dundeene

Speaking of Seward. . . . we are wondering when the HAL buses pick up those of us with land tours from Anchorage?

Also if the bus stops for photo ops along the way? Or is it just a direct transfer?

What time we can expect to arrive at the ship?

I do not have final docs, but no specifics are available yet.

The cost of the transfer from Anchorage is included in the land tour. If I book a private transfer, will I receive credit for my unused transfer?

thank you

We are on a Land/Cruise tour with HAL.  It includes a transfer by coach from Anchorage to Seward.  Has anyone taken this bus?  Does it stop at Beluga Point or Tracy Arm for Photo ops/  Or drive straight through?

thanks

Is there a back door to add it to your card this time?  DH AmEx Platinum has it but my Amex Delta does not.  No problem adding to the second card when we had a link last time.

thanks

I have been searching for a recent list of foods that HAL does well.  I will be on Westerdam in May but don't want to limit the chat to one ship.  Having sailed on Oceania, Princess and HAL I  believe that each of these lines excels at certain dishes.

Cruisers always love to hear opinions on the must-try dishes and things to avoid;)

Of course food is subjective, but hints are always appreciated from past cruisers.  After all . . . . what is Cruise critic for??  

If you would like to chime in on your favorites and least favorites on HAL ships please chime in!!

Well. . .coffee in Explorations cafe, desserts at Pinnacle Grill,  grilled veg. instead of steamed, burgers and fries at Dive in

Not well, cheesecake in MDR and Lido, MDR and Lido lobster

We enjoyed food in MDR on  Rotterdam more than Zuiderdam

25 minutes ago, Beachfrog said:

I plan to bring my Sperry's.  Will I look to much like a tourist?!

 

Exactly what I planned to bring.

3 hours ago, SueKL said:

Will foldable over the shoe boots do well enough for late May inside passage Alaska cruise? This includes rain forest and whate watching. Thanks.

Sue,

I don't really see any need for boots with the excursions you listed. If you kayak, hike on the glaciers, get around in Denali etc. you need waterproof hiking boots.  You really don't have anything planned that is potentially very wet or snowy. May has less rain than later in summer. (and fewer bugs)

Excursions are held rain or shine. A rainforest hike could be pretty messy in the rain.

Enjoy your trip.

Which is less expensive, the 2nd seat or the upgrade to first class?

would the wine tastings also count toward the EBP

Oceania (having sailed 9 times) does indeed allow scooters, wheelchairs etc.  For safety reasons they actually enforce the maritime rule that these items never be stored in the corridors. These would make evacuation in the event of a catastrophe very, very dangerous.

If you have a mobility device it must be stored in your stateroom.  The handicapped rooms on Oceania have plenty of interior space for this reason.

Oceania does not have as many 80+-year-old cruisers as some lines like HAL. Their cruises tend to be very port intensive and they don't attract as many of the cruisers who never leave the ship.

Our 2nd day from Seward is a sea day on HAL Westerdam.  I am wondering if we will stay in sight of land.  Is this a scenic day or will it feel like we are out to sea?

It seems like the pretty part of the cruise into Haines will happen overnight. (We arrive in Haines before 7am.)

Thanks for your insights.

We have been in a Vista Suite 2x. I would say they aren't really a suite in our view. 

The room is bigger, which we like. I think the robes are upgraded, we had a bit of fresh fruit, elemis bath gel/shampoo etc. 

You do not get any traditional suite perks:

No suite lounge, 

no special restaurant or room service menu

no free laundry

no bar set-up

no priority boarding, tender

no free laundry and dry cleaning

You do get the perks with the Neptune and Pinnacle Suites.

You will like the larger room, as we did.

We are sailing in a Neptune Suite for the 1st time and May and will certainly do a review and report back on CC.

There is also a fairly new offer with 10,000 points for spending $500. If anyone has a link for adding it to a card please share.  

We used the offer in January and received the credit within 5 business days. I would give Amex a call.

Count me as another vote for using a good TA!

Once when traveling to Barcelona our flight was canceled due to a weather issue.  As soon as we found out (at the boarding gate very last minute), we contacted our TA.  She had us rebooked within 5 minutes and we ran to another gate and arrived only 3 hrs. later than planned. Those who were tied up on the phone with the airlines spent the night in the airport and arrived late for the cruise, only catching up on the 2nd day! 

We did not even book air through her. We do usually book directly with the cruise lines then have it transferred to her.

Good luck and happy cruising.

