disneyochem

We took a taxi from the pier to Kings Station this past July We didn't have to walk too far--exited the port building, walked across the street to the taxi line. It was very close.

We toured the Independence Mine State Historical Park last summer and highly recommend it if you are staying around Palmer. We particularly enjoyed the behind the scenes tours that gave us access to the buildings. What fun! Afterwards, we went to the pass and spent some time watching folks parachute off! (I guess you would call it parachuting? People would just run to the edge and jump!). Looked like a lot of fun! Missed visiting the musk ox farm. Hopefully we’ll visit next summer.

I just put a large, personalized magnet on our door. Makes it easy to find our cabin and it’s fun to have a little personalized message. On our April cruise, the magnet said “Oh Ship, it’s a birthday trip!” along with my first name and April 2023. I had so many folks comment on it as well as wish me a happy day! Was fun! Personalizing an item should make it more difficult to be stolen—just got our Thanksgiving cruise door magnet with the name of the HAL ship, our first names and November 2023! Doesn’t apply to too many people!🤣

I have brought alcohol for gifts on board numerous times on port stops. I always tell the security officer that I have alcohol. Most of the time, I’m allowed to keep the alcohol with me. Rarely (maybe one out of 10 times?), there is a person who takes the bottle(s) and gives me a receipt to pick it up on the last day of the cruise. The room steward usually (without asking) brings it to our stateroom. So, one doesn’t lose the alcohol, it’s just stored. One tip I learned though is to take a picture of what you bought! I had a receipt for my red wine but received an inferior bottle instead! Spent a little time tracking down the correct bottle—thankful that I had a picture of the bottle!

Don’t feel silly asking this! We cruised three times out of Vancouver this summer and luggage drop off was in two different spots! In June and July, we dropped luggage to the right—down the ramp through the garage. Handed our luggage off and then took an elevator up. This is where we’ve always dropped off luggage. In August, they had signs and people directing us for luggage drop off to the left of Canada Place. Wouldn’t even let us go down through the garage. We got in a line that crossed another line of folks (person alternating which line went). We dropped off our luggage in a large conference room and then went to check in. Two ships in port that day—Koningsdam and the Majestic. One luggage line and then it split inside the big conference room. So, sorry, no answer really for you! I will say that it was very clear where to go—both by signage and by staff.

We took a Princess land tour this summer—Heart of the Rockies. Had seven nights on land followed by a seven night cruise. It was pricey so we also opted for an inside cabin on the cruise. We did not notice any difference in our land accommodations compared to our travel companions (some of which were in suites). A few folks wanted to upgrade but that option was not available. I do have to mention that the land accommodations were great—only stayed at Fairmont hotels on the tour! It was a great tour!

Always recommend a DIY tour. Alaska is pretty easy to navigate. Keep in mind that the state is HUGE and adjust driving times accordingly. Just sit down with your family and see what are your priorities. Glacier trek? Wildlife viewing? Kayaking? Fishing? Hiking? Then it’s easy to plan around those activities. With just three days, I would recommend concentrating on the Kenai Peninsula—wildlife, fishing kayaking, hiking, glaciers galore! If it does work in your plan, I also recommend a Matanuska glacier hike—quite a memorable experience! Book your lodging and tours now! The more popular places to stay and activities fill up early. Upon arrival in Whittier, take a transfer to Anchorage to pick up your rental. I wouldn’t even stay the night in Anchorage but head out to Seward stopping by the Alaskan Wildlife Center first.

You pay an additional fee because access to the glacier is owned by a private company. The fee is different from the tour provider—the Glacier Park collects the fee, you pay the guides separately. Tour guides have no control on that cost. Pre-2021, one used to be able to do self-guided hikes on the glacier. Now you can only access it by using guides. Much safer this way!

Just a quick question about the shore excursion credit. I know that on HAL, one needs to use the excursion credit or lose it. What happens if there is nothing available to book? We’re on the Koningsdam with a number of family members during Thanksgiving week. Hubby and I have been on numerous California Coastal cruises and have no interests in going on any excursions (annd those that we maybe would go on are full). Itinerary has been changed to stops in SF, Avalon, and Ensenada. Live by SF, no cruise line tours for Avalon (though we’ve been there a number of times) and no interest in anything in Ensenada after 15+ visits there. Our HIA includes shore excursion credit. Can I book an excursion using my credit and then let someone else use my “ticket?” Hubby is already going to lose his credit; I would just like to let some one else use mine rather than let it go to waste.

