endoellen

3 hours ago, naturelovergirl said:

The most current Alaska cruise port schedules are now on Claalaska (updated May 3)

 

www.claalaska.com

 

 

Thanks for the info! I just checked & now Radiance of the Seas will be at Broadway dock on May 14!

I think this is good for us and looks like we keep our same time in port.  I'm looking forward to our White Pass Summit Rail & Bus excursion and if this schedule remains the same we should be in port from 9am-7pm!!!!

We will set our phones to airplane mode while cruising bc I don't plan on purchasing wifi package from the cruise line.  From info I was given by my cell provider we should be able to use our phones & data while on land in the ports without any additional charges.  Of course it's hard to know how good the service will be.   If you happen to notice your phone showing Cellular at Sea & you use data, be prepared for a higher monthly bill.  Years ago I checked email when on a ship that hadn't left the dock in Miami & was charged for cellular at sea!

2 hours ago, ruready said:

I am in Skagway today and we docked and walked off ship (no tendering or shuttles).  I will say we are docked 1 over from the dock that is impacted by the rock slide.  No issues for us at all and the weather is fantastic today.  

That's awesome for you! Hope we have good weather when we are there in 2 weeks.   

Were you at the Railroad dock? Aft or Forward?  It seems the biggest issue is with Railroad Forward,  To best of my knowledge there are 2 other docks that were not affected by the rock slide.

1 hour ago, wolfie11 said:

There are three solutions to the railroad dock problem: bussing and tendering, hot berthing, and skipping the port altogether and replacing it with a sea day.  If you are on a ship longer than 1000 feet, check the CLAA schedule for Skagway to see if there are two ships at the railroad dock that day (https://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SKG-Skagway-2023.pdf).  If yours is the only ship you have no problem.
 

The reality is that, no matter what your itinerary says, you may very well not know what choice has been made until the night before you get to Skagway or even the morning you arrive.  This sucks, but it is up to the captain, the cruise line, and the port authorities to decide what they want to do.  Weather can be a big factor.  Chop can make tendering difficult.  Heavy rain or a couple of days of rain can destabilize the slope, increasing the chances for slide activity.  
 

I would say to make your plans and schedule what you want to do without trying to second guess what will happen.  If things change, the tour operators and the ship will try to maximize the time you have in port.  Train schedules may change and tour operators shorten or lengthen their tours accordingly.  Skagway is an interesting place with lots of history and even just walking around town or going on a ranger hike can be fun.

 

Thank you! Good advice & just roll with whatever happens!

13 hours ago, Kathscof said:

I emailed Chilkoot about our 7am arrival into RRF for a 7:30am tour, and she said that since they had this situation last year as long as you are on top of it and get a tender ticket in a timely manner, you should be fine and they are aware of things......

 

so, I will be up and rarin to go to get my tickets asap! haha

I certainly hope they get things worked out! Our ship Radiance will be at RRF dock on May 14th if it doesn't get cancelled all together.  And now I'm finding out that is where Ship Rock is located! Yikes!

Radiance is a smaller ship so hoping we won't have to miss this port.  I've been looking forward to this port & excursion with Chilkoot!  Our excursion is at 12:30pm & with my luck we'll probably be switched to docking 1/2 day in early morning....

The instructions I have from Chilkoot for Railroad dock is to walk to the end of the pier and go through security checkpoint to the "Skagway Small Boat Harbor" sign near public restrooms.  I'm wondering if

this will be different due to the construction??

So far we have not received any changes from Royal.  I sure hope they don't wait & spring the changes on us after boarding.  I don't plan on paying for wifi on the ship & we would need to be able to communicate with Chilkoot charters.

5 hours ago, eileeshb said:

RRF = Railroad Forward is the berth that’s the open question right now as that’s the one Ship Rock could hit if it falls. A ship can’t move quickly enough to dodge if it drops so the local authorities have to convince the cruise lines scheduled for that berth it’s safe. 

RRA = railroad Aft is the berth that’s been used by NCL last week and this week with the shuttle buses. 

Well this is depressing news.... Radiance is scheduled to dock there on May 14th.  We have had no notice from Royal as of yet that the port may be cancelled or time change.  From everything I've read recently trying to reach Royal for any information is next to impossible!

26 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

Just "google" Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska.  You will easily find the 2024 docking schedules for all Alaska  cruise ports.

Thank you!  I found the docking schedule for all our 2023 Alaskan ports!

I certainly hope that Radiance of the Seas will be able to dock in Skagway on May 14th!  I have booked with Chilkoot Charters for 12:30pm since our port time was listed as 7am-8pm.  This is one excursion I 

am really looking forward to.  We cruised many times with Royal & when disembarking in ports they

have always let passengers with Royal booked excursions off first.  So I would be afraid to have a 

very early time to meet up for an excursion.  But that is just my opinion!

Does anyone know or have a link to where I can find out what dock Radiance would be at on May 14th?  Thanks for any suggestions!

14 hours ago, Ashland said:

You might want to consider booking with Chilkoots. They have a great bus/train option that we've taken.

