mcrcruiser

Imo HAL will not eisj passengers & their ships to  port in any Israel port until there is peace in that region . Thus ,I would encourage the cruise to Japan 

imo the best are the ones that get closest to the whales . In Cabo San Lucas you can ger as slpse as 50 yards from the whales .In Hawaii it is 100 yards by law . CaboSan Luca is a fish tan of many varities of whales ,sharks , other sea life  . My bet is on Cabo San Lucas Mexico 

2 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Now we know why they were taken down - price change.

I still appreciate the discount, but obviously like 10% more than 8%.

  We now see a definite downside to AARP gift Vards for our use  to get a 8% dicount , Why well here is the reasons . We use the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card to pay for all our cruises bacause we get free trip interuption ,Trip cancellation & some baggage insurance up to $20,000 for a cruise .It is much easier to track the credit card payment if it is made as a direct payment than buying AATP gift cards with the same credit card  . Additionally ,we earn point with Chase which is cahj when cased in  . For our other travel insurance needs that Chase does not cover like med vac extra bag insurance ie we own a one year Allianz trip insurance which also covers us for more medical & more bag damages or missing & even auto rental insurance of a higher quality than credit cards  .When we do a land trip the Allianz insurance is already there for us as well 

So in ending we can use the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card & save big on insurance premiums . when you get to 70 & over watch how the trip insurance climbs  if bought from comapnies like Insuremy trip .com or Square Mouth .com   .If course you can but the Holland america policy but their best policy still only gives you 90% back  & you loose 10% . Thus ,let us say you have a cruise cost of $10,000 & have the platinum HAL policy & cancel you just lost $1000  . I personally find that type of insurance a bad deal .  Retired people should only cancel any trip based on  either health or death of one of the insured ,so save that 10 % that HALs   Platinum  takes  .I can see it for non retired business people because you can then cancel for any reasi=on & of it is a business related reason you can then deduct that 10% cancellation cost from  tax prep/ ,if you can support it by a legitimate reason 

 We each have our own reasons but we should always look at the downside before we see the uoside .All that looks shinny is not gold 

The foregoing  is  my   humble opinion 

3 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

Question regarding a cancellation going back onto a gift card.  Original gift card purchase amount was $500.  Credit due for cancellation is well over $1K....I have been advised this credit will go back onto the original gift card.  Is this possible to put that much credit $$ back onto a gift card?

 

I do retain all the gift card #s and pins etc.

 

TIA

$500 will go back to the gift card you used & the balance credit goes back to what credit card you bused  .Keep the information on the gift card  as it never dies .You can use it on another HAL booking 

17 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

You have asked this several times. We have told you Konningdam will be returning to the West Coast...the sailing date is April 10th 2026...its in the HAL schedule on the website.

Bruce yes we know that Koningsdam was going through the canal  . However ,what we do not know will HAL ise Nieuw Amsterdam as a constant replacement for Koningsdam or will we ever see a Pinnacle class once again in San Diego ?  We are sailing Hawaii on Nieuw Amsterdam on Jan 2026 . We are sailing Hawaii on Koningsdam in 2025 

8 minutes ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

🌺Aloha!

I just checked all cruises from San Diego 

and Eurodam, ZAANDAM, Nieuw Amsterdam will be our ships 2025-2026. Did see 1 cruise also with Zuiderdam 2026

🌺Magalo

Denise

Denise that is what we saw as well . we think it is strange to take Koningsdam away since they always filled up the ship here . Perhaps HAL will bring  back one of the Pinnacle class to SD in 2027 after the Alaska season  which seems logical but we can't be sure unless HAL announces that as fact 

Cliff

Well it seems that HSL is going to take Koningsdam through the Panama Canal  & replace her with Nieuw Amsterdam . 

 Does any one know if we will ever get back a Pinnacal Class ship in San Diego port ?

13 hours ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

Hi neighbor! We have a home on Neptune Ave. and have a home in Maui Kaanapali where we’ve’ been for several months.

Enjoy the Neptune Suite

Mahalo

Denise

We have stayed in Kaanapali for  almost 2 weeks a while back  .We have stayed in a gated condo in Kehe  .We loved both areas to explore  .Maui is a favorite of all the islands 

Cliff

2 minutes ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

🌺Aloha!

Yes it does. Pinnacle Class ships have their own restaurant, all other HAL ships have a section in the MDR for Orange Club. Serve Breakfast and dinner!

🌺Mahalo

Denise

Thank you  .We also live here in Encinitas  at High Country Villas  

We are not sure but does booking a Neptune Suite automatically get Club Orange ?  TIA

2 hours ago, cruiseaholic78 said:

Just returned from the show “All That” on the Nieuw Statendam, we really enjoyed it and hope HAL continues with this type of show in future.

