oakridger

@tartanmom be aware that if the third person does get the HIA package that it includes the specialty coffees, mocktails and soft drinks. If they have a several of those types of drinks a day, it can still be a decent value for them! Have a great cruise! ~Nancy

Havila Polaris has left the shipyard in Turkey and is on her way.......finally!! Hooray!! 🎈😃

I like calling the Italian place OO as well! Oo is the word for "yes" in Tagalog......perfect for the restaurant name! Question: "Do you want to have Italian food for dinner tonight?" Answer: "OO" ~Nancy

This is one of the reasons I enjoy Cruise Critic! A question was asked and several of our resident ship experts came out to answer the question! Thanks to all the marine experts!! Me? All I know about is food and drinks!!! 😉 ~Nancy

National Park Service runs the tours on Alcatraz but tickets are purchased from their authorized concessionaire here: Alcatraz Day Tour - City Experiences™ Fees & Passes - Alcatraz Island (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) It looks like they are only selling tickets through January 21, 2024 today.......so five months out is the earliest to purchase at the moment. Just keep checking and by the end of February 2024 you should be able to find tickets for your date. It's a great tour! ~Nancy

@kazu. I agree. The card, if paid for by the cruiser, should definitely be refundable. It's paid by "real" money. I'll watch to see if anyone gets more information. Since the discount for buying them ended I have not bought one and won't. I get the beverage package or HIA because I have enough drinks (soft and hard) to make it a good deal for me. 😇 ~Nancy

Are you confusing the terms for Beverage Packages vs Beverage Cards? Cards are like a debit card. Anything left on them is refunded as @kazu mentions above. Packages are "Use it or Lose it". ~Nancy

It's the tail only. And as @Crew Newsmentioned above, the waiter will remove the meat from the shell for you. ~Nancy

Thank you for the information! I'll be on board for the BKB round trip and I'm trying to pack as light as possible since I will also be traveling before and after the Havila Castor. It's so handy to have the laundry onboard! I wasn't sure if I needed the Havila Gold because the included food in the dining room looks great, but I'll look at it again and decide. I'm going to get a drink package as I do like to have a few drinks (beer and wine mainly) while on vacation and not having a bill at the end seems convenient! There will be plenty of daylight for scenery viewing at the beginning of June, so I'll be taking advantage of the lounge every day. My Kindle will be full and ready to catch up on the reading that never seems to get done in my "real" life! Great suggestions! ~Nancy

@UDChE89 Yes! I've been planning on returning to Norway since 2020, but I have to wait until June 2024!!! I'm booked on Havila Castor. I'm thrilled to see the very positive reports from nearly everyone who has gone on the coastal voyages. Do you have any comments or tips from your time onboard? ~Nancy

From Roger Jett's website. Thank you! @Crew News From an Alaska cruise MDR Menu

@kazu I'll be experiencing my first transatlantic on Zuiderdam next May, so I'm interested in what is currently happening when you are on Rotterdam. I'm hoping for some interesting talks. I've traveled transpacific 4 times and do love those sea days!! ~Nancy

I'm familiar with Crystal (resurrected as of today!) and their excellent enrichment speakers but what other lines are you referring to? On mainstream and premium lines? I'm very interested in those kinds of on-board offerings. Thanks, ~Nancy

Hi @USN59-79 I'm not Tim but hope you don't mind if I add my perspective here. For me to fly to Seattle is much cheaper and easier from SFO than YVR. I always choose to cruise to Alaska from Vancouver because the ship goes through the inside passage on the way north and then south again. It's so gorgeous sailing where you can see both sides of the passage as opposed to sailing from Seattle in more open ocean west of Vancouver Island. Less chance of choppy seas on the inside passage also. The bonus is that Vancouver is great to visit before and/or after the cruise!! (Seattle is too) I'm interested to hear what @Btimmer answers. ~Nancy

I "think" this sounds like one of those instances where they should call and speak to someone else! ~Nancy

Now we are just waiting for Polaris and Pollux to arrive in Norway! ~Nancy

Seaview Pool (aft)

With its design, I wouldn't be able to swim quality laps. (Former competitive swimmer here) I don't know the temperature....someone with experience will come along!

Remember that the HAL ships have a cover over the mid deck lido pools. In Alaska when it's cold and/or raining they close the cover.

I was looking at that hotel also. I ended up booking a different one but if you can will you come back here and let us know how the hotel was? It's not exactly on the Dam Square, but about a block off from it as I recall. Lots of restaurants and shops around it. Thanks, ~Nancy

I can't imagine why Bergen would be cancelled. It's such a great place to visit as far as Norway larger cities are concerned! I'll be interested to find out why that and Dublin were cancelled! ~Nancy

I liked the Nobu Chardonnay. I hope that comes back. I am certain that the drink options will evolve as there is opportunity to restock and after Crystal sees what guests like the best. ~Nancy

Thanks for posting all of these! ~Nancy

😁