Alberta Quilter

Oh, there's interest! At least on my part. Please continue when possible!

Oh, I'm sorry you didn't get to Les Iles de la Madeleine. I really enjoyed our day there a number of years ago. I've always wanted to go back but for a longer stay. I'm sorry to hear that your cruise is almost over. Thanks so much for posting!

I totally understand. I’m caregiving for my DM who is not in the best of health. It’s good to have a cruise to look forward too, isn’t it?!

No, I don't believe you will be sent a policy unless you ask for it. Did you check on the HAL website? I know they have a summary but there may be a link to the full policy. If not, ask whomever you booked with to get you a copy. Can I ask, why did you purchase it so far in advance of your cruise? I usually purchase just before final payment. That way, if something comes up that I need to cancel, I'm not out the cost of the insurance.

I can't help you, other than to suggest that you post this same question on the Alaska ports of call forum. You may reach more people there.

The article made a reference to the “Crow's Nest Cafe”. Did the Explorations Cafe get a new name?

I've been to both but have not been "on" Mendenhall. They're similar but different is the best I can say. Of course, Columbia Icefields is unique because you're driven onto the glacier in the Snowcoach. I agree with Crystalspin in that Mendenhall, from a distance, is just okay (kind of like viewing Columbia from the Visitor Centre across the highway). Both are nice to see once, maybe again in ten+ years so one can see how/if it has receded. I didn't need a lot of time to see Mendenhall. I'm sure a helicopter landing on the glacier would be far superior to viewing from a distance but that wasn't in my budget and, frankly, I would choose to see whales too, just because I never get to see whales in landlocked Alberta!

I like HAL for Canada/NE; done it three times and about to do another one this summer (with Greenland and Iceland). HAL has cruises that go to Saguenay, up the fjord, but those are usually 10 days. Still, I don't think you can go wrong with HAL and I think you'd fit right in. Entertainment seems to have deteriorated, though. I haven't cruised since before the pandemic so I'm going by reports rather than first hand experience. I hope you find a cruiseline that meets your needs!

I bet you won't even know they're there. We sailed with Roads Scholars once (that we know of because we met one RS couple on the way to FLL). They had lectures in the Wajang Theatre for their group only but not for hours on end. I only know this because I had to wait for them to leave before attending an event in the theatre right afterwards. If we hadn't met the couple and seen them leave the lecture, we would never have known it was a RS event.

I’m sorry if I created any confusion. Some on my roll call are waiting for the same info I was inquiring about and, since it was a HAL specific question, I thought the HAL forum was the more appropriate place to ask than the SA forum. Since I was asking for similar information as the OP, albeit for a different year, I assumed that the OP might be interested to know that the HAL pre/post hotel info is not yet available for those sailing in less than a year.

The problem is that the HAL hotel information is not yet available (finally worked for me a few minutes ago and I was able to confirm that there is no hotel information yet) for our Jan/25 cruise. I thought that information would be available about a year prior to the cruise...

Thanks very much. I did follow all of the blogs this year. I'll check them again for the hotel information. Yes, have a TA but it's the big box one so not the best for pre cruise advice. I did do this once before (without Antartica) so did the pre-cruise tour with HAL but this time I'm travelling with my sister who has never been. We'll also be booking the flights on points so that's why I want to get going on the flight booking.

@0106 do you recall when the hotel packages became available for your SA cruise? I realize you booked independently but I hope you have a general idea. I'm booked for Jan/25 and the last time I checked a few weeks ago, there still was no information on hotel packages. I'm getting the dreaded 404 error today so cannot check if it's up now. I have independent hotel reservations but want to see what is included with HAL's package. And I'm waiting to book our flights.

I don’t think it would matter. The scenery is stunning on both sides. I hope @Blackduck59 or @Heidi13 will chime in and correct me if I’m wrong.

I was told by one PC couple that they also receive 10 free Pinnacle Grill dinners each per cruise. If they book multiple cruises B2B, they get 10 dinners for each booking number. That might explain why others get bounced from their reservations, although I think that is wrong. The PC couple invited us for dinner because they were never going to use up all their free dinners. They had three separate cruises booked so received a lot of dinners within about six or eight weeks.