lb0103

Thanks for the tip on the keys. DH and I are always together checking in so never a need to know and our last HAL cruise was Aug 2019 the last one before covid and we had 3 canceled in 2020.

We are slowly trying to catch up but the HAL cruise is really for our DD as Christmas/birthday gift if she was willing to share a room. We weren't paying for a solo. So we fly in from Boston and she is flying in from Anchorage

Question: We are booked on a cruise with our adult daughter in our cabin. She is flying in the day of the cruise, we will have a hotel the night before. When we get to the port can we check in before she gets there? Do we have to wait till she arrives?

The problem is getting an appointment, and depends on where you can go. It took us months to get an appointment, but then when you go you get approved on the spot. Boston can take months unless you check often for a cancelation, In Anchorage AK you can go the next week. Fill out the forms to get the first checkpoint then when approved keep checking appointments.

Looking forward to your experiences on Reflection. We are on the TA in Oct. Our first TA and first on reflection but many X cruises before pandemic. Only RC since pandemic to get our feet "wet" again.

We just got back back from our first cruise since 8/19 and it was on Voyager of the Seas. We are diamond on RC and elite on X. We had 3 X cruises booked in 2020 that were canceled. I missed not having laundry perks on RC but it was only 7 days, we like longer cruises. The 4 drinks a day for us is wonderful for us as we are not big drinkers, but it is good in the dining room and anytime in any bar. Only the Starbucks coffee was not included. Some days DH got a soda or water if it was getting closer to midnight as they did not carry over. It works for us and if we can cruise more because of the cheaper price we will. To each their own.

For the poster that asked about Canada/New England my understanding is we must use arrivecan and testing/requirements are based on Canada not what RC nor the CDC require. I doubt that Canada will change before our late Oct. cruise but will just have to wait and see. Detail info in RC FAQ under travel docs. 

I will start by saying I don't like the ASSIGNED check in times. I get it but what about the opposite, my plane is late and I have an 11 check in but don't get there till1, where and how long do I have to wait?

To avoid the problem the above poster mentioned before I book a GTY I look at ship layout and the floor above and below to make sure I know the worst I can get. I have had GTY that weren't very scenic, but nothing that ruined our cruise.

Thank you davekathy for quick reply

Can the four drinks a day for diamond be used the day of boarding or not till the next day? I don't need drink package with 4 a day but package is good first day.

Sovereign was our first cruise EVER in 1988, her #013 but I don't think they called it that because some people thought it bad luck. Well we were hooked from then on and now so sad to see her go. Even worse that we will not be on ANY cruise this year and if/when things get started we will see about next year.

Just MHO but I would not say we are done with X yet, just this week before BP increase, we booked 2 more cruises. We don't NEED the BP as we don't drink a lot but the water and coffee included is nice.

We have NO interest in Edgey ships as we don't care about fashionable, just serviceable and comfortable and at the current prices and where they sail, not for us. We like the M class ships as they go where Edge can't at this point in time. Even the S class isn't bad.

Bottom line we will sail X when there is somewhere we want to go for a price we want to pay. Just got back from a HAL cruise and we were pleasantly surprised. No  trying to sell BP or spa services every 2 steps you take . There were tables set up if you wanted specialty dinning, spa or BP but you went to them. They also offered a "happy hour" where you got a drink for set price and another of the same for $2, that worked great for us. So when the "deal" is right for us we will take it, as it should be, I will never say never, except maybe for Carnival, unless I "win" a cruise on them.

There are other good products out there and we all should do what is best for ourselves.

Linda

I know preaching to the choir, we did the 14 day also this year but have passports. What you should tell them is...if it was today you could do it without passport........BUT... if they are going next year then who knows what could happen with customs/immigration, things change and terrorists in other parts of the world change how OUR county deals with it. If they don't get them now, then a month before their cruise something changes they would have to expedite them at an even greater cost. 

Not worth the hassle or worry, and the only time I would not go to port a day early is if the port was less than 100 miles away.

We had this same exact problem ( from guest perspective) happen on the Equinox last fall with Capt Kate.