 

 

We love to be able to see a production show before or after dinner  .It has been a very long time since HAL has had them  .

15 minutes ago, Sir PMP said:

Just did it twice, the inside waiting area is separate for 4* plus passengers until the boarding announcement starts, 11:30am, then get up and go.

What about suite guests .where are they seated ?   We will be going on a HAL cruise in a Neptune suite  

TIA

 TIA 

Please print your Boarding Pass.....three or less days before your trip in order for shore side staff to recognize your status.

 David that is a very good recommendation  .We always print out our boarding passes with the Bar Codes  .We only sail now from rgew SD port with HAL 

Cliff 

2 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Maybe you should give Steve a try , his team will assist you with claims should you buy insurance through him.  His team is very careful to tell you what is and what is not covered.   He even has a newsletter and other info in his website where he explains a few case histories.  Going it alone is not always the best way.  

Mary how do you get ahold of Steve ? I would like to ask some questions .What is his phone number ?  

 TIA

11 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

GeoBlue Trekker is medical insurance for when you travel (I think it kicks in if you are 150 miles from home). It is not CFAR. My memory is that they do not rule out pre-existing conditions. You can insure (for higher rates as you age) up to 95 years old!

 

The Blue in GeoBlue is because they are a division of Blue-Cross-Blue-Shield. Here is Steve's (Trip Insurance Store's) intro page for the two levels of GeoBlue Trekker:

https://tripinsurancestore.com/geo-blue-voyager-travel-medical-plans/

 

 Crystal I  can but one year of Allianz travel ins with med vac , medical   baggage & car insurance included for $276 ,00 for both of us ,at 85 years of age . We just got the quote  .Then we have a medicare HMO which will cover  emergency medical any where in the world with a $110.00 co pay .  . 

 no matter who thes company is first check their current financial condition  7 then read the entire policy contents . too many times we the people will gloss over those important areas until we need the insurance to pay the claims   .It is the old adage "buyer be ware "  

18 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Steve can be found at the top of the insurance forum on cruise critic.  He owns an online agency but freely gives advice with Cruise critic’s blessings.  He saved me once from a costly insurance blunder and has answered other personal questions by email or phone.  He knows the products inside and out

 

i am fine with any care , heck my own personal physician was trained in Mumbai. But this is my own opinion, everyone needs to gauge their comfort levels carefully. 

Mary yes we all are working with people . People can & do make mistakes ,even the best of intentions can go bad  . Then there are those companies that purposely try to  steal from the public & are getting away with  it ,for now .

 Insurance coverage is not a guarantee that things won;t go wrong . I am dealing right now on a small $700 .00 travel insurance claim  .I was very ill for about 4 to 5 weeks ,at home & not sure if I was going to  live or die .  God kept me alive 7 I got well ; but ,in the meantime I fell into a  $700 HAL penalty on one cruise .  Jan 2 ,2024 I cancelled 4 cruises with out TA  ,due to the fact that my wife would  struggle with all the details should I have died . Well ,low & behold this dam insurance is trying all ways not to pay a small claim  .That is another example  of what we as consumers can be facing  into the future , At some point in time what these firms do to people will come raring back at them . 

21 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Chase plus Geoblue covers all I need.   I get Geoblue through Steve.  I mention his product for cancel for any reason for those that need it.  Many people may not want or need Medjet but it is a good product for those that do 

Who is Steve ?  Are you saying GeoBlue insurance carries cancel for any  Reason ? Then what percent of your money for you get back ? Is it 100% or less ?  

We wpild have done the 35 day  cruise Hawaii & South Pacific if I could have bought  Med Jet Assist ins . Just too old they don't sell it to 85 year olds . 

All a person has to do is experience being in a city hospital in a foreign country . Thei dumb america doctor put me into a Rome city hospital to get my elevated blood  pressure down  ,I sat for close to 11 hours with lassic in my arm  . Other things happened as well in that zombie city hpspital . Belvue in NYCity  looks like a palace in comparison  .I checked myself out & they could hardly utter one word in English  .The next day I phoned American Express insurance company & they  told me 2 hospitals .one of which was Rome American in Rome but on the other side of Rome where we were staying ,  in 2008 it was $15000 just ot get in with nosurgery .one day ICU & 2 day follow up . Mt head doctor was a Heart Specialist  & internist & was the head profesor from the Rome School of Medicine . Additionally ,do not count on that people in foreign countries speak affluent english . Even as large a city as Rome is we founf few of their staff that spoke fuent english which can be another serious problem  unless the persin has command of that local language 

 Stuff happens all the time 7 especially in a emergency how do you come out is what is important . Even here in the USA there are countless  medical  associated screw ups 

1 minute ago, Petronillus said:

Lots of people paid big $$$$ for long-term care insurance and ended up empty-handed when the carriers went belly up thanks to lousy underwriting. That's what's behind a certain prominent insurance company's use of the Rock of Gibraltar as its logo/symbol.

