Alberta Quilter

Agree with the others. Dover to Heathrow, is at least a two hour drive and that is if there are no traffic issues.

Early fixed dining is usually around 5 or 5:30 and Main fixed is usually around 7:30/8:00. If your preferred time is fully booked, then once you’re onboard go to the dining reservation podium to request a change. I believe the podium is on the lido deck near Canaletto and there may be another on a lower deck. Hopefully someone will chime in with that info.

I did not. When I cancelled a cruise booked onboard, I got a full refund of all amounts paid for the deposit and CO.

And, I believe, one gets a late checkout with the package, which can be handy on a 3 ship day.

Thanks for posting. When we went in 2010, we heard about this incident from our captain whose name escapes me. I believe he was the captain at the time.

Will do! Thanks again!

Thank you so much @martincath! What a kind and generous offer, too. I would love to meet you, officially or unofficially! Is there a cost to going the official route? Or is it by gratuity? I couldn't find that info on the website. I will arrive late on Monday, July 7th, via the Rocky Mountaineer. I won't get to the hotel until around 7 or 8 pm, I think. No cruising for me at this time. I don't have my flight home booked yet but plan to leave on the 9th, likely mid afternoon/early evening (I think I'll be flying stand-by). My thought was to check out at 11 am and head to the airport. I'll do some research into your other suggestions; I don't know Mount Pleasant at all, or even where it is! Google Maps here I come! Thanks again!

@martincath @Milhouse @Urban trekker Might any of you be able to help with my questions, please? Thank you!

I’ve never been to Van Dusen Botanical Garden. Would that be a good thing to do on my free day? Is it easy to get to via transit from either hotel?

Looking for some advice, please. I can book two nights at the YWCA Hotel for the price of one night at the Auberge Hotel. I would like to take the Skytrain to the airport after the hotel stay. I know it would be easier to walk to the Waterfront Station for the Canada Line from the Auberge. How easy/safe would it be to walk to a Canada Line station from the YWCA Hotel? I think I'll only have a carry on bag to schlep. Any suggestions for restaurants close to the YWCA Hotel? Looking for something in the $25 - 30 range for an entree, seafood would be good but open to other suggestions. I don't have to stay the extra day so, if it's easier/safer/more to do in the Auberge area, I can stay there. I have been to Vancouver a few times so have done most of the things in the Waterfront area/Gastown, etc. And, if I do stay the extra day, any suggestions as to what areas to avoid? I'm not keen on filling my lungs with second hand smoke of any sort, nor seeing drug infested areas. I know the news reports make things sound much worse than they might really be so that's why I'm asking. I'm not sure of what I want to do with my possible extra day so any suggestions that you have for someone who has been there before, would be welcome. I will not have a car so would be taking transit. Thank you!

It took hours just last week -

Credits for shore excursions that I cancelled showed up on my credit card account within a few days. I’d imagine that would be the same for wifi. But how last minute are you talking about? If only a few days, then it’s possible the credit will be OBC. If more than a week to embarkation, then it should be refunded to the card.

The distilled water you get onboard comes in a 4 litre jug. I would bring an empty water bottle or 2 litre milk jug and put the unused water in that for the land portion. Of course, that will depend on how long your cruise is and how much water you use.

I agree. It used to be that HAL raised the limit of the beverage package whenever they raised the drink prices. I wish they still did that.

Me too! I think Shorex can just do a adjustment without cancelling/rebooking.

Just took a look at the HAL website, there are two cruises on Rotterdam (two 7 day on May 24th and May 31st) which only go to Norway from The Netherlands. No stops in the UK at all. I think HAL sent the email in error if one of those cruises is the OP's.

@CintiPam Why not stay a day in Seattle and take the 11:20 flight home the next day? Is that doable? It'll cost more, what with a hotel stay but it'll give you the chance to see a bit of Seattle if you haven't seen it.

I had a situation on my cruise last summer in which HAL changed something on their end which necessitated cancelling and rebooking the same tour (I think it may have been a change in tour time). When they rebooked it, it was at a higher price. Luckily, I noticed it on the morning of the tour. I discussed with the shorex person who had previously facilitated the application of OBC to pre-paid excursions. She knew immediately what had happened and fixed it very quickly (right in the World Stage where the tours were meeting on the day of the same tour).

Not sure I like that. What if, for some reason, one does not complete the cruise? Like a medical debarkation? Then one has to pay the full cruise gratuity because it's charged on Day 1? Hopefully, in those circumstances, there would be a refund for the days not onboard... Just thinking of a friend who was medically debarked after a week on a rather long cruise...

Yes. Mine was.

Did you use an FCD when you booked the cruise? There is OBC with that which is per person.

My experience last summer (disembarked Aug 20th), was that the refunds were issued by cheque. It took about 8 weeks to receive the refund. My understanding is that this is how it is done now. There was quite a long thread about this at the end of 2024, early 2025. I'll see if I can find it. Here is the thread I mentioned: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3032624-did-you-get-your-refund-from-a-recent-cruise/

Since your cruise is several months away, I would call Ship Services and try to change it now.

Under $400 USD won’t be easy to find in the summer. You could try the YWCA hotel which the locals recommend as a good low cost, but basic, hotel. Their prices rise in the summer too but still lower than the PP or the Waterfront. You will have to take a cab to the cruise terminal. The suggestion to ask on the West Coast Departures forum is good. The locals there offer many good suggestions.

I’m sure it was the same guy; I disembarked on Aug 20th. He was a good piano player, when he accompanied a crew member during her performance in the crew show. But he really shouldn't sing, IMO.