The Nickle Family Takes on Alaska.

[SilvertoGold]

I completely can see where he would remember former guests! He was very helpful and personable in his duties. He and Michael were excellent choices for the Concierge position.

 

OP:

These posts are wildly interesting, supremely well written, amazingly informative, hilariously surreal and just plain great!

 

Could you say how old the drunks were in the suite next to yours? These aren't your standard HAL cruisers, so don't get the wrong idea!

[bnickle]

#4: In Which the Five of Us Discuss the Explore 4. And the Chocolate Surprise, because...chocolate.

 

When I booked this trip last August, HA was offering the perk of an Explore4 package, and it's been discussed frequently here on CC. Because we had a NS, our E4 covered gratuities for the two of us, a $200 internet credit, and dinner for two at the PG. For our kids in the inside stateroom, the perk they got from the E4 was dinner at the PG for two of them, half fare for the third person, and the same beverage package that we received and the same 50% deposit at time of booking.

 

I read a lot of discussions on the E4 here, especially on the drinks and the 15 allotment per day. Through great scientific study, controlled research, and some very minor bar hopping, we developed the following hypothesis: the beverage portion of the E4 is pretty subjective upon the whims of whoever is waiting on you. For example...the limitation is that you can include any drink up to $9. The wine selections, both red and white, by the glass are really limited, and by keeping to the $9 limit you will have your choice of about 4 low-end wines. There was one white that was $9.15 per glass. One evening at dinner, I was not charged for it, one evening at dinner I was. Also, your allotment does not include anything from the honor bar system in the Neptune Lounge. However, Liverpool was told repeatedly to "not worry about it" when he went to get a can of coke from the lounge chiller. He was never charged for it. So I am not sure there's actually a standard hard line; as I said it seems to operate on the whim of whoever is waiting on you.

 

I am in complete agreement with comments I read from people stating they would never buy the unlimited beverage program for themselves. We never came close to our 15 drink limit each day, in fact, I feel like I drank more wine than I usually do. Had we not had this perk, we probably would have purchased the unlimited soda for my husband, whose blood type is Diet Coke Positive, but the beverage drink-by-drink package was very under-utilized by us. Middle doesn't drink alcohol, but I think she would have enjoyed mocktails with her dinner. The problem was that while a wine list accompanied each dinner, there was little info on cocktails and no info on alcohol free mocktails. That is information that should be included in the dining room menus in addition to the bar menus.

 

Finally, I would like to discuss something Middle called, "A Walk Through Heaven." Thursday evening was our second Gala evening, and after dinner, we went to hear the Lincoln Center Stage ensemble. After that, all over the walkway in Deck 2 was the Chocolate Surprise, which consists of the waitstaff, in formal white serving coats, marching two by two (kind of like formal Storm Troopers) down the hallway in perfect formation, carrying trays of an amazing assortment of chocolate hors d'oeuvres to be offered to anyone with a sweet tooth at 9:45 at night. There were mini chocolate raspberry tarts, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate pops, tiny sugar cones filled with dollops of chocolate mousse, salted caramel chocolate bars, toasted marshmallows dipped in chocolate, and rich shots of chocolate milk. If you like a late evening treat, and you see "Chocolate Surprise" on the When and Where, by all means go to it. The waiters wandered all around deck 2, and at first everyone followed them like lemmings and they quickly ran out of goodies on their trays but were quickly replenished. I told Middle that we should turn and go against the tide and walk back, and sure enough we found the waiters coming out with freshly filled trays of goodies and Middle snared a little morsel of about everything. It was well presented and fun. Plus, as Middle kept saying with a big smile on her face, "Chocolate!"

[bnickle]

OP:

These posts are wildly interesting, supremely well written, amazingly informative, hilariously surreal and just plain great!

 

Could you say how old the drunks were in the suite next to yours? These aren't your standard HAL cruisers, so don't get the wrong idea!

 

They looked maybe in their mid-forties. It's hard for me to know as more and more everyone looks like they're 12 to me. I know that HA marketed this and other 7 day Alaska itineraries this summer to past cruisers who had frequented the casinos, and they kept talking about some "Casino Package" they got as a perk of booking. But it was a little before noon, and they were hammered. I don't think I was that obnoxious back in my first days at college when I thought swilling Bartles and Jaymes was the height of sophistication and I swilled away.

[SilvertoGold]

They looked maybe in their mid-forties. It's hard for me to know as more and more everyone looks like they're 12 to me. I know that HA marketed this and other 7 day Alaska itineraries this summer to past cruisers who had frequented the casinos, and they kept talking about some "Casino Package" they got as a perk of booking. But it was a little before noon, and they were hammered. I don't think I was that obnoxious back in my first days at college when I thought swilling Bartles and Jaymes was the height of sophistication and I swilled away.

 

That is about the age group we thought about. On our last cruise (30 days, HAL) there was a guy who carried a beer stein around ALL day and evening. We heard from people in the cooking class that everyone from this guy's MDR table fled to other tables after one or two nights of him being truly obnoxious. Not truly drunk, just a total runoff the mouth type with the added negative effect of the booze.

Not the HAL standard!

