A Very Short Live From the Eurodam - One Night Vancouver to Seattle - April 28, 2023

[zgscl]

One of the easiest embarkations I have ever done. Arrived about 1:10 at the pier. There did not seem to be any porters to take luggage but there was a sign pointing back out front (since it is only a 1 night cruise I assume they figure no one has much luggage). 

 

We stood in a short line and went through security, next we went through US immigration (they had a lot of automated kiosks that printed a receipt that you handed to the officer). After that the standard HAL check in kiosks that use facial ID and then takes a picture of your passport (an agent was there to do everything for you). After that we walked directly on the ship. I boarded the ship at 1:20 or so. 

 

As has been the standard since the cruising restart HAL puts your key card in your door, and they are still doing the e-muster drill. Such a huge enhancement from a guest experience perspective, it lets you get right to relaxing and you have a 2 hour time frame to stop by and scan in to your station. 

 

 

 

 

[zgscl]

After doing two cruises on Celebrity, the biggest thing I miss is the fact that Celebrity has somehow figured out how to not use up half of the guest elevators on embarkation day. HAL can you please study this and implement????? Particularly on full ships it is quite annoying that half or more of the elevators in each bank are off all day, especially when they didn't even have luggage to deliver... OK rant over. 

 

I am in 6107 which is a SC category. You could only book guarantees on the 1 night cruise unless you booked very close in, so I went with the SC guarantee (last time I was upgraded to an SA). I am usually opposed to guarantee rooms, but as it is only one night I figure who cares where they put you.  The room is totally indistinguishable from the SAs on deck 7. If you are OK with the walk to the Neptune lounge the savings of an SC can be significant (on a 7 night cruise it is often a greater than $1K difference). Exactly the same room and perks other than location. 

 

The only Neptunes I don't like are the ones right around the midship elevators as the elevators have a spectacular view of your balcony the entire cruise. I cannot speak to the forward facing Neptunes as I have not yet stayed in one - and those who have followed my other threads know that my favorites are the SB aft wraps. 

 

In comparison to the SB aft wraps the cabin is larger (more space between the bed and the chairs/couch) but the balcony is much smaller. Being mid-ship you feel much less motion and there is less noise/rattling than you get on the aft wraps. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[zgscl]

I almost always do specialty dining, but here is the MDR menu from tonight. I feel like the surf and turf was $35 last time I was onboard, now it is showing as $18. 

 

 

 

 

[aliaschief]

We’ve been on for 19 days. Fun to see many one day date night cruisers on board having lots of fun. 

[canadianbear]

Thanks for the photos-we are in a Neptune deck 7 on the Eurodam for our Caribbean cruise later this year.  As much as I’d love an aft hubby just doesn’t do well with the motion of the ocean.  I, on the other hand, love it.  

[zgscl]

Just now, aliaschief said:

We’ve been on for 19 days. Fun to see many one day date night cruisers on board having lots of fun. 

It really is! Sometimes I have to blink a couple times to make sure I am actually on a HAL ship...but the elevator floor mat telling me it's Friday always confirms it. 

[zgscl]

1 minute ago, canadianbear said:

Thanks for the photos-we are in a Neptune deck 7 on the Eurodam for our Caribbean cruise later this year.  As much as I’d love an aft hubby just doesn’t do well with the motion of the ocean.  I, on the other hand, love it.  

I originally booked an SC guarantee for my cruise in 2 weeks, but decided to upgrade to an SA right next to the Neptune Lounge. We have done aft wraps for almost every cruise since the restart so I think it will be nice to try being close to the lounge again. 

[BetsyS.]

zgscl - Thanks for the updates and great pictures! I agree with you about the elevators on day1. Safe trip home! 

[BetsyS.]

canadianbear - I agree with you about the motion of the ocean - as long as it's not too bumpy. I think the gentle back and forth motion is nice when going to sleep at night. 😊

[OlsSalt]

14 hours ago, zgscl said:

The journey from Pacific Central Station to the Canada Place pier is very easy. It is roughly 1 block to the Sky Train, a 10 minute ride on the Sky Train, and less than 1 block to the pier (assuming you use the correct exit at Waterfront Station - read the signs carefully). 

 

We arrived at 12:25 PM, thanks to being one of the first off the train I walked into Canada Place at 1:10 PM (and that includes a couple detours to take pictures).

 

After crossing the street from Pacific Central Station I took this, you can see the Sky Train station at the end of the path just past the little tent. 

 

If you manage to use the correct exit at Waterfront Station this is the view from the top of the escalator...the near side of Canada Place is the entrance for cruise ship passengers. 

 

The ramp takes you down to the passenger embarkation level. You can also go inside Canada Place and take an elevator downstairs. 

 

 

I think it is worth walking to the far side of Canada Place and getting some pictures of your ship. Canada Place has wonderful public access to walk alongside and depending on which ship is docked where (and what direction it is facing) you can get some nice pictures. 

 

'

Thank you for all these details about connecting from the train station to the Waterfront station and on to the ship at Canada Place.

