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Wonderful to hear you had a great time on the Noordam. We just booked a 14-day Alaskan trip on her for August 2024. Thanks for sharing.

Yes, when I’m traveling alone in coach, I always buy two seats on the train. I like the ability to spread out and not worry about infringing on others. On a crowded train though I’m constantly having to defend my empty seat! Sometimes the conductor will support me as well!

Hubby and friends golfed at El Tigre golf course last November on a port stop. He said it was about a 15 minute taxi ride to the course. The concierge got them taxi to get back to the ship. They booked a 9 am tee time, ship docked at 8 am local time. Got there in plenty of time. Yeah, guess it was pricey—they paid about $200 per person for the course, cart and clubs. But, the beer was cold and it was golf! They are scheduled to go again this November!

We’ve stayed at the Y a number of times. I always get a room with a private bathroom—stayed at many a hostel in my European travels sharing when I was younger but not now! The rooms are basic but clean. I also like knowing that the cost of the room is being used to help others! The area around the hotel as stated by an earlier poster feels safe to us. I like to eat at Juke Fried Chicken when in town and it’s a short walk from the hotel. There are also convenience stores nearby if you need to pick up something. We usually take the Sky Train to and from Canada Place. The Y will also store your luggage for you. We’ve also stored our luggage at the Pan Pacific and Canada Place for a small fee.

Or stop by the Lido on your way down to the IC. We tend to stay on the upper decks. Nice thing about cruising—to each their own!

For those cruising with the standard fare, coffee, tea and water are available 24/7 in the buffet. One just has to go to the Lido deck to get it. Some ships do have the concentrated syrup coffee in the buffet which is pretty nasty. When I don’t have the drink package, I just bring Starbucks Via and get hot water from the buffet.

Earlier this month on the Koningsdam, Happy Hour was at 4 pm in the Billboard Lounge and the Ocean Bar. Drinks were 50% off. Cruised on the Westerdam in June—didn’t have the drink package but had free drinks in the casino. One had to be actually playing a slot machine to get a free drink. Tried to go to the bar for a free drink but was told that the servers would come to me while playing. Not a big gambler/spender so I’m sure I wasn’t high on their list to keep happy! Had to flag down servers for a drink.

My favorite was when she stated of course she knew about the PVSA—she had done research on it for another article! Makes me wonder about her skills as a journalist that she was surprised and shocked by the cruise line enforcing the law.

The shore excursion credits are on Holland America cruises, not Princess. HAL will only let you use the shore excursion funds on shore excursions--you lose it if you do not use it! (I certainly prefer Princess's policy--we've had their shore excursion credit and used it as general OBC.)

Now. I’m taking several cruises next year to Alaska (June -July 2024, August 2024) and have booked a number of excursions. The more popular excursions through the cruise line tends to sell out early. I usually don’t use the cruise line excursions but I do have some shore excursion credits that need to be use so booked a couple with the cruise line. Some private vendors don’t have online booking up for next summer but you can call and book the tour you want. I’m waiting for Black Friday sales to book my Kenai Fjord cruise out of Seward.

We were just on the Cascade train earlier this month—both northbound and southbound—and the train was 100% full. The conductors tried to designate certain cars on the train for different destinations in order to allow folks to find seats more readily. A couple of coach cars were suppose to be for those passengers going to Vancouver while another car was for those getting on/off in Bellingham. But, being in business class, I’m not sure if it was enforced. I do know that the conductors were telling folks to be flexible and to be prepared to move seats to accommodate travelers who were traveling together. I heard one woman ask the conductor to help find seats for her family.

Hubby actually packs a 12-pack in one of his pieces of luggage and hands it off to a porter. He’s never had an issue. Used to tote around that 12-pack once on board waiting for cabins to be available and got tired of doing that so now he packs it. We also pick up more soda at port stops—sometimes cans and sometimes in plastic bottles. Never an issue bringing onboard. He certainly enjoys his Coke Zero…..

