Billthekid

My CPAP just completed five years, wish I knew it would use tap versus distilled for the last year.  At five years you are eligible for a new machine with Medicare.  The problem now is there is still a supply problem and machines are difficult to come by according to my provider.  So while I am waiting I might just use tap water.

Thanks for the information.  I was totally impressed by the Hubbard Glacier, and the glaciers I saw in Glacier Bay National Park were not even close.  Several years ago we did the 14+ days cruise and that was when I had the opportunity to see the Hubbard Glacier.

On 8/27/2024 at 1:46 PM, wolfie11 said:

The first picture is of Hubbard Glacier not Margerie.

I was trying to find out why the ship did not view the Hubbard Glacier.  I found out that if you visit Glacier Bay National Park you view Margerie Glacier.  But if your cruise includes Wrangler National Park you view Hubbard Glacier.  A more impressive glacier.  Is that correct?  I attempted to find a cruise that combined both with no luck.  Does the National Park Service restrict access to Wrangler?

I recall two docking ports with a walkway to a reception station where you walk or shuttle to the main activity area.  I did not get off since it was 6pm.

35 minutes ago, wolfie11 said:

The first picture is of Hubbard Glacier not Margerie.

My opps.  I thought it was small.  Now I believe we never went to Hubbard glacier on this cruise.

Margerie Glacier, once one of the highlights of Glacier Bay has changed.  In 2015 the glacier looked like this:

The second picture is from this year.  Big contrast.  

Just now, wolfie11 said:

Juneau is not a fake port.  It’s the second or third largest city in Alaska with lots of nice people living there. You can rent a car or walk half a mile to get away from the cruise ship compound in downtown and find that out.  

Isn't walmart or costco a half mile walk from the compound?😄

As the OP I would like to add we talked with several passengers from the other 4-5-6 ships that were docked with us and they all had about the same story.  Their ships were all filled to capacity.  There were lines all over their ships for various events.  

We contracted the virus the last day and had to isolate for one day in Seattle.  I tried to find a hotel near Seatac for the night and we visited six hotels and everyone was sold out with cruise passengers.  The Alaska cruise business indicates demand is overwhelming and there will be more Megaships to meet that demand.  In our view, we have done our last cruise to Alaska.  It is my military training.  No more hurry up and wait.  Been there, did that.

From the Alaska Cruise Mapper for Tuesday, August 6 19:00 TWL - ISP ROYAL PRINCESS 06:30 15:00 OLD - ISP RADIANCE OF THE SEAS 13:30 22:00 WLD - ISP SOLSTICE 18:00 22:00 OLD - ISP EURODAM

These were the ships for Icy Point for Tuesday August 6.

I just finished a Eurodam 7-day Alaska cruise. We were not alone.  Each port we visited there were five or more gigantic ships at the same time.  Crushing the locals.  Examples:  Juneau population 31,685.  Six boats at the same time with a total passenger count of 13,583.  Crowds everywhere.  30 people in line for the Red Dog, over 30 people in line waiting to get into Tracy's Crabs restaurant and excursions booked to capacity.  No wonder Juneau wants to reduce the impact of cruise ships.  They also want the money. Icy Point Population of 1,000, six ships, capacity of 11,146 passengers.  We arrive at 6 PM.  A long day for the locals.  Sitka Population 8,382 Two ships capacity 6,284.  We dock about five miles out of town but must bus into the city.  Buses hold 60 passengers.  You get into a bus line, shuffle up, and turned the corner to find a Disneyland line winding back and forth.   Next, Ketchikan population of 8,068, six ships, capacity 16,662.  We dock at 6AM and nothing is opened.  Later the streets are just crowded.  Last stop Victoria arriving at 8 PM with major attractions being closed.  Three ships with a capacity of 9,768 passengers.  We were in the cabin packing for disembarkment.  

These large ships are ruining these ports.  It is a mob descending on small towns.  The towns love the money, but the crowds come at a price.  I see some kind of restrictions in the future.  I also see a state losing its beauty and becoming another tourist trap.

Actually, my TA ordered the distilled water and it was acknowledged by Shipboard services.  With a copy of the email to me.  And, as expected, the product was not delivered.  No explanation was provided.  HAL's customer service remains a misnomer.

FYI on the Eurodam there is no electrical outlet near the bed.  They will provide an extension cord that goes from the desk across the floor and under the bed to your unit.  They place a rubber mat over the cord so you won't trip on the cord.  Distilled water is now $6.59 per gallon jug, higher than gas at the pump.  Last December I paid $3.25 for the same gallon.  It must be better quality water being used.

On 6-21 I posted a topic "Flight Ease Cancellation Fee" centered around the lack of disclosure of what they are and how they are calculated.  It was just curiosity on my part more than anything else.  In general, the conclusion was that the penalty was whatever the airline charged.  Little did I know that reality would strike.  

On the day of disembarking from an Alaska Cruise last Saturday, my spouse became extremely sick.  Went to the Medical Center at 4 AM and she tested positive for Covid 19.  We were told to isolate and delay our flight until the next day.  I went to Guest Services for assistance and they said they canceled the outbound and were working on the Sunday flight and would call me with the information.  Never called.  We checked in at a hotel near Seatac and I called HAL's Customer service.  Now I was about to learn about the cancellation fees.

