boze9999

At $49 x 2 per day, the standby is not always a "bargain". If you get better than an inside room, yes. If you only get an inside room....perhaps not always.....

That young couple was probably part of the crew/staff @LocoLoco1

When we were on the RD last week @loving goldens the on board future cruise consultants actually thought it could be any day/week now! Everyone's waiting!

I never travel without two color copies of our passports, and one is always with my family back home. When traveling, one always stays in the cabin and one always goes with us when on shore. Life happens when traveling and redundancy is a safe harbor!

Request wheelchair assistance for disembarkation directly from the airline you are traveling on. The wheelchair attendants will bring you from the gangway to the luggage carousel where you will find the HAL sign holders. Between the attendant and HAL, they will coordinate getting you to the transportation bus.

Looking forward to seeing how this new experiment goes! Thanks for being our guinea pig!

It is indeed frustrating. I've tried for three days to purchase something in my cart and regardless of the device or the browser, it always just goes to a whiteout page with no ability to complete the purchase!

According to a recent thread @mcrcruiser with "Ask the Captain" he indicated HAL has no new ships in the making. The one that would have been a new Pinnacle ship was turned over to Cunard and is now debuting as the Queen Anne sailing in mid 2024. According to the Captain's report the shipyard doesn't have any new slots for new builds until approximately 2028.........so it will be a long while before we have any new HAL ships, unless circumstances change in building options and/or economic factors. https://www.cunard.com/content/dam/cunard/marketing-assets/ships/queen-anne/QA_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Due to Have It All and the ability to book your specialty restaurants on line, @Bill B many preferred days and times are sold out before you even get on the ship. If you choose to wait until you're on board, you may only have options from 8pm on. If that's what you prefer, you're in luck! If you want to book ahead of time, do so online or as soon as you get on the ship.

Looking forward to hearing how this work @Xcelsior in "real time"!

I could be wrong @oaktreerb.It's been a while since we've traveled in a non-Pinnacle and I just recall many of our OC traveling friends joining us in the PG for BF. Perhaps it is now different.

That is true @Leo-the-fox on all the non-pinnacle ships, OC breakfast is in the Pinnacle Grill - which is so wonderful.

@Kazu The Cellar Master Dinners and the "Gala" special red carpet dinners were the BEST of the BEST!

Just a note @elaine5 if you're on Medicare, Medicare does not cover you outside of the US. We find GeoBlue us an affordable supplement to our BCBS.

Be strong @taxmantoo It IS available if you are within 90 days of your previous sailingl Ask and if you dont get a yes - go up the line to a superviserl

BLACK FRIDAY details: November 7, 2023 10:46 AM EST Holland America Line's Black Friday Sale Features Prepaid Crew Appreciation and Up to 30% Off Cruise Fares Guests can plan ahead and book their 2023-2025 cruises with this limited-time offer. SEATTLE, Nov. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruisers can get an early start shopping for the holiday season with Holland America Line's Black Friday Sale that runs from Nov. 17 to Dec. 1, 2023. Guests who book select cruises through 2025 will receive prepaid stateroom crew appreciation, resulting in an added value of up to nearly $700 per person depending on the length of sailing. Black Friday promotional sailings also feature discounts of up to 30% off cruise-only fares. Guests can plan ahead and book their 2023-2025 cruises with this limited-time offer. Guests who want to add even more value to their cruise can combine the Black Friday offer with Holland America Line's popular Have It All premium cruise package. Have it All perks include shore excursions, a beverage package, specialty dining and Wi-Fi. "Black Friday is synonymous with the best holiday season deals, and Holland America Line's Black Friday Sale is no exception," said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. "With included crew appreciation and reduced cruise fares, guests can take advantage of significant savings. And by adding our Have it All Package, guests can further enhance the value of their dream cruise vacation." Prepaid crew appreciation applies to the first and second guests in a stateroom. Travelers can take advantage of the Black Friday Sale on more than 800 departures, from December 2023 through select 2025 cruises. Value of gratuities ranges from $112 for a seven-day cruise to $688 for a 43-day sailing, per person. Reduced cruise fares of up to 30% off are available on a variety of worldwide itineraries spanning Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, South America and Antarctica. The reduced fare also applies to the cruise portion of an Alaska Cruisetour, combining an Alaska cruise with an overland tour to Denali and the Yukon. Guests who book the Have It All premium fare receive even more amenities included in their booking: Depending on the cruise length, guests can enjoy up to three shore excursions valued at $100 each. A wide selection of tours worldwide are available, ranging from active adventures and immersive culinary experiences to historical explorations and cultural discoveries. With the Signature Beverage Package, guests can savor a wide range of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, soda, coffee and more, with bar service charges included. Depending on the ship and cruise duration, guests can indulge in Holland America Line's award-winning specialty dining for up to three nights. Pinnacle Grill offers the ultimate steakhouse experience at sea, while Tamarind showcases the traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan. Canaletto serves authentic Italian cuisine. A Wi-Fi Surf Package keeps travelers connected while away from home. With Holland America Line'smost popular package, guests can access their favorite websites, including email, news, sports and more. The Black Friday Sale excludes Grand Voyages and itineraries less than five days. Visit www.hollandamerica.com for full terms and conditions.

