IndyDenise

My guess is that on the carnival board they weren't talking about having 15 soft drinks a day.

Well someone there mentioned that they could not get any paid drinks past the 15.

I don't know how the system would let someone know if 12 cokes were purchased and 3 beers.

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OMG - 15 drinks in one day and then trying to get more - another reason why we stay will HAL as fewer 'frequent imbibers' and will not even consider Carnival

Who said anything about imbibing 15 drinks a day ? Oh wait, YOU did , I didn't. I bet you're fit as a fiddle with all that jumping to conclusions you do! :)

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IIRC, POA1, in his thread about the SBP, spoke about this situation. I believe that someone in his group did max out the SBP, and used his regular room key to get additional beverages. Remember, the 15 drink limit includes ALL beverages, alcoholic or not.

Thank you! I didn't say I was going to drink 15 ALCOHOLIC drinks. Between Diet Cokes, Bottled water, specialty coffees and adult beverages I could easily do 15 a day. My Coke Zero daily allowance alone would freak people out more than their thoughts of someone drinking 15 alcoholic drinks a day.

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There are threads on the Carnival Cruise Forums that say if you reach your 15 drinks a day with the drink package you are done. You can't even buy anymore, your sail card won't even work to purchase a drink. No more. Cut Off. Begone with your butt. Keep cruising on past the bars, we don't want your money type cut off.

Has anyone experienced the same with HAL ?

"Lawrence Welk music" wouldn't generally be termed "Big Band", but you won't find much of either on HAL any more. It's been years since that era of music was on their regular playlist.

 

Once in a while you may hear some "Big Band" music in the Ocean Bar at cocktail time, but that's about it.

So I'm thinking I'm not going to hear Pitbull, Bruno Mars or Katy Perry?

Maybe in the disco? I'd even settle for The Beach Boys and music from Oklahoma. I bet I can shake my booty like crazy to The Surrey with the Fringe on Top!!!

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Bottom line for us is that if they don't improve the quality of the band the name or lack of name makes no difference. HALCats, HALDogs, HALWhatever.......bad is bad. :)

So what kind of music is on HAL? My first and only HAL cruise was so port intensive ( Greece, Italy etc ) that we were asleep by 9:00 most nights.

I love 50's-current, show tunes, blues and soul but hate the Lawerence Welkish stuff ( is that called big band? )

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I do wish HAL would get the message I hear so often on CC, that we like live music but not so loud. I don't remember reading any comments (doesn't mean they aren't here) saying the music is too quiet. On our last cruise on the Prinsendam I stood outside the showroom in the back a couple of nights so I could hear the music without feeling it.

 

 

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If this music is good, loud is fine by me.... But music to one's ears may be hated by another's.

For those about to rock, I salute you.

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Can I make a Pinnacle Grille reservation now for an upcoming cruise and when I board the ship, have that reservation as my freee one from Explore4?

I had a very specific time/date I wanted . I didn't want it during formal night or semi-dressed up night or no wife beaters night or whatever the heck it's called. So

I did this. However we have a party of three so I only bought and reserved one. I'll just switch the reservation to three onboard in the Neptune Lounge.

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Can someone please explain the differences in the perks? I don't see any difference mentioned in the amenities section for Neptune Suites on the HAL website when I view the Westerdam deck plans.

 

I was planning to book an Aft Neptune suite for our first HAL cruise next year, so I would appreciate making an informed decision.

 

Thanks

Enjoy your cruise. I'm not an Aft person for a couple of reasons but I do like the suites!

On the Hal site click on the general stateroom and suite amenities page. They are listed there and starts with Neptune Lounge Access.

The question is have you been to Vegas late?? Unless you stay in the lower end hotels and do NOT drink any alcoholic beverages the cruise is going to be far cheaper. An average cocktail at say MGM, Wynn Venetain or Ceasars is going to cost you around $16 to $18 per drink a soda in said hotels is around $5.00

I agree, was just there in the "off season" of July 15ish. A beer at the Flamingo was $7.00 and a Pina Colada poolside was $20.00. The buffet at the Mirage was $45.00 for brunch. Strip prices are nuts, the more central the higher the price.

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Neptune Lounge is on Rotterdam Deck. Navigation Deck Neptune Suite guests have a bit of a hike to come to Neptune.

Right , but the VC's and VB's do not get suite perks. So it does not matter how far they have to walk to the Neptune Lounge.

I'm actually thinking of booking on the Vista soon. For me it's the lure of the Havana Cabanas ..and the private pool access as well as the private lounge/bar area.

Sometimes "tacky" is fun. And I'm all about the fun.

Just a heads up that the non-related kids will need to be booked in a cabin with an adult 25 years or older. Only your children can be booked alone in a cabin nearby.

 

To the OP, move or don't move, it is certainly your choice as you paid to pick out your cabin. If it were me, and there was absolutely no difference, I would move if it was a family needing be near family issue. Now, if it was an issue of someone wanting my port side room or something like that, I probably wouldn't move.

