Mopree

Please continue!! I really enjoy reading your "live from" So entertaining and so well written.

Hi, We were on the Zuiderdam May 2022. We had cabin 8068. We were right by the glass elevators and the regular elevators. It was very convenient being so close to the elevator. From the balcony you could see a bit of the glass elevator and I suppose people could see us on the balcony for a moment as they went by. It did not bother us. This particular sailing was not a full ship so there were no groups waiting for the elevator. We would not hesitate to book an accessible cabin next to the elevators in the future.

Thank you for this post. It is wonderful to hear of your successful cruises. I think I understand having Baxter deliver supplies to the ship. A great service! It does sound like once on board crew members are very helpful. My concerns are getting to the port city. We would need to fly and probably spend a night or two pre cruise. Did you fly with the cycler and boxes of solution?? If so, any information would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou!

My husband is in a wheelchair, which I push. He is also a dialysis patient using PD. Because of this type of dialysis he is unable to swim or use the hot tub. I mention this as being outside by the pool holds little enjoyment for him. We are grateful that we can still cruise. This is the only type of vacation that makes sense in our situation. We love the promenade deck! Most times as I push his wheelchair I would be considered slow. Our life is slow. We savour every minute that we are outdoors. If he wants to stop to enjoy the view or feel the breeze, I stop. It never occurred to me that we were an inconvenience to those that are able and wanting to walk briskly. I can't change our circumstances and I will continue to walk slowly enjoying our time together. So if you should see us as you go by don't be resentful that we are slowing you down be grateful that you able to walk around the promenade deck. Not that it should matter but we are in our sixties. Life does not always turn out how you planned but there are many things to still be enjoyed.

I hope you feel better soon and contine with your "Rome to Home" pictures and stories. I was enjoying your unique perspective.

There are Hawaiian cruises for late 2024 and early 2025 that have an early booking bonus HIA package. This package includes among other things gratuities.

If a person were to add up what they would typically tip for three restaurant meals a day in Canada or the US I think it would be more than the daily gratuity charged by HAL. Removing the gratuities is something I could never do. Whether I agree or not with the tipping culture it is what it is. At least appreciation is shown by any crew member that I have singled out for an additional gratuity. In Canada and the US a tip in a restaurant is expected and seldom acknowledged.

We purchased HIA for a 7 day cruise in May 2022. We did not spend any additional money while on the cruise. We were credited 7 points for cruise days and 7 points for onboard spending. Total 14 points.

There is company out of Edmonton called Unbelts. They make belts that you do not need to take off going through airport security. Breezed through security just last week with my belt on. I have no affiliation with the company just my personal experience. There may be stores close to you that sell them or you can order online.

We boarded the Zuiderdam in Vancouver in May. We had a positive PCR test result and did not have a letter of recovery nor did we need one. We were given chairs to sit on while they contacted the nurse on board to see if she wanted to do any further screening. She didn't. We had no symptoms and were visibly healthy so we were cleared to board. I would think that by now staff will be quite used to dealing with positive PCR tests. Hope this is still relevant as it was a few months ago.

We tested positive for covid on April 10th using an at home antigen test. We had a PCR positive result on April 21st. Our cruise left Vancouver on May 4th. We did not do a pre cruise antigen test. If I remember correctly at that time you to fill in an online health questionnaire. One of the questions was have you been in close contact with someone who tested positive in the last 14 days. Having to answer yes to this booted me out and I could not finish the questionnaire. I called HAL explained and was told all good it will be sorted out at the port and that we may have to be screened by a nurse. We showed our positive PCR test at the port instead of a negative antigen test. We were taken to chairs and they called a nurse on the ship. The nurse did not come to see us. We were clearly healthy so we were cleared to go. Things have probably changed by now but you should be good with your positive test as long as it was more than ten days before boarding and you are truly symptom free. We did not have nor were we required to show a letter of recovery. Enjoy your cruise!

Our luggage was delayed. Not sure if they use the term lost immediately or if they wait a few days?? We flew into Vancouver on May 3rd for a cruise leaving on May 4th. Our luggage did make our connecting flight from Calgary to Vancouver. We were told it would be on the next flight so we stayed at the airport and waited for the next flight. No luggage. There was one more flight arriving around midnight. We requested/insisted that we receive a call to let us know if our luggage was on the flight. They called around 1am to let us know our luggage did arrive. Too late for a courier that night and they could not guarantee a courier would get it to us in time to board the cruise. We were staying near the port so we took a cab back in the morning and picked up our luggage. So for us a happy ending. It seems Ike things have gotten so much worse. I do hope you get your luggage in time!

