grsnovi

Be aware that we went there 10 years ago or so the first week of June and there was quite a lot of ice in the bay and we didn't get very close.

It does seem to be a better way. I always wonder how effective the whole thing would be anyway. Actually going to your muster station helps = we didn't even do that the last couple of times on HAL.

I'm not 100% sure, but what about deck 5? I seem to recall being on a small "balcony-like" area that we got to from inside. If you look at the deck plan for 5, you can see "door ways" at the forward end of the hallways.

We have only sailed out of Seattle - because we live "down the street" in Portland, OR. If you have never done Alaska, I'd say to do whichever port is most convenient for you because you can always cruise out of the other one the next time you go (because you will go again). The 7 day choices out of Seattle only really vary by which glacier you'll cruise to. We're partial to Glacier Bay although we've also do the ones to Tracy Arm and Hubbard. One of these days we'll likely do one out of Vancouver, BC but while the scenery will be different going/coming Alaska is all about Alaska - you're not "in" the inside passage all that long really. Alaska is truly beautiful! Go!!

We loved Norway which we did as a 7 day cruise out of Amsterdam. We had previously done a 10 day Baltic out of Copenhagen which didn't stop in Norway. Your 9 night stops in 5 more ports than our 7 day and I have to say that our 10 day Baltic was post intensive and hence tiring. Flåm was lovely. The fjords are great. You'll enjoy it. 

Considering that it now appears as if quite a few folks have had COVID pneumonia for quite a while prior to even knowing they had a problem you have to wonder just what a note you might get from you doctor weeks prior would actually be worth. As far as age discrimination goes, I suspect it isn't a factor in the countries where the lines are registered. It will be interesting to see how all of the law suits that are now being levied against various lines play out.

1 hour ago, Sue from Canada said:

How long did it take for HAL to reimburse you?  I was told 60 days.

I'm sorry Sue, the 2400 was the stimulus check going out to all US citizens due to the COVID thing. It had nothing to do with HAL.

I suspect it's less about where and more about when/if. We haven't gotten anything like that yet (although we did get 2400 USD in our bank account yesterday).

1 hour ago, HappyInVan said:

 Italy has not peaked and the mortality rate is 8% of infected.

Until there has been 100% testing of the entire worldwide population to determine how many actually had the virus but didn't know it, the mortality rates discussed are completely hypothetical.

On 2/25/2020 at 2:18 PM, Jameseric said:

...Assuming of course that neither place uses stale Folgers brand...

Apparently the Folgers folks have recognized the negative connotations here and have branded a "new" 1850 specialty release. Of course, it may be the same old beans in a new bag. After you go through the "conversion" from just someone who drinks to someone who cares all things are possible. I vacillate between caring too much and only caring some. At one point I ground beans every morning to French press. Then I decided that the grinding noise wasn't what I wanted to hear upon first awaking. Coffees from around the world do certainly have differing characters. These days I'm drinking pre-ground, organic Sumatra. I've never been tempted to hand grind. All in all a much better experience (I suspect) from the canned Maxwell House that my parents had in a gas stove top percolator from 6:30am until 10pm. HAL's coffee is usually OK for me. There is a difference in preference between what most Americans (in the USA) seem to like and what most Europeans seem to like. 50 years ago who would have imagined that a Starbucks brand would have a coffee shop on every corner and 17 different bean varieties in bags at the grocery store?

Perhaps those of us who live in the PNW of the USA have gotten spoiled? Gone are the days when the only beer you could get were: Bud, Miller, PBR, Heineken and Lowenbrau. These days the beer aisle in the supermarkets here in Portland, OR likely have 200 varieties. 

On 2/10/2020 at 4:22 AM, Krazy Kruizers said:

...and other officers did show up.  No free drinks -- just coffee, water, tea and cookies.

We did several on Oosterdam years ago (when Jamers Deering was HM) and he subsequently reached out to participants with various perqs.

Pinnacle Grill, Baltic 2009...

Sounds like you had a terrible cruise Promisem. Our first cruise with HAL was on Oosterdam and we were out on her again the next year. Luckily we've had smooth seas and no backed up toilets. We did have an unacceptable (HAL) shore excursion about which we complained (on board) and which was addressed satisfactorily. There could easily be any number of reasonable factors that might explain any one of your issues but taken together they do seem to add up to fundamentally poor service. Many of us on this board have happily cruised HAL many times however there are also loud voices expressing dismay in how the service has degraded over the years. Nothing is what it was. We're looking for alternatives due to Carnival and HAL's ecological missteps. Hopefully your next cruise will be better and that you'll have time before hand  to interact with the CC message board dedicated to whichever line you select.

