GatorMomInNC

When you book online it will apply the credit to the first booking you make, then ask you to pay the remainder (with CC or gift card).  So you should book the one you are most certain to go on first.    

Thank you, this is very helpful!  I think I would prefer to be outdoors, but I feel Crow's Nest may be the best bet for the whole day.  Maybe I will start at Crow's Nest and when we begin the trip back, move up on deck and hope to get a spot from someone who has tired out.  

Thank you!  I just ordered some binoculars.  I think I will check out the crow's nest earlier in the cruise, as you suggested, and possibly the aft deck...I know there are some tables there by the bar, maybe I can sit there all day, up against the glass.  Or pull a chair right up to the railing and stand and sit intermittently.   My other issue is that they allow smoking there, and I don't want to deal with that all day...

I know this is a very old post, but I am going to try and revive it 😁

I will be on Noordam in Glacier Bay, leaving in 4 weeks.  I have done Alaska before, but not Glacier Bay, so that is a big part of why I chose this cruise.  However, I booked an inside cabin so I will not be able to watch from my verandah and will have to find someplace to view Glacier Bay.  I don't mind the weather - not worried about being cold - so I am fine with being on deck.  BUT, I want a good view and I want to be able to sit down.   There is no way I can stand for that long - not even close - I have bad knees, bad ankles bad back - bad everything when it comes to standing for long periods of time 🙄.   

So looking for recommendations if I should just get to the Crow's nest first thing in the morning; or will there be chairs on the observation deck?  And if there are chairs on observation deck will I be able to see anything while sitting, with all the people hanging on the rail?

Thanks.  I saw that and saw it positively reviewed on some other sites.  It departs 30 minutes after we dock, however, so I am hesitant to book it and risk missing it....

I will be in Ketchikan on 9/5 on the HAL Noordam.  Trying to decide the best excursion to see bears.  The one that SEEMS the best to me has very few reviews and is the most expensive.  You go by boat to Neets Bay, then walk to a viewing platform.  Bear Encounter by Land & Sea  .   

The other one is cheaper and has great reviews, but it seems like it is not so much in the wild.  Black Bear, Wildlife & Nature Walk

Has anyone done either of these and have a suggestion which is best to see bears?

Floatplane is not an option for me, sorry.  

22 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Congrats! I think the math was certainly in your favor. I have not been able to add via app or online to any of my current bookings. 2 of them, when I call in, I'm told are not eligible. 

Usually when I don't see a price for the HIA package  (just a $), I know it's not going to let me add it.

Wow!! That is what I was seeing (just $) so I am glad I was able to add it when I called in!!

Thanks everyone for your input.  I was unable to purchase it online (or do just about anything, I think that is an issue with their website, has been incredibly frustrating to use lately).  But I called, added the HIA, rebooked my shore excursion to get the $100 credit, so the HIA only ended up costing (after the shorex credit) $250 for the internet, drinks and one specialty dining.  I think that I will get my money's worth with that....

Does anyone know - if I call to add the HIA, can I use gift cards to pay when I call?

Also, I paid in full when I booked as cruise is only a few weeks away, hopefully that won't be an issue. 

You know, I booked through a travel agent, so maybe that is the issue.  I will call them on Monday and see what they say. 

So I booked a HAL Alaska Cruise, solo, for a good price, on a whim.  This was not a vacation I budgeted for, and I am traveling solo and feeling guilty since my family can't go.  So I decided not to spend the extra $$ for the HIA...and now I am kicking myself!  I already would have used the $100 excursion, and I figure even with just coffee and one or two drinks a day I would probably have been better off with the HIA.   

My question is, can you purchase the HIA on the ship?  Or just the drink packages? I tried to do it on the website and it doesn't show a price and just spins when I click on it.  The cost of the drink package alone is about what it would have been to get the HIA, so I don't want to do that. 

Do they ever offer any discounts on drink package when you board?  I was just on this same ship (Noordam) for 2 weeks earlier this year but I had the HIA so didn't pay attention to whether they were selling it on board.  

I think I will be stuck with just adding GCs from AARP to my account and buying the non-alcohol drink package and then a drink or two a day and hope I don't spend that much.   I think I will be okay without the wi-fi - all of our stops are in Alaska so I can use my phone at port - but it would have been nice to get it basically free. 

