greensprout

39 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

I believe the Neptune suite gets you the CO MDR entrance line on the non-pinnacle class ships.

Yes it does.

As a Canadian military veteran, I appreciate your post.  Here we tend to commemorate the fallen on 11 Nov (Armistice Day WW1).

• Hub had many as well as the other smoked cocktail in Ocean Bar 5-19 May on NA.  He was very happy with them.

Aaaaannnd... the "cold" that hub acquired half way through the cruise and that I saw symptoms 3-4 days later, has turned up POSITIVE for COVID.  Both fine pre cruise and fully vaccinated.  One of the two of part\y we were with has tested positive today as well.  

Clearly some person with COVID was on the ship and passed it around.  FYI if you have any symptoms after this trip.  We have not had any cold or other respiratory illness for at least 6 or more years,.

☹️

5 hours ago, booksfan said:

Just out of curiosity, has anyone noticed if the Nieuw Amsterdam has oat milk available for lattes?

Hub was getting almond milk for his lattes.  I believe they had oat milk as well but did not order there myself.

10 hours ago, mooseridge said:

Question Roger.  Despite the rough weather, are you seeing any whales /spouts from the ship? 

 

Hope so & thanks.

 

mooseridge

 

 

 

 

Thanks.

My friend saw one whale breach yesterday at Valdez from the heated loungers in thermal spa and another from his veranda port side far aft.  Thinks one may have been a fin whale and the other a young humpback.  Unfortunately no photos.  Hoping to see some on this evenings whale watching cruise, but rain continues and will be heavier during this excursion (5-830 pm).

34 minutes ago, 0106 said:

Any sightings of the Northern Lights?

That’s a hard no.  Low clouds, fog, rain.  

Unfortunately all tours for Valdez today are cancelled due to sea conditions.  So much for the Columbia Glacier tour.  Still nearly 2 hours till we arrive, and I’m also wondering if they will put out the tenders.  

Yes of course, my bad.  We are on NA.

4 minutes ago, Crew News said:

With the expanded luggage drop off opportunity, one Vancouver bottleneck has been eliminated. Pausing only momentarly for facial recognition instead of queing to speak to a HAL rep also contibuted to a better process.

 

The Security scan and US Immigration was the hold up.  If the other cruise lines would enforce staggered boarding, things might be even more improved.

With that, what are your recommendations for luggage drop off for the 5 May NS departure?

On 4/27/2024 at 2:35 PM, Bolt. said:

Could you let me know how you find out whether you are docking or tendering at each port? I'm on the Zaandam in May, and I wish I knew which ports would be done which way.

We board the Nieuw Amsterdam on May 5.  Just had an email 2 days ago that Juneau will now be a tender port.  I see there are 5 ships in port that day 🤨

On 4/23/2024 at 7:42 PM, BSR said:

Is the inside of the aft cabin the same size on decks 6 and 7 mid ship?

That I do not know.  I believe I heard that the NS aft on deck 6 are smaller.  We were happy with the deck 4 aft NS.  We were happy with the aft view and larger balcony and don't mind walking further to the Neptune lounge.  We generally always use the stairs and never elevators while on board, so easy to get in the 10000 steps daily.

Same ship, Had a Neptune suite last Caribbean cruise on deck 4. Was fabulous.   There was some machinery obstructing a tiny portion of view on starboard side where we were.  Have a deck 5 NS aft for the 14 day Alaska 5-19 May, with friends on beside starboard cabin.

enjoy!

Our first cruises on HAL were with kids.  4 of us in an ocean view. First time the kids were 11 & 12 (12 days in the Mediterranean during my deployment leave from Afghanistan.  Second with kids was a Christmas Caribbean 10 day with kids 13 & 14.  Was very fun but will never have 4 people in a cabin again aside from a huge suite, but would hesitate even then for the privacy thing.  Personally, without kids, no more than 2 per cabin is happy, but clearly budgets do impact this.  

On past cruises, we were at Half Moon Quay on day 2.  A passenger went into cardiac arrest on the beach, which we saw responders addressing on our way back to the tender.  The Capt that evening gave a toast and acknowledged that a passenger had died on the beach.  Did not see how that person was disembarked.

Last cruise, a passenger had a medical issue one evening.  Caribbean itinerary.  We ended up with an unscheduled day at Grand Turk and missed the Half Moon Cay planned stop so the patient could be off loaded in Grand Turk and repatriated to Florida from there.  The Capt did also make an announcement to that effect as the planned schedule changed.  I felt it was handled very well. 

On 1/17/2024 at 5:13 PM, kazu said:

 

It is my understanding that if it apparent that the passenger is not going to be on the ship, their safe is opened and passport delivered to the port person there.  

 

I know when I was medically disembarked in 2023 and got taken to my cabin that there was someone there for my safe.  I had to turn over my passport to the port agent in the ambulance.  He cleared me with the authorities while I was in the hospital.

That is very good to know in the event of something horribly unexpected.  

Very smoky on Vancouver Island the past few days .

Good news for our 14 day Alaska on the NA in May!

On 7/22/2023 at 7:29 AM, AV8rix said:

Yeah, but they subtracted the carpaccio.  Not a good trade-off (for me, anyway).

No more carpaccio?  Not nice.  Loved that dish.

Looking forward to following your journey, as we will be doing the same trip May 2024 (as I believe you are as well).  Welcome to British Columbia!  You will sail right by where I live while on the inside passage.

Is this only for US military members or Canada too?  Haven't heard about it here.

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

Bar staff are on a different contract, and are not part of the $16/17.50 per day system. The 18% on a drink is divided between the bar tenders, the waiters and a some amount for a employee welfare fund. 

Noted, perhaps I had info just for bar servers/tenders.

Cannabis edibles in Canada (along with other forms of delivery) are legal for purchase over the age of 21.  Generally, one can just walk into a storefront and purchase.  Quebec may have some particular idiosyncracies, but certainly Nova Scotia would be fine.  Just ensure you have no product with you when re-entering the US, as this will be illegal in the US.  

When on the Nieuw Amsterdam 3 weeks ago, we did ask about this.  Servers did state that any tip added onto a spa/drink/meal (which is in addition to the 18% crew appreciation daily), the tip goes directly to the server whose name is on the bill/ticket that you sign.  

Left the NA on 2 April after 2 weeks Caribbean.  The origami was in the BBKings Blues lounge from what I saw.  The colouring was in the Crows Nest on deck 11, definitely great views from there.