AKJonesy

I like Kelsey.

@goldsmip115 Check out the 14 minute mark on this vid which was posted 7 months ago on you tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txe_bxCyvcM

We are doing a coastal trip in October this year and we are staying near Canada Place for the first time. I booked in March and hotel is $248USD including breakfast which was reviewed very well. We have also done the SkyTrain with 2 roller bags and 2 carry ons which connect to the roller bags and had absolutely no problem whatsoever on the SkyTrain or the sidewalk to CP. Finally, we also took the HAL bus from the terminal (near baggage claim) to CP and that worked out well and didn't have to deal with luggage. Sometimes we stay at airport hotels in various cities if we have long flights and don't want to "deal with" more after a long trip and that has worked out very well for us. The latest was at Haneda airport and we actually ended up staying two nights before boarding and I would do that again in a heartbeat. Not everyone wants to stay or can stay near the port; especially somewhere like the Pan Pacific which IMHO is an insane price. But, to each his own. I don't think you are going to miss much if you don't stay downtown. I personally don't see the appeal unless you are going to take some kind of pre-cruise excursion.

Scheduled for Havensight on Dec 18. https://www.*****/cruise/ship-schedule/12-2024/ You are going to have a lot of company that day!

Dutch Cafe for lunch. Keep in mind, you do pay for coffee at DC, but not for the food. It is probably just enough to hold you over until dinner.

Not sure of the point you are making. I think most of us know what we are getting and not getting with HAL. Farewell and I hope it works out for you.

I was wondering about Deck 1 and how that might work out. I'll have to remember to get back to you this fall and ask how it went. It has seemed to me that sound travels farther on the Pinnacle class leaving us fewer choices for more "budget friendly" staterooms and now of course, avoiding the 3 and 4 person rooms on top of it.

I have no idea why anyone would say that. The Music Walk has venues going on until late in the evening.

Noticed that, but it's good to have up to date information. We are going to be on our first ever Neptune Suite. I am going to try out BF in CO and Pinnacle Grill. It will be nice to have decent coffee. I can't drink the Lido coffee.

I won't book any staterooms on the Pinnacle ships on deck 4 forward. We did that once and we could hear the bass (boom, boom, boom) until 1 am every night.

I can only speak about Holland America. Your question is subjective. At least on HAL, there are die hard regular cruisers that embrace the smaller ships so keep that in mind as you read the posts. I have grown weary of them because even with some updates, they still appear dark and old to me. Two things I can say about the older class HAL ships that I like is that the staterooms are larger as compared to HAL Pinnacle class ships, AND you can lounge on the promenade deck. The promenade deck on the Pinnacle class ships are for walking only. However, having specialty restaurants is a bonus on the Pinnacle class including Club Orange. You can find quiet places on all of the ships despite the number of passengers. Lunch time will be busy in the Lido on any ship but breakfast and dinner is easier to find a place to sit. Look at some vids on YT of various ships and classes and you will get an idea. HAL does not have any mega ships but for some of my fellow cruisers, I am sure the Pinnacle class does feel that way.

We recently sailed from Tokyo to Seattle on Westerdam. After that sailing I decided I'm tired of the "older" ships. To me, they are darker, lower ceilings, etc. Despite what some people say, getting lunch in the Lido is difficult on just about any ship. At breakfast time you can find seating pretty easily if you are up before 9. I attribute being able to get breakfast and seating more easily at breakfast because people wake at different times. Also, Lido at Dinner time is not that difficult to find seating because people may be going to MDR or specialty dining for dinner. Lunch is busy. People often comment about the older ships because they like the smaller ship. I like the Pinnacle class because more is offered to spread out plus it is bright and airy. There is more specialty dining including the Dutch Cafe which just about everyone loves, a Gelato station out and the pool which has two level seating, etc. The downside of Pinnacle class is that the promenade deck is basically for walking and no seating. However, there are outdoor chaises on one or more of the upper decks and not just by the pool. I would look at some YT vids of the ships and see what might appeal to you. Also, do not book a stateroom anywhere near the music walk or the World Stage. The noise DOES seem to travel more on the Pinnacle class (Koningsdam, Statendam, Rotterdam).

