CruiserBruce

If your plan is "all of the US"...those areas are part of the US. Yes, you can make a call just as if you are in your front yard. You don't need to alter your phone in any way.

These are all questions that should be posted on the NCL board, as they pertain to NCL policies and facilities, not to Alaska. That is where you will find experts on those topics.

I am pretty sure you can wait until on board to book laundry.

Holland America had a lady living on board for a number of years...ending in the late 20-teens when she passed away.

The $10/day would be in port only. That plan is active any day you need it, butnot until you actually touch a cell tower in those countries. Depending on the phone plan and the ports you are visiting, you most likely be able to call from Puerto Rico and St Thomas for free as part of your regular plan. Possibly from any Mexican port as well.

Just one, in the Lido pool bar area. It closes at some point overnight, but don't know the time.

I don't know any that are Alaska ONLY, but a number that are cruise only.

Agree...could be a charter. Could be a new vehicle being delivered. But a deadhead back after a 4 hours transfer? Yikes!

Simply, the ship wouldn't be ready for boarding at 11:30. Check in is one thing, boarding is another.

What you are proposing is the solution we have discussing. You have to hope there isn't a wait list...a big hope in many cases. Money in your account is always used in the order of non-refundable first, then refundable monies next.

FYI, per Cruise Critic rules, we don't name or discuss travel agents. I agree, your travel agent needs to link the bookings. Not sure you will ever be able to look into a booking at the HAL website that your name is not listed as an occupant in the room. You will not, foe example, be able to book excursions for people in the other cabin, if your name is not listed as occupying that cabin.

The seas could be rough. They might be calm. Nobody is going to be able to predict more than about a week in advance. If your husband has issues with the motion of the ocean, he needs to be prepared every day he is on a ship.

Boarding will not start before 11:30.

You are referring to Google Maps.

As you are arriving early, the standard behavior would be for a HAL representative to meet you outside baggage claim. If you are the only ones to be transported at that time, the HAL representative will take you to a prearranged taxi or car service, who will transport you to the hotel.

And there is no mention of hotel or transportation on your invoice?

You should find someone outside of bag claim with a sign saying your name, or at minimum, " Holland America ". How did you book...through a TA?

OBC can be used for any charge against your on board account, except casino. They will most likely take the amount from each person in the cabin's account...it is usually charged to each person individually.

If you are on board when you cancel?....that is not what has happened in the past to us. I agree...there are risks of the cancel on board, rebook plan.

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I would want a minimum of 90 minutes in both...particularly if landing in the morning local time. Tons of long haul flights arrive between 7am and 10am.

You can book ahead, but you pay at time of booking, and you can't use OBC before you board. Some have suggested that you could book and pay in advance, then cancel once on board and re-book the excursion. The problem then is by canceling on board, the refunded money will go to your on board account.

Nope. OBC is for on board spending. You can wait and hope to book your excursions once you board.

To be clear, ships use their own ship based tenders quite frequently when they can't dock. They don't always hire locals...in fact in my experience, the ship provides their own tenders far more often than getting local operators. The local tender contracting, in my experience, seems to be most common in Europe.

There were "Behind the Scenes" tours prior to Covid. Nobody has reported seeing them since Covid. They were great...offered on all but the smaller ships.