ZGSCL live from the Eurodam - 7 Night Alaska Explorer - May 13, 2023

[zgscl]

After two short weeks I am very glad to be back on Eurodam for my annual Alaska trip (actually this year I am going twice). 

This will be my third year in a row on the same itinerary - and weather is looking good, much warmer than last July. You never really know with Alaska. 

 

Embarkation was extremely easy. I arrived at the pier at 1:22 and was onboard in no more than 15 minutes. Handed my bags to the porter and headed into the terminal. I had 1 person in front of me at the initial screening, maybe 5 people at security and then walked straight up to registration and onto the ship. We are docked next to Royal Princess which is clearly a much larger ship. They had a big line outside for people to check luggage in. They had a big line before the initial check, and a huge line at security that went back and forth multiple times. I couldn't see their check in area. Very glad the HAL side did not have nearly so many folks. 

 

They seem to have elevator issues today (more than normal for an embarkation day). None of the midship elevators were available for anyone other than embarking guests and several were out of order. The forward bank had only 1 elevator. Haven't checked the aft bank but I heard many grumbles about the elevator situation. The Navigator app has been a little iffy also. I was not able to pull my Nav pass up at all for boarding (fortunately I had a printed copy), and the reservation system for restaurants isn't working at the moment either. 

 

With the elevator issue I decided to head straight to my muster station to check in before going to my room. I took a guess and used my paper boarding pass to check in with no issue. around 1:45 or so they announced there were over 1,000 people who still needed to go to their station - the ship definitely feels full but will try to get the passenger count at some point. 

 

 

 

 

[zgscl]

I normally book an SB aft wrap on HAL, but they were all sold out. This was a last minute booking after a whole debacle with the NCL Encore booking I should have been on last week after work came out with a mandatory conference less than 2 months out. I was going to do an SC guarantee but ended up switching to SA - room 7052 right across from the Neptune lounge. I thought it would be nice to try being very close again as I have been far away on all of my recent voyages. 

 

The room is nice - standard Neptune configuration, and the door is directly across from the Neptune. You really can't get closer. This was very convenient when I couldn't make lunch reservations for the Pinnacle Grill and they got me taken care of in about 2 seconds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Parkerson]

Thanks!  Following. 
 

We’re on the sailing next Saturday (20th). Look forward to reading about your experiences. 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Have a great time.

[Florida_gal_50]

Have a wonderful time.  Looking forward to hearing all about it.

[Radbooks]

Have a great time! We're boarding June 24th!

[canadianbear]

Nice to see you back on the Eurodam in a Neptune.  We are booked in one as well on the same ship in November which will be our first since the pandemic so nice to see the photos!  
 

Always enjoy your posts.  Have fun!  
 

 

[oakridger]

I also have enjoyed your past posts and pictures.  Have a great cruise @zgscl!!

 

~Nancy

[kazu]

Bon Voyage !!!  Have a great cruise and a WONDERFUL time 🙂 

 

Looking forward to your reports.

[zgscl]

Embarkation day daily program

 

 

 

 

Lido cabana - this will be my first time with a lido cabana. Definitely less private than the retreat ones, but much more usable with the unpredictable Alaska weather.

 

 

 

 

[zgscl]

As I boarded on the later side I had my favorite burger from Dive In (the Cannonball) served in my cabana along with an orange smoothie. 

 

 

 

Such a beautiful day to sail away from Seattle!

 

 

Main Dining Room dinner menu - Saturday

 

[zgscl]

For dinner I went to the Pinnacle Grill. The food and service were great. The sauce for the lobster mac & cheese was perfect as was the lobster but I found the pasta itself was a bit undercooked which was not the case two weeks ago. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dreamer321]

Thank you for posting the The Daily Program and the Club Orange nightly menu.  I find it incredibly useful for planning my trip on Koningsdam next week even though the schedule will change from ship to ship. Please keep them coming.

[aliaschief]

On 5/13/2023 at 6:19 PM, zgscl said:

After two short weeks I am very glad to be back on Eurodam for my annual Alaska trip (actually this year I am going twice). 

This will be my third year in a row on the same itinerary - and weather is looking good, much warmer than last July. You never really know with Alaska. 

 

Embarkation was extremely easy. I arrived at the pier at 1:22 and was onboard in no more than 15 minutes. Handed my bags to the porter and headed into the terminal. I had 1 person in front of me at the initial screening, maybe 5 people at security and then walked straight up to registration and onto the ship. We are docked next to Royal Princess which is clearly a much larger ship. They had a big line outside for people to check luggage in. They had a big line before the initial check, and a huge line at security that went back and forth multiple times. I couldn't see their check in area. Very glad the HAL side did not have nearly so many folks. 

 

They seem to have elevator issues today (more than normal for an embarkation day). None of the midship elevators were available for anyone other than embarking guests and several were out of order. The forward bank had only 1 elevator. Haven't checked the aft bank but I heard many grumbles about the elevator situation. The Navigator app has been a little iffy also. I was not able to pull my Nav pass up at all for boarding (fortunately I had a printed copy), and the reservation system for restaurants isn't working at the moment either. 

 

With the elevator issue I decided to head straight to my muster station to check in before going to my room. I took a guess and used my paper boarding pass to check in with no issue. around 1:45 or so they announced there were over 1,000 people who still needed to go to their station - the ship definitely feels full but will try to get the passenger count at some point. 

 

 

 

 

On embarkation days some elevators are dedicated to crew and Guest luggage.