The veranda has a shower and those staterooms near the aft of the ship have deeper verandah patios. The veranda has a loveseat; I would not call it a sofa, but a bit bigger than a loveseat. Don't know about the inside room you mentioned.

Was on a cruise right after drydock and it was a cluster. It was obvious whatever was not done in dd was going to be done on the sailing. We had MANY workers on the ship. Half of the promenade deck was closed. The Sea View pool was closed for half the week. The workers were sanding and sea view pool deck. Some kind of chemical being used on the deck was infiltrating cabins on the promenade deck. After quite a bit of complaining and MANY photos, we got a decent amount of credit. I vowed NEVER to do that again.

It's not about carrying off my own luggage in the first group. As a loyal HAL customer, through my benefits, I have earned priority embarkation and disembarkation and same for tendering. I didn't get to get off with the first group and there was no priority disembarkation because they were disorganized sort of like the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing. So no, we were not able to get off in the first group and there was no priority given to anyone and on top of that, the customers also did not comply, so it was a shxt show all the way around. Also, if HAL states through their CO program that priority is given, then it should be given. It's not a one way contract, but sometimes it seems like it.

Japan crossing Westerdam. No priority disembarkation. Very disorganized. We were counting on the priority disembarkation because we had a flight earlier than 11am. When I asked, they just pointed to the long line. I brought this up to one of the of officers, and he just said, well you had priority tendering at one of the ports didn't you? If you want to get off the ship early, get in line early.

Everything. All of our luggage. Ours was lost on board twice and obviously recovered, but since then, we bring everything with me. We realize many people won't do that or are unable, but that is what we do.

@CdnCruiser2024 Here is the link: Don't look at the date the original poster started it; look at the title, and then scroll to most recent pages. Some people get these Roll Calls started very early and conversation doesn't often pick up until it gets closer to sailing. There are a number of people talking about excursions on your sailing. Also notice, that the Original Poster mentions that the roll call covers two overlapping itineraries.

Did anyone in your roll call mention hotels they were staying at? I know most do go to Rome before heading to ship, but it might be worth asking in your Roll Call. At one point a year ago, we were planning a cruise from Civitavecchi and I looked on google maps so that I could see how far an accommodation was from the train to the hotel to the port, and I got it all figured out but we didn't end up going. So check with your Roll Call, Google Maps, then check the Trip Advisor Forum board where you can also ask specific questions. I did a search on Civitavecchi on TA and here is that link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/SearchForums?ff=20&geo=187768&scope=2&q=Civitavecchia&pid=34633&s=D

There are two online websites that I use for booking cruises. Those two sites show inventory, BUT most likely, the inventory they are "allowed" to sell as a discount cruise company. I have been using them both for at least a dozen or more years. Unfortunately, you can't mention them.

I don't stay in any cabin that is attached to a big open area which indicates a crew area. That cabin is up against one big area plus appears to be directly underneath the kitchen.

Lido is the worst for lunch. The Dutch Cafe can be very slow at lunchtime also, but at least more pleasant to sit while you wait. Gelato, Tamarind and Nami Sushi are why I like the Pinnacle class. There are always nooks and crannies where the masses don't congregate. Once you find out where the crowds are and at what times, you can adjust and have a more enjoyable sailing.

Yes, we've been to SE many times and wouldn't be interested in an Alaska itinerary. There was a FB couple on our crossing from Yokohama to Seattle and didn't remember their handle, so when I saw you were from FB, thought it could be you. I'm not considering a particular itinerary. We've done 300 cruising days so we've been on many places in different parts of the world. Where we haven't been by ship, we've been on land trips over decades. I was interested in just starting with some basics and then after doing a bit more research now, I can come back and ask more questions later. I got exactly what I was asking for at this point. Thanks for all of the information.

Wow. Thanks to all. This is exactly the beginner information I'm looking for. I've taken notes and as I research more and hone into the sweet spot, I will check back for more Celebrity specific information.💯

I've been on a number of repositioning with HAL, and one way itineraries. We don't do Alaska as we live here. I can figure out the itinerary stuff. I was more interested in getting to understand Celebrity more. No, I'm not doing TAs. There is a wealth of information on these boards and from well heeled Celebrity cruisers. Weren't you on the Japan reposition with us from Yokohama to Seattle?