Roz

What are your choices of HAL ships for Alaska in 2023? Based on the information you've provided, I think any HAL ship could work for you. I would base my decision on itinerary, month, and fares.

That is a A LOT of charters! Pent up demand? I'm guessing groups that had charters scheduled in 2020 and 2021 have re-scheduled them.

To add to what @tupper10 just posted, medical and evacuation coverage isn't adequate under HAL's policies IMO. I purchase 3rd party insurance. A good place to start is Insure My Trip where you can compare policies. Purchasing a private policy within 14 days of booking will also cover pre-existing conditions.

What cruise line are you sailing? Where does it dock in Paris?

Try this: HAL Restaurants and Beverage Menus | Roger Jett Photography (rogerjett-photography.com)

I've done 17 solo cruises on HAL starting in 2003. Sometimes I meet other solos, sometimes not. Depending on ship and itinerary, HAL's fares can be solo friendly (less than 100% supplement).

My last river cruise was in 2018 on the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel. We were one of the last ships to make it all the way down to Basel. I was on a Uniworld ship, and our captain had to alter the itinerary but we made it. That's another thing, if you have your heart set on visiting a particular port, you may be better off visiting it on a land tour.

It may also be because it's too soon to book flights. I have a booking # but get an error message because the cruise isn't until September 2023.

I just did a Pacific Coastal from Vancouver to San Diego. This was the 2nd time we stopped at SF. A big, beautiful cruise terminal that's underutilized, IMO. Toured SF and then went over to Sausalito for lunch. Afterwards sat on my balcony and watched the Blue Angels practice. It was Fleet Week. Air show the next day canceled due to fog. Who knew SF got fog? 😂

As someone who regularly sails on Alaska and Pacific Coastal cruises, this is BS.

Water levels on European rivers have been fluctuating for years, depending on rainfall and the snow pack. As @Canal archive pointed out, a lot depends on time of year. There are no guarantees your river cruise won't turn into a partial bus tour.

I think you have to go thru customs and immigration with your bag before you're able to meet up with the cruise line reps.

Have you considered taking a European river cruise? English is widely used and spoken in Europe due to the EU.

On my most recent cruise in a Neptune, my assigned time was 10 am. The HAL transfer bus at YVR broke down on the way to pick us up so I was late getting to Canada Place. Once inside I was directed to the priority line and boarded before a lot of others. Sometimes you get there when you get there, regardless of the time on your boarding pass.

I posted it so that those unfamiliar with HAL's policy can see it for themselves in writing. If you think it's offensive you can ask a host to remove it. I wasn't trying to make any particular point, just provide information.

From the HAL website: All onboard purchases and services are charged to your account by using your stateroom keycard. Cash is not accepted for individual transactions, e.g. bars, the shops, spa, shore excursions. Cash is accepted in our casinos. Registering a credit card(s) (Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express®, and Discover®) as part of your pre-cruise check-in process activates your keycard. The day you board, Holland America Line places an initial hold on your credit card for $60 per person per cruise day ($30.00 per person per day for cruises longer than 25 days). Once you’ve spent the initial hold amount, we will authorize your card for the total of your onboard purchases to date plus an additional $60 per person per day for the remainder of your cruise. Please note that there may be multiple authorizations throughout your cruise, and that some banks may keep the hold in place for up to 30 days. Please keep in mind to change your settings for your credit card to ‘World’ prior to the start of your cruise, even if your cruise is within Europe. If you do not want to use a credit card, on the day of boarding, you will need to visit Guest Services and deposit $60 cash per person per cruise day (applies to all guests 18 years of age and over). Any excess deposit will be refunded to you at the end of the cruise. Traveler's checks may be cashed at Guest Services. Personal checks are not accepted on board. At the end of your cruise, you will receive a final statement, and your card will be charged only for the actual amount of your purchases. Refunds for purchases of onboard products and services will be credited to your onboard account whether purchased prior to or during your cruise. The final amount billed may take up to 24-hours following disembarkation. For questions about how long the hold remains in effect or how your available credit is affected, please contact your card issuer.

I can't imagine a cruise line allowing someone to charge $7,000 in the casino without determining first if they're good for the money.

I have a Hilton Honors AMEX and the only 2 travel offers I see are for RV rentals and hotel stays.

There are issues with Verifly. CCers on my Oct. 2 cruise are reporting problems with entering data and have given up.

I used mine to buy two really nice pairs of earrings from the onboard gift shop.

A quick check shows a 7-day cruise in May in a balcony cabin on the Volendam for $2,698. I don't know that you're going to find a cruise that meets your criteria for under $1,000. Alaska cruises pretty much all have a 100% single supplement.

International flights often involve a terminal change, and I've found 40-45 min. is not enough time at major airports like O'Hare and Bush.

It's near the Neptune lounge, stairs, and elevators.

On the Coastal voyages, it's impossible to get anything but a Neptune guarantee. Just got my assignment (SA) for my upcoming Oct. 2 6-day Coastal on Noordam.

I faxed mine on Sept. 4 for an Oct. 2 cruise but still don't have a confirmation. @Florida_gal_50, faxing is the only way certain legal and medical information can be securely transmitted.