HermmyGranger

Are Covid tests required to fly out of Vancouver on our return home? I can't seem to find accurate info anywhere. Lots of talk about getting tested prior to cruising out of Vancouver, but nothing about the return.

On 5/2/2022 at 12:22 AM, BeachBum47 said:

Thank you for all this great info. I am thinking about taking my 82-year old mom on this cruise in June. In your opinion, is it a good idea to pay a little extra for a balcony cabin, rather than oceanview? I definitely don't want an inside cabin, but I was thinking it might be too cold to be outside on the balcony? My mom has always done inside cabins, whereas I usually do balcony... 

 

By the way, as a Canadian, I want to apologize for the ridiculous ArriveCAN app. It's so irritating. 🙄

We loved having our balcony. My 80-year-old mother liked being able to sit on the balcony and watch the glacier without having to go on deck.

5 hours ago, quack2 said:

Will someone please explain the difference between pants and trousers. 

In the UK and other environs, pants are what you wear underneath your trousers.

Be sure to prepare for rain. It rains A LOT in Astoria, quite often sideways because of the constant wind. It is, however, a very nice town.

39 minutes ago, 1ANGELCAT said:

No, you will not be able to take a sack lunch off the ship,. If this is the excursion that goes to Caribou Crossing Trading , I don’t remember any option other than the chicken. Also, this excursion crosses the border, so another reason no food off ship would be allowed. 

Do you remember if they have other food options available for purchase? Their Facebook page (Caribou Crossing) seems to show they offer pizza now (as of last summer). I don't even care if I have to pay, I am just trying to figure out how to feed my kid on such a long excursion.

If you book an excursion that includes lunch, but because of dietary issues, you can't eat that lunch, can you arrange to take a "sack lunch" in advance from the ship? We are taking the Yukon excursion in Alaska, but my understanding is that they provide a BBQ chicken lunch. One of our party is a vegetarian, so I'm concerned about an eighth-hour trip with no food.

4 hours ago, soundman99 said:

I'm going through the same thing now, taking our kids, 9, 11 and 14 on the K-Dam here in about a month. Last time we went on a cruise with them, it was on Carnival which was great fun but no Holland America. I'm excited to show them this side of cruising too and we have been discussing what it is going to be like.  I think there might also be a nicer restaurant or two in store for us over the next few weeks to "practice".  Honestly, I'm just trying to make sure that the whole dining room isn't staring at ME if they're acting up... (I think we'll be fine).

 

@HermmyGranger: good luck with the kids on the cruise and have fun!

Thanks. Fortunately he's in high school, so I'm not really worried about how he'll behave, but more about whether he'll eat anything or not. He's not very adventurous and he makes it worse by being a vegetarian (he does not like the idea of eating meat) and he has food allergies. I just thought it might be nice to expose him to a more upscale experience. I'll keep my fingers crossed. He has promised to try new foods, but we'll see what happens in reality.

Anyone take their teens (particularly if they're picky) to any of the specialty restaurants? I'm just wondering if they offer anything that's not on the menu for those with "special" tastes? I'm not that worried because my son can get food elsewhere if he doesn't like it and we have a free dinner so it won't cost me a mint, but I just wondered.

I know the rules regarding bringing on your own beverages, but I haven't been able to find a place that says whether it's okay to bring your own food. My son has food allergies (which we've made HAL aware of with their form), so I'd like to be able to bring a few small things that I know he likes and that I know are safe. I'm not talking a suitcase full, but just some of his personal favorites.

Is the couch/bed reasonably comfortable?  I'm traveling with my mother and my son for his graduation and I'm trying to decide if I should take the sofa (the trip was originally only he and my mother, but I felt more comfortable tagging along) or if it'd be better for him (he's young and thing).

And where'd you get the fan? Did you bring it or can you request one on the ship?

2 minutes ago, pictonite said:

I have a tree nut allergy, and I cruise a lot with Holland America.  I do notify the line through their special services, and I also make sure to see the Maitre'd when we get on board. There has always been a letter from HAL waiting for me in my state room, concerning my allergies.

 

Depending on whether you select a set dining time, or as you please dining you should make sure that the menu for the following evening is handed to you.  Set dining, your server will know, and should automatically get the menu to you - it was often waiting at my seat as  entered the dining room!  With a variety of servers in the As You Please section, you must ask the server to get you the menu.  Make sure you write your cabin number on the top of the paper, it is that number that will track you when you enter the dining room.  I would often ask for something that was showing nuts - for example a cheese tray, and would write, beside it, No Nuts!

