Crew News

Welcome to Cruise Critic. As a hobby photographer, Alaska is my favorite cruise region. I have been on 15 whale watching excursions and saw orcas only once. ISP is my favorite location for whales because they are so active. I strongly recommend the Mendenhall Glacier Walk in Juneau and definitely a stop at the Glacier Smoothie Soap Shop on Franklin Street. My favorite excursion is feeding the eagles on the Bering Sea Crab Fishing excursion. Orca in Juneau Auke Bay mere feet from our small excursion boat ISP for bubble feeding humpback whales Glacier Trek via helicopter in Juneau Ketchikan Crab Fishing with eagle feeding

Here is a link to the upgrade chart I posted earlier in this thread: Internet Update from HIA Surf Plan 2024

The internet Streaming Plan lists several well-known streaming accounts but then adds "and other accounts." All that I have been reading is that YouTube is a streaming service. For getting a quick answer, this might be a question to pose on a current live thread for someone using the Premium Plan. As far as notifications, perhaps the notifications under your account settings might show a cause.

Others have reported that it does not. As a WhatApp user, I need the Premium Plan to place and receive calls. Nothing beats a Spam Call while on a cruise even while your phone is in airplane mode.

Yes. Here is a table of internet costs that I created based on tables that I received from Ship Services: Internet Pricing Plans 2024

When you login after boarding, you will see the option to upgrade in the Navigator app.

It gave you a big discount on the regular price of the Premium Plan.

Wi-Fi calling comes with the Premium Plan

You can surf the web and send pictures by email with the Surf Plan.

Once aboard, if you wish to upgrade a HIA Surf Plan to the Premium Plan to make WhatsApp WiFi calls or Zoom conferencing, here is a table that I have created to show the cost: HIA Surf Plan Upgrade Cost

As requested: Cooler

Kudos on being a fellow aft stateroom lover. FWIW the Deck 5 balconies are fully covered and same depth as Deck 4.

Per the Nieuw Amsterdam Captain last October, the Mariner Luncheons were currently being offered on cruises longer than 14 days. As HAL continues to evolve away from the COVID restrictions, more luncheons should be occurring.

It is my experience that shrimp cocktail is served fleet-wide on both the silver (1st) and gold (2d) "Dressy Night" menus. Dressy Night Silver Menu Dressy Night Gold Menu

My Eurodam internet speed in an aft stateroom last month was 107 Mbps. It should be much better if closer to the repeaters in the atrium and indoor pool.

If you want to avoid the crowd for making Specialty Restaurant reservations, there is a secondary podium near the entrance of the Spa on Deck 9 (indoor pool).

Contact Holland America Line Ship Inventory at 1-888-628-8107 or 206-626-7381.

Welcome to Cruise Critic and to the HAL Forum. This is true for Vancouver. The HAL disembarking process starts at 7:30 AM and continues until 9:00 AM.

All passengers must be off the ship by 9:30 AM so your either assigned or chosen disembarkation time will be no later than 9:00 AM.

I have discovered this situation, especially on repositioning cruises. My HAL PCC contacted Ship Inventory and resolved my issue in a few minutes. I booked my cruise to start in San Diego instead of Vancouver.

The times listed by most cruise lines at each port is the time that passengers may begin leaving the ship. Actual docking occurs 30 minutes earlier than the post times.

And fully covered on the Westerdam.

When taking kids to Alaska, I would recommend bring two inexpensive pairs of binoculars for them. Looking into the tree lines for eagles (their white heads look like vanilla ice cream cones) and other wildlife will let them interact with the Alaska experience. The binoculars will also help to spot harbor seals in Glacier Bay. Seeing bears in Alaska in May will be very rare but the kids might be surprised. Finding a kids book about Alaska will also stimulate their interest. The Zandaam has stern balconies spanning Decks 6 and 7 that are accessed through the hallway doors at the aft end of the respective hallways. Blankets, loungers, and a large heat vent make these huge balconies enjoyable. It is a good place for photos. There are daily kids menus available in the MDR (bring crayons for kids to color the pictures) as well as in the Specialty Restaurants. Kids eat free in the Specialty Restaurants if they eat from the kids menu. Kids Menu to Color It is my experience that kids enjoy Club HAL so much that they are not around the ship except at dinner times. Activities will vary based on how many kids of each age group are present. The first of May will probably have few kids. Here is a link to typical Club HAL kids activities: Kids Activities Here is what the kids will see when looking for eagles in the trees: Harbor seals in Glacier Bay

My nearby stateroom to the OP's was a Club Orange purchased upgrade from an obstructed view verandah. On the HAL website, my payment lists a verandah stateroom but my invoice is a VS prefix. Nor was I asked.

Welcome to Cruise Critic and the HAL Forum. Great choice of stateroom!!! How do I like aft-facing staterooms? Let me count the ways: As a many-time cruiser to Alaska and hobby photographer, I sail only in aft-facing staterooms. You will be able to see and take photos of the scenery on both sides of the ship where hundreds of your fellow passengers will have to venture to the public areas. That means you can step out onto your balcony in your pajamas and slippers to capture a photo of a sunset or sunrise. From your own aft-facing balcony, you can enjoy Glacier Bay without fighting for space at the railings on public decks, no heads or cameras will be blocking your own camera, no bathroom sharing with hundreds of your fellow passengers, a table at arms length for your snacks and beverages, your minibar with beverages and snacks only a few feet away, free Room Service delivery, and a good portion of your balcony covered against the elements. Aft staterooms are a two-minute elevator ride up to the Lido Market Buffet and the same time down to the Main Dining Room (MDR) or Club Orange. Since Room Service is a short ride up to Deck 5, your hot food will still be hot when received. When the ship is moving, you can enjoy your balcony with no wind while those on the side-facing staterooms may not. The gentle sound of the propeller wake is very soothing to for both a nap and evening sleep. In April, I will be aboard the Koningsdam to Alaska in an aft-view stateroom near yours. Feel free to ask any questions and I will seek answers while aboard to help in your planning. There is a link in the lower right corner of my signature to see HAL current menus. Below are Alaska cruise photos taken from my aft-facing staterooms: Glacier Bay Lions Gate Bridge leaving Vancouver Juneau