Live from Alaska on Ms Zuiderdam - April 2022

[lderochi]

Very informative thread, thank you! Has there been any further info about the process for testing passengers who will be flying to the US after debarkation? 

[57redbird]

Question for you Roger --- can you find out what kind of fry oil HAL uses, please?  I'm sensitive to canola & soybean oils & would like a heads-up before we cruise.

TIA!

[Crew News]

2 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

Question for you Roger --- can you find out what kind of fry oil HAL uses, please?  I'm sensitive to canola & soybean oils & would like a heads-up before we cruise.

TIA!

I will ask at all of the cooking venue unless I can talk with the head chef.  Finding answers to questions has always added a spice to all of my cruises.  If they still had kitchen tours, I could have an answer 10 minutes thereafter.  I have added your question to my little green pocket notebook and will get back soon with an answer(s).

[albingirl]

30 minutes ago, Crew News said:

I will ask at all of the cooking venue unless I can talk with the head chef.  Finding answers to questions has always added a spice to all of my cruises.  If they still had kitchen tours, I could have an answer 10 minutes thereafter.  I have added your question to my little green pocket notebook and will get back soon with an answer(s).

You are so good.

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, lderochi said:

Very informative thread, thank you! Has there been any further info about the process for testing passengers who will be flying to the US after debarkation? 

Just talked to Guest Services and those flying back to the US on Disembarkation Day will be tested onboard the day before we arrive in Vancouver.  They suggest you register for this test with the Front Desk before you receive a questionnaire later in the cruise.

 

For those flying back to the US on another day, testing will be done in the Pan Pacific Hotel after disembarkation.

 

A survey will be distributed near the end of each cruise to query passenger's testing needs for returning to the US.

[Crew News]

52 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

Question for you Roger --- can you find out what kind of fry oil HAL uses, please?  I'm sensitive to canola & soybean oils & would like a heads-up before we cruise.

TIA!

I asked a Lido Market chef who assured me that canola oil is the only type used on the ship for frying.  The PG chef said last night they use olive oil in their unsuccessful attempts to sear scallops.  I will continue asking at other venues to get you a complete answer.

[canadarocks]

2 minutes ago, Crew News said:

The PG chef said last night they use olive oil in their unsuccessful attempts to sear scallops.

And that explains the problem...Olive Oil should never be used for searing!! That's kind of cooking 101.... 

[Crew News]

5 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

I swear I posted this morning, but it isn't here.  Hmmm.

 

I pointed out that there's a great, informative thread about ArriveCan on the Canadian board.  Very helpful folks over there.

 

If I didn't already ask, I meant to - is the ship casino open at all when the ship is docked?  Normally, they aren't.  I'm just wondering since I'm on a casino offer with free drinks while gambling.  I won't get much use out of it with only a couple of sea days (during which I'll probably be looking at the scenery, not at a slot machine), and late port days.  Didn't notice any casino hours listed on the When and Where.

 

Thank you!

Slots are open 24/7 on sea days.  The Casino opens every sea day for table games at 10:00 AM and they remain open until table-gamers surrender.  The Casino opens 30 minutes after departing each port.  While in Glacier Bay, the Casino is closed.

[Crew News]

3 minutes ago, canadarocks said:

And that explains the problem...Olive Oil should never be used for searing!! That's kind of cooking 101.... 

Any cooking show addict knows how to cook scallops with a high smoke-point oil which is not olive oil.

[Crew News]

On 4/27/2022 at 10:10 PM, senior lady said:

are they still selling drink coupons.  When I sailed before covid they had so many drink coupons for a certain price?

 

The only drink coupons used now by HAL are for a Mariner welcome-aboard free beverage from any bar, so I was told today.  I cannot answer for other ship/cruises.

[Florida_gal_50]

13 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Any cooking show addict knows how to cook scallops with a high smoke-point oil which is not olive oil.

That is unbelievable.  Where did they find this chef anyway?  

[Boatdrill]

6 hours ago, Crew News said:

As only one device is allowed for ArriveCAN, create the account and upload documents on your phone before leaving home.  You only need to do this once.  Add the arrival dates for the B2B once you are onboard.

For those who don't have smartphones, and will do the pre-cruise ArriveCAN on their home desktop, they'll need to use the ship's desktops (on Deck 1) to complete their post cruise ArriveCAN, before  arriving back into Vancouver.  Is it safe to say that ArriveCAN will accept the use of a different desktop ? 

 

Edited to add: This has been answered a few posts ago. Sorry I'm too late to delete the post.    

Edited May 2, 2022 by Boatdrill

[Crew News]

15 minutes ago, Boatdrill said:

For those who don't have smartphones, and will do the pre-cruise ArriveCAN on their home desktop, they'll need to use the ship's desktops (on Deck 1) to complete their post cruise ArriveCAN, before  arriving back into Vancouver.  Is it safe to say that ArriveCAN will accept the use of a different

desktop ?    

I just tried signing in with my laptop (never used for ArriveCAN before), and it worked just fine to login.  I could not use my tablet without starting all over (loading documents) because I originally installed ArriveCAN on my smartphone.

 

Based on this personal testing, the "sole device" rule seems to be only for mobile devices.

 

My test shows that you can just login to your home-created desktop ArriveCAN account using a ship's desktop and get a printed copy of your QR code. 

