NCTribeFan

This is very concerning.  I always add CO when I book, and I typically book very early (just booked Nov 2025 and Jan 2026 cruises).  I booked my 17 nights on K'dam for next January in Dec 2023, and included CO, but changed my booking to 24 nights.

I noticed about a week ago that the balance due for that sailing on HAL's website was more than I had on my spreadsheet (I'm a CPA and I keep EVERYTHING on spreadsheets).  When I called my PCC to book the two new sailings for 2025 & 2026, I told her I thought when I'd changed my booking, they charged me for my CO cabin upgrade.  She put me on hold, got a supervisor, and came back to tell me I was exactly right, and it had been corrected.  I did not receive a new invoice, but the correct balance due now shows in my account.

I would be very unhappy to lose CO on a 24-night Pinnacle-class sailing.  I got very spoiled having the separate CO dining room last spring when on Rotterdam for 26 nights.  

I would try talking to Guest Services once on board and ask for the Hotel Manager. You absolutely should be refunded the entire CO fare.  I hate when people automatically tell anyone with any sort of problem to contest it on their credit card, but I would consider it in this case, if you can't get resolution.  

I haven't sailed a true Mega Ship (and I don't ever plan on doing so), but I've been on MSC Seashore (5440 pax, 169 gtw) and Carnival Vista & Horizon (4700 pax, 134 gtw).  Those aren't Mega Ships, but are too large for my taste.

What people need to pay attention to is the space ratio.  HAL ships tend to have a better space ratio that you find with other lines.  Spirit-class ships on Carnival are close (they're a different animal from Carnival's other ships and were originally intended for Costa, thus the different layout).

Pinnacle-class doesn't have as good a space ratio as HAL's other classes, but it's still better than on many other ships of the same general size, thanks to the layout.

Buffet areas on every ship on every line are crowded at peak times.  Try the NY Deli for breakfast!  I love it up there (until they turn on the big TV or start blasting bad pop music (which is my #1 complaint on every ship I've sailed on every single cruise line)).

I spent several of my sea-day mornings on Rotterdam in the library, parked in one of those big, comfy chairs looking out over the sea, reading.  Nice and quiet there.

My first HAL sailing was on Zaandam and I loved the smaller ship.

But I also love the Pinnacle class.  I've sailed K'dam and Rotterdam (26 nights last spring including the 150th Anniversary TA).  I'm sailing K'dam again next January for 24 nights.

I'm a fan of the Signature class as well as the Vista class.  Not too large, not too small.  What I love most about those classes compared to the Pinnacle class, is the Category J large inside cabins.  I'm solo, and those cabins are just wonderfully spacious (but stay away from the port-side under the lounge).  Pinnacle-class does not have those large inside cabins, which makes me sad.

Only thing I prefer about Signature class over Vista is having Tamarind.

I loved Rotterdam.  Beautiful ship, good food, great service.  Although I was solo, I sailed with friends.  Having the CO dining room was fantastic for us.

I know a lot of HAL loyalists think the Pinnacle class ships are "too large."  They really aren't.  Not compared to so many newer ships out there.  Besides, the larger the ship, the more steps on a daily basis.  That and always taking the stairs helps offset the calorie consumption! 😁

I haven't met a HAL ship yet that I didn't love!  That's Zaandam, Zuiderdam, Koningsdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Zuiderdam again, Rotterdam, Eurodam again.  Next up - N Am, K'dam, Oosterdam and Westerdam.

My DD got me a luggage scale a few years ago.  My bag is always right around 40 pounds.  If I had a larger bag, I'd just stuff more things in it and then I wouldn't be able to manage it.  I keep telling my "senior" friends (especially other women) that we can't rely on the kindness of strangers when it comes to getting big suitcases on and off trains, or up stairs in European hotels, etc.  Gotta pack only what I can handle.  At least I'm tall and can lift my carry-on and put it in the overhead bin. 

Got my nails done, so all that's left is to pack up the remaining toiletries in the morning, zip up the case, and use the scale.  I live about 15 minutes from RDU, so it's an easy Uber/Lyft ride.  Opted to use SW points, so I'm going through BWI to FLL.  Really looking forward to this!