We were in Alaska in September a few years ago and booked a smaller boat, private tour, and it was one of the highlights of any cruise I have ever been on.  They cut the engine and we floated and the whales were right next to us, under us, all around.  It was awesome. 

Sorry, forgot to say it was with Harv and Marv. 

Any info on the kinds of coffees you can get?  I don't like coffee really, but I also don't like soda.  I have something I like at home with caffeine, but on cruises I need to find a sweet alternative that doesn't taste too coffee-ish.  So on other cruiselines I usually get a caramel mocchiato on ice.   Can I get something similar using the refreshment package on RCCL?  Do the non starbucks venues have those kinds of things?

Was checking out your review after I saw this video and wondering if you had seen any of this first hand, but sounds like you were up on deck.

17 hours ago, Seville2Cabo said:

Usually that small percentage is more then the value of the points your get

Sometimes that is true, but other times even if you have to pay the 3% it is worth it.  For example, after I spend a certain amount in one year on some cards I will get enhanced airline or hotel status, in addition to the points, so even if I have to pay the 3% fee I would love the chance to put that many points (if I am going to spend the money anyway) on some credit cards and "put me over the top" for the year, so to speak

On 8/30/2022 at 3:21 PM, dbrown84 said:

yes, they absolutely passed a rule a few years ago (and it looks like they are still enforcing it) that banned taking food from the Local/O'Sheehans , even if it was just to your room.  Don't know why, but it seems like it only applied to there, as I've never had a problem taking food from the buffet.  I never tried taking anything from the main dining rooms.   Ever since they passed the rule, I would just grab my basket of food and just walk away (quickly).

If I recall correctly it coincided with them beginning to charge for room service - and caused quite the controversy.  

31 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

It is only offered as a free service on World Cruises.  Otherwise they provide the forms and information and you set it up 

Okay, thanks.  Not sure what is classified as a world cruise - I'm just doing a 2 week Aus/Nz cruise...

On 8/9/2022 at 12:02 AM, JesseLivermore said:

Used it in SEA-TAC disembark this weekend. Wish I'd known about this earlier, but usually drive to ports. It's the only way to go, esp since it was free with HAL!

 

They did say we'd have to disembark early, but not really enforced. Wish I had  stayed on board longer in the future, but wife is a rule follower.  

Can someone tell me more about this service and how I can get it free with HAL?  When I search on it I don't see any option where it is free...

If something costs more do you pay full price or just the difference?

On 7/27/2022 at 11:09 AM, raitch said:

Only thing I can think of is that they don’t count a sofa as a sleep surface unless it pulls out into a bed (even a twin bed).  
 

I stayed in a Haven 2 bedroom with 5; hubby and I in the primary and my sister wanted a room to herself, and my kids didn't want the sofa pulled out.  One slept on the floor and one slept on the couch and they stayed up and watched TV.  I wish I could have put them in their own room LOL.  

Jumping on with a similar question  --- I will be on Quantum of the seas for a one week cruise at the end of a 37 day vacation.  I want to do laundry on the first day to get me through that last week or so.  Is the bag (that costs $35 from what I understand) offered any time, or only about halfway through the cruise?

I got a future cruise credit, not an onboard Credit (would have preferred that).  Do you know if these types of FCC are transferrable?  They gave one to me and one to my son, but he won't be traveling with me again anytime soon. 

Well, I checked and my flight is at 11:20am, so a little tougher to make. ☹️ 

I can either do a 10 night RT from Sydney, but not really see much of the North Island.  Or a 12 Night one way to Auckland with a stop in Melbourne and Tasmania.    The pros of the second one is that I could spend a couple days in Auckland and I would have an aft facing balcony.  The cons are the price (about doubles the cost), and that it messes up the rest of my plans for the trip, causing me to miss a 2nd cruise to Tasmania and Adelaide.  Basically I would go from B2B2B cruises to having a week on land between cruises.  Which is much more expensive and complicated as I would also have to book additional flight to get back to Sydney, and elsewhere if I want to see more of Australia. 

This is my dream trip to Aus and NZ that I have always wanted.  I have 5 weeks including getting there from US and back.   

If it matters, I am not concerned about seeing any of the LOTR or Hobbit sites that seem to be so popular in NZ.  I mainly want to see beautiful mountains and fjords and experience NZ culture. 

I hate to go all that way and feel like I short changed myself on my time in NZ....