SilvertoGold

Thanks for the info. Glad you are find HAL great as a first impression and hope that continues.

Some (a lot of) melatonin might help, but driving for 2 hours sounds like a bad idea.

10 am doesn't sound good. Must be some hold-up. The last disembark time was 9:15 for us. Which ship? Would really like to know when boarding starts for you today. Have a really wonderful cruise!

Hope you start boarding at 11:30 or at latest at latest by noon. Canada Place in April on the Koningsdam was 1:30 pm because of Covid cases being disembarked and then a wholesale cleaning throughout the ship. The place was a zoo!

We received ones on the Koningsdam in April and May and on the Zuiderdam in June. Ugly plastic but they come in handy for storage.

This year Canada Place is beginning boarding by 11:30 am or even earlier as long as no problems with disembarking Covid cases or other hold-ups are encountered. Straight to your cabin, then or by noon, where the key cards will be waiting for you in the mailbox. Have a great time!

The dangling item: on the "Seafood Platter". On the K it was lobster, with salmon, prawns and scallops. Excellent although the serving platter was too large for a small table for 2 to hold.

OP: Thanks for this review. Enjoyed your comments. Personally we like the lack of energy on some HAL ships. For example: in 7 weeks on the Koningsdam we tired of the high energy of newbies and kids; of loud and somewhat unruly crowds in areas. Everyone has their preferences. Ours is for elegance and comfortable surroundings. I would suggest the Pinnacle class 7 day cruises for those who want more energy, more events and modern surroundings.

Lovely! Thanks you. I can see the balcony we were in for 7 weeks in April and May! I need a cruise :)

Not sailing this month but I do know where you will be! Looks like a really nice area: have a great time!

I have been seeing exactly the same thing. Sometimes pricing is the same for both of us and sometimes hundreds of dollars different. Also, sometimes the pricing that comes up is for Have-it-all and the next day it is back to a price without that promo.

Lisa You did well with the Marine Reception. On the Koningsdam for 7 weeks and these receptions were at 2 pm embarkation day in Billboard. Very tough timing for some who did not embark in the morning. The Mariner rep, a very nice and efficient 2 stripe lady, was in charge. She came early and then a few 2/3 stripe Officers showed up. Mostly, Mariners just walked in and sat down. The Hotel Manager came at 2:20 and talked to some high Mariners whom he knew. On the Zuiderdam this took place in the CN, no host except for a couple of bar servers, on embarkation day at 2:30 pm. The "Mariner Recognition Party" on the Koningsdam was in the CN on the last sea day 11 am, Captain and Hotel Manager plus the Mariner Rep lady who was in charge.

What other lunch options are there on the Nieuw Amsterdam?

With TuGo how did you choose the broker form their list? There are so many, none of which I know anything about.

I hope the MDR is open but it wasn't in April , May and early June on a variety of HAL ships. On the Zuiderdam the MDR lunch on sea days was "Express". Few choices, not very good food.

Lido, pizza, burgers, all in same area. As noted, the Lido can be a zoo on embarkation!

Welcome to Vancouver! The next few days should be no rain and you are right, the sun will come out. A good start to you time here. Enjoy today and best wishes for a speedy embarkation.

Stay. I am interested in knowing who would be paying for the hotel and incidentals if no HAL insurance was purchased.

Fantastic! The ongoing saga of the "Three Generations Ladies" is going to be an outstanding read! The Koningsdam has something for everyone and I am sure this will be a great cruise all around! Looking forward to all your posts! An advance welcome to Vancouver! Hope you enjoy all parts of this adventure!

On Alaska cruises we saw more "anything goes" with Dressy. A tux , a few suits, polo shirts; a few cocktail dresses, dresses, nice slacks and ordinary tops. Gala used to bring out a lot more fancy dressing.

Agree! Intransit was a total mess until the end of May! But in early June boarding was very easy at Canada Place (with no Verifly). I think they have their act together, now. They are using more separate stations so the lines go more quickly. You are not plugged up at one station for a long time while the rep looks at a whole list of your docs. There is the upstairs area, huge, airy with lots of reps and guides. Then downstairs for security and US Customs. We were very pleased (OK, and surprised).

On the Kdam last 3 weeks of April and all of May. Didn't get her name, but I am sure this was the one. (She was a Pinnacle waiter on the Westerdam before Covid.) My DH refused to return after 2 dinners. Too personal, too much attention, too much fawning over the pax (mostly DH). HAL lost a fair amount of $$ from us there. What problems did you encounter? Glad you wrote to Gust Relations: any response? I didn't bother, but likely should have. The lady running Sel was great, we enjoyed that experience and the MDR was over-the-top wonderfully accommodating and professional.

Zuiderdam in early June Koningsdam in April and May: Overall food quality was better on the K. 1. MDR on the K: Salmon truly excellent, portions mostly small, but well plated, well cooked. Fresher, more finessed. Z: Salmon inferior cuts, but well cooked. Food in was average but good, acceptable. Ship was struggling with a lack of chefs, so that may have accounted for the lack of finesse. 2. Pinnacle on the K: apart for an overbearing hostess, excellent, superior service, food quality, plating and taste. Z: very good but serious evidence of over-salting just about everything. The one lunch was a disaster, undercooked, just lukewarm. Manager was mad enough to comp the meal. 3. Lido on the K: a delight at lunch, abundant choices, very fresh and with much eye-appeal. Z: some of food was tired looking. Asian bar was populated with a lot of meat only dishes, no vegetables. Also, food a bit tired looking. Not nearly as much choice.

Try 7 weeks and see how your body thinks of that :) I'll be watching for your autumn cruise reports!

HAL started asking for the receipt number in mid-May on the Koningsdam.