Andi Land

Sounds great! I’ll be onboard this weekend.

Love the pictures. Will be onboard at the end of the month.

Post on their Facebook page too. They generally respond to bad social media posts.

In the meantime what are they doing with your deposit? Perhaps you could do with the interest, not them?

I absolute agree. What’s worse is that I can login and continue to make payments. Since I’ve already mentally picked out my replacement itinerary I’m not okay with leaving it as is.

We live in digital world, notification to all affected parties should have occurred at the same time and before news leaked through social media. The Prinsendam has been for sale for many months. A plan should have been in developed long before the sale was completed on how to notify guests. Why files of email lists of all affected guests and their TAs with the letter explaining the change and options available was not developed is beyond me.

I agree. I’m still waiting on my email regarding cancellation. Since mine is for October 2019, I figure I can wait it out a bit. I’m just curious how long it will take them.

My October 2019 cruise on the Rotterdam has also been cancelled. Booked direct with HAL. I still haven’t heard anything from them directly.

In 2012 we went to Alaska as a family vacation. My husband fell and broke his tibia, fibula, and ankle a few weeks before we left. He had a knee scooter for the trip and it worked perfectly. He was on the knee scooter for almost 16 weeks recovering.

My very first cruise in 2010 ish was scheduled as this exact itinerary. HAL oversold the cruise and offered us a 7 day Alaska as an exchange. We took the 7 day. I haven’t seen it offered since then and I have been looking. I may have missed it but it’s not a normal itinerary.

As others have said, use the laundry option. It’s money well spent. I can pack for a 14 day cruise using only a carry on suitcase. I also collect small samples of moisturizer and such through the year so I can take small stuff instead of the full size version. I also have a drawer in my bedroom where I keep all my must pack items. This way they don’t get forgotten.

We stayed at The Bostonian which is just across the street from Faneuil Hall. It was a great location and we used public transit to get around and sightsee. Took a cab from hotel to cruise port for about $12-15 dollars.

I vote for a shorter cruise out of Vancouver that goes to Skagway, and take the train trip there. I also believe that one can take a train trip out of Vancouver to Alberta and back to see some of Canada (as a secondary trip) to get more train travel if desired. Not sure of any prices, though.

 

If the train travel is not critical, I would vote for the 14-day trip, or a back-to-back combination of Vancouver to Seward followed by Seward to Vancouver (7 days each) if there is a stop in Skagway (which there was when we did it a few years ago).

I would also suggest the 7 day round trip from Vancouver with the train ride in Skagway. I’ve done this before and it’s wonderful.

I’m doing the 14 day round trip Seattle this year. I’ve heard the land tour portion can be exhausting and have not considered it for that reason.

My cruise for 2018 went down 20 pp per day. So, not much change for me on my ocean view category. This is on a 14 day Alaska cruise. Right now it’s worth it to me to keep the drinks package.

Thank you! There’s an interesting 21day Alaska going to a few new places. I may have to check it out.

Looking for recommendations for a pre cruise place of lodging in Boston. Would like one that has a airport shuttle and to the cruise terminal. Thanks in advance.

 

 

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We had a difficult time trying to find a hotel that offered shuttle service. We stayed at The Bostonian across the street from Faneuil Hall. It was a great location for sightseeing. We took a cab from the airport to the hotel and did sightseeing on foot or by subway. We then took a cab to the cruise terminal. It wasn’t too expensive for the cab ride.

I have found that not all excursions for a particular cruise go up at the same time. Example next May I am on a cruise that stops in Victoria and Vancouver (full days for both). Excursions in Vancouver are listed but none for Victoria. This has happened on past cruises as well.

I want to do this cruise you’re booked on. But, I’ve already got a 2week Alaska Cruise booked. This is a great short cruise.

To OP, I had a shore excursion issue this last week for my August 2018 cruise. When I called, they said they were working diligently to get everything into the system but they didn’t have everything in yet. They have a list of everything they are offering and once you can call on Monday they can verify if what you are looking for will be available.

I called about it yesterday and the person on the phone thought I was crazy for suggestions that it showed two deck plans not too long ago. One for before the dry dock and one for after. I couldn’t get an answer from the rep. She suggested I call ship services but I haven’t had time.

Is this for an Alaskan itinerary?

Yes, it is. I’m booked for August 27th, 2018. It’s the 2week Alaska itinerary on the Zaandam.

I wasn't as lucky as you. When I asked about adding the Cruise Month promo I was told it was only for bookings made this month.

I called today and had it added to an existing booking and kept Explore 4. Wouldn’t hurt for you to call and try again.

Were you at our Meet and Greet that never got to happen? LOL, I was so scared when everything went flying, including the Captain and his other Officers as their Sat Phones went off.

Hubby took pictures of the TV Screen showing 82+mph (or is it KPH) wind gusts and a friend sent me photos taken from the bridge of the Westerdam, anchored about a mile from us in the Pacific, that showed the Green Water hitting above the bridge.

THAT was my all time favorite cruise!!!

And for the record. I am not being a HAL Cheerleader in regards to the OP's post about the Noordam. I do not care for the ship, but do not believe there is anything wrong with her. I just do not care for her or the Nieuw Amsterdam. They are just not to my liking, and I cruised on them both even though I feel the way about them. BUT, in my eyes, a cruise is what you make it and I loved being on a cruise so.....

Joanie

I wasn't at the meet and greet. I didn't know about Cruise Critic then. It really was a wild ride. It's been our favorite Alaska cruise to date.

I agree. No matter what ship you are on, the last cruise of the season is so much fun.

 

Even better if there is rough weather, for me at least.

 

I loved the really rough weather in Sept 2011 on Zuiderdam. Now THAT was fun!!!!!!!

Joanie

I was also on that Zuiderdam 2011 cruise. The seas were so rough it rolled us out of bed. 😳 We loved that end of season cruise and would do it again.

Well said:

The question is: have you ever been mistaken, by those old pax, as part of the staff? I can see that happening, as it did to us when we started cruising.

Yes, I have been mistaken for staff the one cruise I chose to put my keycard on a lanyard, I was asked for directions by many passengers. I fulfilled my job duties admirably. Or, at least I hope I did😊

I, too, am in HAL's younger demographic at 42. My husband and I have been cruising with HAL for 7 years and it is our favorite because of the quiet atmosphere that we want while vacationing and also because of the seasoned travelers who have shared so much wisdom with us.

I am a 2X and have not found clothing on board that would fit. I'm not familiar with the San Diego cruise port so I can't help you in that part.

We've had verandah staterooms, Neptune Suites, and a lanai category. Hands down, our favorite was the lanai. Our next cruise we are in an OV due to our budget. We could go on the two week cruise if we took the lower category of room and it was a no brainer decision. It'll be our first time in an OV and we chose the lower promenade with easy access outside.

I booked a Lanai on the Amsterdam yesterday, even though they do not yet show as CAs on the booking website. However, if one plugs the cabin number of a future Lanai into the booking, the Lanai price will come up.

I tried this for the Zaandam and it still comes up with the D category price. I called ship services and they said that the Zaandam is scheduled to get lanai rooms during the dry dock but they don't know if they have enough time scheduled to do so. So, at this point it may or may not get them. The answer kinda made me laugh because of how vague it was. I then asked if I booked a room that was showing as being converted to a lanai and I got it for the oceanview price would I then be charged more if the change actually happened. The answer I got was that they weren't sure how that would work.