Edited May 2, 2022 by Crew News

[chefestelle]

Hi Crew News. I've been hanging on every post since you embarked. I'm doing the Alaska cruise in August with my sister. I've booked us for the pop up Rudi's Sel de Mar. Are you able to post on your other site what the menu is? Do you know if it is the same for the season? Many thanks! 

[Crew News]

19 minutes ago, chefestelle said:

Hi Crew News. I've been hanging on every post since you embarked. I'm doing the Alaska cruise in August with my sister. I've booked us for the pop up Rudi's Sel de Mar. Are you able to post on your other site what the menu is? Do you know if it is the same for the season? Many thanks! 

The menu is the same since last year.  and it should not change for a year or two.  I ate their tonight and the Dover Sole was amazing.  Here is the link to the pop-up menu:  Rudi's Sel de Mer pop-up

[BeachBum47]

On 4/30/2022 at 1:05 AM, Crew News said:

I saw five whales but did not capture any great photos.

Where did you go to see the whales? Was it a paid excursion or did you do it by yourself? Thanks so much for all the great info.

[Crew News]

1 minute ago, BeachBum47 said:

Where did you go to see the whales? Was it a paid excursion or did you do it by yourself? Thanks so much for all the great info.

It was a HAL excursion and HAL took care of all of the itinerary changes when the ship arrived late to Juneau. 

[BeachBum47]

Thank you for all this great info. I am thinking about taking my 82-year old mom on this cruise in June. In your opinion, is it a good idea to pay a little extra for a balcony cabin, rather than oceanview? I definitely don't want an inside cabin, but I was thinking it might be too cold to be outside on the balcony? My mom has always done inside cabins, whereas I usually do balcony... 

 

By the way, as a Canadian, I want to apologize for the ridiculous ArriveCAN app. It's so irritating. 🙄

[PSR]

10 hours ago, Crew News said:

If you look at the second Gold Gala Night menu, just posted for Day 05, you will see escargot is on the menu.  Bon Appetite.

 

Fantastic! Just checked it out; now I just have to make sure I haven't already made a specialty restaurant rez for that day. Thank you!

[NCTribeFan]

10 hours ago, Crew News said:

Slots are open 24/7 on sea days.  The Casino opens every sea day for table games at 10:00 AM and they remain open until table-gamers surrender.  The Casino opens 30 minutes after departing each port.  While in Glacier Bay, the Casino is closed.

 

Thanks for that info.  Really doesn't give much gambling time.  Or should I say, not much opportunity for those free drinks while gambling.  Oh well.  Guess I'll be spending some of my gambling allowance on adult beverages instead.

 

I thought of something else last night and now I've forgotten what it was I wanted to ask.  Sigh.

[NCTribeFan]

And, I just remembered what it was! 😊

 

Does the Crows Nest/Explorations Cafe still have a decent selection of books?  I remember reading many comments last summer about the decline of the ship libraries.  Eurodam still had an OK selection but Nieuw Amsterdam had very few novels.  I much prefer "real" books to trying to read using the Kindle on my phone but with doing a B2B, I don't want to use precious luggage space/weight to pack books.  I probably won't do nearly as much reading as I typically do (my favorite pastime is to sit on the Promenade deck where it's quiet and read most of the day), but it would be nice to be able to find a couple of books for late-night reading in the cabin.

 

Thanks again for all your help and willingness to answer all our questions!

[chefestelle]

7 hours ago, Crew News said:

The menu is the same since last year.  and it should not change for a year or two.  I ate their tonight and the Dover Sole was amazing.  Here is the link to the pop-up menu:  Rudi's Sel de Mer pop-up

Thank you! I've been eyeing the Dover Sole since so many people rave about it!

[Boatdrill]

9 hours ago, BeachBum47 said:

I am thinking about taking my 82-year old mom on this cruise in June. In your opinion, is it a good idea to pay a little extra for a balcony cabin, rather than oceanview?

Yes !   Years I ago I took my well-travelled elderly mom on the Westerdam to Alaska. 

The private verandah was perfect for her to see the glaciers and scenery without having to

leave the room.   

[Crew News]

7 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

And, I just remembered what it was! 😊

 

Does the Crows Nest/Explorations Cafe still have a decent selection of books?  I remember reading many comments last summer about the decline of the ship libraries.  Eurodam still had an OK selection but Nieuw Amsterdam had very few novels.  I much prefer "real" books to trying to read using the Kindle on my phone but with doing a B2B, I don't want to use precious luggage space/weight to pack books.  I probably won't do nearly as much reading as I typically do (my favorite pastime is to sit on the Promenade deck where it's quiet and read most of the day), but it would be nice to be able to find a couple of books for late-night reading in the cabin.

 

Thanks again for all your help and willingness to answer all our questions!

I could not find a book exchange and saw only travel related hardbound books.

[Crew News]

11 hours ago, BeachBum47 said:

Thank you for all this great info. I am thinking about taking my 82-year old mom on this cruise in June. In your opinion, is it a good idea to pay a little extra for a balcony cabin, rather than oceanview? I definitely don't want an inside cabin, but I was thinking it might be too cold to be outside on the balcony? My mom has always done inside cabins, whereas I usually do balcony... 

 

By the way, as a Canadian, I want to apologize for the ridiculous ArriveCAN app. It's so irritating. 🙄

There are plenty of blankets and the weather in June should be a lot warmer than now.  Your Mom will love the views and your Concierge efforts.