lcand1923

Menus are the same. HOWEVER, just like on land, food varies by kitchen staff that makes it. Even a Big Mac or Whopper will vary from one location to another.

Thank you for the tip. So good to hear that she is cruising again!

I log in to MY BOOKINGS on the HAL Web Page, and click on ITINERARY in the upper left corner. You will see anything that you have booked (Dining, Shore Excursions, Spa, etc.) for each day of your cruise. I don’t know exactly when things get posted to the Navigator App, but I keep getting the message to Come Back Later.

Just want to provide an update to my previous Stockperks/OBC post. I received an email from Stockperks with the heading "Successful OBC Application to Itinerary". It mentioned my Booking # and Departure Date. This came 11 days after the "New Perk Redeemed" email. Four days after the above Stockperks email, I received an email from the CCLSHAREHOLDER email address saying that I have received the OBC. Unfortunately, it had an Incorrect Booking Number, so I've sent a return email asking that they make certain the OBC is applied to the correct reservation. It seems that the initial verification from Stockperks about your "Perk Being Redeemed" comes quickly. The actual posting of the Perk (the linking of the OBC to your reservation) takes much longer.

My normal practice on a HAL cruise has been to book the Pinnacle for the first night of a cruise since I found the LIDO and the MDR a bit of dis-organized mess. I wanted a nice, relaxing dinner. Since I haven’t taken a HAL cruise since before the pandemic, I’m wondering if things have changed. My next cruise has Dining Reservations available and I’m wondering if I should follow normal practice or give the MDR a try on the first night? Thanks!

Yes, I had it happen about 20 years ago (long before Stockperks) and am currently trying to get a Stockperks initiated OBC added prior to taking a cruise. On the 20 years ago situation, I started at the Front Desk, with my paper letter confirmation. (I used to use USPS to submit my request.) The credit was added about the 3rd day into the cruise. They needed to clear it through Seattle. With the current situation, I forwarded the email that was sent over Gus Antrocha’s name saying that I would hear after 5 Business Days, to the old Shareholder Email address. (It had been 9 Business Days.) After three more Business Days, I was asked to submit the same stuff that I had submitted via Stockperks and that I had been sending for many years via email. (I don’t have access to a fax machine and didn’t feel like wasting money on a stamp.) I’m still waiting to see if the OBC has been added. (I’m glad my cruise isn’t until June!)

I got the approval from StockPerks in about three days. My next email from Stockperks told me that they submitted my request to HAL and that would take 5 Business Days. I suspect that things are backed up everywhere due to the Holiday Season and the fact that so many of us are now submitting requests to either Stockperks or HAL.

My Dad spent most of his last cruise either in the cabin or in the Medical Center onboard. He talked about the wonderful time he had until he passed away. (He never mentioned his troubles to any one who asked how the cruise had been.) I learned to enjoy each and every minute of each and every cruise that I am lucky enough to take.

Many years ago I was part of a Travel Agency Group that included a lot of people who were long standing friends. Four women were members of this group. They had booked two rooms. Some time before cruise date, one woman had to cancel the cruise. One of the women was offered an upgrade to one of the top suites, with butler, on this ship. They decided to share the suite. They set-up a cocktail party for all of us to see “their suite”. Naturally, we jumped at the idea. It was amazing. We joked that it was great to see “how the other half lived”. Our total group had about 20 people in it. We did some things “as a group”, but most things were just friends with friends. I started to notice that these three women started doing things solo. I would join the solo person at breakfast or lunch to chat. Towards the end of the cruise, these three women were never together. It finally dawned on me — the suite had just one bathroom! The cruise was a 22 day cruise. Three women can share a bathroom for a short period of time, but not for a long one.

I’ve done this tour twice. The first time was with my Dad, who had mobility issues and used a cane. He had to be careful walking to and from the rest stops, but considered the tour the high point of his trip to Alaska. The second time I was traveling solo, 12 years after that first trip. The only change was the addition of the camera and TV screens. Yes, it is a school bus. But, the trip is worth the slight discomfort that a school bus brings. The guides are outstanding. The scenery is beautiful. The opportunity to see the wildlife is fantastic.

I think I’ve spoken Voice-to-Voice with my PCC once in 10 years. Since then, I’ve done everything via email because I explained to her that I do not like playing telephone tag.

I’ve done both. It depends upon the skill/expertise/willingness of your contact at the line or with the TA. Currently, I’m doing better with the line. They are willing to work the math for refaring for me. My previous TA retired and her replacement isn’t very willing to do anything. If you don’t care about location of your cabin on the ship, I would consider waiting for WAVE season UNLESS you have a good TA and/or contact at the line. If you do, I’d book now and do a refare if the price is worth it.

As a Dear Neighbor used to say, “At least my life isn’t boresome!”

Roy, How are you feeling? How did your Primary appointment go?

Thank you so very, very much for sharing this information. I’ve been looking at the vases online for several years and know they would be perfect gifts, but couldn’t figure out how to get them home. You’ve solved one of my “next HAL cruise” problems!

Thank you so much for your posts of the Daily! I know my friends are having a good time because the activities are things that they enjoy. LOVED your sunrise pictures!

Roy, Since we are in the month of December, I think you did pretty good getting an appointment with your Primary this week and your Cardiologist next week. Take your time unpacking and settling in at home. Rest up for those appointments.

YYYAAAYYYYY!!! You are safely home! Hope you had a good night’s sleep in your own bed. Call your Primary on Monday to get an appointment and start the round of doctor’s visits to get thoroughly checked.

Thank you so much for posts. I have friends on this particular cruise. This will be their 4th or 5th TA. (They try to do one every year.). They don’t use the Internet when cruising, so your posts will be the only way I have of knowing how things are going.

Glad you have started the journey home, Roy. Catch up on as much sleep as you can and maybe get some ice cream. Safe Travels!

To verify that you made it to the Wait List, go to your cruise. Click on Itinerary in the Upper Left Hand Corner of the page. You will see your cruise with the Shore Excursions you’ve purchased and the ones that waitlisted.

I’m glad to hear that HAL will allow you to give extra OBC to the Crew Fund. I’ve been on several lines that will not allow that and have bought “stuff” that I carry home and then give to Goodwill.

I’ve encountered some disagreeable folks on various cruise lines. Most were in that “near retirement/recently retired/early 70’s” age range. They were the braggarts/complainers/our cruise on the XXXXXX was MUCH better than this one. I made certain to not get on the elevator with them, sit on the other side of the restaurant from them, avoid them. By the third day of the cruise, I noticed that a LOT of other people were doing the same as I.

Safe Travels! Thanks for taking us with you.

My first cruise was on HAL. I was 49 and I cruised with my Dad who was 75. He had some mobility issues and was finding long car trips more difficult. We had a great time. I was very fortunate that Dad was well able to cruise another 8 years before the mobility issues stopped his travel completely. When he passed, I started cruising again as a solo. I’m now in that “old folks” group. The beauty of cruising is that you unpack once. You can visit a new place every day or just chill on the ship. If you feel sociable, you can have amazing conversations with other cruisers. If you don’t feel sociable, you can sit in a quiet spot and watch the ocean. I’ve cruised other lines, but return to HAL. The crew always makes me feel like I’m coming back to the Family Home.