Holidaycraze

Thanks Essiesmom for your suggestion.  Crystalspin sorry but I thought my question was put in the section that say for cabin selection help.....maybe just ignore those who are not so savy and learning.

hate is a strong word and sorry to cause you upset.  

🤔 hmmm, should I go with sunset cabin and hope to purchase the Persian spa package or is it limited and May not be able to purchase ? Does anyone know how much the spa is for an entire cruise ?

What are others experiencing with Blu. We didn’t have great experience with Blu years back. We plan on a TA with celebrity reflection so lots of sea days 

thanks for any feed back 

Thank for these 

information!!!i appreciate it 

Does anyone have information about the trail that is offered when doing the partial train trip to Denver falls?

We have kids with us and want to know how busy and well used the trail is as the train does not return for two hours for pick up. 

Thanks Cathy 

Has anyone done the Skagway whitepass train just the 12 mile return - getting off at denver and hike then get picked up two hours later? we have kids and wonder if this a tough hike or just a trail that would be managable.

any advise would be appreciated. 

thanks Cathy 

Thanks we went with 6th floor rooms 

a little more money but worth it - I think 

🤔 

Please help anyone had these signature suites? are they noisy? need to confirm today 

thanks 

Thanks for any information.

We bought the cellar 2 wine package

I was sure this included as per the HAL that this included tax/gratitudes?

perhaps I read this wrong and can’t get onto the site as we are no longer booked but traveling.

reveiw to come

thanks 

Thanks everyone for the input.  We are off today - once I pack.

Pouring rain in Vancouver -  warm and cozy clothes

I'm so excited - there is no bad cruise.

Looking forward to relaxation, friends and meeting new ones

I will write a review on our return

I have a bad history of not writing a review - but this time I will make the effort.

Thanks everyone,

Two gift bags ready!  One for my partner - with a couple of goodies for him and the other for our friend's cabin.

Wow - great suggestions, and I'm up early packing now as I was lost in shopping yesterday for the items.  Fun.

My friends, they haven't been on this forum - so busy, they haven't thought much about cruising, speaking with them last night - they were just throwing together a suitcase.  I bought one set of sea bands too - hopefully, they won't be needed but my friend is unsure how she would be in high seas.  I know she didn't buy any as she was asking if gravol best to take.  Does anyone know best over the counter sea sickness pills and can they get on board?  Luckily, we don't get sea sick and have been in big seas, around cape horn and also Austraila crossing and the worst once leaving Vancouver going south to LA.  HAL wouldnt sail out because of the storm, and we were on NCL and they decided to leave and get ahead of it.  Well we were in the storm for two days.  Luckily, we had fun rocking and rollin. Not everyone did.

Thanks again, great input

I will send a review when we are back.

The worst for submitting reviews

Pouring rain in Vancouver.

Just now, freestyling said:

Disposable rain poncho and light cheap nylon backpack

Especially with the forecast !!!!! Rain in Alaska !! For sure will get these 

6 hours ago, Holidaycraze said:

Any suggestions for a little welcome gift bag I want to our first time cruiser friends who are joining us on a cruise on Sunday?

things that are useful on trip ie:  highlighter for daily bulletin 

 

Everyone has been awesome !!!!!

thanks for all the great tips and the gift bags are going to nice and full!!!! Doing one for our cabin too as all the items will come in handy for us too! Especially the champagne. I think we are allowed only one bottle to walk on with each. Too bad they wouldn’t permit a little one for my friends bag, I guess I can just pay the corkage - might as well get a full size one instead !  So many helpful suggestions 

I’m going out to shop !!!! Sailaway on Sunday !

Any suggestions for a little welcome gift bag I want to our first time cruiser friends who are joining us on a cruise on Sunday?

things that are useful on trip ie:  highlighter for daily bulletin 

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

When reading reviews on any public website, you have to keep things in perspective.

 

Since I'm going to be on the Westerdam next April, I decided to take a look at the recent reviews just to see what OP was concerned about. I looked at the most recent 17 reviews:

 

I tossed one review out of consideration, since the poster clearly stated they were seeking 100% compensation for their cruise and was not getting anywhere with HAL so far -- clearly they had an axe to grind and their review was OTT.

