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According to an article in the LA Times from Cabo, last week, the tax was to  be voluntary and was to be collected at the airport. There was no mention of people arriving by any other means.

It was 1976 on Song Of Norway an RCCL ship out of Miami and the cost was around $675 plus airfare to Miami from Los Angeles . Loved it and we were hooked. We've now taken close to 50 cruise with  about 25 on HAL. Out first HAL cruise was  an Alaskan cruise in 1990 out of Vancouver and was around  $1400   including out 2 daughters. Great  cruise and we have been on and off HAL ever since.😉

We have been parking there for the past 7 years and its safe and easy. We stay the nite before and then just roll our bags across the street to the terminal and reverse that upon our return. There is covered parking and we get a deal thru one of the online parking companies and its cost us about $60. for 8 days. :):)

We were booked in 091 for this past New years cruise and we looked at 093 and booked it for next New years but 076 became available and is a little more centraly located so have that instead. The room is average for cabin size and we entertsined our DSL & Dau a bit tight but stll plenty of room. The balcony is nice size with 2 chairs and a table and a loungeer. We were on it often and liked it to sit in the morning for coffee and light breakfast and afternoon drinks and snacks. We liked it and booked the same type again. We thought it was a great locastion and easy to get to and only 1 deck down from the Lido deck and easy to go up there for the pool, lido grill and anything else. I think you'll love it. Have a great cruise.:):):)

We just sailed her for the Nerw Years cruise and she is in good shape. She is smaller but on the plus side with fewer passengers it is much easier to do anything. There arn't as many activities as the bigger ships but again easier to do anything. We sailed her last year also for new years and had a good experience then also. We have her booked again for next years New Years cruise. There were some plumbing problems on deck 4 we were on navigation deck 091 cabin and no problems. The crewe tries very hard to make everyone happy and I think they do a good job, cut backs withstanding, thats a corporate problem tho. . If you like a smaller ship that is easier to get around and less passengers then you'll most likely like the Veendam. Have a great cruise.:):):)

I agree 100% with downsize. Booking thru the cruise line for a mojor excursion is always a safer bet. If it were paresailing which is an hour then off the pier but even tho the cost is a little more from the ship it is better with the cruise line. I do remember several years ago where a cruise passenger took a excursion off the pier to the arc and the boat capsized and a passenger was dead and the cruiseline was not responsible at all. So do keep that in thought also.:):):)

We were just there for a new years cruise, we have done the zodiac whale watching twice now and its fantastic. You get up real close and really see alot of whales and the boats hold about 12 people and are very quick and manueverable. not real expensive either about $75.00 off the ship.:):):)

Try Papas & Beer, always a fun time.:):):)

We just stayed at th Wyndam for our new years cruise and the rooms have all been redone and are very nice. Look for a sale by them we paid about $ 118. plus tax about $ 132. and also they give a discount for AAA maybe aarp also. We drive there and through one of the park &fly companies they have a parking package that gave us 8 days for $68.50 and then all we do is walk our bags directly across the street and leave our car in their covered garage and is really simple Good luck.:):):)

Copper, as a side note I am happy to see your were with us on the NY cruise and you were crusing and not working, which changes the perspective of everything. We agree on most of our points, we had a great cruise and had a lot of fun,I do wish they had had the celebration in the main showroom instead of the LIdo, personel point. I hope you enjoyed your relation and time away even tho you were on a cruise.:):):)

Copper 8-10, I rerspect your valuable opinion and always follow your post as an excellent guideline. We were on that cruise also deck 10 aft 091 and our room steward said he had 29 cabins,I assume on the starboard side as that is where I saw him all the time. I don't know the exact number of tables our dinning steward had but the service was difinately off and slow as he and his team were trying as hard as they could but were not keeping up. We ate at several stations and the same was true of all the tables we ate at.Again I don't fault the crew but HAL for not having enough personel to cover the service and or rooms. I emailed Seattle and they did apologize but I do think they better rethink their business model and plan because passengers will only go so far then then they revolt and and your losses will be greater than your savings, its as simple as that. You get what you pay for. They are a good cruise line but airline mentality isn't going to work and foot the bill. They will lose market shaqqre and they have a very definater niche and you will erode that niche if they keep going in the direction they are headed.:):):)

I don't know if this allowed but go to **********.com and they will usually show what percentage of the ships cabins are available,they don't show individual cabins but the overall availability. Have used it for years it will also give you the selling price for various cabins of the time span for your cruise.:):):)

We were in 091 and my dau and her hus were in d777 4th deck. I remember about 2-3 years ago of sewage problems on deck 4 I think but we are going to find out for sure. I checked our cruise log and I think it said about 1444 passengers and about 575 crew Veendaam dec 27th sailing. I'll check tomorrow and see if I have last years cruise log as we were on the same sailing last year also. But it felt like there was less diningg room help this year, I know the waits were longer and the service substancially less, it wasn't that they wern't trying they could just not keep up with the numbers they had to serve.Pleasant and nice and apologetic but still no where near getting things right and done in a proper timely manner. We had very good luck in the Pinnacle and ate there several times. To us, they always do a great job and the food is usally to our liking.As I said our room stewart was great and we tipped him extra. Also you are paying more for each succeding cruise fare and actually ARE GETTING LESS for your money. Myself, we arn't happy with alot of things that HAL is doing, we still give them the benefit of a doubt but are not hasppy cruisers.:):):)