We attended this show in May of this year. My husband uses a wheelchair which I push. There was accommodations for wheelchairs and companions in the front row. There was no transportation provided. There was a long ramp from the dock to the pier but that could just be where the Zuiderdam docked. Once up the ramp it was a manageable walk to the venue. We purchased our tickets on board and were given directions on how to get there. It was a laid back atmosphere and I am sure they would do their best to ensure you had suitable seating. Have a wonderful cruise!

We had 8192 on Koningsdam for an Oct 2019 Transatlantic cruise. Loved the location and no ongoing issue with noise from above. Easy access to the Lido deck!

At the port they just ensured that we were symptom free. We did not have to do an antigen test nor did they require a letter of recovery. People that had filled out Verifly were put through the line quicker. We had to get a picture taken. Standard covid questions and we were on our way. Our cruise started and ended in Vancouver and we live in Canada so no questions or issues to fly home. Arrivcan needs to be filled out but that is just travel plans, passport and vaccination documentation.

Just a thought...there is cruise critic forum for disabled travellers. Your kind offer might be of use to someone that posts there.

I should add that 3 days before your cruise you will need to fill out a Holland America Health Questionnaire. One of the questions was something to the effect of "Have you been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for covid in the last 14 days" I had to answer yes as our positive PCR test results were within that time frame. Answering yes meant I could not continue with the questionnaire. You cannot go back and change your answer! That is when I called Holland America and they put a note on our file. As we did not have a negative test result we could not use Verifly either. So many details and so many things to stress about. Everything worked out and we had a great time!

That's good. I have heard that flying from Canada to the US using a positive PCR result doesn't always work without a letter of recovery. By the time you are tested to fly home the antigen test should be negative. Enjoy your cruise!

Are you flying to Anchorage from the US or Canada?

We were on the train the first week of May. Lots of snow along the tracks. The stoves in each car were on so cars were nice and warm. On that particular day most were wearing light jackets on the viewing platform. As the viewing platform is very small no one stayed out for a long time to allow others the opportunity.

We had a similiar situation. Cruise leaving Vancouver on May 4th and a positive PCR test on April 21st. We had tested positive on April 10th with an at home rapid test. By April 21st we were symptom free but still tested positive. We did not do a pre cruise test and Holland America accepted our positive PCR. We had called Holland America for confirmation that the positive test 13 days prior was acceptable. A note was put on our file after a bit of confusion at the port we were cleared to board. I have heard that people flying from Canada to the US with a positive PCR result were also asked for a letter of recovery. I realize your situation is different but hope this gives you just a bit more information.

On April 10th my husband I tested positive for covid using an at home rapid test. Our Alaskan cruise was May 4th to 11th Vancouver Inside Passage on the Zuiderdam. We had a PCR test done on April 21st. Results for us both were positive although we were symptom free. When doing the health questionnaire just before our cruise I had to answer yes to the question asking if I had been in close contact with a confirmed covid case within the previous 14 days. I could go no further so I called Holland America and was told that the positive PCR test taken more than 10 days prior to our cruise would be acceptable. A note was put on our file and we were told an additional screening may be required. At the port when we explained we did not have a negative antigen test it did cause some confusion and we were taken aside. A call was made to the ship's nurse. A reference was made to the note on our file from Holland America and we were cleared to board. We had no letter of recovery and we did not have to do an antigen test. Everything that we did was following the guidelines but I would say for the most part people at the port are not aware that a positive PCR test taken within the guidelines is all that is needed.

Yes, Glacier Bay is a sea day. Beautiful scenery! The former Gala nights are now called Dressy nights or something like that. We did not attend but ordered the same meal through room service. Prime rib! It was excellent!

On our recent 7 day inside passage on the Zuiderdam the "Dressy nights" in the MDR were on the first and second sea days.

There were no long line ups to checkin or to go through security. Our flight was domestic and not until 3pm so we were hours early. I was surprised at how quickly we were through security.