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Ottawa traveller

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Everything posted by Ottawa traveller

  1. Last January on the Oosterdam, the bow and front balconies on decks 4 and 5 and maybe others were open, weather permitting.
  2. I'm booked on the Westerdam next October. The itinerary shows that we are embarking Yokohama (Tokyo) at the beginning. Half way through we are stopping at Tokyo. HAL has sent an email to explain that the one marked simply Tokyo is not Yokohama. So, if your itinerary says Yokohama as opposed to simply Tokyo, Yokohama will be the port.
  3. On one of my cruises last year, the massage therapist told me that she and the other staff were new that trip. She said that people who were doing a back to back brought back unopened products that they had been pressured to buy during the previous cruise. She said as a result, the staff were being very careful about suggesting things. She also told me that the 18% service charge is her pay. The base price for the service goes to the salon. That is why the 18% is obligatory. Tipping is extra. The staff were making it clear before taking a booking or doing any work, that the 18% had to be paid.
  4. I am booked on the June 15, 2025 Arctic Circle Crossing. I had to waitlist 5 shore excursions but as of last week, I had confirmations for all of them. I don't know if they had cancellations or added extra capacity. I have always had good luck with waitlisting tours.
  5. "Again, sharing private islands simultaneously among brands is the industry standard." On HMC, Hal staff bring food ashore from the ship so that you don't have to return to the ship for lunch. I assume that does not happen on other private islands that are shared among brands.
  6. " I could find nothing specific to Holland America on this website...if I just missed it, can you point out what to click on. " The page I referred you to answers the question you asked about the countries where Holland America Line can obtain your on arrival visas and/or where visa exemptions are available for HAL passengers. How HAL gets those visas I don't know except that I relied on this page on my Asian cruise to know that I could depend upon HAL. Fortunatley for me money wasn't an issue and it was $60 and $56 for my two visas.
  7. "We have a cruise booked for Asia in 2025, where several countries require visas. How do I know if this is a cruise where HAL will obtain the visas for us," A couple of months before you go, HAL will send an email with a link to CiBT visa service. There is a lot of information on the site. Here is a link to the page showing for which countries HAL can get visas as of today. You have to keep checking as these requirements can change. HAL Travelers (cibtvisas.com)
  8. Last fall, I was on the Westerdam and I let them get the visas for Vietnam and Indonesia. One cost $56 and theother $60. I can't tell from my statement which was which. They have a good system for keeping your passport and letting you have it back when needed. It is usually done on boarding or on a sea day so no interruption to your shore plans.
  9. I did the Grand Asia in 2013. We stopped at many of these places. My relevant blogposts can be found at November | 2013 | Leslie's Travel Blog (wordpress.com)
  10. It is difficult to determine any price these days as HAL uses dynamic pricing. No more looking at a cruise fare and know that it will always be the fare. Sometimes it works in your favour. Last winter I was looking at a cruise on the Rotterdam. I travel solo. I like a Veranda A cabin so they cost a bit more to begin with. Initially, the price was way beyond my budget. I looked a couple of times and did not pursue it. I then started getting emails from HAL to "please complete your booking." I looked again and the price dropped almost in half. I then did book the cruise. I think they were trying to fill the ship which they did as it sailed completely full with all 4 and 3 person cabins fully occupied.
  11. I was on the Rotterdam this winter. They had a facial analysis machine which they used to determine which facial would be best for my skin condition. I was happy with the results.
  12. I was on a HAL cruise last fall which stopped in Vietnam. I took my guidance about whether HAL woud get the visa (yes) from the CIBT Visa Holland America website. I let HAL get the visa because our stop was at Phu My for Saigon. Phu My was not on the list that you see on the Vietnam Visa site. Apparently, it is part of a larger port. It is also not Ho Chi Min(Saigon) which is in the city itself. I decided it was safer just to let HAL get the correct visa.
  13. On my cruise in 2022, I booked the Mendenhall Glacier tour. Unfortunately, Juneau had terrible weather as an atmoshpheric river settled over the area. It was virutally impossible to see the glacier in the distance. Of course you can't predict the weather but if it is bad, you might have the same experience that I did.
  14. I just got off the Rotterdam. There was no classical music that I saw on the program.
  15. Correction regarding filling your water bottle. Yes you can do it but you have to first fill a mug and then pour it into your bottle. I was just on the Rotterdam and I asked if I could fill my thermos directly because I do not drink from it and the staff said no, that you must use a mug. There are lots of staff to pour you water or lemonade at your table. The Lido is so big on this ship that is never really gets crowded.
  16. Onn my recent cruise on the Rotterdam, they had all of these types of performers on the main stage in addtion to the Step One Dance company.
  17. I was at the Mariner ceremony today on the Rotterdam and asked the person responsible for Mariner matters for the answer to your question. She told me you would receive it in your cabin. Only persons receiving silver medallions and above receive it at the ceremony. Additional guests like me who are invited to the ceremony are 5 star and President's Club.
  18. I am on the Rotterdam. They had a ceremony last week for Silver Medallions and up. Not sure if those receiving bronze were invited to attend. There was a large crowd in attendance. I know that Platinum medallion holders and President's Club were invited. It's likely that it was 4 and 5 star Mariners who were invited.
  19. I use this plan all the time as I have a pre-existing condition and the plan lets you cancel for any reason up to sailing. That is you can cancel if you simply change your mind. There is some medical but I also have an annual plan with an affiliate group tha makes sure I have all the medical I need. You would have to decide exactly what you think you need it for. It is quite expensive but for me not so expensive that I know I can cancel if need be and still get 90% of the fare ( not including the cost of the premiums for the plan) back.
  20. The Navigator App has a section where you can link to Newspapers via the ship intranet. The complete daily versions of many newpapers are available. I was able to read my Ottawa newspaper as it was among about 5 other Canadian newspapers. I believe I saw the New York Times among some other American newspapers.
  21. I was on 3 cruises this past year. For the first 2, I had ship internet and got my news that way. On the recent Oosterdam I did not bother with the internet but checked out the newspapers on the Navigator app. To my surprise I could get the full versions of 6 major Canadian newpapers including the one from my home town on the app via a Pressreader site. I didn't miss the internet at all.
  22. I was on the Westerdam twice last year in Japan and Southern Asia. I worked extremely well in Japan and very well in Indonesia. I just came home from the Antarctca cruise on the Oosterdam. At times it was non-existent and very slow most of the rest of the time. As Heidi13 said it is entirely dependent on where you are.
  23. In a VA there are also 2 usbs by the bed
  24. Mary 229's advice is good. Look up how to ride the metro. You have to buy a card to which you then have to add money to pay for your trips. I believe you can use one card for two people as you would just have to tap it before each person goes through the turnstile and it would charge the 2 fares. You need cash to pay for it. Download Google translate Spanish to your phone as practically no English is spoken (unless of course you speak Spanish.) The streets are crowded as it is school summer holidays until March 2nd so pack your patience.
  25. Thanks for doing this blog. I've been following since the beginning. When you disembark on Sunday, I will be getting on. Right now l am enjoying the warm sunny weather in Santiago. I hope you will be staying awhile to enjoy Santiago. It has a lot to offer.
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