dontpanik

I am looking to do a private, accessible van tour for 6 people that includes a drive to the rainforest.  My DH and I took a Victor Bodden tour when we were in Roatan and we were looking like something along the same lines, but with an accessible van.  My father was stationed in San Juan for a time during the Vietnam war and has been back only once, on a cruise, and he and my mom explored a very little bit on their own in old town but due to his use of a scooter, they were a bit limited on how far they could go.  We are talking a cruise in January with my DH and I, my parents and a couple that are family friends for 50 years. Ideally, I would like an accessible van that can pick us up at the port, drive through the rainforest, maybe stopping at a few scenic photo spots, and then maybe back to old town to drive by the fort and stop for some shopping maybe a bit away from the walking distance from the ships. (not necessarily in any order).  I have seen some tours that tend to stay in the city.  Is this even something that would be doable and where can I start to look?

Any help is greatly appreciated as I was ill the only time we stopped there and did all our sight seeing from the verandah when we headed into port and this will be the only time we get to go with my dad.

I mean, to each their own but I will not be taking a cruise that stops in Haiti anytime in the near future.  It seems shortsighted to think the gangs only see beaches and tourists beyond the barbed wire...there is a freaking unarmed, mega ship they could hijack.  Staying on the ship is no 'safe zone'. These are desperate criminals and despite the almost guaranteed failure of pirating a ship, I would not put it past them at all to try and have more than a few lives lost other than their own. Not a relaxing vacation to me.

Hello, I searched the boards for the answer and could not find it so here goes:

We will be first time sailors on Princess and I am very confused about their photo packages.  Let me start by saying we do not drink, we do not want wifi, we do not want a fitness class, and we do not intend to eat at any casual dining venues so the Plus or Premiere packages do absolutely nothing for us but prepay gratuities.  This is what is on the website:

Photo Packages

1 hour ago, Itried4498 said:

On my last cruise, soda package was $15pp per day.  Soda is $2.50 per can (slightly less for fountain, although taste is too poor for us to order).  Unless you have a server who looks the other way (so you can “share” the package), that’s a lot of soda to break even.

True, but we'll be using it more for the mocktails, which we REALLY enjoyed when we had the beverage package on Holland America.  We also really loved having the special coffees and teas, but no way I am paying for the zero alcohol package.  We'll pay for those ala carte since it won't be an every day thing

1 minute ago, jean-lynd said:

Are you planning on prepaying your gratuities and getting wi-fi? The cost of wi-fi is $14.99 per day and the cost of crew appreciation is $16.00 per day.  I just looked up the price for the non-alchohol package and it is $35.39.  This comes to $66.38 per day while the Plus package is $60 per day. With the Plus package you also get a number of free items that you may or may not want to use. I hope this helps!

We did the math and we are not going for the zero alcohol package because (IMO) it is extremely over priced.  The soda package really has all we need and we may do an ala carte for a coffee/tea every once and awhile but not enough to make it worth it to upgrade.  We are prepaying our gratuities, but have no need of wifi, the casual dining, fitness classes or anything else on the package.  This is our first time with PCL, but I must say, for the price of the plus package, I am surprised no specialty dining outside of the casual restaurants are included and no excursions.  Ah well.

11 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

It is quite clear in the T&C's if you review the drink packages.  The limit of 15 per day (6am - 6am) is only for beverages containing alcohol.  You could have a coffee, soda, or mocktail every 10 minutes.

 

BTW, your breakfast juice is free.  Just ask for a large glass if you don't want to ask for multiple small ones.

Thank you.  It is not in the terms and conditions for the package I am looking at but then it is probably not there for obvious reasons since it does not apply.

Hello.  We will be on the 8 night, Western Caribbean cruise next year on the Caribbean Princess.  It is just my DH and myself in our room and we are traveling with a couple using the Plus package.  My DH and I do not drink but we love the mocktails!  I have read the terms and conditions and did not see the answer and it could be from previous cruises on other lines, but I thought there was a limit of 15 drinks a day?  Does that limit exist for a N/A package or is it there to limit alcoholic overconsumption on board?  Is it a hard and fast limit, or is it more discretionary based on their observations of thinking you may be sharing or getting drunk?  I am only asking because we may get several glasses of juice in the morning which are pretty small, more than a few sodas/refills up on deck plus we love the mocktails when seating in lounges/bars and during and after dinner...those can add up. There is no chance we would attempt to circumvent the sharing rule as our travel companions have the alcohol included package and have no need.  Anyone have experience with this?

