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Everything posted by lobsternight
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Years ago we did 2 cruises on NCL Sun, 3 adults and 2 kids in an inside cabin. NEVER AGAIN!!! Please just don't do it.
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Ok so got me thinking about our August 18th departure. First of all look at the Canadian Hydrographic site. Region 6, scroll down to Campbell River for tides. There are a lot of apps that calculate these things and you will get a lot of different answers. The hyydrographi service has been doing this for more than a century, almways bang on In our case there is a high tide at 3:30pm, the following low is around 9pm, followed by the next high. The tidal difference is only 3ft between the tides, so really we are wide open to go through. Finally, published data is always given in standard time, so in August you will have to adjust an hour
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@JeffT237 lots of factors for sure we have passed northbound many times in daylight and it is truly spectacular scenery, a few times we have passed in darkness. You will probably awake at sea, but be back inside by early afternoon. I suggest you look online at the Canadian Tide and Current tables for your date of departure. As @wolfie11mentioned look the time for slack water, that will give you at least an hour. If its a minor tide change you may even have a larger window. I love to be on deck for that time, always see lots of good sea life, often Orcas
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Yes Alaska excursions are expensive. Also may want to check a bit deeper with the fishing trips as to what can be caught at the time of your trip. Always changing. If you want a life experience in Juneau consider the Taku Lodge 5 glacier flight and bbq. It will not disappoint, in my opinion money well spent Also think the White Pass train/bus combos an be good choice.
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Done many Alaskan Cruises saw them from the ship for the first time beginning of September 2023. Not a very spectacular show, but still nice to see just happened to be on deck around 10:30
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Sodas and the Newly Revised Drink Packages
lobsternight replied to NemoCrownie's topic in Celebrity Cruises
Reminds me of a college social over 35yrs ago. My best buddy was a non drinker, high balls were $1. So he would order rumon the side. Lets just say I did not feel well for class the next day. Taking my DbiL on cruise next August, he's been dry 37 years, guess I'm paying by the pop. All good -
Just want to add another comment: since we departed on HAL on our actual 30th, I decided to buy my DW some flowers for the room, maybe $60. The vow renewal was $250 plus 12 pp for guests. That included the girl from guest relations picking us up at the cabin, bouquet of flowers for DW, boutineer for me, private ceremony at at bar, all decorated with balloons and flowers, one other couple, tons of appetizers and champaign for everyone, captain spent half an hour with us before ceremony, photographer, photo album with certificate and 6 8x10 photos, escort back to our cabin, remainder of cake delivered to cabin, towel swans and rose petals on bed. Oh and dinner for two at the specialty restaurant. LOVE X but beat that
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We are frequent Alaska cruisers as it works out well for us, went twice this year and booked again for August next year. I highly suggest round trip out of Vancouver, less open water, great scenery, and so on. Check the Solstice Intinerary again, our sailing includes both Icy Strait and Skagway. We sailed HAL in April and yes things do seem to shut down a bit early compared to Celebrity. My eldest son(22) loves the variety of night life that Celebrity has to offer, both lines are great. The other thing to consider is how important is your visit to the glacier. As mentioned there are limited slots for each line. Weather is beyond our control, but even in a drenching downpour you will still have incredible views from the comfort of your ship. For me, I really don't care which one we visit Have a wonderful adventure with you daughter
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My suggestion is that he not surprise her and tell her ahead of time. She may want to be better prepared, such as a special outfit for photo ops and so on. My DW has horrified at the idea but after a few days warmed up to it. So glad I didn't spring it on her. We did our 30th last April but that was on a HAL cruise. All I can say is our experience was over the moon, but can't speak for X. Was nice as we had my inlaws and youngest son join us. I am sure X will do a great job, maybe we can do our 40th on X
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I like both destinations but hey, I'd choose Sitka, after all you are coming to see Alaska
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We have been on a lot of Alaska cruises. This year we did one departing April 30th, mostly we tend to book mid August onward, but will do May again some day, Seeing the extra snow was spectacular. We were lucky enough to go into Glacier Bay and it was stunning seeing the snow right to the waterline. Also did the White Pass in Skagway. Lack of leaves on the trees only enhanced the beauty of this excursion, and the heated rail cars made it very cozy. There are pros and cons to which departure month you choose, all im saying is we would not hesitate to book May again
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Taku Lodge & 5 Glacier Seaplane - Booking directly with Wings Airways?
