TheLizardHouse

Apologies, as this has likely been covered . . . I’m already reading up on the Celebrity Edge, which I’m doing with friends out of AKL in Feb 2024. The cruise critic overview for inclusions, states:  

Gratuities, but only for those booked in Australia or New Zealand and paid in AU and NZ dollars.

Were there some changes with legislation? I’ve got a vague memory of hearing something ages ago. This would be great if so! We have $800 OBC, but the specialty restaurant prices are really hefty, so it’s mostly gone already. 😬

I just did. Apparently it doesn’t start until the next voyage, which is a different answer to the what the beverage Manager said yesterday. It’s poor communication to send this message out to everyone, without further explaining what the details are. 

A small glitch, in a nice cruise however. 

dchip, that’s awesome. It was sensible to take a screenshot shot, I was wishing I had done so too.

This was on Navigator and sent out in a seperate email, I never saw it on the website. I ended up speaking to a beverage manager today, who said it was just for the Westerdam. 🤷‍♀️

This was a promotion extra to HIA. The ‘and more’ part, was that for all beverages over $11 you would only be charged the difference in the price, rather than the full price - which is apparently the current arrangement with HAL. I had set my sights on a $14 French rose, but wait staff haven’t heard about this deal. HAL make these promises . . . 

Currently on the NA in Juneau, and from our perspective at least, all goes well. There are around 1200 pax, lovely staff and food, and reasonable compliance with mask wearing.

After HAL made a huge deal of the Have it all and more’ offer, it seems they are not honouring it. Service staff onboard don’t know about it, and a Manager told me, it was only being trialled on the Westerdam. We both got a notice on Navigator, and I got a seperate email as well. A lot of fanfare, for a promise that isn’t being delivered. 😏

It is a basic courtesy, for HAL to get in touch with passengers, if they are canceling or changing plans. There are flights and hotels to reorganise, and HAL are very quick to get in touch if money is owed. 🤨

I’m no longer seeing our D3C trip listed on the HAL website.This is a 14 day double Denali, departing Vancouver on the 31st of July on the NA.  It’s not listed as sold out - has simply disappeared.

Looking at what Alaskan cruise tours are listed, it looks like the cruise is still going ahead, which is reassuring. So, I’m wondering if we will end up with a shorter land option, or just what is going on.  We’re left to speculate, and ask questions. Thanks HAL 😕

8 hours ago, ldtr said:

There is a coffee shop (the Black Bear) across the highway from the lodge in Denali that is usually pretty good when it comes to breakfast and lunch.

 Thanks Idtr The menu looks tops. https://www.theblackbeardenali.com/

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

I am sorry you had a bad experience.  We are still within the window to cancel for a FCC and I am torn between waiting for an offer and cancelling until next year.  Which of your tours were canceled? When you say dead time was this time designated as time they were supposed to do something.  I am doing Yukon with 2 days Denali, I thought 2 days was enough for me though the DH was spoiling for 3. It sounds like you think the triple Denali is not the way to go, is that right?   I look forward to your comments and any advice you have.

Following this closely, as we are in the same position. I don’t want to cancel the land portion of our D3C double Denali, leaving from Vancouver next Month. This trip was about using FCC, not accumulating more!  Looks like packing snacks is a good idea, also maybe the excursions from Denali that include dining. At least we know to have suitably low expectations.
 

@denmor428 thanks for the heads up, and yes, it would be great to know what excursions were cancelled, and why.

Well, that’s a very good question, I wish I new. 

You would hope that the cruise lines understand what many people here already do, and that is that there is no 'getting back to normal'. You have to provide seasonal workers with flights, and decent accommodation for example, or you just wont get the staff.  Accommodating five staff members in one apartment is just not possible these days, for 'hygiene' reasons alone.  I get that the cruise lines are wanting to recoup $$$ asap, but everything hinges on staffing, and for that, dollars need to be spent to improve conditions.  (And passengers being rude and objectionable, also doesn't help).

One small consolation for those of us with land tours booked - this looks easy enough to organise yourself (if needed).  There are dozens of train based options available, we have a Grey Line 'diy' trip as plan B.  Either way, it will be an adventure. 😄

I looked through booking dates for the cruise tours, and many weeks were listed as ‘ unavailable’. The week of 7th August is also unavailable, but I’m not sure if that is land first, or cruise.

