bksunbuddies

On 12/5/2021 at 8:56 AM, phillygwm said:

That's the issue.  The ships don't really have the infrastructure to test 2500 people.  They're used to testing, maybe, a couple hundred foreign travelers who require it.

 

If the rules change, NCL will need to staff up in order to test and process all those pax the evening before disembarkation, otherwise there will be chaos.

We were on the Escape from Port Canaveral, FL for Thanksgiving. Everyone had been vaccinated at least 14 days previous to sailing.  Before boarding the ship, everyone was tested (at NCL expense)…even if you had had a Covid test within the last 24 -48 hours…no exceptions! Testing process and boarding process went very smoothly. Love NCL 

On 1/15/2019 at 1:30 PM, faerievert said:

I’m hoping I might score one as an upgrade. Just wasn’t willing to spend an extra $250/person for the location. Any forward is my preference for proximity, but  if we end up in the middle or aft, I’ll be glad to finally try a different location (I won’t know my foreword preference is justified until I try elsewhere 😂)

If we would have known that spa facilities were not included in the extra cost, we also would not have chosen a spa cabin. Why spend extra for the room and another $200+  Per person to use the spa facilities??  Very misleading!  I know that the purchase of “spa catagory stateroom” on some ships;  including Carnival, NCL, and Celebrity (Aquaclass staterooms),  also  includes the use of the spa pool and facilities since one pays extra for a spa cabin. 

The location is good and it is too late to change cabins. It was my mistake for assuming that HAL represented spa rooms like other cruise lines that specify a spa stateroom catagory.  I do hope my posting will make others aware that spa privledges are not included and it is going to cost you more. At least we will get to use the spa one day as a perk for achieving  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on HAL.

I’m happy to know that I was not alone in thinking that a spa cabin included “hydro spa” use free of extra charges.

Hopefully this his discussion will help other cruisers find out that the spa cabins on HAL do NOT include complimentary use of spa facilities. 

I wonder if any other cruise line names some of its cabins as a “spa cabin” but do not have complimentary spa privileges?? I do know Viking Ocean Cruiseline lets everyone use the spa amenities for no additional cost. Carnival and NCL include the use of the spa in the price you pay for the spa cabin. 

That is ridiculous to call the cabins “spa rooms” on both HAL and Carnival. They are both Carnival Corp. yet the Carnival ships include the complimentary spa pass in the price of the spa cabin! NCL also includes free “access”, i.e. complimentary thermal suite access which includes use of the thermal suite. 

Very disappointed and we haven’t even sailed. Maybe we will be able to change our room since we don’t mind walking to the gym. 

That is absolutely ridiculous and very misleading on HAL’s part. They should state that the passes are extra. I never would have switched from a balcony to a spa ocean view. Since Carnival includes the passes with the spa room, you would assume HAL, a company of Carnival, would do the same. 

Are you sure that includes the newer ships?

Does Koningsdam Spa room include complimentary use of their Thalassotherapy Pool?

We  recently booked an outside spa room on an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise. We chose this room category because when we have  previously purchased a spa room on Carnival ships (Breeze, Dream, Magic and Splendor) or any Norwegian Cruise Line; unlimited use of the Thalassotherapy Pool is always included with the purchase of a spa room.  

Now I am questioning our choice since everything I have read on line indicates that free thermal suite access is NOT included with a spa room on the Koningsdam or Nieuw Statendam. If someone can answer this question, we would surely appreciate your responses.

Maya Chan is excellent and very safe. It is owned and operated by an American family who are experienced cruisers wanting to offer a resort that met cruisers concerns and expectations for an activity not booked through the cruise lines. We were just there in July and are going again next March. It is everything as advertised and more. Your friends have nothing to be concerned about.

Great place! We love going there!

I re-entred a Cagneys Reservation and a Le Bisto reservation last night and this morning they are gone again.

 

Is there a limit to how many are able to be made on line or at all with the promotional dining package? We booked three which seem to be sticking but these other two are not.

 

Do you know why?

 

Thanks in advance.

I experienced a problem with disappearing reservations but finally figured it out...:D:D You have approximately 15 minutes after you enter your first choice to go to the "check out cart". Check "agree" with the payment conditions and press enter. This is true even if there is NO cost!! Only after doing this will you receive a confirmation! This is probably confusing because so many people have the dining package and/or when the entertainment is free, why would you have to "pay for it"? If you don't receive a confirmation, then you don't have a reservation

If you are reserving a lot of dining and entertainment, you may want to do a few days then go to "check out". After confirmation, go back and do the other days. If you wait too long, the first ones you entered may no longer be registered in the cart if it is more than the allotted "cart time".

I hope this helps. It is a shame that NCL does not provide more direction to its customers, especially with such a continuous problem.

We appreciate the replies.

It sounds like we will be sailing on the Sunshine a lot more. The picture (from the Carnival website) does not show the true size of the pool. There is room for 17-20 people :D comfortably.

