ToXS

All feasible HAL sponsored excursions are sold out. Is there a good way just to get transportation to a close by beach at Kailua-Kona (Hawaii) (tendered) and Honolulu (at dock)? Can we just catch a taxi at the dock? More importantly - how can we be sure to find a taxi to get us back in time?

Any recommendations for close by beaches at those 2 ports would be very appreciated!

Thank you!

Thank you for your excellent advice, Cruise Suzy! I'm hoping to do a good whale watching excursion - several listed in general Juneau excursion listing, but non listed in the Juneau itinerary "port activity" suggestions. In fact, surprisingly little whale watching mentioned in entire itinerary. Is it just not a successful excursion choice with such late port arrivals in Juneau (1pm) and Victoria (6pm)? Any suggestions about what port to do it in or anything else about it? (Additional ports: Sitka, Ketchikan, Seattle)  Also, can I or should I make Pinnacle Grill reservations before the cruise departs? I don't want to miss out! Thank you so much!

It's been a while since we've cruised HAL - doing a simple 7-day, Westerdam cruise to Alaska, June 12-19. Does anyone know what time the Lincoln Center concerts are in the evenings?  It will affect dinner time reservations. Is the dress-up gala on Thurs, the 5th night of the cruise? Is that a good night to go to the Pinnacle Grill to skip all the fussy dress-up? What are the electric outlets and computer/cell phone recharging facilities like?  Thank you so much!!

2 hours ago, jonyboy said:

We love the BB King lounge

Guest lectures are usually OK. The shows are only mid level quality. I don’t think HAL invests much $ there. The single shining star is the Lincoln Center Stage. Outstanding! I have not found any thing like it with any other line. 

CruiserBruce, 

Excuse me, but you don't understand. 

The segment cruise we went on that I want to replicate was a portion of a much longer cruise - 39 days from Vancouver to New Zealand.  It wasn't a "circle Hawaii" type cruise that only went to Hawaii.  So, the cruise line didn't loose the sale of "2 or 3 days after" we "left" our cabin.  There were new passengers who joined the long cruise at Honolulu and moved into our cabin.  The islands of Hawaii were stops along the way.  Honolulu was the first port of the Hawaiian islands. That is why we did not visit any other port.  Some of the new passengers did the segment that toured the Hawaiian islands.  Some joined the cruise when it went on to Tahiti/French Polynesia.  Some got off at an Australian port.  A few went all the way to New Zealand ports.  This long cruise was in fact divided into several segments, sold at different prices to different passengers.

And, yes, we did indeed get a much lower price on our short 7-night segment of the cruise with not ports than other portions of this long cruise.

Take a look at grand tour/world tour cruise listings online.  Then, look up the other cruises offered on those same ships.  You will notice duplicate dates.  That is evidence of the long cruises being divided and sold in shorter segments.  You see there aren't enough passengers who are willing/able to purchase long cruises to completely fill up the ships.  This is a standard practice by the cruise lines who offer long cruises.

My problem is things are different right now because of the pandemic.  Maybe the changes will be last for a long time because of the public's pent up travel desires.   Maybe the changes will become permanent.  That's why I'm hoping for help from all the experienced cruisers in this wonderful community.

Happy travels, CruiserBruce!

Thank you very much for all the responses. I have learned a lot. It explained the reasons behind some restrictions.

I should have been more clear on what I am after...  I want only the transportation across the Pacific to or from the west coast/Canada and a single Hawaiian port - no port stops (or just one if we have to). I don't want to pay for an entire Hawaiian multi-island tour cruise or a very long trans-Pacific cruise just to leave the ship early. I assumed that came under the category of a "segment" cruise, where you only PAY FOR and travel on a portion of a longer cruise.

I think the one we did with HAL was sold just to fill the booking gaps in the much longer cruise. It cost much less, but we didn't get to choose and reserve a specific cabin. We paid for a set cabin quality level, but weren't assigned an actual cabin until a few days before embarkation.

I was hoping to find a segment that traveled between the west coast and KAUAI, but I will probably have to settle for what ever Hawaiian port I can get - most likely Honolulu.

I hope these extra details can inspire more responses. I really would like to put together another trip.

Here's to Canada finally opening for cruises in 2022! Cheers!

ToXS

Hello! I’d appreciate any advice on finding a “segment” cruise of a longer cruise that will just get me across the Pacific Ocean to or from Hawaii and a USA/Canada west coast port.  In 2019 went on a 7-day HAL segment from Vancouver to Honolulu (no port stops) that was a segment of a 39-day Vancouver/New Zealand cruise. It was a lovely, relaxing  “slow-boat-to-China” way to get there. A travel agent says HAL won’t do them at this time. Does anyone know of another cruise line that will?

Thank you so much!

ToXS

Please tell me...  what is the “MSC”?  Thanks for the education!

I forgot to add (no pun intended).....   If your one-day drink package costs $61.69 ($28.69 + a $33 20% gratuity fee for the top limit of 15 possible drinks), you would have to drink at least five $11 alcoholic drinks in one day to get your money’s worth — more if your drinks are worth less than the $11 limit.  I’m sure someone will let me know if my math is off.

