wdw1972

I cruise HAL - have never had anything damaged. I've even sent some exercise stuff out hoping it might shrink in the high heat but that hasn't happened either. Generally the only thing I tend to request is cold water wash, low heat dry. That's how I do it at home so wasn't comfortable thinking my stuff might get damaged in hot water/high heat. Sue/WDW1972

I'm almost certain that someone was wrong. I was an enrolled agent with the IRS many years ago and remember that clearly. I doubt it's changed, but check the IRS website to be certain. Sue/WDW1972

On my cruises (HAL) the drink prices are less than I see at resorts on land. I don't find them overly expensive at all. But, bottom line - you can't take it with you. Either spend it and enjoy life or penny pinch and risk being miserable - your choice. Sue/WDW1972

When you file for an extension you have to estimate all the numbers, and pay the tax estimated to be due. Later after the extension you'd "settle up" with the real number and pay the balance (hopefully small, to avoid penalties) or get a refund. Sue/WDW1972

Like many others, stressful situations are much easier to deal with when I'm solo. I don't need whatever the stressful situation is PLUS dealing with hubby's reaction/issues at the same time. Perhaps this is why I mostly cruise without him 😉 Sue/WDW1972

I also had only one credit card (other than Target & Kohl's) and never carry a balance - always pay in full. When the HAL offer came I applied, mainly because it makes sense to have a second card in case your primary card gets compromised and you become cardless while waiting for the replacement card to arrive, and also because I hope to cruise to Norway some year and my existing card charges a fee for foreign transactions (the HAL card does not). Well, despite having near perfect credit, I was declined instantly. It made no sense. A couple months later I had an offer from Capital One, applied and was given $10k credit instantly. This one has zero foreign transaction fees, and had a $200 cash back if you charged $500 in the first 90 days. I bought 5 discounted $500 HAL gift cards from AARP and within a couple days had the $200 in my account. Every transaction I make generates a notification saying "transaction from "vendor" is approved" so I'll know instantly if someone tries to use my card. I even had an email asking if I really meant to tip 51% at a recent restaurant (yes I did - part of the payment was a gift card, so the tip was based on the original amount but was 51% of what was left). I've been very impressed with Capital One so far. Barclay's (HAL card) - not so much 😉 Sue/WDW1972

It wasn't? I booked an aft wrap Neptune Suite for the 2 of us and total deposit was $2. This is for May 2025 Alaska - hoping the aft wrap neptune will be a big plus during the scenic cruising and Glacier Bay day! Sue/WDW1972

When you book obstructed view you have to expect maintenance will be going on at some point - perhaps most days. It's not unusual and certainly not anything HAL should be expected to compensate you for. I don't understand the extreme reaction of your kids - as parents you should be able to put them at ease and explain things - especially at age 8 & 12. Sue/WDW1972

Hi Jacqui, Please add us - wdw1973 & DH: May 18, 2025 7-night Nieuw Amsterdam northbound Vancouver to Whittier - 1st aft wrap Neptune Suite, celebrating son & daughter-in-law's 10th anniversary (separate stateroom for them) Sue/WDW1972

In my case I always keep a couple FCDs in my account, but I used the last 2 when the 24/25 Caribbean season opened recently. My next cruise isn't until November 2023. Son & his wife mentioned they're planning a HAL Alaska cruise for their 10th anniversary (they got engaged on Eurodam in the Pinnacle Grill) and we agreed to join them. Our TA yesterday booked both of our staterooms on the 5/13/23 7-night northbound Vancouver to Whittier. They booked obstructed oceanview, added Club Orange and moved to a spa oceanview overlooking the bow, with the big window. I booked DH & I into an aft wrap Neptune on deck 5. A cruise buddy is adding her stateroom - obstructed oceanview on deck 4 midship. With our big verandah that will be the gathering/viewing spot on the scenic days. I'm 4-star and already have most of the perks the neptune provides, but I wanted to try an aft wrap since I don't normally book neptunes. Total deposits for our party was $5 (5 people) - but in our case we fully intend to take this cruise! It's not a placeholder 😉 Sue/WDW1972

I believe shorts are never permitted in the main dining room (or specialty restaurants) at dinner - as it should be. The Lido buffet, Dive In or NY Pizza would be the options for someone refusing to wear slacks who didn't want room service inside their stateroom. Sue/WDW1972

I think it's true about the fresh squeezed OJ - they have regular for free but I think there's an upcharge for the fresh. I can't swear to it however, as I don't drink juice at all. DR lunch menu is the same every day - unless they might do a brunch one day. The Lido lunch is not entirely the same - some items repeat fairly consistently but there are quite a few that change out each day. An example is there's always a slider. In the beginning after the restart it was a pulled pork slider every single day. Then it changed and became a different slider each day, which was a great improvement because some are really terrific! The Asian choices change each day (not to say there isn't anything that might be present every day among the choices), Italian changes up a bit each day, etc. Sue/WDW1972

