jeh10641

1 hour ago, albingirl said:

The snake thing gave me nightmares. If that's Holland America's idea of entertainment, well, I am plenty puzzled.

As long as there no spiders, I am okay with BBC.

Jim

17 hours ago, Petronillus said:

Hear, hear!

I wonder how many people in the 19th century used to say, "Oh no! Not Beethoven's 9th again!"

I'm not saying future generations will remember the Step One Dance Company routines like we revere the Beethoven symphonies. But I do think that their four programs should be viewed and enjoyed as choreographed artworks akin to ballet. 

On our recent 28-day cruise aboard Westerdam, the Step One dancers performed each of their four programs twice. For us it was our first time with the one called Move. I was astounded at how well the choreography, staging, and effects adapted to suit Westerdam's proscenium stage. We were particularly graced with three top-notch couples who were equally balanced in their virtuosity. That's not always been the case.

It SODC has gone the way of LCS, I need to brace myself for another major disappointment.

 

BTW, I am of a wholly different opinion w/r/t BBC Earth. If I never have to see those infernal snakes again, I'll count myself lucky.

Hi, Petronillus,

Exactly. Maurice Sendak designed sets for the Pacific NW Ballet's version of The Nutcracker and we went to see it several times over a few years. Never got tired of it.

Jim

5 hours ago, JeLy_Beanz said:

The map shows the 1 day at sea as well. 

From the map, it looks like a roundtrip through the Inside passage. A "Sea Day" does not always mean in the middle of the ocean. It means no port calls that day.

Jim

On 3/23/2024 at 3:07 PM, ChinaShrek said:

We had a snow storm here in Maine today. I'm getting more than a foot. Sigh

I loved my four years of college in Maine and would have stayed in the state after graduation, except for snow from October to May.

Jim

17 hours ago, rwethereyet1969 said:

 

Great info!  I didn't realize the excursion would take us back to the ship first.  That will be SO NICE to go to our cabin to drop off extra coats, hats and such as well as a quick refresh before exploring Juneau by foot.  I am planning to keep a list of "cc poster recommendations" in the notes on my cellphone for quick reference in port.  I will definitely add those food spots.

 

I will wave as I cry disembarking in Vancouver.....

Two suggestions: Hearthside Books (Downtown/Merchants Wharf) and Red Dog Saloon. The former for books about Alaska and the latter (if you can get in) for a little history with your drink/food.

Jim

12 minutes ago, Real NHDOC said:

One of my pet peeves isn’t the inconsistency of pricing but of the drinks themselves. I realize bartenders are humans and as such cannot be expected to replicate the exact same drink time and time again but sometimes the quality (and quantity) varies so drastically it is impossible to compare one with another. So, for me the price is secondary. A bad drink is worthless. Unfortunately they usually put the worst bartenders in the busiest bars at the peak times, like at happy hour. 

Fortunately, my strongest drink is unsweetened ice tea. Hard to mess that up.

Jim

Whales begin to leave in September.

Jim

2 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

They don’t smoke inside on Eurodam or Nieuw Amsterdam. Play on those and you can lose fast with the slanted odds. 

We have no cruise plans beyond Koningsdam next January 

Jim

I like both Blackjack and Roulette. I do not care about the odds since I am going lose my budgeted gambling funds anyway. What i do care about is the smoke on HAL ships so pretty much stay away from the casinos.

Jim

2 hours ago, POA1 said:

You are going to be in heaven. There's practically a different bread pudding every day for dessert at dinner.

 

Bread pudding is the new fruit crisp.

Bread pudding is my favorite food. Due to health restrictions my intake is severely limited. But I always have it at least once a week on a HAL cruise with lots of exercise in between my intake of it.

Jim

I have been debating the value of Club orange with myself for months. I have decided that its costs/options do not warrant the expenditure. We like specialty dining. We like "My Time" dining in the MDR with different folk every night.

Jim

48 minutes ago, LJanet said:

thank you so much for this info.  TA and HAL didn't have an answer for this excursion.  Indoor seating is important for us due to weather.  We don't want to be outside in the rain entire excursion. Now, for the weather, we are thinking end of May or end of August. Which month is warmer. 

August! I have been to Alaska over 60 times for business (never on a cruise) from Fairbanks to Ketchikan.

Jim

Whatever the entertainment options are on a cruise ship, attending them is optional for the passengers. How many of us have created music playlists for our electronic devices (I have several depending on my mood; now I am listening to a You Tube Hawaiian music package that i heard many times)? How many times have you viewed a favorite Broadway show? On my recent Royal cruise, we went to see We Will Rock You (for the first time for us) and there was audience participation for many of the songs. Obviously, many attendees had seen this show many times. How many sporting events have you recorded that you want to watch again (and again and again)? I have several. Repetition is NOT a bad thing if you enjoyed what you saw.

Jim

On 3/1/2024 at 5:27 PM, ArizonaStorm said:

I can (and probably do) make spreadsheets in my sleep.

Me, too.

Jim

On 2/28/2024 at 8:17 PM, Hobar said:

If ordering a drink not on the menu, how does one know the cost?  Does bartender or server tell you, or do you sign for it, or what?  This will be my first cruise that is non-inclusive.  TIA.

