Not as live reports: Y4Z prestige (Y4C Yukon/double Denali + SB cruise) 6/15/22 - 7/3/22

shuyak · July 4, 2022

@Gray Lady, thank you. Hope you/travel partner are asymptomatic or w/ minimum symptom.

Our biggest fear was being tested positive last day on ship that would require 10 day quarantine per Canada's rule.

You now have the best reason to just do an Alaska cruise.

shuyak · July 4, 2022

While waiting for debarkation call, we checked in for tomorrow's flight.

Heard many commented about its convenience, we tested Canada line to YVR. Walking about 5 min from port, got the senior day pass (rate was updated on July 1 :0), train came about every 5 - 7 min. At least 3 ships on port today, the train to YVR was very crowded at around 9:30.

At YVR while waiting for hotel shuttle, we bumped into our cruisetour mates on way back to Toronto. It's really a small world.

Dropped off luggage at hotel, we took advantage of the day pass, ventured to Richmond checking out various restaurants (lots and lots) and stores. Very surprised to find a small restaurant in a food court had excellent xiaolong bao (soup dumpling). See the soup filled over bottom third, and the skin held well did mot break.

Also checked out our favorite store - right across our hotel. Found something not seen in our area.

It is drizzling on and off, not sure if we will take a look of the famous Rixhmond Night Market.

shuyak · July 4, 2022

T-mobile's partner is Telus, very strong signal in and around Vancouver. In Alaska, I think most time is GCI and sometimes is AT&T. Ok in bigger city, none in remote area.

Now, we used most staff brought:

Rain coat, poncho, mosquito net (Top of Dome in Dawson City), mosquito wipe, packable jacket, wind breaker, etc. Think the only item we did not use is the rain pant.

Although the view of Mt. Denali on the flight Dawson City to Fairbanks is a real treat, we may not redo the Yukon portion.

We think the most scenic portion the entire route is Skagway White Pass. If offered in future years, do a train to Carcross then bus down.

The pro of cruisetour is everything is planned and arranged for you, but only if you have a good tour director that will inform you all essentials ahead of time. Ours, every time the bus driver handed him the mic, he responded : "I really have nothing to say". All bus drivers are very good.

The con of cruisetour is you do not have control of the schedule - every day luggage out and departure time is different. It can be tiring after on the road for days, especially with many conflicting info.

As already mentioned, most other traveller's from Princess and HAL we encountered, land or cruise, do not wear mask. Add Celebrity to the list.

There was the emergency drill on ship while we were at Juneau. The captain announced for us to ignore it, including the "quarantine rooms". Just don't know how many were there. Toward the end of cruise, more coughing around the ship we can hear. Wear mask, keep distance and frequent sanitizing worked for us.

Since last year, many CC members help by providing valuable info for us to make own decisions. This is my turn to hopeful providing some useful info for fellow cruisers.

Unless there are questions, am signing off.

Happy cruising to all.

Gray Lady · July 4, 2022

I have a few questions for you, if you don’t mind. I assume that you have been on other cruises…maybe other ships and other cruise lines. How was the experience on the Nieuw Amsterdam? We had booked a Signature Suite on the 6th deck for this cruise with Have It All. Do you think that is a decent location/room? How was the food? We are thinking of maybe taking a cruise through the Panama Canal now instead of going back to Alaska next year. Is this a good ship to go on a 17 day cruise? Should we look at other ships/lines? We liked the idea of a more sedate cruise versus party time. Any insights, thoughts, or suggestions would be much appreciated. I bet you are glad to get back home! Thank you!

St Pete Cruiser · July 4, 2022

3 hours ago, Gray Lady said:

I have a few questions for you, if you don’t mind. I assume that you have been on other cruises…maybe other ships and other cruise lines. How was the experience on the Nieuw Amsterdam? We had booked a Signature Suite on the 6th deck for this cruise with Have It All. Do you think that is a decent location/room? How was the food? We are thinking of maybe taking a cruise through the Panama Canal now instead of going back to Alaska next year. Is this a good ship to go on a 17 day cruise? Should we look at other ships/lines? We liked the idea of a more sedate cruise versus party time. Any insights, thoughts, or suggestions would be much appreciated. I bet you are glad to get back home! Thank you!

