Caribbean Chris

Front desk gave it out for free on Constellation last month.

Not sure if this makes any difference but try updating the app. There was a new version issued I think yesterday, version 1.340. See if you still have the green check for vaccinations and if not, upload again. (Possibly your previously-updated info got deleted somehow via the update?)

Not at sure sure, but I know HAL was serving Tazo tea a few years ago at the Explorations Cafe. Became one of my favorites.

The main reason is that info in the online check-in such as passport numbers is required for assorted governments’ requirements. The HAL website says you have until 72 hours prior to departure and if you don’t do online checkin in advance, you may be denied boarding. Getting to the ship after that would be at your own expense. I am sympathetic to HAL because I worked for cruise lines for years. They may not need to supply a manifest until departure day but they have to draw a line in the sand somewhere so 2000 people don’t wait until a few hours before sailing to produce info. Now there are even more complications such as vaccinations and Covid tests to submit. Some destinations have visa requirements. So, yes, they do want us all to check in, but I doubt they have nefarious reasons. Human fallibility is involved. More than one person has posted on these forums that they couldn’t find their passport when they started checking in online. Or suddenly realized it was about to expire. Power goes out, computers die. Once my spouse lost his passport. Once we had to scramble and leave home earlier than planned to escape a blizzard. Stuff happens.

Good report and very interesting - thanks!

I hope it’s improved. I find it so unwieldy to look at possible cabins on the HAL site that I use a travel agency website instead that shows the information via departure month and actual deck plans. So much faster. The HAL website works especially poorly on my iPad which I use most frequently when browsing for future cruises. That’s one reason we give that TA our business instead of booking with HAL directly.

This thread prompted me to pull out “The Art of Cruising - Fine Art and Antiques of Holland America Line” which was published by HAL in 2007. It has gorgeous photos but looking at them is bittersweet since seven of the ships are no longer in the fleet.

DH loves onion rings. That really is a GOOD food question. Would love to see them at Dive In. Milk shakes on Pinnacle ships were definitely a step in the right direction.

To find the promo, you’ll need to enroll in the AARP Rewards program on their website, No extra cost for members but an extra step to enroll. Then scroll down and search the rewards offers. You’ll find a gift card offer (“while supplies last”) for several different cruise lines including HAL.

We had to cancel a HAL cruise in January a couple of weeks before sailing. When we filed the claim online with Travelguard, we had to provide documentation for the cost breakdown of the cancelled cruise, proof it was paid in full, etc. including the dollar amount of any credit to be issued by the airline, cruise line, hotel, etc. We also had to include copies of the cruise line’s cancellation policies. Our claim was researched and paid but they subtracted the future cruise credit dollar amount HAL had promised our travel agent. (Which we later received, but good only through 12/31/22.) I definitely understand why you want the full amount in cash, since we would have preferred it, too. (Our claim was complicated by our having used a 2020-issued FCC as partial payment.) But even though you don’t consider the FCC total remuneration, it’s possible the insurer might. The HAL cancellation info you’d provide would state what their policy is if you cancel for Covid. The insurance claim adjusters are already well aware anyway that airlines, cruise lines, etc are issuing credits. Maybe it depends on what the fine print of your policy says. But hopefully Babr’s answer in the post above is more accurate. Maybe you could have a hypothetical conversation with someone at your insurance company to find out if you can decline a future cruise credit offer under their policy and file a full claim since a FCC is not a like-kind refund for the cash you had to pay HAL.

I believe 43 days isn't too early to at least start the online checkin. You can come back and add as needed. IIRC, for our last HAL cruise in November we were required to upload head shot photos and our vaccination cards, which we did closer to sailing date, and also to fill out a health questionnaire on the app shortly before departure. You can see your boarding passes on the app, and there will be prompts to continue with the process to those remaining steps.

Another suggestion -, have you tried using a desktop with chrome browser, signing in on the regular HAL website, and following the online checkin process? On our last cruise in November, that produced boarding passes on our app (using iPhone and iPad.) Sometimes HAL programs don’t seem to like my ipad, so we often use the desktop to enter basic info for check-in, tours, restaurants, etc which later shows up on the app..

Have you tried deleting the app from your device, reloading it, and signing in again? That sometimes brings in new information.

It’s usually not possible to bring non-passenger guests aboard. The keel of Pride of America was laid in a US shipyard and the ship has US registry so flies the American flag, which is why it can legally carry passengers between US ports. As far as bringing snorkel gear, we did that once for a cruise years ago and stopped. Takes up a lot of suitcase room and you can find fins for rent at almost any public beach in the world where the snorkeling is good. Masks are worth bringing for a guaranteed good fit.

Someone recently had a photo of a HAL room key with HIA in the upper right corner indicating the Have it All package.