liketraveling

I did not see this one.  I saw the one for Sept 18th. I think it was in the Noordam.

I have never done this iteanary but I did the 14 day RT 3 times on 3 different ships.  Stopped in Vancouver instead of Prince Rupert, did Hubbard Glacier instead of Glacier Bay.  Stopped at Homer instead of Valdez and did not due both Sitka and Skagway.

wow! I just booked a Panama Canal cruise in Nov.  I will have to think about this.

2 hours ago, zgscl said:

Expiring FCDs or FCCs could be another good thought for targeted promos. 

I spoke too Soon.  I got another casino offer today that included a cruise over Christmas.  But I also have 2 more FCD where I need to sail before May 2023.

5 minutes ago, AryMay said:

 

In my case I think you are correct with #2.

 

Over the winter I spent a lot of time looking at cruises on the HAL website, even getting as far as looking at available cabins, etc. Mostly dreaming, but during that time I was getting a lot of the private sale emails. 

 

A couple of months ago we booked an Alaska cruise using the private sale rate and since the booking, I haven't gotten a single email. 

 

It will be interesting to see if we start getting emails again after our cruise. I do know we aren't being targeted based on our onboard spending habits. I think all of our HAL cruises have been booked during promotions that include gratuities and OBC and we rarely spend anything else.

I agree on both.  I was getting deals every other day from my new PCC, My original PCC retired during Covid but she had told me she was planning on retiring in 2020. I had a FCD on file that actually expires in May.  I booked a sailing for Nov and the extended the FCD to Nov.  Since booking I have not received any offers.  #1 is probably true too because I am one that spends the money on the ship.  My dad spends on Crew gratuities.  I helped him get to 4 star.

2 hours ago, SeattlePaddler said:

Don't think so.

One one of the big Internet Travel Sites I get better Mariner Society Rates then my dad who has been cruising allot longer with HAL then I have.  The rates that are quoted are Casino Discount Cruises for me that come back better then my dad’s.  Also my Dad does not spend much money on cruises.

What a frustrating thing to happen.

I have never sailed on the Zuiderdam but I have sailed on the Ooesterdam to the me I can Rivera in obstructed ocean view on the 4th deck and I remember it being warm but never to one extreme to the next.

Could your sister’s be a casino rate discount?

Thanks everyone for your remarks.

My last Canal cruise was on the Maasdam from San Diego to Boston.  Allot of the cabins were having problems with the A/C.  When they gave us a fan it was comfortable.  We were fortunate to get a fan because not everyone did.

I liked everyone’s different perspective.

It might be doable.  Storage will be tight.  I booked a verandah for my sister, Dad and I for an 18 day cruise to Hawaii.  Within the last week of sailing I received an upsell at a reasonable rate for a Signature Suite and I was glad I did.

The next year my dad and I stayed in a verandah and I was so glad I took the upsell to the Verandah the year before for the three of us.  After 18 days I don’t think we would have been speaking to each other.

My sister and I were able to purchase a couples  Thermal Suite pass which was great for so many sea days.  The advantage to that was my sister and I were able to shower in the spa.  My dad would use the Jacuzzi tub in the cabin while my sister and I were at the spa.

The difference between the two cabins was that there was only one outlet on the desk in the verandah and one where the dvd used to be.  Both my sister And I use a CPAP and that would not have worked.

Allot of it depends on which ship you are on.  There are not very many signature suites on the pinnacle ships like the konningsdam and Rotterdam.  There might be more outlets on those ships.

I have read reviews on the Zuiderdam.  I have learned to take reviews with a grain of salt and every thing is subjective.

One thing that keeps popping up is the A/C doesn’t work properly.

Has anyone who has recently sailed on the Zuiderdam comment on the A/C.  
 

Thanks

I am in that cruise too.  I have been through the canal twice.

Hualtuco The 5 Bays Catamaran tour was gorgeous.  When I did it,  I also did it with a land tour that was it that impressive to me.  If we’re to do it again I would just do the 5 Bays Catamaran tour and then walk around the market place.

In Guatemala The last two times I have taken the shuttle to a Market place. This time I will probably take the Antiqua tour.

Costa Rica I Did the combination mangrove cruise and tropical train Ride.  The Mongrove cruise was ok but the tropical train ride took you through views of everyone’s back yard.  The last time I took a tour to the City of San Jose.  The theatre was great as well as a palace.  
 

Corinto Colonial Leon is nice.

Cartagena I did a tour of Fort San Felipe.  
 

Puerta Valletta. I have been there several times.  The cathedral downtown is nice.  
 

As far as money,  you could pay in dollars but you would get change in foreign currency.  Save your Small bills.

You should come over to the roll call.  There are only 3 of us now. But I bet you could get more ideas over there.

I just booked a cruise yesterday and asked the same question.  The gentlemen that helped me looked up the answer.  He stated that verify can accomadate your traveling companion in the same room.   
 

I have not cruised with it yet, so I don’t know if it is true or not.

