HAL is our home; and we just can't quite separate

[atexsix]

I've spent the last few days pouring over itineraries, deck plans, and ship tours; and no matter how hard I try to get into it, the thought of breaking away from HAL is overwhelmingly sad, despite it's faults.  However, after reading through thread after thread about every line and countless ship reviews, it appears they all have some kind of faults.  HAL is home, it's been our home for 20 years.  We know there might be better options, but we're probably going to stick with HAL's elegant ships and exceptionally friendly service, and of course, it's faults; at least their familiar to us rather than chancing the unknowns with another line.  

 

Edit to add: we were considering other lines because we need an itinerary from Seattle that includes Skagway, only the Eurodam at the end of the season offers it on one sailing, hopefully the waters won't be too rough in early October and the Skagway train excursions are still running. 

Edited March 24, 2022 by atexsix

[OlsSalt]

Love the comfortable old shoe feeling about HAL ships - familiarity, warm and fuzzy - always felt good to "come home" to HAL ships and the warm embrace of their crews. No glitz, no hype, no dazzle; instead just the perfect fit for us.

 

I just have no use for those who complained about the dated pink tile in some the HAL bathrooms. I worry by the time we might get back to cruising, the only thing left will be the larger, glitzier, newer HAL ships and that old shoe feeling will be gone.

[Florida_gal_50]

My last cruise was pretty rough.  For a good week I swore I wouldn’t cruise with hal again.  Things did get straightened out.  A lot of the service staff have been outstanding on my last few cruises and I’d miss that.  More than that I love the pinnacle class of ships.  I’m not opposed to sailing with Princess either but I do enjoy many more things on hal.

[trixiee]

25 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

My last cruise was pretty rough.  For a good week I swore I wouldn’t cruise with hal again.  Things did get straightened out.  A lot of the service staff have been outstanding on my last few cruises and I’d miss that.  More than that I love the pinnacle class of ships.  I’m not opposed to sailing with Princess either but I do enjoy many more things on hal.

The seas were rough?

[Florida_gal_50]

18 minutes ago, trixiee said:

The seas were rough?

No, I’ve seen some rough seas.  Dealing with a flight ease cancelled flight and hundreds of dollars worth of incorrect charges to my account.  It was like whack a mole. Not my idea of a relaxing vacation. Also just some minor things like people thinking it was ok to share a cabana with 30 others.

Edited March 25, 2022 by Florida_gal_50

[ehyup71]

2 hours ago, atexsix said:

Edit to add: we were considering other lines because we need an itinerary from Seattle that includes Skagway, only the Eurodam at the end of the season offers it on one sailing, hopefully the waters won't be too rough in early October and the Skagway train excursions are still running. 

 

Does the itinerary have to depart from Seattle for a specific reason?  Just wondering because Koningsdam departs from Vancouver which is only about a 3 hour drive away.  Not only does the ship stop at Skagway, it also sails the Inside Passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland.  The Seattle departures sail outside on the east coast around the island. 

[Florida_gal_50]

1 minute ago, ehyup71 said:

 

Does the itinerary have to depart from Seattle for a specific reason?  Just wondering because Koningsdam departs from Vancouver which is only about a 3 hour drive away.  Not only does the ship stop at Skagway, it also sails the Inside Passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland.  The Seattle departures sail outside on the east coast around the island. 

Speaking as a Canadian I think Vancouver is going to be a hard sell.  From what I understand you will have to have an antigen test one day before.  That going to be pretty tough to arrange unless hal intends to test at the pier.  I’m not an Alaska fan because I live in the cold 10 months of the year it seems but if I did I’d leave from Seattle.  Less hassle.

[leerathje]

43 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Speaking as a Canadian I think Vancouver is going to be a hard sell.  From what I understand you will have to have an antigen test one day before.  That going to be pretty tough to arrange unless hal intends to test at the pier.  I’m not an Alaska fan because I live in the cold 10 months of the year it seems but if I did I’d leave from Seattle.  Less hassle.

 

??  I don't understand...Canada requires you to have an antigen test one day before to get into the country.  HAL is requiring an antigen test one day before you get on the ship as well?  That sucks, since they allow 3 days to get on board a ship in the US.

 

L.

