BaileyMJ

On 5/15/2024 at 7:09 PM, BaileyMJ said:

Fruit Crisp I have had

Peach

Mixed Berry

Rhubarb

Cherry

Peach

Banana 

 

I can add pear crisp but I must have jinxed myself - it was truly awful dry and inedible but the scoop of vanilla was yummy enough.

Last night the clear standout at our table - everyone agreed was the featured Alaskan Taste Starter: Corn & Crab Fritters

3 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

I know that you are very busy with your research and I would have to assume that you have visited Wrangell in your prior cruises.  Wrangell is one of my favorite ports and one that can be easily seen without planning excursions, very walkable.  We will soon embark on our 28 day Alaska Solstice cruise which originally had us visiting Wrangell on July 4th.  For some reason HAL cancelled that stop and we were sooooo disappointed!  Love Wrangell!

I can second Love Wrangell- what a beautiful place!  I rented a car and just was blown away by the views!  Also have to love a town with the most friendly dogs!  

 I also learned that skunk cabbage really does smell like skunk!

The Mariners Memorial was so moving snd peaceful place.

Just happen to run into Dominic our naturalist speaker at the petroglyphs beach.

6 hours ago, wetterthanwater said:

 

Although if one is a coffee snob, the bars/cafes that have barista made coffee should be preferable. The lido machines are automatic bean to cup machines.

In the lido it is one barista and he makes the espresso just like in explorers cafe - no self serve machine - I am convinced that the cappuccino in the MDR or if ordered via room service is from a Nespresso press the button machine - not worth the $$ plus from room servuce it arrives warm not hot!   Of note in lido the coffee menu is limited - no iced latte just the hot drinks!

Here is offering this morning in Explores Cafe/ Crows Next.

Fruit Crisp I have had

Peach

Mixed Berry

Rhubarb

Cherry

Peach

Banana 

3 minutes ago, SilvertoGold said:

Any info about what edibles are available in this Explorations Cafe? I was asking Roger about brownies in particular.

They seem to have biscottis most of the day.  In the morning regular croissants and chocolate croissants.  Yesterday afternoon I had what looked like a mini muffin - the staff wasn’t sure so I went for it - it was too dense to be a muffin and it definitely was almond so think madeleine but in shape of mini muffin- it was very good!  I try to avoid pastries.  I only have had 1 cookie and that was on day 2 at the CC Meet & Greet.

What I can report on is desserts in MDR and for this cruise I am pretty sure they have a fruit crisp with scoop of vanilla ice cream - I have ordered it when on the menu - they are all good but they all needed more baking to have a crisp brown topping and then they would be great!  

19 minutes ago, SilvertoGold said:

Excellent info, thanks. Next up from DH: how about the brownies? On the Noordam the Explorations Cafe on 3 used to have the most luscious brownies with lots of chocolate icing. Now, 2 years in a row: disaster. Just cake with about a millimeter of icing! On the N Amstedam where is the Exporations Cafe? Any info about brownies would be appreciated.

Explorations Cafe on Nieuw Amsterdam is on Deck 11 Forward.  It opens at 6am abd you can get coffee till 9pm - the bar section is open till 10pm.  You can get hot espresso drinks in lido but only during service hours for that day but exception is no espresso during that late night service 10:30 - 11:30pm. Espresso also available in Pinnacle Bar 7am to 4pm.

I had dinner on Sunday at Morimoto and Monday at Tamarind- you check in at the same hostess stand but both restaurants are stand alone with a sushi station in the middle.

Morimoto was superb - it was truly not just a meal but an experience- I felt like I was on Top Chef.  Too many times the celebrity chef restaurant at sea does not live up to its on shore equivalent but for Morimoto I can confidently stay you will have the same quality and standard of service and here is the best part at a considerable discount.  
 

Tamarind was very good but I remember it being a little different than last year on the Westerdam and missing was some signature cocktails that were only available at Tamarind.

Good Morning from Skagway May 14

We are docked at Ferry Terminal - we were first ship here.  When I went to Decl 10 we were already docked - got to see Princess sail in and she had to tender right behind her came Celebrity.

Good Evening from Juneau May 13

So glad we docked and prime location.  Had a wonderful morning just walking the town - would have liked sunshine but I was fine with the rain.  Plus we were the only ship in town mist of the morning.  Had very early lunch at Alaskan Brewery - great beer and brisket sandwich- the BBQ sauce excellent and had front run seat to watch Koningsdam dock

Here came Koningsdam

Wonderful quilt shop and coffee made my day special.  

9 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

The letter DOESN'T say they crew made a wrong turn. It says, in essence, the home office plotted the Inside Passage (but apparently didn't book the pilot). The crew plotted the Pacific route west of Vancouver.

 

The offer is pretty generous. 10% of a 15 or 20 day cruise? For missing the Inside Passage? Pretty generous.

That makes more sense otherwise I would have serious doubts of the Captain and the story would be all over the media - like a commercial airliner landing on the wrong runway or airport - rare but happens and pilots/captain relieved of duty!

Thank you so much for this thread - it was so exciting to sail into Juneau on a HAL ship.

OMG - I am in shock a sea captain stated they took a wrong turn - I can’t imagine he or the staff captain can make such a mistake and still be in employed.  
 

Now you plot a course and that can change due to weather/winds ship engines etc but that is what the officers on the bridge do 24/7.   I could see the scenario that due to weather sea conditions Captain would deviate the course to minimize or avoid rough seas for safety of the passengers and that would cause delay to your entry point into the inside passenger - there are only so many pilots available.