I have heard from a You Tube source that HAL charges only the difference between US$11.00 and the cost of higher priced cocktails if you have the drink package. I NEVER buy a drink package, either for alcohol or not. They are not cost effective for us. I do not know if that includes Scotches, Bourbons and the like.

Jim 

17 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

No problem, like I said I really don't know the rules. Before 911 Canadians could freely cross the border into the US and vice versa with no passport. Then the United States made new rules and that was stopped. Now almost 23 years later passports seem to be the norm.

Enjoy your cruise, just make sure you have the right paperwork. It would suck to show up at the port and get turned away. A 10 minute stop in Victoria to satisfy the PVSA is a little different than a cruise with 3 Canadian port stops.

I think an enhanced driver's license is also valid for Canada. However, I do know if they are available in all states. I live near Seattle and have such a license.

Jim

26 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

Thanks Jim.

We were in Amsterdam early June 2023 to join the Celebrity Apex to Iceland. We had 4 great days of being tourists and dining around the clock. went to the Opera, Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt Square, Flower Market etc.

We stayed in the Centrum district on a canal. In a Radisson.

We'll do 4 more days split around our NS sailing June 15 2025. We've already picked out a different hotel which overlooks our favorite eatery seen above (called De Jaren cafe). It's next to Hotel de L'Europe which you must have seen on your visit.

Thanks for the consideration!

Norris

Hi, Norris,

We stayed at Hotel Conscious Park Tire Center (I know, it sounded weird to me as well) that is located about 30 minutes by tram from the Centraal Station (train). The staff were wonderful. The extra cost buffet breakfast was very good. Lots of dining options within 10 minutes walking distance (we are in our 80s so factor that into time).

We went to a concert at Concertgebouw for which the price was an unbelievably low-price (29 Euros) on a Saturday night. We sat in seats along the left side wall (as you face the stage) with about 6 feet of legroom and nobody sitting in front of us. It was an aisle.

If you have not seen it, try the WWII Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam: Plantage Kerklaan 61) and Zaanse Schans Tour: Prins Hendrikkade 74, 1012 AE Amsterdam which is a tour to a windmill museum. I found both on Trip Advisor.

Look for FEBO fast food outlets for a very unique dining experience. It is an automat with food served through little window compartments. I think it has limited stool seating. Better than your standard McDonald's or Burger King by far, with some local food options as well as good burgers (most under 3 Euros). I know that there is one just off Dam Square (short walk from the Royal palace/City Hall complex (to the left with your back to the Palace).

Take the historic antique tram ride around the city (about 45-60 minutes) located in/near Dam Square as well.

If you need more, let me know.

Jim

22 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

Joe, Arctic on the NS (deck 7 aft Vista) is June 15, 2025 from Rotterdam (14 day sail). We have Club Orange for that one and will get to spend 4 days in Amsterdam.

 

Norris

Hi, Norris,

We spent a week in Amsterdam in October 2023. If you need a hotel, dining or sightseeing tips, let me know.

Jim

At the implied suggestion of several correspondents in this stream, I sent messages to the Mariner Society and HAL Ship Services about the embarkation MDR lunch. From both, all I got was a form letter stating that I would be contacted later. Both of my notes were sent out before Friday March 15. As of today, March 18, no further response. (For reference only, I am a Three* and loyal HAL patron since 1959.)

Jim

While I was still employed (I retired in Feb. 2011 at age 70, after which "work" became a four-letter word I do not use in public!), I traveled to Alaska about 60 times from Nome/Fairbanks to Kodiak to Ketchikan (and many places in between). Each trip was a minimum of two weeks, usually late February (around the time of The Iditarod), early May and early September. My last stop was always Ketchikan. In those 60 trips, I encountered snow once in September and rain more frequently but not every trip by any means. I have not been to Alaska for more than a decade. Weather patterns may have changed as they have in the Seattle area. I would take rain gear.

Jim

8 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

I have done two Alaska cruises but they were in July and there was some sun and some clouds. I'm okay with that. Do you think this is a good itinerary? It seem unique.

This is certainly a unique cruise. I think that only small ships spend this much time in these ports. Victoria is certainly worth 10 hours (or more). Butchart Gardens should be really colorful at this time of year.

Jim

26 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

Does anyone think it could be raining every day of this cruise? I was thinking of booking the trip for April 2026 but I want some sun!

I live in Seattle. There are some days of sun every month of the year. April is usually fairly nice but I would expect a couple of days of rain for this cruise.

Jim

9 minutes ago, MISTER 67 said:

At 78, DW and I won’t worry about it.

We are in our 80s and agree.

My first cruise ever was in 1959 (17 years old, student tour to Europe between high school and college). It was the Nieuw Amsterdam, 1938 version. There were three classes of passengers then - first class (access to the whole ship), cabin class (access to the lower two tiers only) and tourist class (access only to the lowest tier places). God forbid you cross the lines (as teenagers, we did!). It seems cruise lines are slipping back to that.

Jim

18 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Really? HAL is now booking naturalists to give lectures on their Alaska 7-10 day itineraries, other than having the “free” Glacier Bay NP Ranger come onboard when one of their ships visit there? That’s good to hear. But I'll still be a little skeptical until I hear it a few more times, especially when they only have their Cruise/Excursion Director rather than a professional lecturer giving the lectures/port talks on all of their other cruises.

You are right. I meant to say National Park Rangers.

Jim