kingstonKouple72

Thanks for all the responses.

With respect to Lynn Canyon Park... We think we will get to our hotel to drop off luggage around 1:30ish. Assuming we walk to the SeaBus stop, how long do you think it would take to get to LCP and to the suspension bridge?

Is the park something that closes at a particular time? I am not sure if this will be achievable the more I think about it....

Thanks

Don't know when you plan to arrive at Canada Place, but if you arrive before noon, you will have plenty of time to take in Fly Over Canada and walk around CP. In addition, I'd suggest a walk either east, to Gastown or west along the seawalk/promenade towards Stanley Park. The walk towards Stanley Park is one of my favourites. You don't have to go all the way to the park to enjoy the views and ambience.

We normally try and get to the pier by about 9am for most of our previous cruises. Generally our aim is to get on the ship as soon as possible. Usually there isn't anything to do at the cruise ship terminal..... We may get on a little later this time if there is stuff to see.....

PS - what is the "seawalk/ promenade"? I am looking around on google maps and find nothing. Is this a pedestrian only walkway? looks like W Waterfront road and Canada Pl are the streets closests to the water, but open to vehicles..... is there something closer to the water?

Thanks.

Thanks.

We actually arrive in vancouver on the Wednesday around noon. Child wants to go to Lynn Canyon Park (he wants to go on the suspension bridge) and the Science Centre.

We figure we'd be at our hotel Marriott Pinnacle relatively close to the pier), at around 1:30 at the latest. Check in or drop luggage off at Bell Desk then take the Seabus to N Vancouver.

If there is something better to do than LCP... I am all ears. We figure we would do the Science Centre on Thursday.

I will look into the other suggestions as well.. thanks again.

Cruise departs at 5pm on a Friday... means All Aboard time is 3pm (at the latest).

Usually we try and get to the pier and be among the first hundred or so people when going on a cruise. But it is my understanding that the Cruise Terminal (in Canada Place) is a tourist attraction itself.

We were thinking of getting their early, dropping our luggage off with the porter, and spending a few hours in Canada Place. My son wants to do the Fly Over Canada exhibit.

Anyone have any experience with the layout of C.P.? Is this doable?

Booked Zaandam beginning of July.

What about children and formal nights? Kids grow so fast, I see no reason to buy a sportscoat just for one or two wearings. Would a young boy be fine with dress pants, shirt and tie on formal night?

Kudo’s to the maturity level of those responding to this thread. I expected the OP to be insulted and flamed. I am glad there was none of the “it’s my right” crap.

My wife has allergies to everything – from maple trees to dogs to pollen to perfume. Unfortunately once she catches a whiff of anyone with a heavy chemical odor it isn’t something that she can simply walk away from. The insides of her nose quivers and she sneezes and sneezes and sneezes and sneezes – long after the offending woman (yes.. 99% of the time it is a woman).

She is fortunate in that she isn’t as allergic as some people. If a smell is faint it will often only have a minor effect, yet when someone smells like they bathed in perfume, well that is a different story. It ruins her entire day/evening.

Bottom line people, if you must put perfume on - if you can smell it, it is too strong. A little dab will do ya.

Zaandam to Alaska in July...

We have two cabins, each with a $300 OBC.

We want to book the White Pass Rail excursion.. which is on sale until the end of February (not a huge amount.. but between 4 people it is close to $100....). If I book now.. must I pay for it or can I use my OBC to cover it?

Thanks

I am not talking the applicator but the actual cotton part.

 

 

Cruise Virgin till 3/17!!! Got tickets to Paradise!!!

No no no no NO!!!!

Do NOT flush even those. Disposal bags are provided.

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all my past cruises have been from a US port.... so when clearing customs and immigration, the officers only care about if I was leaving anything behind in the USA....

We are booked for Alaska from Vancouver this July.

We are only permitted one litre of alcohol per person to be brought back into Canada duty free.

Not that *I* would do it.. but if, by some slim chance, a Canadian citizen happened to purchase more (lots more) than their allowance from the ships booze-store.... does this get reported to the Canada Border Security Agency by HAL (or any other cruise line)?

Thanks.

So I was talking to a co-worker about my past cruises and my upcoming cruise in July and she indicated she was hesitant to book a cruise because of concerns about clogging the system.

She is "bathroom sensitive".... prefers to go in her own home... or wait.

She envisions having to call a plumber for a service call, in which case she would feel quite uncomfortable.... so the easiest thing is to simply not go on a cruise, because the toilet systems are so fragile.

To be clear... she isn't talking about attempting to flush non-authorized products.....

7 days would be a long time to wait.

Has anyone ever heard of fecal matter clogging the toilet? I never really gave it a thought to look how large the "evacuation tunnel" is... but I have to imagine it is set up differently than an ordinary toilet that has some sort of "s-coil" the solid matter travels to leave the premises....

