One Night Cruise Review

[theadams]

I thought I'd post a review of my one night cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 8th. We were aboard the Oosterdam.

 

We arrived at Canada Place in Vancouver around 10:45am. It was absolute chaos there because there were 3 ships unloading. The Norwegian Star, the Zuirdam and the Oosterdam. We worked our way through the throngs of people exiting into the terminal. We went through security very quickly.

 

We joined the large line for customs, weaving back and forth , back and forth. There were 4 customs officers working. At about 11:45 5 more officers arrived and we went very quickly.

 

We waited in the Holland America holding area. There were several hundred people already there. We were booked into an SA suite. As we entered the holding area I asked, is there a special area for suite passengers. Yes ma'am you go over on this side (where only 2 other people were waiting).

 

Since I had cruised in a suite before I knew enough to ask about the special area but I wonder if there were other suite passengers who were sitting in the large group not knowing they got priority?

 

There seemed to have been some issues unloading the Oosterdam, some problems with luggage or something. Around 12:30pm finally the suite passengers could start boarding. There were about 20 of us by that time.

 

We were first to the checkin agent. Immediately they started having some sort of problem with the computers. They had to reboot a few times and wait. Finally after about 15 minutes we were able to check in. I think we were the second people on the ship.

 

When we got our cards swiped loading the ship, our pictures did not load. The crew were all talking amongst each other and it seemed we might have to go back and get our pictures but they said never mind, they would load later.

 

From the moment we boarded til the moment we left the ship, the crew was EXTRAORDINARY.

 

We asked if the Neptune Lounge was open, yes madam. Your stateroom is ready as well if you want to go there first. Perfect, wasn't expecting that.

 

WE quickly dropped our bags and headed to the Neptune. My girlfriend that I was cruising with had only done 2 one nighters on NCL, this was her first experience with HAL(and a suite). I had been on the Noordam in the Caribbean so it seemed like coming home to me. My girlfriend was blown away by the suite and the Neptune Lounge. She is an absolute coffee addict and fell in love with the coffee in the Neptune Lounge.

 

We went up to the Lido for lunch. No one but ourselves and crew were around. We sat out on the aft deck enjoying the sun. The only other people there were a crew member and his visiting family.

 

We enjoyed our lunch and I started showing my friend the ship. We went everywhere. Crows Nest, gym, dining room, Shops, Casino (closed of course) and there was NO ONE around. It was kind of eery, like we were on a ghost ship.

 

We headed up to the front of the ship as there were teak loungers there with cushions. We ordered a slushy drink. Some more people eventually appeared. We must have been virtually on our own on the ship for a good hour.

 

Note there were no lounge chairs around the main pool, it was set up with all tables and chairs as there was a barbecue dinner planned.

 

We made our way back to the aft pool again and now there were lots of people about. Music was great, people partying, girls actually sunbathing in bikinis.

 

We started backing out around 5:15 I think. Slowly turned around and headed under the Lions Gate bridge. I started to overhear conversations about what a nightmare it was getting on the ship. People waited 2.5 or 3 hours. Not sure what the problem was but we were very grateful for our suite priority boarding.

 

Before we went under the bridge we had to head down to get ready for dinner as we had Pinnacle reservations for 6pm. We asked for a table near the window and they graciously arranged it as the people who had booked the table weren't arrive til 7:30 and we knew we'd be done by then.

 

Dinner was as fabulous as I expected, absolutely amazing. We both had filet. One thing I didn't care for was the spicy chicken coconut soup. It was tasty but I couldn't find any chicken in it, a lot of mushrooms though.

 

The casino was open from 6:00pm - 9:00pm, I guess they could only stay out in international waters for so long. Around 7:30 my friend went shopping and I went to the casino. Happy to report I made a couple of hundred.

 

At 9:00 went to the piano bar and had lots of fun sitting around the piano singing along.

 

We made our way to the show lounge about 9:45 and had great seats right down front. The show was a song and dance show all about songs from the movies. Amazing costumes by Bob Mackie. The leader female singer was outstanding, the two men and the other female were OK. Overall the show was very good. Note there were two shows, 8pm and 10pm.

 

We went to the disco for awhile. It was packed. Lots of fairly inebriated young people having a good time. We managed to snag a seat and watch the antics for about an hour.

 

Headed to bed about midnight. I was up at 6 and headed for the Neptune Lounge. My friend was up at 8. Hit the Lido and it was a ZOO. Went back down to the Neptune but everything was gone (about 9am) She managed to snag a few items and a coffee from the Lido.

 

We joined the HUGE long lines disembarking (didn't appear to be any priority for suites). It actually moved VERY quickly and I think we were off the ship by 10.

 

Overall absolutely fantastic. Would I do it again? Absolutely. I'm going on May 14th on the Rotterdam for another one nighter with my husband. Unfortunately this time we are in an 'I' inside. I phoned my travel agent and HAL says $206 each to upgrade to category S. fugidaboutit

 

I looked and saw that there are 3 ships at Canada Place again that day! Yikes. I guess we will get there super early and make the best of it. Hopefully HAL has their act and computers together and it won't take hours to get on the ship.

 

If you've made your way through this I want to ask a question. Can we upgrade at the checkin counter? If so, would it be cheaper than what HAL is quoting my travel agent?

 

Thanks so much.

[alpal1993]

Thanks for the review.I have never done a 1 night cruise or a repositioning cruise.

[John Cruise]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the trip.

You cannot upgrade at check-in. You have to do

that at least a week prior to sailing with HAL.

