greensprout

Yes of course, my bad. We are on NA.

With that, what are your recommendations for luggage drop off for the 5 May NS departure?

We board the Nieuw Amsterdam on May 5. Just had an email 2 days ago that Juneau will now be a tender port. I see there are 5 ships in port that day 🤨

That I do not know. I believe I heard that the NS aft on deck 6 are smaller. We were happy with the deck 4 aft NS. We were happy with the aft view and larger balcony and don't mind walking further to the Neptune lounge. We generally always use the stairs and never elevators while on board, so easy to get in the 10000 steps daily.

Same ship, Had a Neptune suite last Caribbean cruise on deck 4. Was fabulous. There was some machinery obstructing a tiny portion of view on starboard side where we were. Have a deck 5 NS aft for the 14 day Alaska 5-19 May, with friends on beside starboard cabin.

enjoy!

Our first cruises on HAL were with kids. 4 of us in an ocean view. First time the kids were 11 & 12 (12 days in the Mediterranean during my deployment leave from Afghanistan. Second with kids was a Christmas Caribbean 10 day with kids 13 & 14. Was very fun but will never have 4 people in a cabin again aside from a huge suite, but would hesitate even then for the privacy thing. Personally, without kids, no more than 2 per cabin is happy, but clearly budgets do impact this.

On past cruises, we were at Half Moon Quay on day 2. A passenger went into cardiac arrest on the beach, which we saw responders addressing on our way back to the tender. The Capt that evening gave a toast and acknowledged that a passenger had died on the beach. Did not see how that person was disembarked. Last cruise, a passenger had a medical issue one evening. Caribbean itinerary. We ended up with an unscheduled day at Grand Turk and missed the Half Moon Cay planned stop so the patient could be off loaded in Grand Turk and repatriated to Florida from there. The Capt did also make an announcement to that effect as the planned schedule changed. I felt it was handled very well.

That is very good to know in the event of something horribly unexpected.

Very smoky on Vancouver Island the past few days .

Good news for our 14 day Alaska on the NA in May!

No more carpaccio? Not nice. Loved that dish.

Looking forward to following your journey, as we will be doing the same trip May 2024 (as I believe you are as well). Welcome to British Columbia! You will sail right by where I live while on the inside passage.

Is this only for US military members or Canada too? Haven't heard about it here.

Noted, perhaps I had info just for bar servers/tenders.

Cannabis edibles in Canada (along with other forms of delivery) are legal for purchase over the age of 21. Generally, one can just walk into a storefront and purchase. Quebec may have some particular idiosyncracies, but certainly Nova Scotia would be fine. Just ensure you have no product with you when re-entering the US, as this will be illegal in the US.

When on the Nieuw Amsterdam 3 weeks ago, we did ask about this. Servers did state that any tip added onto a spa/drink/meal (which is in addition to the 18% crew appreciation daily), the tip goes directly to the server whose name is on the bill/ticket that you sign.

Left the NA on 2 April after 2 weeks Caribbean. The origami was in the BBKings Blues lounge from what I saw. The colouring was in the Crows Nest on deck 11, definitely great views from there.

Disembarked Nieuw Amsterdam on 2 April, survey came in email 4 April.

Am currently on Nieuw Amsterdam 14 day B2B in a Neptune. Fresh flowers in the cabin, changed out when wilting. Fruit available if we want. As of day 10, have had chocolates at turn down X 3, and 3 towel critters. Cabin serviced at least 2x daily.

We are currently on the NA in 4183. Quite loving it. Yes, there is the window washer thing just off the corner of the balcony, but doesn’t really impact the view. As for the distance to Neptune Lounge, we don’t mind, as we want to walk a lot (always take the stairs, etc). Am sure we may have accessed the lounge more often if we were closer, but when we have used it, the concierges have been fantastic at helping out with everything we asked about or requested. I would request deck 7 or 5 ideally next time (if we do Neptune), but would definitely take deck 4 if nothing else available. We could have had deck 7 midship near the lounge, but am very happy to be aft this cruise. Happy sailing.

For anytime dining (walk in whenever and may need to wait a bit depending on the day/time) absolutely yes. Hub and I often request a table for 2 as this is our getaway and reconnection time away from the everyday home stuff. Never had an issue, whether booking ahead or walk in.

We have retreat cabana 8, but did not witness your faux pas. Stop by and say hello as am sure we will be there a decent bit of tomorrow’s sea day. Cheers.

We boarded the NA yesterday for 14 days B2B. Pre purchased thermal spa for first week (no option to book the full 14 days). Upon stopping by the desk to get our sticker/access, we were able to book for the second week. Embarkation day specials for the spa had some treatment options that also included the thermal spa… so if you already had paid the $149 pre booking, that would be taken off the cost of the embarkation special. Basically, by doing this I have booked spa treatment for around $100 less than if I had booked the treatment by itself. definitely some good deals. ** caveat: have to book on embarkation day, and book your selected treatment at time of purchase, and must be scheduled on a port day.

Thanks, that's what I thought. Will have to decide if I want to bring mine...