Semi Retired

Another option is 910 Beach Ave Apt. hotel. It's gives you a condo feel at a reasonable price. It's a block from the False Creek water taxi's, which get you to many sites...Granville island, Science World Yaletown (yuppie/highend area with lots of shops/eats).

Depends on what you want to do in Vancouver. There are a lot of choices for downtown area to see Stanley Park, English Bay, etc. I recommend Robson Suites, Ramada Vancouver Ltd Downtown, Coast Hotel & Resorts.

If you like the Granville island, False Creek area, I would suggest the 910 Beach Ave Hotel. It will give you an apt. feel and is only a block from the False Creek ferry's that go to Granville Island, Science world, David Lamb Park (highend Yaletown).

I was lucky to find an American agent that does my bookings in CDN funds (so I don't get extra service charges on CC) and always gives me a minimum $200 OBC on top of what the cruiseline gives for perks. Doesn't matter what category I book. Sometimes gives a free speciialty restaurant for2 also. Has called me about price drop twice on upcoming cruise. He was right on it, to help me get the most for the best value point. He used the "resident" rate, as it was the most beneficial. On our B2B next year, he gave 250 OBC and Sp.Rest. for each leg.

It can make a difference if you shop around for an agent that goes above and beyond.

You can try this:

Type in traveltips on usatoday and find seattle-hotels-parking-cruise

 

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/seattle-hotels-parking-cruise-63749.html

I prefer Seattle (pike place market is HUGE) over Nanaimo... Crown over coral. ( Ship layout)

The Explorer Of The Seas is doing two 7-day and one 8-day out of Seattle in Sept 2016. Check them out. This is a great ship. It does a coastal up ro seattle in May. These are the two months that all cruiselines reposition Alaska, so they make up intineries going there in April-May and leaving there in Sept-Oct

We stayed at LaQuinta Inn on 8th Ave, near spaceneedle where you can take the monorail to downtown and pike Place Market. This hotel has free hot breakfast and a shuttle service to port pier (for a charge)

Liberty...hands down! RCCL is awarded consistently for its kid friendly and adult enjoyability factors. I love the open concept of Liberty. So spacious.

My DH bought a Citizen on the ship, close to end of sailing, and got it over 100 cheaper than buying at home. Personally, we don't trust buying from ports, due to irregularities and fakes.

I bought magnetic sheets and photo paper from Staples to make my own with my printer. You can buy magnet thin strips at a dollar store and put on back of stuff. Just keep in mind...don't hang stuff from ceiling sprinkler.

The Explorer went through extensive reno last year. If bed is too hard, you can request a foam pad before your sail date.

I have seen a less popular excursion go down in price when tracking it on website before my cruise. Don't know hwat it was when onboard. It was a bus tour before transfer to airport. I normally book my excursions online with a highly recognized private guide/operator.

I use a highly reputable agent in Miami and he always quotes me exactly what the Royal Caribbean webpage offers in Canadian. The bonus is...he adds extra OBC (based on type of cabin I book) and a specialty dining for us. He also gives me an extra 25 OBC for every other cabin that gets booked because I convince others to join us. He is also very good at watching for price drops and getting my booking lowered before final payment date.

Example:

I booked my April 2017 in March 2015

This happened to us on Celebrity (RCCL partner) on a year and half time out. I did intense search and found out it was a Microsoft convention that hire ship as hotel accommodation in San Francisco. I told my agent and fellow cruisers before it got out officially. We were ignored for 2 weeks before the official announcement. They offered 100 obc on our cruise that was changed to different itinerary. Most of us abandoned ship. I think Microsoft ended up cancelling and I noticed the ship trying to fill for a new set itinerary. Their loss.

Not an alcohol drinker and DH only drinks 1 or 2 each day (normally nothing at home). We wait until embarkment day and get the special pricing for specialty coffee card. You can get one for non-alcoholic drinks also.

Ask to your hearts content! My DH gets a plate of cheese & crackers after his meal. We both like our coffee as soon as we sit down. I sometimes order 2 desserts. I eat only veggies also. These requests are made on first night and the waiter always remembers each night.

We stayed at Country Inn & suites because rooms are large and staff always helpful (and have free full hot breakfast). They provide free shuttle to airport, then onto the free tram to train station, which we then got on the train (a conductor helps you with tickets and options) to downtown manhattan. Was very easy and had a great day in new York. We purchased hop-on[hop-off tickets online for half price, then made that our priority to do the full circle to see where everything is, then decided what we wanted to look futherat from there. We also took the free Staten Island ferry to go past the Liberty Statue.

If there is an itinerary for onboard private gatherings for this group, then there is a charge for rooms, hor dourves, etc.

I buy Magnet Sheets from a stationary store (or even the bargain department stores have them). I make my own design on the computer, then print on the sheets. I've done family door signs on a 4x6 magnet photo sheet, and have done business card size fridge magnets for a roll call group (which was made on the 8x11 sheet).

Since there is so much open air on the main promenade and central park decks, how is the weather? I like having the air conditioning and don't like the "muggy" feeling when its too hot out.

When I sailed on her last May, I found good advice on CAPE LIBERTY 411 message board about all you need to know about that area before you board.

Use small suitcases under bed for souvenirs and shoes. Use big suitcase in closet (stand up) as a laundry hamper, by putting a plastic bag as liner.

There is a "preference " page on your RCCL profile when you sign in. It lets you give your preference of upgrade (or no upgrade), meal restrictions, bed configuration, received email for cruise areas of interest, etc.

The official notice of change was last Wed. If you haven heard from your TA, then you may be waiting "in line" for Celebrity to call TA. I told my TA about the change before he was called. He had to wait for Celebrity to give him the "deal" to be translated to us. That was last Fri. We have cancelled (my brother and DW also) and all 4 of us are , as of yesterday, rebooked on a 14-day Bahamas/Caribbean B2B with another cruiseline....to which they benefit our money that we put out, which is twice the amount that we were booked with Celebrity.

I believe in Karma. Celebrity might be hustling to fill these new sailings and may have to "give it away" at a "steal of a deal"......oh, well.