Stopped dead in the middle of the Carribean, no power or anything but emergency lighting no forward motion. DH was still in our cabin and he said fire doors were closed and he walked up to Oceanview where I watching from a window seat. About 45 minutes later thngs started to come back online and we continued on. During a meet the officers the question was asked "what happened" and Capt. Kate started to respnd but chief engineer interrupted and  said they just wanted a romantic breakfast for everyone.  They would not comment any more. We never did find out but the cruise continued on with no issues.

So....can we all agree that "covered" and clean are the "requirements"? We don't bring the tux and gown any more but DH brings a tie and dress shirts and if there is room in luggage a jacket, I bring long dresses, not gowns but I really don't care what others wear.  Wait a minute I am really against baseball hats in MDR.

In Anchorage, across the street from the "cute" visitor center is the Federal Bldg which has the Alaska Public Lands Visitor Center. They have public rest rooms and nice movies and things going on and all free.

Just BE ADVISED, it IS a FEDERAL bldg so you must go through security and you can NOT bring weapons and such into the bldg. This means ULUs or any knife and such. Go in there before you shop.

NO!

I have a question for those on the "test" ships with this charge. Has anyone ordered and been charged for a second entree? Do you sign a slip for the charge with your cabin #? How is the bookkeeping handled?

I am against this charge but will still go on my 14 day cruise with my eyes open and when booking next cruise decide what is best for me. Many here have made good points pro and con but bottom line it is a take away that affects more people than say not printing all those ads in the cabins, think of the trees saved and the ink used as well as the person/s that make them and deliver them, bigger savings there and less push back from customers, I think. Anyone here enjoy the ads?

I wonder of Hal reads this. I am a Celebrity cruiser and remember 2 years ago they did a "test" on $10 hamburgers saying the meat quality was better, I think it only lasted one cruise and they stopped it as the push back was quick, and that was only on one ship.

I am following this and the other thread about the "test" very closely. We usually cruise Celebrity but have cruised HAL before (2 star mariners), but not for a few years. Over the years Celebrity has cut down on potion size and I am pleased with that as I felt I could never eat all on my plate, now most days I can and still have dessert. I have never ORDERED a second entree but when asked how it was there were times I didn't like it and said so and they OFFERED to bring me another. I have seen others order mutiple entrees to "try" and my take is that it is none of my business.

We have a 14 day cruise booked for Aug 19 and no matter how the "test" turns out plan to go, but I would like to know BEFORE we get there if this is the current policy. If for some reason I am still hungry after dinner I will go to Lido, never have yet but always a first time. I just want to know the plan BEFORE we book or go, then it is my choice to book in the future or not.

Many people are very passionate about this, me I just like to cruise.

Glad to hear this, will on her in Aug '19, please keep it up!

This is all wonderful info, I wish every cruise line had a thread like this. We have cruised HAL in the past but years ago and never needed internet. We will be going to AK on a 14 day and I know(as we have been before on other lines) that Shkagway and some others have spotty service no matter what, the mountains get in the way. So we will have cell sevice in port to contact family but only need the internet on the last day to get airline boarding pass. Although at $10/day we may get it for the last few days if we can  get that rate. Thank you all for this info it is wonderful and you can't find that on Hal's web pages

Thanks RM,

So can I do a checkin in "surfing mode" Our tickets will be one way so $25. but one of us could do both checkins

An other question on internet. We are going on a 14 day and as we are on vacation we will NOT need the internet nor are we bringing anything but cellphone for in port emergency. We WILL need to get our airline boarding pass the day before we get off the ship. Do they offer one day rates or by the minute on the last day? We are flying Southwest so depending on cost it may be worth it to pay SW to have them do it.

Thank you for the quick response. I am glad that is one thing that has not changed on HAL. So one less thing to find in port. Thanks again, this is a great thread.

Can someone please tell me if there is a Catholic priest onboard HAL ship? I know the last time we were on HAL (over 5 years ago) there was, we are on a 14 day and hope that there still is.