Straitlover

Noordam roll calls are here:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=316

Maybe you can have dinner at the top of the Space Needle?? Nice place to have either lunch or dinner to celebrate your 25th anniversary.

Last time I checked, the restaurant up there is closed. They are doing a big remodeling project replacing all the glass and other stuff.

We did that same tour last September and yes - shuttle return is included with the price. However, you need to find out what time their last shuttle runs otherwise you're cabbing it back to the docks

Thanks for the info. Ours starts at 8:30 AM, so hopefully we will have plenty of time at the glacier. I don't anticipate us being there more than a couple or so hours. Want to have plenty of time to look around downtown.

I booked with Alaska Humpback Adventures it is a 6 passenger boat with Captian Steve , he was our captain years ago with Harv and Marv and was awesome, and will drop us off at the glacier, but then we have to get our way back, looks like we can ride a shuttle or get a taxi

 

When are you going?

Oh, OK. We are booked w/ Juneau Whale Watch for mid June. If you have more than two people, a taxi is cheaper.

Who did you book the tour with? The one I booked is the same way (Juneau Whale Watch, combo tour - whale watch, drop at Mendenhall, then shuttle back every 30 minutes), and it's my understanding that the return shuttle is included in the price. Guess I should verify that. :)

WOW! You really are packing in alot. We are doing the Wilderness Tour and then the Huskies later in the day. The second full day is my issue. I might to a hike and let my husband wander with his camera.

Well, the hiking is like half a mile so not a big deal. The rafting is more of a float trip, and we are getting the Oar Raft, so no paddling. The ATV launch spot is right at our lodging, so we can have a leisurely morning and walk over rther tahn driving to the office and taking a shuttle.

Our Eielson shuttle leaves at 7:30. if we get back in time we may do the visitor center that day. Ohterwise, it will be an early dinner and quick look around before heading back to the Inn.

For what it is worth, we received the following from the cruise line a couple of months before the cruise:

 

"IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION: We would like to advise you of a change to the open seating option offered in the main dining room aboard the ms Nieuw Amsterdam sailing on June 30, 2018. Open seating will be offered as normal; however, due to the number of guests requesting to dine at 5:30pm, available seating will be limited until 7:30pm. Should you wish to dine early and space is not available in the dining room, complimentary dining is always available in the Lido Market, or for a nominal fee we invite you to make reservations at our Canaletto, Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill Restaurants. We regret any disappointment this change may cause. If you have any questions please contact Ship Services at 1-800-541-1576."

 

Obviously this will vary from voyage to voyage, but clearly sometimes there is a long wait for anytime dining.

 

This message may have been entered via voice recognition. Please excuse any typos.

That sounds like the message others have posted when there is a large group/charter onboard. According to VMax's list, you do have one:

N. Amsterdam : 30 June 2018 -07 July 2018 : Alaska : Christian Insight for Living : Inspiration cruisesgroup

Okay I did try again and it looks like it defaulted to the next day, so the price was for 24 hours. I will look more.

Check http://www.avisalaska.com and http://www.juneaucarrentals.com .

You can book a taxi for the return, too. People post about it there all the time. Have you checked into renting a car for the day? How big is your party? A rental might not be much more than the taxi RT plus you can go wherever you want whenever you want.

Haven't been yet (Doing Denali DIY, not through cruiseline), but we have booked one day for the Eielson Shuttle and second day 10AM ATVs (2.5 hrs), lunch somewhere, 4:00 PM sled dog demo in DNP, 6:30 PM raft (McKinley Scenic Run). Will fit in Visitor Center & hiking short trails nearby in there somewhere, morning of departure if necessary.

Edit: we are doing the side by side ATV whihc is good if someone is not able to drive, they can just ride.

Yes they are still there but now cost $45 round trip.

I believe most of the taxis there take credit cards. If you have one that does not charge foreign transaction fees, I'd just use that and not worry w/ Canadian money. That's my plan!

