Sue from Canada

On 1/7/2023 at 12:41 PM, REOVA said:

Why not have both better enrichment programs and live performance?

 

So I guess now the BBC movies will have recorded tracks (like the dance and singers now have since they did away with the HAL band). Next thing they'll just have digital music box to sit and listen to. But then they can sell tokens to drop in and select your song from the digital Jukebox. 🤔 

 

When they talked about cuts in 2019 it was mentioned the onboard entertainers and crew (band, singers, etc) would open cabins they could sell and also switch to cheaper third party entertainment agency. 

They could always bring back the passenger talent shows.  I enjoyed them.

There use to be a binder at the Front Desk with lots of floral arrangements one could order.  Does this still exist?  I love the flowers on HAL for my cabin.  They're so fresh and last so long.

11 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I hear you on the coffee.  I hate waiting so I usually bring one with me, then they wonder why.

Just give me my coffee asap and then I don't care how long it takes to bring my my food.  But I NEED a coffee (I'm not a morning person).

38 minutes ago, broberts said:

 

If the cruise is Vancouver round trip then you will have to complete an ArriveCAN submission sometime in the 72 hours prior to boarding. Only that one submission is required.

 

If the cruise departs Vancouver and doesn't return to Canada, an ArriveCAN submission is not required.

I'm just sounding off.  Why would one need to complete the ArriveCan prior to getting on a ship leaving from a Canadian port?????  I hate this crap.

Did you have to use Euros in St. Pierre?

11 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I asked for chocolates more often on the koningsdam and was told no only on gala nights.  Then it wasn't even then.  I know someone is going to say they didn't have problems.  I'm speaking for my cabin on my cruises.  I just gave up after a while.  And I did ask nicely before someone brings up that nugget.  Thanks for the info on the N.Statendam.

Hmmmm.   I'll just  have to bring a bag of chocolate coins and ask my steward to put them on my pillow.  Since I travel solo they've always given me two each night.  Just wouldn't be the same coming back to the cabin and having a 'naked pillow" 😄

Is that a box of Timbits your wife is holding???? MMMMM.  Really enjoying reading about your cruise and loving all the photos.

20 hours ago, oldmovieguy said:

I’ve just seen a report on YouTube that suggests that everything on Holland America, the Konigsdam in particular,  just shuts down at 11pm. What!, on other cruises we have done on different line we are just getting into our stride, tell me it isn’t so. Many thanks.

I'm a night owl and don't usually go to sleep before 4 am.  HAL is pretty dead around 11pm.  I wish someone would have some activities for us to do.  I'm usually in the Casino and out on an outside deck listening to the waves.  Maybe HAL could put in the daily program that card games will be available in whatever room.  Or even better, run a movie (and popcorn) to start at 1am.

1 hour ago, ScottishMaid said:

Hi Tim, I'm enjoying your descriptions and great photos.

Am I correct in thinking you went through Prince Christian Sound on the outbound journey but not on the return? In the recent Voyage of the Vikings they went through the Sound twice, in both directions. However for next year's Circle Iceland plus Greenland it is not shown in either direction. It seems the trip would not be the same without it (we have been to three of the ports in Iceland). What do you think? Also if you get the chance please ask an officer to clarify this.

Thanks, Jill

Unfortunately P.C.Sound is not part of the cruise next July (I'm booked on it).  I've sailed through P.C.Sound twice and I will truly miss this.  Hoping HAL will change the itinerary and add it back in.

I booked flight with Flight East last week.  On the docs I received was the file locator number for Air Canada.  When I went into the Air Canada site to look up my reservation their system could not find my file.  Is that because the payment is still outstanding and will be paid this December along with my balance owing on the cruise?

10 hours ago, Torfamm said:

Will you be in a port within 72 hours of arriving in Canada? Maybe you can connect to wi-fi that way? 

No.  Flight back to Canada from Fort Lauderdale is at 11:45am

15 hours ago, Daisyloo said:

We always put our HAL luggage tags on after our flight.  Less chance of them getting ripped off during their trip through the airport.  If you stay at a hotel after your flight, most hotels will give you a stapler to attach your tags. Or you could take a small stapler or a roll of tape to attach them to your luggage yourself.

 

I punch a hole in my luggage tags and then attach them using plastic cable ties.

21 hours ago, Sue from Canada said:

Since I don't have a smartphone, can I use the HAL computer to complete my ArriveCan and can I just pay for 1 day of wifi???

I should have explained my situation a little better.  I'll need to complete the ArriveCan 3 days before getting off the ship then flying back to Canada. So, I'll need to use a HAL computer.  I don't want to buy a wifi package as I 'disconnect' from everything and everyone back home when I'm away on vacation.  So, I just need wifi for a little bit to complete this stupid requirement.

Since I don't have a smartphone, can I use the HAL computer to complete my ArriveCan and can I just pay for 1 day of wifi???