Karen and Brad

We just returned from a cruise on the Sunshine, which went to the Caribbean instead of Bermuda. :( It seems that on most Carnival ships, the Adult Only Serenity areas contain hot tubs. We were delighted to find a pool with a waterfall in the 3 deck Serenity area. We found this pool to be quite refreshing in the 100+ degree heat index of the Caribbean.

Does anyone know what other Carnival ships have the pool and waterfall in the Serenity area?

Thanks for your help.

Thank goodness it's a free country and you can do as you wish. We too have done princess several times but dislike large cruiselines with more than 1200 passengers. We too have done 2 Viking river cruises and both were experiences of 10 star quality. We are optimistic that the Oceans will be the same.

I believe they are having growing pains which in turn will have faux pas but once everything is in place......BLISS!:D

We sure hope they have it together by the time they set sail in a few weeks! We have had enough disappointments already. I have to say this is the least excited I have been for a cruise in over 35 years! Maybe it is because when I get something planned on this trip, Viking changes their plans. There may be a lot of very disappointed people on the ship when they discover all the changes upon embarkation. A lot of people do not participate in Cruise Critic.

I think extra shipboard credit and/or drink packages should arrive at everyone's stateroom! :p

I think it's worth bringing up here to vent. And again to Viking after the cruise to let them no were disappointed. What may occur if enough people let Viking know there disappointment is they will not renew the contract with this group going forward.

 

Regardless, a 10% increase isn't going to stop me from enjoying my holiday. Hopefully the Spa staff does an excellent job, helps us enjoy ourselves, are tipped well (the price increase isn't their fault), and the only issue is the late price increase.

 

At this point calk it up up to one of many launch miss steps we've encountered.

I think that spending time and money at a spa while on vacation is always higher priced, and people make their decisions based on how important that experience is to them. And as I said before - no, don't think it was right - but it is a choice to indulge in the experience or not....and as PopsA said, 10% isn't going to make or break that decision for me. It is a choice, pay $16 more than originally expected for a 50 minute massage, or dig your heels in and boycott. No right or wrong. And if $16 makes the decision, the spa experience isn't a top priority....no judgement in the statement.....

I do agree with both of you. I guess I am just getting more and more fed up with all the little issues that have snowballed. For a reputable company that has been in business for quite a while, I certainly did not expect so many "not so little" issues to arise. These issues seem to be "exposed" by customers rather than "discovered" by Viking. When confronted, Viking has been uncommunicative. I am very disappointed with their service so far and hope this is no indication of the trip to come.

Maybe because we booked with our travel agent, but we have had NO correspondence with Viking. For all the faith we ALL had in them, (by prepaying so far in advance) it would be nice if they did something nice for all of us.

We are not "hard-to-please" people. We are the opposite! But I am very apprehensive about this journey. I truly wish we would have waited for another year or traveled with another cruise line. But it is too late for that so we will go and have fun!!

Viking isn't just considering it - they did it. The price increase is in place. I asked directly with them, and they are not going to honor previous pricing - at least to me that was their answer - basic massage is essentially 10% increase.

I think it will be up to individuals how they want to respond. My guess is that the majority of passengers will not even realize that there was in increase, and if someone wants a massage they are going to pay the difference.

Not saying it is right.....but I don't think Viking is willing to do anything about it.

I realize some may have been honored the original price if they were able to reserve services prior to the increase, but the majority of us only had it on their wish list and that earlier pricing won't be honored.

IF anyone knows differently please let me know!

Well then...just for the principle of the issue...no massages, etc. will be added to my on board statement.

If only some of you who are complaining do the same, maybe there might be some changes...but if you go along with the Viking increases and have your massages, etc.; then why even bring up this issue on the CC boards?

....

 

Seems the service provider notified Viking of their intent to raise the prices they'd originally posted. The agent apologized for the lack of any heads up and said that Viking would honor the original price for any bookings made prior to the price change. He said they would make a note on the account, so be sure to check....

Maybe Viking should do the right thing and tell the service provider that it is too late to raise the prices for this cruise!! Why should WE pay more because the service provider decides to raise their price at this late date?? Why is Viking even considering passing the increase onto the consumer now? Maybe everyone should just boycott the services if forced to pay the increased rate! These services should have been finalized a LONG time ago!!

Hi Everyone,

 

FYI, Viking Oceans has named the next two ships, Viking Sea & Viking Sky, which will follow their first ship, Viking Star

Hello Andy,

Since there are now three planned (with names) ships, would it be possible to start a separate Roll Call Forum for Viking Ocean Cruises? Trying to find the correct roll call by dates and ship names under "All Other Cruise Lines Roll Calls" can be quite tedious. It appears that quite a few people post in this forum when they are not sure where to find their ship's roll call forum.