also take a close look a muni  bonds awhile back , Their insurance companies went belly up & people then found out that thise uni bonds did not have great underlying ratings , We now only buy general obligation  muni  bonds . Same for trip .travel insurance . In 2008 when I was in a Rome hospital I had travel insurance from American Express  .They no longer sell travel insurance , At the time they were more than great & we got every dime including taxi fares  , 

 Another critical thing in traveling  ovwer thias world  , You must have a big line of credit  on your Visa Credit Card's . Reason is when I went into the RomeAmerica hospital & no surgery was invlved in 2008 , I had to pony up $15000 .00 . Thus ,if your credit card does not carry enough credit you can not get into a pricvate hospital . They DO NOT TAKE INSURANCE from the USA 

There are so many things to be aware  .another issue which happened to me in the Dublin airport was at a ATM machine .  Good thing I  carried 2 ATM  Debit cards because one did not work in the machine . 

 One very negative thing I always remembered   is what if the cruise line goes bankrupt  how do you collect on a insurance policy you buy from them ? 

 nothing in this world is 1000% guaranteed except death & taxes . Research is very very important to get the right coverages & expect that company to be in business . Wonder if any one ever checks the financials of the insurance company they buy from ? 

6 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Most travel policies do not have cancel for any reason.  @iamtrustworthy, Steve, recently mentioned he now offers a superior policy with cancel for any reason.  Chase and Allianz basic  are not cancel for any reason

That is 100% correct Mary ;however ,cancel for any reason is  a no bargain insurance plan . Most people need coverage against the huge downsides of medical costs & or transporting them back to a home hodpital or their  home . I was once hospitalized in Rome Italy . If I was not able to get on a commercial jet I would have been stuck in Rome or be willing to pay over $100,000 medical jet costs . We are both 85 years  young  &  I can buy a yearly  policy for as little as $276 .00 for  both of us for one year . In our case I onlt need med vac insurance & the least expensive Allianz ins plan gives us that plus more medical & more baggage coverages . We have a Medicare HMO which insures  us even out of the USA for emergency medical  with a $110 co pay .  So in reality it is a total cost of $276 .00 to be completely covered . We can not get med jet assist because we are too old . So we  are careful where we travel to . 

Candidly ant cruise line insurance us a waste of money . to get the best & least expensive travel insurance :

1. Get the chase Sapphire Credit Card & book your trip with that CC ,you get up to $20,000 in free trip cancellation & interruption plus baggage ins 

2 .The go to Allianz Travel insurance not .com & pick the one year insurance that fits your needs from the 3 that arte offered 

3 .If you are traveling  out of the USA to any  foreign nation or nations ,olease be advised that if you are hospitalized in a foreign hospital med vac will never get you tp ypur home hospital or home . Where there are airports you need "Ned Jet Assist: insurance ;which will take you by ambulance to the medical jet . If you do not have this type of medical jet insurance (there are several compnaies that offer it ) it will cost you well into 6 figures to get back home . Remeber unless you can walk onto a commercial  jet  on toyr own  power there is no chance for the average person to get back hoe with out medical jet insurance . This & medical are the most important of all insurances because these 2 can be  extremely costly 

We have not had any glitches for some time noe . It seems to us that HAL has  improved the web site , Knock on wood .

Anycruise ship could feel crowded when they are filled to capacity .  The space ratios are published .The larger the number the  more space between passengers  . Most often  the feeling of being crowded is at the Lido & MDR  .The luxury cruise lines have the greatest space ratios . Like Seaborn ,Vlking ie 

I was curious so I looked at the March 22,2025  HAL cruise  on Koningsdam under the $2 deposit & the price for a veranda state room  is $2728.00 . when I nooked it with HAL ,it was $2118 .00 & mY TA got it for us @ $1986 .00 with $300 un on board credit 7 vthat is not uet counting the $100 we get from our CCL stock 

Hmm so it seems that the $2 deposit sale has some higher prices 

2 hours ago, TRLD said:

Trap them into higher prices. too funny. According to you they are either all going to cancel and not use the bookings causing the cruise line to resell the cabins at lower fares or are too stupid to cancel the $2 dollar booking and rebook if the fares drop before final payment.

 

 

As I said earlier . Cruise Critic members on this  HAL board know what they are doing & for $2 bucks  no loss .   We will see how successful this promo is down stream  . When I looked at some Mexican Riviera & West coastal cruises  ,it seemed to me the pricing was higher than I booked earlier paying the usual deposits .. 

It is alway the test of time whether these promos work or not . BTW . I waant  to see all of CCL's cruuse lines do well  as  I own a lot of their shares . Our CCL shares will leave a good  amount when we are gone ,so our adult children can sell or keep them