POA1

Got it. I mistakenly associated HIA with drinks. (Sometimes the mind goes to a certain place automatically. 😃) Wanna have fun? Price the HMC cabanas on CCL's site.

Both the Signature and the Elite Beverage Packages exclude drinks on HMC.

If I were a betting man, I'd peg Morimoto to be in Tamarind. If you have been to any of Morimoto's restaurants, Tamarind is a natural fit.

Yes. Definitely, that one.

When we were last on a Christmas cruise (4 zillion years ago) in 2018, we were really hoping for a traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas eve. Alas, it was not to be. I'd have been all over that. We were traveling with DW's dad who was super happy with the MDR meal. (Christmas turkey and ham?? He was a happy, happy guy.) In Canaletto's defense, a really pescatarian* menu does not have a very broad appeal. I remember this quite clearly because I was on the lookout for @RuthC *Pescatarian? I thought most Italians were Catholic.

It is. Maker's Mark has been part of the Signature Beverage Package for as long as I can remember.

I have been sitting here waiting for someone to complain about the high cost of the £1 sale since a pound is $1.24. 🤑

It's the ship coordinator for your particular ship that can send your request. I've been making table requests for years. I usually provide 3 choices and am a 100% suck up when asking for a table. I never throw the Mariner stars card or the suite card or anything like that. I just provide my booking number and my Mariner #. Then, I write as an earnest young man trying to have the best vacation possible. They're going to look up your reservation and it'll show your Mariner ID. Being nice is the key, IMHO. We've always managed to get our first or second table choice. And yes, we use the Halfacts MDR maps.

A web server logs all the requests & results although some of the 500s can get missed. They should be able to find the 400s and correct the problems. Sadly, beatings are frowned upon nowadays and no one is willing to wear a shock collar that's triggered every time the server throws a 400 series error. 😈

Actually, it's Carnival Corporation that's the parent. HAL was part of the Holland America Group until a few moths ago. That included HAL, Princess, P&O Australia, & Seabourn. HAL & Seabourn are still under the same umbrella.

No. Your Mariner days / credits should be based on your originally booked category.

Speaking as someone who has two upcoming cruises booked in Club Orange, I would advise you not to lose sleep. CO gives you an extra entrée at dinner and a separate dining room (on the Pinnacle Class ships.) We've been cruising on HAL for almost 30 years. IMHO the product is really good on its own. Don't sweat it. It's not like we cruised with HAL for decades, just hoping for CO. I think you'll enjoy it regardless.

It really is. Between the mortgage and taxes we pay a cruise is often a better deal.

I know people who book a bunch of cruises out of Fort Lauderdale every winter. It's less expensive to be on the ship than it is to get a hotel on land. If they stack up a lot of cruises, they can string a nice seasonal getaway together. For those of you just joining the broadcast, we live in Fort Lauderdale. We often joke that "at these rates we can't afford to stay home."

Hoping for a live @VMax1700 report. We're living vicariously through Colin's adventures. He's quite honestly picked DW's favorite (pretend there's a u in favorite) voyages.

A booking hold will cancel on its own if not deposited. The deposit needs to be made anywhere from 24 hours (casino, for example) to 5 days (regular refundable fare.) The mere act of clicking on a stateroom on the website pulls it out of inventory for around 15 minutes. The $2 deposit takes the cabin out of inventory until final payment.

Would you be so kind as to put @Huskerchick And me down for the March 29, 2024 Rotterdam 9 Day Southern Caribbean voyage? It's Y425 if that helps.

Technically, you can add CO without paying, but you have to pay before you can use the stateroom upgrade. You don't put your precious and coveted Club Orange tote bag in jeopardy, only the upgrade.

Bruce - Really looking forward to your reports. Please follow Colin's advice to report the foghorn, but remember that you can turn it off in the preferences section of the Navigator app. You can also turn off the lighthouses if they bother you. We lived in Maine for a long time and it's positively littered with those tall, beacony structures. If any of the bands are taking requests, ask for the Scorpions, "Rock Me Like A Hurricane." (It's technically an oldie since it'll be 40 years since its release in 1984.)

Your cost should be based on the booked cruise fare. The cruise price could change once you have booked, but premium is based on what you paid.

There are florists on the ship. If you have a special occasion, you can meet with one and describe what you want. I have found every one of them to be super nice and equal to, or better than land based floral designers.

Regardless of the source, always keep your gift card #s and PINs until they've been consumed. Not just used, but consumed.

Thanks for the review!

We had formal. That was pretty clear, but too confusing. (Apologies to the fine people from the UK. You probably knew the dress code rukes before you could ride a bicycle.) Then we had gala. Gala was just plain stupid. It should have been a step beyond formal, but it wasn't. Now we have "dressy." What in the actual heck is that supposed to mean? I'm laying odds that the next step is little cards showing that your pants must be at least this long, with the pictogram showing something longer than shorts. Your shirt must have sleeves. A collar is appreciated! Of course, they're not going to give you printed cards, just a PDF that you have to print at home. Or, maybe it'll be on the Navigator app. You'll have people without the wifi package prancing about nekkid because they lack wardrobe guidance. All I can guarantee you is that there are high level meetings, hammering out the next ridiculous iteration of the dress code. Focus groups are testing the new names. Feedback is being solicited. Reports (comprehensive!) are being drafted. You know what? The new guidance is gonna be dumb. It won't be clear. And, God willing, we'll all be around to argue about it.

Two words: Pocket Protector. Really smart casual is more akin to business casual.