RuthC

I've noticed on the Daily Program that there has been no Catholic Mass at all this week. There has been a prayer service, led by the congregation instead, and I've wondered why. Is it possible you know if there was no priest on board, and why not? Having a priest onboard is one of the things that endears HAL to me, and I am hoping there was just a problem with this cruise, and not a change in policy for the line.

The room service trays are wider than the carts in the passageways, and I'll repeat, the stewards are very close by to move any carts that are difficult to pass---and they do, which is consderate. I can get by the room carts and laundry carts, although getting by the laundry bags hanging beyond the sides of the carts can be impossible. I can't get by the room service trays, and sometimes have to resort to banging on the cabin door with my cane to get people to bring their tray back inside. If you don't have room for the tray on your desk, and can't call room service to retrieve the tray, then leave it in the shower where it is out of everyone's way!

Fabulous itinerary! And you're going to Molde! I am jealous, as I've been there only one time. Had a great time, but want to go there again and spend more time in the city itself. You get not one, but TWO fjords, so don't pay any attention to what Sir PMP says. Both fjords are stunning. Oh, now you have made me want to go back, and on this itinerary. Congratulations on a cruise well chosen. Have a great time!

One exception to the corkage fee for all bottles brought on board is if you purchase a bottle while on a HAL shore excursion to a wine vineyard, one bottle (750 ml) per adult is exempt.

There is a nuanced difference between the two. A 'Collectors' Cruise' is merely two separate cruises that have been sold as one, generally with a smaller price. The promise on Collectors' Cruises is that the intact menu won't be repeated, although individual items may be, and entertainment in the main theatre won't be repeated. A Grand Voyage is one cruise, generally of even longer length. It maybe sold in two segments. There are pillow gifts, special events, and frequently has more upscale dinners. When I have been on them the entertainers and activities have been of a much higher caliber.

Roy when I took a cruise in order to take the Tracy Arm Excursion I did a 7-day round trip from Vancouver. Some passengers did disembark in Skagway, while others boarded there. The itineraries may have changed since then, but I don't recall seeing that they have changed.

They are 'dressy' nights, and on a 7-day cruise there will be two of them.

I would ask at the Front Desk once on board.

Your mother should be the one to ask for a key to her cabin for you, and similar for you to give her a key to your cabin. But yes, it can easily be done to get a cabin key with no charging privileges for someone in your party. I have used Special Needs at Sea to rent a scooter for about 10 years now, and have been satisfied. When they did give me a bum scooter one year, they did replace it at their earliest opportunity, but the distance was such that they also could have gone out of their way to get it to me a day earlier. They didn't do that. They did refund the money for the days the scooter was out of service without question. I have never used Scootaround (formerly known as Care Vacations), so can't speak to how they are. Their scooters look as if they are newer than those of the other company.

Which are your ports? What are your interests? What are some of the shore excursions you think you might be interested in?

The galley area runs from the mid-ship elevator bank to the aft elevator bank.

Whether you need the answer to the question now or not, I will answer it in case someone else does. I have been on a couple of final cruises before a major drydock when all sorts of physical changes to the ship were to be made. I will say, I would rather be on the last cruise before drydock than the first one afterwards. There were workmen already on the ship, doing preliminary work, yet there was no interference with the enjoyment of the cruises. Until dinner time the last night. The elevators were padded, to prevent damage when supplies/tools/etc. were transported the next day. Some of the decorations on the walls had been removed. And the shops were all packed up. No last-minute spending on-board credit. All in all, not bad.

There are no 'formal' days on most HAL cruises any longer. What HAL does have, and there should be one in the first three days, is 'dressy' night. Smart casual, defined as a collared shirt and long pants for a man, or a nice dress. or shirt/pants and neat top for a woman, are requested.

Interline is something vastly different than every other procedure. There are very few people on this site who know much about it---in some cases anything about it. We are not the group to be discussing this intelligently (although there are likely a few people who can). You will do better having your TA answer your questions. I do know this, though: late/fixed seating is rarely, if ever, fully booked. It is practically guaranteed there will be room for you to have that seating, if that is what you want. I would ask my TA to request it for me, if I were you. If your TA won't/can't do that, then see the Maître d' as soon as you board to be switched to it.

I've been there several times, on many sizes of ships---including Rotterdam V (38,000 tons). All have been tender to get ashore, except for the Prinsendam, which was able to dock a little further down from the center of town. Favorite memory is having our bus stop on the road when a woman pulled up to the traffic light and manually changed it to red. She then crossed the street and did the same on the other side. We waited for a plane to take off in front of us. Then the woman changed the light back to green, and we continued on with the tour.

On the way over to Antarctica, then again on the way back.

This has been discussed many times on this forum since it was implemented. Not new. Either you didn't read about it, or you have forgotten.

Thanks for the encouragement, @bennybear. I'll see how I feel next June. I've been to Alaska about 9 times for a total of 16 weeks (IIRC). I have also done some land touring there with HAL, independently, and spent a week at a professional conference in Anchorage (cruised up). So, I have plenty of Alaska time already. I've cruised Norway more times than I can count, including going as far north as the Svalbard Islands and into the Polar Ice Cap, so I have been blessed to enjoy both destinations more than most people. I just find eastbound flights to Europe, overnight, when I can get some sleep on the plane and take a day or two to recover much easier than eastbound from Vancouver/Seattle in the daytime. Whatever time I start out, it's already three hours later in the east, making for a very long day.

Let's take care of the last question first: the place to find other passengers who might be interested in sharing an excursion is on your Roll Call, which is another forum on this site. As to what I think of this trip, I liked it enough to take it three times! Antarctica is a special place. I have been to a lot of cold weather places in this world, but Antarctica is unique. You will never be sorry you took the trip. The Drake Passage can be either the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake---you take your chances. And if you have a rough crossing, you also take the meds to make it easier, and remind yourself 'This, too, shall pass'. If it's rough on the way over, you forget all about it when you experience Antarctica. If it's rough on the way back, you know it won't last long, while you remember what you saw. Oh, and the rest of the ports aren't too shabby, either. Very interesting cultures, architecture, foods, sites.

It is. At least in a comparable cabin, it is.

Per person.

Actually, on the Volendam and Zaandam, the insides on Lower Promenade (which is the deck the promenade is on) are larger than the outside cabins on the same deck. They are 10 sq. ft. smaller than the outsides on the lower decks.

Thank you both! You have made my day.

I agree. Not to mention, from the east coast of the US, it is easier to get to/from cruises to Norway. I am booked on a most desirable cruise to Alaska next year, round trip from Seattle, but looking at the flights this year---they are horrendous! Especially coming back is terrible hours. Does this adorable little old lady have the endurance for that???

There are three types of fare, two of which are shown on the HAL site. The cheapest fare is non-refundable. The middle fare is not shown, has no fringe benefits, and is called the Advantage Fare. It is refundable. You have to contact your TA/PCC/or call HAL to get the specifics on this fare. The Have It All (HIA) fare is the most expensive, has a variety of extras included for the higher price, and is also refundable.