 

Of the 16 remaining, 8 were what I'd call good to excellent reviews, 5 were middling to good, and only 3 were "bad". Of the three bad reviews, one of them was colored greatly by the fact that they were traveling with toddlers and clearly did not research that there is not much geared toward toddlers onboard ship. A second had a poor cabin steward but did not have a lot of complaints otherwise.

 

Things that were mentioned as positives in most of the reviews (with a few outliers):  HAL's organization in terms of getting folks on/off the ship (and of course many of the reviewers also did the land portion in Alaska, which similarly was seen as well organized); the friendly crew was mentioned time and again; most found their accommodations roomy, well laid out and functional, even if a few said the decor was a little boring/dated; with one or two exceptions the food also had pretty good reviews, which I'd say is probably better than average for mass market cruise ship reviews. 

 

I was surprised that, despite all the moans on the HAL board about entertainment, there were not many complaints about that and several very positive "likes" for the BB Kings and for the Billboard "dueling pianos". 

 

Some of the complaints raised:

-- "inconsistent" decor (what does that even mean?)

-- dark decor

-- dated bathrooms in cabins; tub too high to get in/out safely

-- Alaska naturalist not as good as on Princess

 

Interestingly, some loved the MDR but thought the Lido was not great; others expressed the exact opposite opinion. Most liked the Pinnacle though one did not. What can I say: food is very much a matter of individual taste (pun intended).

 

So overall, I'm not really seeing what the OP is concerned about.

 

OP -- was there something in particular that bothered you?

 

 

 

Thanks - it was the last few reviews on Cruisecritic reviews - “floating Petri dish”, dirty ship, food terrible in mdr. Now reading responses from fellow board followers - I’ve been set straight ! I know it will be all that I’ve experienced in the past and what makes cruising great for us. I think having friends coming who have not cruised adds some pressure .... I want them to love cruising too so we can do more together. Have a great cruise in April and thank you for your research!

44 minutes ago, skigirl said:

We just got home from an Alaskan cruise on the Westerdam and loved it. No worries.

Thanks so much !!! Glad you had great time 

1 hour ago, SilvertoGold said:

Westerdam just received the monthly award for Best Food in the fleet.

 

I can think of nothing bad to say about this ship, except maybe that the flowers on the MDR tables and Lido have disappeared, something I think is fleet-wide.  Our June and August texperiences for 14 days each were great cruises!

Great 👍 - best food award - looking forward to some great meals !

Thank you everyone 

I’m confident we will have a great cruise. 

The cruise critic review  I recently read - was about food being terrible in the MDR and the ship was called a “floating Petri dish”

But I’m not concerned after reading responses.  We will have a great time and have always enjoyed the service and food and how can you not enjoy the lovely decadent experience of a cruise. There are Always complainers which we are not

To respond  to the complaints of so much illness on ship - i bring my own small hand sanitizer to do a quick squirt before I start to eat. Not just coming into lido as then you touch all serving spoons etc and some people haven’t used entry sanitizer or have coughed or sneezed re-infecting their hands.  Living with so many on a ship - you can’t wash your hands too many times. 

Thanks again for putting me back on the right tract ....count down - we leave Sunday from Vancouver and return to Vancouver 

9 hours ago, Crew News said:

 

Loved the Westerdam in June 2019.  Amazing laundry service, good food, Exective Chef visits the MDR each night, great nightlights in staterooms, $2 Happy Hour drinks, quick Pinnacle Grill Service, and excellent Room Stewards.

 

Here are your dining menus and daily northbound ativities:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/specifc-cruise-lido-and-mdr-menus/hal-7-day-alaska-2019-menus

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/on-locations-specific-cruises/westerdam-alaska-2019-when-where-northbound

 

My photo review of the Westerdam:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/photo-reviews/ms-westerdam-2

Thank you for all this information - totally reassured !! People are correct, enjoy and don’t look at reviews. The last person that wrote on cruise critic review said food awful, floating Petri dish (lots of illness), said they would never cruise again after week on Westerdam. I love cruising and coming back to HA after many years of cruising Celebrity. HA has provided great service, food and experience on my past experience. Menus look great - thanks for alll the pictures and review! 

