Live from Alaska on Ms Zuiderdam - April 2022

[Crew News]

34 minutes ago, bluesplayer said:

Odd ask..  do they still make the home made breadsticks served in the Lido?  They were near the soup and the rolls at lunch.  Thank you for checking if you have time.

They do indeed still have them.

[bluesplayer]

Thank you!!  Pretty sure some addictive substance is added to those!!   LOL

[Crew News]

The ship decided to turn off the internet last night so my long post from then is being recreated today.

 

Blue skies and sunshine filled the day which thrilled not only the passengers but especially the Skagway residents.

 

My train ride over the snow-surrounded tracks was the first train excursion to the summit since 2019.  I spent the first half of the ride on an outer platform taking photos.  The trip made the return loop back to

Skagway and it was nap time for me.  I had to shake my head as the smartphone owners took pictures through the glare-causing windows.

 

I spent the rest of my day culling photos from nearly one thousand images for this cruise.

 

The question of drink coupons is still on my list to ask.

 

My PG dinner was interesting to say the least.  Although my dinner was excellent, I listened to the next table complaining about the underwhelming and under-cooked scallops.  Those were the same comments that I had made just four days ago when the Food and Beverage Director stopped at my table and asked about my scallop meal.  At that time, I suggested more "scallop searing" training for the chef or better quality control attention. 

Tonight, I rolled my eyes when the chef appeared at the complainant's table and told them that nobody else had complained about the way scallops were prepared.  After apologizing to the nearby couple, the chef made the mistake of asking me about my halibut.  There was a smile in my heart as I replied, "Halibut was great and I made the same "seared scallop" complaint just four days ago."  There was no response as the chef quickly departed.  It is important to say that every other bite of PG food has been excellent.  They just cannot sear scallops.

 

The topic of the day on this thread is ArriveCAN.  Create you account on a smartphone and upload all documents before you leave home.  No worry about testing info as that goes into the Verifly app to speed HAL processing.  When the window for entering your arrival data is available, do so.  All of the information is easy to input with the exception of the two embarkation and arrival dates.  Both have windows that cannot be violated.  The arrival window allows more dates/times.  The embarkation window allows only three days from which to choose even if you embarked seven days ago. 

 

My advice is to just choose a date in the available embarkation three-day window or you will not be allowed to continue.  You will be asked both your ship and cabin number once you are allowed to proceed.  Within a few seconds, a QR code will appear on your phone and an email. will be in your inbox.  Assistance classes are available onboard.

 

With your QR code ready, you can sign the HAL-provided affirm and attest letter you will receive.  Make sure you write your room number on the top of the letter before returning it to the Front Desk. 

 

It must also be noted that we were not COVID tested before continuing on this cruise from a previous one on the same ship.

 

And so it was April 30, 2022.  More later today.

[QHsailor]

Do I have to have internet plan on board ship to enter info for ArriveCAN. ?  Am doing a b2b and not planning to disembark in Vancouver til the end.  I guess with the 72 hrs I could fill out using WiFi in Ketchikan?

[Kristal Blade]

13 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Assistance classes are available onboard.

Now that is a very comforting statement!

[*Miss G*]

@Crew News, they used to have Canada customs declaration cards in your room upon embarkation.  Are those still being used or have they done away with them now that there’s ArriveCAN?

[Crew News]

9 minutes ago, QHsailor said:

Do I have to have internet plan on board ship to enter info for ArriveCAN. ?  Am doing a b2b and not planning to disembark in Vancouver til the end.  I guess with the 72 hrs I could fill out using WiFi in Ketchikan?

You can use your smartphone wherever you have a signal although it is much cheaper to use it while in a port before you return on each leg of your B2B.  The ship wants your ArriveCAN completed for days before arrival. 

 

As only one device is allowed for ArriveCAN, create the account and upload documents on your phone before leaving home.  You only need to do this once.  Add the arrival dates for the B2B once you are onboard.

[Crew News]

2 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

@Crew News, they used to have Canada customs declaration cards in your room upon embarkation.  Are those still being used or have they done away with them now that there’s ArriveCAN?

Still have to do the Custom Cards in addition to ArriveCAN.

[Crew News]

18 minutes ago, QHsailor said:

Do I have to have internet plan on board ship to enter info for ArriveCAN. ?  Am doing a b2b and not planning to disembark in Vancouver til the end.  I guess with the 72 hrs I could fill out using WiFi in Ketchikan?

You will disembark in Vancouver between each cruise to process through US Immigrtion/Border Patrol whether you choose to or not.

