Loreto

Thanks for the info, Chris! I will try this for my Nov. California Coastal Cruise. Karen

If you are unsure about it you can take your current proof of ownership statement with you and show it to Guest Services. I mail mine and ask for an email confirmation. I once sent a statement that was out of date and got a reminder email from them.

I buy recyclable bags in ports when we cruise....they make me happy when I use them at the grocery store and think of the wonderful places I have been! They are a great, useful, inexpensive souvenir.

I agree! We took the ferry to Magdalena Island with HAL and it was an unbelievable experience...Thousands of penguins! We also went to a beach in the Falklands...North Pond (or something like that) it took some time to get there. Lots of different penguins and a rookery. Lucky you to be going...0ur 2nd trip was cancelled in 2020.🙁

Hi Jacqui, Please add Loreto 05 NOV 22 Koningsdam 7 day Classic California Coast Cruise. Thanks, Karen

I agree! The new Book Early and Save sale is no good deal! I compared fares from my Big BoxTA and HAL (which were identical, and they are higher than what I paid in March for BtoB Panama Canal cruise and if I refared I might lose the stateroom and all the OBC. For some reason $200 in extra OBC appeared on each cruise from HAL on my statement. It was not worth it for me to refare.

That is true!

The bread pudding🙂

They have it where the ice cream is on the lido.

Hi Lisa, Thanks for your reports! Your pictures are great...it does look like Sitka. We discovered Gelato on the Hawaii/Koningsdam cruise in February. Espresso chip and Pistachio were my favorites , sweetened by the fact that we got a mariner "loyalty discount!" I wrote to HAL and hope they will incorporate it on Vista Class ships. Looking forward to more reports! Karen

We have flown Delta One several times,the latest Oct 2021 AMS to SLC and it was very nice...I even slept! Domestic First Class is not that great, just a cushier seat🙂.

"But I called the hotel again and got a different person. She said, sure, she could get me a confirmation number by attaching my name to a room of the type that HAL had purchased for me (lowly street view, double beds). That's how I knew just how much the room would've cost me had I booked directly. Didn't help me with early check-in, though!" NC tribe Fan....unfortunately HAL has a block of rooms on the first floor outside perimeter of the airport Hilton. Not the best rooms as they face the street (last month we got lucky and faced a quiet side street.) I once got a very nice courtyard room and asked why...was told when HAL runs out of the regular block of rooms they then assign nicer rooms! As a Hilton Honors member I get no points for booking with HAL, but do it for the luggage/transfer convenience when sailing out of Seattle. I know I would get a better price if I booked it myself. Unfortunately that didn't work for you, and you are justifiably unhappy. Food options are pricey at the Hilton, but the Crown Plaza down the street has Reflections, a very nice restaurant with a diverse menu. Our server said they get a lot of customers from the Hilton.

Depending on where you are booking the HAL hotel, transportation from the airport to the hotel varies. In Seattle the hotel shuttle is at the airport or if downtown there is a bus that goes to a number of hotels. In Vancouver and Athens, the HAL rep put us in a prepaid cab from the airport to the hotel.

For passengers who had late flights they could go through TSA and wait around airside where there are many more shops and dining opportunities. There really didn't seem to be many spaces to sit if you had to wait hours before you can check in. The rule is you can't check in at the airport more than 4 hours before you departure time. We had first class tickets thanks to all the vouchers we got from last year's cancelled flights. There was a long line for first class check in and I was hoping the 4 hour rule would have elapsed. By the time we got to the counter the agent said we were 25 minutes to early and she wouldn't check us in. We did find a place to sit and waited, then got in line again. This time we were checked in and able to use the premium TSA line which was much shorter. Like you we discussed just using carryon's in the future!

CupKayke: thank you again got you detailed review and fantastic pictures! We did not get off the ship in Victoria because things got cancelled due to late arrival. My DIL and grand daughter did and were disappointed with the shuttle and closures. Your disembarkation adventure and SEATAC nightmare accurately described HAL'S lack of direction! Our flight wasn't until 2:20, but the Neptune concierge put us in brown group B. We left the room at 8:30 and found our luggage quickly. There was a guy with a trolley right by the Suite Bag area, and after 32 cruises of never using a porter, I told by husband we would this time...thank goodness!!! Like you we jumped the line as the porter took us past the huge line of waiting people...I have never seen it that bad...I think we were combined with Princess and taxis. I was very embarrassed as we walked past the line, our bags were stowed, we got on a 1/2 filled bus which slowly filled and by 9 we were off to the airport for the next nightmare. I would advise future Seattle cruisers to use a porter and tip generously. I always write a follow up letter to HAL, in addition to the survey and mention the airport transportation problem.

