CanuckinSMA

Our secret hideaway!

The Tamarind is wonderful to go up to the Silk Den and enjoy cocktails and the view before dinner! It is never crowded and we have also enjoyed appitizers Which are plentiful and sooo good. We stayed there and cancelled our dinner one night!

So relaxing too!

Denise:)

Since I have never cruised before...do you pay extra to have the appetizers and would the cocktails be included in your Explore 4 package if they're under $7?? Thanks!

We'll be coming with my brother who is on a completely different deck and likely will have a different boarding time from us. Can we all just board at the earliest time assigned of our group?

"When are you going to be in Calgary and Saskatchewan? And where do you currently live? (approximate is fine, just wondering if "summer" in Alberta and Saskatchewan will feel "hot" to you or not....)"

We will be in Calgary and Sask. mid August thru till our cruise on Aug. 26. We're from SW Ontario..it can get very humid here in the summer, especially August!

I'll check with my brother. I would like to wait the extra 3 weeks to see if any price changes etc. Plus it gives me an additional 3 weeks to hold off buying the Cancellation Insurance.

We are leaving Aug. 26 for Alaska cruise. We have paid our deposit and final payment is due May 22. My brother and wife booked the same cruise (after us) and their final payment isn't due till June 12. Is final payment determined by cruise line or TA? Does it depend on when you paid your deposit? I'm curious why they have 3 weeks additional to make their final payment?

sorry I think I double posted.

Thanks all! It's tough to know how to pack as we'll be visiting family in Calgary/Saskatchewan for 2 weeks prior so need "warm weather clothes" for that time and then have to add "cooler weather" clothes. Is there room in the room for two regular size suitcases plus two carry on cases? We will buy binoculars if they're not included in our room..any more clarification on that. We're in a Veranda balcony room on the Nieuw Amsterdam. Many thanks for this great info. I'm writing it all down!!!

I'm reading old posts re. must haves on cruises but can't find Alaska specific. I know we should bring travel clock, something to organize our toiletries, any meds. or otc meds, maybe a night light, but wonder if you experienced Alaska cruisers can offer suggestions to this first time cruiser as to what we might need. I read that shampoo and conditioner are supplied but have to wonder what quality? We'll be there the end of August so I'm guessing we need to layer for outdoor activities. Thanks for any input.

We will be arriving in Vancouver after our cruise on September 2. Website says we get in at 7am. Any recommendations on the earliest time we can safely book a flight home right after the cruise? Of course have to take into consideration disembarking, transport to airport...We;re travelling within Canada so probably need at least an hour before flight leaves to check in. Is noon too early? We don't want to take any chances on missing our flight!! Thanks.

Thanks everyone..we've decided on definitely a train/bus way to go. Now need some suggestions as to who to book with. I would prefer to save some money and not book through the cruise line so any other recommendations would be appreciated.

We are booked for our first cruise next year! To Alaska. We were all set to book the Whitepass Train trip until our friends returned from their cruise earlier this year. They raved about the bus trip - they took the Skagway Yukon Discovery Adventure with Alaska Shore Excursions. Said it was just fantastic and they were glad they did that instead of taking the train. That it took them further north and they were able to see the dog sleds. Wondering if anyone could give us some guidance on which would be best for a "first (and probably only) timer"!! Thanks!

I wonder if this happens a lot more than we hear about. The father of a close friend went on a cruise by himself, had a great time all week - people remarked how friendly he was at dinner etc. The last night, he was seen on camera going into his room. When he never checked out of his room, they went in and it was locked from the inside but empty. They never found his body of course. It certainly wasn't in any papers or on any web boards.

If I'm reading it correctly, there are only 2 white wines that are under the $8.00 Explore4 umbrella?? Too bad! Would this be at all the bars? And if you're having dinner at the Dining Room, do you just order your cocktail or glass of wine and give them the Explore 4 card or do you get it from the bar and bring it to the table with you?

Thank you...we've never cruised before so will there be a price list of everything including water, cappucinos etc. when we're served it? Then we can keep track of everything..I have a feeling it won't be our last cruise! Lots of great info I'm digesting on this site!!

