elaine

My husband and I have just booked HAL - Amsterdam (Seattle/Seattle) late Aug. '02, cabin category A. We have cruised primarily the Caribbean (in winter) on Princess, Windstar and RCI. Currently, we are waitlisted for 1st seating (should we switch to 2nd seating?). Our ages are '50-something'. We look forward to seeing wildlife/scenery (weather is not an issue - we'll dress in layers). We've enjoyed touring the Tetons. Would appreciate first-hand info re: excursions (other than helicopter). Do most folks take cruiseline excursions? Is HAL Seattle pier far from the city? We will fly in one day prior and booking our own air. What is a reasonable time to book air the day we disembark? Many thanks to all who reply!

John

Can't answer excursion questions - you might want to check the message boards at cruisecritic.com <BR><BR>HAL will dock at the Port of Seattle cruise terminal, on Alaskan Way in downtown Seattle. A cab from the pier to the airport ought to take around 20-25 min., maybe 35 at rush hour.

Dennis

We left it late and did not book cruise excursion. It was our lucky day because by walking a few yards from ship we found quite a number of local folk offering tours. Six of us piled into SUB -- and had a great time, at fraction of cost, stopping when we wanted to take pix and going to places that the "official" train excursion couldn't possibly reach. Enjoy.<BR>

April

Alaska was one place I wished we'd taken the later seating. We often felt too rushed while in port to get in for dinner.

Paul Therault

Hi Elaine,<BR><BR>Yes, late seating would be better since the sun is up late in Alaska.<BR><BR>If you take the time to study the towns you will be visiting, you will note there is only one road in and one road out, therefore you can rent a car and tailor your sightseeing to your liking. You should take at least one wildlife boat tour either from the ship or from an independent company. The only town you should not take the bus trip into town is Valdez since there is nothing in town to see or do.<BR><BR>Paul

Dawn

Skip the Valdez advice from Paul, as you won't even go there. The Amersterdam will sail the Inside Passage. Check out "Hollandamerica.com" and from that home site you can view the ship, staterooms and public rooms, and even a list of the shore excursions for your cruise. After checking this site out, if you still have any questions about a specfic shore excursion, I may be able to answer them for you.

elaine

Thanks for all your replies. We have changed to 2nd seating. Will start researching ports, excursions, etc.; we just returned from sailing Golden Princess (which was wonderful!).<BR>I now have another question: should we spend one night pre-cruise at Edgewater Hotel? We have toured Seattle in the past.

sonia

We stayed at the Edgewater Hotel on our first visit to Seattle, and loved it. <BR><BR>Our room had a small balcony right over the water. If I looked left, I could see Mt. Ranier (it was "out" all the time we were there.) And looking right, across the bay, more mountains on the peninsula. We didn't have a car there -- walked most everywhere we wanted to go. Great location, lobby with big windows looking over the water, nice restauant. <BR><BR>Also funky concierge and bell staff (this is Seattle after all.) We were on a cross-country train trip, so needed a wash and fold laundry. Concierge didn't try to plug hotel laundry, but directed us to the "Sit and Spin" cafe/gallery/laundromat. A new combination of services to us, and worth the visit to get a flavor of life in Seattle!<BR><BR>I'm ready to go back...