Foggy Bay

Yes! Just ask--on our transPacific recently I drank "unleaded" Margaritas--the servers know exactly what you want (they are good!). Ask what they have and they will give you their choices. You can also ask for your own mix--I love tonic with pineapple juice over ice with cherries on top (to feel fancy). I ask too that they come in a wine glass for extra fancy.

They will take care of you!

We were underneath the smoking area on the Konigsdam, and the only time we ever smelled smoke was when we were in port, and then, only rarely.  However, sitting out on the balcony (esp. in port), the voices were loud, the chairs being moved around were noisy, etc.  We were on a GTY, so took what we got, but I wouldn't book there again.  Not horrible, but definitely noise and action going on from early morning to late at night.

On 9/19/2024 at 7:03 AM, sunviking90 said:

Westin Bayshore is also a nice option if you don’t mind being a little away from Canada Place.It is about a 20 min walk away from the port along the waterfront. It’s walking distance to Stanley Park and has some interesting history (Howard Hughes used to live there).

There are a lot of special offers on Vancouver hotels for the winter season, but they generally end at the end of March when cruise season starts.

We are booked at the Westin for our upcoming cruise in a few days.  We used to dock there when we visited Vancouver on our boat, and loved it!  Room service right on the dock (this was before cell phones so the actual activity was much more cumbersome than it sounds--lol)! I am looking forward to staying there almost as much as I'm looking forward to the cruise.

2 hours ago, Anastas617 said:

I will do some research on Sitka vs. Skagway as that is the one difference that may change my mind since I have already been to Skagway (but quite enjoyed the stop).

 

We lived on and cruised on our boat in SE Alaska for 20 years, with 10 of those years spent in Sitka.  In our opinion, having lived there and in Ketchikan, and cruised all the waters extensively, Sitka is the most beautiful town in SE Ak. Easily walkable, beautiful National Park, a raptor center where they rehab injured birds of prey, a gorgeous harbor, the extinct volcano that looks like Mt. Fuji....I could go on and on.  If you've been to Skagway already, take an itinerary that visits Sitka.  You won't be disappointed.

5 hours ago, Sharon in AZ said:

I have this type of plug in outlet and have taken it on at least 3 cruises in the past year, most recently on the the Zuiderdam for two weeks. I always keep it out and unplugged it when not in use. 
 

 

I have a very similar item and have taken it on several HAL cruises.  I'm glad to hear yours was a recent trip.  I'm reading it as nothing with surge protectors.

3 hours ago, Ottawa traveller said:

On one of my cruises last year, the massage therapist told me that she and the other staff were new that trip. She said that people who were doing a back to back brought back unopened products that they had been pressured to buy during the previous cruise.  She said as a result, the staff were being very careful about suggesting things. She also told me that the 18% service charge is her pay. The base price for the service goes to the salon. That is why the 18% is obligatory. Tipping is extra.  The staff were making it clear before taking a booking or doing any work, that the 18% had to be paid.

That's good to know, for many reasons.  Might give them another try...because...ahhhhh. I need a massage.

2 hours ago, kazu said:

 

 

How many days is your cruise please?  I assume it it’s called a transpacific crossing?

13 days. It's just called Orient/Far East/Alaska on the official title.

Vancouver to Tokyo on Noordam, departing Sept. 29. Celebrating an awesome award.

Woohoo!

2 minutes ago, vms said:

I'll be leaving as you are getting on- I'm on the cruise right before you on the Noordam.

 

I promise to leave her in good condition. 😉

Nice!  Enjoy!

12 hours ago, Petronillus said:

I have never heard of complimentary access to the thermal suite or hydro-pool being thrown in with spa services. But as relates to the massage, let me offer two tips based on my experience on our last cruise: DW and I were each offered a $60 discount coupon on any spa service. The charge slip the masseuse presented did not account for the discount. When I presented the coupon, she rolled her eyes, scolded me for not having tendered the coupon at the outset, and took forever to back the original charge out and instate the reduced charge. I of course don't know if the massage for the discounted fee would have been different from the full-price massage I received.

My other point concerns the masseuse's high-pressure pitch for additional services and products. I had read on CC that such pitches are inevitable/unavoidable but can be cut short with a firm statement that you're not interested. My masseuse would not take no for an answer. I did not stiff her on the tip, but on the other hand I was not generous.

That's why I've never done another massage after the first cruise I ever took on HAL. The unrelenting pitch at the end literally ruined it for me--mine wouldn't take no for an answer either, although it was my final answer.  UGH.  I'm glad you posted this--I was feeling a bit weak and thinking of booking a massage on our upcoming cruise.  I'll stick with the thermal spa visits and save myself the aggravation.

3 hours ago, vms said:

Thanks for the photos and info about Sitka- headed there on my cruise in a couple of weeks and this was very helpful for our planning!

 

Enjoy your cruise and thanks for bringing us along!

Same--we leave on Noordam out of Vancouver on the 29th (I think) with the final destination Japan, so this thread is SUPER interesting to me!  We lived in Sitka for several years and I can't wait to see that wonderful little town again.

This looks like an amazing trip! We are on a two-weeker from Vancouver to Tokyo at the end of September, so I will be eagerly following your trip. ENJOY!

Great to know!  

