DivotMaker

Looks like WHO just declared Coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern...

https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-01-30-20-intl-hnk/index.html

1 minute ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

 

In the case of the Chinese couple on the Costa cruise, they are looking for an active infection. They would probably use a real-time reverse transcription PCR test (rRT-PCR), which is a molecular test that can provide results in 15-30 minutes. This is what they've used to test for the previous novel coronavirus infections in humans: MERS and SARS.

 

It's pretty fast. The suspected couple has already been cleared. If they were trying to find out if you had been infected in the past, they would use a different test.

 

The viruses that cause flu and the coronaviruses are in two different groups of viruses.

Thank you cruisemom42, I find this very interesting and truly appreciate the detailed explanation  Super helpful. 👍

8 minutes ago, HamOp said:

Here you go

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/30/health/flu-deadly-virus-15-million-infected-trnd/index.html

Thank you, that's just what I was after.

2 minutes ago, Tapi said:

Not every family with small children wants what Royal/Carnival/Disney, etc offer.

^^^This!!  We cruise as a family, and our kids have never really liked going to any of the kids' program, regardless of cruise line.  We pretty much enjoy relaxing together and hanging out together almost the entire time, whether it's reading together with some snacks or hanging out in the arcade.  I don't mind acting like a goofball with my kids as they beat me in whatever arcade games they play, because I know those memories will always be with them.  And with the exception of one cruise aboard Princess, our kids have never enjoyed any of those programs directed at them. Personally, I'm great if that works for you and I'm also happy seeing families hanging out together.  What I don't care for is some 6 year old being left alone and trying to cut in front of me for ice cream 🙂

42 minutes ago, HamOp said:

According to CNN, 15 Million, (yes, MILLION) Americans have the flu and 8,200 have died this season.  Kind of puts things into perspective, doesn't it.

Can you post a link to that article?  I've been looking for current season flu stats and can't find anything like this.  If my math is right, that comes out to a mortality rate of about .0005%.  Thanks.

Great news!!  And this is telling us the testing is pretty darn quick apparently to rule it out.

4 minutes ago, USN59-79 said:

Not sure how that is relevant here.  We did get our flu shots in September when they were first available.  But the flu shot is not effective against the corona virus.  My concern when I posted this thread was that it was obvious that the Westerdam would not be able to stop in Shanghai; we were just a few days from sailing but there was absolutely no word from HAL.  When contacted they were adamant in stating that there were no changes in the itinerary.  Anyway, we are flying to Hong Kong this evening and expect to have a great cruise.

I like posts like yours.  Very positive, and making the best of it.  Hope you have a wonderful time.

5 minutes ago, Tom O. said:

I wonder how they can tell the difference between Corona Virus, and ordinary Flu. I would think this would require some lab tests that would take time. 

Great question Tom, and the same one I'm curious about.  I was just reading an article where someone was quarantined because of a fever and thought to myself "how can they tell" that it's the Coronavirus based on that single sympton or are they just being extra cautious...

Just now, Himself said:

Any Link to the story?  What is your source?

Another user posted more info a few posts below this.

Just got a card from the sea turtles!  And before I get flamed, I'm just trying to inject some humor in this 🙂

51 minutes ago, LocoLoco1 said:

What's the answer, IT experts? I agree it's goofed up, but I am NOT the one to explain this to HAL.

Based on what everyone is saying, I’m still thinking the primary issue has to do with it not keeping your login information because some web developer is missing some code that passes along your active session to another part of the site.  I’m new to HAL and their website but it appears as if the part you see and the backend where all the exchanging of your login information takes place has a disconnect.   The reason for this is that on many website updates that I oversee, programmers focus too much on the part you see but often neglect what’s behind the scenes (which is what I specialize in).   I am writing an email right now that I’ll be submitting to HAL’s web team in the hopes that someone will see it and agree with my findings.  

28 minutes ago, Jersey42 said:

Thanks for the advice.  It did not appear to do anything at first, but I tried several things and I found out the following.  I am not sure if this would have worked the same had I not "Cleared Site Data".  At least I think I have found a way to consistently bypass the useless unformated "Check In" page.

1. If I am logged in (or not logged in) and attempt to access the Check In page from the HAL home page via "ALREADY BOOKED" | "Check In", I consistently get the bad page. ☹️
2. If I log in and attempt to access the Check In page by clicking on my name at the top of the page, then "My Account" | "My Bookings" then click on my booking number, then click on "Check In", I get the good page. 😀

I also noticed that once I get the good "Check In" page, as long as I remain logged in (and HAL has not timed me out), I continue to get the good page, no matter what link I try (even the one that consistently fails in #1 above. I don't why I would want to do this, but if anyone from HAL ever sees this post, it might help them diagnose the problem. 

