OlsSalt

This is such a valuable report - one for all of us to print out and keep in our own travel files. Would you consider creating a new thread on just this topic, so more people can learn your valuable, and hard fought lessons? Thanks.

Important to distinguish between the two lines embarking passengers face: (1) security lines and (2) actual ship embarkation/registration line. There is no priority for the security lines, and if one is sharing the port with another ship they can be horrendous. San Diego, from my own experience provided good examples twice for long back ups when several ships were in, just to get through security. Or forced to use their new and very badly designed second terminal. Again, just to get in the door. One's priority status is meaningless at this point and of no value for the port personnel directing passengers to the security check ins Then once inside the terminal, only then does one triage into various priority ship embarkation lines. That is where there does need to be higher awareness by the staff of the day about each cruise line's boarding priorities, if they are not made obvious through signage. I wonder if there is some confusion in the various reports between these two different "embarkation" lines. I know I was unhappy when I had to face my first non-prioritized security check in line, assuming I would get my earned priority status free ticket. But no, back into the long line and nothing to do but wait it out.

Think in terms of the zero waste demands now made on the cruise industry, and the new rules make sense.

That is step one - clean fingertips. Keeping them out of eyes, mouth and nose is where the contamination chain gets inadvertently broken. I always picture myself wearing a large plastic dog collar like the vet uses after surgery - keeps pets from licking their new wounds. My imaginary "dog collar" reminds me to keep my finger tips, clean or otherwise, away from my nose, mouth and eyes.

Keep in mind it is mainly your fingertips that transmit the "bugs". So if you use your knuckle, palm of hand, even your wrist or arm to brace against the stair railings, chances are you will not be later sticking any of them into your nose, eyes or mouth. But finger tips - yes, they are the primary vectors when self-inoculating from any possible recently contaminated surfaces .

When we get Neptunes, we spend a lot more time in the cabin and balcony than we do when we are in standard size cabins. So the privacy and quiet in the generous Neptune space is very welcome. We also like being very close to the Neptune Lounge, since we use it for small morning and midday light meals/snacks. This way we avoid the often tantalizing, more crowded and noisier Lido, where portions are larger. -waste not, want not-- I can't seem leave something uneaten - legacy of Depression Age parents. Therefore, I always gain less onboard weight when we have a Neptune suite, since we pick the smaller portion, but high variety items, from the Lounge instead. Having easy access to the Lounge also works for us when the steward makes-up the room in the morning. The push-button cappuccino machine in the lounge is a plus for that midmorning break time. Catch up on some news or pick up a random book in the Lounge. They can arrange delivery of wonderful hot or cold hors d'ouvres, if you want to entertain others in your suite. Or enjoy them yourself if you have a late seating dinner time. For us, the pace of the ship drops down for us when we have a Neptune -nothing seems rushed or the need be get line get to anything done. Just ask the concierge. Yet you still have all the activity choices you want from the rest of the ship too. Best of all worlds. Free laundry and **dry cleaning** is another great plus. Which often provides same day superb service. There may be special cocktail parties and luncheons just for Neptune guests -but less so of late from what I hear. Enjoy your time.

Approx similar 30 day+ cruise: Japan to Vancouver/Seattle: ---Viking Orion (900 passenger) -$17K ---HAL Westerdam (balcony) -$7K

I liked the days when passengers themselves cared about dressing more formally for the main dining room; not whether it falls on the cruise line to care. Passengers today don't really care about dressing up any longer. That is that. Doesn't stop us, because we still like to dress up - cruise time is always very special time for us. We love the old formalities. Probably because we are old. No point for HAL to create grief, trying to enforce something passengers do not enforce for themselves. I am just glad they keep the look of their main dining room more formal than a butcher paper table cloths, with sawdust on the floor. HAL main dining rooms let you not feel out of place if you still like to dress up with white linens and silver; nor do you necessarily feel uncomfortable if you do not. We have choices of cruise lines - so there is always Cunard which still attracts passengers who do like to dress up more formally for dinner. But today, even the expensive premium deluxe cruise brands now have gone "all casual", and leave it up to passengers to dress for their own comfort level.

I see two Japan-transPacific cruise options for the Westerdam - one is 30 days and has many stops in Japan before heading over to Alaska. And then the shorter portion of this same cruise, when the ship leaves Yohohama when it continues with only a few Japan stops before heading across the Pacific. The 30 day cruise is a very good survey of also the smaller ports, with a variety of offerings around much of Japan. Plus the chance to return to a US port - no jet lag getting home.

