DaveOKC

HAL needs to make it a bit tougher to eliminate the charge - removing on embarkation day is unreal and should not be allowed! The customer knows the charge is there when booking, so they should be required to provide some explanation why they are removing it. I like it when HAL include crew appreciation in a larger promotion (like HIA), as it makes it impossible to remove.

Same here - saw lots of whales in mid-Sept both in Juneau and Icy Point Strait.

Sometimes the Signature Beverage Package will be noted on your card with a SBP, but other times its not (happened to us on the same cruise last month - one couple had it noted the other not). Cabin assignments can come at any time - right up until you board! Check online on your luggage tags, they seem to show up there first for some reason.

Related question - when extra tipping the room stewards how does everyone else handle this? Separate envelopes for each, or both together? I usually just put both names on the envelope but do not know if this is the best way to do it.

Let us know if you get your money back on Club Orange. As stated, it is free with a Neptune, even one you get through an upsell.

No - we have seen the run in Sept.

Also comes into play if you take an upsell.

Good points. I used to just self insure, so this free coverage is better than that, but as you point out, not as good as the cruiseline insurance.

FOr sure it is not as good as the cruise company insurance but the cost is nothing, so I run with it.

One year we did the last HAL cruise in Sept followed by the first one in May. Good thing about May was more daylight hours. Bad thing was that we were not able to get as close to the glaciers. So I guess it depends on what is important to you.

Guarantee cabins are normally less expensive than if you select your own cabin (within the same category) - the difference depends on the exact cabin of course. Its because the cruise line can put you in any cabin they want to (within the category generally). I would not book a guarantee unless I was comfortable with any cabin in that category or higher. HAL has two different insurance plans, so read the fine print carefully. One plan does allow you to cancel for any reason, but remember that you will lose a bit (I think it is 10% of the fare) plus of course you are out the cost of the insurance. I seldom take the insurance, because I have pretty good insurance through my credit card, but this does not work for everyone of course.

How long did it take to go through security once you were at the YVR airport? And how long to get to your gate?

This is what I was referring to: Six people died Thursday when a sightseeing plane near Ketchikan crashed into the side of a mountain, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Teller said the distress signal came at around 11:20 a.m. from about 1,400-feet elevation in a steep terrain area of the Misty Fjords National Monument. Initially, weather hampered the search as helicopters couldn’t penetrate the low cloud ceiling at around 900 feet because of poor visibility. The Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers, U. S. Forest Service and Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad reached the site of a downed de Havilland Beaver 8 miles northeast of Ketchikan Thursday afternoon. Two Coast Guard rescue swimmers were lowered and found no survivors at 2:37 p.m., the Coast Guard said. The five passengers were from the Holland America cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam which was visiting Ketchikan on Thursday, the cruise line said in a statement. “We understand that notifications of next of kin by relevant authorities are underway, and counseling services from Holland America Line have been made available to guests and crew who would like extra support,” the statement said. “This float plane excursion was independently operated by Southeast Aviation and not sold by Holland America Line.”

We did the floatplane tour to Misty Fjords and it was a great experience! We had three previous tours cancelled over the years due to bad weather but the day we went was PERFECT! Even the pilot was excited to see such beautiful weather. After hearing of a couple of floatplane accidents recently, I would receommend only doing this using a HAL excursion.

Thats what I figure also - they approach Juneau from different directions.

Eurodam. End of August.

Has anyone done this? How was it and please provide details. It is a 7 hour excursion (1 -8 PM), so I want to be sure it is worthwhile (it will take up all of our time in Juneau). We have done Tracy arm in a cruise ship, so have some idea of the scenery.

A tip for those looking to buy 100 shares of CCL to get the shareholder credit. If possible, buy them in a joint account, that way if only one of you go on a cruise you can still get the credit. Otherwise the person who is on the stock account (like an IRA, etc.) is the only one who can get it. Limit one credit per cabin of course.

Was that $300 from a Verandah or a Signature cabin, to the Neptune?

Agreed - great cruise and much better idea IMO.

Last month for our Pinnacle (free) dinner each couple booked separately online and then once onboard asked to be seated together - they were very happy to do so (I think it was less work for them as well).

Likely reason

Did you get the $50 offer when you reviewed your booking on the HAL website? We got ones for August Alaska and October Panama Canal cruises. BOth for 2022.

Great map! Thanks.

Does his voicemail recording tell you who to contact if he is out of the office? Mine does and that person is always willing to help. If not, call and ask for a new PCC.