KansCocoa

3 hours ago, Italy52 said:

didn't realize that the Radiance offered this excursion.  What month are you sailing in 2023?

We sail out of Vancouver on June 30th…

We were on RCI’s Radiance of the Seas in July 2022, and did this excursion - it was worth every single penny! While we hopped on the smaller boat to zip over to the glacier, those left behind on the ship never got close at all - too many icebergs in the area. We were very close, and saw wildlife, calving, etc - it was pretty amazing. We’re going back in 2023 on the Radiance again, this time with two of our adult children - and I managed to snag a Black Friday sale for this excursion at a “mere” $296 per person…but current prices have it at a whopping $364 pp for our sailing. 

Thank you, Greg, for a fantastic review! 
 

Fellow KC girl here - when I saw your post about your coworker, Maria, I put 2 and 2 together. 😝

i hope you get good news at the ortho…!  
 

And, go Chiefs!!! 

We used Mahara with ToursByLocals two weeks ago in Vancouver - had a lovely day with her, where she gave us a city tour, and then spent time with us at Capilano Suspension Bridge… We spent an hour or so at the Public Market, which was fun. I would highly recommend her. 

I’m still mad you didn’t take me with you like you did the last time on Allure!! 😝

I live in Florida, so no, I don’t have appropriate clothing in my closet for Alaska. We don’t wear raincoats in the rain; I don’t own any hiking shoes; and my layers would consist of tank top over another tank top…and pants? We don’t need pants in Florida. 🙂

So, as others have said, half the fun in going on vacation is getting new clothes. These photos from our trip will be priceless, so excuse me for wanting to look like an Instagram model in them. 🙂

Thank you for the review! I booked this last September for our upcoming cruise in a few weeks…we’ll be doing this on July 26th. I’d read previous reviews, and it looked like the best way to see wildlife, without being crammed onto a boat with others.

So excited! But as others have said, I’m still crossing my fingers that:

1. Our flights to Alaska actually go through without delays or cancellations

2. We pass the COVID test. (We’ve gone 2.5 years without getting COVID, but of course with my luck, our luck will run out!!!)

Are balconies on the Radiance class able to be opened? 

I’ve been following along, as Hubby and I are doing an Alaskan B2B on the Radiance, leaving on 7/22 from Seward. 

I totally empathize with everything you have posted. I lost my mother last year, and it’s been tough. This added stress of the pre-cruise Covid test almost has me losing sleep at night. Hubby and I are both double-vaxxed, double-boosted - but that doesn’t prevent you from getting it; it just alleviates the severity of it. So, we are basically wrapping ourselves in a bubble the next month & forgoing public events, unless they’re outside. Sigh. I am like you - I really, really need this vacation, as well.

So - I will be keeping you in my thoughts - keep us posted on how the pre-cruise testing goes, and I wish your wife comes through this with a negative test. I also look forward to your tips, especially once you’re on board. (P.S. I’ve downloaded your Sitka walking tour - that is amazing. Would love to see if you’re stopping in Ic Strait Point - I need tips there!)

Another from the same photo shoot:

I wear a Pink Ladies jacket, & Hubby wears a Thunderbirds t-shirt. 

We are doing a private car with a guide, who will stop along the way for a tour & photo ops…it’s an all-day tour for us, with lunch somewhere. We used ToursByLocals for this. I know that you can find several companies that will arrange for a car to transfer you.

On my cruise planner for our upcoming Alaska trip with Radiance, all of the Haines excursions are combined with the Skagway excursions…. I see:

Nature & Wildlife Photography Tour $135

Evening Wildlife Canoe Safari $119

Wildlife Safari & Bear Viewing $99 (Sold Out - so, this must be popular)

Haines Off the Beaten Track $89

Exclusive Guided Tour of Bald Eagle Foundation $59

I realize prices are subjective - but just thought I would give you an idea. We are signed up for the Nature & Wildlife Photography Tour, so we’ll see how it goes.

We visited this port in June 2018, and used Steve Martin (yes, just like the comedian!) as our guide. He. Was. Amazing. Seriously, one of the best tours that we ever did...he took us places that were jaw-droppingly beautiful; he gave us all sorts of historical tidbits about the island, especially when it was occupied by the Germans; and we had a delightful lunch with him, where he told/showed us even more. There were four of us on this tour, and it was one of our favorites. 

