Crew News

Off topic.....Your kindred spirit is noted. "So it is written (IAW Chicago Manual of Style of course), so shall it be done," I always say. If great ideas and processes cannot be documented in a manner understandable by those who provide funding or manage, nothing happens. This is the same concept for HAL menu management. A visit to any kitchen will see written rules, recipes, plating photos posted to ensure uniformity.

As a fellow technical writer (and product realization developer), I understand your thinking.

I know of only one person who purchased this back in 2019 and they waited more than two hours for it to be delivered. With the new Tamarind addition to the Room Service menu, this may no longer be available. i will note this on my website.

The NA has NY Deli & Pizza (no sandwiches) available by the Deck 9 aft Lido pool until at least 11:00 PM from my experience last January.

It is open until midnight but on movie nights some additional items are added. NY Deli & Pizza Menu

They also opened the Taco Bar so must have had a crew change.

Here is the current wine list: Wine List

Roped-off only near the conclusion of lunch every day from April 22 - May 4 while I was onboard the Zuiderdam. Crew and authorized staff were picking up lunch and heading to "Crew Only" area at the forward end of the Lido Market. First time I had seen this on any of my previous cruises.

In addition, as the lunch period nears the end, one of the buffet lines is closed to all but crew members. At least one lunch day on most cruise weeks is devoted to Indonesian food at the Distant Lands station.

If you are staying in the same room, there will be no card change and your onboard account will just be rolled over to the next cruise. You will have to leave the ship to clear Canadian Immigration but can choose not to return until later in the day. If you are changing rooms, Room Stewards will help you as soon as the residents of your new room leave the ship. When you return to the ship, your new room card will be in your mailbox unless the Front Desk has other instructions.

The Late Buffet menus are available on the Navigator app each day. This limited buffet is for the crew but passengers are welcome. The entrees are different from the MDR but some desserts from the MDR are still available.

You will also be able to see the current daily menus for every dining option on your Navigator app with your smartphone/tablet/laptop.

When deciding on a beverage package or not, it is important to consider how much time each day you will be onboard to consume your 15-drink limit. Alaska ports are usually early morning stops which means early to bed each night and reduced time for consuming your 15-drink limit.

My HAL PCC once shared a photo of herself standing in front of the Rome Colosseum and I congratulated her on her obvious pregnancy. I was quickly informed that due to the crime rate aimed at tourists caused her to zip her large purse inside her jacket. I lived outside of Istanbul Turkey for a year back in the '70's and found it one of the safest places in all of my travels. Stores would routinely leave their goods unsecured overnight and locals felt secure walking the streets after dark. When I asked why no fear of theft, my local friends reported that the loss of your left hand was a true deterrent.

The only photographs I found worth taking in Costa Rica were of the egrets and sloths spotted during the canal excursion.

Puerto Limon (San Jose) - industrial terminal

While returning from an excursion in Costa Rica, the bus passed through a community just outside the port with every house surrounded by barbed wire., burned out cars, in many yards, and debris everywhere. When asked, our bus driver warned the passengers to not wander outside the port entrance/shopping area.

A nice wide promenade deck.

The Holland America excursion plane had six seats on each side with a center aisle. Everybody got a window. There were also private excursion smaller planes bringing guests. Here is a link to some of the photos of what you will experience: Taku Lodge

I have enjoyed both the Taku Lodge and small boat tour to Tracy Arm. The flight over the Juneau ice fields to the Taku Lodge is in a 12-passenger plane with narration, the king salmon caught the day before, and the tea is made from a large chunk of the Taku Glacier ice. The Tracy Arm excursion is always available because the small boats can dodge the house-sized ice chunks. I have seen whales as well as sea lions on this excursion. I strongly recommend both excursions. Whichever you choose, you can do the other on your next trip to Juneau.

Welcome to CC. Here are two photographs that show the span of docks in Ketchikan so you can determine the walking distance:

Definitely bring compact binoculars. It is my experience that you have to spot wildlife before you can zero in with a camera telephoto lens to take a photo.

Thanks for your review of the lobster roll. I will add the lobster roll that you reviewed to the seafood chowder that I previously reviewed and avoid both.

Delivered by Room Service.

I only got the PDF Booking Confirmation file for those approved cruises. No separate emails.