Tigrou

I didn't say any of those things, and I certainly didn't make any derogatory comments about anything or anyone, so I'm not sure why you chose to quote my post when making this comment.

It's actually a young woman, Allie Hubers, her info is given at the foot of the article. She may have travelled other than cruising or there may be many reasons she has not done so, including personal choice. Whether by cruise or otherwise, she has clearly travelled extensively and I'm sure her 4-month Semester at Sea will have been just as valuable an experience as many a 'gap year'.

Because for me, and I suspect many others, there's a great deal more to be considered than just the dress code for a few hours each evening. For example, itinerary, embarkation port, price, solo supplement, and the ship itself. As long as someone is prepared to adhere to the dress code for the venues where it is required, why should they miss out on the main aspects of a cruise simply because they don't wish to 'dress up' for 'celebration nights'?

That 'plonked' bag could be mine. I'm a solo traveller so when I go to get food there will be no-one at the table. I leave something at the table to indicate the seat is taken and I will be back soon. What else would you have me do? Does being a solo traveller mean I'm only allowed to eat or drink what I pick up before finding a seat, and if I want anything else I have to vacate the seat and find another one?

I'm sorry you also caught covid despite your best efforts, and hope you are both feeling well again soon. Your experience was so different to mine, yet during the same time period, that it's as if it was a different cruise line not just a different ship. It certainly seems that the medical and management staff on Nieuw Amsterdam could teach those on Rotterdam a great deal about how to manage these situations. I have to say that reading your account makes me feel even more disappointed and somewhat envious. I did eventually receive a standard one-page information sheet after I'd been in isolation for 3 days, telling me various things which should have happened but which did not such as the daily welfare calls and extra supplies, including bottled water, being provided in the cabin. A treat from room service would have been most welcome, if only as a way of knowing that perhaps someone did care about my situation. However, I was even refused pineapple juice and when I asked for bread rolls (I didn't feel well enough for full meals so tried to get things on my one order each day that I could keep to snack on), I was told they were only available when the main dining room was open for dinner. Rather than it being expensive for them, in my case they most likely saved money by me being sick! All it cost them was a PCR test, the price of which was probably more than covered by my unspent, non-refundable OBC.

Always the sign of a good boss - don't ask anyone to do something you're not prepared to do yourself!

I have no idea how the decision is made, or who makes it. To be brutally honest, my experience leads me to believe there's no standard operating procedure for dealing with covid positive passengers across either HAL or the ship, or if there is then it isn't followed or enforced. Either situation is unacceptable. Similar to the mask policy. On Rotterdam it was mostly 'mask recommended' but even where it was 'mask required', very few passengers complied and I never saw it enforced. Notably was at the Captain's Q&A session where we were told that anyone who wanted to ask a question must be wearing a mask. (Presumably to safeguard the crew member having to hold the microphone towards them.) I thought, well there won't be many questions then - because I was one of I'd guess less than 5% in the busy theatre wearing a mask. But it wasn't enforced. A few people did rummage into a pocket or bag and put on a mask (or held it up to their face) to ask a question, but others just held a piece of paper in front of their mouth and it was still allowed.

Thank you. The first couple of days were rough, I haven't felt so unwell since having full-blown flu many years ago. But then it improved as quickly as it had come on. Had I not been isolated, I think I would have felt well enough to do the Flam Railway trip on Friday which I unfortunately lost out on because I booked it direct. I watched from my balcony as it left the station! It's very strange to think we don't have the Queen any more. As I'm military, she was 'the Boss'. She will be missed.

Thank you. I'm home now. Although I was told to isolate for 6 days, when I asked what happens because my cruise ends on day 5, I was just told I would disembark then. I wasn't given any further information so I checked online. The Netherlands has no self-quarantine requirements and there was no restriction on me being able to fly. My flights and transfers were booked through HAL (despite them attempting to deny that this week!) so I came as originally planned. The only difference was that myself and some other isolated passengers were transferred to AMS separately from everyone else.

I disembarked from Rotterdam this morning, having spent the last 4 days of the cruise in isolation. Deck 4 aft was closed off, no access from the aft stairs/elevator lobby. That’s where I expected to be moved to but I was told to stay in my original cabin.

If it had been Medical who called to check then I could perhaps see your point. But it wasn’t, it was someone from Guest Services who I suspect did not fully understand what I had written. She just saw that I’d made contact and followed her ‘script’ which was to phone me. Fortunately today I am beginning to feel better. However, earlier this week I was thinking to myself, this is far from the ‘just a cold’ that I keep reading about! I haven’t felt so ill since having full-blown flu many years ago. It was a little worrying, especially as I’m on my own.

No, I don’t think they do. You become an inconvenience they don't want to deal with. I’m currently in isolation on Rotterdam. Other than the young woman who took my PCR swab I have not been seen by any medical staff. My positive result was confirmed by phone, I was told to isolate for 6 days but the cruise ends on day 5. Told to phone Medical if I need medication, contact Guest Services for anything else. No medical or well-being checks have been made despite them being aware that I’m travelling alone. No standard information pack as I expected, nothing to even tell me officially that I have to isolate. In more lucid moments (between I want to die and/or go home!) I drafted a message asking for basic info and sent it through the app. I specifically asked for a written response, pointing out I have a respiratory illness and don’t feel up to discussion. A few hours later guess what I got? A phone call from Guest Services! I did ask about disembarkation, at which she told me that as I didn’t book transport through HAL I’m on my own. Except I did book flights and transfers through HAL, that’s how I got here! We argued that one back and forth, and finally she appeared to agree but I have no confidence that anything will be in place on Sunday. My flight details I have so that should be okay (actually I must check today while we’re in port and I have internet access) but if they won’t let me on the airport bus I may have to pay for a taxi then try to claim it back. If, of course, I can ever get the required letter for my travel insurance that Medical appear strangely reluctant to provide.

