Crew News

For planning purposes, here is a table of internet prices for both the Premium and Stream plans: Internet Prices 2024

Here is a link to the a table of charges for both Premium and Stream internet plans, purchased before or after boarding, for both a single or four devices, and from 1 to 100+ days: Internet Price List

Correction: Days 15-20 are a few dollars cheaper for stream packages and I will try to get updated info for all days greater than 14.

After reviewing my upcoming cruises (7, 14, 12, 9, and 17 days) internet purchase prices (20% savings) and calculating the onboard purchase prices, I have determined the following daily internet charges for up to 20-day cruises: Premium Plan Onboard Prices (5* Mariner discount can be applied): 1 device - $22.85/day 4 devices - $32.85/day Premium Plan Online Prices (5* Mariner discount can NOT be applied): 1 device - $18.28/day 4 devices - $26.28/day Stream Plan Onboard Prices (5* Mariner discount can be applied): 1 device - $34.99/day 4 devices - $49.95/day Stream Plan Online Prices (5* Mariner discount can NOT be applied): 1 device - $27.99/day 4 devices - $39.99/day Onboard purchases will be charged to "non-refundable" OBC with 5* Mariners granted a $30 discount to the total charge. I will try to obtain the stream internet prices for cruises longer than 20 days and post a full table soon.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. Only one person needs to buy. Others can use the same connection but not at the same time.

They did on Feb 3 in Port Everglades.

The latest HAL internet change for the Surf plan is: "Only available with Have it All fare." The Stream plan states that it adds video streaming (Netflix, Disney+, etc) to the already video calling/messaging and WiFi calling of the Premium plan.

Three

Since I usually have a good bit of OBC but like to make Specialty Restaurant reservations to secure a preferred date/tame, I do the following: Prepay for Specialty Restaurant dining as soon as reservations open on the HAL website. Once onboard, ask Guest Services to refund my prepayments (Guest Services is not able to cancel reservations only refund). Dine at my reserved time. Pay with OBC. Refunded prepayments will go to your "refundable" shipboard account and if not used, will be returned to the credit card on file with the ship.

You would still need to purchase some button eyes to get the full effect of the towel animals.

After I purchased one in the Explorations Cafe, I received another one as a gift. I have two copies. The towel folding instructions are very detailed and would be an interesting skill to show off at a party.

Welcome to Cruise Critic and to cruising. Treat your first visit to Alaska as a a sample as you cannot see or do everything. Keep a list of what you want to see/do when you return. Make a list of everything you eat and keep your daily programs (delivered each night) as your friends/coworkers will ask. Your daughter will meet kids from all over the world in Club HAL, enjoy lots of food choices, see lots of seaplanes and eagles, maybe spot some bears, and will beg you to return for another cruise. July is salmon season and bears will be seen near streams grabbing salmon returning upstream to spawn. As fish parts are discarded, eagles will be on alert to grab the uneaten scraps. Provide your daughter with some cheap binoculars so she can look for eagles (ice cream cones in the trees) and some good binoculars for yourself to search for bears/eagles/whales. Eagles in the tree tops Here is a link to a typical HAL Alaska daily program: Alaska Daily Program Here is a link to a typical Club HAL kid's program: Kids Club HAL Program There is no charge for kids under 12 in Specialty Restaurants if they eat from the kid's menu. Here is a link to the daily Main Dining Room kid's menu (bring crayons to color the pictures that change every day (menu is the same)): Kid's Menu There is a link to other HAL menus in the lower right corner of my signature below. I will be in Alaska in April and will be posting the latest menus that you will be served on your cruise. MDR Dressy nights should be on Day 2 and 5. Half of the men will be in polo shirts (no jackets) with the other half in jackets & ties. Perhaps a handful of tuxedos and long gowns. 24/7 room service is free with the exception of a few items: Room Service Menu Tongass Trading Company at the pier in Ketchikan had lots of souvenirs for both kids and adults. There are many experienced HAL Alaska cruisers willing to help you maximize your family cruise experience. Feel free to ask lots of questions to help in your planning.

As a former resident of both Athens and Istanbul, my tourist list for Athens (the port of Piraeus requires a taxi ride to Athens) is the Plaka for shopping and eating, Parthenon (Acropolis) to stroll through the same halls as Homer, and any beach. Istanbul stops should include the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, and definitely the Grand Bazaar for shopping (a youngster will meet you at the entrance and lead you to whatever you wish to purchase). Both of these cities are huge and not walkable. Negotiate with a taxi driver for a full day. FWIW close your eyes when riding in the taxis in both cities if you are easily panicked.

