.  Hard to screw that up or short change you.

I am with some of the folks on here that agree the original poster could in fact have gotten weak drinks.  I was wondering if maybe you show that you have bought the drink packages you might get shortchanged, with the bartenders knowing that you can always get more drinks (up to 15).  Where as the people who are paying for individual drinks don't get shorted, because you aren't getting a deal on the drink price.   Who knows, just a thought.

Thanks for your suggestion. The reason for not making a stop is due to having a husband that would complain about that more than its worth!  I think I may just pack a few small bottles of wine in my checked, I can switch it out into my carryon at the airport when we land.  And just plan to buy drinks on board until we get to our second stop where there is a CVS in port for a larger bottle then.  I know I'll be running the risk of having to drop that bottle off when boarding,maybe they will stop me, maybe they won't.  I was just trying to see if anyone knew of a store within the FLL airport that sold wine that I could buy after we landed, but before we headed via taxi to the port.

Hope this hasn't been asked and answered somewhere already, I've been looking and haven't seen it.  But when leaving out of Port Everglades on a cruise after flying into FLL, what are the options for getting wine that can be brought on my cruise?

I don't want to risk packing 2 bottles in my checked luggage before flying from home.

Boxed wine isn't allowed.

Taking a taxi from the airport to the port with a quick stop at a store isn't an option either.

So, that leaves is there anyplace within the airport that sells wine that I can buy in FLL to bring on board or within walking distance of the pier?  Preferably hoping there is a store within the FLL airport that sells wine.

Thanks for any help in advance.

I suppose its not good either just after the full moon on the way to 3rd quarter moon?

Also, on Holland America we'd be going to Laguna Grande of Fajardo.  It says to wear a bathing suit under your clothes with a towel and insect repellant.  We are going in November 2019.  How bad are the insects and do you have to go into the water.  I was under the impression this was all kayaking and really don't like being in water in the dark.  DO you have to go in the water?  How do you get back into a kayak from the water.  We are in our 60s and I'm beginning to think I need to cancel this excursion.   I've always wanted to do it, but never in PR at night except for this time.  But I don't want to go swimming and I'm no sure about the moon phase or the insects.  Can anyone please respond to this?

$100 credit on my AMEX account

On 2/11/2019 at 12:28 PM, marc_b2001 said:

Also, if you want the Port schedules from all around the world, go to http://ports.cruisett.com/. And for all ship schedules, go to http://ships.cruisett.com/

 

 

Should I be concerned if the cruise I booked in November is going to places that do not match what is shown at cruisett.com?  It shows us going to Cuba, and we aren't going there!  Have you ever seen where this website isn't up to date this far in advance?

On 3/3/2019 at 12:28 AM, SFO PETER said:

Can someone please post the link?  Many thanks.   I don't get the notice but can usually add the promo to my card when I use the link.

By the way you can purchase $500 in Casino Chips as well.    The casino will give you $500 cash when you get on board.

This Cruise Critic website and its members are the best!  I have a gold AMEX card that I do auto pay on, so I barely ever look at the bills.  Thanks to some great people on this thread, I was able to go in using the link provided here, load this on my card, then go to HAL and buy $500 worth of casino credit for our cruise.  I didn't even know offers like this existed, but thanks to you guys, I was able to get it. Like others have said I can take the cash and either deposit it directly into the slot machines I play, or keep some of it for souvenier shopping and I am saving $100!

My name is HappiestWhenCrusing, but I'm even happier when I'm saving money!!!$$$  Thanks again everyone!

1 hour ago, CrusinAgain said:

Did your offer you just got yesterday come by mail or email because I always get them as well.  Hoping mine is in the mail.

I got a letter in the mail.

I just got one of these letters yesterday and booked a cruise in November.  So that's not last minute.  We are going with a guarantee inside room.  I kept thinking of upgrading to a suite for 499 each, but I figured I rather use some of that money in the casino so that I can keep getting these offers.  Ive gotten quite a few over the years and wouldnt consider myself to be a big gambler either.  Not everyone makes these lists,but I'm just happy to be on it!  Hope I can stay there.

Holland America is the only line Ive been on that offers these deals.  Others will give you a reduced fare for casino players, but never free.  So for all of you that have taken advantage of these deals, I say good for you. Its the best deal going out there that I've come across!

Was this announcement over the loud speakers? I wonder if it these passengers forgot to show up to the screening and they were searching for them. That would be embarrassing. Did you see them later on the trip?

