mrsturkelton

We just booked for our January cruise at the Hampton Inn Blue Lagoon.  Thanks for the recommendation!

We leave on the 19th on the NCL Encore.  We're docking at Ward Cove for our Ketchikan stop.  I hope it doesn't take too long to get into town since I'd really like to explore some.  I've heard the last shuttle back leaves at 11am which leaves just a few hours to explore and not enough time to grab lunch in town.  I'm bummed as I was looking forward to eating at the Alaskan Fish House for lunch that day.  Our ship is set to leave at 1:15 pm so the last shuttle back at 11 seems early to me.

We stay at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront.  It's right across from the NCL terminal.  It's a little pricier but its a nice hotel and is within walking distance to Pike's Place Market.  It's not too far of an uber ride, maybe 5-10 minutes depending on traffic, to go to the Space Needle/Chihuly gardens area.  

White Pass is operating just not going into Canada.  They might be all booked already for the day you are in port.  We ended up booking through Chilkoot tours for their trip into the Yukon to Carcross.

We have this tour scheduled in a few weeks.  We did it 5 years ago on the Train/Bus route and had intended to do that again this year but with the cancelation of that trip we opted for the full bus tour instead of the train only.  I mean, who can pass up petting sled dogs!!!!  I hope more people share their experiences of this years trips.

I know it's not the Bliss or Encore but when we did the Jewel in May of 17 we ate our buffet dinners outside some but they said the weather was very unusually warm that week.  So I'd say it all just depends on when you're going to be there and what the weather decides to do.  We go in 3 1/2 weeks and I'm hoping to have at least one warm evening to eat outside.

3 minutes ago, Mountaineer0313 said:

Alaskan Crepe Escape in Juneau. I got a simple cinnamon sugar one, but they have all kinds, including not sweet ones. It's top on my list when we go back.

I didn't know this place existed.  I just added it to my list for Juneau!

We really like Alaskan Fish House in Ketchikan.  It's really close to the docks (unless you are at Ward Cove and then nothing is close) and has 3 different fish options for your fish and chips, Cod, Salmon, and Halibut.  

https://exclusivealaska.com/fish-house  

Thank you for sharing your trip.  We'll be on the Encore in June and I'm excited to read the reviews of the Alaskan cruises this year.

3 hours ago, Gramma of Boys said:

My husband and I are booked for the "Yukon Expedition & White Pass Scenic Railway" excursion through Princess.  We've gotten no notification about the tour and it's still showing up as an available excursion on the PCL web site.  Is Princess just not caught up on this?

 

My husband and I are booked for the same excursion but with Norwegian.  I called them yesterday after finding out the news and they weren't aware of anything yet.  They said chances are they are trying to negotiate a different stop for people to board but I'm not aware of another stop in the US for us to board.  Is there a stop at the Summit?  They did say if they aren't able to negotiate a different option then the excursion would be canceled and to give it a couple of weeks.  I don't want to wait that long and risk other excursions filling up.  Now we don't go until June 19th so we've got some time but I'm a big planner and this really threw a wrench in my plans!

Dang it.  I have the Yukon and White Pass railway excursion booked through Norwegian.  I am expecting it to get canceled since we're supposed to board the train in Fraser.  I'm bummed, we are taking my mother in law on her first cruise and first trip to Alaska and it's the one thing she really wanted to do.

The last time we were on an Alaskan cruise you could check out a deck blanket like you could pool towels.  Does anyone know if that is still an option or has it gone away with COVID protocols?

Thanks!

@nolatravelgirl

Thanks for sharing the menus.  Now I'm starving and wanting to eat at a MDR soon.  Only 81 more days!

On 3/27/2022 at 10:58 AM, coastcat said:

 

Per the schedule posted by the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska, most ships exit Glacier Bay by 5pm:

 

CLAA 2022 schedule for Glacier Bay

 

You wouldn't miss any of the park sights by having dinner at 6. While you could postpone dinner until it's too dark to see, that'll be a late dinner - in June, sunset is 10pm!

 

 

Thanks for the link.  I feel better booking things later in the day knowing my ship is to be out of the area by around 3pm.  

20 hours ago, LMKakaThing2 said:

Someone at NCL must be reading these posts! Was in my reservation today and noticed this lovely change!

Mine now says the same thing!  

42 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

Seattle Marriott Waterfront is right across the street from the port.  When I booked in the fall, it was very reasonable.  Now, much less so, but maybe you’ll luck out with your dates.

This is where we are staying in June.  The prices have certainly went up since we booked but for convenience you have to pay.  I'm not sure how convenient it is for seeing the city though.  It's not really near much other than Pike's Place Market.  You might need an uber/lyft/taxi to see other areas.  The hotel does not have a shuttle.

I've not dined in Skagway or Juneau but in Ketchikan we really like the Alaskan Fish House.  The best fish and chips I've had.

Option1 would be my pick.  Skagway is a must see!

I agree with those above, Holland America's itinerary would be preferable to me.  Skagway is a don't miss stop in my opinion.  The town is really neat and the train ride is beautiful.  I've only been once and haven't been to Sitka or Hubbard Glacier so I can't speak to them, but if it were me, I'd go with the HAL trip, as long as the date works ok for you!

Everyone has pretty much covered what I would take but I want to second the snacks in a ziplock bag in your backpack.  Not only will it help keep your goodies dry but it will also keep the bears at bay.  You don't want to attract wildlife to you that way.  

I'm hoping to wait until closer to my cruise (June 19th) and booking once we know if Chilkoot is going to have their Yukon tour.

This is who we booked our shuttle with last time we were in Juneau.  The price has gone up some from what I remember it being but I'm not surprised by it.  It's now $45 and it includes the admission fee.  

https://www.juneautours.com/book-a-tour/details/83315/mendenhall-glacier-shuttle/

4 hours ago, Topdog52 said:

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this does not cancel again. 

 

What cruise are you on?  We're on the June 19-26th cruise.  We've rebooked a couple of times already after originally trying to go in May 2020 (booked in 2019, pre covid).  Do you have fears that it might be canceled again?

We did the Caribou Crossing package 5 years ago and really enjoyed it.  Lunch was good and seeing the puppies was a lot of fun.  We didn't do the dog sled ride but watched it and it seemed like it was just ok.  I highly recommend adding it to your tour.  

I agree with the general consensus, the pizza is not great.  However I do get cravings for a random slice of pizza and it worked for me.  The mid western girl in me will dunk it in some ranch if its too bland!