Food options are significant. Nieuw Amsterdam also includes the Tamarind Restaurant, Morimoto By Sea Restaurant, Tamarind Bar, and NY Pizza (Deck 9 by the outdoor pool). NY Pizza has individual, made-to-order (choice of ingredients) pizza pies served in a take-out box. In addition to pizza, NY Pizza also has salads and desserts. The Noordam pizza is by the slice, not made-to-order, and is presented under a heat lamp in the Lido Market Lido Market salads are only available when the Lido Market is serving lunch and dinner The Tamarind Bar has appetizers available during the hours that the Tamarind Restaurant is open.

Similar in that it serves specialty coffees and very limited snacks.

Here is a link to a recent Daily Program showing typical entertainment times. Example Daily Program. Of course each ship may vary.

It is my experience that the last laundry turn-in occurs on the evening before the last cruising day (not Embarkation Day). Laundry List

There are aft outside decks spanning the width of Decks 6 and 7. Access is via stairs or through the doors at the aft end of the applicable hallways. There are also deck chairs, blankets, and a large heating vent to keep you warm. As a hobby photographer, I spent a lot of time on those Zaandam and Volendam aft decks.

A remodeling of the centrally-located Deck #2 Pinnacle Bars could add both pastries and specialty coffees. Another barista would be needed but the Pinnacle Bar would have longer hours to generate revenue.

After booking your cruise, you can add Club Orange by contacting Holland America Line Ship Inventory at 1-888-628-8107 . Have your credit card ready as well as a deck plan if you want to upgrade your stateroom in the same category (example: verandah to better verandah stateroom). CO price for 18-day cruise should be $15/pp/day.

Compounding the Canada Place early Alaska season cruise experience is the Marathon running on the first weekend of May. Canada Place is a single terminal that must move thousands of passengers to the appropriate Convention Center cruise ship check-in entrances. Chaos reigns and the sound volume makes the shouted instructions from cruise line reps futile. IMHO directional signs, either posted on the walls or held above the heads of cruise line reps, would be a big help. My April cruise will be on Koningsdam followed by an overnight stay at the Pan Pacific before boarding the Nieuw Amsterdam for 14 days. This means that I will experience two Canada Place check-in processes in eight days and be able to provide suggestions for those HAL Alaska cruisers that will follow. FWIW I have learned that the HAL check-in entrance is the first one in the long Convention Center hallway. Staying next to the right wall keeps me out of the mob and gets me quickly into the HAL check-in area.

My phone boarding pass did not have a check-in time, rather just a boarding time. At least for Port Everglades, everyone used to have a 1:00 PM boarding time for a 4:00 PM departure. Experienced cruises arrived either early or late to avoid the crowds. Now with most departures at 3:00 PM, the new noon boarding time appears to be a return to the "good old days". Feb 3d, I arrived at 11:25, dropped luggage with porters, asked at the terminal door if I had a barcode, queued for carry-on Security scan, completed facial recognition scan, and arrived in my stateroom at 11:50 AM. Reminded me of the pre-COVID days but with no sitting. Now if Vancouver can be so smooth in April and May for my Alaska cruises.

Sometimes, although on record at the MDR, the table number is not included on your stateroom keycard. On my last two cruises (Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam), this happened to me. On my first visit to the MDR on both cruises, I stopped at the Deck 3 MDR podium, received an apology, and a green sticker with the missing table number.

You can upgrade to the Elite Package once you are onboard but before you use the Signature Beverage Package. Another workaround is to choose the "Manage My Cruise" button and then Shore Excursions. Note that you can see and book shore excursions on your Navigator app.

You will be given the start time for the TWT the day before you arrive in Denali. Note that the TWT departs from the McKinley Resort Lodge at the top of the hill from the lodging area. The lodging area has Karsten's House Restaurant centrally located (walking distance or shuttle bus ride) for meals. There is also the Canyon Restaurant in the Resort Lodge at the top of the hill. The TWT provides a snack box and you can purchase a box lunch across from the McKinley Resort check-in desk. Water is provided. The snack box is filling but I bring a few granola bars for the long day. Here is a link to the HAL website that will answer lots of questions about your cruisetour: Alaska Tour Tips Here is a link that includes maps, menu examples, photos, etc. from my Denali tours: Denali Photos from TWT: