shuyak

Embarking covid test and Verifly:  We went to airport immediately after pcr at Walgreens, which is slightly less than 72hrs before our embarking time if was west coast time, but over it if counting the 3hr time difference.  We plan to take video monitored rapid test if verifly rejected the pcr test.  Got the verifly green check after uploaded pcr result.  In case you face similar situation.  Also, we learned verifly only recognize the digital certificate from a specific list of insurer (info in its site); if yours is not in that list, they need to do the manual check.

We started journey on 6/12.

Air Canada: The only airline offers direct flight between Boston and Vancouver.  Surprised to find that airport counter without separate lines for check-in and for only drop bags.  No meal is provided and only once serving drinks for the 6 hour flight (delayed by 1 hr). 

YVR taxi: when asked, the driver declared trip to be 38 CAD when should be 34 CAD per published rate.  Glad we checked ahead.

The Burrard Hotel:  booked a year ago with its great special deal.  Room is on the smaller side but sufficient for our needs.  Location is convenient.

We are value oriented and budget concise cruisers.  Found this package attractive over a year ago and booked. 

First time with HAL, to Alaska, to Vancouver and Yucon.  Do not have "Have it All", will solely rely on US T-mobile North America services and hotel internet.  Plan to focus less on ship life (plenty reports already) but more on land experience and perhaps excursions.

I am aware of a few fellow CC cruisers with identical or portion of this itinerary, please feel free to use this as a platform to share your experience.

Planning:  various original planned excursions are no longer offered by vendors or HAL.   We did not finalize activities until last few days mostly using the combinations of direct booking with vendors with early bird specials,  booking through Tripadvisor/Viator with coupon code found on line, and Chase reward points.

We did the arrivecan last night for tomorrow's cruise out of Vancouver.  Surprised to find out it is no longer requiring negative covid test result.

All set with Verifly account and photo.  Thanks.

2 hours ago, shuyak said:

I understand a party of two traveling together only needs one Verifly account.  Are there any pro's to have 2 individual accounts?

 

Saw someone reported issyes with photo mixed up, etc.

 

Thank you!

I understand a party of two traveling together only needs one Verifly account.  Are there any pro's to have 2 individual accounts?

Saw someone reported issyes with photo mixed up, etc.

Thank you!

12 minutes ago, Tiger2112 said:

There was the couple a few seats behind us on the White Pass that were constantly coughing, sneezing, and blowing/wiping their noses without wearing masks....

In the same email we received, "Masks are also required on all cruise line- sponsored transportation, such as motorcoaches and rail." 

Think this would apply to all HAL provided transportation for cruisetour.

Received email from HAL informing us due to covid cases surge in Alaska, our 6/26/22 Nieuw Amsterdam Whittier to Vancouver cruise requires mask indoor except eating and drinking.  Outdoor mask is strongly recommended.

Tour_Tips.pdf

Info at the end.

39 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Denali and Dawson Dollars can be used for dining, tours and shopping on the land/hotel portion of your Journey in either Denali National Park or Dawson City (Dawson City for Yukon Land + Sea Journeys only.) Denali and Dawson Dollars are non-transferable, refundable, and not for cash value.

Thank you very much! 

For our btb cruisrtour-cruise, TA provided Dawson dollars and Denali dollars and rough descriptions.

It sounds like cruise OBC.  Wonder if can be applied toward breakfast plan? Hotel restaurant? Excursion? Anything else?

Can someone share your understanding?  Thank you!

@Alphen, really appreciate your postings!  It provides some reassurance that it worths the efforts to overcome all the hurdles (so far and more to come) for this trip. 🙏

51 minutes ago, denmor428 said:

Our paddle wheel trip in Dawson was cancelled because the boat was not operating. Our city tram tour in Skate at was cancelled. We rebooked through Victor and their first stop was our ship. Definitely pack snacks and any off meds you may need. We paid $15 for 3 oz of robot us din at Denali

 @denmor428, thank you for the heads up.  I then find this in Klondike Spirit's facebook - May 26, 2022 posted the reason and status.  Our excursion may be impacted accordingly but at least we are mentally prepared.  Thought HAL should have informed impacted individuals ahead though.

 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3271156306462153&id=1609952815915852&m_entstream_source=timeline&__tn__=*s*s-R

44 minutes ago, kentuckycruiser said:

It is good for 24 hours. So if you bought it at noon on Friday you would be good for Saturday. But if you are disembarking and need to test on Saturday then just use your personal data plan, and you don't need the ship. Assuming you are disembarking in Vancouver. Or wait and do it at your hotel.