Thanks. Hoping to alleviate my friends fears so some day she too can experience the fun that is cruising...

We are doi g 7 day yvr-yvr.

And the NCL Star was our first cruise and so far my fav ship.

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Thanks all. Think we are going to book Zaandam on july 4th.

Any thoughts on the ship?

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Looking to book an alaskan cruise this summer. Want to depart the end of june when son gets out of school. Would turn 14 a few days after we get back from the cruise.

We have never done HAL before, having been on NCL and RCCL (enjoyable) and Carnival with the kids (never again).

Due to transportation issues we want to start and end in Vancouver.... which leaves either Celebrity or HAL.

Any thoughts from people who have done this itinerary before? Will there be enough kids on the ship for him to have a good time?

Thanks

When we were there a few weeks ago the porter was saying they are building a new terminal for Quantum..... so apparently they will be able to handle the bigger ships soon

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Thought I would voice in since we just got off FOS on Jan 19th. Cafe Promenade does still have the free coffee/ tea/ hot chocolate. It's along the back wall as others have mentioned.

 

I thought Mike and Belle were awesome, so maybe they were just having an off week when you went? Belle seemed to be everywhere, which really impressed me.

 

I second all of the must-do things mentioned above. I also think the adult games shows (love and marriage, the quest, battle of the sexes) should not be missed.

 

Freedomfest is something they do one sea day where the promenade is filled with yummy food and cool activities. They have staff members demonstrating food carving, towel animal making, napkin folding, etc.

OMG - I was on the same sailing as you!

The Love and Marriage show was HILARIOUS! In all our cruises it is always the oldest couple that wins! (fav part: she's wearing a black number that I bought her and no underwear)

The Quest: My wife was a captain, at one point she was running around another woman's false teeth. gross!

Battle of the Sexes.... I'd hate to be the woman whose top fell down. I am really glad they didn't show that in the Cruise in Review film at the last show!

Now that I am back home in the frigid north I am pining away from another cruise. Today it is a warm -10 C (14 F).

Just got back from Freedom, and have to say, overall the waitstaff was pretty good, but our waitress, Kibwe Providence was absolutely AMAZING.

Best server I have ever had at any restaurant ever. I have eaten at greasy spoons, mom and pop's, franchise's, and a few times at 5 star restaurants... and she was the best, hands down.

I think the best thing about her was she always had a smile on her face. She enjoyed what she did and it showed.

When on vacation I try to step out of my comfort zone and order items I wouldn't normally order. One day I didn't see anything, so I asked for the steak. She said "today isn't the day for steak, get the tenderloin". I hesitated... she says "you don't like mushrooms do you?" (correct, the tenderloin had a mushroom sauce)... I nodded. "I'll take care of you" she says. "Don't you worry." And man.. I have to say.. the tenderloin (with a peppercorn sauce) was the BEST beef dish I have ever eaten in my life.

Kibwe was amazing. That was just one example. Some days she would just bring out a sample of an appetizer or a piece of lamb or duck for me to try. I didn't ask for it. She just thought I might like to try it. Sometimes I enjoyed it. Sometimes it reaffirmed that I didn't like it. But I always would try.

Seek her out if you are going on Freedom. Your cruise experience will be made that much better.

please delete

so.. our flight arrives close to midnight, so I booked Quality Inn Airport ($75) and they arranged shuttle to PC (from hotel) the following morning (8am) for $40 pp return.

It would be cheaper to rent a car if it was more than 3 people.. but for just the two of us, $155 for the night and shuttle to/from is the best deal I can find.

My concience is clear.

I generally drink only water. So on the odd time I want a coke... I will get her to get me one. At $60-70 for the week.. I don't think they are hurting... especially when the cost is pennies a glass. I actually think it should be them who question their ethics of charging so much for the soda card.....

so.. with the drink package.. what is to stop people from buying one soda card....the spouse with the package uses the sticker at the bar, and the other uses the "magic cup"?

In the past we have only gotten one soda package, and because the wife and I are normally together... when one of us wants a drink.... the person with the sticker would get it. This is an interesting work-around with the magic cups....

anyone ever done this before ?

Agreed. This is just another luck game. I play poker...not bingo

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any idea how much travelynx is?

we have 2 in our party.. and plane lands at 11:33pm....

Never heard of them on these boards. Typical shuttle fares are around $25 per person each way, so $50+tip each r/t plus the cost of a hotel compared to the $198+tax they are charging.

my interpretation is it is $99 total for two people....

can anyone provide any feedback about how reputable this company/site is?

http://daysinncocoabeach-free.com/

or

http://portcanaveralcruiser.com/hotel-deals-cocoa-beach-florida/

Seems to offer 2 people shuttle to/from MCO to hotel, hotel overnight, transfer to pier, then return to MCO after cruise for $99 +tax.....

too good to be true?

what is "ultimate" HE?