I have booked with this company for the bus/train option as well.  Good recomendations by many on these boards!  Just keeping fingers crossed that we will be able to dock in Skagway....

We will be on Radiance of the Seas in May 2023 & also have Skagway as a port of call.  I have already booked an excursion with Chilkoot Charters & so looking forward to it. 

I sent an email to them regarding this matter & this is the reply I got:

The Municipality of Skagway has been working diligently with engineers and construction companies to rectify the hillside next to the railroad dock. The work at the dock area should be completed by May 1st.  If your ship does not make it to port, you will be fully refunded.

We are cruising from Vancouver this May.  I have reservations at Blue Horizon on Robson St.

It was the most reasonable priced one that I found with good reviews and is in the area of Canada Place where cruise terminals are.

Obviously we haven't stayed there yet but the hotel pics look nice enough & it's only for 2 nights.

2 hours ago, Coral said:

The tram is a very central location for cruise ships.

 

Not sure which ship you are on but here are dock locations and schedules:

 

https://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/JNU-Juneau-2023.pdf 

 

https://cruiseportwiki.com/Juneau 

 

It does appear some RCCL ships will be at AJ Dock. It is walkabout but they will often run shuttles the last time I was there.

Thank you Coral. We will be on Radiance of the Seas & in Juneau on May 13. Looks like 5 ships in port that day!!! Busy!!!

From what I see I think we are at AS dock which I read is close to town. Guess that’s good….

On 1/18/2023 at 10:54 PM, LeeW said:

Juneau:

Highly recommend this tour:

https://alaskashoretours.com/excursions/juneau/whale-watching-tour/

 

They pick up at the bottom of the tram, take you to the harbor up north and put you on the jet boat.  Boat is never crowded (usually 15-20 onboard) and enclosed, unlike packed boats booked through cruise line.  They will also do a drop at Mendenhall Glacier if you want to stop there.

 

Boats are former Orca Enterprises, and we have been out with them 4 times.  Last time saw at least 10 humpback.  In previous years were in the middle of a superpod of 50 or so orca.  Son swears by Harv and Marv, a much smaller boat.  I did try booking a helicopter glacier landing on one trip but that day had massive fog and was cancelled.  Would have cost double the whale trip.

 

Skagway:

We've been on three floats  through the Eagle Preserve in Haines.  Fast ferry from Skagway, 20 minute bus ride and a few hours floating down a wide gentle river looking at eagles.  Book through ship but is only offered if timing of ship and ferry work.  Nice bagged lunch at end of float.

 

We have also done the Dyea Dave tour to Emerald Lake.  This can be combined with a one-way train if you wish (we have done train twice in past years so didn't this trip).  Good view from other side of the canyon (including large rock on track that stopped all train trips that day).  Not impressed with the suspension bridge (didn't pay to walk over and back on it) but the food in the cafe there is great.  Can't find his web site so may not be operating any longer.

 

Ketchikan:

Ketchikan has a really nice totem museum back above Creek Street.  Admission was around $7 when we went.  Easily walkable slight uphill from town so you don't have to go out to the totem park.  We have also taken the $400pp floatplane up to Neets Bay to see the hatchery and bears.  

 

Except for the floatplane, all of these are lower cost for Alaska and easily doable by someone in their 70s (like us).  I couldn't justify the $1000 cost of the glacier landing tour in our last couple of trips to Alaska.

 

 

I am interested in the whale sightseeing tour & glacier in Juneau.  You mentioned that they pick up at the bottom of the tram.  How far is that from where Royal Caribbean ships dock? Walking distance? We are in late 60's, but active & don't mind walking if not too far.

Also, do you think whale watching better in Juneau or from Icy Strait Point?

Thanks in advance!

Thank you for this information! When I booked an Alaska cruise out of Vancouver there were more requirements & glad to see that this has changed.  Hopefully it stays this way for our cruise in May of this year.

Thanks for everyone's helpful information!  I appreciate it.  I've already downloaded the ArriveCan app & will get familiar with it.  I'll also do more checking on the Covid testing sites when it gets closer to our sail date.  Maybe things could change for the better by then😊

On 9/2/2022 at 7:16 AM, Baltodave said:

For cruises out of Florida and Texas we book our own flights (because we live near BWI and there are so many options on SWA from there).  However, for our recent Greek/Adriatic cruise we got the flights from Royal's Air2Sea department (with the help of our TA).  We also used Air2Sea for our Alaska cruise next June.

We are cruising with RCI to Alaska in May 2023 & I looked online at Air2Sea to book our airfare & because we didn't book the cruise directly with them but with CruCon.com it states that we cannot book our airfare with RCI & CruCon said they can't book the Air2Sea.  Had I known this in advance, I probably wouldn't have used Crucon to book the cruise.  They had a Labor Day special with a few good perks & since I've read so many negatives lately about booking with RCI that I decided to use them.  I've booked several cruises with them in the past with no issues but I booked my own airfare & hotels.  Guess that is what I will have to do this time as well.