They only announced the names of those passengers that they were still waiting for in Passenger Services. I assumed people that needed to come down were given a letter previously instructing them where and when to come to. Those called, yes over the loud speaker heard in the hallways, were probably those that had not shown up. It was the last night of the cruise, so I really didn't look for the people I seen being escorted by the security people to see what eventually happened to them. Guess I was just relieved I wasn't one of them!

For the person who is looking for a way to get from the Seattle airport to the Pier, that Seattle Yellow Limo company was a great way to go. Yonas from that company kept in touch with me as soon as we landed and picked us up in a Suburban large enough to hold our luggage and us four adults. He provided us with water in the car and took us directly to pier 91 for $60 each way. The day we were going back home, again he was in touch with me via text and arrived in a timely manner and got us back to the airport. You probably could have easily fit one or two more people in his car.

I think they are kind of a new company, they do an excellent and it was much less expensive then if we have taken the ships transfers.

Glad I could help. I have found so many great tips on this site I just wanted to put one of my own on that I just discovered. Coming and going from the airport to the pier is always a stressful time dealing with my complaining husband so this past trip was exceptionally peaceful! I make all the arrangements and my husband does all the complaining when things don't go exactly smoothly!:)

I'm sorry, don't post very often. How can I delete this?

Just wanted to let anyone who is looking for a way to get from the Seattle airport to the Pier, that Seattle Yellow Limo company was a great way to go. Yonas from that company kept in touch with me as soon as we landed and picked us up in a Suburban large enough to hold our luggage and us four adults. He provided us with water in the car and took us directly to pier 91 for $60 each way. The day we were going back home, again he was in touch with me via text and arrived in a timely manner and got us back to the airport. You probably could have easily fit one or two more people in his car.

I think they are kind of a new company, they do an excellent and it was much less expensive then if we have taken the ships transfers.

You can read my post where I had a DUI 6 years ago and was worried about having to stay on the ship in Victoria. Nothing happened and I was able to go off and on just showing my cruise card. If it was more recent, its hard to say what could happen.

I just got back last week from a round trip cruise to Alaska leaving out of Seattle. Because of the posts I had been reading on this website and the fact that I had a DUI 6 years ago, I cancelled my whale watching excursion with my family in Victoria. I didn't want to find out last minute that I wasn't allowed off the ship and lose out on the excursion expense, too.

So I kept checking my mailbox the day before and day of our arrival to Victoria, waiting for the letter telling me I needed to appear for special screening once in Canada. I received nothing.

The evening we arrived in Victoria, an announcement was made for about 5 people to show up for that special screening. All names sounded like people of Mexican decent. I opened my door to hear the message better from the hall and saw a security agent escorting a Spanish looking woman.

So no restrictions for me. I was able to get off and on the ship just showing my room card. Since my family had left to go whale watching, I just walked off and did a little shopping at the store right at the peer. Picked up some candy and other souveniers. Then headed back to a ship that was pretty empty and quiet.

Not sure if this will happen to all of you out there, but I felt that I needed to alert you to what happened to me. This may relieve some of the fears others may have. I was kind of mad that I had cancelled my excursions based on what others had written on this post. But overall I saved $125 as my family who went to see orcas on the excursion only got to see one humpback and then they took them to see sea lions, which we had already seen a lot of in Alaska.

Bottom line is it seemed that they were more interested in people that maybe weren't proper citizens. There may have been some with more recent DUIs that were summoned via a letter. But just letting everyone know that apparently 6 years was long enough to be overlooked.

Hope this helped someone.

Hi, I appreciate your review of Bernard's tours as I will be using them at the beginning of March. I was curious to know whether you heard anything back from them as to what they were doing about your experience. I should think that letting you know they either like fired him, gave him a warning, or anything, would be great for future business for their company. Now that you've posted this, of course I will be leary if we get Simon as our driver. I guess it would be easy to just change the guys name in case the word is out on him. But if something like that happens when we go out with whatever driver, I will be sure to let them know that I am a member of Cruise Critic and will be sure to let other cruisers know of my experience.

Again, thanks for the heads up on your driver. I am sorry that you had to have a harrowing trip back to the ship because of him. And I'm sorry, having to take pictures as you "drive by"or missing stops because he is in a bad mood is totally unacceptable. I hope you had a great time on your cruise. Its so cold here I can't wait to get outta here....even for just a week!