julia

My current view from the (empty) thermal suite onboard Noordam! The heated loungers beat out walking in the cold rain.  Sorry, Juneau (been here, will be back).

Currently onboard Noordam, it's 10:35 am, tracking on course for Juneau. Cold & cloudy!

"gopher holes"?!  🫢😲😅

We arrived YVR at 10:45am yesterday (Sunday May 5th).  The immigration kiosks at YVR were quick and simple to use. Collected our bags and exited, crossed over to escalators up to the SkyTrain.  Purchased two "concession fares" (seniors), boarded train (no problem with luggage) to Waterfront Station. Although our deck 7 check in time was 11:30, we did NOT want any part of the Canada Place zoo. There's a nice brew pub right in Waterfront (thx @martincath) called Rogue, where we had a casual lunch, surrounded by lots of folks with marathon medals around their necks.  Around 1pm, we walked a few blocks over to CP, went down the ramp (as told), handed off one bag to porter, and noticed no crowds. It does get a bit "much" with riding escalators up, then back down, but there's personnel directing everywhere. We glided thru it all, with zero lines, and were onboard in about 30 minutes. Went directly to our aft balcony cabin, started unpacking the carry on, and the large bag was delivered in minutes.  Done.  Sailaway was wet & soggy, but happy! Today is a smooth sailing, thermal suite, drink package kinda day!  🎶🫢🍸⬆️

Finally, I do not care if we make President's Club... late boarding is the only way to go!

@Northern Aurora... recent posts have indicated that now we go around the left side of the building instead of under into the parking area.  I will confirm this in 23 hours.

1 hour ago, mr. godfredo said:

Anyone have any information on the front to back facing inside cabins on Oosterdam? We have cabin 4158 and was curious about the layout and space. It says it is a large inside, but I have seen conflicting information about actual cabin size. If anyone has insight on these type or category of cabins I would greatly appreciate it.

You can see pics of these cabins on halfacts and cruisedeckplans dot com.

Been having ads in every thread on Cruise Critic for many months (android Samsung S22). Would love to get rid of it....

If you truly envision this trip to be in "honor of your father", then catering to boredom in teens is counter productive. HAL will not be the cruise that can/will suit 45 people, sorry.

Suites, 4*, 5*, and CO all have priority boarding... Seattle is no different.

1 hour ago, Boatdrill said:

From HAL website FAQ's:

Q: Are jeans allowed? 

A: Jeans without holes, tears or embroidery are welcome on most evenings in all restaurants, but on Dressy Nights jeans are only allowed in the casual dining restaurants. 

Casual dining restaurant(s) are the Lido, Dive In, Pizza, etc. The MDR is not.   

That is a website blurb. Reality is what I've witnessed onboard, and I've seen plenty of jeans in the MDR on "dressy/gala/prom" night.

Jeans are permitted every night in the MDR on nearly every cruise, except grand world voyages, which have true formal nights.

12 hours ago, sherryf said:

We have never bothered to make reservations in the MDR, and have never waited more than about 5 minutes.

Lucky you... can I assume you've never sailed on Koningsdam? 😲

Welcome back!  We spent 35 nights on the Koningsdam last Spring, and it is a happy ship! We will board the Noordam next Sunday... our favorite class on HAL.

1 hour ago, greensprout said:

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

The NS is NOT departing here on 5/5/2024.... hopefully you meant NA?

4 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

Thank you richwmn for posting the full menu. That is really helpful. If you “Have it all” then any drinks listed at $15 or under would be included, correct?

The dry-aged Delmonico was, while not necessary,  probably a nice upgrade

Are upcharges also occurring in the MDR? 

If you have the HIA Plus (which includes the Elite Bev Pkg) then yes, drinks listed up to $15. The regular HIA has the Signature Bev Pkg, with drinks up to $11. I don't mind paying the difference to drink finer wines while dining in PG...

What is this?  It's a major metropolis!  Have you not been to NYC, London, Paris?  Are you American? If so, then take 25% off everything Canadian.  

Obviously, you will be fine on your tour, but I'd touch base with the private fishing tour and give them a "heads up" that he will be tendering. They will be aware that K'dam is tendering, and should be somewhat flexible.  

I apologize for any confusion... I have always referred to (the product posted above) as "genetic meclazine", and now I stand corrected.  I do not get seasick, but I do travel with this, and have shared with others onboard when needed.

A transdermal patch would be my very last choice, as noted, they have a lot of side effects. I've recommended generic meclazine often and it is effective.  Take it prior to boarding, stay low and outside on the ship (when you can) and eat light and often. 

6 hours ago, SeaMatesNYC said:

They sell HIA once aboard? Or the beverage package?  What’s the onboard price for HIA?

In a few posts that mentioned purchasing the HIA onboard, it looked to be $65/pp/pd (so $10 pd increase).  Not 100% certain though.

1 hour ago, Iamthesea said:

 

 

Again, it doesn't matter if I have one or not.  Although I do have proof that HAL has charged our card, they cannot magically find me that SS.

@Iamthesea.... they need to "magically" offer you a damn Vista suite at NO additional cost to you, period!  They have some available, and HAL frankly needs to compensate for this error. 😲

2 minutes ago, cbr663 said:

 

Yes, this group all have priority to check in and wait to board.  Once boarding commences, it will literally be by row after row of people who are waiting, with those with priority starting first.  The priority is to board a few minutes prior to everyone else, or however long it takes for people in the queue to be scanned while boarding.  They try their best to conduct the boarding so everyone is actually moving through the terminal and on the gangplank and when they reach the actual ship it is scan on and step aboard and move forward for everyone else.

I am MORE than familiar with the boarding process, thank you! 🫢

I received this same email for our Noordam May 5th sailing from Vancouver, again stating "several ships in port" (its just us and the Nieuw Amsterdam!)  I'm not sure how effective this will be, since 4*,5*,CO, and suites all have priority. We shall see...

10 hours ago, mattR said:

Do you have to be onboard 90 min before departure or just checked in 90 min before? 

Checked in...

Yes, HIA can be added later... call your TA or HAL directly. You'll want to add it before you sail, as it's more $ once onboard.