It would probably be easiest to arrange the Roll Call Forum by ships and then we could set up the individual Roll Calls by the various segments. Those people who are on more than one segment would join the sailings in which they are participating.

I am sure many of us who have booked future cruises on Viking Ocean Cruises would appreciate a common forum for our postings.

Thank you, in advance, ;) for considering this idea.

The 2014 Grand Asia in September is still a go. It is 77 days.

However the Grand Asia in '15 has been replaced with the Amsterdam doing the Hawaii and South Seas in approximately 50-55 days...but this is not a Grand.

The World in 2016 includes, but is not limited to, the following:

The itinerary seems like a combination of options B and C, which were two of the four possible choices. Nothing is written in stone and I am sure there will be some changes. This is still a very interesting voyage and we may consider part of it after it is officially published.

:)

Why is HAL changing and/or eliminating many of their longer "Grand Voyages"?

The Grand Med use to be round trip from Fort Lauderdale and now does not return to Ft. Lauderdale.

The September Grand is ending in 2014. This is being substituted with a long cruise (approx. 55 days) in 2015 BUT it is not considered a "Grand".

The South America Grand is still available but prices are rising on the "elegant", but very old, Prinsendam.

And what happened to the voting for one of four options for the '16 World Cruise?? The itinerary chosen is very different from the four choices upon which we voted!

Does anyone else fell disappointed by the choices HAL is making?

I will love to follow this thread. We would like to know how people compare the two lines. We have been wanting to try Cunard but really need more info about the formality on board the Cunard ships. With limited luggage space after over a month of cruising, we would like to do a transatlantic and have the option of eating in the Lido on formal nights. Do passengers still need to be dressed formally everywhere on the ship on formal nights?

Can someone provide the email address for Ivan? The address listed above does not work. Thanks:)

Here is Ivan's email address: ijgordijk@setarnet.aw

We had the pleasure of touring Aruba with Ivan on April 17th. He was waiting for us at the terminal when we came off the ship. He previously worked for more than 20 years with a larger tour company on the island. That explains why he is so knowledgable about Aruba and we learned so much about the island. He has a great personality and we highly recommend him.

He is great!!! :D I hope you use Ivan.

Joanie,

 

You are a whiz, girlfriend!!! We left on vacation last Sat. morning, checked Cruise Critic and your website before we left - came home today, checked your website and it is AMAZING how many more photos you've added, and all that other specific ship info, classifications, etc. WOW!!! Good job! Thanx for all your hard work! Still don't see "MY" cabin (7056) for next May 31st sailing on the Amsterdam, back to Alaska - yes! But I'll keep looking! You are the best!:D

 

Lynda

I don't have a picture but I can tell you that we were very disappointed in the room. When you walk into the room, the bathroom is on the left and has a small shower...no tub. On the right is the desk and the TV sits ON the desk so you will not have much space...just enough for a laptop. To the right of the desk are three VERY small closets. They are approx.18 inches wide, at the most! One of the three is actually a half closet with a safe. There are three draws under the desk. There is no chair in the room and no room for a chair! There is a stool which opens for storage.

When you walk into the cabin, the bed is in front of you and to the right. The bathroom "cubicle" extends approximately 6 feet toward the back wall on your left. Between the cubicle and the back wall is a loveseat that juts out about 2 feet. There is no way that two people can watch the tv on the loveseat...one person will be facing the wall to the bathroom!!

Another issue with the room is the window. During the day, no one can see in; HOWEVER, at night anyone can see in unless you close the curtain. Also, if you have trouble sleeping with lights on, please know that on the back deck there are some VERY BRIGHT lights that are on all night.

If you are only in the cabin for a week or so, this room is ok. It is in a great location for the back swimming pool and cafe. It is quiet at night unless someone goes out the back doors to the deck! Beware...the doors are heavy and they slam constantly!

We were in the cabin for 84 days!! Definitely not enough room for two people. The worst thing was that my agent charged the same rate as HAL published!! This room is really meant for one person.

By the way, we did a cabin crawl and looked at many other cabins. This room had less closet/storage space than any other cabin we saw. Even inside cabins have more room!

Although it is decidedly a long cruise, The Voyage of the Vikings isn't considered a "Grand" cruise.

There are no special pillow gifts, nor is there the increased deposit if it's booked on a prior cruise.

You are correct. Our next trip on the Amsterdam is a "Grand". I don't think they offer AYWD on a Grand Voyage. Does anyone know for sure? We have Early Lower on the upcoming Australia/South Pacific cruise.

Have you always lived in RI? I was born in Providence and stayed in RI until I left for college. We visited last summer.

There has not been Open Seating on a Grand Voyage, yet. This could change, especially in response to passenger requests for it.

This past summer, the 35 day Grand Voyage of the Vikings, allowed open seating as well as the option to eat at the Lido restaurant every night. No reservations were needed. The Lido sometimes had to extend its hours because so many people skipped formal nights and chose to eat there.