MadamedelaMer

This is super-helpful to know thanks!

Super-excited for our upcoming 7-night Alaska cruise! I'm getting conflicting reports regarding appropriate evening wear. My understanding is there are two 'formal nights' as well as an "orange party". My husband assumes the formal nights require a tux for gentlemen but I have also heard 'smart' attire is more appropriate. Having traveled on TAs with other lines previously, it's always tux/gowns for formal nights but we are wondering whether things are different for HAL Alaska cruises. And what on earth is the orange party? Would greatly appreciate any insights! Thanks 🙂

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Thanks Mary! This is helpful. It will be nice to not have to travel with finery. And great suggestion re: the rain jacket--we'll definitely be packing for weather!

Yaay! Just booked it. Unfortunately were not able to get an assigned cabin for NS so keeping fingers crossed we don't wind up in a dreaded connecting room... Any other Alaska cruisers out there with advice or tips (must-dos, anything to avoid, favorite parts of the ship, etc). Also are there any formal (black tie) nights to be aware of? Thanks! Mme De La M

Super appreciative of those who answered my previous question re: stateroom choices. Since everyone was so helpful I thought I'd ask another question, if I may. This time re: the HAL drinks package options. The Alaska cruise we are considering offers the Have It All package, which includes one of the drinks packages. I've gotten conflicting information, however, regarding how those drinks packages actually work. My husband is a scotch whiskey drinker and also likes other top-shelf spirits. I notice that the drinks package included in the Have It All package allows for drinks under $11. Here's where I am confused (and have heard conflicting reports): If one orders a drink that is over the allowed $11, does that drink simply not count at all towards the package (and must one pay the full $11 for it) OR would the allowed $11 be deducted from the total price of that particular drink? I would hate to sign up for the package and then find out none of the drinks we plan to order are even allowed... Could anyone offer any insight from your own experiences? Thanks so much!

Thanks for this info--my understanding was that the lower categories have queen beds (that can be separated into two twins) but that Neptune has an actual king size (that can also be separated).

More extremely helpful replies--thanks friends! To those asking--the ship would be Eurodam for the cruise we are considering. 🙂

Oh and BTW re: choosing a Neptune suite--it is only because all the lower categories have queen or smaller beds. We have actually nixed other Alaska cruise ideas for this very issue. My husband is 6'5" and I'm 5'10" and we feel like sardines in anything smaller than a king bed. Otherwise I'd be perfectly happy with a smaller room 🙂

Thanks for all the super-helpful replies! I too am rather picky (hate connecting rooms or to be near the elevator in any hotel) so there may be merit in shelling out for the choice option. Oddly, when I look at the current choice options for the Neptune staterooms it only shows midship, 7th deck. Not sure whether that means there are ONLY those rooms left (and so a guarantee option would give us one of those rooms) OR whether it is only showing options for what is considered the 'better' rooms. Argh. I would hate to find that we choose a guarantee and then wind up elsewhere on the ship over the dang theater or some such...

Thank you both for your replies! Re: the deck--it this case it appears there is only deck 7, midship rooms available (it's for a relatively soon cruise). Unless they are only showing the 'choice' rooms that are available.

Hello HAL travelers--Husband and I are considering an Alaska cruise (Seattle-Seattle) on HAL and are a bit stumped over the more expensive 'choose your own' stateroom option. Aside from being able to choose a stateroom away from the elevator, I don't necessarily see any other significant advantages to paying the upcharge but perhaps I am mistaken? It is impossible to tell which staterooms are adjoining (another thing I'd want to avoid) or which are across from crew areas (which I prefer to avoid after experiences in the past on other cruise lines with constantly opening and closing of service doors at all hours of the day and night). I'm a bit baffled as to whether it is worth the extra approx $1,400 for the opportunity to choose our own Neptune Suite stateroom. And frankly as a frequent Cunard traveler I was surprised to see that there's an upcharge for this on HAL, which is something I've never encountered previously. Any thoughts would be enormously helpful! Thanks! 🙂

Thanks Blue, Moses, Pen, and Lakes. I am both heartened and disheartened to learn I am not alone. The last time I booked on QM2 was five years ago, for my mom's 70th. It was literally and figuratively smooth sailing. I was able to easily book online--including the Victoria/Southampton transfer--and then reach someone by phone to request the family members all be seated at the same table for dinners. This time around, for her 75th, it's been aggravating from the get-go. There were problems with the website for several days, in which time I wasn't able to book the cabin grade I'd wanted. Finally was able to complete a transaction for a lesser grade. But now the irritation re: these extra addendi, which should be easy to square away, has me feeling less than excited for the upcoming experience. As someone who has traveled extensively on TA crossings with my family throughout my life (including Cunard and the venerable old Italian Lines), I am sad to see things slipping like this.

So frustrated. Just booked on Cunard (QM2, TA in July) online but having difficulty getting ANYONE on the phone to adjust items on my booking. For example, I am trying to book the same table for dinner as my folks, who are already booked on the crossing. I would also like to add a transfer from London Victoria to the Southampton terminal but the only thing available when I booked my trip was described as 'airport to terminal'. Why don't they offer a way to add these changes/requests on the website? They offer to book all sorts of 'extras' but not the things that are actually of importance (to me at least). Hold times to call are in the 45min range. What gives? Sheesh. It was never this bad before...