We have just booked and leave soon for a one week alaska cruise and bringing friends on first cruise

soany bad reviews - can anyone else give me some insight 

thanks 

Thank you so much - we will wait until we are on the ship. 

thanks so much Kazu.  I have cruised HAL several times but for years have been on different lines, mostly celebrity.

I'm going to check my star status ..... and most likely just book the cellar 2 wines and dinner separately.  thanks for the advise. 

I thought i read its cheaper to book the wine package before the trip but doesn't server get a bonus if you book the wine package the first night at dinner - is it more expensive?

I live in Vancouver and my son lives in victoria 

Ive taken the pacific connector bus many times and its a good service, until i discovered flying Harbour Air ......

Its so fast and economical and absolutely stunning flight.  I fly Vancouver Harbour (close to cruise terminal) to downtown harbour of Victoria.  I have gone one way for 84dollars Canadian depending on which time you can go.

This cheaper or close to the price of a car and one passenger on ferry one way and twenty minutes and you are there.

I didnt read all the responses but hope this helps 

Unfortunately, After calling HAL, the person was unable to answer all my questions regarding this wine package for our 7 day cruise.

It states 6 bottles of wine  - I had to call to find out indeed it is the cellar 1 type wine - the lowest end (any comments on these wines?)

2.  I asked what are the two wine tasting events.... HAL didn't know.  I did explore and one wine tasting is event is almost 50 dollars(premium) on board and second is 25 dollars 

does anyone know if we get to do both of these ?. The HAL contact has no idea.  If we get the premium wine tasting that would be worth while

overall what do people think

Thinking of doing this as I like the idea of the Pinnacle which is included and having a nice dinner the sail out evening from Vancouver to Alaska.

Coast line is lovely

Or: 

4 bottle of Level 1 and 4 bottle of Level 2 and skip the Cellar Wine Master Pack and buy Pinnacle separately and not go to wine tasting 

Can you tell - I do love my wine 

Thanks for any advise anyone can give 

I have sailed 3 longer cruises on NCL > 14 days - around South America and pacific coastal Panama - enjoyed NCL so much!!!! Loved the Sun and Pearl - size of ship is perfect. Have sailed celebrity more than 5 times but in March 2017 did celebrity on Melininium and though I had great time - was not impressed with Celebrity. Really not impressed with the segregation - elite cruises and regular. Ropes that separate you in lounge as you watch all the service go to them as you have to go bar to get a drink as no staff for other tables. The ship was not impressive. I’m trying celebrity once more on the Soltsice in a couple weeks but I think NCL has a great product and excellent customer service and is more my style !

Thanks so much for all the great news and information

Yahoo! So excited now !!!

I will boarding soon - 2 weeks to wait. I have only sailed NCl Pearl and then several other lines. The pearl handled a very rough Pacific Ocean during a storm when HAL didnt leave port from Vancouver due to storm and the Pearl did - 2 days of rough. I thought pearl handled so well and it was fine (many sick and in cabin).

Question - will the Sun handle the seas the same way as Pearl. I read that she doesn't have the same stabilizers and can be a rough ride.

I'm doing San Diego to Santiago than I get off ship hang out in chile and Argentina and get back on Buenas aires and will do Cape Horn back to Santiago.

Nervous about how small this ship appears!

I'm a coffee snob - is there coffee machine in room ? Does it have a good machine in buffet like the Pearl that grinds fresh beans per cup? I may have to bring my own little machine?

Should I bring my own beach towel? Or can you bring towel from

Ship off ?

Anything more about the Sun I should know? I really liked and had a great

Panama Canal trip on the Pearl - hope the sun lives up to what I remeber that I liked about NCL. My friend will be coming on first leg and she has never cruised - 17 days long if too small/old especially for first timer.

Thanks for any info