En Route with Hank in Japan and the Westerdam

[BetsyS.]

Sir PMP - Thanks for posting the picture! 😊

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, REOVA said:

Did you do your excursion and not like it whereby the 15% credit was supposed to show?

 

If so it might be different than not getting to a port whereby HAL will credit the HIA excursion which, as Hank says, is now worthless if he cannot find another tour to use it on. We have received HIA return credits and had to just pick the least undesirable tour just to use the credit. Other than that, it's lost after the cruise (or use it if they have a transportation bus to airport or time for a post cruise tour. 

Yes it was excursion that was not remotely as advertised.  Some staff was on the excursion and they felt the same.  The 15 percent was nothing.  I didn't want to chip in my own cash. I've slso been in the position where my excursion was canceled and i found nothing suitable. It was too bad, so sad.

[avalon1025]

1 hour ago, BetsyS. said:

avalon1025 - Bon Voyage! 🥂😊

Thank you!

[avalon1025]

3 minutes ago, avalon1025 said:

Thank you!

 

[skurvish]

A few pieces of info I discovered about the shore excursion credit. It can be used (and will automatically be used if available) for port shuttles. It cannot be used for port to airport transfers, unless the transfer includes an excursion.

[cccole]

Avalon1025,  Bon Voyage and wishing you a really wonderful cruise.  I think you have a great attitude!!  Cherie 

[Hlitner]

8 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I’m 99 percent sure that money is gone unless westerdam is doing something completely different.  Is the money even showing on your onboard account because mine was not?  If it isn’t then it’s highly likely it’s gone.

It looks like there is availability for some of the Alaska excursions, so we will either need to book something we do not want or kiss the credit goodbye.

 

This last minute itinerary change does give us another day here in Yokohama which is a fabulous port because of its location.  It is about a 10 min stroll to the subway which links to both the JR train system and regional subways.  We are relaxing in the Crows Nest trying to develop a plan.  We are thinking of taking the train to Kamakura and suffering through a few more Temples.  Just a matter of getting out of our comfy chairs and leaving the ship.  
 

Hank

[Florida_gal_50]

2 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

It looks like there is availability for some of the Alaska excursions, so we will either need to book something we do not want or kiss the credit goodbye.

 

This last minute itinerary change does give us another day here in Yokohama which is a fabulous port because of its location.  It is about a 10 min stroll to the subway which links to both the JR train system and regional subways.  We are relaxing in the Crows Nest trying to develop a plan.  We are thinking of taking the train to Kamakura and suffering through a few more Temples.  Just a matter of getting out of our comfy chairs and leaving the ship.  
 

Hank

I do hope you'll get to use it. I personally don't like leaving anything on the table.

[cccole]

37 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

It looks like there is availability for some of the Alaska excursions, so we will either need to book something we do not want or kiss the credit goodbye.

 

This last minute itinerary change does give us another day here in Yokohama which is a fabulous port because of its location.  It is about a 10 min stroll to the subway which links to both the JR train system and regional subways.  We are relaxing in the Crows Nest trying to develop a plan.  We are thinking of taking the train to Kamakura and suffering through a few more Temples.  Just a matter of getting out of our comfy chairs and leaving the ship.  
 

Hank

Why think of "suffering through a few more Temples"?  Do something else.  I am like you with religious art and cathedrals in Europe.  After I am no longer enjoying it, it's time for something else.  Cherie

[cruisemom42]

7 hours ago, Hlitner said:

We are thinking of taking the train to Kamakura and suffering through a few more Temples.  Just a matter of getting out of our comfy chairs and leaving the ship.  

I’m laughing as I’m relaxing at Haneda waiting for my flight home. A group of us from the CC roll call booked a taxi transfer to the airport that included about 3.5 hours visiting several of the most well known temples there including the temple with the large bronze Buddha (almost 1,000 years old), but also some other interesting sites:

 

 

 

 

it was a nice leisurely visit and certainly beat sitting at Haneda for nearly 7 hours!

 

Cost per person was less than a HAL transfer.

[villauk]

4 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

I’m laughing as I’m relaxing at Haneda waiting for my flight home. A group of us from the CC roll call booked a taxi transfer to the airport that included about 3.5 hours visiting several of the most well known temples there including the temple with the large bronze Buddha (almost 1,000 years old), but also some other interesting sites:

 

 

 

 

it was a nice leisurely visit and certainly beat sitting at Haneda for nearly 7 hours!

 

Cost per person was less than a HAL transfer.