lobsternight replied to wendyinvt's topic in Alaska
We booked through Celebrity in September, this is one fantastic excursion. Next time I will probably book direct in the time slot in the middle of our port time. When you are paying for 4 people its a big savings. My only concern would be with a delayed arrival time or a skipped port. We have cruised Alaska way too many times, and I must say we have never experienced either of the above in Juneau. -
Just a little followup. The first company I consulted with didn't think he would need a waiver. They suggested that he could go to a local RCMP detachment for finger printing and a record check. See what comes back with the very old charges and go from there. I assume there is a nominal fee. I had the same done years ago for clearance to be a parent school coach, but fees were waived for that. Will see what comes up for him and take it from there.
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Sorry for a late reply. Well wildlife is always hit and miss. Obviously always the usual culprits at every port: Eagles, ravens, seals. The Skagway rail tour is all about the beauty of nature and the engineering marvel of the railway. On the taku lodge 5 glacier tour I guess our highlights for animals was a black bear at the lodge (snuck over to a chair and took someone's coffee), and mountain goats on a ridge on the flight back to Juneau
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@Marronnier we are frequent alaskan cruisers and have done many self guided excursions as well as ship excursions. With minimal effort you should see lots of wildlife every day, but as mentioned a whale watch out of Juneau is always a good choice, and you should be able to get a decent price walking off the boat, the vendors are right there I would like to suggest, and it depends on your cruise line, the following: Ketchikan- the Blackbird Hovercraft Eco Tour. Reasonable price for what you experience, saw lots of seals, eagles, other birds, and a few whales. Highlight was scooting up on a beach and walking about. Juneau - 5 Glacier floatplane tour with lunch at Taku Glacier lodge. OK this one is expensive, but a life experience. Check the YouTube video Wings Airways has, it sums it up. Highly recommend. Skagway - the White Pass rail tour. Finally did this one and was better than I expected. On our sailing one of the options was for rail, then bus trip to the Yukon. Long 8 hour day but just worth it.
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Greetings, I have decided to take my DBI and his son with us on our next Alaska cruise. He is a wonderful man and has been totally sober for almost 40 years. I did find out he has multiple DUIs from the late 70s early 80s Do I understand right that a pardon is not what is needed but rather a US boarder waiver? Would like to start his process early. I see there are a few services offered on line, should be around 1k ugh.
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Early May we did the train up and bus to Yukon and back, think it was 8 hours, booked through HAL. Fantastic tour, lots of stops for photos. Will do it again.
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The Fleet Report and Daily for Sunday September 10th, 2023
lobsternight replied to richwmn's topic in Holland America Line
Hello everyone and thanks for all the reports. We arrived back from our Alaska cruise a week ago. As always a wonderful cruise, the second for us this season, this time with X Although rained out at the Hubbard Glacier, it is still spectacular, we got the closest I've ever been. DW and youngest DS did the zip line at ISP, they loved it. Took the Taku Lodge floatplane trip, worth every penny, also did the hovercraft in Ketchikan. Its been a hard back to work, we all came down with a nasty head and upper chest cold, going on a week now just tested again and not saying Covid. So tired. Should be going to a HAL local event in an hour, but too sick to go.- 89 replies
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Improving the experience and making X money!