7 minutes ago, Nymich said:

Dave,

 

Assuming the Best Western Plus is acceptable would you pay the 3 bills more to be at the Springhill?  Thanks

I am not Dave.  But I choose to stay at the Springhill Suites due to my fathers balancing issues.  He goes like gang busters on his rollator walker.  The only reason I choose Springhill Suites is because it is easier for my dad to walk across the street.  I would stay at Best Western Plus if they still had the cruise shuttle.

We got a good deal on the cruise.  Using miles for flights so splurging on the hotel. My dad said he did not want to upset an Uber or cab driver for going a few blocks.

In response  to post #41.  The only hotels that provide a parking pkg with the hotels are Wyndham Bayside and Holiday Inn Express Old Town.  They are both pretty pricey.

For parking someone recommended Aladdin.  The price was $17.00 a day and they have a shuttle to the pier.

In researching I found something called BRIC parking garage that is suppose to be under the new Springhill Suites and Residence Inn across from the Cruise Terminal.   When I tried to test a reservation, BRIC was not one of the cruise parking places that came up.

It seems most hotels have discontinued their snooze and cruise pkgs.  The few that have remained are pretty pricey.

I tried to start a booking and ended up calling the 800 number because I wanted to make sure I would get the good price under my Mariner number.

Now I keep getting the spinnin.

I have not cruised since Covid.

I have 3 $100.00 FCD’s on file that I purchased on board prior to Covid.

I know allot of things have changed since Covid with cruising.  
 

Are they still accepting the $100.00 FCD for deposits on cruises 21 days or less.

Thanks 

Allot of it depends on the ship and iteanry.   The Zaandam has good size inside cabins.

I did an inside cabin for a Panama Canal cruise on the Veendam a few years ago and the inside was bigger than some of the outsides or balconies Ihave stayed in.

For the itearnry and ship you are on an inside cabin will just do fine.  The sea of Cortez has great shore excursions where you are not on the ship too long.

When I first started cruising all I could afford was an inside.  
 

The only type of cabins I have not stayed in are Neptune Suites and Pinnacle Suites.  
 

I did Hawaii with my Dad and sister a few years ago.   We stayed in a Signature Suite.  If we did anything smaller with three of us in the cabin, we would not be speaking to each other after 18 days,

The only time I was upgraded was when I booked a guarantee cabin.

Drives the crew more crazy then the passengers.  I have had that happen on a collectors cruise, where we had to go through imigration.

Also have had it on a several Mexican Riveria cruises on the day of disembarktion.  Those who are non US citizens are required to go to a lounge for certain imigration requirements.  The ship cannot start to clear til everyone required has attended.  You can hear the frustration in the crews voices when they request such and such to report to a certain lounge.  One time we did not get off the ship til 10:30.

Once I was on a Panama Canal Cruise and we were getting ready to leave Nigaregua.  The captain came on and said that there were two passengers that had not returned to the ship.  The captain came on and let us know that he had to send security to look for the passengers because the Nigaregua authorities would not clear the ship until the two passengers were on the ship.  Security found the two in a bar. 
 

All kinds of things happen.

Has anyone cruised out of San Diego since cruising has started and been able to find a hotel that has a parking pkg while you are cruising?

It seems like a lot of hotels that offered those pkgs no longer offer them.

 I know things have changed allot and we are now working with a new normal.

Thanks

I have been on the Ooesterdam twice.  My dad has balancing issues.  I request a shower stool from my PCC.  Last time I Was on the Ooesterdam was in 2017 and had no problem requesting the shower stool.  You just need to do it ahead of time.

I have never cruised HAL solo but I would never hesitate to do so.  I meet allot of solo passengers on board.  I am sortA solo except I have to share my cabin.

I cruise with my elderly father. My dad and I do our own thing.

This is one of my favorite itearnies!

Have Fun!

I would have tried to do this one but I am in between cateract surgeries had my right eye done 3 weeks ago and will have next one done April 12th.  Had to wait six months for the schedule because they are behind because of Covid.

I have cruised both.  The International Cafe is nice.  If you are a coffee drinker plan in buying it at the international cafe.  My dad is a coffee drinker and he says Princess coffee taste like flavored water.

The lines are similar.  There were more activities going on Princess then Hal.  My dad prefers the food on Hal but food is subjective and my father is very picky.  
 

My brother has next week off and he was looking at a coastal cruise on the Discovery, the Sea of Cortez on Hal out of San Diego or the Norweign Bliss.  Since he has a 13 and 11 year old there is more to do in the Bliss for the kids.   There is a Nice thermal Suite for my sister Inlaw.  My brother was really impressed with the Discovery based on the reviews.

You will compare the two and you will run into HAL cruisers on Princess.

You will have a good time.

The Princess Ship I was on the Grand Princess, I didn’t the hanging closets.  They didn’t  have doors on them.

2 hours ago, AV8rix said:

Hi, neighbor.  I'm solo also and I take these all of the time.  I'm leaving this Sunday for a B2B on Koningsdam in a free oceanview.  So, to answer your question....no, the single supplement does NOT come into play on these casino offers.  You just pay the port fees and taxes for a single. 

That is a nice B2B!

4 hours ago, ger_77 said:

So did we; unfortunately none of the dates are good for us - darn!

Me either!