Sea42

I don't have an issue t=with the charge itself. What I don't like is that it is not more visible on the menu and that the servers aren't informing people when they place their orders.

That's really one of the things I prefer about land trips. For us, finding local restaurants and then strolling through these beautiful places after dinner is a joy.

We wanted to visit Alaska. See the inside passage and the glaciers. The scenery and wildlife was all that I had hoped for. The cruise itself, not so much. I disliked the crowds, the set dining with people I didn't know and had nothing in common with, and the outrageously priced shore excursions. It was 10 years before we decided to give it another try. This time we had a balcony cabin so we had our own peaceful place to get away from the crowds, no set dinning and independent excursions thanks to CC roll calls. It was so much better! We still don't cruise often. I much prefer land trips but I am looking forward to our upcoming cruise in May!

It looks like the lobster would be $25, not $15.

Have to disagree with you there. I hike regularly and, except in winter, never wear boots. Now I don't hike 30 miles at a time but I comfortably go 12 to 15 miles (depending on terrain) several times a month.

Hoka's are my go to for trail walking and hiking. Mine are pretty beat up but still so comfortable. I'd have to get a new pair for city walking.

I love mine, too! They've held up so well but it is time to get a new pair.

Keep in mind this is a world cruise and has many more activities and special events that you won't find on shorter sailings.

It's been many years for us but I liked the closet set up on Princess. I liked the placement, out of the way of the entry to the cabin. We don't entertain in our cabin so no one sees our clothes except us and the stewards. On HAL, the closet doors block the doorway if someone is going in or out of the cabin or the bathroom and the doors block the overhead light making finding things in the closet a little more difficult. I find it an awkward set up.

This was in the email: Terms & Conditions: Fares are based on Promo(s) VV*. Featured fares are per person based on double occupancy and available for 1st/2nd guests only. Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses are additional. Offer is applicable on select 2023 and 2024 departures and excludes Grand Voyages and any sailing lasting 5 days or less.

Wow, the one on the NS looks very nice! Let's not tell anyone else about it, OK?

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/dining/club-orange.html

We don't really rush for anything. We'll have lunch in whatever city we are at, go back to wherever we were staying to collect our luggage and then go to the port to board the ship. Never a line after lunch. We usually disembark whenever we're assigned. The only time we were eager to get off was when we were in Tahiti and wanted to make a specific ferry to get to our over water bungalow on Moorea.

For our upcoming May cruise on the Nieuw Statendam it was at about 4 1/2 months before.

Mahalo is a Hawaiian expression of gratitude.

Never heard of a margarita with club soda. But a Paloma (much better than a margarita IMO) is made with tequila and grapefruit soda (Fresca or Squirt).

It does happen but not with just a weeks notice.

Our May 15th cruise had specialty dinning reservations available on Dec 29th. So, about 4 1/2 months. Our excursions were available in September.

It sounds like there is plenty to do, if the things being offered are things you would enjoy. I can see though that people who cruise frequently would be bored with the same old thing. I would certainly be bored cruising on the same line year after year.

A great resource for your cruise is the Alaska section of Cruise Critic. Have fun, it is a wonderful cruise! https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/33-alaska/

I think with the low staffing levels that I've seen reported on here that the crew really doesn't have the time to do the shows anymore.

Were you on a HAL excursion? Because if you were I would have thought HAL would pay for your flights.

That could very well be. It would be an odd thing for more than one person to make comments about though.

We were on the first cruise after the fire. Crew members openly talked about passengers that had been doing flaming shots (lit alcohol) on the balcony. True or not? I have no idea but it was talked about at the time.

Thanks for the update! I'm glad everything is straightened out.