[VennDiagram]

They looked maybe in their mid-forties. It's hard for me to know as more and more everyone looks like they're 12 to me. I know that HA marketed this and other 7 day Alaska itineraries this summer to past cruisers who had frequented the casinos, and they kept talking about some "Casino Package" they got as a perk of booking. But it was a little before noon, and they were hammered. I don't think I was that obnoxious back in my first days at college when I thought swilling Bartles and Jaymes was the height of sophistication and I swilled away.

 

That is about the age group we thought about. On our last cruise (30 days, HAL) there was a guy who carried a beer stein around ALL day and evening. We heard from people in the cooking class that everyone from this guy's MDR table fled to other tables after one or two nights of him being truly obnoxious. Not truly drunk, just a total runoff the mouth type with the added negative effect of the booze.

Not the HAL standard!

 

These are interesting comments. We had table mates for our embarkation lunch who had gotten the Explore 4 promo and were determined to (a direct quote) "get our money's worth". They managed 4 beers each in about an hour, and were complaining that on their last cruise they could not go to a bar at night and get (another direct quote) "what was owed to us for the day" so they could take extra beer ashore the following day....

 

I hope it isn't a trend.

 

Sorry for the thread drift.

[bnickle]

That is about the age group we thought about. On our last cruise (30 days, HAL) there was a guy who carried a beer stein around ALL day and evening. We heard from people in the cooking class that everyone from this guy's MDR table fled to other tables after one or two nights of him being truly obnoxious. Not truly drunk, just a total runoff the mouth type with the added negative effect of the booze.

Not the HAL standard!

 

Moderation, people.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I hope that HAL is bringing the chocolate Surprise back to all ships.

We were on the Westerdam in 2013 when they had it in the Atrium during the regular tea time. And we were told that there would not be any more. Sure enough -- none on our Eurodam or Westerdam recent cruises.

[bnickle]

These are interesting comments. We had table mates for our embarkation lunch who had gotten the Explore 4 promo and were determined to (a direct quote) "get our money's worth". They managed 4 beers each in about an hour, and were complaining that on their last cruise they could not go to a bar at night and get (another direct quote) "what was owed to us for the day" so they could take extra beer ashore the following day....

 

I hope it isn't a trend.

 

Sorry for the thread drift.

 

Drift as you like! Obviously this touched a nerve for a lot of people. Even factoring in bottled water, specialty coffees and sodas we never came close to the limit on any day. At least it was a promo.

[bnickle]

I hope that HAL is bringing the chocolate Surprise back to all ships.

We were on the Westerdam in 2013 when they had it in the Atrium during the regular tea time. And we were told that there would not be any more. Sure enough -- none on our Eurodam or Westerdam recent cruises.

 

It was lovely! It was at 9:45 the night of the second gala.

[ski ww]

Hope the chocolate surprise is offered on our Alaska cruise on the NA in July. We really enjoyed them in the past.

Allan

[bnickle]

Hope the chocolate surprise is offered on our Alaska cruise on the NA in July. We really enjoyed them in the past.

Allan

 

I bet it will be! It was fun!

[TheCalicoCat]

I thought swilling Bartles and Jaymes was the height of sophistication and I swilled away.

 

I haven't had a Bartles & James in DECADES!;p Thanks for the memory:*

[TheCalicoCat]

I might be willing to stay up for a chocolate surprise!

 

(I'll be getting my money worth out of the Explore4 SBP. I'm going to try every one of those beverages that I have been too afraid to spend $8 on in the past only to find out that I don't like them! Martini, I'm looking at you & you Old Fashioned - Highball you are on my list too!)

[bnickle]

I haven't had a Bartles & James in DECADES!;p Thanks for the memory:*

 

Fun ad tag line: "Thank you for your support"

[bnickle]

I might be willing to stay up for a chocolate surprise!

 

(I'll be getting my money worth out of the Explore4 SBP. I'm going to try every one of those beverages that I have been too afraid to spend $8 on in the past only to find out that I don't like them! Martini, I'm looking at you & you Old Fashioned - Highball you are on my list too!)

 

Make sure a cosmopolitan is on your list.

[Krazy Kruizers]

It was lovely! It was at 9:45 the night of the second gala.

 

 

 

I could handle such a feast at 9:45 PM. I would take several desserts back to the cabin and put them in the refrigerator.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We loved the chocolate coated glasses.

[TheCalicoCat]

I could handle such a feast at 9:45 PM. I would take several desserts back to the cabin and put them in the refrigerator.

Great Minds!:D

[Moparop]

I have thoroughly enjoyed your review of the cruise. We will be doing a giant cruise next month and it's given us a sense of what to expect.

[Tinknock50]

Wow! Simply, wow! Some people think this world exists solely for them. Sorry you had to deal with bad neighbors. I've enjoyed your review.

Hi 510picker! I have been looking at your pictures of the Noordam and was wondering about the width of your chair. I want to know if my friends chair will fit in the same space. Also the brand name and model of your chair.

 

Thanks!

[lynn2002]

What did you think of the tours you booked. I have also booked with Coastal Helicopters.

[Tinknock50]

What did you think of the tours you booked. I have also booked with Coastal Helicopters.

I have gone with Coastal 3 times. They are great!