I fly to FLL tomorrow, meet up with friends, then we'll take a shuttle to Miami on Sunday.  It's my first VV sailing (friends have sailed Virgin before), but not my first TA.  I got DBE via the status match.  I have lots of cruise experience and generally feel most mass-market lines have more similarities than differences, but I think VV will be different enough to feel like something new.  Many Carnival cruises, but mostly HAL over the past few years (love their ships).

I'm solo but have several cruise friends on the sailing.  Six of us (we're seniors) are staying in Barca for 3 days, then flying to Athens where we'll board Resilient Lady for 10 days.  It's going to be epic!

I happen to always order my salmon medium rare and it's always been absolutely delicious.

The halibut looks very good.

Anyone sailed solo that can answer my question?  Can I bring two bottles?  Is it 2 per cabin or 1 per person, assuming double occupancy?  FAQ does make it sound like it's 2 per cabin but people at the ports don't always get the fine point of the cruise line's policies.  I just don't want to haul 2 bottles through check in just to have one taken from me.  My carry-on is already going to be heavy (packing for a month with only a 25" case and a carry-on!).

Sailors are also welcome to bring two (2) 750mL bottles of wine per cabin in carry-on bags

Not sure I would call anyone's accent "bad" since they're just what they are.  Strong, yes, but not bad.  Just different.  It usually takes your ear/brain a bit of time to get used to it.  I'm sure there are plenty of people around the world who can't understand some regional US accents.  When my DD was a baby, her paternal grandparents came over from England.  We lived in north Georgia.  The teenage checkout girl in the grocery store and the English grandpa couldn't understand each other.  I had to translate.  It was pretty funny if a bit absurd.  We all, supposedly, were speaking the same language. 😁

Anyway, I board her in 2 weeks for the trip across the pond.  My first time on VV, but have friends who, like me, are in their early 70s and they love it.  I hope I do.  I'm not much of a partier these days.  Hope to be able to find some relatively quiet spaces to enjoy those sea days so I don't have to retreat to my little interior cabin.

Think I'll be hitting the Noodle place for lunch a few times.  I like the idea of the Galley.  Again, we'll see how that goes with so many people on the ship every day during the crossing.

I definitely am looking forward to a little different experience from the other mainline cruises.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

This was last Aprili on the Rotterdam 150th Anniversary TA.  They loved the cabin and balcony but since it was a north Atlantic crossing, they didn't get as much use of it as they would've liked.  We stayed on for following 2 5-night sailings.  They moved next door, which also had a larger balcony, only not quite as large.  Best part was the connecting cabin door, which made the move very quick and simple.  

So, as a solo, I can bring 2 bottles at embarkation?

I'm on a TA, then a Med sailing soon.  I know that some European ports have duty free shops after security.  We were able to purchase wine there and carry it on.  Unfortunately, I can't remember which ports those were.

My offers have pretty much vanished.  After 26 nights on Rotterdam last spring, I was hoping I'd get some good offers.  Not that I'm much of a high roller.  But nothing exciting.  Basically just my "usual" 20-30% offer, which I'll take.

So, I sailed again in January and I've received only ONE offer and it wasn't a freebie (hey, I only get interior cabins at the best of times).  So I booked that for November.  Booked bare-bones interior cabin.  I get drinks while gambling and a whopping $100 in free play.  Again, I'll take it.

But I'm starting to feel like they've decided that since I seem to always have at least one future cruise booked at all times, they don't need to entice me with offers.  This is how I felt about Carnival.  I was at over 30 cruises (most with casino discounts) before they FINALLY offered me a free interior cabin.  Maybe because I'd stopped booking with them!

Anyway, nothing new for me.  But if they can't give me some offers, I simply won't spend my money in the casino.  And maybe I'll even stop having 2-3 cruises booked each time I sail!

I haven't sailed VV yet.  I'm on Scarlet Lady TA on 4/21/24, then 3 days in Barcelona, fly to Athens and board Resilient Lady for 10 nights.

But, I saw this and although I'm a CPA and the partners will NOT be happy with me, I booked it.  My TA was on Valiant Lady so I sent her a message on Friday.  She bought a placeholder and applied it to the booking.

I'm in an interior on Scarlet, and an solo interior on Resilient from Athens.  Since I'm solo, I typically book interior cabins (I love nice, dark cabins for sleeping), but the price was too good to pass up.  Plus, I got next to no perks for my interior on Scarlet.

I would've preferred the Scarlet Lady May sailing (because of work) but it was so much more expensive!  And I do love San Juan, so looking forward to an evening there pre-cruise.