Will our "bill" have a listing of ALL drinks we consume on the Explore 4 package? It would be helpful to know in making decisions for future cruises if it's worth taking the package? Do they list what the cost of the drinks you consumed - ie. speciality coffees, water etc.? Thanks!

We really wanted to do the Island Wings float plane in Ketchikan...it's to be our one splurge!! Has anyone else taken this? It's pricy ($240 each) but I think it will be one of those great memories from our trip.

First time cruise next year - Alaska rt from Vancouver...we're on Deck 5 on Nieuw Amsterdam - wondering if it's ok (ie. safe) to leave your balcony door open at night?? We have Explore 4 pkg. and I'm interested in more info on the "specialty glasses". I understand you have to order a drink in them under the $8 but do you specify you want a specialty glass and then just take it?? Are there any ports where you just wander around and don't get excursions? I know we want to do a float plane and a whale watching but other than that don't have any other plans. Any other don't miss excursions? We want to enjoy the ship as well as "must see" excursions. Thanks!!!

We are booked next year in Room 5082. When looking at the deck plan I see crosses underneath the decks..are these crosses the life rafts?? I have never cruised before in my life, am afraid of motion sickness BUT if I'm going to make a change I should do it soon as it seems these rooms book up quickly. Is it better to be away from the crosses if you stay in the V cabin? I don't want to be sick moving to far forward or aft but I also would love to be able to see whales, dolphins if I was ever lucky enough for them to be within sight. Thanks for any advice.

Several years ago my brother went salmon fishing in Alaska and was able to have his catch(es) smoked and canned and shipped me 2 dozen cans. It was fantastic! I'm wondering if there's a place on any of our stops (Vancouver RT) where we might be able to buy a dozen cans to take home?? I'm assuming there wouldn't be any problems bringing them to Canada. Or even if there's a place where they would ship them to Ontario for us? Thanks!

We booked the same. After considering the Navigation Deck, we decided on mid ship Verandah Deck 5. I hope too that we made the right decision..but after talking with Holland twice, our TA and a few comments on here and another forum, I am fairly confident that the life boats won't be an issue...you look out over them and I'm told that you can see the lifeboats from all the decks if you look down. If anyone knows for sure otherwise, I'd also be glad to hear!

Thanks..having a second look it seems the warehouse offer is the same base price but they add in significant on board credit (difference of about $250 from what the TA is giving). However, it being our first cruise I think we'll be comfortable with a TA the first time out. Thanks for all your responses and I'll keep in mind for future that I have the Explore 4 included right now when price checking!!!

Thank you. Yes, I have Explore 4 included in my price. My TA says she can't watch everyone's price drops so encouraged me to watch myself. Then she can investigate. But I assume that's only if it's a Holland America price drop?? ie. if I were to find a lower price on another website (eg. warehouse pricing, guy with the gnome pricing etc.) would she be able to match that or is that savings being being eaten by the booking company? Is it normally just a HAL price drop that a regular TA can match??

Thank you for this. Since my fare is in Canadian dollars, if I were to put in a price alert do I figure it out in U.S. dollars and put that price in the alert??

How long does Explore 4 promotion usually last? We have booked an Alaskan cruise for next August. Our TA told us that she can't keep track of everyone's price drops etc. but that if we find the price drops later, just to let her know. I'm just curious about Holland America's promotions..will there be another offering of Explore 4 or other promotions? I will check Holland America prices from time to time. As well a friend said we should also check the travel prices with the wholesale/warehouse company we are members with (can I even write their name??). Any thoughts?? Thanks! Being a first time cruiser brings lots of questions!

Since we'll be going the end of August (next year!)...it's still summer...but on an Alaskan cruise, is it advised to dress more warmly on the ship? I guess you'll be warm enough in the dining rooms and bars, but if you want to step outside, should you always have a heavy sweater with you? Would you be warm enough in capris, short sleeve blouse and sandals?? I see a lot of info on what to wear off ship for excursions (layers, boots, hats, gloves etc.) but wondering about in general if you were to say, spend a day on board the ship?