HAL has a much different vibe than Carnival. Much more sophisticated.

Out of 34 cruises we have taken, 24 have been on HAL. Love HAL. Vancouver embarkation was great for us and we go out of there at least once a year.

@careym3901

10 ай бұрын

About to go on my 26th, 27th & 28th starting Oct. 1st on the Nieuw Statendam. b2b2b

17:21 I get butterfly stomach EVERY single time when the ship sets sail! It's like falling in love for the first time over and over again! 😀😀😀

I asked room stewards to clear the mini fridge on embarkation- no concerns about what I drank and put cans of water or soft drinks from drink package

The Koningsdam was my very first cruise May 2022. We went to Alaska out of Vancouver. We had an aft Neptune Suite. Loved the ship. We are going back to Alaska May 2024 on Majestic Princess out of Seattle. We have a standard balcony.

I like to raid the mini bar for the pre mixed old fashioneds while watching the muster video. It's the right thing to do.

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Great idea Patrick!!!

So excited to see this series. With all the changes happening on all the lines, interested in trying HAL or NCL in future. We cruised in mid July and I knew going into it, it would be a zoo and that's an understatement. Seeing that pool deck with no-one on it was so refreshing - room to breathe! Love it. Cant wait to see the rest!

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Yes the pool was basically empty all week, although it was an Alaska cruise. I have a feeling evening their Caribbean cruises are probably less crowded than other cruise lines.

Been on 19 Holland ships in 40 years. You have no idea how much the ships have changed.

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

I'm sure...I know we have cruise a lot on another cruise line years ago and it is so different now as well....

Holland is fantastic! W love their cruise ships.

I've been on 2of their ships. One which they sold A couple of years ago. I also did Alaska v with them as well as A cruise tour. We also did A Canada/New England cruise with the same cruise line.

Sharon as a margarita drinker myself, it was the 2nd one that did you in :) ! I am also from AZ and we are mostly Princess cruisers however I do want to try HAL and can't wait to see the rest of this series. Thanks for sharing!!

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Yes I think it was the 2nd one. I'm not usually a fast drinker and both of those Margaritas went down very quickly.....😊

never cruised out of canada, ship looks nice and the food also

Very eager to know whether the Holland America line is good or not….other than the Margarita drink 😝

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

It was a great cruise. I will say not as much to do onboard as we are used to on other cruise lines. But we did get to relax which was much needed and will definitely try HAL again.

@hkyakult

10 ай бұрын

@@SharonatSeaTravel this is great to know…cos I usually pick Royal Caribbean…time to look around for sthg different 😅

@jenniferneil2710

10 ай бұрын

It's the only line I sail on been almost every where

Our first Holland America cruise was also on the Koningsdam and we did love the ship

Looking so forward to your review of the Koningsdam… We have Hawaii booked on the Koningsdam for January 2025… Thanks for all you do🚢

that prime rib looks amazing....did you really eat all of it Jamie?

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Heck yes!!! It was great!!! Very impressive piece of meat for a buffet!!! Thanks Timothy!!!

Thank you for showing the boarding process. We are going for the first time next week. So this helped see what it’s like (our first cruise)

@SharonatSeaTravel

9 ай бұрын

Thanks Scotiasplace!!!

Ahhh to be retired like you and able to cruise so frequently, without any vacation days limitations!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! Love your Vlog!

Glad to hear good reviews on cabin, will be on your ship on the 31 day sailing Hawaii, South Pacific from San Diego🦖

Your experience looked just extravagant!! I loved that you both got to do this! Congrats to Sharon for being an amazing Travel Agent - we love you!

Awesome. Never been on Holland, but we will thru you guys. Thank y'all so much. Enjoy the time alone and rest some. Y'all are awesome 👌 👏 👍 😍

Heading on her this weekend! Can't wait! We appreciate your videos to (1) figure out where our next cruise will be and/or (2) we are prepared on what to expect. Thanks, you two!

Nice ship, will have cool views!

Thanks for sharing the embarkation process, we too heard stories. glad you experienced organized chaos!

Very nicely done. Informative + entertaining. Looking forward to sailing on this ship one day.

I enjoy the views leaving new orleans. Probably my favorite port

So excited to watch your journey! My husband and i will be on this ship next summer for alaska to celebrate our 15th anniversary with our first cruise.

My sister and I just came back on Sunday, September 17, 2023 from an 18 day Alaska cruise…which was fabulous. We were on the HAL Noordam. Our trip started with 11 days on land, then got on the ship in Anchorage to sail back to Vancouver. It was a lot of fun, but exhausting. This was my fourth cruise on HAL and my sister’s twentieth. I love the HAL ships…no complaints here. I can’t wait to go again.

@SharonatSeaTravel

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching Pamela!!!

It's my favorite crew line...😊 Enjoy

@jenniferneil2710

10 ай бұрын

Mine too

Holland America cruise lines huh? Look forward to seeing the clips during your cruise

Great video ❤❤❤❤

The reason security is so high or complicated is that you’re going through US customs as well as Canadian customs as you’re dealing with two countries when you get off the boat in Alaska you just go, no more security. I’m sailing on that ship in a few weeks, I can’t wait. I love HAL cruises. It appeared you liked our city, Vancouver is beautiful

Canada Place is a beautiful building and so well located but it really needs to be reconfigured . Boarding entails an endless march including at one point exiting and then reentering the building - NUTS ! BTW, Sharon really seemed to be enjoying her drinks . 😁

@mimikarenbryant7325

9 ай бұрын

I've heard that part of the problem is Canada Place is a convention center.

