RuthC

I've done the Voyage of the Vikings three times, and the Viking Passage once. I think that makes me a 'veteran', if not of all the ports, then the weather in the area. One thing I don't see on your list is summer clothes. Boston, ports in Canada, the French ports (yes, you will also be in France on this cruise when you stop in St. Pierre), can be quite warm; tee shirts with slacks should suffice. I have also worn summer clothes in Iceland, but not as often. I would have a jacket, with gloves. One pair or two of winter weight slacks, and one summer weight slacks, a sweat shirt or two, a couple of tee shirts. Something waterproof to cover the whole shebang would come in very handy. I don't walk/hike, so have no idea what you would need for that activity. Layering is a key here. Be able to add to the warm weather clothes so you can reach a comfortable state in the cooler ports.

Rotterdam 2002?

You might be better off getting a correct answer to your question on the Roll Call for your cruise. That would be the place where others on this very unusual shore excursion would most likely know the answer.

Not yet. However, I have researched it for when the time comes.

Those look like a set passed down in my family! Even the case matches. Haven't thought of them in years, as I have some from my husband's family. My mother's father was in a Canadian regiment in the Boer War, and he got them from that outfitting. I think they passed to my brother when my mother died. I had the rifle, and my sister (for her husband) got the guns. Thanks for the memory.

I'm happy this all worked out for you. HAL will help facilitate committing the ashes off the stern of the ship. They will slow the ship down, and provide a certificate pinpointing where the ashes were dropped.

I won't say I 'cruise to watch TV', but there are times I am in the cabin alone, and needed sounds for company. I do like to have the TV on when I'm getting dressed in the morning, changing for dinner, and falling asleep. Since I was a little girl coming home from school to an empty house I have needed to have some 'noise' on when I am alone. Since HAL doesn't offer any decent radio stations anymore, the TV serves the purpose.

I've been all over the north country more times than I can count. If you want to list out the itinerary choices I can give my opinion. Adding in some of your interests would make it a bit easier to answer with you in mind.

I think of it as an after-tax dividend. Sounds even bigger that way! I've been fortunate enough to have a few years of $750 in 'after tax' dividends from HAL. The stock owes me nothing.

OP, if the only hold-up is getting checked in, do take the suggestion to see if your TA can do it. Or, if you can do it for your SIL, then go ahead. Then, let her be a no-show. That way there is no single supplement to pay, her port charges will be refunded to her method of payment, and you can sail off with your mom's own boarding pass. There is no 'upside' to notifying HAL of the death if you can get the boarding pass some other way.

Not in my experience. When my husband died two days before sailing, our TA did notify HAL. I did, of course, get a refund on the taxes and port fees, but nothing else from HAL. It was the travel insurance that was responsible for paying me for the cruise loss. If I had not had insurance I would have been out the entire cost of the cruise (except for the taxes/port fees), and getting me home, as well as repatriation of his remains.

Big HAL Boat. At least that's the first thing that comes to mind every time I see those letters together. Not a very flattering mental image, either.

You do realize, I hope, that the Rolling Stone Rock Room has nothing to do with the Rolling Stones, the band from the '60s. It is named for Rolling Stone, the magazine.

I've been to all of those ports multiple times. Each itinerary has a scenic cruise up a fjord to a small town. The ride back out is just as scenic, even when the weather has changed during the day. Truly, if you are looking for scenery, flip a coin. If a particular port interests you, go with the itinerary that has it. I am especially fond of Alesund and Bergen.

Yes, 'Main' is late seating for dinner, usually at 8:00 PM. It is a fixed table for both time and guests. Early seating is referred to as 'Early'.

Contact the Mariner Society in Seattle. Explain how you need 2 days to reach 4* status, which you will achieve with days alone on your next cruise. Let them know you will be continuing on (on the same ship, I presume? You didn't specify), and they should be able to make the arrangements for you to achieve your new status on the second portion of the back to back. You will likely need to confirm the arrangements once on board. I don't believe different booking numbers makes a difference, but you could ask when you're talking to the Mariner Society anyway.

