Ellen495

30 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

We were on the Zuiderdam in one of the famous deck 5 aft-wraps.  Had 40 people in there (mostly on the HUGE verandah) and it was not crowded!  

WOW! We only have 4 people, but maybe we'll meet more!

5 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

One time I hosted a large party in my Neptune suite.  I asked the Neptune staff to make arrangements and in the end my room steward brought me 8 wine buckets filled with ice to chill the wine and for drinks!  And we were in an aft-wrap, far from the Neptune Lounge.

We're in an aft wrap around too!

3 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

The wine they give you is the house brand - I think it is Santa Clara??  I always get the white as the red is tough for me to drink.  You MIGHT be able to exchange for credit for a better wine - this depends on the ship.  Also, one time (out of 20) they would not let me exchange the champagne - gave me credit for sodas instead.

 

As to chilling it, the champagne is already in a ice bucket and is chilled (most times).  Usually you have to wait a bit for the Neptune staff to make the exchange for you (they put the new bottle in your cabin when they have time), so asking them to chill it might not work (but of course you can ask). 

I thought getting them to chill the wine I'm bringing on board would be great. Credit for soda? That wouldn't be so great - I only drink water, coffee and wine. 🙂 THANKS for the info.

20 minutes ago, FlyingCruiser2 said:

FYI - the machines in the room are not Nespresso, they are a brand called MoCoffee.  We thought they were Nespresso and that we were so clever bringing pods with us of flavors we prefer, but they didn’t fit.

Thanks! I'll see if I can buy French Vanilla MoCoffee on Amazon (usually can get anything there)!

Just now, fsdj1097 said:

Please tell Cathy, in the Neptune Lounge that Sam & Cindy Jordan say 'hello'....she is definitely a gem!

 

Will do!

I've traveled with non dairy creamer that I love to the islands. I assume they'll have vanilla creamer or the sort on the ship.

Super glad we can trade the wine. We are planning on bringing 4 bottles (one each -  I know there's a 20 dollar charge - but I'm so picky about wine). Is there any way to find out what type of wine they have on the boat?

Oh - when we arrive the first day, is there any way the staff can take our wine and chill it for us so it's ready for dinner time? We board at 3:40, but plan on dropping our bags around 11:30 when our train arrives from Anchorage. We'll spend a few hours in Whittier - thinking there may be some good hikes around there.... Might make that a separate post on the Alaska forum.

Thank you all so much. We leave July 10th. We are spending 2 days prior on our own (Seward for the Fjord cruise and the gold dome train back to Anchorage). Then we take the train to Whittier to catch the cruise. Any ideas of what to do upon arrival in Whittier?

Okay - hiking boots, gloves, hat, layers, raincoat. Got it! 

Would you bring dresses for dinner? I love dressing in my sleeveless dresses and wearing jackets/sweaters with them. I don't have many long sleeved dresses - but dinners are inside. Are the restaurants highly air-conditioned? (I detest that, but whatever it is, we always look glass full on vacation!)

THANKS!

Ellen

Hi we're excited for our first cruise. We're going to Alaska on Nieuw Amsterdam. I have  a couple of questions. 

1. I hear there's a nexpresso machine in the room. Is there liquid creamer of sorts?  We could also, I hear, get things from the Neptune lounge.

2. Can one request wine vs. Champagne in the room (I hear that's complimentary day one - but we hate champagne). NOT a huge deal!

3. Our adult daughter and fiance are joining us. We got them a regular room. I know they're allowed to come hang out on our deck - but if we order room service - can we get things for them as well? I suppose we can just act like gluttons or is it allowed? Further, can we bring them into the Neptune lounge? (NOT a big deal if no). 

4. Do we get a complimentary dinner anywhere? They had us pay for Pinnacle and Tamarin (well - one was complimentary as part of the package no matter what room you got). I just want to check on this.

Thank you so much.

Ellen

Thank you!

And yeah, we could get hit with the bug - I'll let you know!!

We leave on our first cruise ever (We tend not to be cruise people but Alaska seemed smart) and super excited.

Do we need hiking boots for the helicopter onto the glacier trip? Or should we just bring sneakers?

What else do we need? We assume nice clothes for the specialty dining....... 

THANKS

Ellen

Wow thank you!

We are coming to Anchorage 3 days prior to our cruise. We are staying in Seward one night (arrive very late), Fjord trip, and then Gold Star Train to Anchorage - and then train to Whittier the day of the cruise. We're bringing proctored tests (EMED) which I do believe are accepted to embark. I'm a little concerned just in case anything goes wrong with internet - doubt it - but who knows. 

Is there a place in Whittier to test before embarking? 

Once in Canada, we intend to use the tests to fly back to USA. I assume we can't use a Canadian drugstore with US insurance.... 

Any thoughts appreciated.

Ellen

9 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Yes. I quoted the HAL policy back in post #8, right off their website.

