~Cruise Critic Group Cruise To Alaska ~ Amsterdam May 2010~

[Sillyjilly]

[quote name='LEtue']Good, we'll see you in the pool then :D Here is a picture of the aft pool on the Amasterdam from the Cruise Critic Home Page....

[URL="http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/"][IMG]http://www.cruisecritic.com/images/halamsterdam_pool_bighome.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/quote]

Yep, I'll be there, but this time I'll remember my sun screen. Should have packed it last Alaska cruise. It was great pool weather.:D

[LEtue]

[quote name='Batinfla']Hi Linda --
I have been following this thread from the beginning and am very much interested in the itinerary. Am waiting to see the group rates before I make any plans. We were on the Amsterdam several years ago and she is a beautiful ship.

I am your neighbor - I live in Seminole. Years ago we lived in Palm Harbor.[/quote]

Great, I hope you join us! Everyone says that the Amsterdam is a beautiful ship and I can't wait to get aboard her :D

I love the Seminole area. When I bought my home in Palm Harbor 10 years ago - I was working in Tampa. I had been commuting from Indian Rocks Beach and it wasn't fun. When I went looking for a home I actually looked in Seminole but I got a little more house in P.H. and the commute was better :)

Hope to see you at TPA for our flight to SEA!

[LEtue]

[quote name='Batinfla']Hi Linda --
I have been following this thread from the beginning and am very much interested in the itinerary. Am waiting to see the group rates before I make any plans. We were on the Amsterdam several years ago and she is a beautiful ship. [/quote]

Welcome to the thread and I'm going to add your name to the list. We're all waiting on pricing ;)

Linda (LEtue) and Margie(hmstins)
Sillyjilly
Marian (BldLvr) & DH
Joanne (JoKen1)
Snook & DW
Laurie (lstrong)
Mash1 & DH
pspercy & DW
cruisinbanjo & Mrs Banjo
farkle& DH
TravelinGrandma & DH
Chelly
LVSue & SIL
Syran & DF
papergypsy & DH & DD
Sean (Tinknock50)
wingding & DW, Sister & BIL
Sue (bjbear)
Donna (PT Cruisin)
Janie (tjcletsgo)
Rose (azrose) & Steve
Phyllis (phyllisrf)
Susan (FurryPetMom)
Diane (DizzyDallasDi)
Eric (eaglesfan34)
Michele (furniturelady)
katybird
Kim (bellamom6)
emliss
(Batinfl)

[COLOR=darkgreen][U]Here is what we're planning so far:[/U][/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkgreen]Group Hotel Rates[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]Pre Cruise Dinner & Get Together[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]Group Transportation to the Ship[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]Sailaway Gathering - "Say Goodbye to Seattle"[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]On Board Get Togethers - this could include the days we are viewing Hubbard Glacier or sailing in Tracy Arm? [/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]On Board Acitivities - casino slot pull, scavenger hunt, gift exchange (something from your local area?)[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]Trivia (could even be Alaska or Ship related)[/COLOR]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=darkgreen]"On Deck for the Cure" walk to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[LEtue]

Good morning!

Has everyone got their fingers and toes crossed? Maybe we'll know today?

[Tinknock50]

[quote name='LEtue']Good morning!

Has everyone got their fingers and toes crossed? Maybe we'll know today?[/quote]

I have a feeling something will happen soon. The prices on the TA sites went wacky yesterday. HH are actually well above the HAL site and are now more expensive than other outsides!

Could this be because someone is taking blocks of cabins for a group?.......hmmmmm.

[Sue from Canada]

I've been following this thread since the beginning and I just can't take the excitement any longer of heading to new ports in Alaska. Although I've sailed to Alaska 4X with HAL (my favourite cruise line), the thought of sailing to Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak and Victoria and with new CC friends is just too exciting to pass us. And after viewing Rev. Neal's photos from his cruise last month with his mum, made me want to hop on a plane and sail North. So, add my name to list for next May. Enough said (for now).

[LEtue]

[quote name='Sue from Canada']I've been following this thread since the beginning and I just can't take the excitement any longer of heading to new ports in Alaska. Although I've sailed to Alaska 4X with HAL (my favourite cruise line), the thought of sailing to Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak and Victoria and with new CC friends is just too exciting to pass us. And after viewing Rev. Neal's photos from his cruise last month with his mum, made me want to hop on a plane and sail North. So, add my name to list for next May. Enough said (for now).[/quote]

Yay!!! Welcome Sue!