IMHO it shouldn't matter why someone wants the room. Either the OP gives it up or not. When you throw the reason why into the mix it turns the OP into a judge. Heck, the reason Carnival may give him may not even be correct. They probably shouldn't be divulging info like that anyway... Other than to say someone else requires that room.

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I'm glad I'm not on this ship with you because obviously your attitude will be seen all over this ship....

 

 

 

How dare you say they should have booked earlier.. You have no clue what they are going thru or have gone thru.. We had a cruise booked found out we were pregnant and would be past the cut off that carnival will allow you to cruise so we canceled then we lost the baby at 25 weeks after 2 weeks in a trauma unit so we decided to take the cruise for me to have something to focus on.. DON'T EVER judge another person that is not your place.. Carnival is being nice to even offer you onboard credit that to me is above and beyond.. Jerk is a nice name for you because I could come up with a few not so nice names...

This posting is so over the top as to laughable. It reminds me of the DIS boards when someone screams "hidden disability". Seriously your loss ( and I'm sorry) has nothing to do with the OP.

In the same token( if your going to use your argument ) that could apply to the OP.. No one knows what they have gone through etc.

Truth of the matter the OP shouldn't have to move for whatever reason . The other parties circumstances or poor planning does not mean the OP is a jerk if he stays put.

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If I think your out of luck unless you purchased trip insurance for the cruise.

Sorry for the bad turn of events and I hope your husband gets well soon.

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There's another thing that can add value to something that does not have to do with money.

For me there is value in the fact that now I know exactly what my bar bill will be. I tend to be very cost conscience and shy away from trying new things because I don't want to be throwing away money on the unknown. Now I can order and toss it if I don't want it. No worries. I would purchase the drink package alone for that reason . Plus I can drink . A lot!!!15 beverages over the course of a day is right up my alley.

Now my bar bill is costing me zero. If I booked today I would have paid the same price but not had Explore4. The OBC will cover the tips and I still have enough leftover to buy the horseback riding shorex at HMC plus a HAL robe if I desire.

I'd say that in any cost study I won.

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So far, so good!!

 

September is a long way off. Watch the pricing: it may come down! No use paying more than the "perk" is worth!!

My upcoming March 7, 2015 cruise is still listed at the price I paid BUT I have the Explore4 package. Well, I actually am cheaper! I have an SC suite on Rotterdam ( only one of two there ) for 2099.00. Now a suite on Rotterdam is around $2349.00 or more. I thought I paid more but I called to see about an upsell to an SA both HAL and myself realized I would be nuts to do so. Just because I am lazy it wasn't work hundreds of dollars to save steps walking to the Neptune Lounge.

In my case ( a couple of weeks after final payment ) I did well.

Drink Package plus $300.00 OBC plus an extra $200.00 OBC HAL let me tack on during the National Cruise Week promo.

After final payment I do check prices even though I know they will drop like crazy in the weeks to come. I know I wont qualify for the price drops but I do it out of some sick fascination. So far, so good. I made out like a bandit.

IndyDenise - Yep! Us too. March 7th. Do you want to go to St. John? : )

LOL! I would but the 19,970 others are going to be headed there too. We are doing the shopping thing. Nice lunch, drinks, snacks, drinks, dessert, drinks ( I think you know where I am going with this :D) Thanks for the invite, though!

IndyDenise - I checked out the port authority's schedule and we, too, will be anchored away from the docks (maybe we are on the same March cruise?) That pretty much clinched it for me. No rental car from St Thomas. I still think we will gain an hour of time on St. John over the St John on your own excursion, though, if we cab to Red Hook, take the foot-ferry over, then catch a 2 o'clock ferry back. We will probably find a driver to cab us around when we get over there.

Westerdam starting March 7, 2015?

If so our port load is the most of the month, I think one of the Gargantuanus of the Sea is hanging with us that day.

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Some people have wayyy too much time on their hands. Next thing you know the side of the ship will be draped with multiple flags/banners from sports teams, countries, states, schools, companies, tv shows etc. making the beautiful ship look low rent.

Yup ! A bunch of us are going to get together and put rhinestones everywhere too. Bling out the ship, so to speak. Bedazzlers unite.

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Which cruise line? Carnival doesn't rent the beach clam shells until you are on island.

HAL does. I have one for March.

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The only exceptions made are if it's a Packers flag.

Ain't happenin' :cool:

Oh Good! You're hanging a Colt's flag! Gotta love Andrew Luck and the boys in blue. :D

I would also check port schedules. Seems HAL tenders there too. On my March cruise HAL doesn't show it as a tender port but the port authority does. Seems we will tender in to Charlette Amalie (sp) directly.

If you have to tender this may cost you extra time getting off the ship.., excursions and suites off first ( right? ) and a completely different location than what you thought.

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I thought Suites board BEFORE FTTF?

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My best friend and bridesmaid married an Aussie. We've spent plenty of time with them. I'm sure you and I would be fine :eek: :D

 

Okay, you're in. March 7, 2015 Westerdam. Be there by 1:00pm, I'll have a Wang Wang or two waiting for you.