msmayor

So my husband and I are already booked on Nieuw Statendam for March 2022 in a balcony stateroom on deck 4 with an ENORMOUS balcony - stateroom 4156.  It's an 11-night voyage to a few places we've never been, and will be our first true 'big' vacation since the pandemic.  Our last cruise was in fall 2019, and we're really looking forward to getting back on a ship and relaxing.

Now I'm having second thoughts on a 'new' itinerary as the pandemic continues and the questions of just what cruising will be continue to be posed.  I'm fairly certain I'll need to prove a vaccine, and plan to get it as soon as I can.  But in wondering just what our ability to move freely about on the islands makes me wonder...should I consider a repeat itinerary and just take the time to enjoy the ship and the relaxation?

The Eurodam is doing a partial Panama Canal (which we did on Zuiderdam in 2017) which is one night less than the NS trip we booked, but for just a couple hundred more total I can book a Signature Suite instead of a balcony.  Lots more space to relax away from crowds.  We were on the Eurodam in 2019, have never been on NS.

I'm curious to know what my Cruise Critic friends might do.  My husband doesn't care...he just wants to go away.  He's leaving it in my hands.

Thanks all for your comments.  I did a search on LinkedIn and found her, noticed she is working for a new company so I'm assuming she either got laid off or just opted to switch to a less volatile industry.

I'm considering trying to reach her through LinkedIn, if anything just to say thanks for all the great service.  She really was wonderful for us.

Sent my PCC and email this morning to ask a few questions about changing a 2022 trip around, and got an auto reply that she was no longer with HAL as of Dec 2020...so sad to lose her.  Have worked with her since 2013 and really appreciated all she did for the trips we took.

The auto-reply said to just 'call and ask for the next available representative'.  Is that really how it works?  My booking doesn't auto-transfer to another PCC and he/she gets the email I sent?

I know that getting her originally was essentially the luck of the draw, so maybe that's what has to happen again...

20 hours ago, iamtrustworthy said:

Wow - That HAL Platinum plan is generous. Good for HAL on not burdening their customers with uninsurable or unusable future cruise credits.

The other attractive option that I see as well is the fact that you can add it at final payment and not lose the CFAR provision.  You can elect it sooner, but as soon as elected you pay for it and it is non-refundable.  My PCC already knows I intend to buy it and will add it on when we make final payment in December of this year.

Waiting until final payment to purchase still gives you all the benefits, but if there is a need to cancel the trip before final payment when deposit refunds are still at 100%, you aren't out the cost of the plan.  

52 minutes ago, iamtrustworthy said:

Hi msmayor,

 

Will HAL's top-line cancellation protection plan ever issue you full or partial Cruise Credits should you need to cancel or interrupt your trip? This is common with many travel supplier plans.

 

If so, I suggest you find out from HAL if you are able to insure the value of the full or partial Cruise Credits when you book the second trip. I don't know the exact details of HAL's top-line cancellation protection plan.

 

The reason I'm asking is many times these Cruise Credits are not insurable when you use them for the second trip, so your real risk is if the second trip is cancelled.

 

I hope this made sense.

 

Steve Dasseos

Steve, it's my understanding from my PCC and from reading about HAL's Platinum Plan that up to 90% of the cost of the trip is refunded in cash...not cruise credits.  I'm trying to avoid anything close to a cruise credit as compensation as I'm reading too many horror stories of people who accepted them, and now don't think they will ever travel again.  

I recognize that in the event I need to cancel the true cost of the plan goes up by 10% of the trip price, but I'll accept that loss easier than the full fare.

I was never one who took CFAR.  All I ever wanted was pre-ex covered.  Times have changed...

My husband and I have always purchased third-party insurance for cruises as in our world, the approximate $200-250 investment to protect $5-7k of travel funds has always been worth it.  I always purchased within 14 days of deposit to get the pre-ex condition waiver.

Next cruise we booked is in March 2022, deposited around last September.  I have not purchased any third-party insurance, and likely will not.

Instead, I will buy HAL's top-line cancellation protection which includes CFAR and includes pandemics.  I am willing to pay more now because I'm still not willing to watch $6-7k go down the drain.

We did the 10-night on Zuiderdam almost four years ago, and I'd repeat the itinerary in a heartbeat.  It's still on my bucket list to do a full-transit, but seeing the canal up close and coming through the Gatun locks was a thrill. 

I was up at 5am as we waited to approach, and all over the ship that morning as we entered Gatun Lake.  We stayed on the ship to experience the return trip through the same locks.

I don't recall our time in Aruba with a late arrival as we did an excursion which included a good tour of the island as well as a semi-submersible sub, but that is another port stop I hope to get back to again.  Great island and lots to see.

We were on Westerdam in an aft VB on deck 5 a few years ago...so the balconies are comparable.  Ours had two loungers and a small table, plus two regular chairs.  Almost fully covered (except at the very edge near the railing) allowed us to use the balcony regardless of the weather.  Neither my husband or I are sun worshippers so having the shade made this balcony even more enjoyable.  Here are a few pictures - as I mentioned, this was a few years ago (2015) so it is likely that the deck furniture has been upgraded:

1 hour ago, mamaofami said:

Our travel agent arranges it for us for fixed early dinning and we even pick our table from the map of each ship’s dinning room.

