Dancing Shoes

Following. Going with HAL in Feb. Doing Woodwinds also. Have a blast.

Yes, it will increase. I usually pick the "chose your own cabin", and the price you see may stay the same if you pick the same deck and area.

If you canceled your cruise and then booked again, it would be a "new" booking. My cruise is a non-refundable deposit. I am not even going to try. 🤕

Was your booking refundable or non-refundable deposit?

I am calling my TA to have this prepaid gratuity added to my booking. Wonder if they will take away the AARP OBC.? Also if you call HAL during the week you get better answers. LOL It amazes me that you have to go one step up at HAL.

Absolutely no. We disembarked in Amsterdam last spring, and while the airport security moved, it moved slowly. Glad I had a big window.

I use a small waterproof back-pack for the beach and shore excursions.

Hmm....Starbuck's coffee aboard the Volendam. I like it and it was not offered on the Rotterdam last year. Available at Dutch Cafe?

Did you look at the deck plan? It appears that there could be the dining room or a grey area above you. That could be the kitchen. There are cabins that are under shops towards mid ship.

What...only 8%. Last year when I bought it was 10%. Oh brother. Better than nothing.

I purchase HAL gift cards and buy OBC, and it is not used. Will that unused portion go back to my credit card on file with them? Do I have this right?

I hear you. I would be disappointed as well. As you know, they can change ports and there is basically nothing you can do about it. I am headed to Antartica on a drive-by in 2025. Hope we get to port on the Falkland Island. I know my situation isn't the same, but my parents cruised a lot, and it took 2 trips so they could stop in Egypt back in the 80's. Again, sorry.......

Do you remember where on HAL is the OBC listed for purchase? Thanks Mary229

I tried to renew, as I didn't know if I should. I got the message "Varication Limit Exceeded". It looks like you already redeemed this offer or attempted to. I was ready to reach out to HAL, and my new personal consultant called. No AARP credit was showing on the confirmation email. I got the same message that another cruiser got while booking......"The AARP OBC has been applied to this booking. Really. My membership does expire August 2024.

I would not chance it. You could end up under a venue. I have been in a lower deck OV room/Volendam. Being close to the water line, we could watch fish on our Alaska cruise.

Any update?

I read that the wall is good. Limited boats to the wall. One has mixed reviews regarding their boats and the other I found is a dive company, Blue Water Divers. Their snorkel trips need min. 4 people. We are going in Feb. 2025

Grand Turk has the wall. When is your trip Rockinrobin50?

I forgot how humidity affects me. Last April 2023 we went to the Caribbean. I remember walking in Key West and said this is awful. We kept ducking in shops to cool off. We got to Cozumel and walked downtown to the Mexican restaurant and if was again, really hot. I like it and don't. Now when I am on a beach under an umbrella at Grand Caymen, that is another story. In the shade, with the ocean nearby. I hear ya.......

What!!! You should not be waiting for a call back on something this simple. All they have to do is reprice the booking to cruise only. I do remember that one of our sailings went down in price four times! One time the rep when repricing charged for the beverage package and Wi-Fi. I called back and it was fixed then.

I booked cruise only on my last 2 sailings. Sounds like someone hit the wrong button and you were not charged for that. If you said yes to something and they misunderstood, they should have no problem fixing it.

You can get water at the bar. I understand the not wanting to drink, but when you run out of your soda you brought you might enjoy ordering there instead of picking up soda at the stations that sell canned soda, water, and other beverages.

Our last two Alaska cruises have been in August. First one was 2018/sunny every day, yes. Second one, 2021 rain one day in Juneau. I think next time will be June. My friend got back from a land tour to Danali and had nice weather and saw the mountain multiple days!

When I printed out my email excursion confirmation that information was stated below the details. I did these online myself. I think HAL has different invoices/confirmations that they email maybe. Never know with them!???!

Nice review. I like your writing style. Unfortunately, if you want to see Glacier Bay soon, only HAL and Princess have the contract to do so. And you got to do Tracy Arm from the ship! We are early to bed, so HAL works for us. I understand wanting to stay up late and everything is closed up for the night.