DnA2010

Thank you for all your thoughts-

we are driving from Kamloops to the lower mainland on the Tuesday, visiting with family in the afternoon, staying with my Aunt and Uncle (my family - husband, daughter 13 and 11 month old) my sister's family (her and hubby and their 11 month old) and my mom- we are all very able bodied and baby wear and have used subway in new york with luggage etc, taken sky train lots etc. the plan was to leave our 2 cars at my cousin's place as she has lots of room for parking, and then her and my uncle drive us to the port in our cars...she was 100% fine to do this, but it's my uncle who thinks it will be too crazy down there...my cousin didn't think it would be that bad as a lot of the main rush hour will be done.

We've driven into the city a few times from surrey in the last year for Science World and for Cavalia, and didn't seem like a big deal, but we don't know...both my hubby and I drive a lot though, so I'm sure we have a different outlook than living in a big busy city.

I like the idea of going to a Canada line station and going in on that- I will see what they think-

The best price I could get for a limo that could fit us would be close to $200 one way, and I'd much rather spend that on the ship

We had thought my uncle and cousin could drive us, but my uncle thinks it will be too crazy- he thinks we should take a limo (8 of us) but we would rather spend those 100s on the ship hence thinking the sky train

Hi folks, just wanting advice for our departure next Wednesday- we are discussing possibly having family drop us off, or taking the sky train - there are 2 ships departing- the Island Princess 1920 pax) and the HAL Volendam (1432 pax) just wondering if anyone knows if it is difficult for drop off, should we sky train in instead? We are staying in Surrey.

Thank you!!

I just called HAL and spoke with an agent who called ship services. Yes - all non-alcoholic beverages are included in the Quench Package and this includes non-alcoholic beer.

So ironically HAL just answered this question which I posted on FB a bit ago and they have said that it is not included :( booo

Thanks for the info! We head out on Volendam soon with a 13 year old and 11 month old :)

I just called HAL and spoke with an agent who called ship services. Yes - all non-alcoholic beverages are included in the Quench Package and this includes non-alcoholic beer.

Thank you so very much!

We are on Volendam soon and I haven't noticed Haines I don't think on things? Do all ships dock there?

Hoping someone knows :)

I have read conflicting information about non alcoholic beer being included in the Quench package- can someone confirm for me if it is included please?

Thank you kindly

Hi All,

Just wondering does HAL do an early show and a late show, and if so, what times do these tend to be at?

Thank you so much!

You had me at chocolate . . . . .

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Me too! Fingers crossed for our upcoming cruise!

Hi All,

Do you know if Holland American has baby toys to lend out? I know they do this on Disney and on Royal, so wondering if Holland does- travelling with an 11 month does require some thinking!

Holland America ships are clean, IMO their standards are good.

We were on Fantasy last year with a one year old and a three year old and noticed exceptional cleanliness, including full time restroom attendants. My daughter still wiped down surfaces as best she could, just like she wipes Target shopping carts and restaurant tables when in her home town.

Hopefully your twins are walking when you cruise but whether they are crawlers or walkers use Clorox wipes to clean surfaces. Wipe down hotel rooms, ship cabins, restaurant tables, planes. Wash their hands and your hands often with soap and water.

Enjoy your vacation, if the babies are healthy you don't need to live in a bubble.

Thank you, and to the others who have chimed in- having been on the Fantasy and seeing babies around I wasn't concerned about cruising with the babies (mine and my sisters) and honestly in all my prep for that cruise, I didn't see Noro mentioned. will def get some wipes to wipe things off. My hubby is a paramedic so we are fairly exposed to germs indirectly

Does anyone know if these issues are on Volendam also? We are sailing on this ship soon with babies that are 11 months old- our previous cruise was DCL's Fantasy and they were always wiping and polishing, but reading stuff like this does make me nervous, with babies crawling around and into everything. It is sounding like Holland's cleaning standards aren't that great? Like we will need to be extra diligent about wiping things and such - I'm a bit embarrassed to say I didn't realize this was such a problem

Kudos for choosing my favorite cruise line. Here are your menus for the Lido Market (buffet) and the Main Dining Room:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/specifc-cruise-lido-and-mdr-menus/hal-7-day-alaska-2017-menus/

 

Here are breakfast, Room Service, Specialty Restaurant, and beverage menus:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/

Awesome!! Thank you!

