crystalspin

Pack less and use the ship's laundry.

I forgot to mention possibly the best thing about carryon only and travelling light, is how easy it is to pack up at the end of the trip!

That is a very nice itinerary! Special to have both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay NP. As far as ShoreEx and specialty dining, HAL has not been sending alerts. Just keep checking your booking/itinerary page. I can't guess at your Gala nights, because no times are showing on the listing. Probably one of the glacier viewing days, and whichever of the three ports that has the earliest departure. NOT the 13th, so that might be a festive last night for you! Someone has started a Roll Call for your cruise, but only the launch post so far. My experience (three HAL AK cruises) is that AK RCs are very quiet. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2943309-july-7-2024-whittier-to-vancouver/#comment-65525680 On more active Roll Calls, people who are checking, often post things like excursion or dining publication. From my experiences, my recommendations for your three ports are: In Skagway, take the ship's tour that takes the train up and a bus down (two points of view!) with a side stop of maybe a gold-rush camp thrown in (you will still have time to walk around the town). In Juneau, take a tour (ship's or private) to see the local pod of whales; the ship will probably offer a multi-part tour with Mendenhall Glacier (or Lake) and possibly lunch at a lodge. In Ketchikan, we used private tour with https://www.aksourdoughtours.com/wildlife_tours.php who will drop you off at Creek Street. Below Creek Street, if you take an earlier tour, you will have time to eat at The Alaska Fish House and/or take in the Lumberjack Show (which I have not done but plan to next visit!). Welcome to posting on Cruise Critic! And, have a great cruise!

You are not overly ambitious at all! We have travelled (land and sea) with carryon only and NOT unlimited laundry! Remember to get everything possible washed something like 2 days before the end of the cruise, having confirmed last send-out possible. We do plan to re-wear clothing, though, if not dirty or sweaty. I used to wash everything in the sink, until I was convinced of HAL's superior laundry. They will even air-dry clothing (takes an extra day). But now that we have achieved HAL unlimited, I am looking at even smaller "under-seat" bags (16" tall!). FWIW, my system is two tops for each pant (or leggings for me). So seven tops and three bottoms, plus what we are wearing. Always a jacket of some sort, sometimes a cardigan and a jacket. The jacket might be a windbreaker, raincoat, or leather jacket, depending on the itinerary.

Zaandam had another drydock in February 2022 -- good to know that other cabins got the update then.

Cliff, I know you book handicapped cabins -- the ones on Lower Promenade (probably everywhere on Zaandam) have always had large showers without threshholds (or very very low threshholds, hard to tell from photos). Here is 3391 on the Z'dam: https://halfacts.com/r-class/3391-zaandam/ ETA: I don't know if they would convert a HC cabin from curtain to glass -- mighten curtain be easier with a shower-chair?

"IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION: This is to advise guests who've booked Ocean-view staterooms on board Zaandam that during the April 2018 dry dock, the bathrooms in the below staterooms will be updated to a shower-only configuration: Lower Promenade Deck: D3331 - D3370 Main Deck: C2564 - C2647 Please note, this change does not affect all Oceanview staterooms, only the specific staterooms noted above."

Is this imminent? I am picturing a deep-clean of the ship...

Currently on eBay:

I have never seen the Freestyle Soda Machine working! But if it did, the SBP or EBP would not cover it; if like the one on RCL, it takes a special glass (that you have to carry around!) to trigger it to dispense. If the HIA is including the Signature Beverage Package, yes sodas and canned water count against your 15/day. If your HIA includes the Elite Beverage Package, then the 15 is only alcoholic drinks! This has been confirmed recently. The trick is to get unopened cans on "light" days (first day, long port days) and keep in your fridge. You can have your room steward empty the fridge of mini-bar items. When does HIA include EBP (as well as Premium Internet)? you ask. Usually shortly after the cruise is "launched" as part of Early Booking Bonus promo. Occasionally in some other promo, not predictable.

Yes she can "buy you a drink". In practice, if not in the published description.

Tamarind for sure, for the atmosphere. You can also have drinks there without a dinner reservation, or before it. Oops, I didn't mean to imply it was only for the atmosphere! Just a better atmosphere than the others. We were on sister ship Koningsdam for 16 days over New Year 2023. We ate in all of the specialty restaurants, including Rudi's on NYE (which is also our anniversary). Rudi's is like a fancy restaurant on shore. Pinnacle Grill on the K'dam is NOT like an upper-class steakhouse (that it supposed to be). I found the decor just above Denny's and the service slow and impersonal. It's OK for lunch if you have OBC (on board credit) to spend. Tamarind is slightly exotic. If you like sushi, you can order from the Nami Sushi bar for an upcharge. Canaletto has no real atmosphere either as it is a curtained off part of the Lido -- but we ate there more than the others because at least they had more choices that appealed! (We do not eat shellfish or much pork.) Here is a link to the upcharge restaurants menus, courtesy CC'er @Crew News: https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/hal-specialty-restaurant-menus/ As far as shore excursions, read the Roll Call I linked to previously. I would stick to ship's excursions in Panama on your itinerary! They won't actually hold the ship (Panama schedules are rigid), but they will get to back to the ship as smoothly as possible.

