Ladyaruba

Were you offered the choice of booking a HAL operated transfer from the port of Vancouver to the Vancouver airport that bypassed customs and immigration? (In other words, were you given to option of going to the US side of the airport and thus not technically entering Canada at the pier and then reentering the USA at the airport, but legally staying in the USA the full time.)

 

Not that I have anything against Canada, but given the option of going through customs and immigration twice in one day, or not at all, I would likely choose not at all.

We also just returned from the Noordam trip.

We were offered Expediated disembarkment. We filled out a form a couple days ahead. All we did at the airport was checkin, drop off luggage, go thru security, scan passports just once. Very easy!

Thank you for all your great info!

Hubby will wear either Dockers with a nice button shirt or nice jeans with shirt, vest and possibly a tie for dining.

 

A few quick pics of our 'landing' with Island Wings out of Ketchikan. Amazing experience.

Thanks!

Ah, but the forum is so much more than mere Information & Referral. It is also a place to chat about cruising, elaborate on and clarify some of the 'factual' information found in the booklet, and fill in some of the gaps between what Seattle thinks happens on the ships, and real life.

 

Enjoy your first cruise. If you are like so many others on this board, I won't be your last.

Very true!

BTW,

I am from Ashaway RI!

Congratulations on taking your first HAL cruise. Wishing you a safe and joyous cruise.

 

Yes, HAL does provide a lot of information on its site. Some people though would rather ask a question here than search for the answer on HAL themselves. The Know Before You Go document is a wonderful source and will answer a lot of questions.

 

And I agree, CC can be a wonderful source of little tidbits that HAL doesn't always make public. Isn't it wonderful that so many people so willingly share.

Yes, very happy that people share information! I have gotten lots of great tips here!

If these meals are part of a HAL promo you will receive cards in your stateroom stating the time and date that have been reserved for you. If you need to make a change you should do so as soon as possible after boarding the ship by going to that venue and asking to make a change.

Thanks! I received conflicting information about this very question!

I am going on my first ever cruise and have read everything I could on the HAL site and also lots on Cruise Critic

HAL offers lots of information if you are going on one of their ships!

Not sure why the need for some of the questions asked here.

I found out all I needed to know about tipping, appropriate apparel for dining, etc from HAL.

I have asked for opinions here though and have gotten some great ideas/tips!

We booked with Michelle and Island Wings for the Misty Fjords 3 hour tour!

Both nervous and excited! Never been on a small plane before

1st trip to Alaska coming up this July. We were tempted to book with Island Wings given the widespread rave reviews here and at trip advisor, but we went the cheaper route and used the Alaska tour saver book to get the 2 for 1 with Taquan Air.

Might do that if she isn't available!

Yes!! Michelle from Island Wings!! She was amazing. We had a wonderful time. Have fun!!

Contacted her! Will see if she is available!

Yws, snacks are free but have been reduced to just two items now instead of the array of sandwiches, cookies, and chocolate-covered strawberries before drydock this year.

shucks! I was looking forward to chocolate covered strawberries!!!

Do you get fruit in your room everyday? I read that somewhere but wasn't sure if it was just for certain rooms or people.

Thanks again for all the info!!!

Heard that the snacks are free at the Explorations Cafe. Is this true?

Anyone wait and get a float plane ride upon arrival in Ketchikan?

Or book it on the ship?

Still undecided😬

Thanks for all the info! We are going on the Noordam but are still interested in your excursions and how the weather is on ship and at each stop.

Thanks again

Hello all. We have just disembarked Noordam, eight nights Alaska cruise. We found the ship in excellent condition. Our regular balcony cabin was very well maintained, no broken shelves, worn out carpets or poor condition of couch or other furniture as I have seen other people report. All areas of the cabin looked and functioned well. The same is true for the rest of the ship. I am not sure how people come with assessments that this ship is in bad need of upgrades. Must be a matter of perspective as everything else is. Our last sailing was three months ago on Anthem of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean's newest ships. We enjoyed Noordam as much as Anthem and didn't find it deficient in any way. It's just a different type of experience. Overall, service and food were good. We didn't attend a lot of entertainment venues as it was tour intensive trip for us. One production show we saw was kind of old-fashioned, other lines like NCL and RCCL used to run shows of that caliber 15 or so years ago. That said, Lincoln stage was excellent, HAL BBC show and enrichment lectures were very good as well. I don't have any daylies or room pics to post. I can say that we would definitely sail Noordam to Alaska again ( or to any other port intensive itinerary). I am the OP and would like to thank all who responded to this thread.