OK, I’m not usually a big drinker so I still have questions about this 1-day “fantastic” deal. What percentage of alcoholic drinks are priced at $11 or less?  I’m not interested in the simple (blank) & tonic drinks or (blank)-on-the-rocks. I like the mixed concoctions, at least a whiskey sour, amaretto sour or coffee nudge. Are those above $11? I’m not interested in the package if it doesn’t cover those. — Also, are you charged ahead of time a 20% gratuity fee for all 15 eleven-dollar drinks whether or not you actually consume that many? That adds $33 to your $28.69 daily package bringing it to $61.69. Make that x’s two if you add a travel partner, now coming to $123.38. We wouldn’t spend that much on drinks even under regular circumstances.—— I’ve found I have to be careful with “fantastic” deals. We were offered a “free” drink package on another well- known cruise line. They determined the package was worth UP TO $1,485 per person. You wouldn’t notice that you were being charged a 20% gratuity fee for the entire package value unless you looked closely at the final cruise bill.  Times two for my spouse and me, we were going to be charged $594 for that “free” drinks package. We turned it down!

There will be one “show” on the Main Stage almost every night, but don’t expect top quality entertainment. HAL has never made much of an investment in this venue for its guests. That was one of our biggest disappointments with HAL. (That and its monopoly on the sale of all excursions, resulting in very limited choices and unreasonably high prices.) The one area in entertainment where they do out shine ALL other cruise lines is with their daily Lincoln Center Stage classical string quintet recitals. That is what saved the cruise trip for us with evening entertainment. If you want fantastic, exciting productions a la Cirque du Soleil, comedy acts so hilarious you buy their CD, and breathtakingly beautiful singing and dancing, don’t waste your time going to HAL’s Main Stage productions. You have to go to another cruise line for that. Try Norwegian Cruise Line. That was the case with HAL when we 1st sailed with them 35 years ago. We found no improvement when we gave them another try a year ago. You will find the TV in your state room more worth your time.

Did you mean to say you took HAL off your list? I ask because it is HAL that we are so disgusted with.  

13 hours ago, jonyboy said:

Not sure if this is right place to ask this but if not I'm sure someone can point me in the right direction.  We have done two cruises on HAL, first on the Westerdam and second on the Nieuw Statendam.  We are now planning another cruise in February on the Veendam.  A friend suggested we instead do a similar cruise on the Norwegian Escape, which is a much larger ship, 4,266 vs 1,350 on the Veendam.  Any thoughts on which we should choose?  I've seen some reviews regarding the Escape that it can be very crowded.  So far we've been happy with HAL, some lines at times but nothing terrible

 

Thank you

 

We were dedicated NCL cruisers until I discovered the great HAL itineraries for our last two cruises. But, no matter what cruise line, we always avoid the very large ships because of the crowds, the long waits for free-seating dining and at the "buffet" for breakfast/lunch, crowds at the entertainment venues, and just everywhere. The very worst part is you have to tender at EVERY port, and the crowds dealing with that make it all the worse! I will say that the two areas where NCL has HAL totally beat are with entertainment (both main stage and night club type venues) and with selection and price of port excursions sold on the ship. NCL must invest much more in their entertainment because the quality surpasses HAL by miles! NCL always has a very large selection and variety of excursions at at much more reasonable prices. I am convinced this is because HAL is financially connected with the one and only company that is allowed to sell the excursions on their ships, thereby having a monopoly on the "market." NCL has an "open market," allowing a large number of businesses to offer their tours - as long as they have passed NCL's quality requirements. These two huge issues are causing us to reconsider future cruising with HAL.

We are about to leave on the Noordam out of Vancouver in 6 days on Oct 13. We are in a standard verandah cabin, deck 6.  With all the different class ships in HAL, I don't trust my past cruise experiences on HAL to predice the following for the Noordam.

• Are all electrical outlets equipped for 3-prong/110 volt or should we bring adapters?  
• I know we can't use our own power strip.  Can we get a power strip or some other device to set up additional outlets if we ask?  We have several electronic devices to keep charged up. 
• I know shampoo is provided.  Is hair conditioner also provided?  Or is it just shampoo and body wash in two wall containers?    

Thank you so much!

8 hours ago, jonyboy said:

How far back?  Balcony or indoor?  If you're under the aft deck it should be quiet at night

Quiet under the aft deck at night?  Not hardly.  Not with the scraping, booming and slam banging of putting away the deck furniture at midnight and taking it out again at 6:00 in the morning.  Good luck trying to sleep through that!

What is the benefit of buying a beverage card? 

Please tell me what other lines do not have this requirement.  ToXS

I cannot resist the opportunity to speak of a "change" that  happened with HAL I believe within the last 7 years.  Sadly, it is not (yet?) offered on all HAL ships.  It was the absolute highlight of every day during our cruise on the Eurodam in October 2018.  That was the wonderful concerts of the program, Lincoln Center Stage.  Absolutely lovely!!  That alone may be what brings us back to cruise with HAL again.