Welcome to Cruise Critic! Your Roll Call (group of people on your sailing) is here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2912606-rotterdam-dec-3-2023-12-day-panama-canal-sunfarer/#comment-64760081 That is where you will potentially find people doing private excursions that may have space. I have not seen or heard of people getting upgrades at embarkation on HAL. After Final Payment Date, prices may drop, occasionally increase. If you booked through a travel agent, they will have to be your liaison for upgrades. If you used a Personal Cruise Consultant, let them know you are interested in upgrade offers. If you simply booked with the HAL "operator" you will need to call at some time and inquire. I don't have the phone number handy -- someone should be along and inform and also about how far out to ask.

This***. We hang out in the Crows Nest (and Dutch Cafe on Pinnacle ships), so usually the beverage stewards are fetching our drinks. It's faster for the bar tender to run only one card, so we alternate cards during the day (including at Exploration Cafe).

Benadryl (oral) is also good for rashes and insect bites/stings. But I didn't mention the Cortaid (generic is fine) cream as well. I always have it for eczema outbreaks!

Hello! How did it go? What did you miss, and what did you take and not really need?

Picking up on others' recommendations, I recommend Mucinex cough suppressant (dextromethorphan) and expectorant (guaifenesin) in tablet form. Store brand is fine. I love to find the two medications in separate pills -- you need to cough for the expectorant to work! -- but it is hard to find. These seem expensive, but one bottle of cough suppressant is equivalent to several bottles of cough syrup, cannot leak, and doesn't need to fit in your 3-1-1 bag if flying with carry-on only. I do not bring cold-and-flu tablets, but buy the ingredients separately: Tylenol and Ibuprofen, non-drowsy antihistamine, Benedryl for when drowsyness is desired (!), and the cough tablets mentioned. Then Tums and Imodium and first-aid items. Someone mentioned recently bringing little kits for filling a tooth if you lose a filling! Not a bad idea! ETA: for seasickness or upset tummy I bring ginger pills or tea bags.

I don't know the symbol for Sharepoint, but Skype for sure and here is a collages of symbols. that are included. Access all the sites and apps* in the other cruise WiFi plan, plus make audio and video calls. Audio & Video Streaming Web surfing, Sports, Emails & News Messaging Apps (audio/video features are supported)

What happened to awesome cruise experience? I am having them on HAL! Sorry you aren't.

Ooh, I had not heard of Tamarind pop-up on Vista ships! We are booked on Zuiderdam AND Oosterdam next year, for long cruises even. Lots of nights for a pop-up!

We would probably take the deal -- $12pp more than the regular Canaletto -- just for the rack of lamb.

All must upgrade. Really, with the ability to pay the difference (plus 18%), it would take several drinks (even if they were $15 exactly) to make up the upgrade cost.

You will not find the Tamarind on the Oosterdam. Only on the Signature and Pinnacle class ships. Oosterdam is a Vista class ship.

I still cross-pack because there is always a possibility of being separated from one or both carry-ons on the gangway or plane if not enough room. Maybe with the 16" underseat bags that will not be so critical.

Minimalist. Now that we are 4* on HAL which means free laundry, I have just ordered 16" underseat bags in case we have to fly somewhere (Europe looking at you) where cabin luggage is THAT restricted. Have no FOMO. The craziest things I ever regretted coincide with the two times I have ever checked luggage on the way to a cruise. (1) Packed a fourth carry-on-sized suitcase for our cruise for three, around the SA Cape in 2014, filled with down vests and other warm clothing we never needed. Could literally have left that bag at home. As we were checking one, we checked them all...my husband's carry-on did not come off the plane on the way home. (2) I checked a 24" bag instead of my usual 21" two-wheel carry-on for a 14-day Alaska cruise in 2018 where I took on the role of Cruise Mom of nine adults. I packed two 3-legged stools for my mom and step-mom who both have COPD, for walking excursions. Neither used them! And then I couldn't fit them back it the bag! Left for the stewards to deal with. Also REPACKING the larger suitcase seemed to take A LOT longer!