Our experience may or may not be of interest. We sailed in 2018 on K'dam to Norway and purchased the digital package. We got every shot they took on a thumb drive. Price was about $130 or something like that. We sailed this past August on E'dam and had purchased 3 staterooms for our grown children and grandchildren and VERY MUCH were looking forward to a photo option like we had purchased in 2018. It wasn't to be and the people we spoke to had no interest in discussing the value we were offered previously. As a result I think we only ended up purchasing one physical print. It was really sad.

We were on Eurodam in August with 10. There are several tables downstairs that will seat 10 and I would expect that you would be able to squeeze the twins in and make it for 11. This was our first time with the whole family and my wife wanted dinner to be our daily time together. On previous cruises we were seated next to split tables (where the party's adults were at 1 table and the youngsters were at another) - I enjoyed our large table more. My wife had us go around the table each night and say what we enjoyed most that day, what we enjoyed least and then anything else that we wanted to. It was a great way to kill the time between the bread basket showing up and the salads/appetizers. About mid-week, the wine steward was showing the four kids tricks. It was a great cruise!

I've eaten in the MDR on Koningsdam and I'm trying to imagine what could possibly make me dread going to dinner. Dancing on the tables? Food fights?

When you're not cruising but just eating out locally, do you ask the waiter if you can have the $50 steak for $45?

DW and I go to movies almost every weekend. While on a cruise we don't feel a need to park in front of a screen although if we're ever on a world cruise maybe that notion will vanish...

Exactly the reason that I now ALWAYS look at what is over and under us after spending a week under the pool years ago.

Yikes! What a story! Apart from the annoyances, it sounds like your wife is OK (and was OK immediately following the procedure). Sometimes you have to scratch your head in wonder at some of the hurdles life throws at us. Hopefully you'll get to experience a less stressful cruise to Alaska. Thanks for sharing your experience.

HAL's "Any Time" dining option allows you to make dining reservations the day you plan to eat. You may also be able to book one day ahead but I can't swear to it. I'm sure there will be 20 or so more authoritative replies.

So, we've gotten mixed replies with regard to the need to pre-alert HAL (which we still do) however I don't believe it is as critical as it used to be. HAL is pretty good with GF and I suspect other food allergies. As mentioned above, depending on your evening dining plans, it would always be best to notify the Dining Room Manager of your condition and (if possible) try to stay in the same table (or within the area of a particular server) each evening. When you book a specialty restaurant, let them know when you call to make the reservation.

The Lido is a different story - yes, there will be easily identified GF options however you can't always know about all of the ingredients in something that isn't obviously in a natural state. DW has a difficult time with the Lido but can usually find something (however she isn't Celiac).

Another area that may or may not be an issue is breads and desserts. Usually your waiter will bring you a GF bread option (if dining in the MDR) however the table will get baskets of various, tempting breads whereas the GF bread will often be pretty un-inspired. Same with desserts. There will be many dessert options for most however the GF options will be slim.

If coupled with another allergy (say to dairy) it can get very challenging.

You'll be fine if you are cautious and take responsibility for your own health and if you are not shy about letting the wait staff know about your concerns EVERY MEAL. HAL is pretty good about GF, enjoy your cruise but be mindful that you need to advocate for yourself.

13 hours ago, Ariel35 said:

what were your thoughts on it?

We've done it 2x. You don't really get close enough to have "the glacier experience" but as mentioned if you walk out to the falls you get a nice view. I suppose it depends on the weather on the day you're there. The little museum there is somewhat interesting. It's a low-risk/low-cost way to spend some time in Juneau. We also took a helicopter up to the top where we were able to wander around for a while - that was cool (literally and figuratively). This last time we took the kids on a "gold panning" excursion followed by a salmon bake.

2 hours ago, terrydtx said:

I am retiring the end of this week

Congrats on pulling the plug Terry, I still have about 10 months to go. 

We are also pondering a shift away from HAL due (mostly) to the whole way that Carnival Corp. has handled their environmental messes but also (in part) to shifting values (ours and HAL's). I've been looking at several alternate lines discussion boards here on CC and each seems to have the: "...boy, remember the good old days..." threads. For the most part Cynthia and I have enjoyed cruising with HAL but mostly it is about getting out of the box rather than what brand of chocolate is on the pillow at night.