Linda (LEtue) and Margie(hmstins)
Sillyjilly
Marian (BldLvr) & DH
Joanne (JoKen1)
Snook & DW
Laurie (lstrong)
Mash1 & DH
pspercy & DW
cruisinbanjo & Mrs Banjo
farkle& DH
TravelinGrandma & DH
Chelly
LVSue & SIL
Syran & DF
papergypsy & DH & DD
Sean (Tinknock50)
wingding & DW, Sister & BIL
Sue (bjbear)
Donna (PT Cruisin)
Janie (tjcletsgo)
Rose (azrose) & Steve
Phyllis (phyllisrf)
Susan (FurryPetMom)
Diane (DizzyDallasDi)
Eric (eaglesfan34)
Michele (furniturelady)
katybird
Kim (bellamom6)
emliss
(Batinfl)
Sue (Sue From Canada)

[COLOR=darkgreen][U]Here is what we're planning so far:[/U][/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkgreen]Group Hotel Rates[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]Pre Cruise Dinner & Get Together[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]Group Transportation to the Ship[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]Sailaway Gathering - "Say Goodbye to Seattle"[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]On Board Get Togethers - this could include the days we are viewing Hubbard Glacier or sailing in Tracy Arm? [/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]On Board Acitivities - casino slot pull, scavenger hunt, gift exchange (something from your local area?)[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkgreen]Trivia (could even be Alaska or Ship related)[/COLOR]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=darkgreen]"On Deck for the Cure" walk to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[LEtue]

[quote name='Tinknock50']I have a feeling something will happen soon. The prices on the TA sites went wacky yesterday. HH are actually well above the HAL site and are now more expensive than other outsides!

Could this be because someone is taking blocks of cabins for a group?.......hmmmmm.[/quote]

Ooooh, Sean! That could be a good sign ;)

Please, please, please....we re ready!!!! :D

[LEtue]

[quote name='Sillyjilly']Yep, I'll be there, but this time I'll remember my sun screen. Should have packed it last Alaska cruise. It was great pool weather.:D[/quote]

I'm thinking that one of those hot tubs has my name on it :D And the scenery from that pool deck will be fantastic!

[Snook]

Saan: Tell me how to monitor the TA sites you speak of. Are these the ones Cruise Critic are dealing with?:confused:

[LEtue]

I just picked up this bit of information over on the "rate the ships thread"...

[I][SIZE=4]Amsterdam has azipods - and a noticeable vibration from midship aft.[/SIZE] [/I]

Something to keep in mind when picking a cabin [I]:)[/I]

[LEtue]

According to the current port temperatures on Kroooz Cams it is 74 degrees in both Juneau and Skagway. Considering that it is only 3:26pm in Alaska those were probably the highs for the day....very nice :)

[Tinknock50]

[quote name='Snook']Saan: Tell me how to monitor the TA sites you speak of. Are these the ones Cruise Critic are dealing with?:confused:[/quote]

Snook,
Some of them are. The moderators don't like specific mentions of TAs, so I can't say more here.:(

[LEtue]

[quote name='Tinknock50']Snook,
Some of them are. The moderators don't like specific mentions of TAs, so I can't say more here.:([/quote]

The on line TA site that I watch - all of the categories have disappeared. Something must be up :)

[LEtue]

For anyone that is interested in the Grand Hyatt....they have a AAA promotional rate of $156.75. I just reserved May 29 and May 30, 2010 :)

If we find something later it is easily cancelled.

[Sillyjilly]

[quote name='LEtue']The on line TA site that I watch - all of the categories have disappeared. Something must be up :)[/quote]

Everything is still there on the site I use.:confused:

[Tinknock50]

[quote name='Sillyjilly']Everything is still there on the site I use.:confused:[/quote]

There was some trouble on one of the sites.....I think it was just technical.
On another site I use, the HH are now expensive outsides and category E is now the cheapest. :confused:

[katybird]

[quote name='LEtue']For anyone that is interested in the Grand Hyatt....they have a AAA promotional rate of $156.75. I just reserved May 29 and May 30, 2010 :)

If we find something later it is easily cancelled.[/quote]

Do you know close is this the Pike Market Place?

[Snook]

On Google Maps it looks like it is about 6 or 7 blocks to Pikes Market from the Hyatt but I'll bet the West Coast Departures Board will have the exact answer for you.

[LEtue]

[quote name='katybird']Do you know close is this the Pike Market Place?[/quote]

Yes, it is 7 blocks to the Market. And buses are free in the downtown area so you can utilize them too :)

The hotel is also on the Airporter Bus route from SEA-TAC:
[U]Gray Line Airporter:[/U] Ticket counter in baggage claim by door 00
Cost: One-way - $11.00 each

And it is rated #3 of all the Seattle Hotels by TripAdvisor:
[URL]http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60878-d224783-Reviews-Grand_Hyatt_Seattle-Seattle_Washington.html[/URL]
[B][SIZE=2]Grand Hyatt Seattle[/SIZE][/B]

