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DesertRat46

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Everything posted by DesertRat46

  1. DesertRat46
    Because we had a late flight into Montreal (8:30 p.m.) we just stayed at a Hilton property nearby. Took a cab and dropped our bags as soon as allowed and spent several hours sightseeing.
  2. DesertRat46
    Did this cruise pre-pandemic and the weather was perfect. The Captain said it was the best weather he had ever had on that route, Even Port Stanley was easy ,,,,except for the totally hosed up tender process. We too missed our booked tour. But we did ok with walking a local cab. Would love to go back, but this time on HAL or Princess for more time in the area.
  3. DesertRat46
    We did a 3 day trip on our own after a Celebrity cruise before the pandemic. It's a trip not to be missed if you are already in country. We made our own air and hotel reservation and hired a guide for a lot less than Celebrity wanted. The only time it was really misty wet was in the Devil's Throat area. Hard to keep camera lens dry.
  4. DesertRat46
    That should be OK. In October we got off the Westerdam and it was smooth sailing out to SeaTac with Uber in time for an 1130 flight.
  5. DesertRat46
    When we were on the Westerdam last year we liked the table we got the first night and asked if we could keep it the entire cruise and the staff made that happen.
  6. DesertRat46
    Anyone on CC attempted to book the new stand-by cabin? It seems to me that you are most likely to get an insider cabin/ Hope to learn from experienced cruisers.
  7. DesertRat46
    We used Ubrer from airport hotel to FLL cruise terminal with no problem last spring.
  8. DesertRat46
    All I can tell you is that on my late September Alaska cruise on the Westerdam the drinks you signed for in the Neptune Lounger were charged to your shipboard account at the regular price. It would be great if they were part of Have It All, but on this cruise and a previous cruise using Have It All in a Neptune lounge it didn't work that way. Be great if HAL changes that.
  9. DesertRat46
    Access to the Neptune Lounge is the big perk. Snacks available, a nice place to sit and read/relax and a very helpful staff. Drinks are available, but not part of any beverage package. And, of course the bigger cabin,
  10. DesertRat46
    There is a Holland America cruise Boston to Rotterdam, it's roundtrip, but you can book just one way. Think is in March of 2025.
  11. DesertRat46
    My birthday was off by 1 day when I checked in at the port for my last cruise, but the person at the desk corrected it. Now I have to check and see if it was fixed for future cruises,
  12. DesertRat46
    Have never tried dropping luggage that early, but frequently drop it about 10 am when the porters are there and then gone on to enjoy the port until boarding time. We usually board around 2-3 pm.with no problems.
  13. DesertRat46
    We did this in 2019 and it was a great experience. While you do not "set foot" on Antarctica, you will not regret doing it. We happened to have great weather, the Captain said it was some of the best h he had experienced there, so saw lots of wildlife, ice bergs, etc. Do it!
  14. DesertRat46
    Never tried boarding early, but have often waited until an hour past the "assigned" time and found the lines shorter. Depending on the port, can enjoy a nice lunch ashore and board when assigned or later,
  15. DesertRat46
    In March, 2025 HAL's Oosterdam is spending 2 nights here. What are the top shore excursion ideas?
  16. DesertRat46
    We did a trans-pacific to Japan on the Millie prior to the pandemic and it was a great cruise on a well-maintained ship. Great crew. Not likely to go back just because of flight time from Asia to US or US to Asia.
  17. DesertRat46
    For our fall 2022 cruise it was not enforced that I could tell. However, we don't like to board too early, so it might have been at the start of the proess.
  18. DesertRat46
    My tux stays home, but I do wear a sport coat (no tie) on the dressy nights. On my last TA, Celebrity, there were maybe 5 men with a tux and maybe 50% with a sport coat, and very few ties, More women were dressed for dinner.
  19. DesertRat46
    With HAL & Celebrity (at least last year) if you have the drink package in Canadian and Alaska ports, there has never been a tax charged, So I'm guessing the cruise lie just absorbs the cost.
  20. DesertRat46
    Thanks - I think it was just HAL's IT team at work again. Today I can see cabin choices,
  21. DesertRat46
    Is it now impossible to book anything other than a guarantee cabin? I looked a several spring 2024 cruises and none of them appeared to allow you to select a cabin. I looked at oceanview, balcony and suites and only thing that popped up was the guarantee. Is this a new HAL policy? if so, it's not one designed to get my future business.
  22. DesertRat46
    Hope this was a one-off cruise for X. We were on this ship in April and ate in the MDR most nights with a much better variety than reported by the OP. If this is to continue across the fleet, i guess we'll do a lot more business with HAL.
  23. DesertRat46
    For the Seattle experts out there, which of the following hotels would you recommend ....Hilton Motif, Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, Hampton Inn Downtown, Seattle Hilton? Will be using points, so price isn't a big concern. Looking for safe, walkable area,, easy access to waterfront and Pike's Place Market.
  24. DesertRat46
    We're looking at renting a motorhome to drive the Alaska Highway and then take a cruise back to Vancouver OR, take a cruise to Alaska and drive back to Vancouver. Any strong opinions on which direction for the driving part. Thinking late spring 2024.
  25. DesertRat46
    Looking for suggestions for restaurants serving dungeness crab in Juneau or Ketchikan in late September.
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