 

Did you already have a specific taxi company booked? If so, which one was it? TIA

I’ve really enjoyed yours and Hank’s posts. Thanks for taking us along and safe journey home.

[cruisemom42]

1 hour ago, villauk said:

 

Did you already have a specific taxi company booked? If so, which one was it? TIA

I’ve really enjoyed yours and Hank’s posts. Thanks for taking us along and safe journey home.

I didn’t arrange it but the company was Suntaxi Yokohama. No guide and the driver spoke limited English but we had brought info and driver also provided some handouts. The organizer emailed back me forth a few times on itinerary, It was really a nice day. 

[ontheweb]

10 hours ago, Hlitner said:

It looks like there is availability for some of the Alaska excursions, so we will either need to book something we do not want or kiss the credit goodbye.

 

This last minute itinerary change does give us another day here in Yokohama which is a fabulous port because of its location.  It is about a 10 min stroll to the subway which links to both the JR train system and regional subways.  We are relaxing in the Crows Nest trying to develop a plan.  We are thinking of taking the train to Kamakura and suffering through a few more Temples.  Just a matter of getting out of our comfy chairs and leaving the ship.  
 

Hank

I was going to laugh at "suffering through a few more Temples", but then I remembered how I felt after a while about seeing more Greek antiquities. 🤣

[Hlitner]

Greetings All,

Loved Cruisemom’s photos and we have similar photos on our phone as we did go to Kamakura today.  it cost us about $4.00 pp for the train from Yokohama and another $3 in admission fees.  DW thought it the most amazing Buddha she has seen (I still favor the one in Nara), but we had a fantastic day…until we returned to the ship.

 

So now starts our third 14 day segment and we are welcomed with $28.28 in drink overcharges on the first evening. Folks, I believe this now the 7th time we have been overcharged.  My patience with HAL is growing thin.  To make matters worse, since our itinerary was changed and our excursion cancelled (by HAL) we reluctantly booked another $200+ excursion (in Alaska).  We have already been charged for the excursion which should be covered by our $200 HIA credit.  But alas, the shore excursion folks admit they still do not have their own cancellation information and it “might” all get fixed in the next few days.  Bottom line is that lesser mortals would be jailed for such an awful and lax accounting system.  One wonders how much money is lost to those who do not carefully monitor their accounts.

 

This evening we dined in the PG.  Our dinners were pretty good, but it would have been nice to have a Caesar Salad without having to pay an extra $7 + 18% on top of the $39 + 18%.  To be honest, we did not pay anything because the PG dinner was a loyalty perk and we did not dare order a salad, I wish we had the nerve to follow our hearts and bring in a free Caesar Salad from the Lido!  
 

So back to my pet peeve which is HAL entertainment.  Several hundred new voyagers boarded today and were welcomed with a single 7:30 main show of the History of HAL.  The Lincoln Stage remains dark since there is no Lincoln Stage Group on the ship.  The excellent Rolling Stone Group was off tonight, although there was some recorded music in that near empty venue.  Our onboard light jazz trio did play a few sets in the Ocean Bar.  The only entertainment after 8:15, was the Billboard duel piano players (they are OK, but not better than OK) which had an audience of about 30.  The Casino is closed (because we are in port) so we assume nearly all the remaining 2000 passengers went to bed by 9…..out of sheer boredom.

 

In the past, some posters have referred to HAL as a floating nursing home (I prefer assisted living center). But I now think this would be insulting to many nursing homes who probably have more activities and entertainment,

 

By the way, I finally broke down and grabbed some pizza, at the Lido, this afternoon.  To say it is the worst pizza at sea would be insulting bad pizza.  HAL knows how to make acceptable pizza (they do it on some other ships) but here we get partially cooked, too thick dough, with OK toppings.  Fortunately, the Dive-In burgers, fries and dogs are decent.   DW and I are suffering “pizza withdrawal” and happen to be in one of the few countries where it is difficult to find decent pizza.

 

Finally, we send our best wishes to all of our new found friends who debarked today, and wish them all a safe journey and long healthy lives :).

 

Hank

 

 

[syesmar]

15 hours ago, skurvish said:

A few pieces of info I discovered about the shore excursion credit. It can be used (and will automatically be used if available) for port shuttles. It cannot be used for port to airport transfers, unless the transfer includes an excursion.

@skurvish so are you saying if someone’s shore excursion credit wasn’t fully used for excursions, HAL will automatically apply it to any port shuttles used during the cruise? Thanks!

[BetsyS.]