On the Koningsdam two weeks ago, the Club Orange Dining room mirrored the times for the MDR. We ate every night at 5 p.m. (don’t eat lunch so we’re always hungry then!). Breakfast times varied based upon whether is was a port day or not. For example on disembarkation day, CO dining opened at 6:30 a.m., same as the MDR.

Yep, especially on an Alaska cruise. We were in an ocean view, friends in veranda and inside cabin—all had umbrellas in room. We also had an umbrella in our ocean view cabin on the Westerdam in July.

Good advice! And also keep in mind the six month passport validity rule—most cruise lines enforce it!

Oh, and you can also get it at the Crow’s Nest if they know you get lattes, etc there. After the first day, the staff made sure there was lactose-free milk for my cappuccino every morning!

I was able to find it at the buffet and in the MDR. The lactose-free milk and other non-dairy milks (almond, coconut, soy) were found by the gluten free section of the buffet. Also, be sure to fill out the special accommodations form prior to your cruise to ensure that there will be lactose free milk onboard. I fill it out requesting gluten free options for every cruise.

I didn’t get an answer to that question while on board! I tried to order a Cosmo at other bars and was told each time it wasn’t covered by the HIA basic package…. I think you’re correct about the use of Cointreau in a Cosmo as opposed to triple sec.

Just off the Koningsdam (August 12)—yes, each room had one. We had a number of rainy port days. It was fun seeing all the orange umbrellas bopping around the towns! And in Ketchikan, there were a lot of orange umbrellas. The Eurodam and the K’dam were both in port and at times, it poured!

We loved the CO dining room! Great experience, food and staff! Hubby and I had CO on our November cruise but it wasn’t available when we booked the kids’ cabins….will definitely miss the experience.

The Koningsdam was our first HAL cruise so we’ll always have fond memories of her! As you said, we cruise other lines as well (Elite on Princess, Platinum on NCL, only 3 star on HAL!) so we did notice differences between them. But, HAL does some things very well which is why we have six future cruises booked on them! Enjoy your cruise!

LOL! That’s actually what hubby said to me at the time! We’re also on her in November—taking the kids and their partners on the Thanksgiving cruise. Hubby and I were on the November 2022 Thanksgiving cruise as well. Very busy as with every holiday cruise. Had more issues with the embarkation in San Diego than being on the cruise! (We have also booked the November 2024 Thanksgiving cruise on the Koningsdam as well!)

I just got off the Koningsdam (August 12) and had a fabulous time as always (4th time in Alaska on her). It was a full ship but I think it is designed to hold the crowds. Always able to find prompt bar service and areas to view glaciers and wildlife. Hubby tweaked his knee playing golf so we ended up using the elevators more than usual but never had more than a few minutes wait each time. I was on a VIP casino cruise so spent some time in the casino. I only play slots but I was always able to find open machines though some machines (Buffalo etc) were difficult to find open. The Koningsdam has a little room with slot machines forward to the casino that adds to the number available. We were in Juneau and Skagway until the evening on port stops so the casino didn’t open until 9 or 10 pm but that happens on port days! Didn’t experience any food shortages but we were Club Orange this trip. We only eat twice a day on a cruise so only had breakfast and dinner—never visited the buffet so can’t really comment on what the shortages might have been. Lots of great musical entertainment on board as well as a naturalist and Alaska-themed enrichment. I don’t like the enrichment talks because I have seen them before. Since this is your first cruise, it will be new to you! HAL has a number of Alaskan presentations that they use on their ships and have used for the past two years! I only had one beef with the HIA package. I ordered a Cosmo at the Sea View Bar on the first day. Bartender told me it was not covered by my package—cost $1 more. So I paid the $1.18 for my Cosmo. I was on the Westerdam in July and the drink was covered by the HIA package. Guest Services told me the new price went into effect August 1. What irked me was that my Lemon Drops were covered but not cosmos! We like the Koningsdam and have three more cruises booked on her. The staff and crew are phenomenal! I think you’ll have a great cruise!

Currently on the Koningsdam. We’ve been served water in plastic bottles as well as in cans. Staff told us that the ship was transitioning to plastic bottles.

Quick question—I use the free public site of cruisedeckplans all the time. What other information is available with the membership?