How big is the Celebrity ship - I personally would go for the smallest ship if you end up thinking all things are equal, since they are easier to get to know and get around. Just feels more homey, since this will be a longer cruise and nice to have that feeling built in. Maybe others have different experiences, but we found the addition of middle European crew members to be a negative - just not the same hospitality and warmth we get from the more traditional HAL crew members, and even HAL is mixing it up now too. Learned to avoid the Pinnacle on the Konigsdam due to that very factor - brusque, pushy and rushed..

It was touching. And amazing gift to us English speakers, since it was all conducted in English by primarily Dutch speaking company history notables. Loved the serpentine streamers at the end. May Holland America have many, many years ahead polishing the gem she has long been.

Five major medical incidents, including some rumored fatalities on our 2022/23 Konigdam Christmas/New Year's cruise. That we knew about. Two we saw right in front of us - one at the after deck hot tub, another in the Main Dining Room across from us - HAL staff responded promptly and professionally. Others cause course deviations, including a unexpected return to Cabo for a zodiac medical transport from the ship. Odd - no ready explanation in our past few years of medical topsy turvy.

Am I remembering the automatic hand washers were on the now retired Rotterdam? We used them years ago. Maybe it was the Zaandam - but on a R class ship.

Have looked at MSC cruise lines - Poesia does this route - a much larger ship with 12 bars compared to only 7 on the Zaandam. Could be a much livelier scene on MSC, compared to the others out there doing the Amazon: Viking, Regent, Silversea, Oceania

As a rule of thumb, the smaller and older HAL ships offering these longer cruises tend to attract destination-oriented travelers; not high onboard entertainment travelers. Choosing to go into the heart of the tropics, you will probably not get on-demand room chilling A/C either on the older HAL ships. Keep looking to find your best fit.

Some crew members allegedly offer to "baby sit" for a fee, if you want some downtime. Ask the front desk.

The issue is which HAL ships - newer Pinnacle dining rooms are noisier (design flaw or intent?) than the older smaller ships, where the dining rooms are quite gracious and lovely. Also depends if you choose the higher-traffic as you wish dining option, compared to the fixed dining times.

CDC specific information for cruise travel: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/cruise-ship

CDC Traveler Information - good to check on their latest recommendations before you go anywhere: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/traveler-information-center

CDC Advice for travelers included a study showing strong black tea good for common traveler GI ailments. Right up there with their advice about more commonly used OTC Pepto-Bismol type products and cautious use of Imodium.

CHANGING CABINS ON A B2B: Your description was exactly what we also recently experienced. However, we did pack up the drawers and cabin/bathroom loose ends in our suitcases, which we left in the old cabin but with our new cabin luggage tags. Crews moved everything hanging in the closets, and all was waiting for us after we got our new cruise card for that new cabin.

We have had some rebounding hang ups too - this comes with the territory - even location changes in small ports from where we got off and where we needed to re-board and obviously they were not able to notify us while we were ashore. So it was a walk to get to the new location and then a back up on some small Pacific Island. Standing in line in the cold for a few hours in Sochi Russia was another one. Thank goodness I had gloves and ear muffs tucked into my raincoat pockets for that one. So no one can say this does not or will not happen, but never once have I ever thought HAL was not doing its best under circumstances over which they had no control. Shady port agents can play games for shakedowns too which can turn all pre-planning amok too. They know they have the ship over the barrel, since that returning passengers just want to get back to their cabins, so that is when they strike. Travel streches us and is an adventure. If one wants/needs a 100% predictable and comfortable vacation, I suggest sticking with land resorts.

Our own recent cabana experience was very negative - they need to clean up their expectations and guidelines. Good concept - lousy execution. Hope they are working on this.

If you fly, or take the train it is wise to invest in the most lightweight luggage you can find so you are not penalized on their 50 pound weight limits, that comes with shipping the extra weight of the suitcase itself. I like IT brand as the lightest weight - just big empty bins with rigid sides and zipper closures - rolling or spinners. I pack them to the gills, and still do not go over the total 50# weight limit Yes, their largest size still stows under the HAL beds.

I think you should try another brand. Where you do not have such worries upfront about whatever consider are "dated looks". HAL is not trendy nor glitzy. It is old shoe comfortable. Surely you can find photos of various cruise ships online, to make a more comfortable choice up for your own expectations.