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, bluesplayer said:

Thank you!!  Pretty sure some addictive substance is added to those!!   LOL

Guacamole or melted cheese dip from the Taco Bar.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Crew News

[NCTribeFan]

I swear I posted this morning, but it isn't here.  Hmmm.

 

I pointed out that there's a great, informative thread about ArriveCan on the Canadian board.  Very helpful folks over there.

 

If I didn't already ask, I meant to - is the ship casino open at all when the ship is docked?  Normally, they aren't.  I'm just wondering since I'm on a casino offer with free drinks while gambling.  I won't get much use out of it with only a couple of sea days (during which I'll probably be looking at the scenery, not at a slot machine), and late port days.  Didn't notice any casino hours listed on the When and Where.

 

Thank you!

[Florida_gal_50]

54 minutes ago, QHsailor said:

Do I have to have internet plan on board ship to enter info for ArriveCAN. ?  Am doing a b2b and not planning to disembark in Vancouver til the end.  I guess with the 72 hrs I could fill out using WiFi in Ketchikan?

This is not about Alaska so take it for what it’s worth.  I couldn’t get me arrivecan to get to the point in spit out the QR code.  It kept telling me I didn’t have internet access even though I was able to access sites and get email.  Once I could use my data it was not problem.  This was in San Diego.

[Crew News]

3 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

I swear I posted this morning, but it isn't here.  Hmmm.

 

I pointed out that there's a great, informative thread about ArriveCan on the Canadian board.  Very helpful folks over there.

 

If I didn't already ask, I meant to - is the ship casino open at all when the ship is docked?  Normally, they aren't.  I'm just wondering since I'm on a casino offer with free drinks while gambling.  I won't get much use out of it with only a couple of sea days (during which I'll probably be looking at the scenery, not at a slot machine), and late port days.  Didn't notice any casino hours listed on the When and Where.

 

Thank you!

I will inquire.

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, Crew News said:

The ship decided to turn off the internet last night so my long post from then is being recreated today.

 

Blue skies and sunshine filled the day which thrilled not only the passengers but especially the Skagway residents.

 

My train ride over the snow-surrounded tracks was the first train excursion to the summit since 2019.  I spent the first half of the ride on an outer platform taking photos.  The trip made the return loop back to

Skagway and it was nap time for me.  I had to shake my head as the smartphone owners took pictures through the glare-causing windows.

 

I spent the rest of my day culling photos from nearly one thousand images for this cruise.

 

The question of drink coupons is still on my list to ask.

 

My PG dinner was interesting to say the least.  Although my dinner was excellent, I listened to the next table complaining about the underwhelming and under-cooked scallops.  Those were the same comments that I had made just four days ago when the Food and Beverage Director stopped at my table and asked about my scallop meal.  At that time, I suggested more "scallop searing" training for the chef or better quality control attention. 

Tonight, I rolled my eyes when the chef appeared at the complainant's table and told them that nobody else had complained about the way scallops were prepared.  After apologizing to the nearby couple, the chef made the mistake of asking me about my halibut.  There was a smile in my heart as I replied, "Halibut was great and I made the same "seared scallop" complaint just four days ago."  There was no response as the chef quickly departed.  It is important to say that every other bite of PG food has been excellent.  They just cannot sear scallops.

 

The topic of the day on this thread is ArriveCAN.  Create you account on a smartphone and upload all documents before you leave home.  No worry about testing info as that goes into the Verifly app to speed HAL processing.  When the window for entering your arrival data is available, do so.  All of the information is easy to input with the exception of the two embarkation and arrival dates.  Both have windows that cannot be violated.  The arrival window allows more dates/times.  The embarkation window allows only three days from which to choose even if you embarked seven days ago. 

 

My advice is to just choose a date in the available embarkation three-day window or you will not be allowed to continue.  You will be asked both your ship and cabin number once you are allowed to proceed.  Within a few seconds, a QR code will appear on your phone and an email. will be in your inbox.  Assistance classes are available onboard.

 

With your QR code ready, you can sign the HAL-provided affirm and attest letter you will receive.  Make sure you write your room number on the top of the letter before returning it to the Front Desk. 

 

It must also be noted that we were not COVID tested before continuing on this cruise from a previous one on the same ship.

 

And so it was April 30, 2022.  More later today.

I’d probably be the one taking photos through the glass.  Sometimes people set up camp at the openings and won’t let others have their chance.  Interesting about not testing between the b2b.  I was going to ask you but I thought you might have talked about it but I missed it.  I thought Princess had dropped the b2b tests but I’ve seen it mentioned again so maybe it’s just the area people are cruising in.  Thanks for the update.

