Cerbiattina

... I am speechless....you are AMAZING!!!!! I have copied and pasted your message and treasure it in a dedicated folder. THANK YOU SO MUCH....you are truly AMAZING....

Sorry to bother you again..last question.. I saw that the bus for Grouse Mountain leaves from Canada Place. We can also call a taxi, which cuts the travel time to 15 minutes. I was thinking about visiting Stanley Park the whole morning and having lunch there (I made a 1:30 pm reservation at the local restaurant). We could get a taxi or the bus afterward and spend the afternoon/early evening at Grouse Mountain. Probably the taxi is quicker. The next day we will have the entire morning free since our flight leaves at 7:00 pm. I was thinking about visiting Gastown and the Chinese Quarter. We are staying at the Westin Bayshore which should be fairly close to the two neighborhoods. Do you think this plan is doable? Do you think it would be nice? Thank you so much for your input, like I said earlier, we have never been to Vancouver, and I would like to see some highlights.

Thank you. We will stay in Vancouver. I briefly looked Grouse Mountain up and it looks beautiful. I will try to work it into our little sightseeing. Otherwise, I have to plan another visit to Vancouver. ....So sad I couldn't change the return flight! Thank you again, much appreciated.

Thank you for your reply. I know that Butchart Gardens is on an island. However, there are tours from Vancouver to visit Victoria and the Gardens - they stop for three hours in Victoria and 90 minutes at the Gardens. The whole excursion takes 12-13 hours. I was just wondering which one we should be doing. We have never been to Vancouver before, just trying to see the prettier things in such a short time.

Hello, Disembarkation time in Vancouver starts at 7:30 am June 5th. I booked one night at the Westin Bayshore, with a departure time to the airport the next day. The flight is t 7:30 pm, June 6th. I planned to spend the morning at Stanley Park (after briefly leaving the luggage at the hotel) with lunch at the local restaurant. Then we would rest a bit at the hotel and then go see Gastown and the Chinese neighborhood. The next morning, we would walk to Robson Street just to walk around and see it and then collect our suitcases and head to the airport. A friend told me about Butchart Gardens. I tried to change the return flight but the cost would be exorbitant and therefore, it is not an option. I looked into a trip to the Gardens and it would take all day with a tour. The airplane tour leaves very early in the morning, I am not sure we would have enough time to disembark and run to the collection place. Long story short, it is going to be either the little tour of Vancouver or the Butchart Gardens.....Any suggestions? Thank you so much!

Thank you so much. Then we will take the Misty Fjords cruise on our first stop since it leaves at 7:30 am. Also, I already thought to take the bus for Bight Totem Park and see Creek Street (Red Light District), I was just wondering if the Old Growth Trail is too much because the headtrail is approx 20 minutes by car from the port. But thank you, the insight about the wildlife is very much appreciated.

Hi everyone! Still me...Going on a B2B Princess Alaska cruise at the end of May...We will be in Ketchikan twice. The first time we will dock at 6:00 and leave at 2:00 pm. The second time we will be in Ketchikan at 10:00 a.m. and leave at 6:00 pm. I was thinking of doing the Misty Fjords cruise on our return stop because it will be early June (slightly warmer on the water), plus the Misty Fjord cruise will leave at 12:30 pm. At the first stop, the Misty cruise leaves at 8:00 am, which seems a bit too early. I am afraid that animals will be still asleep (like us 🙂 ) and there is a better chance of fog. On our first stop (6:00 am to 2:00 pm), I was thinking about getting on the Silver Line and going to Bight Totem State Park, then stopping in town and walking town, then going to Creek Street, and IF we have time to call Uber and go to Magical Old-Growth Creek Trail and Trek a bit. Then call Uber again and go back to the ship. Do you think it is doable? Too much? Any idea if it is better to do the Misty Fjords early in the morning or early afternoon instead? Thank you!!

Thank you so much! I am writing all your suggestions down to have a day packed with activities. The ship docks at 7:30 am ad leaves at 8:30 pm.

That's what I meant. I can't book the ticket for the Soapy Smith's saloon and Ranger historical walk because they are first-come first-served. We will be at the Visitor Center as soon as they open to get the tickets. I did buy the ticket for the scenic train to Bennett Lake and Carcross. Our cruise is back-to-back, and there are two stops in Skagway. The first is going to be a self-guided tour of the town with the Ranger tour, the Museum, Soapy Smith's saloon, and a walk to Yakutania Point, and the second will be the 8-hour-long scenic train.

It looks like I can't book the tickets for the Museum because they are first-come first-served. Will be there when the Visitor Center opens at 9:00 am

I booked the train for our return stop. The first stop is going to be self guided but I will look into booking the ranger tour, if available

Thank you! Duly noted 🙂

Thank you! Will start from the Klondike National Historic Park. Then we will stopcat the museum, then walk time and then Yakutania Pount. I think we will pass on Dyea and spend the whole day exploring Skagway. As first time it makes more sense. The second time the ship stops in Skagway, we will take the train/bus tour to Bennet Lake and Carcross. This should give us a good feel for the Skagway area.

Thank you. If you were to choose between A. Explore the town, walk to the cemetery and Yakutania point OR B. Explore the town, walk to the cemetery and Dyea, which one would you do..or can you do both?? I want to see as much as possible, but I don't want to make the day too packed.

