cidymom

Unfortunately I left it late to book shore excursions for a snorkeling with rays and sharks for this coming April in Bora Bora.  The excursion offered through the ship is sold out and Viator doesn't have much available either.  Does anyone recall if they saw any tour companies at the Bora Bora dock when you arrive from a cruise ship.  I read they have it in Moorea but just wondering about Bora Bora.  Thank you for any input.

Thank you so much Ferry_Watcher for the schedule!  Yes, it's a port stop and it appears to be the only ship in port that day.  HAL rep said it's Pier 91 so I hope that agent is wrong and it's indeed Pier 66.

That's great - they have everything I need!  Thank you for confirming.

For recent cruisers on HAL Volendam Oceanview staterooms, can you confirm what toiletries you get in the bathroom.  The room description I found on the HAL website for an oceanview room says Elemis soap, lotion and shampoo.  Do they not give you conditioner and body wash on the wall-mounted dispensers?  I saw a Youtube video on the Zaandam which is similar to the Volendam and it had three wall-mounted dispensers.  Would someone confirm.  I'm hoping to pack light and not bother bringing toiletries if Volendam has Elemis shampoo, conditioner and body wash.  Thanks in advance for your input.

It's HAL Volendam and it will be in Seattle on May 8.  Thanks for checking.

Hello everyone.  I'm booked on a short cruise which has Seattle has a port (I believe it will dock at Pier 91).  My questions are (1) can you walk from the port to downtown Seattle (to Space Needle, Pike Market or shopping areas) or if we have to take taxi or Uber (2) are there any companies offering excursions at the port to book (3) are there HOHO buses operating now.  Thanks in advance for any input.

I'm looking at a NCL cruise with a port stop in Bora Bora in 2024.  It appears there is only this one NCL cruise in all of 2024 that makes a stop there.  In reading posts from previous years, I thought there was a ban on large cruise ships with over 1,200 passengers coming into Bora Bora.  Has there been a change to the ban from their Government?  The prices are high for this cruise and I don't want to book and later find out after final payment that they can't make it into Bora Bora because they are over limit. The NCL reps don't have an answer and says to wait closer to the cruise date, which is no help as it will be too late!  Can anybody provide any input - it could be that I'm not in the loop to the changes happening in French Polynesia since Covid.  Thank you in advance for any input.

Hi Mike - thanks for your input.  I didn't realize they have shuttle vans at the terminal that goes to the Malecon.  In that case, I won't even bother getting Pesos and just pay in USD.  I don't feel comfortable negotiating so paying a set price works for me and the price difference doesn't appear that big.  Thanks so much!

I plan to bring some Mexican Pesos with me for taxi rides and souvenirs and wondered how much it would be in Pesos for a return taxi ride from the PV port to the Malecon in town.  Thanks all.

Hi there.  My family will be on Navigator in a couple of weeks and I wondered if there were people and RCI staff still wearing masks.  Does RCI encourage mask wearing in crowded indoor spaces?  There were masks in my stateroom when I cruised HAL in August and I just wondered what protocols are in place now with the lifting of most restrictions.  I still plan to wear a mask in places where it is crowded.  Thanks for any input.

OMG, I was so worried there.  Why would they ask for it to be completed at the start of the cruise then if it is for the return trip back to Canada.  That totally threw me off!  Thank you for the explanation. 

I also posted this question on the Canadian Cruisers category as well and decided to post it here.  I'm really stressed that I screwed up filling out the form.

I'm leaving on my cruise on Saturday from Vancouver to Alaska return so I just completed my ArriveCAN.  When I printed my ArriveCAN E-Receipt, I noticed that it had the return date of the cruise not my embarkation date.  Did I fill out it out wrong?  When asked for embark date, I put down 2022 8 27 and then I think it asked for arrival into Canada so I put down the Vancouver cruise terminal and the return date 2022 9 03.  But the printed E-Receipt shows 2022 09 03 so does that mean they think I'm boarding on September 3 which is the date I return.  Was I suppose to put the same date down as the ship arrived in Canada for me to board?  I'm really confused and worried they might not let me on now!!  Can someone explain what I did wrong and how to fix if it wrong.  Thank you in advance for any help.

I'm leaving on my cruise on Saturday from Vancouver to Alaska return so I just completed my ArriveCAN.  When I printed my ArriveCAN E-Receipt, I noticed that it had the return date of the cruise not my embarkation date.  Did I fill out it out wrong?  When asked for embark date, I put down 2022 8 27 and then I think it asked for arrival into Canada so I put down the Vancouver cruise terminal and the return date 2022 9 03.  But the printed E-Receipt shows 2022 09 03 so does that mean they think I'm boarding on September 3 which is the date I return.  I'm really confused and worried they might not let me on now!!  Can someone explain what I did wrong and how to fix if it wrong.  Thank you in advance for any help.

