Suncoastsailors

We used Onpoint testing booked one appt. for two of us. We went to the theater which was closed at the time and sat under a wifi box on the ceiling. Others said they went to the spa or gym area. We were on the RCCL Jewel. It worked well for us. Got results to e-mail in minutes.

On 6/30/2022 at 12:07 PM, Jimbo said:

Still waiting for mine, I did not pay the extra $60, they received mine in Philadelphia on June 9th. Which office did you send yours to?

 

The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passport book on 06/09/2022. We're now reviewing your application and supporting documents.

You requested routine service when you applied. Routine service can take 8-11 weeks. Our processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply at a local acceptance facility.

Ours went to Philadelphia also. perhaps just a different desk. Hope you get yours in a timely manner. 

On 6/29/2022 at 4:19 PM, FlorenceItaly said:

What is your email?  I have it, but, this is the one that shows 30-60% off certain sailings.  It is not the other kind of offer for complimentary rooms.

Just curious, were you receiving the $200 private fares and now only getting the 30-60% off fares. My $200 fares stopped about 10 days ago and now I am getting no discounts. 

12 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Have always considered them or rapid trace and test as a backup (same deal, use your own test, $20 there). Don't love that multiple people have said OnPoint asks for your passport and cruise info and that it's nearly impossible to contact them.

 

Glad it went well for you. 👍

12 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Have always considered them or rapid trace and test as a backup (same deal, use your own test, $20 there). Don't love that multiple people have said OnPoint asks for your passport and cruise info and that it's nearly impossible to contact them.

 

Glad it went well for you. 👍

I was able to call Onpoint twice before I did the test and had very short wait time. Don't remember about the passport or cruise information.

1 hour ago, Oceansaway17 said:

well it looks like Walgreens will now be charging for their tests.  $129.

geezzzz

We used ONPoint testing for Virtual Covid testing using your own test kit. They use Zoom format. Worked well on a cruise ship near Amsterdam. They are charging $14.99 pp now for the test. 

We mailed our passports in for renewal June 9th.We paid the extra $60 for expedited service.  They were completed June 24th and we received them June 29th. Just thought others in need of passport renewal might like to know.

We mailed our in passport renewal forms June 9th. We chose to pay the extra $60 for expedited service. They were completed June 24th and we received them back in the mail on June 29th. I though this was very fast service. Maybe now is a good time to get your passport renewal if is is needed.

We mailed our passports in on the 9th and here 2  1/2 weeks later we have our new ones! Was told it would be 8-12 weeks. Did not get our old ones back though and I would have liked to have my stamped pages back.

30 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

What is your email?  I have it, but, this is the one that shows 30-60% off certain sailings.  It is not the other kind of offer for complimentary rooms.

Thank you, it is enough to know that it is only the 30-60% off deal. Guess we will just wait until they begin to show up on the search engine. Maybe we need to take a break from HAL anyway. Thanks again for the reply. 

As stated before we never receive e-mails on Casino deals although we are eligible for those deals. Currently we are eligible for code HEP2230CO2. Does anyone else have this offer and if so could you send me a copy of the list. 

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

I can accept that folks have their own preferences, but the fact remains that HAL spent millions of dollars to build "state of the art" theaters on their ships.   I think we can both agree that if you want to see theater you will not find it on HAL!   When DW and I look for an alternative to spending a few weeks in a quiet public library located next to a quiet hotel/restaurant...HAL comes quickly to mind.

 

Hank

Not expecting theatre. Maybe just a local talent from the current port of call. Maybe a singer or a tribute band or individual. Those dance shows are well done but most of us have seen them multiple times. However I agree if your are looking for a relaxing cruise, HAL is the place. I still enjoy the experience but it could be better with just a little different entertainment.  

On 6/27/2022 at 6:35 AM, MISTER 67 said:

I disagree, no line has Music Walk which now on the newer ship has 4 different venues to listen to music, Lincoln Center, BB Kings, Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Rock Room. All they need to do is utilize the Main showroom a bit more and you can't ask for more.

HAL cruisers aren't looking for rock climbing walls and water slides. 

Dining is fine with the MDR, Tamirind, the Pinnacle Grill and Caneletto plus you have the NY Deli and Pizza and Dive In.