Remember to get to Canada Place at the same time

in September.

 

JC

[tamsocal]

thanks for the review!

[Napili]

At embarkation, if available, you can upgrade with the local port agent. At that point it's independent of HAL.

[portofrome]

Thanks for the review.

[JWJs]

Great review on your one nighter!:) Thanks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for taking the time to write your review. Glad you had a wonderful 1 night cruise.

 

Yes -- you can up-grade at the pier -- but there is no discount -- you really got rocked on prices at this time.

[Cruising-along]

Thank you for taking the time to write a review! I'm glad you enjoyed it enough to go again.

 

The part about computer problems at Canada Place brought back some not so good memories from our one and only 1-night cruise. We couldn't board until around 4pm because of computer problems --- hmm!

[porsena]

Like the OP, we enjoyed our too-brief time on this cruise. Getting onboard was no fun at all, however, and I've posted comments on that experience here.

[john2003]

We will be boarding the Zaandam on Thursday. It is good to see that she is the only ship that day. In the past we have found Vancouver to be quite easy to board so it is too bad that there are so many issues this spring. Hopefully they will get it sorted quickly.

 

Was interested about the upgrades at the pier. I guess I will forget that idea. We are not thrilled with our cabin asssignment although HAL did improve it from our original assignment which we are happy about. That said it is only one nite and certainly won't spoil the experience.

[CruiseRev]

Enjoyed the review. We disembarked the Oosterdam on Saturday and we were about an hour later than our assigned time. We didn't mind, but I'm sure it made for some unhappy people embarking. It looked like a cascade of bad timing. We were late getting to Canada Place, Norwegian Star was literally right behind us and it seemed to take a long time to get docked and cleared. Lots of people inside to help, but few unloading luggage.

[Fit S600]

About upgrades --- we talked to one couple who were upgrades AFTER they had been checked into there SS room. PHone call. report to front desk.. so sorry we need the room for someone else. would you take a SA. One very pleased mom and daughter on this mom's day one nighter.

I wonder if the total fiasco at Canada Place was because it was the first cruise weekend (read that on another posting) Everyone not practiced and up to speed. But there is definitely something wrong with arrivals and departures crisscrossing each other. Other terminals keep the arrivals and departures as separated as possible. We got to experience Pier 91 in Seattle. For starting or ending a cruise it might be ok but as a port of call pier 91 is soooo far away from the City. Walking is not an option. But GREAT separation of arrivals and departures.

[IRL_Joanie]

Great Review and explanation of the things you saw, good and bad, and did!!

 

Joanie

[DutchByAssociation]

To the OP -

 

An honest question... Are you a stalker?

 

In summary, here is my day on the Oosterdam:

 

• Arrive at noon and go through the lines in the terminal. Total time until on the ship was 2.25 hours
  
• Get seated in the chairs until I asked if there were special rows or a different procedure for suites.
  
• Photos took just fine but somehow we slipped by the person handing out health questionaires so we had to fill one out before we got on.
  
• Rooms were ready.
  
• We wandered all over the ship taking photos.
  
• Stopped by the Neptune to have some snacks and coffee (LOVE LOVE LOVE that machine!!!
  
• Lifeboat Drill
  
• Have a gathering in my suite that laster until about 7pm.
  
• Dinner in the Pinnacle from about 8:30-10:30 (nice and leisurely)
  
• Wander around and a quick change, then down to the Northern Lights til about 1:30.
  
• Disembark was sad (I LOVED my suite!!) but very smooth, and yes, while the lines were long it was almost impossible to text a friend in the line because I was constantly having to move my suitcase since it was moving so fast.
  

AND

• I'm on the Rotterdam for the one nighter as well this Friday.
  

So again, in all honesty... do I need to carry a can of pepper spray? :D I'm kidding of course, but how funny that our evenings paralleled so closely.

 

As for the upgrades, not sure how you booked but the HAL website is showing suites right now for $129.00 per person category S. You, or your TA if you booked one, should call reservations, ask if they can check with Ship Inventory for any Special Paid Upgrades. If there aren't any, the pier staff doing check-in can't help but go to the Front Office onboard and ask what they have available. You may just get lucky.

 

Should we compare plans now for our day onboard? ;)

 

Have another fantastic one day! (Needless to say I'm coming in a day ahead of time and doing a hotel this time around!!)

 

DBA

[theadams]

DBA, it is quite odd that our itineraries were so similar. But perhaps it is you stalking me? I was on the ship first! lol

 

We plan on getting to Canada Place quite early around 10:00 am and hope for the best. We are eating at the Pinnacle Grill and the evening will likely unfold similar to the one on the Oosterdam.

 

I am going to remember to bring sunscreen this time, I actually got slightly burnt last Saturday. The forecast is for beautiful weather.

 

Have a great cruise.

[Casey3954]

On an upcoming cruise on the prinsendam we booked an SY guaranteed. We felt that giving HAL more flexability with our booking may make the chances better for a free upgrade. Is this a logical approach? What are the odds of an upgrade? In an answer to previous post you indicated that they should check for special paid upgrades. Would that also be an option for us?

[Mingus]

Great review. We were on this cruise as well and your comments are spot on.

We arrived at 10:30am and it seems the 15 min earlier than your time made a difference. There were all lot of people around, but none in the security check and only a couple of minute wait at customs. It was a long wait after that, but at least we were seated (I read about people standing out in the parking area). We were able to be seated in the MDR for lunch by 12:45pm (and we didn't have priority boarding).