Clarification: McKinley Lodge looks to be out of action from the present to around the 10th of July. The land tours earlier in the season went ahead, so something’s changed. 

Same for the N.A. on the 31st of July.

I’m not 100% on this, but from what I can see on the website, there looks to be no possibility of staying at Denali with HAL before the 10th of July or so. After that, it’s OK through to the end of the season, with the exception being the week starting 7th of August.  Wow 😳.

I’m likewise concerned about our 14 day double Denali, leaving Vancouver on the 31st of next Month. It looks like we’ll need to have a plan B - which I think will be to stay onboard and cruise back to Vancouver.

Terrible to read that people are being mean to the ship staff, when we should all be thanking them for coming back to work, so that we can enjoy a cruise. 😒

Correct. I’ve just made a subject side step. 😂

Surely the pre flight testing requirement for entry to the USA, is coming to an end. Canada, most of Europe, Australia and NZ (soon) are no longer requiring testing to be done. I likewise feel for the Americans, just another hassle to deal with.

27 minutes ago, cccole said:

Maybe it's just me thinking that HAL should be more helpful in this situation...but could HAL not recommend testing sites that would help their passengers board the ship?  I know that we all need to take responsibility for our travel requirements, but a lot of people are jumping thru a lot of hoops to take cruises and other vacations.  JMO. Cherie

2 hours ago, SharonN said:

Sorry I know I'm venting and am trying to calm down (it's been a crazy week in general). I don't have a problem with having to get a test before boarding. I think it should be required so not blaming the US or HAL.  

     You’re allowed to vent, and I would be too. It’s good to know that the convention centre is no longer testing - we had planned on using that ourselves. If they have taken payment for testing at that site, but then closed it down, then they really should be refunding you. There should be a way to initiate this process - heading out to the airport is a hassle, and there are testing options downtown. Good luck.

@cccMaybe it's just me thinking that HAL should be more helpful in this situation...but could HAL not recommend testing sites that would help their passengers board the ship?  I know that we all need to take responsibility for our travel requirements, but a lot of people are jumping thru a lot of hoops to take cruises and other vacations.  JMO. Cherie

 I’ve had this thought for a while as well - completely agree.  Liz

7 hours ago, Dismomx5 said:

We are weathering this at the moment. Flew to Vancouver to join the Koningsdam with family. I tested -ve and hubby tested +ve. We had pretty much been hermits but for a family birthday party (all part of our bubble), but it seems as though one of the munchkins was asymptomatic. 5 days of quarantine here at the hotel, and then we will go home. Not the way things ere planned. 😞 On the positive side, my sisters/brothers-in-law are experiencing why I love HAL. 

     So sorry to hear this. I’m going to pretty much lock myself down for a week or so pre cruise, but unless you’re cruising solo, it’s only a part of the picture.  I guess we all just do what we can, and hope that it’s enough. 

4 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

As kazu said, you will be charged the full price, plus the 18% gratuity. Whereas the SBP covers up to $11 list price and also covers the gratuity.

 

 
Wow!  we had planned on just paying the price difference for our N.A. cruise at the end of July. This hasn’t been a problem on other cruise lines (as another poster has pointed out). I’m really surprised that HAL does this.

I have friends that get cash back for their OBC via the casino. So, they buy a Casino pass, use maybe $10 or so, and then cash in the balance. This wasn’t with HAL though.

16 hours ago, Hlitner said:

 

I understand that many folks still have "COVID Phobia" while others have moved beyond COVID.  It is not about right or wrong but reality.   Cruising and travel does involve increased COVID risk and that is simply a fact.   

This has already been covered, I know, but Hank I want to point out, that cruising now involves the very real risk of not even getting on the ship in the first place! This is my greatest concern. After a 14 hour flight, many thousands of dollars spent, and many hours of planning, if that second line comes up on the pre cruise rat test, then it’s all for nothing. 

It is a problem that regardless of whatever ship policy is, there seems to be a lack of enforcement.  Just reading on another thread how ‘masks were required to be worn on the buses, but most people didn’t bother’, and people not masking in elevators etc. All the policy in the world means nothing, if there are no consequences.