Rick2594

My cruise on the Radiance of the Seas ends in Seward on Sep 15. I booked the Park Connection bus that day to get from Seward to Anchorage airport. I’m then flying to Fairbanks for a few days hoping to see the Northern Lights. The bus is scheduled to depart Seward at 9:45 am and arrive at Anchorage airport at 12:30 pm. My flight to Anchorage was originally scheduled for 3:25 pm but Alaska Air changed it to 2:10 pm. Given the size of the airport I think that’s plenty of time as long as the bus isn’t late. 
 

Does anyone have any experience with the bus and know if the schedules are fairly reliable? I can change my flight to depart at 4:45 pm but would rather not hang around the airport for hours if I can avoid it. Appreciate any feedback.

Thanks very much for all the feedback. I’m much more comfortable booking the excursion for my family. Appreciate everyone’s help!

I’ll be on the Radiance in Icy Point on September 11. I’ll be with my father-in-law and his SO who are both in their 80’s, and found a private tour that will work well for them. My concern is the walk from the ship to where the private shuttles pick up as if I recall from my last time there is a bit of a walk. My father-in-law will be okay but his SO has difficulties walking, although she doesn’t use a wheelchair or walker.

Can anyone confirm how long a walk this is and if there’s any type of shuttle they may be able to take. Thanks!

Greatly appreciate all the feedback! Thank You!

Myself, my wife, father-in-law and his significant other will be in Vancouver from Sep 6 - 8 prior to our Alaska cruise. Would greatly appreciate any advice of things to do and the best way to get around. Our tentative plan is to stay at a hotel by the airport and rent a car. The day of the cruise I'm hoping to drop the others at the cruise terminal and return the car to a rental agency near the port. I'd then figure a way to get back to the port. My father-in-law and his friend are both in their 80's and have some mobility issues which is why I thought a car rental may work best. 

Any feedback is welcome as to our tentative plans and things to do in or near Vancouver. Thanks!

Family of four are flying into IAH on 04/19 with a cruise out of Galveston on 04/21. Plan is to spend a couple day’s sightseeing in Houston or Galveston prior to cruise.

I can rent a full size car from Enterprise at IAH on 04/19 and drop it in Galveston on 04/21 for $374. Or can do the same with Budget for $231 but drop off is in Texas City about 13 miles away. I’ve done this on other cruises and have dropped off my family and all luggage at cruise terminal, and then I’ll return the rental and either grab a shuttle or Uber back to pier.

Never cruised out of Galveston so appreciate any advice on these options. I’m very willing to pay the additional cost for Enterprise if it will save me a lot of hassle and time.

Thanks very much for all feedback!

I  have enough points (125,000) to redeem for a 7-night Caribbean cruise.  Looking to book the Allure in Nov, 2019.  Currently the cost for an Oceanview balcony is only about $100 more than the minimum available Oceanview cabin.  I'd like to book the balcony so my question is do I have to redeem the points now in order to lock in that deal?  If I wait to redeem the points and the price of the Oceanview cabin decreases, would I only get credit for the cost of that cabin as of that time, or does it go by when I booked the cruise?  From what I can tell it goes by when I redeem.  My concern with redeeming now is the points are non-refundable so if something happens and I need to cancel the cruise, I'd lose all those points.  Never redeemed points before and appreciate any assistance. 

Great idea. I have a Costco card and will check it out. Even if the costs are somewhat higher it will likely be the best option just for convenience

We have the Alaska Airlines credit card so our plan was to pay full price for one ticket and use the Companion Fare for the second. Almost sounded too good to be true so hoping that’s not the case.

If we can do this are you saying we can fly from Vancouver to Seattle on Friday, spend the night as our layover, and then fly home on Saturday? If so that would be a great option.

Thanks very much for all the feedback. I checked again and you’re right. I was looking at the wrong Vancouver. Glad I didn’t make that mistake. I probably will look at renting a car as that sounds like the most convenient and cost effective route.

Appreciate all the help!

My family is doing an Alaska cruise on the Radiance next summer. I expect airline tickets to be released soon and want to be ready to purchase if the price is right.

Our cruise ends in Vancouver on a Friday. Looking at flights that are now available for earlier dates it appears the earliest I can get home to Boston is 11:30 pm. Due to rewards I need to fly Alaska Air.

I’m considering taking Amtrak to Seattle on Friday and then flying home from there on Saturday, as I can be home by 3:30 pm. I’ve read through numerous posts that say Amtrak only runs two trains from Vancouver to Seattle and my only option would be the one at 5:30 pm. But looking on the Amtrak site it appears there’s a departure at 12:18 pm. Can anyone please confirm if this is true. My family has never been to Seattle so we’d love to spend a few hours sightseeing.

One more note; I thought about taking the bus but I’m traveling with my 2 and 4 year old grandkids, and the younger doesn’t handle car rides too well. That’s also why we’d rather not get home so late.

Appreciate all feedback.

Just checked in for an upcoming Harmony sailing and got an assigned boarding time of 1:30 pm. Been on many Royal cruises including sailing Allure last year and never had an assigned boarding time. My wife and I like to board early and usually are on by noon.

Are these suggested boarding times or are they mandated? Would like to get on earlier but also don't want to get to port early only to have to sit in lobby for a couple hours.

Appreciate any info.

Sailing on RCCL Allure of the Seas on Jan 10. Will be in Ft Lauderdale for a couple of days prior to cruise. Thought it would be nice if we could go to an oceanfront restaurant on Saturday night and watch the Oasis set sail. Are there any restaurants where we could get a view? Thanks.

Sailing on RCCL Allure on Sun, Jan 10. Will be in Ft Lauderdale for a couple days prior to sailing. Thought it would be nice if we could go to an oceanfront restaurant on Saturday night and watch the Oasis set sail. Are there any restaurants where we could get a view? Thanks.

Sailing on Adventure departing San Juan on Jan 5. Will be in Curacao on Jan 10 from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. My daughter is recently married and would like to take pictures with her new husband. Can anyone suggest any scenic spots that would provide a nice backdrop?

Originally posted this on Curacao board but seems to be very little activity there. Hoping some RCCL folks might have ideas.

Thanks!

Will be in Curacao on Jan 10 from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. My daughter is recently married and would like to take pictures with her new husband. Can anyone suggest any scenic spots that would provide a nice backdrop?

Thanks!