Would love to know @LAFFNVEGAS who is who: Captain, Hotel Director, Cellar Master, PG & Tamarind M'd/Manager, Piano Bar Players.....we're on in two weeks!

That's what I do @FlaMariner since we're always booking new cruises within 90 days of sailing!

HAL still has it - it's either a ZPM or VPM Promo. AND you won't get it unless you request it! That's the new hiccup!

Morimoto by Sea Pop-Up Experiences Coming Soon Beginning in November, Holland America Line guests can indulge in a full Chef Morimoto experience with an exclusive pop-up restaurant: Morimoto by Sea. The restaurant and its menu of artfully presented dishes and beverages will take over Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill, depending on the ship, at least once per cruise. Offered to guests for a $55 per person cover charge, the experience dishes up a multi-course dinner that celebrates the fresh fish program with inspired cuisine for a broad range of palates. Vegetarian and vegan selections will also be available. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the mouthwatering meals you could delight in at the Morimoto by Sea pop-up experience: Appetizers Sushi Plate: (Vegetarian can be requested.) Nigiri with salmon, hamachi, hotate, maki with ebi tempura, Dungeness California, salmon shikai maki. Morimoto Fresh Tuna Pizza: Anchovy aioli, kalamata olive, red onion, jalapeno. Tempura Calamari Salad: (Can be served without calamari on request.) Quinoa two ways, white miso dressing. Pork Gyoza Dumpling: Ginger-scallion sauce. Tori Paitan Ramen Noodles Soup: Soy egg, bamboo shoot, hot creamy broth poured at the table. Main Courses Crispy Fried Whole Market Fresh Fish: Sweet spicy chili sauce, pickle vegetables. Ishiyaki Buri Bop: Fresh Pacific yellowtail on rice, cooked at the tableside in a hot stone bowl. Shrimp Three Way “Morimoto Style”: Tempura, panko, arare-age, tartar, tonkatsu and gochujang sauce. Angry Lobster Pad Thai: Maine lobster, rice noodles, Thai red curry sauce. Broiled Beef Tenderloin steak: Japanese-style mushroom sauce. Jidori Chicken Teriyaki, Chicken Oyster Yakitori: Shichimi togarashi. Japanese Vegetables Curry: Tofu steak, seasonal vegetables. Side Dishes House fried rice, steamed rice or brown rice. Wasabi mashed potato. Wok seared bok choy. Basket steamed vegetables. Desserts Dark Chocolate Sphere: Ganache, marshmallow, milk hot chocolate sauce. Tofu Cheesecake: Mango passion, pineapple salsa. White Chocolate Lime Ganache: Coconut foam, mango sorbet, rice pudding. Sorbet and Ice cream or Trio: Chef’s seasonal selection. Sneak peek of Morimoto Epice Lobster Tails. Guests can also delight in Chef Morimoto’s line of refreshing alcoholic beverages on board, by both glass and bottle. Selections include Morimoto Brut Rosé, Morimoto Grgich Hills Chardonnay, Morimoto Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Sake Junmai Morimoto, Sake Junmai Ginjo Morimoto, Sake Junmai Daiginjo Morimoto and Sake Sparkling Nigori.

This is the Welcome Home Post Cruise booking bonus @mcrcruiser Over recent times, We've been told you need to request it - Promo code VPM & VPN and it is able to be added to other OBC, unless perhaps you're booking a few kinds of highly discounted fare sales. The $ amount varies anywhere from $25-$200 p/p, depending on cabin and sailing days. Your new cruise must be booked for a certain period after you complete your sailing (I think around 90 days), but the sailing can be any time into the future.

That's incorrect @Nodakboiler. We've gotten it every time we book.

Has anyone confirmed the Hotel General Manager and the Cellar Master?

A new online update - at least for us. I always look at potential new bookings online before I reach out to our PCC. We have been validated by HAL with our AARP membership (we have a 5 year membership). Our AARP benefits show up on the online screen reservation whenever I check on booking future cruises.