Been to Vancouver many many times…..my daughter worked at the Pan Pacific Hotel right next to the cruise dock. HAL is excellent yet their passenger’s are a little older. In fact I am 62 and they are much too old for me. Thank you for your review.

You went to Alaska again? Wasn't sure but I assumed (!) since you sailed out of Vancouver. Ship looked lovely. I have sailed to Alaska twice on HAL (Amsterdam 2003 and Ryndam 2007), older ships now, but had great times. Thanks for the video, looking forward to more. :-)

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Yes, we went to Alaska again, but a couple different ports.

Your embarkation looked like it went MUCH smoother than ours did with Princess around 29 Apr 23. The chaos was definitely not controlled and there was much confusion, even among the port staff. It was the absolute worst embarkation I have experienced. It took almost 3 hrs w/ workers sending us to one place and then being sent back, or to another location, several times before getting through everything. Based on our experience, we have absolutely no plans to ever sail out of Vancouver again.

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

We had heard the horror stories..but it wasn't as bad for us. The fact that 2 different ships/cruise lines share the same boarding/security area was wild!!! It took a long time, and we walked for what seemed like miles, but there was still organization. Thanks for watching!!!

Jimmy better be a "good" boy tonight!!

Was there a Sail away Party? Beautiful views, Thanks!

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

We didn't see, or hear, anything about a Sailaway party..plus we set sail about 45 minutes early!!

Thanks!

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Thank you Lynn!!!!

@lynnleipold2617

10 ай бұрын

@@SharonatSeaTravel we will be going on our first HAL cruise in Oct. from Athens to Athens. We usually go on Viking or Oceania so thrilled to see what their ships look like.

We were on this cruise ship last Aug 4-11,2023 for our 30th wedding anniversary

This looks amazing! Quick question for you - are the sun loungers and the amazing looking sofas quite low to ground or good height? As i struggle to get up and down at times.

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

They are a little low. The sofas aren't as low as the sun loungers.

@debbieblincoe9880

10 ай бұрын

@@SharonatSeaTravel thanks for that.

We sailed on Koningsdam out of Vancouver as well. We were on her in July and the lido deck loungers were always taken and people seemed to use them as their personal sleeping area. They also seemed to run out of a lot of things. We had the beverage package and I believe anything over $10 or $11 bucks you had to pay the difference which I didn’t like. The food was good and loved the cabin. Like you said not a lot to do, but if you are wanting a more relaxing cruise this is a great option. I think Alaska cruises are just different in general and that’s not a bad thing. We really enjoyed Vancouver and Alaska ❤

Great video, I am on this ship next year out of Vancouver to Hawaii. I have 2 questions 1) did you notice any special lines for Orange Club members , apparently they get quicker access to the ship, 2) which hotel did you stay at the night before you cruised. Thanks. Keep the good videos coming.

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Hotel..Hampton inn by the airport due to late arrival the night before the cruise, but Pan Pacific at the Cruise port has great reviews. Orange Club..we saw a separate area for boarding, but not specific for Orange, more just priority (which Orange has) and also a separate line at guest services plus the Orange dining room looked nice.

jamie you left off margaritaville cruise line

Who came here to watch this video because you went on this cruise 👇

Not gonna lie we just came from our niew stotemdom cruise from Vancouver to Alaska! I wonder if we were actually there together!

@williamevans9406

9 ай бұрын

I meant koningsdam. Also what was the date you guys got on the ship. I was on floor 6 the Mozart deck.

@SharonatSeaTravel

9 ай бұрын

We boarded on August 5th.

@williamevans9406

9 ай бұрын

Oh then we boarded right after you we went on the 12th

Do you keep the blankets or are they just for while you’re sailing?

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

They were just for our sailing. I think they may just be in balcony cabins to keep warm in Alaska.

You two are carnival people...

Vancouver cruise port is a zoo, but glad your on HAL ship.

Is this a Alaska cruise?

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Yes it is...

Which port do you prefer- Seattle or Vancouver?

@SharonatSeaTravel

9 ай бұрын

Wow Kathleen..tough question. Seattle has lots to do nearby and the port is easier to maneuver... but I think we prefer leaving from Vancouver.

Can tou tell us how long the check in processes took... before you boarded the ship...?

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Our check in time was 10-10:30. We arrived at 9:45 and were on the ship about11:30. The check in process moved us to a couple different rooms but kept us moving. It was quite other terminals we have experienced.

I thought margaritas were light green

@SharonatSeaTravel

4 ай бұрын

Not if it's a frozen strawberry margarita!! Thanks for watching!!!

Must be nice to either be rich or you get discount for being a travel agent. 12 days British isles next summer on regal Princess with airfare ( no hotel fee, no excursions mini suite reserve 18k which probably will have to cxl. SSDI denied me for disability although i am a double amputee. Can we say attorney

@SharonatSeaTravel

10 ай бұрын

Well we are definitely not rich. This particular cruise was given to me for being a top producer with my travel host agency. It was a top producer retreat. We definitely look for the best deals on all other cruises.