THANKS!

But you can still bring one bottle pp for the 20 dollar charge, right?

I think the cab ride to Seward will be okay. It will be late - but it will be light. Our other option is to stay in Anchorage and take the train and 6:30 am but I am awful with sleep and don't like waking that early. This way, yeah we'll be tired after flying from Philadelphia (we should have given ourselves an extra day, but it's too late to change the air without a huge price rise), but it will be pretty. Then we can sleep until 9 am and still make the Fjord cruise and train back to Anchorage.

CruiseBruce - right you are. 

Seaoma - thanks for the link. Unfortunately our plane arrives at 8:30 pm so it doesn't work.

I just hope the fjord cruise and gold star train ride back is worth the hassle and the money. 

yes it's 375 for two people - similar to the train I guess. We tried everything to find another way - Uber would be cheaper but it might be hard to find someone willing to take us since they don't get paid for the ride back.

If they take our checked luggage, do we put the wine in carry on bags and just take them to our room ourselves? (That would be fine with me - just trying to figure out how this all works)

I thought one bottle per person was free and the rest were charged the fee? We aren't planning on excessive, but tend not to like the wine that is "free." Can you purchase wine on board that is somewhat reasonably priced?

Thank you!

My husband and I arrive in Anchorage a day before the "kids." We are taking a cab to Seward, sleeping there the night, doing the Fjord cruise, and then going back on the gold star train. I think it's nuts but my husband really wanted to do the cruise and the gold star train. 

The kids, more sensibly, fly in the next day and meet us in Anchorage. 

If we each have one bottle of wine in our bag, that's allowed, correct? If we choose to bring more, that's allowed with a charge, correct? How do they handle the cost we need to pay if they take the bags and send them to our rooms?

Thank you

Ellen

Thank you. How soon does it open? Do you think we can bring our kids?

Either way, can we leave our luggage with them and wander the town which will likely be more interesting than sitting on the boat?

Hi,

This will be our first cruise. We are taking the train from Anchorage and arrive Whittier at 12:30. What time can we embark? My husband and I have a Neptune suite, so I assume we will have more flexibility (though I have no clue) and our daughter/fiancé have a regular room. Can they embark with us?

If we have to wait until 5 or 6, what is there to do in Whittier and will the cruise line take our luggage?

THANK YOU.

Ellen 

On 2/3/2022 at 12:51 PM, jimdee3636 said:

@Ellen495

You're torturing yourself unnecessarily. Why not just cancel, get your money back, and then re-book closer to the cruise date if the Covid/vaccine/quarantine situation has improved? Or if possible given your schedule, pick a later date (the Alaska season goes through September).

Well I already bought the flights plus we have a Neptune suite which will get snapped up if we cancel. Also, I hear July is the best chance for the helicopter NOT to be canceled (weather - not Covid). 

Do they test you at each dock? Do they test you for the excursions such as helicopter?

Thanks everyone. I do think things are looking better right now. I am not a "Covid is over," type person at all. I believe in vaccination and masks - just saying things are looking better so my fingers are crossed tightly that we will be able to go. Henry - I will be interested in what you decide March 15th.

Ellen

Thank you for the replies. My cruise is 7 days long (nothing back to back) in Alaska. 

We're also planning a few days on our own prior to go to Seward and take the Fjord cruise and then the Gold Star train back to Anchorage, hotel, and then train to Whittier.  I'm beginning to question if that plan is wise as it's another chance to test positive before embarking....

I've been reading through many threads ......... we planned our first ever cruise in 2020 and obviously didn't go. We are booked July 10 Alaska cruise. The payment is due April 11th. If I cancel by April 10th, I get all of the money back (even the small deposit). Main money I spent was specialty dining and the tours including the helicopter. I have two concerns:

1. One is that they cancel and offer us FCC which I wouldn't want. If they cancel, are they required to give back the money or do they have the right to give FCC? I have called HAL a couple of times, and I get different answers from different reps.

2. My other concern is safety and quarantining. I read a few nightmare stories about people being quarantined. Seems for some itineraries (such as Hawaii and probably Europe), on board testing is mandatory. There's good and bad there - most good I suppose. If people are tested on a ship, then it's less likely that others will be infected. However, the HAL rep told me that no one will be tested on an Alaskan cruise once it sails (obviously you need to test negative before embarking) so what's to stop a person who feels they might be sick from just not going to the ship doctor? If you go to the ship doctor, you know you're risking testing positive.

Now... I had Covid a month ago (I was shocked- vaccinated and boosted and constant mask wearer) and still I got it. But it was mild - like an annoying cold. I got tested because I didn't want to risk giving it to anyone else who might get very sick. I was really bummed that I tested positive, but it was the right thing to do.

Will they test people regularly on an Alaskan cruise or is that only for Europe and Hawaii?

Thanks for thoughts and any answers. I know no  one knows for sure.

Ellen