This is exactly what my husband and I do.  My PCC always puts the initial request for a two-top at time of reservation, and when we get closer to sail date she submits our specific table request.  We know that requests are never guaranteed, but we've never been disappointed.

I know that many enjoy companions at dinner but my husband and I treat our cruise dinners as date night.  We're more than happy to share tables at breakfast, but our dinners are special times for us.

Tropicale was my very first cruise in 1985...it was amazing!  Booked with 'Singleworld' where I was guaranteed either a same-sex roommate or a stateroom by myself, avoiding the single supplement.  Ended up with a roommate and we got along just great.

Along with the skeet shooting, I also recall golf-ball driving off the fantail.  They actually removed a section of the railing and you stood on a turf mat and hit balls into the ocean.  

There are quite a few 2022 cruises already up...I booked March 2022 a couple months ago.

We've cruised a couple of lines and have always preferred HAL's Promenade deck for our daily walks.  We always try to get 3-4 miles each morning in.

When we've sailed RCL, the track up top has always served for both walking and jogging.  It's a bit shorter, requiring an extra 'lap' to reach a mile (4) and one must always listen carefully for the joggers coming up from behind OR dodging the deck chairs.

We sail on Nieuw Statendam in March 2022 and while sad the Promenade won't be nice and wide as prior HAL voyages, we'll still try to get our walks in.

Booked on her for March 2022...cannot wait!!

Anytime we head to the airport in Philadelphia or the Broad Street area where the stadiums are, the drive on I-95 takes us past her.  Her old-school stacks stand out in the landscape, despite their aged appearance.

I bet she was gorgeous in her day.

Why not buy the ring from a local jeweler you trust, then give it to her on the cruise?

I had a cruise booked with NCL for the holidays this year, and we cancelled in late July.  I had the deposit back on my credit card within three weeks.

I booked an 11-night on Nieuw Statendam for March 2022 a few weeks ago, but used two already - owned FCC's (at just $100 each) for the deposit.  Have it All promo, so drinks, gratuities, speciality dining, internet credit...plus the on board credit attached to our FCC's.  Oh...and casino rate too, so a really nice deal in and of itself.

Got this email yesterday, and while having another $250 of OBC is nothing to frown at I am not biting.  

The only reason this cruise got booked is that it didn't require any more money out of my pocket than the FCC I bought two years ago.  Unless/until I see that the ships are moving again, with paying passengers, and that things are on the upswing...money stays in my pocket.  Final payment is about a year away, and I'll have a much better idea then where things stand.

Thanks for the offer HAL...but I'll pass.

For me, the OBC is a nice perk attached to the FCD, but it isn't the real reason I buy them.  I buy them for the ease of depositing the next cruise we choose.

It's really nice knowing if I pay $100pp up front, when I'm ready to book all I have to do is call my PCC.  The deposit is already there...no need to sent hundreds more.

Our first cruise since the pandemic will be on her, March 2022.  It will be our first time on this ship and I'm really looking forward to it!

We rolled the dice once with a balcony guarantee on Westerdam and won the lottery with an aft on deck 5...huge balcony!!

I figure I used up all my luck with that and now always choose my stateroom.

Well, my husband and I took first steps and booked a trip in March 2022.  Fully refundable deposit, and not a lot at risk - we used a future cruise certificate purchased back in 2018 for $100 each, so if we end up canceling the future cruise certificate just goes back into our account.   Final payment isn't due until December 2021, so plenty of time to decide.  

50 minutes ago, Crew News said:

 Only the corner staterooms have the lounge chairs.  There are footstools that you can pull our from under the chairs and use them as a table. 

While I realize we were on the ship over 5 years ago, we did have loungers on our balcony - we were dead center deck 5 in a VB:

Certainly possible that things have changed, but these loungers were out there from the start for us

Oh how I've waited for the day when I could post and add my name to the list...FINALLY!!!

Mar 16-27, 2022 Nieuw Statendam Southern Caribbean Wayfarer

This will be our first voyage on this ship, with a few new islands to discover that we've never visited.  Just can't wait to get back to sea!!

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

The OP has the right attitude :).  Treat your steward right and that steward/stewardness might return the favor.  But keep in mind that cruise ships do not necessarily have all kinds of extra furniture in storage so your ability to get something depends on availability and the willingness of your steward.   We also cannot fathom (a great nautical term) what impact COVID will have on special requests.  The cruise lines are going to implement new cleaning protocols which could (I emphasize "could") make it impossible to get extra furniture,  Moving furniture might involve all kinds of cleaning and sanitizing procedures that are so onerous as to make the requests unreasonable.

 

Hank

My husband and I definitely try to keep things simple for our stateroom attendants...they work so hard (as does everyone on the ship) and we're always appreciative of any kindness they are able to extend.

The cruise we're looking at is spring 2022, so really hoping that they have this whole COVID thing figured out.  

Thank you to everyone who responded.  I think we'll still try for that stateroom - just having all that space will feel great and, if anything, give us more airflow with the walls further apart in the warm Caribbean

Strongly considering booking on Nieuw Statendam, stateroom 4154...the balcony is huge, but I've read that only the standard chair/footrest and small table are available.  Has anyone had success requesting loungers and/or a larger table for that space?  I'll happily reward my steward if they can arrange it....