 

[Horizon chaser 1957]

3 hours ago, atexsix said:

I've spent the last few days pouring over itineraries, deck plans, and ship tours; and no matter how hard I try to get into it, the thought of breaking away from HAL is overwhelmingly sad, despite it's faults.  However, after reading through thread after thread about every line and countless ship reviews, it appears they all have some kind of faults.  HAL is home, it's been our home for 20 years.  We know there might be better options, but we're probably going to stick with HAL's elegant ships and exceptionally friendly service, and of course, it's faults; at least their familiar to us rather than chancing the unknowns with another line.  

 

Edit to add: we were considering other lines because we need an itinerary from Seattle that includes Skagway, only the Eurodam at the end of the season offers it on one sailing, hopefully the waters won't be too rough in early October and the Skagway train excursions are still running. 

Bruno, you didn’t really think your HAL siblings were going to let you leave home that easily, did you? 😉

[Horizon chaser 1957]

4 minutes ago, leerathje said:

 

??  I don't understand...Canada requires you to have an antigen test one day before to get into the country.  HAL is requiring an antigen test one day before you get on the ship as well?  That sucks, since they allow 3 days to get on board a ship in the US.

 

L.

 

The Canadian requirement for a negative test to enter the country ends at the end of March. That’s well before the first sailing to Alaska.

[leerathje]

11 minutes ago, Horizon chaser 1957 said:

The Canadian requirement for a negative test to enter the country ends at the end of March. That’s well before the first sailing to Alaska.

Yes, I realize that. I was asking about how many days does HAL require a negative antigen test to get on board in Vancouver? Currently, they need 3 days for ports in the US. Their website says nothing about ports in Canada.

 

L.

 

[shanni-shanni]

HAL requires 3 days window for negative antigen test to embark their ships irregardless of country.

 

Tom

[ehyup71]

They haven't released the information yet for cruises departing Canada, although I suspect it will happen any day now as they just released the information for European departures yesterday on their website. 

 

Beyond happy that testing requirement has been dropped for entry to Canada for the vaccinated. The U.S. requires rapid antigen test if you are flying into the States, but not if you are crossing at land border or a port of entry (HAL tests you for your flight home though if its required).

 

If they follow U.S. protocols in place for Canada departures the key thing to be aware of is if you are "up to date with vaccines" to determine either a 3 day window for covid test, or a 2 day window for test. 

 

March 14 update for cruises departing a U.S. port:

Testing: All guests who are up to date with their vaccines may take their test within 3 days prior to sailing. Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose(s), when eligible. If a guest is fully vaccinated but not up to date with their vaccines (i.e., is eligible for a booster but has not received one), they must take their pre-cruise COVID-19 test within 2 days prior to sailing.

 

So if you take the test 2 days before departure you are covered for either situation!! 🙂 

 

 

Edited March 25, 2022 by ehyup71

[leerathje]

24 minutes ago, shanni-shanni said:

HAL requires 3 days window for negative antigen test to embark their ships irregardless of country.

 

Tom

 

There is HAL's FAQ for US departures and FAQ for Europe departures, nothing for Canada as of yet. I'm asuming that they will follow the rules of Europe departures and adopt whatever health rquirement the country of departure (Canada) is.

 

L.

 

[fatcat04]

We adore HAL and it's classic timeless style and have for a decade+ (we have had 4 HAL cruises cancelled "for us" by Covid including the Rotterdam TA) but we have a 4 year old (and a near 21 year old old too) and in the time of Covid, young children are anathema (even despised) on HAL apparently. So we spend our vacation dollars elsewhere, and not sadly tbh. I hope that changes as we love cruising but I am not holding my breathe tbh. HAL will lose us as multi generational cruisers sadly. 

Edited March 25, 2022 by fatcat04

[ehyup71]

If HAL does decide to follow the European rules for the Canada departures I'm sure there will be a LOT of unhappy people.  For European departures you are only considered "fully vaccinated" if your 2nd dose was within the last 6 months, otherwise the booster dose is required. 

 

Canada's current protocols do not require the booster shot to be considered "fully vaccinated".

