starrii
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Cool Cruiser (2/15)
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Hi everyone, thanks for all of your tips! I'm back from my first cruise and loved it! The staff at HAL were very friendly and attentive. My friend gave me motion sickness bands and they seemed to work. The first day at sea was a little rough but then I got used to the sway; the only time I got very seasick was on a whale watching excursion while I was using binoculars so I kept eating the ginger candy provided on the boat. The room was spacious, and balcony was big. I liked the location of being able to walk down 2 flights of stairs to the main stage. The national park ranger suggested I view the glacier from Deck 3 which isn't as crowded as the front of the ship, but I found the Deck 3 view same as from my balcony. Only thing is the balcony lacked privacy unless i was close to the doors; I could see the balcony above me. For Margerie Glacier I viewed it at the front of the ship, enjoyed the delicious hot pea soup and then went to see it from our room's balcony. For John Hopkins inlet, the port side got to view the inlet first and then the ship turns around for people on our starboard side to view. I'm glad I went down to Deck 3 and viewed it from the port side because by the time my starboard side can view it, the fog rolled in. I learned that starting Sep 1, ships can go into John Hopkins inlet and get closer to John Hopkins glacier, which would be the sailing after ours. Our ship stopped at the entrance to the inlet. We got lucky that the skies cleared up while we were at Margerie and John Hopkins since it was foggy before. It was mostly foggy/rainy when we were at sea. The first two ports - Juneau and Icy Strait - were rainy when we first got to port, and then we'd experience beautiful sunsets. My dog sledding on Mendenhall Glacier excursion was cancelled due to weather, which was fine since it was an impulse buy after watching the Iditarod show at the Main Stage, and I'm happy to save the $$$. At Sitka we had beautiful weather so I did the wildlife watching tour to St Lazaria island and saw whales and puffins! That night some people said they caught the Northern Lights late at night, but I was sleeping; I tried on other nights but they were cloudy. In Ketchikan it was foggy in the morning but the skies were blue by the time we had to board the ship. I left my binoculars on the ship since it was foggy, but the port tours to Herring Cove weren't expensive so we decided to take one in hopes of seeing bears! Some tours left early after waiting, but I'm glad our driver didn't rush us to leave since two bears appeared. The sun came out the last day at sea, and they opened up the skylights over the indoor pool, but AFT's outdoor pool was still pretty cold! I now know why they called it the polar bear plunge. I'm pretty happy with our experience cruising Alaska end of August. The onboard naturalist said he'd never book a cruise after August 1 to see Glacier Bay due to weather but we got lucky with the weather.
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How about these? They're all still available: AFT Deck 6 - Upper Verandah +$37 (6119, 6123, 6173, 6154, 6162) Also I prefer no FWD as I hear they're noisier and rockier. With smoking allowed at Sea View Bar, as a non-smoker is it better to pick the even numbers to be on the non-smoking side of the ship? Do you know previously where the covid quarantine area on the ship was? Which deck/section was that? Thanks!
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Has anyone been in Icy Strait Point in the evening? If sun sets at 8p what's there to do there after dark? I couldn't find much on nighttime at Icy Strait. Also if it says arrive 6p, realistically what time do you think we'd be off the ship by to start exploring? Thank you! Icy Strait Point, Alaska, US ARRIVES 06:00 PM DEPARTS 10:00 PM
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Thanks @crystalspin, I got assigned a PCC who is working with me on that cabin. Have you personally stayed in that cabin yourself? For this route, the representative said generally odd numbers are better for the view of Glacier Bay since on the way back it'll be dark. For sunsets though, would I be better getting 4054? https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/find-a-cruise/A2E07A/D259.html I saw this photo in another thread, and the balcony doesn't have coverage on top. On one hand the views and being able to see the stars at night sound great. However, have you sailed to Alaska end August or early September (I might change to a September sailing)? Would this deep balcony with no coverage still be a good choice in rainy season? https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/1468096-va-4054-on-nieuw-amsterdam/?do=findComment&comment=30439230 @rkacruiserthanks for the welcome! I think I'd prefer a balcony to a room without operable windows.
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Thanks! Was the ticket you got FCC on using the worry-free guarantee considered non-refundable and did you decline the $99 HAL Cancellation Protection? I think I saw the middle Advantage Rate on one of the TA sites, but it was showing nothing will be refunded after today since it's within 30 days. The room didn't show up on the TA sites. I'll be happy with FCC!
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Thanks, @crystalspin! I want to book it, but was hoping to call and ask about the flexible cancellation policy. https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/flexible-cancellation.html Not sure if it's because it's within 30 days, when I was booking I only saw non-refundable or the Have it All Plan option. There's also a cancellation protection option when I check out. If I book non-refundable does the following part of the flexible cancellation not apply to me? you may cancel up to your sailing date if you test positive for COVID-19 and will also receive the same remuneration.
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Thanks, @crystalspin - do you think it'll be noisy being over the screening room? Also I plan to book in the morning with the rep. Would you happen to know if I book a non-refundable ticket without the cancellation protection, do I forfeit the ticket if we're unable to board due to COVID? Thanks, again!