Hawaiian Holiday 🎄🍾 LIVE from Koningsdam Dec 21-Jan 6: join me for my 1st solo cruise & 1st inside cabin!

[BetsyS.]

What time is it there? How long will you be at the port?

[Haljo1935]

Remember I said I was mostly packed yesterday? Well, when I got back from spa, lunch, and the movie (ha ha), these were waiting for me, so we know we're really close to ending this cruise. But guess what wasn't here? My laundry from 2 days ago. Eek! So I am unable to finish packing.

GS says they'll let Steward know at 530 when he's back on duty. Well, ok then. Likely my mistake, but I thought they would call Laundry and have someone check on it. Of all days to decide to actually leave the ship on a timed excursion. Double Eek! We should be back on board by 11 and luggage is not due out until midnight - plenty of time.🙄 I'm sure it will be fine, I've just never cut a schedule so tightly. 

Thanks for coming, we appreciate your business. Here's where you've been. Thanks for entrusting us with your memories. Now get off - and thanks for the clothing donation we'll make in your name.😪

[Haljo1935]

11 minutes ago, BetsyS. said:

What time is it there? How long will you be at the port?

Current time is 445pm.

Arrival in Ensenada is 7pm.

All Aboard is 1130, scheduled to leave at midnight. 

Original itinerary when I booked had us here all day. But things change.

[Haljo1935]

For those who asked, the Mariner reception was on Day 1 from 2-2:45. Poor timing, IMO. I was not able to go.

[BetsyS.]

Enjoy your excursion! I hope you will get your laundry back!  😊

[Commodore2022]

In Ensenada get a Baja Dog from one of the carts. The best ones are outside a bar around 2:00 AM. I know too late for you.

[JackyPants]

Any suggestions for the Navigator app not being accessible to my phone? It's an android, a year old (give or take). I'm not a big phone person, so it's not anything fancy, but it's not outdated. I'm traveling with my 83y/o mother, and I mostly just want to be able to message her for location, rather than search the ship Neither one of us are willing to pay for internet 😄, so I got excited to learn that HAL had an app with a convenient text feature.

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, BetsyS. said:

Enjoy your excursion! I hope you will get your laundry back!  😊

🫡 Laundry was waiting for me when I got back from GS, so all good there. No unplanned donations from me.😉

My message through Navigator to have a duplicate PG lunch charge removed resulted in another one being added at the discounted Mariner rate. Uh no thanks, I didn't eat twice, but thanks for trying. 🤔 Instead of sending another message I decided to just go in person & then close out my account while there. 

Now I'm on the Ensenada wine tasting shuttle - it will be a good evening!!

[Hogladyrider]

20 minutes ago, JackyPants said:

Any suggestions for the Navigator app not being accessible to my phone? It's an android, a year old (give or take). I'm not a big phone person, so it's not anything fancy, but it's not outdated. I'm traveling with my 83y/o mother, and I mostly just want to be able to message her for location, rather than search the ship Neither one of us are willing to pay for internet 😄, so I got excited to learn that HAL had an app with a convenient text feature.

Not sure what you mean by not accessible.

Did you get a message saying that when you tried to download the app from the Play Store?

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, Commodore2022 said:

In Ensenada get a Baja Dog from one of the carts. The best ones are outside a bar around 2:00 AM. I know too late for you.

With All Aboard at 1130pm (tonight) yes, unfortunately just a tad too late. There's always next time.

[Haljo1935]

53 minutes ago, JackyPants said:

Any suggestions for the Navigator app not being accessible to my phone? It's an android, a year old (give or take). I'm not a big phone person, so it's not anything fancy, but it's not outdated. I'm traveling with my 83y/o mother, and I mostly just want to be able to message her for location, rather than search the ship Neither one of us are willing to pay for internet 😄, so I got excited to learn that HAL had an app with a convenient text feature.

Hey - let me get off this excursion bus and back to the ship and I'll tell you what I do. Although fairly new, my phone is no longer compatible w/the current version of Navigator. 

[Haljo1935]

Art Gallery for those interested. @oakridgerlook away!!

 

 

 

Edited January 6 by Haljo1935
Remove duplicate pic

[Haljo1935]

Beautiful evening in Ensenada. Current temp 54° 

 

[Haljo1935]

No idea where I am or why I'm here, but here I am.

We are protected - wherever we are.

Update - this was a casino which became a hotel when casinos were banned.

Edited January 6 by Haljo1935
Additional comment

[Haljo1935]

There's some pretty architecture and artwork, like these ceilings, but guide is not telling us what we're seeing and there are no signs.

 

[JackyPants]

1 hour ago, Hogladyrider said:

Not sure what you mean by not accessible.