My friends (who are in their early 70s) love VV, so I hope I will, too.  I've become a fan on HAL the past few years.  I'm not much of a partier these days so I figured having that balcony cabin to retreat to if it's too noisy around the ship would be a good thing to have.  But I'll probably just join in the fun!

I had booked a 17-night Hawaii cruise.  I was going to book the 7-night cruise prior but then discovered that it was sold as a 24-night "collector" sailing.  I cancelled the original and booked the 24 nights.

The only spa package showing up for purchase is for 7 nights.  I want one (maybe) for the Hawaii portion (because of all the sea days).  But, so far, I'm not given that option.  It's not until next January, so I'll keep checking.  If nothing else shows up in a couple of months, I may just call.

Just saw this in the Details...

Pass valid for the entire duration of 7-day cruise. Pass for additional segments will need to be purchased on board.

Problem with that is it means that those who are booked on just the Hawaii segment can pre-purchase the pass, but I can't.

I'll probably just wait and buy a day pass of couple of times.

Carnival doesn't change time in the Caribbean.  Of course, they have to on TAs.

Both Carnival and NCL (the only 2 lines I've done TAs on other than HAL) changed the time at night, which is why I was a little surprised when HAL changed it midday.

I'll find out how Virgin handles it in April.

I learned early on to NOT allow my phone to automatically update.  That was on a Caribbean sailing on Carnival many years ago.  I had an early independent excursion and got my teenage daughter up so we'd have time for breakfast (we were in an interior cabin). She was not happy when we were ready to disembark and realized we hadn't even docked yet.  Oops.

Let's see if I understand this.

I have some NR OBC.  Since I have HIA, I'm not sure how/when I'd use it all (except for some spa time; I don't shop on board).

Am I correct that y'all are saying I can book excursions, paying via credit card, and once I board, go to Shore Ex desk, ask to have the payment changed from my CC to my NR OBC.  The CC payment will then appear in my folio as a refundable OBC.

I then can use that refundable OBC in the casino?. And if I don't use it all (Ha!), it gets refunded to the credit card backing my account.

Cruise I'm concerned about isn't until next January. so I'm not sure I want to charge multiple expensive Hawaii excursions this early.  But I don't want to wait too long and miss out.  I'll use my HIA to book the 3 I really want to do and maybe purchase a couple of extras (although I much prefer independent excursions).

If anyone can confirm that this works with spa services/passes, that would be really helpful!

Sure would be great if HAL would just let us book things pre-cruise using OBC.  Carnival does and it's so easy to do.

On our 26 nights on Rotterdam last spring, I don't know that we ever waited more than a few minutes, and we ate in one section every night except one, because we loved our waiter over there.

We always had before-dinner drinks at the Pinnacle bar and walked down the hallway usually some time between 7 and 7:30.

Isn't the Gallery Bar next to the Casino (I'm thinking Eurodam, which I sailed in January).  If so, that room is now full of slot machines.

Our group plays dominoes.  We typically play around 2 or 3 pm.  We like the Lido because we can get drinks and (sometimes, depending on the cruise line) food.  Some of Carnival's ships have large, oval tables.  Deli is open all afternoon, as is pizza, and it's a short walk to Guy's burgers.

On Eurodam, there are no large tables in Lido (that I found).

We do NOT play during peak meal times.  As noted, peak dining times should be for diners only.

I'll be on Virgin for 14 nights on a TA in April, then 10 nights RT from Athens a couple of days later.  We have at least 6 that play dominoes.  It will be nice to have somewhere to play that won't take space away from diners but still has some amenities.

Please add Nieuw Amsterdam - Nov 17, 2024 - 7 day Western Caribbean, birthday cruise!

And change January 2025 from the 17 night Koningsdam to Jan 4, 2025 - 24 day Baja Peninsula & Circle Hawaii Collector

Thanks!

I'm also on that sailing.  Was just on the Hawaii portion but cancelled and rebooked the 24 nights since I've never been to the Mexican ports.  I need to have a look at excursions.  I have 4 sailings between now and next January and haven't planned anything for any of them. I'm now in the middle of tax season with very little free time and even less brain power.  I'll just pick something to lock in using my HIA.  I was disappointed to see the short hours at Cabo, since I've never seen it.

