Thanks everyone for the responses. My wife and I are a little green to the cruise scene, but we did do a 7 day cruise on Disney earlier in the year, and I additionally did another 7 day about 15 years back on Carnival (back when they didn't really suck that much). I just see this as something a little different for us to try out.
Lots of dates to pick form, but only the Oct 1 for ms Zaandam on HAL worked out with the schedule. We will probably hang out in YVR for the day (or stay the night, haven't really planned that far yet), and fly back to SEA.
Originally Posted by
AlohaDaveKennedy
Sometimes not full and you can get nice upgrades. Done several just for fun on HAL. Seattle-Vancouver is a nice run.
Since its such a short run and last minute type of thing, I ended up booking a HAL interior room. Unless they just like to aggregate passengers or need to open up the cheapees for more sales, i probably doubt i will get an upgrade?
Originally Posted by
Letitride3c
If you get the balcony, think about it as unless you plan to party in your stateroom, dine & drink, etc. - your view is pitch black outside, perhaps moonlight & stars along with the coastline at a distance, since you aren't far out in the open water.
Making me feel better about that super cheap interior room.
It's a big ship so it will probably take you an hour or two to finish checking out everything, walk & walk & walk to find the main dining room - see the long lines and then dash to the buffet & to the upscale, extra-charge restaurants only to find that there are lines too, everyone is on it this evening with no place to go and trying to make the best of it - and will be getting off in the morning. Bars will be open soon, along with the casino, the pool, the gym, the "duty-free" gift shops, and the showroom - wow, overwhelmed with so much to do, so little time remaining & can I not sleep & stay up all night to try to get it all in. It's designed for the cruiselines to make extra money without sailing an empty ship as it re-position from port A to port B overnight, and to attract party-goers on a budget & to introduce future loyal cruisers to give it a try, etc.
I ended up booking the higher end dining for my wife and I with a reserved time at "Pinnacle Grill" on ms Zaandam (HAL). Is this nothing more than another buffet? Disney had table service for their higher end dining, but is this perhaps not the case on a short cruise or HAL in particular?
Have fun & enjoy it, time to think & plan ahead for a regular, full scale cruise next time - 18 hours is just too short to fully appreciate it all. Good luck, any other questions - feel free to ask again.
Thanks for the advice!