Will be going on this ship in a few weeks so looking forward to reading your live trip report and seeing the Daily Programs so I can plan a few things in advance.  I do have a couple of questions: (1) was the Lido Market for embarkation day lunch full of people on your sailing? and (2) when you sail in Alaskan waters in the next few days whether the ship is rocking as I'm worried about seasickness.  Thank you for taking the time to do this for your fellow cruisers!

Appreciate your updates.  I'm on this ship in a couple of weeks and wonder what the entertainment line-up is like.  Thanks.

Just to confirm my understanding, this means we can rebook a cruise that was cancelled on us right now and not pay any deposit until May 31, 2020 - is that correct?  Does anyone know what the refundable deposit is?  With everything that is going on in the world, I'm leaning to book refundable deposit to I can cancel and get money back rather than FCC.  Can I use my FCC to pay for the deposit too?  Thanks all and keep safe.

My family was scheduled to cruise on the March 15th Harmony cruise but we cancelled a week before the 48 hr cutoff time for FCC.  As this cruise is now officially cancelled by RCI, can we change from a FCC to refund?  We're worried we won't be able to use the FCC as they only give you until Dec 31/2021.  Any chance RCI may extend the expiry date longer, say 2 or 3 years to use.  How does everybody else feel about that?  Has anybody who cancelled earlier on one of the affected cruises consider requesting a refund instead or getting the higher FCC?  Thanks.

Ren - thank you so much for taking the time to post the Compasses and the departure times - very helpful!

Great review!  My family will be on Harmony sailing the same itinerary in March.  Do you by chance have the daily Compasses for this itinerary? If so, would you be able to post?  What was the price of the Native Choice tour that you took in Costa Maya (if you don't mind answering)?  Is this a private tour or through RC?  I've read somwhere that you can't punch the Seapass cards on Harmony, is that correct?  If so, I'll have to get another type of lanyard.  Is the International Pier in Cozumel near downtown Cozumel or do we need to take a taxi or is walkable?  Thanks for your help.

Does someone remember the price for the basic Voom Surf Package for 1 device only on Harmony of the Seas for a 7-day cruise?  Thanks.

Great review as usual!  Question: where did Harmony dock in Cozumel?  Was it near downtown Cozumel?  I didn't get to explore downtown Cozumel on the last trip so hoping the ship would be docking nearby and I don't have to get a taxi into downtown.  Thanks for your helpful tips.

To ADPMOM - I just finished your last Harmony review and have made notes of your tips for our Harmony cruise next year.  When you have time or if you pass by the Vitality Cafe, can you see what food options they have there and the opening times.  I'll be on Deck 6 and thought it would be convenient for breakfast if they have oatmeal.  Thanks so much!

Danish viking - thank you so much for your input.  I hope you don't mind but I have a few more questions:  (1) do you know if the bus stop is close to the Andersen Hotel or do we need to go back to the train station to catch Bus 25? (2) how frequently does the Bus 25 run on a weekday? (3) does Bus 25 drop off close to the cruise terminal check-in point?  Is it the last stop?

Thank you again for your help.

I've been reading the various threads about taking public transport to and from the Copenhagen cruise port.  I've booked the Andersen Hotel for next year and understand I can take Bus 25 directly to the cruise port.  My question is does the bus have room for luggage storage if there are 5 of us and each have rolling luggage and carry on?  I don't recall anyone mentioning luggage and how the bus handles it.  Is the bus usually full going to the cruise port?  Any input appreciated.  Thanks.

I will be travelling for the first time solo on NCL Bliss and have the following questions which I know fellow Bliss cruisers can answer:

1)  If doing the race cars, will there be someone to take a picture? Can a person bring their cell phone and take a selfie? Will they allow you to bring a cell phone or small handbag into the car? I really want to have picture of me in the race suit and helmut to show everyone I got the nerve to do it!

2)  Is there a sauna in the women's change room or just in the thermal area?  I just got off Epic last month and was disappointed there was no sauna unless you pay for the thermal area.

3)  Do they still provide body wash and hand soap in all types of cabins?  I'm in an inside this time as I'm going solo.  I know they have it in the balcony cabins on Epic.

That's all for now.  Thanks in advance for your help.