lobsternight replied to chemmo's topic in Celebrity Cruises
For those of us who grew up watching the Love Boat, how about skeet shooting off the stern? Ok bad suggestion. I quite like where this thread is going, has me thinking a lot. I would love to see on sea days some reasonably priced small group tours or lectures. Similar to like what you experience on wine pairing. Minimal cost for X and still generating good revenue, not heavy on crew resources. -
If you are round tripout of Vancouver you will be in site of land for all but a few hours on sea days. On departure depending on tides and currents you will see spectacular scenery passing through Seymour Narrows and up to the North tip of van ouver Island Usually the first sea day starts away from land, but in the early afternoon you should be close again when they pick up the American Pilot near Prince Rupert On the return sea day once again you will have a few hours, usually in the morning outmat sea. You will pass by spectacular scenery during the day, glaciers right down to the ocean, but at a distance once again get out on deck as you pass by the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Keep an eye out as the channel Narrows, often see Orcas up close. Must agree that mostly you see whale spouts in the distance but have had good encounters too, once right next to the ship at icy Straight. Lots of eagles of course, everywhere, but bears from the ship is unlikely. I am sure you will have a wonderful time, most people love it.
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Always enjoyed the MDR lobster on X, have had some really good ones. Our lobster highlight now is to do a discounted first night Murano and have it cooked tableside. Just weeks out from our next Murano Lobster A few months ago we took our first HAL cruise. They had a $15 up charge for a surf and turf. Half tail, wonderful steak and worth it. Last meal in MDR I took an upchsrge for a whole tail, $20 and was a monster, had to fight the last bite down. Guess if X starts doing upchsrges I'm just going to have to take advantage of my free bag of laundry to pay for it
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The Fleet Report and Daily for Saturday August 5th, 2023
lobsternight replied to richwmn's topic in Holland America Line
I do like Guinness . Just reminded me of a few years back. My eldest son did an American Football tour to Ireland with an American team the Guinness factory tour was one of the stops. Before he left onthe trip I bought some Guinness for him to try, said you better see if you like it so you don't gag in the factory. He loved it. About half of the team didn't and passed their drinks to him on others that did. Lets say he had a hell 9f a buzz when they got back on the bus. To this day he still talks about that wonderful factory Guinness. He loved being in Ireland. The only place where you beat the hell out of each other on the field, then after the game the other team would show up at the hotel and take you to the pub- 94 replies
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The Fleet Report and Daily for Saturday August 5th, 2023
lobsternight replied to richwmn's topic in Holland America Line
Thanks to everyone for their posts and prayers to all those in need. I'm behind again in reading the fleet report and daily as my post retirement "hobby" job is becoming too much. So....Going to toot my own horn. Today I made it to 60!!! Over the past decade had too many close calls, but here I am, and recently had good test results, going for 65 now. Not sure if I will have beer today, perhaps some single malt. The oysters have me thinking though, perhaps pick up some and bbq a steak. Will have to see, wife gave me her cold for a present, so may hold off on the yummy stuff. Have a great weekend all, counting down to my next cruise on the 27th- 94 replies
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The Avis/budget in North Vancouveris easy enough, though a bit of a stroll. I see cruise passengers doing it all the time. Depart the terminal and go towards the Seabus (Waterfront) Station believe there is an elevator from Canada Place to the station if you wish. You will use the walkway over the train tracks to the Seabus. Should take you 5 minutes, also elevators at seabus if you need them. Once across to North Vancouver exit the seabus station and go left, half a block away the road turns right, becomes chesterfield Ave. 1 minute walk up a small hill to Esplanade, turn right. There is a IGA supermarket, just past that at the entrance to the Shoppers Drug Mart is an elevator up one floor there it is
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Limo from YVR to cruiseport
lobsternight replied to CanuckMumof2girls's topic in West Coast Departures
If its a stretch limo you want pleasebe aware you may not get dropped off in the cruise terminal. A lot of them seem no longer permitted in the underground, and you will be dropped off on the street. Depending on the kaos you may have a bit of a walk. A year ago we had a luxury SUV take us, no problem getting in. This spring since I had my inlaws with us I booked at stretch. Hours before pickup the limo went down so they sent a transit Sprinter instead. First attempt he was turned away from drop off, second attempt he got in. Still trying to decide for August cruise. Our local taxi company has a very bad reputation for not showing up for a reservation. We have an early boarding time so may take the chance