RuthC

As far as I know, yes. This isn't like any of the beverage packages where one person in the cabin commits everyone in the cabin to the same purchase. IIRC, I have had the pass when I have shared a cabin, but my roomie didn't. But then we weren't on the same booking number either.

Experience. HAL's IT has been awful for years.

Perhaps it was correct info at the time it was posted? You bumped up a very old thread, you know.

If your wife wants to go, she needs her own pass. No sharing of cabin keys to get a spa pass.

If your wife won't go, you can go without her. Suggestions? Best burger I have ever had was in a Pinnacle Grill. You can order it without the bun, if you don't want the carbs from that.

As you disembark to go ashore, HAL will have a board listing the 'all aboard' time; it is clearly marked for what it is. Many people who tour privately plan to return with at least an hour to spare. Remember, too, that HAL normally ALWAYS changes time on the clock as the ship changes time zones. There is no 'ship's time' vs. 'clock time'. There will be a note on your pillow the night before, as well as a notice in the Daily Program. And a mention at the show the night before.

That's exactly how they are treated in Europe, in my experience. Just another port day. The only time I can recall having an 'in-transit card' was in Sidney, Australia. In Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Rotterdam---more ports than I can count, it was just like any other port stop.

Although I haven't been on the Noordam in several years, I have been on late fixed dining on many other ships in that time. I know that late fixed was never at 8:30, except for a brief period many years ago (as in 20, or so, years), when it went to four fixed seatings. Since that short experiment HAL has gone to a mix of fixed and open seating, at earlier and earlier hours. Last I knew, late seating was at 7:30 pretty much across the fleet, while early seating moved, in increments, from 6:00 PM to 5:30 (I think sometimes even earlier).

A confused woman is wandering around, stark naked, and hallucinating, and your word for that is 'amusing'?

Seriously? I would kill right now for that exact Pinnacle dinner, along with a veggie. Oh, and dessert, too, of course. Can't wait until my next cruise for that exact meal. Add the clothesline bacon as an appetizer, please. Can't get a meal anywhere near that fine in my own home!

It is. I have never done a 'turn around' procedure in any European port, where I have done several turn arounds, in several ports. The only place I have ever had to do a turn around procedure, that was not the US, was in Japan.

I had to drive to Logan Airport on a Monday morning, back in (I think) 1976. It was four lanes of solid traffic, bumper to bumper, all doing about 65 MPH. I picked up my sister at the airport, got out of town, and vowed I would never drive in Boston again. I have been back many times, but never driven there since. I can't believe the traffic, or the drivers have gotten any better in the intervening years.

As far as I know, it's still 330 days. If the flight is open for booking on the airline's site, then it should be open for booking on Flight Ease.

She may be my favorite all time ship (neck and neck with Rotterdam V for the title). I wish HAL had her back. Thanks for the pic.

Always sad when something like that happens. Happy there was no significant damage to either the pier or the ship. Loved that ship as the Ryndam. Spent a lot of very fun nights on her. Thanks for the link.

You are looking at the smallest vs the largest class of ships in the fleet. For Alaska, I would pick the smaller of the two. The Zaandam can fit into the docks, especially the docks closer in to the towns visited. There is plenty of viewing area along the Lower Promenade Deck, with comfortable seating available. This deck is somewhat covered by the lifeboats overhead, which can be important in inclement weather. The passenger load doesn't overwhelm the small towns, either, like the Koningsdam would.

I've been to Glacier Bay many times over the years, and was only rained off an open outside deck once. Not that there wasn't poor weather other times, but not bad enough to stop me. Even had one day I was comfortable in a sundress, and got sunburn on my face! You will have plenty of time before Glacier Bay day to walk around the ship and determine what outdoor and indoor places will be good. Find several, and be ready to move around when the big day comes. On THE DAY, bundle up as needed, and head outdoors. Except for the Pinnacle class ships, I highly recommend the promenade deck (by whatever name is used on your particular ship) as there are places to sit, and there is some coverage from the lifeboats overhead.

I agree. Restaurant and lounge service was poor, at best. I have great difficulty, and pain, walking (and did when I sailed Oceania). When returning to the ship, I scraped my hand, tore the skin off, and was bleeding profusely. I headed straight to the Front Desk, which was on the same deck as the gangway, to ask for a bandage. This has been a frequent request on HAL, who has always helped, so was the first thing I thought to do. They refused to help, trying to send me to the Medical Office, on another deck, to get the bandage. As I said, walking wasn't easy, and I didn't want to be dripping blood while panicking on a long, painful, walk. I did finally get them to help, but they should have done it willingly! Needless to say, though, I am not a fan of the 'service' on board Oceania.

Are you saying the price increased more than the additional cost of Club Orange? Very strange. I have not read of this happening before, and believe there is a mistake somewhere. Have your TA get to the bottom of this. It's how they earn their commission.

You can.

Define 'long'. I wouldn't have tried to walk it even when I could walk well. Other people wouldn't have trouble doing the distance. I don't remember whether or not there were taxies when I left the ship.

If you have written confirmation of your onboard credits (I always receive a copy of this), and for your Club Orange purchase, why do you need to see it on the website? I always have a written copy of everything that's included in my booking, whether from the booking itself, or an add-on that I have purchased. That includes on-board credits, HIA inclusions, shore excursions I have purchased, specialty dinners, spa/salon purchases, and have never felt the need to see if they are listed on the website. It's the paperwork that matters, and is what is accepted as confirmation if something were ever to go wrong.

I don't remember that, but I believe it happened. I did know one person who turned down the offer to join the group. Also, quite a few years ago.

I haven't seen what I would call 'late' dining in a long time, and certainly not 'late' entertainment. Late dinner used to be at 8:15, now it is at 7:30. The late show was at 10:00, which gave a comfortable amount of time to come in from the day, shower and change for dinner, have some cocktail time, dine, and then see the show. The proper order to the end of the day! After the show there was still plenty of entertainment around the ship, including music and dancing in the Ocean Bar until 1:00 AM, and the Piano Bar closing as late as 2:00 AM (dropped to 1:00 AM shortly after I started closing that bar). Crow's Nest had music until at least 11:00, and then switched to disco for a couple of hours. I'm convinced HAL wants us all snuggled in our beds so the officers and crew can call it a night.

Which defeats the purpose of choosing late dining. If you need to get to the show for 6:00 PM, then you still need to end your afternoon early, and come in to shower and dress for dinner. Then you are finished with dinner sometime around 9:00-ish, but much of the entertainment offered closes down not much later. It's as if HAL WANTS people to go to bed early so they can close down.