Thank you for posting this! Always looking for recommendations on Alaskan tours.

I have traveled in the Adventure class cars with carry on luggage. The luggage was stored at the end of the car.

We were on a cruise tour this past summer--land, northbound cruise to Whittier followed by a southbound cruise back to Vancouver. Had Plus package on the northbound, standard on the southbound. We used the same medallion and were in the same stateroom--accounts weren't zeroed out (still showed charges made on the first 7 cruise days) but did not have any of the Plus package. We weren't expecting to roll over our package to the new booking but these two cruises were booked as separate cruises. Were able to get shareholders OBC for each segment.

Holland America has water available on board in an aluminum can. Though that can vary based on availability--last month on one of their ships, water was available in plastic bottles.

Yes. I always pre-pay gratuities when we don’t have a package. You’ll see confirmation on your travel summary as well as in your cruise personalizer.

Wonderful to hear you had a great time on the Noordam. We just booked a 14-day Alaskan trip on her for August 2024. Thanks for sharing.

Yes, when I’m traveling alone in coach, I always buy two seats on the train. I like the ability to spread out and not worry about infringing on others. On a crowded train though I’m constantly having to defend my empty seat! Sometimes the conductor will support me as well!

Hubby and friends golfed at El Tigre golf course last November on a port stop. He said it was about a 15 minute taxi ride to the course. The concierge got them taxi to get back to the ship. They booked a 9 am tee time, ship docked at 8 am local time. Got there in plenty of time. Yeah, guess it was pricey—they paid about $200 per person for the course, cart and clubs. But, the beer was cold and it was golf! They are scheduled to go again this November!

We’ve stayed at the Y a number of times. I always get a room with a private bathroom—stayed at many a hostel in my European travels sharing when I was younger but not now! The rooms are basic but clean. I also like knowing that the cost of the room is being used to help others! The area around the hotel as stated by an earlier poster feels safe to us. I like to eat at Juke Fried Chicken when in town and it’s a short walk from the hotel. There are also convenience stores nearby if you need to pick up something. We usually take the Sky Train to and from Canada Place. The Y will also store your luggage for you. We’ve also stored our luggage at the Pan Pacific and Canada Place for a small fee.

Or stop by the Lido on your way down to the IC. We tend to stay on the upper decks. Nice thing about cruising—to each their own!

For those cruising with the standard fare, coffee, tea and water are available 24/7 in the buffet. One just has to go to the Lido deck to get it. Some ships do have the concentrated syrup coffee in the buffet which is pretty nasty. When I don’t have the drink package, I just bring Starbucks Via and get hot water from the buffet.

Earlier this month on the Koningsdam, Happy Hour was at 4 pm in the Billboard Lounge and the Ocean Bar. Drinks were 50% off. Cruised on the Westerdam in June—didn’t have the drink package but had free drinks in the casino. One had to be actually playing a slot machine to get a free drink. Tried to go to the bar for a free drink but was told that the servers would come to me while playing. Not a big gambler/spender so I’m sure I wasn’t high on their list to keep happy! Had to flag down servers for a drink.

My favorite was when she stated of course she knew about the PVSA—she had done research on it for another article! Makes me wonder about her skills as a journalist that she was surprised and shocked by the cruise line enforcing the law.

The shore excursion credits are on Holland America cruises, not Princess. HAL will only let you use the shore excursion funds on shore excursions--you lose it if you do not use it! (I certainly prefer Princess's policy--we've had their shore excursion credit and used it as general OBC.)

Now. I’m taking several cruises next year to Alaska (June -July 2024, August 2024) and have booked a number of excursions. The more popular excursions through the cruise line tends to sell out early. I usually don’t use the cruise line excursions but I do have some shore excursion credits that need to be use so booked a couple with the cruise line. Some private vendors don’t have online booking up for next summer but you can call and book the tour you want. I’m waiting for Black Friday sales to book my Kenai Fjord cruise out of Seward.

We were just on the Cascade train earlier this month—both northbound and southbound—and the train was 100% full. The conductors tried to designate certain cars on the train for different destinations in order to allow folks to find seats more readily. A couple of coach cars were suppose to be for those passengers going to Vancouver while another car was for those getting on/off in Bellingham. But, being in business class, I’m not sure if it was enforced. I do know that the conductors were telling folks to be flexible and to be prepared to move seats to accommodate travelers who were traveling together. I heard one woman ask the conductor to help find seats for her family.