Thank you!  This is very helpful. (Will test and disembark on Sunday morning instead)

Found conflict info about if T-mobile signal is strong and stable enough near Vancouver port.

Sad part is if test positive after disembarking,  we will be on our own - HAL has no responsibility, nor will be covered under our the trip insurance.

Really sorry for what your family has gone through - all the stress! 

On 6/5/2022 at 6:28 PM, kentuckycruiser said:

The premium internet package was $29 for one device or $39.99 for four devices. We bought it after breakfast on Friday. You purchase the internet via the Navigator app and go to the internet from there. 

@kentuckycruiser, is your one day premium internet package only good for Friday or it is 24 hour based that is still available Saturday morning?  We are flying out one day after, need to do the test the day of disembarking.  Thank you very much! 

Denali. 😓

@AlphenThank you!  Too bad our land tour does not include the riverboat, but will see our luck with gold.  Did I see it right that no one appears to wear mask?

@tundra1, we called all the hotels along our tour, if remember correctly, Skagway, Whitehorse, Dawson City, Fairbank, and Delani all have self coin operated laundry facility and can purchase detergent.  Anchorage is the only one without.

21 hours ago, Tracey/Thom said:

There were, literally, mountains of used sheets/towels piled in the public hallways.

21 hours ago, Tracey/Thom said:

The bathroom/toilet had obviously not been cleaned. Luckily, we travel with sanitizing wipes and a bottle of Peroxide too. In the 2 nights that we were there, no one came to replenish the coffee supplies, the towels or empty the trash.

@Tracey/Thom, thank you for the detailed description that we can better prepare ourselves.

1 hour ago, Alphen said:

Test results negative, so we are good to go!

👍

Thank you for the thread.  Following.

15 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Are any of you wearing glasses with these binoculars? 

I did.  There are more long eye relief options @ 8X or less power that I can find. 

Received HAL email overnight informing us covid test is now required (and will be provided on board during the 3 day NB cruise Vancouver to Skagway ) before the land portion started at Skagway for our Prestige Y4Z 19 day cruisetour.  Guess we are going.

Our SB is also 6/26/22 on NA.  Yesterday, it was still bookable at HAL.  It is no longer available at HAL now - yet still bookable at various TA sites.

Hope things will work out with minimum stress/frustration for all one way or the other.

@KirkNC, really feeling for you!  So much effort to plan and so many frustrations!  Not to mention the monetary loss that you have fight to hopefullt get compensated.

Wonder if we will receive the same for our BTB 6/15/22 Yukon Denali cruisetour / cruise.

Why this HAL is not the same as we researched before we booked with it???

5 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

Review the FAQ's on HAL's website RE: testing requirements...it's not hours before but it is days before....It's 3 days not 72 hours....the boarding time will not impact your Covid testing time. From the HAL website for USA cruises.. (look at the site for help with your specific timeline):  All guests aged two and older who are up to date with their vaccines, i.e., received a booster if eligible, may take their antigen or PCR COVID-19 test within 3 days prior to sailing.

Per HAL HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR ALASKA & CANADA/NEW ENGLAND CRUISES dated May 31, 2022:

"PROOF OF NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST
Guests who are up to date with their vaccines or fully vaccinated may take their COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours prior to sailing or a medically observed antigen test within 2 days before sailing."

5 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

Not sure what you mean by "not showing one of our 2nd bookings"?  Can you get both boarding passes?

We booked BTB alaska Yukon cruise-tour/cruise.  Navigator APP only shows the 1st leg booking, can not locate the 2nd.  All 7 customer services we communicated with confirmed we have checked-in both booking, but can not resolve Navigator issue.  navigator.support at hollandamerica dot com was supposed to reply within 24 hrs (per its auto reply), and it has been 6 days and counting.  We also encountered the NAVIGATOR APP issues today reported in another thread.  Think we will just board as we wish, and forget about all the alleged convenience it would provide.

@FlaMariner, in any event,  thank you for the reply.  All these compounded (did I mention my account was wiped for unknown reason that took another [call + chat] to remedy?) unfortunately have inserted some really bad tastes about HAL, even before we can start to experience its supposed to be wonderful crews, ships, and tours.  Are the pro's really outweigh the unnecessary and should have been debugged con's?  We will find out.

The bright side is we find HAL cruisers are genuinely willing to help fellow cruisers, which is much appreciated!

I was not allowed to try in store due to padamic; bought Nikon Prostaff 3S 8x42 for its long eye relief (good for glass wearer), light weight, good reviews, and good value.  Served this first time user's need.  There appear to have some good package deals online now.  

There are older threads in this board with many suggestions that (helped me) may help you to decide.