LiseD. were on your same cruise and they service was slow in the dining room. Its not the crews fault, its a company mandate and there have been cut backs. Our room stewart had 29 cabins to handle, in the past they usually had in the neighborhood of16 cabins, they do a great job with all the extra work they have to fit in and were were extremely satisfied and commented on our survey on the great job he did. But service in the dining room was another story, bread,butter & water at the begining and usally never refilled. We would order soft drinks, milk , icetea and many times NEVER GOT THEM. They tried to keep up but with so many guest to serve it was hard.21/2 hour meals were the norm, We never complanied but sure felt like it. We had far greater problems with our Dau's cabin that had raw sewage in the bath tub for 2 days and a 2 day power outage, and yes we did complain and are writing a letter and we are loyal HAL cruisers and we even booked the same cruise for next year again same ship, but my wife said only on the condition that she eats in the Pinnacle every night becaused she doesn't want to experiene the same results again. this the first time in 40 cruises that I have had any negative comments by the way. Again this isn't a crew problem but a corporate problem that is focused more on cutbacks rather than guest satisfaction and it may come bact to bite them because guest will tolerare only so much then will make changes and that means other cruise lines. We booked this summer on Cel instead of HAL We had a great cruise but it was not worry free and we got a letter of apology from the Hotel director but raw sewage is a definate health problem and when brought to the room stewart attention he said he was on a break and would look into later well Analise in guest relations got he proper people to get the mess cleaned up then the power outage and she strightened that out al;so, our savior.But definately not happy with soem aspects of things, we'll see what seattle has to say as our rep at AMEX said she was appalled and as loyal cruisers should have fared better, so we'll see what happenens:):):)

We did it for a new years cruise 2 years ago on the Zaandam. It was a fun event aand the social director who cordinated everything for us did a great job. We were the only ones doing the ceremony with our kids and their fsmily. We met with Captian for actually about an hour in a set off area from the crows nest and we had drinks and small bites finally he said I think we should get this show on the road. He performemed the ceremony and they had a cake and a photograher for everything. They put it all together in an album with the certificate and pictures. It was a wonderful ceremony and we would recommend it to everyone and the cost is about $125.00 I think . You should have a fun and great time . We did it for our 50th anniversary and really loved it. Have a great time and congradulations to you on your uncoming anniversary.:):):)

We had a Neptune Suite on that deck last year for an Alaskan cruise and we never herd any noise at all from the Lido deck.I would think that you should be really safe. Have a great cruise.:):):)

Your going to have a great time .We're booked on the Veendam this New Year's. we have done quite a few of them and its a great way to start the new year.:):):)

We have been parking at the Wyndam for the past 5 years for New Years cruises. Was Holiday Inn 2 years ago, we also stay the nite before. We go thru a airport parking service called ParkRideFly USA and the price for us this years for 8 days is $68.43 with a AAA discount. Its easy and all we do is roll our suitcases across the street to the cruise terminal. The hotel is ok and does the job for t he one nite, there is a fun pub downstairs thats fun also. Its convientent and the price is right from parknride .:):):)

There is a very good restraunt at the Fairmont which is across from Canada Place but we tend to eat in their restraunts when we stay there, depend s also what type of food you'd like for a special 60th. There is also a very good chinese restraunt down form the other Fairmont downtown, the conc recommended it and the food was great, we have eaten there several times but I'm sure those from Vancouver will have a host of good restraunts, its a good food town.:):):)

We have done both several times and the main difference for us is that Seattle is the outside passage and Vancouver is the inside passage which in my opinion is much more calmer and less turbulent and smoother , I also agree much more scenic also. The airfare to Seattle is better but the hotels in Vanouver, ie the Fairmont is less expensive so there are trade offs but we like the sceenery and smoother inside passage better.:):):)

We've used AlreadyThere car service many times and we find Charlette to be on top of your flights and always aware of whats going on. They never charge if your flight is delayed or late. They are excellent. We are using them again in 2 weeks and expect her cordination to be excellent as usual. Call and talked to her and she will help you with all your plans to get you to your destination.:):):)

We have stayed at the Wyndam last December and had a rate of $110. Just booked them again for New Years and the rate was $118.50. They have a AAA discount so ask. They are close, the staff is friendly and very helpfull and the pub rrestraunt for breakfast is good. We also park there thru Park & Fly and usually pay a rate of about $ 55. to $60. dollars[ for the cruise week that we are gone. Very convenient for sure.:):):)I]

The latest score from 1/15/14 was 99 and thats a very good score.:):):)

We've used Already There many times and found them to be personable and very good. We are using them again this Aug twice and expect the same great service to and from the Fairmont Olympic. Goood luck.:):):)

We did for our 50th 2 years ago for our New Years cruise. A great time and a real treat. We were the only couple for the evening and they do it in a reserved section ofv the Crows Nest. The Captain sat with us for about an hour and then said I guesss we should get this going. It was very personalable and they do a great job. They had some small bites and a cake ,a photograher and then the ceremony itself was very nice. They put it all together in an album for you also with pictures certificates and everything. Well worth the small price for a very special evening with friends and family. Have a great time , you'll enjoy it for sure.:):)