I am a (very) experienced HAL cruiser, and couldn't agree more with your point. The ice in your drinks is made from the same water that comes out of your tap, so why on earth would you pay for water! If it's good enough to melt in your cocktail, it's good enough to drink.

Reportedly, the first part of your statement is about to change. It's been posted on this forum that HAL announced that it would start charging only the difference (plus tip) between the allowed amount toward the drink and the actual price. Drinks over the allowed 15, of course, will continue to be fully charged for.

One can't get down a passageway past a cabin if there is a tray outside the door if they are riding a scooter or in a wheelchair. There isn't room for the wheels to clear. So, the person on the mobility device has to knock on the door until someone answers it to take the tray back inside. The alternative is to ride backwards to a house phone and call them to bring it back inside.

Thank you for the review from the point of view of a disabled person and caretaker. It is helpful to have your insight. I know my own cruising days are too rapidly winding down, so you have given me much to think about.

Thank you! I'll go read it now.

Great itinerary! I really enjoyed it. Be aware, though that you are heading west to east, so lose an hour many nights. IIRC, there were also a couple of days when we also lost an hour during the day. Up that far north each time zone is fairly narrow, so it's not hard to cross two time zones in a day.

If you've never been to either place, then either one is a grand experience. The scenic cruising at North Cape usually comes after the fog has lifted, so is breathtaking to see from sea level. Visiting North Cape up top is better if the fog has lifted, but it hadn't the time I went out there. The visitor's center has a lot of interest, though. There's a lot to see in Honningsvag besides going out to North Cape, so it offers a great deal. But to go to Spitzbergen, and walk around in Longyearbyen, is exotic and unforgettable. Then, to have your ship head out going north, to seek out the Polar Ice Cap is exciting. I would love to do it again. The front of the ship was actually in the ice! I still get a thrill just thinking about it. And you don't know how many more years there will be an ice cap within reach on these exotic cruises. Take this routing while you have the chance.

1.)Water from the tap is fine for drinking; add ice from your ice bucket. It's the same water served at meals, and that melts from ice in your cocktails. 2.)Coffee is made from ground coffee beans. Not the best ever, but quite drinkable. You can also purchase various specialty coffees at Explorations Café. 4.)You can send a (cloth; it doesn't tear) bag of laundry for $20 (US; $30 Europe). You can also purchase unlimited laundry for $7/day times the number of days on your cruise ($9/day Europe). These are not 'specials', and are available every day until the day before the end of the cruise. Clothes come back washed, ironed, and either folded or on hangers (your choice). 5.) You purchase an Internet plan at one of three levels, each adding more sites you can access. The price depends on the number of days, and level you want. There are charts previously posted, and someone is likely to post again in reply to your query. 8.)Most cocktails are $10.95 each, plus tip. You can also purchase a Signature Beverage Package which gets you 15 drinks/day up to $11, or an Elite Package allowing for drinks up to $15. Tips are included in the package prices.

Absolutely, include Antarctica. If you are going to go all that way, you might as well see the prize. Which direction is more a matter of preference and timing. Heading east to west you are one hour closer in time zone to home, so that makes the return flights a bit easier. If you do Antarctica, you also get to ease into the continent when you start to see small pieces of ice in the water, they grow slowly larger, and eventually you see massive bergs as high as 300' and longer than you can imagine. It is very impressive. However, that also means that the icebergs in Chile are anticlimactic when you do get there. Now, going west to east you will be more impressed by the Chilean fjords, but less impressed as you leave Antarctica. I actually felt sad as it was visibly over so slowly. Really, though, it's closer to a coin flip as to which way is better. Do consider the long flights down and home when deciding which direction to sail. My first trip home was from Santiago, and it was a 33 hour 'day' from the time I got up on disembarkation morning until I arrived home. My second time was also from Santiago, but was a 36 hour 'day'. Third time was from Buenos Aires and I got smarter and took a non-stop to NYC, then a limo home to RI. Oregon is much different flight routing. Do plan to take at least one day, two is better, to recover a bit before the cruise. Time to recover after coming home is also necessary.