We had a very quiet New Year. I enjoyed Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen on CNN and I'm glad they let them have alcohol this year. They are good without alcohol, but Anderson is hysterical when he drinks. I remember Janice telling me her and Jim were actually at Times Square on New Years Eve. I don't like crowds either but it would be fun just to see the people.
This isn't my resolution but I thought it was cute. I have no cruises booked for 2024, yet. We will go on a cruise, but I'm waiting until last minute. Holland America has an awesome standby rate available for everyone. You choose your sailing date, pay the US$49 per day plus taxes when you book. They put you on a standby list and give you whatever cabins are not filled no later than seven days before the sail date! Could be inside or better, you have no choice and must accept what they give you. If you don't get chosen, they refund your credit card. This is great news for people who live near a port. Looks like we will cruise Holland America to Alaska this year. This is from their website:
Join our Standby List! For US$49 per person per day, you can enjoy extraordinary value on an unforgettable cruise vacation this year.* Add our Have It All Package to receive a Beverage Package, Wi-Fi, Shore Excursions, and Specialty Dining. Eligible sailings are listed below. To join the standby list for your preferred cruise, contact your travel advisor.
Whatever holiday you do in 2024, I hope you have a great trip. We are hoping to go to Newfoundland and Labrador on a coach tour. We are on the list and waiting for final pricing. We've been to the Maritimes, but never to Newfoundland. We thought of a cruise from New York to Newfoundland and Greenland, but decided we really want to see inland not short stops at the port cities.
I gave you the Readers Digest version of the standby program, but if you are really interested in the Holland America Standby Program, you should read the entire terms and conditions:
Terms & Conditions
Holland America Line (“HAL”) is offering guests the ability to sign up to be on standby to cruise on eligible and select cruises (the “Program”). The Program is available to guests 21 years of age or older and is intended for those residing within driving distance from a port. In order to add yourself to a cruise’s standby list, call your travel agent with the cruise information for the cruise for which you would like to join the standby list. If the cruise is available for standby passengers (the “Cruise”), you will be required to make full payment on the Cruise’s reduced cruise fare of $49 per person per day based on double occupancy (for first two guests in a stateroom) at the time you are placed on the Cruise’s standby list. Payment is not a guarantee or promise that Cruise will have space/availability for guest; guest will only be cleared for standby to cruise when/if the guest receives official confirmation from HAL approximately 7 days before Cruise’s departure. This Program is not combinable with other offers or promotions. $49 per day fare amount excludes Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses. Guests shall have no ability to select or request a certain room type on the Cruise and, if a stateroom is available, guest will automatically be assigned to such stateroom; no upgrades available. Once a guest puts themselves on the standby list for a Cruise, they cannot be removed from the list, and if such guest clears the standby then the guest’s full charge will remain (regardless of whether or not the guest shows up to cruise on the Cruise). If guest does not clear standby, they will automatically be refunded the full amount of the cruise fare that they were charged at the time they were placed on the standby list. Guests wanting the ability to remove themselves/not be charged for the Cruise if they elect not to sail should instead opt to go on a cruise waitlist (and pay at prevailing rates), not this non-refundable Program. Free 3rd & 4th Guests: 3rd and/or 4th Guests in a stateroom are eligible to travel free (Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses are additional) when booked as a 3rd and/or 4th guest in a stateroom with 1st and 2nd Guests booked through the Program on select cruises. Standard refund and cancellation conditions apply. A deposit is required for all stateroom guests and the amount of deposit varies, even if deposit is reduced per Offer.
