Colorado Klutch

Well, thank you for your frank reviews, DrKoob. Unfortunately, my heart is sinking as I'm getting ready to fly to Vancouver tomorrow to board Koningdam Saturday. (Four ships in port on Saturday, so I'm sure it will be Apocalyptic.) This will be my first cruise. It took a long time to convince my wife to try a cruise. If it's anything like yours, it will be our last.

"Answer the phone? I'm on smoko. Leave me alone!"

This whole Vancouver situation is beyond ridiculous. The more we hear, the more absurd it becomes.

Thanks. I think I finally got my picture to upload. Now I have to do it again for Mrs. Klutch.

Well, this has been a frustrating exercise in futility. I keep trying to upload a photo in the Navigator App, but it won't work. 8 out of 10 times I don't even get the prompt to take or upload a photo. When I do get the prompt, it errors out if I take a photo or select a photo. I chatted with HAL to request a wheel chair for my mom. They said I can't do that because she is on a different booking number. She will have to request the wheel chair herself. Way to go, HAL!

Thank you for the suggestion. I'll see if I can figure out how to request a wheelchair on the HAL web site.

I have the HAL app. I can't get it to do anything. When I try to upload a picture, it has an arrow to scroll for picture requirements, but there's no button to take a picture or to upload a picture. I will try on the web site.

Good to know. Thanks! Anything other than passport to upload? I hope my family doesn't decide to turn around and go home if the cruise terminal looks like the fall of Saigon.

Wow, more bad news again about embarkation in Vancouver. I'm scheduled to board Koningsdam in Vancouver on Saturday morning. My parents will be with me. They are in their 70s and my mom has bad knees. Waiting in line for three hours will be no fun. This is all very disheartening. Sounds like our first cruise experience will not start out well. And being unfamiliar with how this is all supposed to work makes me stressed out. Sounds like there's no point in uploading documents because they make you do it all over anyway.

I will board Koningsdam for my first cruise ever on Saturday. I too am looking forward to the Dutch factor.

On the subject of Victoria port calls, be aware a lot of ships stop there simply to meet US requirements for a foreign port call before returning to a US port. Thus, it's typical for the ship to pull in at night, like around 8:30 PM, when everything is closing down. Then ship gets underway early, like around 4:30 AM. So, if you're looking to enjoy Victoria, definitely check the schedule rather than assuming it's an actual port call.

Not hard. But definitely complicated.

Exactly! If I buy a drink package, it's supposed to make things easy and convenient. The HAL drink packages aren't easy or convenient. They're complicated. If I buy a drink package, I must constantly ask, "Is this included or is it not included? Is gratuity included or is it extra?". I might as well just order whatever drink I want wherever I want and pay for it. I won't drink nearly enough to lose money compared to a drink package.

Very well-balanced and thoughtful review. I will be aboard Koningsdam next week and really appreciate this very timely video. - Wow, no excuse for shabby chairs and crumbs on the carpet. I hope they get better about this. Maybe HAL has ordered new chairs, but like so many things, they are on back order. - It looks like HAL removed many of the plush chairs in the Explorer's area and replaced them with industrial cafeteria chairs. Phooey. - The tendering issue appears to be a significant problem with HAL. I think they should pony up and hire some local tenders to augment their onboard boats. - I saw a lot of upcharges on the MDR menu. Sheesh, is anything other than a chicken breast and instant mashed potatoes included? - I've been reading and reading and I still find HAL's drink packages downright confusing. I can never figure out what's included and what isn't and what's extra. And in this video I learned soda from the machines isn't included. What the hey? That just makes no sense and confirms I will not be buying a drink package. (Listen up, HAL, I will NOT be purchasing a drink package because I can't figure them out! Too hard. Too complicated. Too limited. Too bad.) - Glad to hear the positive impression of the staff. This is very important to me. I know they work very hard and they are a long way from their families, but it's no fun to be around miserable, disgruntled staff. - Nice to know the onboard Internet is very good. I want to get away from the Internet on my cruise, so I hope to avoid it completely. Thanks for creating and posting this video.

Seems like cruise ships want to go back to the days of the class system like White Star Line.

I didn't know about the veteran OBC until long after I booked my cruise. I completed the online form and, a few weeks later, I had the OBC on my account. Does "New Bookings" mean if you don't request it at the time you book, it doesn't apply?

Is there a charge for the buffet on the beach, or is it included?

Years ago I went to see a very popular movie with some friends. When we went to take seats in a row with only one person, that person said, "Hey, this entire row is saved!". I promptly replied, "You can't block off an entire row for your buddies. Tell them to get their asses here or get lost!". And we took seats in that row. He called someone on the phone and said, "There's a guy here telling me I can't block off an entire row". Yeah, sorry for being Captain Obvious.

I'm aware of this. I'm only kidding. 😀

After seeing so many comments about chair hogs, I really want to grab anything left on a chair, throw it overboard and keep walking. 😀

Patently absurd. Tipping goes back to ancient Rome. If I'm a good tipper there is just no way it's going to increase how much you have to tip. It just doesn't work that way. There are just so many factors, but that's not one of them. Although I do agree employers should simply pay fair wages.

Not just how you feel. It's a fact. But if people want to be tacky, that is their choice. And yes, if you remove gratuities from your bill you are being tacky. It's just like when people steal they are thieves. It's their choice, but they are still thieves. To the OP, I'm not suggesting you are intending to be tacky. I get the impression you would feel better tipping directly, but the reality is the tips should be shared.

Are these the same people who feel entitled to take silverware and small dishes from the dining room?

Sounds to me like it's a travel agency which simply kicks back some of their commissions in the form of OBCs.

Daily gratuities are $16.50 per person for non-suite guests and $17.50 per person for suite guests. Technically you can go to guest services and ask for these gratuities to be removed from your bill because you experienced a service problem or because your culture doesn't due gratuities or something. Be aware this is a pretty obnoxious move. The service personnel depend heavily on the gratuities for their incomes. We can debate all day about why gratuities are stupid and how employers should pay their people a fair wage and such. But this is the current reality. It would also not be cool to tip the service personnel directly in lieu of daily gratuities because there are many service personnel you do not see. You are free to give EXTRA tips to the service personnel you see and appreciate.