Holland also has a detailed brochure where you can see which trips include those elements you desire. The info is in a chart which shows which tours include overnights in Denali, Fairbanks, Anchorage etc.  It also lists which includes; Tundra Wilderness tour, Steamship, Gold dredge etc. Which portion is traveled by train, plane, or coach.

1 hour ago, TAD2005 said:

Same for us.  75% of the items on our breakfast order door hanger tag are write-ins.   We have never been charged extra, (but we make sure to tip the delivery guy) and we also have never had any items refused that we have written in.  And that includes Eggs Benedict, (Canadian bacon version, not the one with salmon.)

I don't eat salmon, so that is exactly the change I wanted to make at breakfast.

I think it is partly what you are used to. . . . 

I am from the area where IA, SD, MN come together.  It can get really cold with brutal winter winds. We go about our business unless the windchill drops below  -35, when the school buses start to have mechanical issues. 

On a 50 degree day in late March, all the kids break out the shorts and tees! I think May in Alaska will feel very comfortable for us.

It does at first seem like a silly thing to bring.  She said she uses it every cruise.  She does not want to miss the morning announcements if she is in the shower either. 

2 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

I don't disagree with Crew News post.  But, one reason I enjoy being on the open decks or in the Crow's Nest is to be able to hear the commentary by the EXC Guide or any other such person that is aboard for that purpose--maybe NPS Ranger.  Remaining on one's balcony, unless your hearing is better than mine (quite likely), much, if not all, of what is said is missed.  Sometimes, the commentary is piped in through the TV.  But, that is an unsatisfactory situation--popping in and out of the cabin to hear what is being said.

Advice from my sister was to bring a cordless baby monitor.  She placed it near the TV with the receiver on the balcony.

We do plan to head out front as we near the Margerie Glacier, but for the sail in and out we expect to be mostly on our wrap balcony.  I understand from others who have sailed in our cabin that the view will be very good. We are also bringing very good binoculars to spot whales and other wildlife.

Being from a very cold midwestern state, we can be comfortable outside at temperatures far colder than we expect for Alaska in May;) I'll have my zephyr base, hot-chillys, wool socks, mittens etc. 

With a cup of hot chocolate, I expect to enjoy the scenery.

I tried the search feature without much clarity. . . .

• It sounds like you can order breakfast room service with a mimosa in a NS, but does the meal come from MDR or Pinnacle Grill?
• Can you have dinner from Pinnacle Grill delivered by room service?
•  Dinner from Canaletto delivered by room service?
• If you have the SBP can you have wine delivered with room service dinners?
• Can they deliver from the Dive-In?
• Can you have GDR food delivered on Gala night?
• Is there an additional fee other than tip?

Am I a hermit unwilling to leave my cabin? No

We have an aft wrap on deck 5 on Westerdam for an Alaska cruise. We have never been to Alaska and expect to "live" on the balcony on sea days. I don't want to miss the amazing scenery.  

Thank you for all the help you have provided so far.  The old search function seemed to work better;)

Last cruise ours were preassigned and we had to call and change them. It was not a big deal, but sat on  hold a while.

If you are going to Europe, Asia or the South Pacific, including airfare can be a huge perk.

3 hours ago, Peace2U said:

 

Oof. What makes the prices so high on these? Is it worth it?

If you are curious please take some time to check out each companies website.

What does the price include?

airfare, port fees and taxes, excursion in every port, all beverages, alcohol, a butler for your cabin, specialty restaurants, prepaid gratuities, $600 OBC?

Some of these include 5 or 6 of these 9!

There is something we like about all of the lines we have tried.

A short list;

currently. . . .  a bit stuck on HAL,  good food, reasonable prices, love the ability to walk around the entire deck, old school feel and service, quiet ships, easy to relax, good space to person ratio 

Princess , good food, tons to do, like the club class experience, Royal and Regal are beautiful ships, reasonable prices, good production shows and entertainers. (bad side is tiny balconies!) 

Celebrity, food in Blu was good (did not love the buffet), clean ships, reasonable prices, a variety of itineraries, nice spas

Oceania, best food! free specialty restaurants, price includes airfare, fantastic suite experience, all non-alcoholic beverages included (downside is the higher price)

We are looking at trying Viking Ocean Cruises as well. 

We are loyal to each cruise line in a way. We strive to be honest in reviews, look for the positives on each trip, treat both the staff and all others cruisers with respect, and leave public spaces and our cabin in the same condition we found it.

It is difficult to compare apples, to oranges, to plums! My advice is to try them all.

Ok, it makes perfect sense now, my fans are battery powered, thus never taken