I think it was my work security. I can see them on my home computer. Thanks!

EDIT: Nevermind! I think it's the aft SS w/ the angled balcony only is a HC cabin. Sorry!

The address didnt change but make sure if you are pasting into your browser bar you have the full address. I'll check how its posted once I can get my notebook out.

 

I just added yesterday planner and menu and today's planner.

 

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I'm wondering if it's our security on the work computers. I remember them saying something about not using cloud based files or something like that. I will try it at home.

The link still works for me.

I will have to try it at home, then, as I still get this message:

Can’t reach this page

• Make sure the web address https://drive.google.com is correct
  
• Search for this site on Bing
  
• Refresh the page
  

"Unlimited" is just that---there are no limits on the number of days when you can send a bag (or a partial bag! :D) or the number of bags per day.

 

When you board there will be one bag and one invoice in your closet; ask the cabin steward for a supply. You can fill them as you unpack, and leave them on the bed. They will be picked up during turn-down service that night.

Thanks for the info. I wouldn't feel bad doing that since we are paying for unlimited, and the plan is to only send out upon arrival and then maybe one other time before we disembark (staying 3 more nights), so probably not more than 4 bags total.

You could pay for the extra bag. Or split it up over several days. Or pack an extra set of clothes to work around this - how dirty do you expect to get in those several days ahead of time in Alaska? Does your ship still have the self-serve laundry if you want another option to get it all done at once without paying a surcharge for the HAL laundry?

We are on the Noordam, no self service laundry. We are taking 3 pairs of jeans. Plan on wearing them twice before washing, one pair maybe three times depending on the weather and our plans on Saturday driving back to Anchorage. One day we are doing an ATV tour but will be in the side by side vehicles so hoping they won't get too dirty/muddy. We are staying at Denali Lakeview inn, so no laundry there before the ship.

We are plus size, so clothes take up more room that thinner folks. If need be we can split it up since we have two sea days before porting.

Upon boarding on a Sunday, we will have spent several days in Alaska (arrive late Tues night, head to Denali Wed AM) and will have laundry to do. W/ three of us, we will probably have 6 pairs of jeans (two pairs each) plus some shirts and socks. Can we do more than one bag, or do we need to split it up to two days' worth?

Also, how late can we turn the laundry in Sunday? Need to see what time we need to be aboard (arrive on the AM train but plan on sightseeing around town (no boat trips, just looking around).

Thanks! I've got more coming shortly! Was gala night number 2 tonight (aka lobster night).

 

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Did your link address change? I can't get the one above to work. I don't know much aobut Google Drive. Does the address change if you add stuff to the page?

You can fill out the Special Requirements form re the cord and distilled water for your CPAP:

https://book.hollandamerica.com/specialServices/login.action

I've been collecting them from my current cruise. I'll start posting photos tonight.

 

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Thanks!

Does anyone know if the second Gala Night on the southbound cruise is on Friday (Ketchikan) or Saturday (sea day) night?

If anyone gets pics of the menus for this pear, could you please post them? I have the link to the 2017 ones but am wondering if they change every year.

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/specifc-cruise-lido-and-mdr-menus/hal-7-day-alaska-2017-menus/

Thanks!!!

Thanks for the info ZN1300. She only needs the oxygen when she sleeps, so no need to use it on the plane. Her home care provider only provides the big home unit. They don't have any portable units and are balking at buying one for her to use. Her contract says they are supposed to provide her oxygen wherever she goes. Seems it would cost them less to just buy a POC (at cost) rather than having to arrange with other companies to make the big units available in Alaska, Vancouver and Seattle, but what to I know??? I told her to call her ins co (not Medicare) and ask if they would pay for the rental through Sccotaround if her home care company refuses to deal with her.

These are different cruises for Noordam. She was originally supposed to be in drydock this month but the schedule was changed, and they scheduled the 8-day and 6-day cruises to fill the two weeks.