Hank - I hope things will improve for you. It is good that you reminded people to

check their accounts on a daily basis. Years ago on the Veendam, they would slip the account statement under your door on the last night.  Now we can start checking 

account statements on day 1, like you said.  Best wishes to you and your wife as you start this next segment. I hope you will have good weather. 

Betsy

[gizmodog]

I am so nervous about having an Alaskan cruise booked in June on the Westerdam. It sounds so awful for everything but some service. Do they only do the rooms once a day on Hal? 
I don’t want to be checking my bill everyday, I really want to enjoy food, my husband eats pizza so much how sad it is lousy. 
I don’t know, too late to back out now but what a wasted trip for our family if things do not change between now and then.

I am so angry about that charge for more than one appetizer, and…a salad or soup should not be included with the appetizers. Just moronic.

[Wayfairers]

Thanks so much for taking the time to do this  blog.  I haven’t read it yet.   I’ve enjoyed your posts and have benefitted from your knowledge in the past and I’m looking forward to reading this as I start research for the Japan portion of the 2024WC.  

[gunna9]

I just received a notification from my next cruiseline to make sure I have enough blank pages in my passport. How many times was your passport stamped on the last 14 days of Japan ports?  I appreciate you checking. On my last 18 day cruise it was stamped in 4 different ports. We had to turn in our passports the night before or day of the port, so we had no control if they stamped on a blank page or not. Certain countries require 1-2 blank pages. TIA

[StLouisCruisers]

Hank can you give us an idea of when the Captain intends to leave Yokohama for your crossing to Kodiak?  It is early morning Tuesday the 25th as I type this. You last mentioned overnighting there the night of the 24-25th.   I'm trying to keep updated for the next Fleet Report and Daily (subbing for Rich  @richwmn).  Thank you!

[Ottawa traveller]

2 hours ago, gunna9 said:

I just received a notification from my next cruiseline to make sure I have enough blank pages in my passport. How many times was your passport stamped on the last 14 days of Japan ports?  I appreciate you checking. On my last 18 day cruise it was stamped in 4 different ports. We had to turn in our passports the night before or day of the port, so we had no control if they stamped on a blank page or not. Certain countries require 1-2 blank pages. TIA

I was on 28 days of this cruise and just disembarked. I had 3 entries including my original entry to Japan. Each took one half page because they put the exit stamps beside the entry stamp. 

For 14 days, you would have your original entry to Japan and then an entry after visiting a foreign port. If there was only one foreign port, you would have the two entries taking up one half page each.  I hope this makes sense. I have just arrived in Canada after a 12 hour flight.

[skurvish]

9 hours ago, syesmar said:

@skurvish so are you saying if someone’s shore excursion credit wasn’t fully used for excursions, HAL will automatically apply it to any port shuttles used during the cruise? Thanks!

yes.

[Hlitner]

9 hours ago, syesmar said:

@skurvish so are you saying if someone’s shore excursion credit wasn’t fully used for excursions, HAL will automatically apply it to any port shuttles used during the cruise? Thanks!

Yes or at least Maybe.  The onboard accounting system is so flawed that one must carefully monitor credits and debits.  We did have 1 shuttle covered by HIA credits which is correct since the shuttles are sold as an Excursion.

 

Hank

[Hlitner]

7 hours ago, gizmodog said:

I am so nervous about having an Alaskan cruise booked in June on the Westerdam. It sounds so awful for everything but some service. Do they only do the rooms once a day on Hal? 
I don’t want to be checking my bill everyday, I really want to enjoy food, my husband eats pizza so much how sad it is lousy. 
I don’t know, too late to back out now but what a wasted trip for our family if things do not change between now and then.

I am so angry about that charge for more than one appetizer, and…a salad or soup should not be included with the appetizers. Just moronic.

Our Signature Suite is serviced twice a day by truly excellent stewards.  Funny how all the billing errors are in HALs favor.

[avalon1025]

Boarding yesterday was a subdued event.  I was even shown the crew gangway vs passenger which on the bright side meant I looked younger than my 53 years?  Ha!  First impressions:  Westerdam looks lovely and fresh and clean,  cabin steward is as usual, very nice. They asked if I wanted service once or twice a day.   Started meeting some nice fellow passengers in the Ocean Bar.  Ship was dead as we were in port.  Not sure if it’s my gut,  but the management on the ship just seems lazy and could care less.  No fanfare for boarding a new cruise,  no letter in my cabin about all the internet changes (thankful for CC!), nothing.  The little band in the ocean bar felt like some nice high school kids playing for their parents.  We will all make the best and make new friends and cocktail our way across the pacific.  Food in the dining room was fine last night : )