26 minutes ago, karatemom2 said:

 
It will be a little hard going incognito coming if there is a mammoth ship like Ovation of the seas with you. We happened to be in Sitka on a smaller Princess vessel on the same day Ovation came in a couple of years ago. 
 

Be aware, the mass of people all wanting to exit and return to the ship at the same time make the shuttle lines very long. It was a mass of humans! Hopefully you are the only ship in port the day you are there, but the Ovation or other huge ships make a big impact. I would check the port schedule for your date. 

Ours is the only big ship in port that day, according to the port schedule.  We have friends in town offering to transport me and my group privately, so we are all set!

On 7/27/2024 at 5:23 AM, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Mine, too!  They've managed to keep out the cruise port chain stores, so it feels like visiting a real town.

Yes, that's why we loved it--it really is "real Alaska."  I know there's always been resistance to cruise ships--I feel kind of guilty going there via a ship!  I'll be wearing dark glasses with my collar turned up...

I've been taking small groups to Alaska on Princess, my husband and I take trips on HAL, and I'm switching to HAL for the group travel.  Reasons:  HAL has the forward observation lounge, which is a must in my view, especially for first-timers.  HAL has a promenade deck for nice walks at sea.  I like the smaller feel of the ships--Princess ships are HUGE and the waits at the elevators are enough to send me finally scampering to HAL.  I also love the views from the thermal spa beds better than the center-of-ship spa on Princess.

I think it just depends on your style.  Princess seems to have things going on all the time and being more sedate cruisers, we like HAL's vibe a little more. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either.

All set--thanks for the responses.  I found the port codes and our date in 2025. You guys are the best!

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

Check the schedule for Sitka to see where you'll be and how many other ships will be with you.

Cruise Ship Schedule Calendar Combined Ports (claalaska.com)

 

I have tendered from the anchorage and been docked out at the cruise terminal. I actually prefer the tender because it drops you right downtown. Three years ago, we were docked with some big NCL ship. Shuttle bus into town wasn't bad. I don't recall a long wait. I think maybe the other ship didn't dock as early so we had all the shuttles.

 

If you dock at the cruise terminal and take a tour, it will probably load the bus at the cruise terminal.

 

Going back in the afternoon, the line for a shuttle bus was long and slow because there were people from both ships going back. The transfer point is near the city municipal building, downtown. 

 

 

Thanks so much for this.  I'll check the ship schedule and see if it's posted yet, this far out.  We used to live there--I can't wait to be there again.  Our favorite town in all of Alaska.

1 hour ago, oaktreerb said:

We tendered this year and it was not same easy tendering location of 20 years ago.    The tender took us to an area near the bridge and it felt like under the bridge.  Long lines waiting for a tender are worse than long lines waiting for a bus.

 

I think you will be better at the dock.  The bus will drop you off at the convention center and you will have a bus driver telling you about Sitka on the way in.  Have you checked the Sitka port schedule?  Huge ships will swamp the town with tourists.  Schedule a ship tour like the Sea Otter Quest and get out of town.  

 

 

 

 

Thanks--we lived there 8 years ago and I remember the ships tendering in to the dock near the bridge.  I wasn't sure what the Halibut Point dock/transportation situation is these days.  I'm bringing a group up and we'll walk around town and through the park.  I appreciate your response.

Anyone been in Sitka lately on HAL?  Dock out on Halibut Point road or tender from anchorage? Wondering about shuttles, drop off/pick up location, etc.  How many shuttles, how long in line, etc.  Trying to plan the day when we arrive.

Pro tip from a former SE Alaska resident and someone who leads tours there:  Don't bring an umbrella, even if they are provided.  You will be in and out of shops, opening the umbrella, shutting the umbrella, being annoyed and annoying, poking people--wear a rain jacket with a hood like the locals and be happy. Trust me. 🙂

We were on this cruise too, and I loved reading along!  What a great recap of it all.  My husband saw the little yappers up on the aft pool deck, laying on the couches with owners.  It really makes me angry when people cheat the system.  We have a dear friend who is blind who has an actual, fantastic, very well-trained service dog, and to see the "not service dogs" being passed as such is really disgusting, in my opinion.  I am going to mention it in our survey.

Loved this trip--it was so relaxing and nice.  Loved the thermal spa, loved the food, loved sitting on the veranda reading, loved it all.  Reading your blog here is like having a scrapbook of the trip--thank you so much!  I hope everyone had safe travels home--ours was happily uneventful, other than a plethora of crying children on both flights.  

Konigsdam ROCKS.  Best cruise we've had.

I had a massage on the first cruise I was ever on, and the sales pitch--well, the sales PUSHY PUSH--was so bad I've never booked another massage aboard ship, ever.  It really ruined the experience for me, and clearly, I still have bad memories from it!  It's really too bad--I would have probably bought something at least, but after fending this lady off for 10 minutes I was done.

2 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Yes, you choose the wine when you get each bottle.  If you want reds you can order different ones.  You don’t need to decide in advance what wines you want.

Thank you SOOO much!  I've been wondering how this works.  

Question on the wine package--I've purchased one of the packages for my husband for our upcoming trip, but he's a red-wine-only-guy.  Will there be an option to choose that?  I've not ordered this before.