lobsternight

It really is an exceptional tour, and with Celebrity you should be docked right next to the planes so very short walk  

My advice would be to take the 11am tour as the earlier one can sometimes be postponed due to morning cloud or fog  

@Aubriee01 you may book Taku lodge either through your cruise line or direct with Wings Airways.  Wings has multiple departures all day long, probably want to avoid the first flights out as sometimes fog will force a cancellation.  Look at their utube video, sums it up.

The Glacier Landing we are booked on is the Pilots Choice flight through Temsco Helicopters.  Saw someone's photos on the ship last year and just had to do it.

Another interesting tour we took in Ketchikan was the Blackbird Hovercraft tour, thought I'd mention that

We will be doing the glacier landing this year, looks great. From past experience I also suggest the Taku Lodge trip. Great views of the glaciers, good salmon BBQ, more than likely to see a bear, fun floatplane trip

Don't forget to stop in at the Red Dog Saloon for a Duck Fart

Frequent Alaska cruiser here. As mentioned if you are sailing on the inside of Vancouver Island you will see lots of towns. I find the stretch between Campbell River and Port Hardy one of ,u favorite sections 

One time while on an NCL ship we passed by Bella Bella, the only time I've ever seen it  must have been around 7am, a calm and cloudless day.  Enchanting 

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. 

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

@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

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.

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 

11 hours ago, mrgabriel said:

Watching this ... this would be a ridiculous change. 

 

If they have removed soft drinks/pop from the Classic package, what's to stop someone from ordering a rum and coke and asking them to hold the rum or pour it on the side? 

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  

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

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

I like both destinations but hey, I'd choose Sitka, after all you are coming to see Alaska  

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

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.

On 10/10/2023 at 2:42 AM, Marronnier said:

Thank you for this helpful information. @lobsternight what wildlife might you expect to see during the Juneau Glacier floatplane  tour and the Skagway rail tour.

 

 

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  

@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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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