Thank you for your suggestions, I will take notes of everything you said. This is going to be my first time in Alaska, I am so excited, I would like to see everything!! The return leg from Carcross should be by bus if I understood correctly. Do you recall taking a bus? If so, how was it? I am now looking for directions to do the trail that takes to Yakutania Point. I am pretty sure that is the one I read about. Comments were all so enthusiastic! Thank you again for your detailed suggestions.

Thank you!!! I'll take note of your suggestions. Skagway stops are all figured out! I will look into the trail that takes to Yakutania Point. First things first, I will cancel the tickets to Haines.

I don't think the cruise ship offers the evening tour. I looked at one to Chilkoot Lake with wildlife viewing but several people lamented that all they did was to drive around and only 45 minutes on the actual trail. Plus, they said there was a lot of hanging around without really doing anything. I am oriented toward canceling the trip to Haines altogether and exploring Skagway instead. With two full days, one will be dedicated to the train ride to Carcross through Bennet Lake and the White Pass - it has all positive reviews, supposedly it stops quite often to allow photos and such. The other day will be in Skagway town and we will see the cemetery, the museum and maybe find a way to go see the old town. I also read that there is a trail not too far from the cruise dock. A little trekking will be nice as well. I read that the stretch of sea between Skagway and Haines is very scenic and breathtaking - that is why I wished to see it, but I did not understand that we would see it anyway from the cruise ship.

The train will be for one of the two stops. I am trying to plan the first stop. Twelve hours (or so) in Skagway

I was thinking about the train that goes to Bennet Lake and Carcross and comes back by bus. If I understand correctly, it will go through White Pass, right?

Hi! As some of you know by now, at the end of May my husband and I are going on a B2B Alaska Cruise from Vancouver. The ship will stop in Skagway twice, 7:00 am to 8:30 pm both times. I booked the train to Carcross for one stop and the Fast Ferry to Haines for the second stop. The ferry leaves at 8 am and returns to Skagway at 1:45. My wish is to visit Haines in the morning, and Skagway in the afternoon. I can still cancel the ferry if so I wish. QUESTION: Do you think it is doable? I mean, will we have time to visit both towns? If so, do you know if there is a shuttle from Haines Port to Chilkoot Lake? I was hoping to see it without a tour because I would like to visit the town as well before returning to the ferry (departure is at 1:00 pm) and we don't wish to drive ourselves. Is it even a good idea? If so, would this plan leave enough time to visit Skagway as well? I was thinking of visiting the town, the little museum, walk to the old cemetery. Any suggestion? On the second stop, we will embark the train to Carcross at 7:45 am. We will come back by bus at 3:30 pm. I thought that we would have some extra time to visit the town again (or something left out on the first stop) before embarkation. Thank you so much for your help!

Hi all! Thank you so much for your input! The 26 Glacier tour is going to be!!!! I appreciate all your help 🙏

Hi Everybody! At the end of May, my husband and I will take a 14-day cruise to Alaska glaciers with Grand Princess. Before getting to Whittier, the Cruise itinerary mentions one two-hour scenic cruise to College Fjord. From the description, "..Upon entering College Fjord, Alaska, passengers on Alaskan cruises may be able to see Harvard as the last of five glaciers in a row, separated by miles and mountains, just as Harriman's scientists could...". It does mention Prince William Sound which we want to see. I was looking for activities in Whittier since the ship will stop there from 12:30 am to 8:30 pm the next day. I found another 5.30-hour cruise with Phillips Cruise Tour; in particular, the 26 Glacier Tour. It looks amazing; however, I am afraid it is going to be a sort of Deja Vu because Princess already goes to Prince William Sound and Harvard Glacier the day before. However, Phillips Cruises spends three extra hours at College Fjords. QUESTION: Have any of you done both? Could you share your opinion? How different are they? Is it worth going back the next day with Phillips Cruising? Also, as an alternative, I was looking into the Glacier Quest Cruise to Blackstone Bay, always offered by Phillips Cruising. Have you ever done that cruise? Is it worth it? If none of them works, I was thinking about going for a hike and visiting the military museum. We don't want to rent a car, do the tunnel and go to Anchorage. It seems like too much time driving around. Do you know any train-ride round trip from Whittier that is worth doing? Any input is much appreciated. Thank you!

I will argue your point. Holland America Cruise to the Caribbean had almost no gluten-free options and you have no idea how often I get sick from eating food that was promised to be gluten-free and non-contaminated and yet is one or the other. Life for people with Celiac Disease and zero tolerance to gluten is pretty isolating. The safest thing is to eat at home. No disrespect for those who don't eat gluten as a "lifestyle" choice, but they have ruined, and keep ruining the lives of those with pure Celiac Disease. Dining facilities think that as long as it says "gluten-free", food, it is ok to eat, with total disregard of cross-contamination. Not to mention that most times they don't even know which food is gluten-free and which one isn't. It happened to me on the Holland America Cruise with a couple of servers. Kudos to the Maitre who took the plate off their hands and educated them about Celiac Disease..

Thank you! I have already told Princess and selected the option in the Cruise Personalizer. It is terrible how you have to stress the words Disease only because some - perfectly healthy - consider it a lifestyle. I can't even put in my mouth a crumble of contaminated food that I get so sick for two solid weeks... I am nervous and terrified every time I step outside of the house to eat (rarely) but I can't wait to see Alaska!

Agree. I have decided to get the Plus Package. My husband enjoys a glass of wine at the dinner table and a beer now and then...it is also his cruise! The Premiere is too "unlimited" for us, and I don't want to nickel and dime either. Plus, as you correctly said, the room service will be nice on occasion, especially after a long day exploring Alaska.