 

When you are in the buffet ask to speak to the manager.  He or she will help you select appropriate items.  Be careful with desserts - you can aways have yummy ice creams!

 

Above all both you and your son should be asking questions of servers and of managers abut the composition of food items.  For your information, I have always had wonderful thoughtful service, and I trust the program that ensures my food is safe!

 

I hope this helps!

 

Annette

Thank you, Annette. This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for. It's super helpful. 🙂

I'm taking my son on his first cruise next summer as a graduation present. He has a severe tree nut allergy. I know we notify HAL in advance with his condition and several threads have recommended confirming with the Maitre'd when we arrive. I'm curious how the whole "ordering the night before" process works. Are you simply making selections from the existing menu and they then prepare it according to your special needs? Would he be able to order a dessert and be assured that it would be nut-free (assuming you're not ordering something that is a nut-filled dessert, "Yes, I'd like the walnut ice cream special, hold the walnuts")? I'm just wondering from others who've traveled what your experiences have been like.

I tried to do a search because I thought I'd either already asked this or read something someone else had posted, but I cannot find anything now.

3 hours ago, kazu said:

 

I hope you mean June 15, 2022?  2021 is long gone - LOL  😂 

Seriously, I just want to make sure I get the date right.  What a lovely gift for you son.  I hope he enjoys the fabulous scenery and his first cruise and of course, happy to add it for you 🙂 

Yes, I did mean 2022. Doh! Thanks for checking. 🙂

We are booked for June 15, 2021 on the Zuiderdam. 7-Day Alaskan Inside Passage. Going with my mom and son as a gift for his high school graduation. It will be his first cruise.

6 hours ago, 1025cruise said:

As long as you are not flying to Vancouver. In which case, a passport will be required.

So I could use my regular passport to fly into Vancouver, but use the passport ID for excursions and leave the other in my safe?

Can you use your Passport Card instead of your Passport for cruises to Alaska?

We may just be an anomaly, but we sent my sons paperwork off for a new passport in July and it was back in five weeks time. Frankly, I thought it was being returned for an error. I couldn't believe it was done so quickly And we did not pay for expedited service.

If you book your flights using HAL Flight Ease, does it include transfers to the port or do you need to book these separately?

4 hours ago, Tapi said:

This is what came to mind when you mentioned "similarly colored facial covering" LOL

He'd probably like that! 😄

21 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Let’s hope he is going places, buy him his first sports coat.  It may come in handy for job interviews and other adult activities.   Most young men I know enjoy dressing up occasionally.  He can wear his t shirt under the coat. 

We actually purchased him his first really nice suit is sophomore year (don't ask why, it's a ridiculous reason) and it actually still fits. I figured he'd be fine with that and his dress shoes for the gala nights, but I was wondering how dressy to get for the rest of the evenings.

We will be traveling on an Alaska cruise next summer for my son's high school graduation. I know what to pack for him for the gala nights, but what are the main dining room/specialty restaurant requirements for an 18 year old? I'd hate to have to buy him a whole new wardrobe, but he doesn't own any collared golf/polo shirts or button-down shirts. He owns a lot of solid colored, nice quality t-shirts, both short and long-sleeved, that he wears to work, but I'm wondering if this will be okay?

We currently have the Quench non-alcoholic package. I know that if you upgrade to one of the alcoholic packages, everyone in the cabin has to do it. We're in an odd situation in that our third person in the cabin is under-aged. Do we still have to pay to upgrade his package when he can't have any of it anyway?

2 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Attached is the HAL kids menu that has been available for many years:

 

https://rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/HAL-Kids-Menu.pdf

Thanks! This is super helpful. Too bad they don't offer grilled cheese as my kid only eats a couple of things, but he can survive with this.

I'll be traveling on an Alaska cruise next summer and I'm wondering if HAL offers a children's menu on their cruises or do you just have to ask what's available for picky palates?

Amsterdam: Stephens Passage, Juneau, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka and Ketchikan

Emerald: Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau and Skagway

Both cruises are roundtrip out of Seattle the same weekend and both stop in Victoria (as the all do).