3 hours ago, Fouremco said:

You will only need a negative test to board your ship at embarkation. While there is no requirement for the test to be conducted in Canada, the timing of the test is important and depends on the type of test taken:

 

1. Proof of a professionally administered or observed negative antigen test taken no more than 2 days before you’re scheduled to board your ship
   • the 2-day window does not depend on the time of day the test was taken or the time that you board
   • for example, if your ship is scheduled to leave on Friday, you could provide proof of a negative result from an antigen test taken any time on Wednesday, Thursday, or on Friday
   • it must be administered or observed by a pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth online service
   • the test must be authorized for sale or distribution in Canada or in the jurisdiction in which it was obtained 
2. Proof of a valid negative molecular test taken within 72 hours of your scheduled boarding time 
   • for example, if you’re scheduled to board at 11:00 am on Friday, your test must have been taken any time after 10:59 am on Tuesday
   • it must be administered or observed by a pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth online service
   • the test must be authorized for sale or distribution in Canada or in the jurisdiction in which it was obtained

 

Hopefully this resolves the issues you have with testing. Are you comfortable with the ArriveCAN requirements?

 

Thanks for all the info!  From some things I had read I thought we would need negative test to fly into Canada so if that's not necessary it makes it a bit easier!

This was one thing I read online:  Starting July 19, 2022: Mandatory random arrival testing resumes for air travellers qualified as fully vaccinated.   

I'm just learning about ArriveCAN & need to read more because I don't know all of the requirements yet.  I do know there is an app to download & I'm assuming certain info has to be entered prior to arrival in Canada.

We are planning on arriving to Vancouver 2 days before our cruise but our flight may be arriving later at night so looks like we would only have the day before or day of cruise to hopefully have a negative antigen test!! Any knowledge if there are pharmacies that offer it for reasonable cost in Vancouver cruise port area or downtown Vancouver?   I haven't booked the hotel yet so not sure of exact location now. If it's possible, since the flights I have been looking at leave NOLA in the afternoon, we might be able to get it done at Walgreens here at home before our flight & our results are emailed to us usually within 2 hrs. 

7 hours ago, nini said:

For domestic flights, we book our own and use Alaska Airlines. To fly to Europe, we book through the cruise line because it is much less expensive. We have found that there really is not a real difference in cost for domestic flights when going through the cruise line.

Thanks for your comment! I've checked Alaska Airlines but the flights are quite high & not good flight times.  So far 2 one way flights on United has the best price.  I'm going to watch fares for awhile before I commit.

On 8/26/2022 at 8:19 AM, bookbabe said:

We used Azova when traveling to proctor the free govt tests that we took with us.  They’ll also proctor a variety of tests purchased at pharmacies.  As long as you have a smartphone, it’s much easier than hunting for a testing company in a strange city.  We just did the tests in our hotel room using the hotel wifi.

https://www.azova.com/travelvideo/

Thank you for this information! This seems like an easier option.  Maybe you or someone else can answer another question for me about test.  Can we take the Covid test in the US 72 hrs prior to arriving in Vancouver for boarding a cruise ship?  Or do we have to test in Canada? And since our cruise leaves from Vancouver, then visits Alaska ports, then returns to Vancouver to disembark, do we need another Covid test before disembarking from the ship?  I didn't realize how complicated this all gets when I booked this cruise!

6 hours ago, Kathscof said:

Just remember that there is nowhere close to the actual amount of excursions they will be offering next year listed at the moment, I think you will be hard pressed to find any independent operators that will have all of their offerings set in stone for next year in Alaska....

Thank you! Good info about excursions.  I won't be in a hurry to make decisions yet.  I will research more towards end of this year & beginning of 2023!

7 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Yes + 18% grats.

How many drinks you get for the 15 punches depends on the kind of drink, the barista and the ship's rules, that's why you should wait till on board and ask before buying. It is one of the very few things that is the same price in the planner as on board.

Thanks for your reply.  I'll most likely wait until we board to find out details for our ship rules!  I'm sure there is a catch to it.  The cruise line is always out to make a profit & it sounds too good to be true!

Do you think it's best to book this through RCI ship excursion or can anyone recommend a tour company in Skagway that has same or similar tours?  We will also be there in mid May 2023.

I just booked an Alaskan cruise & this is the first I've known of Cafe Select Coffee card.  Is it a one time charge of $31? Do you get 15 cups of different coffees for this one price or does it just give you 50% off the regular prices?  It's not very clear on RCI website.  I'm more apt to drink coffee on cold days in Alaska vs hot days in the Caribbean!

I don't know if we've ever been on Radiance class ship, but I am sure disappointed to see the 

horrid shower curtain!!  I thought they did away with those!!

On 5/6/2022 at 6:19 PM, taglovestocruise said:

Two Martinis and trip to Nextcruise, two more Martinis to celebrate your next cruise. Last cruise?   no way.. happy future cruising. D+ is your next goal with  5 Martinis a day..

We just became Diamond after our last cruise in April 2022.  Are the 4 drinks per cabin or per person?  My husband & I are both Diamond & wonder if we get 2 drinks each or 4 each per day? And if we don't use all of them one day, does it carry over to other days?