After advice from on here, we figured out our itinerary first (wanted to go through Glacier Bay, round trip Vancouver) and then selected HAL Volendam..we are sailing in 2 weeks. We are two younger families and my 67 year old mom- ping me in a couple of weeks if you like :)

Hi All,

We are set to cruise to Alaska on Holland in 2 weeks! We will have my 11 month old and also my sister has an 11 month old as well, just wondering any tips from those who have cruised with babies before-

wondering stuff like did you bring your stroller, how did you bath your LOs? Are the floors pretty clean given our baby loves to crawl, that sort of thing...haven't had much time to look into this cruise and we are 2 weeks away!

My family, sister's family and my mom and I are all headed out on HAL next month (first time cruising HAL) on the 7 day roundtrip Vancouver, as we only booked a few weeks ago, early dining is full- we have Anytime dining- when my husband and I did MyTimeDining on RCL we have had the same serving team both times on pretty much all days- if we reserve the same time for the days (we will have 2 babies that are 11 months so will need earlier dining times) will we have the same service team? This is the first cruise for my sister and her family, as well as my mom, and I really want them to get that experience experience of getting to know your server, them getting to know you.

We arrived for the Volendam on July 12th around 10:30 based on advice from cc, and were on the ship a little after 11. There were about 50 people ahead of us. After we went through luggage drop, customs, and check in we waited in the chairs for a little while but not too long.

 

The big surprise is that two of our three couples were upgraded from ocean views to vista balconies.

Thank you! That sounds promising!

We can only dream of an upgrade- I'm sure it won't happen but we will still have a great cruise - I think our ship is sold out other than inside (which we are) and ocean view

If you are boarding in Vancouver check the cruise schedule for the port:

 

https://www.portvancouver.com/cruise/cruise-schedule/2017-cruise-schedule-as-of-nov-2/

 

If there are 2 or three ships in on your day (especially 3 ships) plan on arriving at the terminal early (10:30 or so) or between 1 and 2 pm to avoid the noon craziness. The terminal is large but get almost 10,000 passengers in there and it feels small. Security can get very backed up at the peak of the rush.

Thanks! there is the Volendam and the Island Princess which is around 2000 passengers, and Volendam which is 1400 so not too bad it seems

Thank you for your quick replies- I wonder if it will be really crowded/take a while and we should wait a bit, or does it move easily?

Hi All,

First time on Holland, we have booked Volendam for August out of Vancouver, so far I don't think I've seen anything regarding boarding times- any idea when we will board?

Cruise booked.

 

Just for our peace of mind, we're flying into Vancouver staying at the Westin Wall Center. Where does anyone stay in Vancouver? I saw an awesome deal at the Four Seasons but don't know if we want to stay downtown. Any thoughts?

 

 

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Def stay downtown :) the 4 seasons is great btw

Interesting post...my mom (67) decided she wanted to take us to Alaska so I have just booked us onto Volendam next month- our party includes my family- husband and I in mid 30's, 13 year old and 11 month baby and my sister and her hubby and their 11 month old- we booked as I read that if going to Alaska should see Glacier bay, and then because of price as my mom is treating us...only my family has cruised before- once on the mega giant Oasis (loved it) and once on Disney's Fantasy (also loved it) I have prepared daughter that there will be less kids and less "things" to do but she is still very excited...I have told my family that this ship won't be massive and grand but I'm sure will still be enjoyable- we are bringing some games, but I'm sure we will still find stuff to do. Normally the hubby and I would be in the bars late, but with the baby, things have changed.

We are heading out on HAL next month- for us (we are just a bit older than you) we booked it for the itinerary to Glacier bay and because it is round trip out of Vancouver. Feel free to ping me later about our experience. We've previously cruised twice on Royal (Oasis, Freedom) and Disney (Fantasy)