dobbsie

Sounds like it will be a cancellation and rebooking if before final payment and you are not dealing with non-refundable deposit fares. But, as said above, your TA and HAL must help you with the particulars. Hope it works out, and sorry you have to cancel part of your trip. Let us know what they do! m--

I have already contacted my PCC, but was just curious if this has happened to others. I know the cancellation policy at HAL, and it is not a problem yet. I just want to know before booking such a long cruise. I will let you know what I learn.

Does anyone know what happens if a Grand World Voyage is booked and the first month must be cancelled before final payment is due?

Copper, if you would, the Volendam staff 9/27 to 11/22, transPacific and Australia circumnavigation. Thanks in advance,

Would like to know if the Volendam has changed to the newer show time schedule of 3 shows a night.

We were on the Ryndam in April. The Canaletto still has the old menu. We were not happy with it.

If the cruise is listed as two segments, there will be two lifeboat drills, which you must attend. Menus will probably be based on the segments, therefore some repeats.

On our Grand Voyage the Amsterdam often ran out of the wines in the packages. They did replace them with a wine of equal or greater cost (from the general wine list). If we desired to take a bottle or two to our cabin we simply asked our wine steward and he had them delivered to the cabin. We are 4 star Mariners, so the 50% discount is a great draw. The wines are certainly limited, but we never had a problem choosing one, especially the reds. Have a great cruise.

We just returned from Grand Asia/Pacific on the Amsterdam. Crossed the dateline both west and eastbound. Certificates were presented for each crossing.

Does anyone know if the update on the lower passenger decks involves changing the hair dryer to a handheld electric model?

 

Currently my sweetheart brings her own because the one in the bathroom burns her hand.

 

Thanks, we are packing now for the WC.

We just left the Amsterdam on 12/4. There was still a dryer in the bathroom, as well as a hand held in the desk drawer. I hope they remove the bathroom dryers. Looking forward to learning what was done during dry dock.

I just checked in with Facebook. HAL is responding today to folks who have been making complaints concerning current or recent cruises; not one word to those commenting on the new wine policy. :rolleyes:

This is isn't exactly about the new wine policy, I've already posted my feelings on that. But I am a bit tired of reading about cases of wine brought onboard as over the top, and people bringing their own wine into the MDR. I think some readers are making some false assumptions.

 

1) HALs previous policy was to allow as much wine as you wanted to bring onboard. 1 bottle or 3 cases, whatever, it was allowed. There was nothing wrong with this and those of you who think it over the top should just shuit up about it. It was an allowed option; some used it, some didn't. we all get to make our choices. We took a Panama canal cruise 2 years ago with a large group of family and friends. We got to Florida a week before the others and offered to buy wine for all to share at night before and after dinner. We brought on 2 cases of wine (for 10 people for 16 days). And we all bought wine with dinner each night.

2) The wine service in the MDR is painfully slow, so most nights, we would buy a glass of wine at 1 of the bars on the way to dinner, so we could at least have 1 glass while we ate. many times, this was the only glass of wine we could pry out of HAL during our 2 hour dinner.

 

I think people could be a tad less judgmental about how much wine people bring on and where the wine that they bring into the MDR comes from. I don't post about the people who always manage to work into any post that they always book a suite, or are 4 star Mariners, or only eat breakfast in the Pinnacle or any number of other annoying little notes that aren't pertinent to the thread. if you don't have something helpful to contribute, then don't.

 

ML

Well said!!

I really could care less what Canada allows you to bring to a restaurant or not. I do find your duty allowances archaic. And really question how great a policy is that for the restaurant's business model.

 

As far as what you can bring to a restaurant, I can tell you in NY or NJ, most restaurants with liquor licenses are not permitted to allow people to bring their own. We do have BYOB establishments.

We have been to BYOB establishments in New Jersey. Lived there for 35 years. Our favorite restaurant was BYOB. They save a huge amount of money by not having a liquor license. However, those with a license can and do allow you to bring in wine for a corkage fee. Maybe not all restaurants, but I don't believe the ABC laws forbid it. I could be wrong. Perhaps someone will google it.:rolleyes:

I don't think you can compare a smoking and wine policy. Really, there is another choice for wine drinkers. Hal is not saying you can't drink wine.

The key word here is "policy". If one policy is changed giving several months advance notice, then all policy changes should be subject to the same advance notice. The smoking policy was even extended for those on the World Cruise and Grand Voyages. As they say, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.:D

Clearly Canada allows you to bring wine to a restaurant. The US, at least in the states where I eat and drink, do not. I guess it's the least they can do since you can't bring anything back into the country.

I beg to differ. We have taken wine to restaurants in Florida, New York and New Jersey. A corkage fee was charged. They were always wines that were not available on the restaurant's wine list, usually very good wines from our cellar. We would always call in advance and always bought wine from their wine list. Paying a corkage fee is never a problem and we have done so on HAL shipsw.

Now that is an impressive wine list. Celebrity is looking better and better. I have brought a case of wine on board, never slapped a baggage tag on it. Wheeled it in myself. I have never taken my own wine anywhere but my cabin and resent it when I see others abuse the privilege. Hopefully HAL will do the right thing and improve their selection and pricing, as well as reconsidering it's policy at least as far as cruises already booked and past final payment.

I'm not happy with it. HAL's previous wine policy was one of the differences that went into the plus column when shopping for cruises. Going to a policy like most cruise lines takes that out of the plus column. Couple that with HAL's over-priced, weak wine list, and it moves to the minus column.

 

Everyone will have their own personal perception. This is just mine.

I agree 100%. We have always brought wine with us for consumption in our cabin. We also spend plenty of money on their wine with dinner, etc.

For those of us with upcoming, past final payment cruises, I think it is improper to start enforcing this policy. We booked the cruise partly because of the old wine policy and may well have considered booking elsewhere. I remember when they changed the smoking policy, it was several months before it went into effect. Perhaps starting the new policy after the first of the year?

I just hope they do something about their awful wine list and prices. On our last cruise they had only two of the Navigator Package wines available for the entire cruise. What's the use of a 4 star discount if the wines aren't there?

Oh well, I guess some of you are happy. So be it. I'm still pouting.:mad:

I'm considering booking cabins M769 and M773. These are "sideway" inside cabins. They appear larger that other Ms. Any input greatly appreciated.

Would like to know the Captain and CD for Prinsendam in July. Thanks, you're the best.