Did you get a message saying that when you tried to download the app from the Play Store?

Sorry, I suppose I didn't explain myself well enough. I'm not able to download it at all. It says that the "app won't work for your device". 

We're both cruising veterans, and have managed just fine without technology. It just seemed like a nice feature to have.

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, JackyPants said:

Sorry, I suppose I didn't explain myself well enough. I'm not able to download it at all. It says that the "app won't work for your device". 

We're both cruising veterans, and have managed just fine without technology. It just seemed like a nice feature to have.

 

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

Hey - let me get off this excursion bus and back to the ship and I'll tell you what I do. Although fairly new, my phone is no longer compatible w/the current version of Navigator. 

Hey @JackyPants if you'll check the settings on your phone to see what version of Android you're running, I can probably help you when I get back to the ship.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

10 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Personally, I think they should put it back into service. It would be great to have Apps available at a bar.

 

When we were on Koningsdam in late 2021, they weren't using it.  However. In March 2022 they were.

 

Safe travels home tomorrow.  Winter is headed to Texas. 

[JackyPants]

51 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

 

Hey @JackyPants if you'll check the settings on your phone to see what version of Android you're running, I can probably help you when I get back to the ship.

I understand just from the little bit that you've said. Thank you for being so helpful while on vacation 🙂 I've been binge reading this thread all night, you're very entertaining. I can't wait to start my journey now.

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, JackyPants said:

Sorry, I suppose I didn't explain myself well enough. I'm not able to download it at all. It says that the "app won't work for your device". 

We're both cruising veterans, and have managed just fine without technology. It just seemed like a nice feature to have.

https://www.9apps.com/android-apps/Holland-America-Line-Navigator/version-history-1/

Hey @JackyPants all you need to know is either A) the last date the Navigator App worked for you or B) what version of Android you're running. Then from the link above, you can download the version that will work for your phone. The Android version compatible w/the Nav App is shown as "Android+" followed by a number such as 11, 10, 5.1, etc

My phone runs Android 10, so you can see the newest version of the Navigator App that is compatible is 4.30.0.

I also know that's the version that will work because it worked fine until I tried to update it the end of Nov. It's not as difficult as it may appear.

The Navigator App version number is 4.xx.x; the release date is shown directly under "Holland America" version 4.30.0 was released on 10-20-2023 - select the one you need then hit the download arrow on the right.

From settings on my phone, you can see Navigator App version installed is 4.30.0

From settings on my phone, you can see my phone is running Android 10

Edited January 6 by Haljo1935
Typo

[Haljo1935]

55 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

When we were on Koningsdam in late 2021, they weren't using it.  However. In March 2022 they were.

 

Safe travels home tomorrow.  Winter is headed to Texas. 

Ooh, winter, really?! DH says we had rain for Christmas. 

[Haljo1935]

30 minutes ago, JackyPants said:

I understand just from the little bit that you've said. Thank you for being so helpful while on vacation 🙂 I've been binge reading this thread all night, you're very entertaining. I can't wait to start my journey now.

Your assessment of the Navigator App that it would allow you and your mom to text w/o paying for internet is correct. So you'll be fine once you find and install a version that works.

If it gets wonky while you're on the ship, just reboot your phone and keep using it - don't let them uninstall it as you'll be back to the same place you are now. That's what happened to me - ugh.

So now, I keep the link of previous versions handy until I get a new phone.

Safe travels  - enjoy your cruise!

BTW, the Navigator App is also great for reading the menus and checking what's on the schedule. Plus it shows "ships time" and has your boarding pass 😊

[Haljo1935]

Here is the full collection of Dailies; I think I got each of them posted for y'all, but if there's one you didn't see, let me know and I'll go through my pictures.

Also thought I'd show you how I use the space below the TV - it makes great storage for all the papers & cards you get throughout the cruise as well as those pesky slippery satin bed runners.

And while I was posting, I felt the familiar swaying of a boat in motion. Sure enough, we've left. Bye bye, Ensenada!

Good job pax for making it back on time.

And most excellent job Captain Arno for leaving early!! No fan fare, no horns, no announcement - just GO!!

 

 

[Haljo1935]

Must have extra food to dump to make room for provisions: I ordered half club sandwich - got a whole one. And received both slaw and chips (L🧡VE those chips)

Ordered small cobb 🥗  - got a full large one.

Edited January 6 by Haljo1935
Typo

[Haljo1935]

Hmm - it's been about 90 minutes since we left and we're either moving really slowly or not at all. I'm seeing the same structures in the same places even though some time has passed.

TV says we're doing 12 knots, so I guess we're moving.

Never been to Ensenada before - is it so close to San Diego that we would just casually creepy crawl, Sunday stroll?