What I found interesting was on the Rotterdam 150th Anniversary TA last April, we "lost" our hours at noon on our eastbound crossing.  It would be 11:59 am and suddenly it was 1:00 pm.  I've never experienced changing time in the middle of the day.

Are there dominoes in the game room or do we need to bring a set?

Are people saying that stroopwaffles are normally available in the MDR?  How did I never know that?  If they are, is there a charge, because there is in the Dutch Cafe.

I think I had noro once and pretty sure I picked it up on the travel day prior to sailing.  It was not a good time.

I've now had Covid twice.  Got it while on the Zuiderdam Alaska B2B in June 2022 and got it a month ago while on Eurodam.  And I'm as vaccinated/boosted as possible.  Symptoms both times were mild and this time, none of my travel companions caught it.  I did have to visit the infirmary during the first week for a UTI infection, so my resistance was probably low.  Hope I'm done with Covid for a while.  At least I don't seem to have the brain fog that really affected me the first time, for several months.  That's good since it's tax season and that's tough enough when your brain is fully functional!

I may have a look at excursions tomorrow evening (if I don't forget).

Really enjoying all the pics.  Keep them coming, please!

I think I did that ship excursion in Kauai way back on my first HAL cruise on Zaandam.

I guess I should think about excursions for next January but first I have a Virgin TA & Med coming up in April/May, then the Carnival Bahamas, then the Nieuw Amsterdam western Carib and haven't done any real planning for any of those.  The challenge will be the Virgin sailings.

It wouldn't hurt to go ahead and book some for Mexico/Hawaii using my HIA.  I can always change my mind later but it would be smart to lock in what I think I might want.  Typically, I'm not a fan of ship excursions but since I have the HIA credit, makes sense to use it.

That menu looks pretty interesting.  I see a few dishes I'd like to try.

Princess may, but Carnival doesn't.  Most of my 30+ cruises on Carnival have been as a solo.  It's 1 point per night sailed, period.  No credit for onboard spending, so I'm not going to complain about HAL's program at all.  And you get some tangible benefits from HAL (as a 3 star, I'll take my 25% discounts, thanks).

I have yet to figure out how my onboard spending points have been calculated.  On Eurodam last month (11 nights) I had HIA.  I also visited the spa.  I got 8 spending points.  Yes, I was solo, so that calculation for the signature drinks doesn't get me the max per day.  

Just got caught up!  I've been lax with my reading.

Seems there's typically a mad rush at 5 pm for the MDR and then again after the first show time.  I do know that I got terribly spoiled having the CO dining room for our 26 nights on Rotterdam. 

I cancelled my 1/11/25 Hawaii sailing and rebooked it as the 24-night 1/4 "collectors" sailing.  I've never done the Mexican ports and figured that, hey, I'm flying to San Diego!  I might as well go a week early and get a nice, long cruise.  Booked HIA and added Club Orange.  Got some OBC that hadn't come with my original booking.

I seriously considered the solo OV but I just don't want to be that far forward since it seems there can be some high seas at this time of year and I just don't want to risk it.  For me, the additional cost to get a window and a little more floor space wasn't worth it and I like my dark cabin for sleeping.  I did make sure that my PCC flagged my booking to DO NOT UPGRADE after my cabin-switch fiasco on Eurodam last month.

When I checked to see the cost to add a spa package, the only option that came up was for 7 nights although my sailing is, technically, 7 + 17.  I wouldn't use the spa much, if at all, during the Mexico portion.

For the first time in my 40+ cruises, I had dinner in the MDR on Eurodam one night.  I was not impressed.  I don't think we had any 2 hour MDR meals.  The excessively-slow dining was in both Pinnacle and Tamarind.  Hoping that won't be the case next January.

We play dominoes (Mexican train).  My friends usually bring a set, but if there's a set in the game room that we can use, it would be great if they didn't have to pack theirs.

20 hours ago, Gigi1977 said:

Our PCC was wonderful and we had been with him for years.    He left HAL for a year and in that year we had THREE different PCC - like a revolving door.   I discovered that Jim Picicci had returned!  Called had to speak to a couple of people and got reassigned to Jim.  He immediately called me thanking me for seeking him out.   I highly recommend him.  

We're not supposed to mention PCCs names, but I used to have Jim.  I'd love to get him back.  Gal I have is OK but I'd much prefer him.  Going to try that this afternoon.