 

Yeah, I'm a website developer and agree, there's definitely something odd about their site.  My suspicion is it has something to do with what's called a "session" which essentially remembers all your details once you've logged in.  That "session" is supposed to remember you from page to page, but when it stops remembering you, that's when things go crazy.  You will either get logged out completely, or be at a page that expects you to be logged in and since you're not, it will not be able present the page correctly.

Try this:

1) Open the HAL website.

2) Right click in some white space somewhere on the screen, then choose "Inspect" or press Ctrl + Shift + I

3) This will open the Web Inspector.  You want to find the top menu items, they start with Console, Sources, Network, Elements, etc.  Look for the one called "Application" and select it.

4) Under "Application" you should see "Clear Storage" - click that

5) You should then see an option to "Clear site data" - click that

This is much different than simply clearing cookies/cache within a browser.

I've attached an image showing you where all the options are.

Good luck.

4 minutes ago, summer slope said:

I use soap and water in the washroom, then wipe with the little cloth.  Then use that cloth to open the door, prop the door open with my foot and then throw the cloth into the basket provided.

This is our method as well.  

21 minutes ago, Tom O. said:

 They bring it all at once.

First step in doing this is finding out what the menu is for that evening. There is sometimes a way to do it with the tv. Or we have done this by using the HAL app on my wife's Iphone. If all else fails you can walk by the entrance of the MDR in the afternoon and the menu for that night will be posted.

Once you know what's on the menu, you call room service, and tell them that you want to have your MDR dinner delivered. I usually call around 3pm. They will take the order for all of the items you want off the MDR menu - don't forget desert! They will ask you what time you want it delivered. They have always shown up within 15 minutes of the appointed time. There is no extra charge for this service, but I usually give the delivery person a $5 cash tip.

It all comes in covered plates, I have not had a problem with it being cold. But I don't recommend getting ice cream for desert. By the time you finish your dinner, it will be melted.

 

Thank you Tom, this is very helpful.  As for the ice cream, I guess I'd just have to eat that first 😂

Speaking of dessert, is there any issue with ordering an extra?  We typically only eat dessert on cruises, so we find ourselves splurging and having a difficult time deciding between all the amazing selections.  Thanks.

1 hour ago, Tom O. said:

Or you can do what I do, I order the MDR dinner to be delivered to my room. I can eat in my pajamas if I want to.

I like this idea a lot.  Do they bring the whole meal all at once or is it staggered?

Just now, smi889 said:

I would say that if you got in a smoker's face as he/she was dragging on it you might get some smoke but the smoker already inhaled the carcinogens. Smell of smoke is a different animal. I can't stand it either in an enclosed non ventilated area. I just feel sorry for people that believe all the doom and gloom, like following the 16 year old, Greta, from Sweden. then again there are ships that don't allow smoking in the Casino. Life is full of choices isn't it?

Thanks for replying.  I genuinely was interested in your response, not for the sake of arguing, just my own curiosity.  Have a good day.

9 minutes ago, boom_boom said:

The anytime dining pretty much mimics the time for the fixed dining in a separate dining room, same menus. If you make advance reservations the system is pretty good. But, if you truly just show up anytime during the meal period you might have a long wait to get seated.

Curious, were you in a NS/PS by chance?  I thought I read somehwere on here that those guests somehow got priority seating for anytime dining.  Thanks.

16 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

It's such a waste of paper. I keep threatening to take it all home and mail it to Mr Ashford in protest. 

 

You'd likely end up having to pay fees for excess baggage 😄

43 minutes ago, jimdee3636 said:

For me, the good aspects of NCL (the dining, the cost-to-value ratio, the cabins) are very good, but the bad aspects (the generally zooey atmosphere) are pretty bad.

Very well put.  These are the exact reasons we've sailed with NCL in the past, and also the reason (zooey atmosphere) we've decided to give HAL a shot and see if it more closely meets our needs as we've readjusted our priorities for a cruise.

Thanks for your review.  We're sailing on Eurodam in June to Alaska.  What was your experience with having quiet areas on the ship that would work for reading or just having a nice conversation without having to yell?  

Neat video, thanks for sharing.

Just spoke to our TA and the price went up $310pp for us, and no change in the OBC which is still $900.  He said he'll check again today and the next couple days just to make sure there are no changes.

3 hours ago, smi889 said:

I guess you could just stay out of the Casino then if you believe in the second hand smoke bull. 

Is it your position that secondhand smoke poses zero risk to non-smokers?

15 minutes ago, Viv0828 said:

 

i remember my high school math teacher saying, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease."

i plan to be that squeaky wheel!!

Good luck to you.  And I'm very sorry you're in this situation.