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maggieworkman

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Posts posted by maggieworkman

    Great Stirrup Cay Map

    in Private Islands

    Posted

    I just googled Great Stirrup Cay and looked at the satellite image, as suggested above.  It looks like there is a long path that goes the length of the island.  Can you walk the path to the area on the far left???  Looks like a little beach or open area?

     

    White Pass Railway -Skagway - Advice needed

    in Alaska

    Posted

    I would not bet on that. Nor would I bet on them actually bringing it with them.

     

    I went on the Chilkoot tour (the one to the Yukon) a couple years ago and they ask you for your passport before you even leave the dock. They might have even taken them at the beginning so the driver could hand them to the guard at the gate when we arrived there, if my memory serves.

     

    Maggie

    Carriage Ride in Victoria, BC and other ideas

    in Canada (Alaska/Pacific Coastal)

    Posted

    If you're cruising in peak season, the Empress do 'afternoon' tea well into the evening... they know which side their bread is buttered on profit-wise, and cruisers taking tea brings in a metric crapton of income for them! You can check Open Table for available slots on the date you'll be visiting.

     

    You'll find that miniature world and all the other tourist sites tend to close before your ship arrives though, as cruisers don't spread the love much away from a few shops, the Empress, and Butchart on these short evening PVSA-compliance stops, so it's not worth anyone staying open specially that would not already get business from locals in the evenings. I think Craigdarroch might do some after-hours tours via overpriced cruiseline excursions, and the Royal BC Museum opens late on Fri/Sat evenings through summer (they show IMAX movies so they need to keep ticket-takers working anyway), but other than that it's pubs & restos and a bit of souvenir shopping, otherwise just looking at the outside of buildings in downtown...

     

    I checked the Empress site and it looked like they stop serving at 5 pm. But I'll check open table. Didn't look at that.

     

    And the Miniature World said they closed at 9 pm. Not sure we would have time for that.

     

    Maggie

    Carriage Ride in Victoria, BC and other ideas

    in Canada (Alaska/Pacific Coastal)

    Posted

    I am cruising with my elderly mother and my sister. My mom really would like to do the Tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, but our ship arrives at 6 pm. I thought a good alternative would be a private carriage ride through the city. I'm thinking of doing the Tally Ho tour that is 1 hour. If I schedule the tour to start at 7 pm (I figure that gives us time to get off the ship and get to the location where we can start the tour.), we should be done around 8 pm.

     

    Would it be feasible to go to the Empress Hotel after that and look around in the lobby? I'm not sure there would be time to see Miniature World. Is there a place to just sit and get a drink?

     

    Any other ideas for 3 women instead of this? We've already done Butchart Gardens.

     

    Maggie

    Juneau (Mendenhall glacier) white shuttle

    in Alaska

    Posted

    I'm you have a National Park pass the white shuttle will waive the $5 Visitor Center fee from the $35 cost, but you have to email them first. The blue Glacier shuttle won't waive it

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

     

    Can you elaborate on this? Do you need to pre-book the tickets in this case?

     

    Thanks.

     

    Maggie

    Cancellation, no insurance, no refund, WHAT?

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted · Edited by maggieworkman

    You didn't say which type of cruise this was (length, location, etc.), but here is Carnival's cancellation policy from the Cruise Contract. You said they have to cancel for a cruise in 2 weeks. So maybe there is still time to get 25% of their fare back? They should cancel ASAP in that case. Also, have them check their booking in case they or their TA opted for Carnivals insurance and they didn't realize that. (That point is a long shot, but doesn't hurt to ask.)

     

    6-9 day cruises (excluding: Alaska, Europe, Transatlantic and Panama Canal cruises)

    Up to 76 days

    None (except Pack & Go, Early Saver* and Super Saver fares**)

     

    75 to 56 days

    Deposit

     

    55 to 30 days

    Deposit or 50% of Total Fare, whichever is greater

     

    29 to 15 days

    Deposit or 75% of Total Fare, whichever is greater

     

    14 days or less

    100% of Total Fare

     

     

     

    Maggie

    Aurora Borealis August/September 2016

    in Alaska

    Posted

    Unfortunately, if seeing aurora is a real priority, you have to plan a trip specifically around this priority. That means going in the winter time to a place where it is really dark for a period where there is no moon and spending enough time there to allow for cloudy days.

     

    In my case, I went to Fairbanks in March and stayed in Chena Hot Springs for 5 days. Luckily, I had 5 days of cloudless nights and 5 nights of wonderful aurora. Trip was a bit expensive however. Also bloody cold.

     

    DON

     

    I wouldn't say it is a priority for me. My main priority is to see the glaciers.

     

    But ... if there is a chance to see the aurora borealis, I wouldn't mind seeing it and would maximize my opportunity to see it. I don't have my hopes up. However, it would be an added bonus if we did!!

     

    Maggie

    balcony price

    in Alaska

    Posted

    I've been monitoring the prices of a balcony on our cruise (last week of Aug. on NCL Pearl) and thought I might upgrade if the prices dropped. But the price of the balconys have stayed the same for the year I have been booked.

     

    Maggie

    Aurora Borealis August/September 2016

    in Alaska

    Posted · Edited by maggieworkman

    Here is the website I was using. Someone on another thread posted it awhile ago.

     

    http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast

     

    Here is an example of one day from the last week of August:

     

    Tues. Aug. 30

    http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/Alaska/20160830

     

     

    enhance

     

    This site labels this as a "5" but it doesn't specify what scale it is using. So not sure if it is the same scale as mentioned above. But it does list it as "high".

     

    Maggie

    Aurora Borealis August/September 2016

    in Alaska

    Posted

    I have been monitoring the Aurora probability site and it looks like there will be high activity during our Alaskan cruise the last week of August/first week of September. It looks like on some nights it will go south including Juneau and Ketchikan.

     

    Any hints on maximizing our viewing of this? Is there a certain time we should start watching or just anytime after dark?

     

    Any hints on photographing this? I am not a professional photographer but I got a nice DSLR for Christmas in anticipation of our Alaskan cruise.

     

    Thanks!

     

    Maggie

    NCL Pearl July 10th-17th 2016 Trip Report

    in Alaska

    Posted

    I hope we have as good of weather as you had! It was beautiful!

     

    I'm also glad to see you got to watch the fireworks at Butchart gardens. The ship's tour description mentions seeing fireworks, but almost everyone says we would probably have to leave before the fireworks.

     

    Maggie

    Chilkoot Tours Yukon-Rail-Bus

    in Alaska

    Posted

    I'm worried that we won't make the early train. The Pearl docks at 7 am (according to the Itinerary) and we are supposed to meet Chilkoot at the end of the Pier at 7:20. Does that seem possible? Do they allow NCL excursions to exit the ship first and then outside vendor tours?

     

    What time should I tell the family we need to be ready and waiting near the exit (or as close as possible. I know people line up, etc.) I was thinking of telling everyone 6:30 am.

     

    Maggie

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