Ladyaruba

what has your experience been on one? Worried I'd get seasick but it looks like something really cool to do!

Sorry if this seems like a discussion my question,

I assume you don't put these luggage tags on until you get to your destination after your flight?

If you do a land tour first, do you wait until your last day and then put them on?

We are not sending any luggage ahead for "ship only"

First time cruiser here! I love this board and I have learned so much!

 

Question: When you are in port can you stay on the ship and enjoy the empty pools and bars and then get off the ship later in the afternoon?

 

Or can you get off and enjoy port first thing and then go back to the ship early?

 

Thanks for any insight!

Thanks for asking. I was wondering myself. Thought we might just stay and have breakfast on the ship if we don't have anything planned and get off afterwards.

Must also mean we could get off, go back for lunch and get off again making sure to get back on time if course!

Do you usually call your cc company and let them know you will be on a cruise even if it is the US?

We call anytime we are going out of the country but never thought about on a ship!

Do they have different special each night? How would you find out this info so you can decide where you want to dine?

Thank you

If the tour is available for you to book on your itinerary, transportation to Skagway and back to your ship is included. If the tour only shows up for Skagway (not in the Haines list of excursions) you would need to get to Skagway and back on your own.

I talked with someone from HAL about the excursions.

I was told that this tour was not offered for Haines, only Skagway. I asked if I could take the fast ferry to Skagway and do it that way. She said sorry but no because it wasn't offered as a Haines Excursion

Will see what looks interesting in Haines!

It could be either - we have gotten an assigned time in the past, or we have made our own reservations for our "free" specialty restaurant night -assuming you mean the Pinnacle restaurant. Depends on which ship as other larger ships have other specialty restaurants and not just the more "meat" oriented Pinnacle. Though a vegetarian can do very nicely at the Pinnacle too.

 

It the ship is not overly impacted or you like a less popular dining time (like later) you may be able to juggle any pre-reserved time around after you board. Be sure to check in with the Maitre D who will be available in the Explorer's Lounge (on most ships) on embarkation day if you learn you have been assigned a fixed time that does not work for you. Otherwise drop by the dining room later to see what else you can arrange.

 

Some prefer speciality dining on either the first or last night- ourselves, it really does not matter except we don't like to do if if we planned on eating in the port stop as one needs an emptier stomach to fully enjoy this dining option. Others like to do it on "gala night" because they don't like the Gala Night menu.

 

I would not worry too much about any particular day myself. We often wait until close to the end to celebrate the entire cruise and even dress up fully for the occasion, Gala Night or not, if it has been a particularly long and spectacular one.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise and enjoy your special dinner what ever night it falls on.

Thank you. We will be on the Noordam and have The Pinnacle and Caneletto as extras. We also have open dining so no regular times set.

It will just depend on our moods!

Probably won't do gala night so that might be good! Do you know the menus before you go to these Gala nights?

Your date and time will be assigned but you can try for changes when you first come on board the ship. The last evening is the most difficult to obtain a reservation in he Pinnacle Grill. Everyone has a time for dining that they prefer and if you purchase a reservation, you can choose your date and time.

Thanks! Will see if we are assigned to a day where we will be out on tours. May want to change if so.

We never do any fine dining the last night of any vacation. We like to get everything packed and then go somewhere quick and easy.

As part of our trip package, we were given two nights at the specialty restaurants.

Will we be assigned a day and time or can we pick our own?

What would be the best days and times in your opinion?

The Auto museum looked interesting as did the Ice Museum!

Not far from the Westmark and will give us something to do that extra day.

Thanks

Taking a train from Denali to Anchorage and then to Seward to meet our ship.

What side of the train would give us the best views for each?

Looking forward, left or right?

we are arriving a day early for our Alaska land/sea trip so that means two nights at the Westmark in Fairbanks.

1. Any suggestions on what not to miss in Fairbanks? We have the steamboat as part of our package.

2. Have heard lots of bad things about this hotel. Is it really that bad?

Thanks

If the tour is available for you to book on your itinerary, transportation to Skagway and back to your ship is included. If the tour only shows up for Skagway (not in the Haines list of excursions) you would need to get to Skagway and back on your own.

Guess I will look into it more before I book it. Thanks

Thanks everyone! I will stay away from the minibar!

Haines is at the other end of the Lynn Canal from Skagway. If you are doing ships tour , you will be transferred via the Haines fast ferry . If you are looking to do independent tour you need to prebook the ferry , as it sells out.

Phone 888 7662103 or 907 7662100.

They also have a website.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums[/quote

 

We were looking at the Bordello breakfast and Suspension Bridge tour in Skagway which looked interesting and fun!