22 hours ago, Crew News said:

 

The laundry bag is a standard size.  The rate is $20 for a bag as full as you can make it.   If you want just a few items laundered, choose the individual items (not a smart choice) but if you want laundry every day, choose the unlimited package at a rate of either $7 or $9 per day (as many bags as you wish per day) depending on where the ship is located.

 

 Thank you very much for the copy of the price list.  Now I don't have to depend on my fuzzy memory.   I still wish the bulk laundry price included a larger bag.  My math tells me I'd do better with the single item price if I can only get a t-shirt and a pair of socks in that wee bag.

I am still confused about HAL's laundry practices. On the Eurodam, I just remember seeing the little laundry bag on a hanger in the closet. It was hung with a sheet that had a long list of clothing items and the exorbitant cost to launder each separate item. How does one get a hold of the larger bag and get to use the bulk laundry price???

We recently returned from our 1st cruise w/HAL in 30 years (18 day circle Hawaii on Eurodam), so we are in actuality newbies. I was shocked at the price of laundry - a very small bag and charges of $8/$9 PER ITEM! I never heard of a $20 one time laundry service while onboard...? If you have to use that same little bag, you can't get more than a very small t-shirt and a pair of socks in it. NCL gives you a very, very large bag for this sort of deal. Am I missing something here?

As for the tipping,  I hear HAL is raising their daily gratuity fee yet again. As far as I'm concerned, that is going to have to cover all of my tipping for the trip.

16 hours ago, richstowe said:

 

Thank you for your comments . I am surprised at your excursion observations having found NCL to be the worst of an overpriced lot . We were told Norwegian demands that operators not offer any excursions directly to passengers and makes a huge markup on tours . I'm sure they aren't so different then others but certainly no better .

I don't doubt for a minute that NCL makes a commission (markup) when selling excursions for other tour companies.  (Remember, those companies are not owned by NCL.  HAL's "EXC Tours" is privately owned by HAL.)

What I am looking at is the bottom line... the "marked up" excursion prices on NCL were much, much less expensive than HAL.  There were many more excursions to choose from, and they were much more varied. We filled up our port stays with 2 back-to-back 4-hour excursions on NCL for less than a single 2-hour excursion with HAL's privately owned "EXC Tours,"  the only tours offered on HAL. 

NCL excursions are sold over a counter.  That's not the same as sold directly to passengers by the other tour companies.  We were aware one could actually buy tours directly on line, but choose to do it on ship even if more expensive. There was a guarantee not to get left behind if the tour was late returning.  Well the much higher cost of HAL excursions has changed our mind on that.  It makes shopping on line a more acceptable risk to us.

Recently returned from 18 day trip on Eurodam.  A few of our impressions...

Embarkation/disembarkation was smooth and very quick. MDR food very good to excellent! Service there was spotty - from good to only fair, esp with large tables. Staff was entirely over worked!  Lido Market lunch food was good and quite varied.  Good service there.  Dive In burgers were good - Wow on those fries!  Cabin was well appointed, service very good. Nice, large TV mounted on wall. Nice veranda furniture.  The entire ship was spotless. Very little wear/tear anywhere - a very handsome ship! Covered pool was lovely!
Check these spots out. The Crow's Nest:  quiet, nice view, comfortable chairs, appreciated the library (though limited),  nice jigsaw puzzles, fun computerized maps to manipulate.  The Gallery Bar with table shuffleboard and good supply of board-games, card-games and tables for playing.

Deck 8 aft veranda cabin was nice for the view, but very noisy at two times EVERY day: gathering of all pool deck furniture above at midnight, setting out of same at 6:00 AM.  (Banging, dragging furniture across deck floor.) Very annoying if you like to sleep at either of those two times of the day.

Big disappointment on 2 fronts: #1 - Main Stage entertainment was at best only mediocre, often downright poor. This was the case in all categories and in all aspects of the show, from featured artist to stage band. For example - comedian used much of the same material in 3 shows of an 18 day cruise. What saved the nights were the fantastic Lincoln Center Stage concerts! Lovely!  #2 - HAL's monopoly on all shore excursions ("EXC Tours") is a big rip-off of it's passengers -  grossly over priced, very few choices, limited variety. We only booked one tour. Other cruise lines allow vetted local tours to sell their excursions. (NCL does an excellent job with this.) We will pre-book all future excursions on line directly with local tour companies if we sail with HAL again. These two areas can have a big negative affect on the over all enjoyment of one's cruise. For the money spent, HAL should really do better than this.

We took an Amtrak Cascades train back to Seattle. Much more comfortable than a bus.  The depot is fairly close to the port in Vancouver.  After spending the rest of your disembarkation day sightseeing, the train leaves late afternoon or early evening.  We spent the night then left early the next morning.  One note of warning - I've heard it is possible to get held up for hour(s) by a freight train.  Those get priority on the tracks.  We didn't have a plane to catch.

Hello all! Someone said somewhere that you can reserve a table at the MDR if you are doing the dine-at-any-time. How and when can you make those reservations? How many days prior can you do it? Can you reserve a table for several days in a row? Thank you!