Hi. We are pretty seasoned HAL cruisers, and often treat ourselves to the easy one night repositioning cruises that HAL offer in the Northwest. This time we went from Victoria to Seattle and it was a huge disappointment.

In Victoria, we were scheduled to embark at 1pm but waited unto well after 2:30. A line outside the cruise terminal. A line for security. A line waiting for keys. Then at about 3:00pm we finally got to our Neptune Suite to find it dirty and unmade from the previous tenants. So up to Lido (now closed) so it was a burger for lunch. Finally got into the room about 3:45pm. Lifeboat drill took 30 minutes in the lounge as many did not show.

For the evening, many of the bars were closed. As was shopping. And gambling. (We were in port until midnight). The ship was a ghost town. The real hassle came the next morning in Seattle. We were to report to Queens Lounge at 9:10 for a group disembarkation for the 80 of us who joined in Victoria. We waited in the stuffy lounge until 10:10am. Then more waiting at Customs. Then more waiting for a taxi. Read more