Karen604

6 hours ago, SempreMare said:

 

Good point... 

This is going to be my heaviest carry on ever..

 

 

I always do that without thinking twice.  I don't want all my eggs in 1 basket - all not with me.

 

I do this eyes wide open knowing that I am ready to lose $200 in local currency and 1 credit card that I never use for in-person transactions.   That credit card is billed for 1 recurring subscription, so I know if the monthly amount auto-payed is different,  something is wrong.  No problems ever with the cash or CC.  I think the obvious tamper-evident part helps.

 

I really appreciated that cash once in 15 years when my on-person cash was lifted.  None has ever been stolen.   I've never needed that backup credit card.

 

 

We split up cash and cc between the two of us. I also have some of that in a wallet worn under my clothes. ( You would need to mug me and strip me to get it. Now that would be an interesting cruise, says this Sr citizen!)

My carry on additionally has meds, a change of clothes, basic toiletries, camera, book, pens and notebook, air, cruise and hotel docs, phone and charger.

I copy all docs to an app on my phone, including a pharmacy produced list of meds. Pending weather I may add a sweater and a packable rain jacket.

I figure worst case I can replace most everything else.

Next cruise is is in 5 weeks on the. Noordam!

We had regular chairs on our aft balcony. It was lovely. 

It was about the same size as the Westerdam’s aft balcony but updated of course.

I grew up just south of the NH border. Best color in that area (Lowell, MA) is Columbus Day weekend, so around 10/12.

We may well be on the same cruise!

I have been watching a number of YouTube videos of folks on this trip in ptior years. Layers such as a lightweight sweater and a puffy or fleece vest. As a long time Boy Scout leader in Colorado I’ll caution you against jeans. Cotton gets wet and stays that way. I’m going for a few pair of knit pants in several weights. Hats, mittens, socks and scarves are going to be wool. I bought a puffy jacket with room for layering.

A few nice tops with black pants will work for formal nights for me. They did on HAL in Alaska last year. My husband will just have a nice shirt and tie, maybe a pullover with it. No tux or suit in our suitcases either.

I’m not quite sure how I’m packing for Amsterdam yet.

My DW has a number of dietary concerns including gluten. The last time we sailed with HAL she had no issues and she is pretty diligent about asking (although she is not Celiac). In addition to gluten she worries about: dairy, nightshades, pepper and alcohol and all of these impact her to some degree (often the next day). We just booked on Koningsdam's June 24 sailing so will try to remember to report back.

We are on the cruise immediately before you 6/10-24. I am greatly encouraged by what I have read on this thread. This cruise has the advantage over our last in Sept 1917 that it is not the last of the cycle. Much of the staff was going home for a visit or continuing their work on another ship. They sort of had Spring Fever.

We have Geocached in Alaska. Great fun. We even set up a meet-up in Anchorage at a coffee shop and 8-10 local geocachers showed up. We had pathtags made up and gifted them to those who came. We had a number of trackables that the locals picked up as well. We had an event in our hometown where we had collected them.

Team_CSG goes to Norway in June of 18, caching north of the Arctic Circle this time.

Thy trivia. It’s not all snou5 the knowledge but a great place to meet people. My husband and I are not so great at trivia but add a lawyer and a school teacher to your group and you have a chance. We have met the nicest people playing trivia.

Just a note that OTTO a Colorado company makes great cases that will save your electronics. Take it from Miss Butterfingers!

I’m looking for info too. Looking at 14 days on the MS Koningsdam to Norway.

Summer 2016 we sailed on the MS Westerdam to Alaska. I fill out s form, received dinner menus for the next evening meal and had little problem. Mornings in the MDR were an issue, mostly because of other diners at the table being inconsiderate. ( I ordered my own butter for a reason and one morning had someone snag my GF pancakes because they looked better!) I ate breakfast on the Lido, used caution and had no issues.

Summer 2017 was a disaster. We were on a two week Alaska trip on the MS Amsterdam, last one of the season. Twice we tried eating in the main dining room. The first time the meal was very simple a steak with I think it was fresh Green beans. No appetizer, no starch. Dessert I chose what was supposed to be a flourless chocolate cake. I got three slices of melon (you could have read the newspaper through them) and three blueberries. REALLY!

The second time was the Mariners Luncheon. The plate was served heavily laden with sauces. No one could tell me anything about them. I left the table.

This summer we are tentively planning 2 Weeks to Norway on MS Koningsdam. I’m really hopeful from what I’ve read here. Once again I will notify the company well in advance and fill out any paperwork provided. I will notify the dining staff appropriately. And I will cross my fingers and pray a bit.

For those not familiar Celiacs Disease can effect people in different ways. During the meal I may have a runny nose, but if I get glutened in about 6 hours I will not be more than a few steps from a bathroom, that will last 18 hours. Talk about a way to mess up a vacation.

It’s not a goofy thing or just the disease of the year. There is relief when you finally know what’s wrong by medical procedures and testing. It creates a life changing circumstance.

If you need a fridge in your cabin you can rent one for about $10 a day. We requested it through our HAL rep. It was there when we arrived on The Westerdam.

We were on the last Alaska cruise of the season. On her way to CA, repositioning, she was due to get new MDR carpet and some new furnishings in one of the lounges as well as some new carpet.

The staterooms need some work. Our bathroom could use a regroup one the sink fixtures had seen better days. The carpet was tired and some small pieces of veneer were missing from some of the furniture. There was only one outlet in the bed/sitting room area, be sure to bring an electrical strip if you plan to charge your electronics.

The unlimited laundry package is so worth it, $98 for the two weeks. We set it up each morning and for the most part it was back after dinner.

Just got off the Amsterdam that was docked next to the Noordam in Seattle. We had smooth sailing most of the time. A fair amount of rain and fog from Sitka to Victoria. And yes I got a cold, l failed to pack warm enough clothing. But I did pack cold pills.

Will see you onboard!

In just over 3 weeks we will be boarding the MS Amsterdam for 14 days of cruising Alaska. Seeing the Northern Lights has always been on my bucket list. How has the viewing been so far?

Is there any sort of notification by the ship's personnel if there is a sighting?

Is the forecast for them published? I know that my internet will be spotty at best.

Thanks for your help.

I'll be there with you ArtsyCraftsy. We just upgraded to a balcony this week. Im looking forward to the fact that i got my darling Husband to take 2 weeks off!

I hope to have a pair of mittens made to match a hat i knitted last spring, before the trip. Packing starts soon.

We did an Inside Passage cruise last year, so this will be a new adventure with new ports.

If you do a cabin change after the final payment you do not loose your extras that you got at booking, is my understanding.

My HAL rep said that you need to be careful if you are going to play chicken waiting on room upgrades. You could loose out.

I carried mine on board from a Ketchican purchase. It was all sealed up in plastic. I packed it in my checked bag home. On HAL and Alaska Air

Thank you Copper 10-8

We are on the last 14 day trip out of Seattle bound for Alaska. Can anyone tell me what sort of transportation there is from the end of the spit into town. Does HAL provide anything?

There is a yarn shop on Main Street that is a must see for me!

Thanks

I hope the think of the Gluten Free guests too.

I was never at a loss for something to eat on our last cruise but there were things I could not enjoy. High tea, the poolside burger bar and needing to be so careful at the buffets. It makes life harder than necessary at times.

I so love reading your logs of this cruise. My husband and I are on the 9/11 voyage. We have been attempting to figure out just where the ship docks in Homer. Your assistance would be appreciated. Thank you.

We book our own. Found that for the price we were quoted for coach we could get 1st class on the same flight. We saved on baggage fees and in air food. Hey 1st class is great!