I don’t know if he has a website - if you google his name, along with St Peter’s Port (so you don’t get the funny guy), you’ll find his email address on how to contact him. 

I booked this excursion in July 2019 for an upcoming 2020 cruise with Royal Caribbean - and in 2019, we paid $269 pp. I have been watching the price over the last few months (as I do on EVERY excursion I book - to see if it will go cheaper!), and I have been watching in shock as the price for this particular excursion crept higher and higher. LAVCruiser is correct in that it is currently sitting at $407 pp, almost $138 pp higher than I paid a few short months ago. 

It didn’t just jump to this price overnight - so I don’t think it is a typo. I think it’s a game of supply & demand that RCI is playing, and they’re seeing just what the market will bear; I.e., what people will pay. It had been in the $360-range for a few months starting in Oct/Nov.

I am happy that I paid $269 pp, as there is no way in heck I would pay over $800 for two people for this! I’m patting myself on the back for booking my excursions very early, because most of them have only gone UP in price; very few have decreased.

3 hours ago, Jnsplace1 said:

Personally, I've booked the Glacier Wind based on recommendations from folks here.   

This is exactly what we’ve done - the reviews were very positive, so we’re hopeful for a great excursion!

1 hour ago, famski740 said:

Have just booked Dyea Dave Tour going to Emerald Lake with pick up at cruise port (07:45 AM), he will then drop us off in Fraser on the way back to board the train (3:30 PM) for ride into Skagway.  Dyea Dave will then pick us up at train station and deliver us to either town or ship, whichever we request.  Dyea Dave cost will be $178.00 for 2 people and the White Pass train will cost $189.00 for 2 people.  You must pay for your train ticket now but Dyea Dave will not charge you till after the tour (Cash or check, no credit card). I have already called and talked with Dyea Dave and reserved the tour and have also called and talked with White Pass railroad and paid for train tickets.  We will be in Skagway on Saturday, 6/6/2020.

 

Ferry-Watcher is correct in saying that only those passengers that book through the cruise line are able to board the train at the cruise port, all others must use the train.

This is EXACTLY our plan for when we visit Skagway with Radiance OTS on June 22nd. I hope you return here and post a review - and/or tips!

That’s pretty awesome - I didn’t know they had this! We’ll be in Juneau in June - can’t wait!

We are cruising with Royal Caribbean in June 2020. I booked this excursion in July 2019, and paid $269 per person. It is now up to a whopping $407 pp!!!!!! 

Shows the importance of booking early, when you can!

I do Public Affairs for the Red Cross, and you all have been great working with us over the years...I’ve been in your studio (the old one - not the “new” one yet!) doing numerous interviews over the years...so glad to help pay for the cruises!! 

I haven’t cruised yet on the Harmony, so I’m reading as many reviews as I can - to see if I will like it. I love the Allure - so it has to be close, right??!! 🙂

Great review - from a fellow Lee’s Summitian...is that a word?? Actually, we’re in Lake Winnebago - so close enough! And KMBC is my favorite - I grew up with Larry Moore doing the news, and now it’s good old Kris Ketz... 

This is great!! We are doing a B2B on Radiance next year - and we were lucky enough to score #9256 for both legs...we can’t wait! The aft balcony looked amazing on the deck plans, so your photos helped me decide that we made the best choice!!!

5 hours ago, Swank Pad G said:

Wow small world! When’s your next cruise? We will be on Harmony Oct 13.

We’re sailing on the Allure Oct 6, and then doing a B2B in Alaska on the Radiance, beginning 6/19/20. 🙂

1 hour ago, Swank Pad G said:

I have learned through Bob and other's on this great forum, there are no sales. The price is the price. If you book and the price goes down, cancel and rebook again. We started off with the deluxe drink package paying $52pp/pd, then it went down to $49. We cancelled and rebooked. Later, It then went down to $46 and we cancelled and rebooked again. The key is to constantly watch your cruise planner for price adjustments. I don't read the emails or pay attention to the banners I just pay attention to the price.

This is EXACTLY what I do - for a future cruise, mine started at $52...I went ahead and booked it, just on the off-chance it would go UP rather than down. It went down - so far, down to $46 per day - so I have canceled and rebooked it. I do this for EVERYTHING - dining packages, drink packages, etc.

P.S. I am in Lee’s Summit, as well - (okay, really Lake Winnebago, but close enough! My kids all went to R7 schools! Small world!)

Another vote here for Moscato - yum!