crystalspin

Oh No! Yes, our trip was 2014. I hadn't heard that colony was no more! 😞

The Crows Nest AKA Explorations Cafe on the Observation Deck. [Deck 11 on the N.A.] It is a mark of genius that this area is open to all! It can get crowded, but worth the wait for a comfy chair or nearby sofa/club-chair. Have been on NCL and RCI, and have a booking on CCL -- combed their deckplans and there is nothing like the Crows Nest. Also it was genius to relocate the Cafe to Crows Nest.

We wanted to be sure to see penguins and Stanley is fairly often missed for weather, so we booked a combination Penguin Reserve and Sheep Station ship's tour at Punta Arenas Chile (Otway Sound). AND the 4x4 Penguin Colony (plus "tea" at local place) at Stanley. Fortunately we got to do both. I think we enjoyed the Otway Sound the most. It was a bit blustery and turned out the fact it was a ship's tour was priceless as they held the last Tender for us when a squall had blown up and stopped the ferry for some time from Otway/sheep ranch to the port. (The weather was perfect where we were!)

I love this photo! You are raising your son (?) not to take himself too seriously and to have fun! PS I'm sure no one noticed the flipflops unless you pointed it out! I am saving some black Earth-shoe thong-sandals to take on my next cruise.

I only knew because I looked up a First-Time Cruiser's itinerary! It stuck in my head. I so prefer Steward to Whittier, but I can believe you are right that Whittier is a good send off for Hubbard. Interestingly, the Northbound Glacier Discovery does NOT do Hubbard -- Ocean currents? IDK.

Yes, in my family we call it the "idiot check". And everyone in the room or house does it with no hard feelings by the others that you are "doubting" them! I have left my phone or computer charger -- before they were nearly as universal! I have lost track of hats I've left in hotel rooms. (When I take off a hat I tend to put it somewhere high: shelf in closet, top of the TV, even on a floor lamp...)

Double Mariner points? Maybe you are maxed out...

Have not been that cabin, but we were on Zuidy in 10021 (an Inside with a window!) for a FLL-CPH transAtlantic. LOVED LOVED LOVED being on the Observation Deck! The balcony itself is a bit smaller than Verandahs on other deck, but the Crows Nest (and Explorations Cafe) are your living room and breakfast nook. Only one floor down to the Lido. I would trade any room on the ship for your 10008! Also, the Vista ships (Zuiderdam, Westerdam, Noordam, Oosterdam) really hit my sweet spot for size.

Holland America also has Hubbard+Glacier Bay on the 7-day Glacier Discovery Southbound Whittier to YVR. On either the Noordam or Nieuw Amsterdam.

Athens to Barcelona and find a way to spend at least 3-4 days at either end.

LAX through MIA to CPT (Cape Town South Africa). My first cruise, that went to Buenos Aires.

164 to Sea of Cortez and Mex.Riviera.

Yes, we would have cruised on or near our 30th, but you know what happened to that idea!

I have not been in the sig.suites but looked at the location on CruiseDeckPlans and they are under just seating (and maybe a steward station), not galley where there might be all-night noise. I would choose 8081 because 8083 is a connecting room and sometimes more noise travels through the extra door.

Oops, I can't even keep track of my bookings. My 2024 cabin is a verandah also on PORT side, Sun Deck. We like this location better (near the Crows Nest!), but "needed" to choose a Vista Suite to use up the FCC from March 2020, that is set to expire at end of year. Thanks for the photos!

Pics of the fore Starboard will be great too, because I have a Sun Deck balcony to mark for 2024!

Doesn't appear to be a charter (still on the HAL website anyway). It is a nice Southbound itinerary with both Hubbard Glacier AND Glacier Bay. Amy, welcome to Cruise Critic! I see you found your Roll Call. My experience is that Alaska Roll Calls tend to be pretty quiet -- maybe because the ports are so engaging by themselves! @AMRDS

Pics are great; I have marked the mid-ships one with our Vista Suite for a B2B next Dec/Jan! Over the New Year which is also our 32nd anniversary!

Also: FEBRUARY 2024 Koningsdam - 17-Feb-24 - 35 day Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas Is still on!

Hi Jacqui! You may remember I had some doubts about N Amsterdam - 02-Oct-22 - 23 day Panama Canalcrystalspin- with DB & SIL It was hanging over my head as it crept closer and closer. It just is not possible for all four of us to be away for that long (plus the travel at both ends). And I was having trouble drumming up much enthusiasm for PC without my Brother/SIL. So remove that cruise and put just dr'spin and me down for Koningsdam - 29-Dec-22 - 9 day Mexico & Sea Of Cortez B2B with Koningsdam - 7-Jan-23 - 7 day Mexican Riviera crystalspin -- 32th wedding anniversary cruise Just one BonVoyage is fine! -- Elizabeth

I had not seen this thread and only the little icons for "book early & save" not the sale itself on HAL site. Imagine my delight to see Pre-Paid Crew Appreciation under my booked itineraries for 12/29/22 and 1/7/23 sailings.

That's Halfacts.com with an S.

@Jammu2 If your cruise sails before Dec.31 2022, you should be covered by the Worry-Free-Booking/Flexible Cancellation policy. That will refund all the non-refundable costs EXCEPT for the insurance fee if you have bought a Cancellation Protection Plan. We moved our October cruise to a back-to-back sailing at the end of December. Also in the default period after Final Payment. My PCC worked magic (it was very complicated with some FCC dating to March 2020, some AARP gift card, some credit card). Most of the FCC was transferred immediately, with some penalty being repaid a bit later. I established where the "repayment" should be applied -- the call to my PCC was yesterday and this noon I had an email showing the payment to the second cruise of my B2B. Go through however you made the original cruise: TA, PCC, or HAL 'switchboard'. Emphasize that you want to rebook using the Worry-Free-Booking/Flexible Cancellation policy. NOTE: if your existing cruise is NOT sailing by end-of-year, the above will not apply; you will be in the forfeiture period shown on your confirmation email.

Great photos! You should submit them to HALFACT.COM

You want PORT. It is non-intuitive -- the canal does not go east to west. Look at it on a map. We were on from FLL to SAN in a Starboard balcony and the sun forced us off the balcony and literally in for a nap! We did see the failed French canal AND the fellow in the rowboat from that side. Many will say "You should move around the ship." But it you don't want to do that, maybe you want to avoid crowds or enjoy the balcony you have paid for -- make it PORT from Atlantic to Pacific.