[*Miss G*]

3 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

This is not about Alaska so take it for what it’s worth.  I couldn’t get me arrivecan to get to the point in spit out the QR code.  It kept telling me I didn’t have internet access even though I was able to access sites and get email.  Once I could use my data it was not problem.  This was in San Diego.

 

My friends from Canada were visiting a couple of days ago and she had the same problem, even though she was using my WiFi.  (Autocorrect changed WiFi to “wife” and I almost left it.  😂)  She had already checked she had the latest version.  Anyway, she uninstalled the app and then reinstalled it and it worked.

[Florida_gal_50]

7 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

I swear I posted this morning, but it isn't here.  Hmmm.

 

I pointed out that there's a great, informative thread about ArriveCan on the Canadian board.  Very helpful folks over there.

 

If I didn't already ask, I meant to - is the ship casino open at all when the ship is docked?  Normally, they aren't.  I'm just wondering since I'm on a casino offer with free drinks while gambling.  I won't get much use out of it with only a couple of sea days (during which I'll probably be looking at the scenery, not at a slot machine), and late port days.  Didn't notice any casino hours listed on the When and Where.

 

Thank you!

You did post it for sure because I replied.  I second your suggestion of the Canadian board.  There are very knowledgeable people answering questions.

[Florida_gal_50]

1 minute ago, *Miss G* said:

 

My friends from Canada were visiting a couple of days ago and she had the same problem, even though she was using my WiFi.  (Autocorrect changed WiFi to “wife” and I almost left it.  😂)  She had already checked she had the latest version.  Anyway, she uninstalled the app and then reinstalled it and it worked.

The arrivecan app will be the end of me.  It keeps signing me out once I close it.  None of my other apps do that.  I’ve uninstalled it thinking that might be the problem.  It didn’t help with the signing out thing and I haven’t  cruised since.  Hopefully it will work next time or arrivecan will be gone (doubtful).  Thanks for the suggestion.

[Florida_gal_50]

Forgot to mention the part about the scallops.  I don’t love when people make up stuff about no one complaining before.  It doesn’t matter if someone has complained or not.  The person doesn’t like them.  At that price level the chef should know how to cook.  Just stop making excuses.  It reminds me of a meal I had out a couple weeks ago.  Our food was lukewarm and tasteless.  They told us next time we should ask for it to be hot 🙄.  No word about what to do on the tasteless.

[Crew News]

6 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

........... Our food was lukewarm and tasteless.  They told us next time we should ask for it to be hot 🙄.  No word about what to do on the tasteless.

Wow.  Sounds like a perfect use of the Navigator app feedback feature that would get instant attention, especially if names were added.

[Florida_gal_50]

4 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Wow.  Sounds like a perfect use of the Navigator app feedback feature that would get instant attention, especially if names were added.

Sorry no, this was a restaurant where I live but wouldn’t it be nice if restaurants had apps that you could provide feedback for restaurants.  I was going to say it was a restaurant at home but I didn’t want others to think I have a restaurant in my house 😉.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Florida_gal_50

[Howasaur]

Hi One question..  I realize I'm dating myself but what happens if you do not have a Smart Phone for ArriveCAN documentation. We only have a Nokia Flip phone 1996

[Florida_gal_50]

2 minutes ago, Howasaur said:

Hi One question..  I realize I'm dating myself but what happens if you do not have a Smart Phone for ArriveCAN documentation. We only have a Nokia Flip phone 1996

Apparently you can also do it online at the arrivecan website.  You still need internet access either way or data.

[Crew News]

5 minutes ago, Howasaur said:

Hi One question..  I realize I'm dating myself but what happens if you do not have a Smart Phone for ArriveCAN documentation. We only have a Nokia Flip phone 1996

The ship will do everything in its power to get your QR code or they will have problems with getting the ship cleared through the Canada authorities.  A printed copy of the QR also works but you still have to upload the info. 

[*Miss G*]

8 minutes ago, Howasaur said:

Hi One question..  I realize I'm dating myself but what happens if you do not have a Smart Phone for ArriveCAN documentation. We only have a Nokia Flip phone 1996

 

Go to the ArriveCAN Website and choose “Sign in to ArriveCAN online”.  The bonus of using the online version vs the app is that you can also do your customs declaration.  The app doesn’t provide for that as yet.

 

[Crew News]

20 hours ago, PSR said:

I have been gone a few days and just read the menu for the first GALA night. It can't be true that there is no Escargot Bourguignon (sp?)! That was always one of the appetizers I enjoyed on the first gala night and was planning to have again after a long time of no cruising. I am disappointed, but I guess many people do not care for it, so perhaps it's been discontinued.😢

If you look at the second Gold Gala Night menu, just posted for Day 05, you will see escargot is on the menu.  Bon Appetite.