 

We will need to also do this in reverse from the ship to Waterfront to  the Train station, for our upcoming cruise leaving Vancouver and going to Seattle to pick up the Coast Starlight train to California. 

 

We got totally mixed up at the Waterfront Station the first time taking the wrong exit coming in from the Airport on the Skyway and hope to never make that mistake again.

 

When you say ......watch the signs carefully ..... I know we did not and just blindly took an exit to who knows where,  and that was our error. So we had to roll our suitcases across streets, plazas and intersections to finally get to the Fairmount Hotel.

 

What exactly do we "watch for" on the exit signs when trying get from Waterfront station to get to the ship. Thanks so much. Your report is encouraging that making this connections is doable ---if we do it right! 

[madera1]

We disembarked earlier the morning on the 28th after a 4 night getaway from San Diego. We were in a Neptune Suite across from the Neptune Lounge. Our past stays in a NS we’re all aft corner rooms. I must say we really used the Lounge this trip. We were told that over 1,000 persons were boarding for your one night cruise. My siblings had NS cabins next to mine and the room steward opened the balcony so we could have the entire deck space. We had a wonderful trip and my 101 year old mother broke even at the slots and enjoyed her meals. All shops and the casino were closed on the 27th and 28th. There was no BB Kings the last night either. The orange party was well attended and Kings Day was also celebrated. Loved that the captain opened the bow for the sail into Victoria.

Edited April 29, 2023 by madera1

[POA1]

Thank you for this thread! The tips regarding Seattle to Vancouver on the train are great. Flying into YVR is not fun. We always seem to arrive concurrent with flights from the Far East.

[zgscl]

On 4/29/2023 at 12:14 PM, OlsSalt said:

'

Thank you for all these details about connecting from the train station to the Waterfront station and on to the ship at Canada Place.

 

We will need to also do this in reverse from the ship to Waterfront to  the Train station, for our upcoming cruise leaving Vancouver and going to Seattle to pick up the Coast Starlight train to California. 

 

We got totally mixed up at the Waterfront Station the first time taking the wrong exit coming in from the Airport on the Skyway and hope to never make that mistake again.

 

When you say ......watch the signs carefully ..... I know we did not and just blindly took an exit to who knows where,  and that was our error. So we had to roll our suitcases across streets, plazas and intersections to finally get to the Fairmount Hotel.

 

What exactly do we "watch for" on the exit signs when trying get from Waterfront station to get to the ship. Thanks so much. Your report is encouraging that making this connections is doable ---if we do it right! 

 

When getting off the train there was a sign on the platform that pointed to Canada Place, basically walk in the direction the train came from (not past the front of the train). 

 

When leaving Canada Place turn left and walk up Howe Street on the left side and you will see the entrance. If you get to W Cordova street you have gone too far. 

[zgscl]

Since I boarded a bit later I decided to do Dive In for lunch. I love being able to order on the app. We were so fortunate to have such a beautiful day to sail out of Vancouver. 

 

 

 

 

 

[zgscl]

For dinner I went to the Pinnacle Grill. Everything was wonderful except the pork chop which was okay but not as good as it has been on other trips. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is nice to have a later sunset and the waters of the PNW make for some beautiful cruising. 

 

It seems rude, but we got our disembarkation letter on the same day as getting onboard. Not nice at all. As was the case on my previous one night cruise they put everyone in the self assisted luggage group. 

 

[zgscl]

I decided to enjoy a quiet evening in my room which was delightful, plus I will be back in 2 weeks. 

 

Another beautiful day in Seattle. 

 

 

I went to the Pinnacle Grill at 8:40 as the letter indicated they would be open until 9. Apparently that was not the case and I was sent away. Breakfast in the Lido was fine. You can definitely tell that the ship was full. Much longer lines than I recall from my cruises over the pandemic. 

 

 

Disembarkation was very easy. I walked off at 9:15 or so. As we cleared immigration and customs in Vancouver there was no inspection in Seattle which made disembarkation the easiest that I have ever done. I walked straight through the terminal and out the front doors. 

 

If you are somewhat local I definitely recommend the 1 night cruise. You can get onboard for less than the cost of a hotel and it is a fun quick trip. The October one fits perfectly on a weekend with a Saturday departure out of Seattle and Sunday arrival into Vancouver. 

 

 

 

 

[canadianbear]

I may have missed this but did you pre-book the Pinnacle for supper?  
 

The shortest cruise I’ve done was 3 nights with a friend.  It was a great ladies getaway that did Vancouver to Seattle back to Vancouver. I surprised my girlfriend by taking an upsell to a Neptune suite.  

[zgscl]

22 hours ago, canadianbear said:

I may have missed this but did you pre-book the Pinnacle for supper?  
 

The shortest cruise I’ve done was 3 nights with a friend.  It was a great ladies getaway that did Vancouver to Seattle back to Vancouver. I surprised my girlfriend by taking an upsell to a Neptune suite.  

I did pre-book the Pinnacle but there were definitely some spots available onboard as I changed my time and they had a few options open.