I am currently on Rotterdam, in isolation with covid. Expected I’d have to move cabins but told to stay in mine. Makes me wonder if those set aside on deck 4 aft (access doors from lobby closed) are all full.

Thank you for this. I didn't realise that if pre-paid it would be in the booking currency, or that the exchange rate would be beneficial. I've just pre-paid mine in £ and got a rate of $1.30/£ which it hasn't been since April (currently $1.13).

I'm a 'non North American resident' and I sailed on Koningsdam in March this year, booked through a US travel agent. I've booked several cruises through the same agent and never had an issue, although this was the first on HAL. The only address I provided was my own UK address, which is also the one shown on my HAL account online. At embarkation it was pretty obvious this is where I live because of the NHS Covid Pass I provided as proof of vaccination. (Also my required covid test was taken at Heathrow, and if I remember rightly I'd provided flight details during online check-in.) The agent didn't question anything at all.

As I said, I thought they were. I'm not complaining about anything to do with this situation - as I said, I'm just wondering. I've got an inquisitive mind!

Some passengers will be in transit. Several of the 7-night itineraries are also sold as 14-night and had Amsterdam as a port day, eg 'Best of Norway'.

HAL are giving all affected passengers $50 OBC as a "goodwill gesture". I do understand that under the booking conditions HAL are not obliged to provide any compensation for the itinerary changes from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. However, I thought that they were obliged to refund any difference in port taxes/fees - just as they can pass on any increases in those fees. From what I've found online it would seem that the Rotterdam port fees are a fair bit lower than Amsterdam, plus Rotterdam don't charge the daily tourist tax (8 euros per person, per 24hrs or part of). I haven't seen the port fees mentioned anywhere in connection with this relocation of sailings. Also I would be interested to know whether HAL volunteered to relocate their sailings to Rotterdam or if they were given no choice by the Amsterdam port authority, or if it was a process of negotiation. It isn't that no cruise ships can access Amsterdam, it's that numbers have been limited - so someone, somewhere has had to decide which can stay and which have to go. I would have expected that whether it was voluntary or compulsory, some measure of incentive or compensation would be involved. With the difference in port fees and any possible financial agreement between the port authority and the affected cruise lines, I wonder whether HAL's "goodwill gesture" is actually costing them anything.

Me too!

My notification didn't mention the $50 OBC but included a link which it said was for directions, parking and transport information, which took me to the letter which shows the $50. RTDMY264_EmbarkRotterdam.pdf (responsys.net)

I've now received notification from HAL about the change of port to Rotterdam, although the itinerary listed on the same document still shows Amsterdam for embarkation, disembarkation and midway port of call. It's ridiculous that they say it is not technically possible to change that information. They regularly amend boarding passes to add/amend embarkation times, why not the port? Has anyone on earlier cruises affected by this change been able to successfully claim from their travel insurance for a 'missed port'? Technically I'll be missing Amsterdam 3 times on mine although I don't suppose the insurance company will agree, but they may pay out for the one in the middle. However, they will want written confirmation from HAL which could be a problem given HAL's refusal to amend the itinerary.

I was refused (retired UK military) for the same reason. I emailed HAL asking for clarification of the term 'international', given that they appear to be giving this OBC to US and Canadian citizens, but they haven't offered me the courtesy of a response.

When I applied (Royal Air Force veteran) I received the following response: "We sincerely apologize for any disappointment, however the military/healthcare offer is not available for international guests. We appreciate our active and retired military personnel and are thankful for your service." No clarification as to what constitutes an 'international' guest. I thought presumably anyone not from the United States but now it seems Canada is classed as 'domestic' too. Bit of a kick in the teeth to be told that my service is appreciated but not worthy of the OBC. I replied expressing my disappointment, especially given that other Carnival Corp cruise lines do include UK Forces in their military appreciation offers. I also mentioned the line is called Holland America and that the UK military have had long-standing ties with both the Netherlands and the United States. HAL have chosen not to reply.

Sailing from Liverpool is a definite winner, even though I'm in the Midlands. I've mostly cruised out of the US, did 2 with Fred last autumn and wasn't sure they were for me when comparing with other lines pre-covid. Then recently did my first post-covid cruises out of the US and it made me re-think Fred, and the 90-minute train ride rather than having to fly anywhere is a major advantage. Unfortunately their prices, especially as a solo traveller, are a major disadvantage!

When I sailed on Borealis in October/November 2021 there were 2 USB sockets over the desk. Which was just as well because I couldn't use the charger I carry as the only UK 3-pin socket was upside down. Some people say what's the problem, just plug things in upside down, but because it was close to the desk surface although there was room for the gadget, there wasn't enough room to then plug the cables into it to charge anything as the slots were now facing down rather than up! According to the daily planner for embarkation day, the buffet was open from 1.00-3.30pm for lunch, and again 3.45-4.45pm for afternoon tea. Also the Poolside was open 12.30pm-7.00pm. I hope you enjoy your cruise to the Faroe Islands.