For Americans, staging through Vancouver is a hassle—clearing customs four times, and probably a connecting flight—but the reward is the scenic Inside Passage. Round trip means that cabins on both sides of the ship are equally attractive.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Baggage problem from a morning disembarkation limited the space for two boardings. Not HAL’s fault, but they could have done more to explain and to smooth the process. Priority was not given to suite passengers, as promised.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The Pinnacle Grill was disappointing. At one dinner, the food was excellent, but the closeness of the two-person tables meant we might as well have been sharing a table. On a second visit, one filet steak was tough— should have sent it back. Breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill, a perk for Neptune Suite passengers, was a welcome escape from the bustle elsewhere, but the food was very slow to arrive one morning, with no apology, and poached eggs were overcooked two times out of three.
The buffet was very crowded at lunch, especially on the three cruising days.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
More enrichment activities geared toward the itinerary would have been welcome.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Lincoln Center Stage: The new dedicated space is a big improvement over the old lounge end, but still inadequate for the more popular programs. Only one night was dedicated to a pure chamber-music piece, and it attracted overflow crowds; other programs, presumably intended to appeal to a broader audience, were less well attended.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
A flash sale three months before the sailing made a Neptune Suite a bargain. Our only real complaint concerned the bathroom design—the separate shower was too small to be useful.
Obviously, the highlight of the cruise. Access to the bow was opened (best views from the upper deck). Extended stop at one glacier, with a turn midway through, gave everyone a great view from their cabins. Rangers on hand in the Crow’s Nest to answer questions.
Self-disembarkation line snaked around, which kept things orderly. Getting off early gave us extra time to enjoy the Vancouver waterfront before an easy train ride to the airport.
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