I am sorry you missed a scenic cruising but you must of had an amazing crossing snd more importantly I hope you had calm seas and no one fell or was injured.

On Nieuw Amsterdam and change of plan not tendering - it will be interesting to see what happens!  First time sailing into Juneau on HAL

May 12 Good Morning 

Everyday I get myself up and out of my obstructed ocean view room and proceeded to my adopted balcony aka Deck 10 in hopes of seeing the sunrise but weather has not cooperated - I take picture of the weather/port from the TV which has time and position.  Since it is Sunday I still got up well before sunrise but decided to have a lazy morning so left room 6:30am and would you know I saw the sun - picture from deck 10.

I love the crows next but it is just usually packed so I have adopted Pinnacle Bar - the espresso is available starting at 7am - I attended mass 8am and then my breakfast was in pinnacle bar - worked perfectly and Lalita made the best spicy Bloody Mary and Noel latte with extra shot of espresso 

Not sure what happen with picture so here goes again - nicest welcoming committee to Valdez - they were so helpful and since needed taxi to airport they gave number to

call - not literally only 1 taxi in Valdez 

I apologize for the typos above - haven’t had my first cup of coffee

  HAPPY MOTHERS DAY 

19 minutes ago, mooseridge said:

Does anyone know why Valdez & Kodiak are now tender ports? Is it the time of year? Tides? Docks off limits to cruise ships?  Hearing Homer is tender now too.   They Were not tenders in 2022   Just wondering.....

 

 

Valdez yesterday May 11th was a tender port because a large ship must dock in the Big Boat Pier outside of town center do the ship would provide shuttle/school buses however HAL could not secure the buses therefore they made it a tender port and the tender boats shuttled us to the center of town.  I obtained this answer from Harbor security- nicest guys.  Now why they could not secure the buses I do mot know but as has been speculated it may be because of the Valdez Fly-In STOL Air Show STOL is Short Take Off & Landing- something new I learned.  I had a rental car - Alaska Car Rental so great that I had to go to the airport.  
 

Now for our port in Kodiak I never got answer way tender but since that was on May 10 Friday and I did see plenty of school buses for excursions perhaps shortage of buses because they needed them for the schools?

My observation was the tendering went well for Valdez but for Kodiak it was not to a pleasant experience.

We just got all clear - all the ship excursions canceled but I only noticed 1 shore excursion listed Columbia Glacier and it was always showing sold out.  Were there other excursions offered?  I had contacted some tour operators for independent tours but the few I found said they were not starting till Memorial Day.

6 minutes ago, oaktreerb said:

We have been to Kodiak at least twice and have never tendered.  Can you find out why HAL tendered in Kodiak.  Maybe the school busses are needed for school kids?  

 

April seemed to have such nice weather.  I hope things improve.  We are also going to Valdez.  

 

No one will give a answer but most likely limited school buses.  HAL had a number of tours and we did see the yellow school buses lined up.

Good Morning May 11th Sailing to Valdez

Yesterday we departed Kodiak a little past 6pm and even with rain the view did not disappoint.  The captain warned us of high winds & choppy seas and we were definitely rocking and rolling last night!

I have gotten into my routine of first stop of the day deck 10 but I was greeted by yellow tape!  The other door on port side had no tape but impossible to open beyond a crack.  Went down to deck 3 promenade but the ship is tightly sealed.  
 

My morning picture will have to be that wonderful cappuccino from Crows Nest - I have no scientific proof but the coffee just tastes better in a pretty cup.

we still have hours to go but since Valdez is now a tender port I just have feeling it might be canceled.  This trip has been awesome and for me just visiting Seward made the whole trip worth it so nothing can disappoint.

On 5/9/2024 at 7:42 PM, leerathje said:

 

 

 

Next up:  Eurodam and Koningsdam on Monday, May 13, 2024

 

I am one of your longtime daily readers - I on my 2nd HAL cruise Nieuw Amsterdam and we will be in Juneau Monday May 13 2024 but tender port for us.  Do you know where the tenders will be located?  Will we on the webcam?

I am sure you will have a wonderful trip and thanks for taking us along!

Tomorrow we will be in Valdez and the only ship in port but I have no idea why but just informed by tomorrow’s The Daily that it will be a tender port.  

We are still in Kodiak with delayed departure. Also of note we were scheduled to arrive Valdez 10am but that has changed to 12 noon I believe the departure still remains the same 7:30pm All Aboard.

Today in Kodiak they operated a tender from ship to Kodiak town harbor which required ticket for tender from ship to town but the return tender was open to all.  It was raining and a bit windy.  They really needed to operate a shuttle bus I was on the return tender and witnessed too many passengers with problems entering the tender ship and one gentleman took a nasty fall - pretty scary.

I had no tour and with rain I did not explore much of Kodiak but had a wonderful lunch at Henry’s Great Alaskan Restaurant.  The beer I had with my Fish & Chips was local Kodiak Liquid Sunshine and unfortunately that was the only sunshine I experienced today!

Kodiak is definitely a unique quirky town so I loved it!

Good Morning May 10th Sailing to Kodiak

I still haven’t gotten a sunrise picture but the morning at sea is still a wonderful experience- very windy but so far no rain.  
 

Another interesting day for leaving the ship in Kodiak.

No tour today - never cleared the waitlist for the wild life cruise.  My weather forecasts rain so this just means I must return to Kodiak.