 

For Departures from a European port:

Vaccines:  For these cruises the definition of “fully vaccinated” is at least 14 days and no more than 180 days (6 months) since the last dose in the vaccine series of an approved COVID-19 vaccine for guests ages 5 years of age and older.  A booster dose is required for guests whose final dose of an approved/authorized COVID-19 vaccine is older than 6 months (180 days) to be considered “fully vaccinated”.  

Edited March 25, 2022 by ehyup71

[Horizon chaser 1957]

3 hours ago, leerathje said:

Yes, I realize that. I was asking about how many days does HAL require a negative antigen test to get on board in Vancouver? Currently, they need 3 days for ports in the US. Their website says nothing about ports in Canada.

 

L.

 

Currently, Canadian law requires a negative test within one day of boarding a cruise ship in Canada. Since this falls well within HALs three day window, there’s no need for HAL to change their requirements. Meeting the country’s legal requirements automatically meets HALs.

[Caribbean Chris]

HAL is our cruising home, too. We’ve sailed a lot on Celebrity and had enjoyable trips. But I never have the same “I’m home” feeling when onboard X. 
 

I’ve found many reasons to love the newest HAL ships and we will be back on N. Statendam in the fall. But I’ve booked Zaandam’s holiday cruise because I want at least one more nostalgic, “ocean liner” experience of sleeping in a cabin right on the Lower Prom Deck and walking the full circuit around a wide deck overlooking the waves.

[Florida_gal_50]

4 hours ago, Horizon chaser 1957 said:

Currently, Canadian law requires a negative test within one day of boarding a cruise ship in Canada. Since this falls well within HALs three day window, there’s no need for HAL to change their requirements. Meeting the country’s legal requirements automatically meets HALs.

Thank you.  I thought for a minute there I was mistaken but I was sure that I’d read this.  

[Crazy For Cats]

@atexsix I understand the dilemma of going on another cruise line.  After much debate last year we sailed on NCL in December.  Things were different and yet we had an enjoyable cruise.  I did a cc review comparing this experience to HAL.

[doone]

I have sailed other lines and have enjoyed them, however, like OP here, once I step back onto a HAL ship, I have always felt like I was home....I, too, will continue to sail HAL regardless.  No cruise line is perfect, for me, HAL is the best bang for your buck.

 

 

[DaveOKC]

We sail exclusively on HAL now, as it fits our lifestyle and wants/needs.  Plus, once you get to 4/5 Stars the perks are nice and we have been getting some great casino offers even though we are not high rollers.

 

[boulders]

10 hours ago, fatcat04 said:

We adore HAL and it's classic timeless style and have for a decade+ (we have had 4 HAL cruises cancelled "for us" by Covid including the Rotterdam TA) but we have a 4 year old (and a near 21 year old old too) and in the time of Covid, young children are anathema (even despised) on HAL apparently. So we spend our vacation dollars elsewhere, and not sadly tbh. I hope that changes as we love cruising but I am not holding my breathe tbh. HAL will lose us as multi generational cruisers sadly. 

 

My son cruised HAL when he was 6 and again when he was 8, both about 10 years ago. We never felt that he was despised. We all had a great time, including his teenage siblings. Have you taken him on a HAL cruise? 

[luvteaching]

Hi Bruno, 

Hope you and DD are doing well. We canceled our Hawaii cruise (DH's health) but still have 3 Alaska on the books. All are out of Seattle with 2 on HAL (July and September) and one on Princess. We are creating our own B2B with Crown Princess then Oosterdam. That way we get Skagway and the train on the first leg and Sitka and ISP on the second. We've done this 4 other times and it works well. We disembark in Seattle, walk across the pier and embark. Easy as pie. Princess and HAL have similarities but HAL is our favorite. The Princess ships are bigger, have more enrichment activities (think Libby Riddles came on in Juneau, an on-board expert, etc) and their handicapped cabins on Caribe deck are spacious! 

Karen

[Fred321]

After over 900 days on HAL we tried a short trip on Celebrity Constellation. One of their older ships and a size we like better than HAL's new ships. It was great with ambience and service as good or better than what we were used to.Only thing I didn't like was the lack of a complete deck to walk around the ship for my morning exercise. Don't want to go any bigger than this ship however we enjoyed it so much that we booked a transatlantic reposition on the same ship for next month. No harm in trying something different. You may be pleasantly surprised.