[B][SIZE=2]721 Pine Street,[/SIZE][/B]
[B][SIZE=2]Seattle, Washington, USA 98101 [/SIZE][/B]
[B][SIZE=2]Tel: +1 206 774 1234 Fax: +1 206 774 6120 [/SIZE][/B]
[B][SIZE=2][IMG]http://grandseattle.hyatt.com/hyatt/images/hotels/seagh/map_seagh.gif[/IMG][/SIZE][/B]

[PT Cruisin]

[quote name='LEtue']For anyone that is interested in the Grand Hyatt....they have a AAA promotional rate of $156.75. I just reserved May 29 and May 30, 2010 :)

If we find something later it is easily cancelled.[/quote]

Hi Linda,
Thanks for the info.The hotel looks nice and the location great so I temporarily booked a room there too. My rate was a little higher at $188.10 per night cause I'm not an AAA member, work for the government or 62 years old (the senior rate). I was counting on an AARP rate, but they didn't have that.

I didn't check into an actual group rate (different department) but they did tell me a group rate could be given with 10 or more rooms reserved. I remember Margie suggesting that she would look into group rates at various hotels, perhaps this is one that can be considered.

Thanks again for the recommendation.
Donna

P.S. forgot to mention that I was told by the reservationist that booking online at the Grand Hyatt site requires full prepayment and cancellation penalties vs. calling hotel direct or the 800 number where there is no prepayment and the "usual" cancellation "rules", that is credit card not charged if room is cancelled prior to a certain time (in this case 3pm PST the day before arrival).

[Tinknock50]

[quote name='PT Cruisin']Hi Linda,
Thanks for the info.The hotel looks nice and the location great so I temporarily booked a room there too. My rate was a little higher at $188.10 per night cause I'm not an AAA member, work for the government or 62 years old (the senior rate). I was counting on an AARP rate, but they didn't have that.

I didn't check into an actual group rate (different department) but they did tell me a group rate could be given with 10 or more rooms reserved. I remember Margie suggesting that she would look into group rates at various hotels, perhaps this is one that can be considered.

Thanks again for the recommendation.
Donna

P.S. forgot to mention that I was told by the reservationist that booking online at the Grand Hyatt site requires full prepayment and cancellation penalties vs. calling hotel direct or the 800 number where there is no prepayment and the "usual" cancellation "rules", that is credit card not charged if room is cancelled prior to a certain time (in this case 3pm PST the day before arrival).[/quote]

Also be careful using Orbitz. They wanted to charge me $ 25 to cancel a reservation for a hotel for August 29th in Seattle. I had to talk her out of charging it. To be fair it does say that in the fine print, but when I checked with booking the same Hotel online directly with them there was no cancel fee.
I switched to the Marriot Waterfront which had a special going and booked directly with them online. There was no cancel fee, except as you mentioned, just before arrival time.

[LEtue]

[quote name='PT Cruisin']Hi Linda,
Thanks for the info.The hotel looks nice and the location great so I temporarily booked a room there too. My rate was a little higher at $188.10 per night cause I'm not an AAA member, work for the government or 62 years old (the senior rate). I was counting on an AARP rate, but they didn't have that.

I didn't check into an actual group rate (different department) but they did tell me a group rate could be given with 10 or more rooms reserved. I remember Margie suggesting that she would look into group rates at various hotels, perhaps this is one that can be considered.

Thanks again for the recommendation.
Donna

P.S. forgot to mention that I was told by the reservationist that booking online at the Grand Hyatt site requires full prepayment and cancellation penalties vs. calling hotel direct or the 800 number where there is no prepayment and the "usual" cancellation "rules", that is credit card not charged if room is cancelled prior to a certain time (in this case 3pm PST the day before arrival).[/quote]

Yes, Margie is definitely going to be working on some group rates and we can include this hotel. We'll see who offers us the best pricing but it is good to have something booked - even if it turns out to be just a backup. At $156 it is a good deal and I wasn't charged a deposit on line when booking through with my Hyatt Gold Club #. No prepayment and I can cancel by 3pm the day before. You may want to go on line and make sure there isn't some other rate that you can take advantage of....

[LEtue]

Okay, who can do a drum roll for us?

I have received pricing for the group. I need to call Johna at CruCon tomorrow and get booked first so everyone should be ready to go by tomorrow afternoon or certainly on Friday :D

We received pricing for inside (Cat K), outside (Cat E) and suite (Cat B) only. I need to get some other categories added along with the single pricing. We received that nice OBC and the Pinnacle Dinner for 2.

You can email me for more details and as soon as we are "official" we will have our own Board when I can post pricing and all the details.

If anyone wants to let me know what category they are interested in I will try to get those added ASAP. Those traveling solo may want a lower inside to help keep pricing down ;) Feel free to email me!

[phyllisrf]

We stayed at the Inn at the Market and loved it!

Phyllis and Matt