marmst63

Reposting from the main HAL forum...  

We were on NA in April of 2017, and the casino was non-smoking after renovations to the piano bar area across the way...  I had assumed it would remain non-smoking, but the HAL website - supposedly updated to June 2019 - does NOT list Nieuw Amsterdam as one of the completely  non-smoking casinos.  Can someone who has sailed recently tell me whether HAL has reverted to smoking  in the NA casino?  Our booking depends on the answer...  Many thanks! 

14 hours ago, Fouremco said:

Disembarked this past Sunday from the Nieuw Amsterdam. This was the first HAL cruise where we didn't once smell smoke, but it only dawned on me when reading new posts to this thread. Nice change!

This and previous posts about NA is good news for us.  We embark this coming Sunday.  Looking forward to limited areas for smokers, especially the casino!

Will be taking our first trip on the N.A. in February, the limited smoking area's will be a PLUS for us. 

test only

We departed the Westerdam this morning. I am really surprised to see 29 pages on this thread now, haven't kept on on it because we were able to continue the cruise 18 hours or so late, we missed one port and many people we spoke with were disappointed because the chose this itinerary specifically for Sitka. I did not have any booked excursions for Sitka so It was not as big of a disappointment for us.

Arriving in Juneau 2 days later and at different scheduled times did give my DW some anxiety about our non ship tour and our ship excursion that kept being changed. BUT in the end HAL worked it out and we had a great whale watch tour with Harv and Marv (non ship tour) and the sea plane tour minus the salmon bake at Taku lodge due to the schedule.

Overall, my DW and I had a great experience for our first time with HAL. There was some small service issues on board, but overall it was exceptional. Glacier Bay was our primary reason for choosing this itinerary and ship and was worth it and really glad they did not skip that part.

And we just left port.

Oops. June 30

Captain just announced the Coast Guard cleared the ship. Will miss Sitka and be in Juneau July 2 instead of the 1st. Hopefully leaving port soon.

Finished breakfast in our cabin. Still at Pier 91, steward said maybe 8 am departure, but there is still no announcement or sign of the engines running.

On board as well, coast guard requiring us to return to Seattle. Fire reported as extinguished. Only crew action was required.

First time on HAL will be June 28 to Alaska, waiting for more reviews of the ship and services onboard.

Westerdam 28 june 2014 Seattle to Alaska

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7 night Westerdam Alaska from Seattle June 28 to July 5

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