Hi, You should be cruising now...have a great time! I have never seen ability to book Port Valet ahead of time. For the past several years it is a free service offered by the Port of Seattle in conjunction with several airlines. As we have sailed with HAL 8 times to Alaska, we are familiar with the program. HAL used to have Luggage Direct, but you had to pay for it (we have used that service before, too) The 2nd day of the cruise you would get a letter explaining the service, you gave them all your flight info and they picked your tagged bags up from outside your room the night before disembarkation, they printed out your boarding passes, walked through security flew and your luggage was sent to your final destination. They offered it last year for our July HAL Alaska cruise. I asked our Neptune concierge about it and he said nothing was being offered this year, and the it was the same company that did Luggage Direct. My husband pointed out that SOMEBODY has to pay and maybe the airlines didn't want to this year. I hope whatever you have it works for you!

My DH and I, along with our son, wife and 15 year old daughter were on this cruise. It was our 8th HAL Alaska cruise and our 4th HAL cruise since Alaska last July. Your pictures are terrific and thank you for the commentary! Using your own TP in the bathroom is a no no, but I will not pass judgement on you 🙁. Taking the Hubbard Glacier excursion was a great choice....we have done it for the Tracy Arm. I think you passed me on your walk to the forest in Sitka and the totem poles. I was with a group and Tlinget guide. I went to the Raptor Center presentation that day on board with the Red Tailed Hawk. The Walk for a Cause was to raise money for Ukraine refugees, and was promoted several days before the event. We enjoyed the cruise with the only complaint being that Port Valet was no longer offered at disembarkation which made for a nightmare at SEATAC with 3 ships checking in there at the same time. They offered it last summer, don't know why they didn't do it this year.

We had VeriFLY for our June 19 Westerdam/Alaska cruise and were glad we had it! When we entered the terminal in Seattle, there was a large line for non VeriFLY and no one in line for VeriFLY! we were checked in in seconds and on our way to the next station prior to boarding...amazing.

We were on the Westerdam/Alaska last week and had the itinerary change as well. Our time in Ketchikan was shortened and we arrived in Victoria at 8pm but passengers didn't start disembarking until 8:30 pm. Still daylight, but DIL said they took the shuttle into Victoria only to find many things closed. Having been there many times, we did not get off the ship. Passengers basically had 3 hours in port. Favorite excursions were cancelled.

On my Westerdam/Alaska cruise last week very few wore masks, not even in the terminal at embarkation, anywhere onboard or on excursions. It was suggested in a letter in the stateroom, but it was not enforced. I know there were Covid cases onboard/quarantine. I happened to ride in the elevator with the ship's health officer, who's only comment was that the situation was "under control." I took a COVID rapid antigen test when I got home to be safe, and it was negative. I think the most stressful part of pre cruise is the 72 hour negative covid test. It was required but obviously didn't prevent Covid from being brought onboard.

I agree! It was sad to see the darkened showroom last week on the Westerdam/Alaska cruise. They did the same video presentations, which are beautiful once, but I have seen them many times. The same goes for the Step One shows. The afternoon in Sitka the Raptor Center brought a Red-Tailed Hawk onboard for an excellent presentation in the showroom. The final night of the cruise a movie was shown in the showroom, which was a disappointment. The final night of my Feb. Koningsdam Mexico cruise a dynamic pianist and singer did an amazing show that left you with so much enthusiasm! Not so on the Westerdam. I wish our Ketchikan and Victoria times were longer. Guests didn't get off the ship until 8:30 pm in Victoria, and not much time to do anything.

Thanks for sharing a beautiful photo of a handsome couple...a wonderful memory...love the frame, too! Karen

We always stay at the Best Western Yacht Harbor when we cruise out of San Diego. You must call the hotel to book. They do 7 nights of included parking, then it is $5 a day after that. They have an underground garage, have included breakfast and free shuttle to the cruise pier...you sign up for the shuttle when you check in to the hotel. There are great restaurants across the street at the yacht harbor, including our favorite, Pizza Nova. The front desk is helpful and we have felt it is a safe, secure place to stay and leave our car. The hotel is basic, but clean and comfortable. We stayed and left our car for our 12 day Sea Of Cortez cruise last Dec. and our 25 day Hawaii/Mexico Koningsdam cruise in Feb of this year. We already have a reservation with them for our Feb 23 Panama Canal cruise.

We did the Tracy Arm excursion a number of years ago and it was impressive, however, it was a long, slow boring ride after leaving the Tracy Arm and sailing to Juneau. Once was enough, but there are many other opportunities to Whale Watch.

We are on a family cruise on the Westerdam June 19th chosen for the Hubbard Glacier, which I consider superior to Glacier Bay. We have been to both numerous times. Icy Strait has its merits, but last year it was an evening call. The Eurodam has the Tamarind and is a great ship, but we gave it up for the Hubbard Glacier on the Westerdam. If our itinerary changes we are understanding, but will be disappointed if the Hubbard Glacier is dropped.