10 hours ago, Despegue said:

We moved 2 years ago and my wife is so upset that she can’t find our collection of tiles anymore!

 

There are lots for sale on ebay

51 minutes ago, LoraJ said:

They said we CAN get on in Juneau, now if we can only get there

 

Can you fly to Vancouver?  From there you can book a flight to Juneau with either Delta or Alaska Airlines.  Good luck.

4 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Since today has been a day of observations for me, I'll make a few more:  

 

1. Actual drinks were passed out at the Captain's toast and not drink coupons.  And this was the first time the Captain didn't lead a toast; he simply gave a speech and introduced his senior officers.

 

2.  I've seen the Captain in the Lido getting food.  This is the first time since the resumption of cruising that I've observed this.

 

3.  Mask compliance indoors seems to pretty high.

 

4. For those persons in outside staterooms located in the forward part of the ship, they must be quite annoyed by the foghorn going off every few minutes.

I've been enjoying reading your posts and will continue for the entire voyage.  I was suppose to be on this sailing but had to cancel.  So, I'm booked for July 2023 to do it.  Re.:  Comment 4 - I was in a forward cabin on the V of V a few years ago and I just love to listen to the foghorn while lying in bed.  Enjoy the trip - I'm so jealous as I do so miss Iceland and Greenland.

11 hours ago, 54Carol said:

I had the same issue.  You cannot access it until 30 days prior to your trip.  You may have to cancel the trip and reenter the information.  I was just able to put in my vac info for our trip the end of August

.

Do you need a smart phone for Verifly?  What if someone doesn't have one.

4 hours ago, Ottawa traveller said:

I just finished Verifly. For the vaccine certificates the QR code wouldn't scan and the antigen test results were in the body of an email. I had to take pictures of both and upload the copy for their approval. In both cases it took less than 15 minutes for them to approve them.  I have paper copies of the vaccine results and the email for the test and I will have them with me just in case.  My boarding time is 10am so I will have lots of time if necessary.

Do you have to have a smartphone for Verifly?  If one doesn't have one what is one to do????

On 6/20/2022 at 10:34 PM, Fouremco said:

No, there is no paper form. You need to use either the app or the online verion.

 

Yes, you need to make a submission when flying into Canada, no matter what your plans following arrival are.

 

You only need to make a submission each time you enter Canada. So if you visit multiple Canadian ports without exiting Canada you don't need to make a submission for each one.

 

Once you have downloaded the app (or gone online), created and account and entered your passport information and uploaded your proof of vaccination, entering and submitting your trip information takes just a couple of minutes. Your personal information is retained in your account, so each trip only takes a couple of minutes to enter and submit.

So if one doesn't have a smart phone you'd have to buy an internet package from HAL to do this one small thing?

18 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

We have flown to and from Newark several times. Unlike major Canadian airports, there is no US pre-clearance at Billy Bishop. Our experiences arriving in Newark have ranged from good to horrid. Each time we were directed to a shorter queue for US residents, which was helpful. But it can still be a "zoo." We choose a flight due into Newark early afternoon, but one time our flight was delayed 2 1/2 hours and we landed at the same time as several planes from Europe.

 

An agreement had been reached between the governments to have pre-clearance, but there is no timeline for this to happen. I don't know what it is like arriving in other US airports. Until there is pre-clearance we will no longer fly Porter to the US. (I keep saying some day we should get Nexus cards, but we don't fly to the US too often.)

 

Returning to Canada from Newark is a better experience. There have been no significant queues for immigration/customs at Billy Bishop.

Thanks for the info.  I didn't know there was no pre-clearance flying to the US.  Guess I'll fly AC then take Porter back.

Have anyone recently flown Porter Airlines in or out of BBA to the US.  What's is like?  Are there big lines at customs?

9 hours ago, RuthC said:

I understand completely. 

I search for one that will let me get my scooter inside and park it, leaving me room to walk around it, without being an accessible cabin. I don't want the lower bathroom sink of an accessible cabin, and don't want to take an accessible cabin from someone who needs it more than I do. I can walk inside the cabin, and stand at the bathroom sink. I can even get up the step into the bathroom! 
Only certain cabins will take the scooter, and they are not always near each other. 
Then, too, location comes into play next. 

How do I know which cabins have a door large enough to get a scooter to pass?

11 hours ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

I doubt they would even consider it. Actually it would totally confuse them lol I do not beleive there is anyway in their system to even place your name as a passenger twice. Unfortunately it is not like a land based hotel where one person can purchase several hotel rooms.  

Years ago I was on a HAL ship and a lady in a balcony cabin booked an inside cabin for all her hat boxes!!!!  Does anyone else remember this lady?

I've also been looking at cruises on my beloved two HAL ships but I can't believe how much they want for a solo booking - a lot more than I paid HAL.  Maybe one day I'll find a bargain price.