Besides all that, HAL probably still has the best service and cleanest ships among the Mainstream cruise lines.

They need to utilize the Main Showroom a lot more. Stop with the nature movies and talk presentations. Bring on guest entertainers and stop with the repetitive same 3-4 dance shows. They don't need BB King and Rolling Stone on the same ship. The Comedy shows have been good and help with those down times from the Main Showroom. Food and service are excellent. You are correct no need for water slides, rock climbing, wave rider, miniature golf, zip lines, etc. 

On 6/24/2022 at 8:44 AM, thanna said:

 

I get the same problem. Every time I have to call or send an email to my PVP. 

Only once was there not a veranda room available, but they booked me an ocean view till one opened up. 

I believe the problem has to to do with the select fare page not handling the casino offer. If you select a different fare type it comes up fine.

Tried different computers and different browsers and an IPhone, same issue on all.

 

 

All of our Casino discounts are now removed from website. This has happened before only to reappear a few weeks later.  Anyone else have the same thing happen.

On 6/22/2022 at 4:26 PM, NukeTim said:

Has anyone had any experience with disembarkation in Amsterdam and getting a return flight back to US on the same day?  With the recent problems with flights at Schipol airport, we're going in early for our Rotterdam cruise.  On return, we have the HAL transfer to the airport and Flight Ease recommends flights after 11:30am.  Schipol is saying arrive at the airport 4 hours early.  Really in a quandary whether or not to book a return flight on disembarkation day.  Thoughts?

We just got off the Jewels of the Seas June 8th. We got off the ship at 0710 and walking to the train station, took the train to Schipol. Arrived around 0800 for a noon flight. There were almost no lines at security or at the ticket counter. We had several hours to relax at the Airport. Lines at Schipol have been worse on weekends. Taxi cab was available at the port but they wanted $75 Euros to the airport. We enjoyed the walk along the water to the train station. Train drops you off inside the airport. Hope this helps. 

14 hours ago, rodndonna said:

 

Maybe you have a filter set up on your email to delete 'junk' emails  rather than put them in a 'spam' or 'junk' folder. There is also a possibility that it is being removed as junk by email host, although not as likely as that is the more obvious stuff, but you could check with your  support to see if that is a possibility.

 

Handling of spam emails (and what can be perceived as spam) can vary greatly.  

 

edit: one more thing to try .. add the email address to your contact book - that should help avoid being filtered out intentionally

 

hollandamerica@em.hollandamerica.com

 

 

 

Thank you I will try adding this address to our contacts. 

3 hours ago, rodndonna said:

 

I wonder if the the emails are being filtered out on your end as spam or junk mail?

No, although this is the excuse given by HAL. Nothing in the spam folder. Plus I have spoken to several other casino guest who have the same problem.  

1 hour ago, jbecker6469 said:

I didn't get it either.  Haven't received an email offer this year so far, but did book B2B Nov 9th and 20th on Rotterdam for this fall.  The 200.00 inside room price was shown when I was logged in and the ocean view was 200.00 as well when I viewed the itinerary of those listings, as well as others that I wouldn't normally book.  Called the Casino booking group and they said that it showed that I had been emailed with the offer, but never received it.  Booked me anyway.  I emailed Ocean Players Club and they replied confirming I was eligible and also got the free play 100.00 and drinks while playing.  I printed out those emails and will take them with me.  

 

Don't know of anything I can do to get the emails going again.  It's all magic after all!  Just have to be on top of checking the web site.  

 

Sounds like you get the same response as we do from HAL. They claim they sent the e-mail and they have correct address, but it never arrives. Seems like they would be able to correct this but it never gets fixed. You seem to be in the same group as we are with offers and $100 free play. 

On 6/21/2022 at 7:15 PM, Ready2go11 said:

Have you tried sorting the search pages from lowest to highest cost after you get to the list of all cruises?  There is a drop down on the right hand side of the screen where you can sort by different criteria. It defaults to recommended but you can change it to-other things, including price low to high. 
 

Since casino offers show with a price of $200, all those should show up in the first pages. 

I have tried this in the past and just now. Strange that it does not really work for us. Seems the only sure way to tell is to go through all pages of cruises on the search pages. Thanks for the advice anyway, it was worth a try. 