If I go ahead and book this thru HAL, they will make the arrangement for us to get there from Haines?

what would be a good time for dining in the buffet and/or main dining room so that you don't have a long wait? We choose open dining. Will be on the Noordam

Thanks

Do they do shooters at the bars? I love B52's!

Any idea if they would be included in a package or what the cost might be?

We did get 2 $50 drink cards so might have to use them

pardon my ignorance but are these two towns the same? I had a tour all picked out for Skagway and then realized we were stopping in Haines:')

Of course if you have the Signature package you can request an unopened beer and a can of soda

 

You can use the beverage card for anything - a can of soda, a beer, a glass of wine, a bottle of wine, whatever.

 

BUT you CANNOT use it for the mini bar.

 

please explain the mini bar. You pay separately if you use it versus using your drink card at the bar?

We have been to resorts where the liquor in the room is included.

Hi there! i am the Wifey of W2N. i as so glad you are enjoying our trip. It was absolutely amazing! The only thing I would do different is to go maybe in June. The rain wasn't all that bad the majority of the time. It was more like a mist and not always raining. if you are considering going to Alaska don't wait! it is well worth the memories!

Happy Sailing!

Loved reading about your trip! We are going to Fairbanks for 4 day land tour and then Seward for our cruise to Vancouver starting June 4th.

1st for both Alaska and cruise! Thanks for your guided tour! Looking forward to the cruise train also!

You are correct. Unless the carryon with wheels will fit in the very small area under your seat it will not be allowed on the train. All of your other luggage is transported by truck and will be at your destination a long time before the train arrives.

Thank you! As first time cruisers, I want to make sure I know what I am doing!

Read your post wrong.

I thought you were talking about a suitcase with wheels.

I assume you mean carryons with wheels aren't allowed on the train.

Just a note that roller bags are not allowed on the train unless you are carrying medical equipment (CPAP, etc). Only small backpacks that will fit under your seat are allowed.

 

My roller bag had to "Meet me in Anchorage" after Denali and my camera bag with laptop slot accompanied me on the bus/train

Still confused now. Looks like we go on the train twice. Once to Anchorage and then into Seward aboard the cruise train.

So do we just take carryons for these last two days and our "rolly land bag" goes on ahead? One rolly already sent ahead to ship.

I guess as long as I pack what e need for the last two days in carryons we will be okay.

thanks

Yup! You will have to pack with all this in mind.

Is it the organizing and packing this scares you? or that you won't have control of all your stuff all the time? The first part we might be able to help you with, not the last part, other than to say that it works.

 

For packing for the cruise first, that's pretty easy and normal. But you will have to make sure you have the right number and sizes of luggage pieces, including a piece of luggage, maybe a carry-on size, for each of you to be your land tour luggage as I think you are limited to one piece of checked baggage each for the land tour, and a backpack or shoulder tote/duffel bag for each of you to have all day during your land tour. So the first part of planning is to have the right number of pieces and sizes.

Your land tour checked luggage won't be accessible during the days when you are on the bus or train, so all your "day stuff" needs to be in your back-pack/tote/duffel... meds, money, valuables, passports, cameras or electronics you want all-day access to, binoculars etc. Plus rain gear and any snacks you want to carry. Wear your warm clothes, jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof boots.

You put your pajamas, toiletries and changes of clothes for the few days of your land tour in your land tour checked luggage; you will get your piece(s) of luggage on the days you arrive at new lodging after you arrive at your destination for that night. You'll put your luggage out for pick up in the morning at breakfast time or so, and the tour people will pick it up and put it on the bus or train to meet up with you at the next destination. This beats having to handle you luggage yourself.

Anything and everything that you won't be using on the land tour goes in your "ship-only" luggage and HAL takes care of it for you from the ship to your last land tour lodging before you head home.

Think "active and inactive" for each part of your trip.

We'll try to answer questions, but yes it will take some planning to make sure you have what you need when you need it. It'll all be worth it! m--

Thank you so much for this info! We are doing 4 days on land and then the 7 day cruise. I also was confused about luggage. My plan is to bring a suitcase and carryon(backpack probably) for each of us. I will now make sure to use one suitcase for "ship use" and one for "land use". Our carryons will be for all of our "day stuff" including all of the important stuff that you mentioned above. We carry meds, electronics etc. in carryons whenever we travel just need to add a few other things this trip

I feel better already! I have my list started so now I just need to split things 3 ways😁

Thanks again!

The original bar menu link that I posted from the pool bars was the same for all HAL ships. The second menu referenced by KroozNut was from a special bar on the Veendam.

 

Here is a link to ALL of the HAL bar menus that I have collected:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/hal-beverage-menus/

Thank you