[quilty964]

The food looks yummy, enjoy Alaska!

[aliaschief]

On 5/13/2023 at 6:41 PM, zgscl said:

I normally book an SB aft wrap on HAL, but they were all sold out. This was a last minute booking after a whole debacle with the NCL Encore booking I should have been on last week after work came out with a mandatory conference less than 2 months out. I was going to do an SC guarantee but ended up switching to SA - room 7052 right across from the Neptune lounge. I thought it would be nice to try being very close again as I have been far away on all of my recent voyages. 

 

The room is nice - standard Neptune configuration, and the door is directly across from the Neptune. You really can't get closer. This was very convenient when I couldn't make lunch reservations for the Pinnacle Grill and they got me taken care of in about 2 seconds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angelique was a fantastic Concierge. Say hi from Mr. Bruce &  Mrs. Sue.

 

[slidergirl]

1 hour ago, aliaschief said:

On embarkation days some elevators are dedicated to crew and Guest luggage.

 I was on the Eurodam on the Apr 29 cruise.  One side bank of elevators was down for awhile because the elevator doors on the 3rd floor (I believe it’s was 3) turned in nice waterfalls.  Staff was hustling around with those 5-gallon buckets trying to catch what they could.  I found it kind of funny - I hear these anecdotes of leaks and such on the ships and I got to see my own!

[Nola26]

We board on the 20th and now I can plan my afternoon and evening on my first HAL cruise, thanks! We will eat differently as we'll frequent the MDR, but great to have choices. So grateful for your posts, thank you for sharing.

[MisterMatthew]

ZGSC..

 

Thank you for your post... I am going to be on the same ship for the May 20 sailing.  I can't wait!

 

May I ask, did you have an assigned boarding "time"?  Just wondering.  By the way, your cabin looks especially nice!  I'm "inside", but have done the inside before.

 

Love the EXACT same burger at Dive In.  Yum!  Is the orange smoothie a drink available there?  Or, from a bar, etc... Alcohol?

 

Thanks again for the post.

 

---misterMatthew

[Nola26]

11 minutes ago, MisterMatthew said:

ZGSC..

 

Thank you for your post... I am going to be on the same ship for the May 20 sailing.  I can't wait!

 

May I ask, did you have an assigned boarding "time"?  Just wondering.  By the way, your cabin looks especially nice!  I'm "inside", but have done the inside before.

 

Love the EXACT same burger at Dive In.  Yum!  Is the orange smoothie a drink available there?  Or, from a bar, etc... Alcohol?

 

Thanks again for the post.

 

---misterMatthew

Not the OP but I'll be on the same sailing as you, we have completed online check-in and have our boarding passes that show time and group assignment. They are located under the Check-In option "Docs" tab. I also have our boarding passes via the app. Boarding Pass is shown as soon as I open the app, just tap to see them. Boarding Pass and group are shown at the top of the pass. In the app they may also be in your Wallet under the Account tab.

[jslev9]

47 minutes ago, MisterMatthew said:

ZGSC..

 

Thank you for your post... I am going to be on the same ship for the May 20 sailing.  I can't wait!

 

May I ask, did you have an assigned boarding "time"?  Just wondering.  By the way, your cabin looks especially nice!  I'm "inside", but have done the inside before.

 

Love the EXACT same burger at Dive In.  Yum!  Is the orange smoothie a drink available there?  Or, from a bar, etc... Alcohol?

 

Thanks again for the post.

 

---misterMatthew

 

12 minutes ago, Nola26 said:

Not the OP but I'll be on the same sailing as you, we have completed online check-in and have our boarding passes that show time and group assignment. They are located under the Check-In option "Docs" tab. I also have our boarding passes via the app. Boarding Pass is shown as soon as I open the app, just tap to see them. Boarding Pass and group are shown at the top of the pass. In the app they may also be in your Wallet under the Account tab.

 

I'll also be on the same sailing. Got an email from HAL ~ a week ago that our check-in time had been assigned and our boarding passes were ready. Got another email a couple days ago that our boarding time had changed (moved one group/20 minutes later) so be sure to remember that it can change up until the day of embarkation!

[Linaeve]

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm going next year but love to plan and seeing menus and programs for the same ship and same itinerary is just making it so much more exciting. The food overall seem to look good so far!

[zgscl]

On 5/14/2023 at 3:09 PM, aliaschief said:

On embarkation days some elevators are dedicated to crew and Guest luggage.

We actually have 2 of the midship elevators down completely and 1 aft also. Definitely not ideal on port days, and much worse on embarkation/disembarkation when they take the elevators for luggage. 

 

After 2 Celebrity cruises I noticed they did not do this at all. Not sure if anyone has experience on other lines, but I would be curious. 

[zgscl]

On 5/14/2023 at 3:19 PM, aliaschief said:

Angelique was a fantastic Concierge. Say hi from Mr. Bruce &  Mrs. Sue.

 

She is fantastic, isn't she! I will say hi! 

[zgscl]

On 5/14/2023 at 4:33 PM, slidergirl said:

 I was on the Eurodam on the Apr 29 cruise.  One side bank of elevators was down for awhile because the elevator doors on the 3rd floor (I believe it’s was 3) turned in nice waterfalls.  Staff was hustling around with those 5-gallon buckets trying to catch what they could.  I found it kind of funny - I hear these anecdotes of leaks and such on the ships and I got to see my own!

One each of the side banks are out of order. Wonder if this is related. Hope they get them back up and running.