The cabana stewards know who booked cabanas and for $399 your brother booked a cabana for 2 people. They may be fine if you're up there when his wife is not there, but it would be wrong for you (or you & hubby) to go there when brother & his wife are there. You could always book your own cabana, then you'd be free to enjoy the amenities with them. Sue/WDW1972

I hadn't ever noticed that, but if that's your reality then bottled water makes sense. Now that I think of it, I always have the Retreat booked, where the big bottles of water are provided. I always take the open bottle down to my stateroom and basically that's what I use in my insulated metal water bottle when not in the Retreat, so I guess I haven't drank much of the ship tap water in several years. Sue/WDW1972

Nope - it's just as good as water people pay for a small fortune for in stores. It makes no sense to bring water onboard. Sue/WDW1972

That's correct - none of them do. I don't imagine they'd be showing that on the big screen by the pool - I think they do something bigger like Super Bowl, but not routine sports championships. I don't ever recall hearing of HAL showing MLB world series games on that screen, so it's doubtful they'd do so for college level. Sue/WDW1972

I've read here that during daylight hours (sunny) people can't see in. However, after dark, with your stateroom lights on, they definitely can. I've never actually stayed in one of those and never will. I want to look out my window and see ocean - not a promenade deck, railing, pedestrians, etc. I also keep my curtains open 24/7 unless I'm somewhere that the sun doesn't set 😉 Sue/WDW1972

Yes, I'm familiar with that. The Wajang Theater is completely different from The Screening Room. Wajang is much bigger, sight lines are poor, and a short person like me would never go there to see a movie. The Screening Rooms were too small, but the seating and sight lines were outstanding! Sue/WDW1972

I don't believe any of the ships do at this point. Sue/WDW1972

I think the OP is saying they have the beverage package so may not need a wine package. When ordering wine by the glass in MDR, how long is the wait and how difficult or easy is it to order a 2nd or 3rd glass during the meal? I don't do the MDR so can't be of any help. Sue/WDW1972

Thank you for your review - I enjoyed following along on your trip. I've sailed HAL many times, starting in my 30's and currently 64. My last cruise was on the Nieuw Statendam this past March (in the Caribbean). Thankfully I've never experienced a hot stateroom or uncomfortable bed. In fact, if anything the stateroom is chilly, but I like to keep it that way so I can sleep under the thick cover and when lounging in the stateroom I just put on the robe. Billboard has always been 2 piano players but has never been "dueling pianos" style. From my experience it's been rare to find 2 of them with great voices - usually 1 has been good to great and the other has been poor to barely ok. Love BB Kings, but will miss LCS on my upcoming cruises. I no longer do the MDR (probably been over 10-12 years) but that's just my choice. I prefer specialty, sometimes Lido or something else (like Grand Dutch Cafe). Overall the world is getting ruder by the minute it seems! I've encountered a few cantankerous people on my many HAL cruises, but only once (pre-covid) was there someone who was truly rude - in that case I chose to walk away but did tell her she was ridiculous/rude but not worth my time to attempt a conversation with someone so rude (I sat down at an untouched table in the Lido with my dinner then she & travel companion showed up to announce that was their table and they were just getting their food - with NOTHING disturbed or left on the table to indicate it was taken. Pointing that out left them standing there holding their plates glaring at me but not going away, lol). I hope my next HAL cruise (November 2023) is mostly free of the rude passengers. Sue/WDW1972

Most of my solo dining in HAL specialty restaurants was years ago and I never experienced what the OP experienced. In March of this year my travel buddy was under the weather so I ate at Rudi's solo (on Nieuw Statendam). I was given a great table, had excellent service, and it was no different from other Rudi's meals I've shared with other people. While I'm not saying the OP was wrong or inaccurate, I'm saying don't be scared off by someone else's report. If you're led to a crappy table as a solo, simply say no to that table and ask for your desired location. Once seated, service should be the same whether your 1, 2, 3, 4 or more and you shouldn't expect any less. Sue/WDW1972

There are no more formal nights except on longer Grand Voyages. Now the fanciest is "dressy", which would occur twice per week. Dressy for men means slacks and a shirt with a collar - that's the minimum. There's no need to pack suits or tuxedos unless that's what you want to wear. Sue/WDW1972

Thank you - I like it! Sue/WDW1972

Thank you for your blog - I've enjoyed every post and look forward to your next cruise! Sue/WDW1972