Having never been on a cruise ship before, we have nothing to compare it to, so it should be perfect!

Thanks for the update!

I was told the vouchers/coupons would be waiting for us and if we didn't like the assigned date/times we could change them.

Just didn't want to wait until onboard to try and reserve the first night.

Our first cruise, so will just go with the flow!

Yes -- then once on the ship once you find out which nights you have been assigned to the specialty restaurants, if the dates don't suit you, then you can talk to both managers and hopefully change things to you liking.

Thanks.

Wasn't sure if they were assigned or not.

If what we are assigned works then I should be able to just cancel any that I make ahead of time, correct?

we have dinner at the Pinnacle and Canaletto included as part of our trip.

I would like to book one of them for our first night but not sure if they are all ready reserved!

Should I just book one and change if needed?

How does the Happy Hour 2nd drink work if you have a drink package? Do they just deduct the $2 instead of full price?

Or is this just for pay as you go people

Just home May 6 from 8 day Honolulu to Vancouver cruise on the Noordam - balcony room 5025.

a few thoughts....

 

1. ship looking a bit tired - but only small details in need of repair such as some stained cushions in Lido.

2. fully stocked, popular library still.

3. small 20" flat screen tv and dvd player on counter (not on wall).

4. good movies in Vista Lounge, free popcorn.

5. good entertainment and lots to do sea days.

6. Dive In - still the Best hamburgers!

......still the absolute best exceptional service that keeps us coming back!

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to our 1st cruise on the Noordam next month!

For two of us we take 3 suitcases. One will have the clothes that we will both only wear on the ship...you can wear the same clothes for both formal nights. Casual dressy for other nights in the dining room. The same shoes for both. Warm clothes for glacier day if you go outside.

 

Each person then has a suitcase for the land tour with shirts, pants, jacket, to layer. Also an extra pair of shoes and extra socks. Each person will also have a smaller bag or backpack for medical needs, camera, binoculars, snack, handbag, anything you need to have in your possession. I also carry a roll up rain jacket with me for the land tour since it can rain at any time.

 

You can do laundry when you get to the ship. There is a clothes line that you can pull across the bathtub in your stateroom that is good for light weight hand washables. Fill a laundry bag with your rolled up dirty laundry, fill out the paperwork, and leave it on your bed for your stateroom attendant to pick up. You will probably get your laundry back the next day. If you sail first the hotels should have laundry facilities. You can not dry your laundry on the balcony.

 

Airlines seem to be changing their luggage requirements so you need to check with the airlines about their requirements. That information should be online at the airline website or have your TA find out for you.

We are doing basically the same thing but no ship only suitcase.

I figure I can send laundry out once we get on the ship so that cuts down a lot on how much to pack.

1 suitcase each plus a carryon/backpack for everything else we need during the day.

I am skipping a purse this trip because I want to be hands free! Will just take a small wallet and everything else will go in a backpack compartment!

i mentioned this before but want to see if anyone has done it.

We will be arriving in Haines but wanted to do a tour in Skagway.

HAL says it has to be offered in Haines in order to do it!

I don't see why we can't pay for the fast ferry to Skagway ourselves and then do the tour there.

We wanted to check out the Red Dog Saloon breakfast and the suspension Bridge which is offered if you dock at Skagway.

Anyone ever done this tour or gone from Haines to take a tour in Skagway?

Wondering if I should just ask on the ship. They should be able to help

If not, what do you suggest for Haines that would be a moderate tour?

We will be spending 38 nights in the same room on a cruise to New Zealand in October. We booked it because it is supposedly a BIG inside room. Our concern about the location is it is under the Lido deck and we wondered if it would be noisy. Also we can’t figure out what is beside it because it is by itself. Any info you can provide would be appreciated. Enjoy your cruise. Smooth sailing.

8058 is a Signature suite with balcony next to two other cabins the same. Are we talking about the same room?

Yes it is located under the Lido deck but I heard it wasn't too noisy.

The Navigator that is free onboard also allows you to see the MDR menu right after 9:00 AM each day. You can also see the menus for MDR and Lido Market Place on the interactive TV's on ships that have upgraded.

Thanks for the info