The agent said the flight had not been canceled as previously stated by the ship's customer service?  To change my flight the full price of the round trip ticket was to be forfeited in the amount of $1,200 although half the fare was already used for the inbound flight.  Then I would have to pay whatever fare the new flight would cost.  The value of the unused return ticket could not be used.  I said I did not understand that logic, but the clerk stated that is what the computer said.  I was also told that the Flight Ease office was closed on weekends.  I guess no one travels on weekends.  I hung up.

I then called Alaska Airlines and had absolutely no problems canceling the Saturday flight and rebooking the Sunday flight.  No fees, no upcharges, no nothing.  That was a big lesson learned.  The cancellation fees by Flight Ease are excessive and costly which explains the lack of disclosure.   Also, always double-check anything that customer service tells you.  They are full of malarky. 

I agree customer service is a thing of the past—a bygone era.  Everything is emails and text.  No personal telephonic communications.  If I hear one more time, "I am away from my desk and I will return your call later"  That just does not happen.  

We have had funds on deposit since 12/22 from canceling a cruise during the pandemic.  It was a use-or-lose situation with an expiration date of August 28, 2024.  I was just curious if we booked a cruise, bought the insurance, and then canceled for any reason would our deposit convert to cash, or would the funds return to HAL with an expiration date of August 28.  How are future cruise credits handled. 

During the pandemic, HAL would let you cancel and the paid-in funds would be deposit into your account for a later cruise within one year.  No refund would be issued.  In our case, they failed to deposit the funds, which was corrected ten months later giving us and extra year to take a cruise.  Since HAL will provide no refund, I was wondering how the insurance company would handle the payment for canceling for any reason.  Would they convert my future nonrefundable credits to cash, or redeposit the credits.  So if I wanted my credits back, buy the insurance and then cancel.  I would be out the premium.  The policy does not mention how the funding of the cancelation would occur. 

Initially starting this topic, I stated I did a mock reservation.  One without logging in and one with logging in.  Same price for both methods, except when I did logged in with credentials it stated it was a private sale and a $25 SBC would be provided.  When the SBC didn't show up I pursued the matter and that was when HAL stated the SBC was only for the cruises listed in BOLD print.  That logic was the reason the topic was initiated.  HAL did provide the SBC, but added it was only a one-time courtesy.  

I have noticed over the years, that the PRIVATE SALE offer is the same price available to anybody viewing the website.  If you sign/log in, the same price is available, instead of calling it a PRIVATE SALE, why not just call it a marketing gimmick.  I get a letter monthly with 20-plus cruises listed.  The website never reflects the prices in BOLD print. 

Living in Vegas, we find 60 degrees to be cold.  We are bound for Alaska 8-3 for a week.  So cold or hot depends on where you live. So pack accordingly.   Picture is the wife on our last Alaska cruise.

5 hours ago, Kay S said:

Remember when cruise ships had tuxedo rental shops on them?

For some reason or another, I still have my cruise ship tux rental sizes listed in my cruise file.  It may be time to toss it.

The voucher makes sense.  A refund from HAL would probably be the simplest since I booked through them.  HAL never did tell me if the ticket was refundable.  Thanks for your insight.   

An additional comment about the FE's Guarantee Late Arrival Protection policy.  If your flights are delayed or canceled by the airline on the day you are en route to or from your cruise, our staff is ready to assist you, 24/7.  If our flight is delayed or canceled the staff assistance will kick in.  On our seven-day Alaska Cruise, the first four days are at sea, and then we dock at Juneau with an airport.  So do you think with half the cruise over, HAL would refund our cruise money and a portion of our FE funds, or fly us to Juneau after paying for hotel and meals for those four days and nights?  I don't believe it.  The guarantee protection is just the staff assistance.  Again no details are provided for the guarantee.  

Thank you Mary.  This is after the final payment.  What I am reading is there will be a credit. I assume it will be with the airlines minus fees and probably a year to use or lose.   

FE's website is absent of this information.  When I click on the terms and conditions, I get a blank screen that sez "no air rules available".  Airlines are required to have full disclosure of fees including cancellation fees.  Wonder if 3rd parties are exempt?

I checked with the airline Flight Ease is using (Alaska Air) and their policy depends on what type of fare was purchased.  Flight Ease has Flexible and Restricted fares which does not equate to Alaska Airlines codes.  So if I wish to change or cancel a flight I should be able to know my fees beforehand.  My fare could be refundable or nonrefundable.  Flight Ease does not tell me that information.  As a minimum, those disclosures need to be provided.  

I searched the HAL forum, HAL's website, and used AI on Google and Alexia.  Nowhere could I find the cancellation fees for Flight Ease being mentioned or listed.  The Flight Ease website states   With Flexible Fares, you may change your flights without change fees** at any time prior to your cruise final payment date.  After the cruise final payment due date, fees up to the full cost of the ticket may apply.  But, those fees are not disclosed anywhere I have looked.  Does anyone know what those fees might be, or where to look?

We are receiving conflicting information about Dressy/Gala/Formal night for a seven-day Alaska cruise. TA and HAL both "stated 7 days cruises have 2 formal nights and they are generally the 2nd and 6th nights of your cruise.  They did not say our Alaska cruise in particular has formal nights. The HAL Navigation App for our cruise states all 7 nights are smart casual.  Specific guidance would be appreciated.  Plus it will save a couple of bucks on my spouse's shopping.