We enjoyed the Nieuw Amsterdam last November very much. It was our first cruise post covid, and one of the first out of Ft Lauderdale for Holland America. The ship, built in 2010, was the last of the "old" style, so doesn't have the latest entertainment venues, but does have the wide wrap around promenade with padded deck chairs, which we love. The main dining room was excellent, both food and service. We were aboard 14 days, and as usual, were not at all anxious to leave. A signature suite is a sweet room with most of the bigger Neptune's good features in a smaller space.

shuyak · July 5, 2022

20 hours ago, Gray Lady said:

I have a few questions for you, if you don’t mind. I assume that you have been on other cruises…maybe other ships and other cruise lines. How was the experience on the Nieuw Amsterdam? We had booked a Signature Suite on the 6th deck for this cruise with Have It All. Do you think that is a decent location/room? How was the food? We are thinking of maybe taking a cruise through the Panama Canal now instead of going back to Alaska next year. Is this a good ship to go on a 17 day cruise? Should we look at other ships/lines? We liked the idea of a more sedate cruise versus party time. Any insights, thoughts, or suggestions would be much appreciated. I bet you are glad to get back home! Thank you!

@Gray Lady, I am not qualified to address your questions, for this trip is our first experience with HAL, and it is the only post-covid cruise (2 HAL ships though) we had.

I don't think it is fair to compare pre-covid experience to post-covid experience. Also, what we consider value will not be the same as yours'.

HAL has some very good itineraries, including the Panama Cannal that we may consider for future cruise.

Our general thoughts to share,

They all provides good services, food quality ranges from ok to excellent, entertainments are up to individual tastes. We always book excursions independently, can not comment in that front.

Carnival generally has bigger cabins; you would have good experience as long as avoiding school and collage vacation periods.

Norwegian started with free style sailing concept that attracted us. Although many paid specialty restaurants, it includes more days of specialty restaurants in its perks (compared to HAL's only 1).

Celebrity is a bit refined of the above, and some memorable staff and dishes.

HAL (post-covid, and at 50% capacity) is very quite. Almost all Zurderdam's dishes have too salty sauces. NS are much better to our taste, and had overall wonderful meal on it's 2nd dressy night.

Hope you find the best cruise to match your preference.

Gray Lady · July 5, 2022

53 minutes ago, shuyak said:

@Gray Lady, I am not qualified to address your questions, for this trip is our first experience with HAL, and it is the only post-covid cruise (2 HAL ships though) we had.

I don't think it is fair to compare pre-covid experience to post-covid experience. Also, what we consider value will not be the same as yours'.

HAL has some very good itineraries, including the Panama Cannal that we may consider for future cruise.

Our general thoughts to share,

They all provides good services, food quality ranges from ok to excellent, entertainments are up to individual tastes. We always book excursions independently, can not comment in that front.

Carnival generally has bigger cabins; you would have good experience as long as avoiding school and collage vacation periods.

Norwegian started with free style sailing concept that attracted us. Although many paid specialty restaurants, it includes more days of specialty restaurants in its perks (compared to HAL's only 1).

Celebrity is a bit refined of the above, and some memorable staff and dishes.

HAL (post-covid, and at 50% capacity) is very quite. Almost all Zurderdam's dishes have too salty sauces. NS are much better to our taste, and had overall wonderful meal on it's 2nd dressy night.

Hope you find the best cruise to match your preference.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Before booking, I will look at other lines, especially Celebrity. I know many people like Princess, but their ships seem very large to me. To me, if a ship is too large you may “get lost in the crowd.” We have saved 10 years for a cruise and want to have a good experience. We are not overly fussy and particular; we just want value for the money. Maybe a bonus is not having cruised pre-COVID, so we wouldn’t know the difference.