Well, we are definitely within 7 days (I just saw this thread)

December 4, 2022

Nieuw Amsterdam   

7 days

celebrating my 50th Birthday and our 18th Wedding Anniversay

Those look wonderful, but are not available on my sailing on the 4th

Thank you.  I will just bring a small, artificial tree onboard then.  I would rather have chosen one from HAL, but if it isn't am option, then so be it 😄

Any idea why it keeps getting bumped back?  Last week, the weather was pretty bad but I can't see why it's late today.

I was looking at the arrangement selections on the HAL site and not real thrilled with any of the choices.  Is there any shoreside florist that I can have delivered to the ship to be placed in the stateroom.  We leave next week and I would prefer to have a Christmas themed arrangement but there's nothing with their selections.

Thank you so, so much!  These are just what I was looking for 😄

Just now, kazu said:

 

Sorry the pop ups are not available on any of the ships any longer unless you are on a Pinnacle Class ship which is the full menu.  😔 

Thank you.  I'm on with HAL now and they say it is still available on select nights in the Pinnacle but she couldn't be more specific like when. I thought I read someone stated it was stopping, but I can't find anything from HAL stating they've stopped and her computer is still saying it's there. *shrug*

Not sure if this helps, but my DH and I booked the Quench package and here's the list of the mocktails included.  I'm assuming it's all they have: https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Beverage-Packages-2021.pdf

Does anyone know where one can see if the Rudi's night is still Available on the Nieuw Amsterdam, officially?

I know this is an older thread, but that you for the link.  Both my DH and I use Bi-paps and I was questioning what we would do needing two plugs

Hello, I can only find very dated (pre COVID) dailies for HAL Nieuw Amsterdam or ones from Alaska (also dated).  I know there is no more America's Test Kitchen but I want to see a few examples of onboard offerings.  Thank you .

We are taking a cruise on December 4th and I was curious which is a better deal: the Black Friday deals this week or waiting to book onboard?

Oops, sorry, that would have been helpful: VF Verandah stateroom on deck 8.  Everyone seems to have their stateroom in tip top shape for photos so I can't gauge if there's room under the bed.

Hello.  I am new to HAL and sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam in 3 weeks.  I have a rollator walker that I need when going farther than about a half mile which means, for the most part (unless I am having a rough day) I shouldn't need it too much on the ship.  I do not need, nor did I get, a wheelchair accessible room.  I was wondering, am I able to fold and store it under the bed?

I don't believe there is a current masking policy other than at your own discretion.  There isn't even any mandatory testing.  We go on the 4th of December and got our latest booster (and flu shots) last week so at least we can tamp down on getting seriously ill.

Thank you!

Hello.  I use a rollator/walker and have never been to the terminals (HAL specifically) in Port Everglades.  Is there anywhere special I need to go or will there be someone to direct me when I get off the parking shuttle?  I  get huge anxiety when I don't have arrival planned out somewhere I'm not familiar with.  The last thing I want to do is queue up and find out I'm in the wrong line or it deadends at an escalator and I can't get out.  I know, it sounds irrational but it has happened to me before.  Thank you for any assistance.  I did call HAL but they did not have an answer for me.

This is in Brevard county (my home) where Port Canaveral is located:

Vandals targeted cars at several Brevard County hotels, causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage, authorities said.

Deputies are still trying to determine how many cars were burglarized, but said at least 25 cars were damaged.

One of the hotel managers said it appeared that the thieves were using handheld glass breakers.

Deputies said owners woke up Thursday to find their cars and SUVs searched, their belongings strewn across the parking lot and their valuables missing.

“What are you (going to) do?” victim Dorene Ford said. “You can’t get upset about it. They’ll do their best to find out who did it and hopefully they’ll do some time.”

Window repairmen were on the scene to help replace the victims' windows.

(http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/cars-several-brevard-county-hotels-robbed-vandaliz/np84M/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)

Just be sure to not leave any valuables in your cars when your parked at a hotel. Take your belongings inside with you!