2 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

My DW gets free cabin offers from HAL post Covid.  Most are for free Oceanviews or verandahs.  She has a current one that ends June 30, so I was just checking on the HAL website, doing a pretend booking, and found a great deal that WAS NOT on the original email she received about a month ago.  The email sailings were mostly 7 day cruises to Alaska, New England and Europe until Oct., 2022.  A couple were for longer (10-14 day cruises).

 

In my search today I came across a 21 European cruise (Northern) for July/August for FREE (well, you do have to pay $200 (which you get back in OBC) and of course taxes and fees.  Since it is 30 days away we cannot pull it off, so had to pass on it.

 

My point is - if you get one of these casino offers, do a complete search of all cruises within your timeframe and areas before you decide - some other deals may show up and maybe alot better than the ones the email lists.

At least you get an e-mail. We get casino offers, but never an e-mail. Only find deals by searching through 46 pages of cruises. I save the deals to favorites on the web site so that I can easily go back and find them. It is easy to spot the deals as they are the $200 pp cruises. 

2 hours ago, Lalof said:

I have seen some posts that HAL has indicated they will not be providing tests for passengers disembarking in Vancouver. We disembark on 7/10 and Delta has rescheduled our flight home to the USA to an earlier departure of 1:00pm. Any ideas on where we can get testing in the limited time? We did pay for the HAL transfer from the port to the airport. Can we pay to have a test done on the ship the day before disembarking? Freaking out a little bit. 😳😬

Thanks for any feedback or suggestions.

We leave in six days only to find out that HAL will no longer do Covid testing port cruise in Canada. We now have just a couple days to make other arrangements.

16 hours ago, Brentt_M said:

Just to add my experience to this. I generally gamble enough (a lot?) on a HAL cruise to receive a come back and play offer while still on board.  That offer has to be booked within 30 days of the current  trip and must sail within the next year.  The offer is usually for at least a  verandah cabin on cruises up to 14 nights and comes with $500 or more in free play.

 

However, I have never ever received an email or regular mail offer that shows a list of free or reduced rate casino cruises like I see shared on the board regularly.

We have the same problem. We don't get the e-mails. Only find discounted fares and private fares by going through all cruises search. Very frustrating. 

2 hours ago, read2learn said:

I received 3 payments to my Amex a couple of weeks after cancelation. RCCL won't give me info as I have a TA. She has checked twice and is told it is being processed. I just got an email from TA and today's response was the same. It seems odd it is just $100 . It wouldn't bankrupt them to refund it!   😊 

We had the same thing happen. RCCL split refund into three parts. Never received the last $100. Called RCCL they would not give me information because I used TA. TA phone was several hours waiting time and they never returned my calls. I finally sent them a message on Facebook through their Facebook page. Received an e-mail from TA next day. After several more e-mails to TA I finally received the $100. Hope this helps

. 

On 3/30/2022 at 11:54 AM, SusieO said:

We are sailing on the Zaandam, May 12 for 9 nights, Fort Lauderdale to Montreal.  Has anyone heard when she will leave wherever she is to begin her journey to Fort Lauderdale?

Thanks! 😊

We will be on this sailing also. I noticed on the deck plan that there was no BB King, Rolling Stone or Billboard Onboard. Asked my cruise consultant and she said could not get an answer of what evening entertainment was available. Seems by the pictures that they do still have a piano bar and also Lincoln Center. Should be a great cruise.    

On 4/5/2022 at 1:30 PM, SWACruising said:

No, the machine wouldn't pay out the jackpot without a manager coming over. He needed a drivers license and SS# before he could pay out. I'm not a slot guy so this was a first for me. He said I would get a "W2" so I'm hoping it also includes what I donated to the casino this week. 😀

You will need to write to RCCL using a win-loss form to get your losses. This form needs to be notarized. We needed to do this a couple months ago. They also did not send the win-loss statement even with the form until I called. 

3 hours ago, Bad1987 said:

Any recent cruisers on Rotterdam...Wondering if they serve high tea anywhere other than the main dining room. Last time on Koningsdam they served in Banking other ships they have served in Ocean bar. Looking for recent info.

Thanks for your insight

Only in MDR on Nieuw Amsterdam last week at 3:00 PM.