1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

As long as there is suitable sleeping space for two kids and two adults, why not?  No children of my own, but, as a retired educator when I have sailed on HAL, I have read the Club HAL programs and have visited the facilities.  I have been impressed.  And, observing the counselors working with the children, they seem to know what they are doing.  

Thanks for that comment.....I am a retired educator and like the positive comment.....maybe this will be lots of fun for them and 5 days is not a long time.....

My daughter is thinking of doing a 5 day...Noordam out of Vancouver in the spring....with husband....lol......and two kids 6 and 5.....I am not so sure that is a good idea???...they can get an family ocean view or a balcony....but it will be like being in a closet  with 4 people with the beds out of the ceiling or one with the couch.....My thinking is there would not be much for the young kids other than the pool area and perhaps a few activities with the Club HAL group....not sure they even would have staff for that club??....Itinerary is nice....Astoria, Seattle and Victoria.....they could get off and do some nice touring in part of the day..........I think she just wants a holiday without worrying about food and things to do....sort of a break....and the price is right....with credit....haha....What are your thoughts if you have traveled on HAL with small children.....Thanks...

Good to know......I would imagine Princess would want the ship to be in good order to travel to Hawaii and back.....could be rough sometimes......yikes if motor not working well....lol.....

14

August 1, 2014

#25  

Posted 5 hours ago

Just got off the Crown yesterday. We averaged about 18 knots. Lots of vibration especially in dining room.

This is what I was referring to.....problem not fixed???......we also have friends booked on the Crown to do the Hawaii one from Van......should I tell them to be wary???

So....looks like all the problems have not been solved....we are booked later in the fall.....may think about doing another princess instead......but not the crown.....too bad......am I right to think that the ship is not really what it is supposed to be running like???

Too bad....was one of our fav places to hang out on HAL......always nice to have a live band and good old songs to dance to........the violin concerts were not our "cup of tea"....lol

Thanks...with all the crap on the internet now you never know what is true....

“On HAL’s Westerdam now. Ship malfunctioned while at Hubbard Glacier, severely hampering forward progress. Captain says part of propulsion system (Azipod failure). Heading to Sitka now, but will skip Ketchikan.

Super news.....we are really keen to go on May 11.....wife still up in the wind about going but maybe HAL is somewhat better than the Princess cruises and news about the three ships with tons of covind aboard ......and just looked at prices....same price in $Can as  $ US.....so a real bargain.....and lots of cabins....only extra hassle is the antigen test to get if fly down to Van from up here.....maybe do one of those proctor ones the day before on the computer.....not bad at $40 or so per person....oh well.....things seems to be improving

Great to know......thanks.....

Interesting to hear how they all get off with the CANarrive??? or do they even have to do it......and I wonder how many are coughing or have headaches......wow....Princess sure had their problems.....Can HAL be any different????.....considering a cruise with HAL on May 11 out of Van but still going to watch what happens over the next three weeks and do a last minute booking.....seems to be lots of unused cabins.....snowing here up in Kelowna .....off and on.....winter suddenly came back....

Reasonable suggestion.....what I told her.....need a test to get on the plane here to go to the states.....BUT......I think the test required to go on plane stops on April 1.....before the cruise date......she will have to check that out.....I know we can drive across and come back with no tests after April 1....but the plane????....interesting that it is not clear

Thanks ....will let her know to follow the blog......the 3 days does not really help and arriving the night before the cruise.....so has to be the am of the cruise leaving.......

I believe HAL has given the option of testing at pier for $100.  It must be pre-arranged.

Will get to follow up on this idea....

My sister.....a Canadian... is flying to San Diego in April for a cruise for 9 days to Mexico on HAL.......they fly down the day before......she is worried about getting the test done the day the cruise leaves.....is there time in the AM to get the test close by downtown.....I think they are staying close to the ship.....a few blocks away....???

Looked up the long term lot at the airport YVR and loaded in my bcaa card #......wow....nice price at $84 for the whole week....and then just take the skytrain right from the lot to the ship....easy peasy.....prob what we will do and then stop quickly and get antigen test at that switch place in Richmond using our aeroplan account.....things are starting to work out.....need a week  to just relax.....

Looks like still a cash grab for the labs.....I hope this changes.....if we can go all over now with no masks, eat in bars and go to big events.....most of of have three shots....then this test before the ship does not really make any sense.....just show you have you shots and the vacc passport should be enough.....

so right now if I want to go on a cruise out of Van and are driving....will have to arrange a test somewhere in Van....park the car at the airport ......and take sky train to the ship.....still a hassle...

thanks....bcaa members so will check that option out.....easy to go from airport to cruise ship as have done that a few times.....duh....how come I never thought of that.....

Great info....will look at the YVR long term lot....or the Casino lot also.....which is close....Thanks....

Now the testing is gone for border I wonder how long the cruise ships will keep the test to get on??

Planning to drive down to a cruise.....friends who used to let us park in their garage are long gone now....what are my choices and or suggestions.....park close to the ship.....park further away and take the sky train....probably have only two carry on bags .....Ken

Oh....just thought....the one we were going on leaves on Wednesdays......so the clinic would be open....yea.....so that might be easy.....just leave time to get the test and then park the car and get on ship....

Well the testing place in Richmond is shut on Sat and Sun....so no help there...would have been easy to drop by on the way to ship when driving down.....

Thinking of driving down to Vancouver for a 7 day back to back Van on HAL.....in May......are there any places to get a test a few hours before the cruise??? and close to the cruise ship ???.....Maybe the test will be a "non starter" by May but who knows......With all these cruises going out of Van all summer this is a pretty big money grab for some people who supply the supervised tests.....In Kelowna they want $126 for a supervised test and looking on line seems to be at the airport....I guess you could get it the day before driving down and then would be within the two day requirement....This sure makes cruising still sort of a hassle to do.....and then the problem of getting off the ship currently with a test somehow done at seas before getting back to Vancouver.... and ArriveCan on your phone.....Have to be in cell service to set it up.....or ship internet I guess.....so many things to think about......Anyone have thoughts...Thanks

7 hours ago, em-sk said:

 

That does not look that bad.  The pre-departure test is required for any cruise.   

 

The only thing that is a bit of nuisance is the pre-arrival test.  However it states the cruise line is responsible for providing it and to outline how it is going to do it in its ship specific plan.  

Are they going to test all the passengers on a Seattle to Seattle that stops in Victoria for a few hours.....that is a big ask for the cruise lines.....

Still lots of unanswered thoughts.....I guess wait until one or two of the HAL ships  do the 7 day cruise and see what happens.......will do a last minute cruise then....actually the prices seem to have been lower.....perhaps too much for the US market to digest all the rules.....will watch with interest

New rules out.....

https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2022/03/preventing-or-limiting-the-spread-of-covid-19-on-cruise-ships.html

still looks like need a test one day or day of cruise to get on ship......also get tested the day before you get off the ship.....I guess the cruise line will do this.....and have the arrive Can app on your phone....still lots to do for a short cruise of 7 days.....Van to Van.....not sure what the US ports are requiring....ie Skagway, Juneau....etc.....???