travelingman

I say go for it.  As you mentioned, the LTR might not happen.  On the other hand, if it does eventually occur it will give you a second chance to go to Alaska.

stan

250 days.  But, who really knows.  We have had to change it 3 times so far.

stan

16 minutes ago, bc_redhead said:

Can you tell me who you booked through?  We are going in May and it has always been on my daughter's bucket list to go dog sledding

I booked through "TEMSCO Skagway Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing" by Helicopter.

TEMSCO also offers Glacier Landing Tours only.

The Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing can also be booked through tour companies.

Stan

As @Missymo said it is a helicopter that takes you to the top of the glacier.  Guiding or driving the sled dogs is an option; it is not required.  My wife chose to ride the whole time while our daughter and myself took the opportunity to drive the dogs when offered.  Lots of fun.  iI is not the cheapest excursion around but a good bucket list item.  We did it as a DIY excursion and saved some money over the ship excursion.

Stan

Don't know where you have looked but below are a few links.

This one is a tour company but gives some info also.  You can switch the town to Seward also.   Of note is this: Whittier rental car options are limited and can be quite expensive. For travelers arriving into Whittier by cruise and continuing onto a self-drive land package, we recommend booking an Anchorage rental car and taking the Park Connection Motorcoach from Whittier to Anchorage. The Park Connection runs a special cruise transfer coach on ship days, departing Whittier for Anchorage at 9:45 AM.

i think this is good advise.  And, the same thing might apply to Seward.

https://www.alaskatravel.com/car-rentals/whittier/

Try this link for Hertz in Seward.

https://sewardhertz.com/

and this one for Whittier.

https://www.avis.com/en/locations/us/ak/whittier/wt2

Stan

When we did our Alaska (some years back) we did the dog sledding in Skagway.  We took a helicopter up to the top of the glacier.  Not enough altitude that it should bother anyone.  Not sure about your problem though.  We had a great time with the dogs and the dog sledding.  Was able to drive one of the sleds - following the musher's path and away from the other dogs.  When it was time to go back we caught another helicopter that had just let passengers off.  We were fortunate that our pilot (maybe all of them do) flew down toward the water where our ship was so that we got a real good look at it from the air.

Stan

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Geography does make a difference.

In my experience, with a little homework and reasonable recommendations, truly authentic Mexican food (of every region) can be found throughout California, particularly in agricultural hubs. Perhaps to a lesser degree (I.e., specific cities like SF, Alhambra/Monterey Park), the same can be said for Chinese cuisine (all regions).

Of course, the downside (at least for the Chinese spots) is trying to get a menu in English (just kidding).

Prior to retirement and when I traveled a lot I made an overnight  mileage run to LA to get to my next FF level.  I walked down to a Mexican restaurant for dinner.  I was the only non-Mexican in the restaurant but fortunately they had a menu in English and I had some real good Mexican food.

Stan

12 minutes ago, zelker said:

Does Viking provide a tote bag in each stateroom or do I need to bring one?

I do not recall having one provided on either of our cruises.

Stan

I have found that their responding to email questions has been pitiful.  Especially since they started cancelling cruises.  They just seem to ignore them.  Haven't tried to call them.

Stan

The response Peregrina651 gave in post #1410 above is correct.

Stan

I have been able to use old gift cards on Viking.

Stan

We are not booked until November 2022 and have not received an offer.  Our TA did send us our new cabin number on the Crystal.  Fortunately we are still in the same type cabin.

But with the large difference in the number of suites on the Experience and the Crystal there will obviously be some passengers that will not be able to be in a suite.  They will then have to made a decision to go with their new cabin assignment or cancel.

You need to contact either your TA or Celestyal and find out what your cabin on the Crystal is.

Stan

I have seen several videos of cabins on the Crystal and they seemed to always open the refrigerator and they would be empty.  Does anyone know if the refrigerator in the SB Suites are stocked or not?

Stan

I read on a review from this summer (2021) that you had to pay for bottled water.  Does anybody know if you can take bottle water and soft drinks on the ship?

Also, FYI the cabins do not have wash clothes in the bathrooms per the same review.

Stan

I was told by TA that the Celestyal website was basically ***** down while Celestyal moves everyone from the Experience to the Crystal.

Just  tried to log into my account still cannot get in.

Stan 

Most people take a taxi.  The hotel can arrange this.  Believe it is around 35 - 40 Euro.

Stan

I did read on a post somewhere that the passengers were being given some free time to wondering around town after the included walking tour.

However, this could have changed again due to the EU recommendation on restrictions on US citizens due to the high number of COVID cases in the US.

If you have followed Celestyal you will know they had been trying to sell the Crystal without any luck.  Speculation is that it was due to it's age and better ships available for the same price.  They only wanted  2 ships when all was said and done.  Since they could not sell the Crystal and think they will be sailing with a smaller passenger population (due to COVID) they thought it did not make since to hold onto the Experience (unfortunate for us passengers).  What could not be derived from any of the articles available is how much did finances play into this decision other than this statement - "The decision to sell Experience will provide the company with enhanced liquidity, the line said, which in combination with zero third party debt forms the continued solid financial foundation to ensure a successful restart in March next year."

Bottom line is that certain passengers will not be in the same cabin category they were in on the Experience.  This will be due to the lower number of suites and balcony cabins available on the Crystal.  Possible that some balcony cabin passengers end up in inside cabins.  Bottom line is that we are the ones that will end up losing out.

Let's just hope they will be able to sail in 2022.

Stan

Thank you @notamermaid.  It is sad to hear that so much has been done but so much still is left to be done.  Appreciate the youtube video.  Nothing like seeing it to really realize how bad it was and still is.

I know the residents must really appreciate the help the volunteers are giving.

Thanks again for the update.

Stan

notamermaid  - How  are  things going in the German towns that had the floods?

We also did the Nightwatchman Tour on our 2 day stay in Rothenburg.  We enjoyed it greatly.  He was very informative and entertaining.  We also had a very good dinner at a place name the Wine Bar (I believe)  At first I thought it was just a wine place.  But the young lady at the front desk at our hotel recommended it so we went and were glad we did.  It is very small and the table was the smallest I have ever ate it.  However, the food was good.  Our hotel was inside the wall and provided parking in the back of it.  I believe it was the Hotel Spitzweg .  Nice hotel and not far from the town hall.

Stan

We were in Rothenburg the first weekend of September of 2017 and by chance they were having a festival.  it is called the Imperial City Festival (the Imperial City Festival transports visitors to Rothenburg’s old city to the district’s golden age. The entire old city becomes one huge Medieval camp.  Historical groups from different epochs of Rothenburg’s history come together for the Imperial City Festival. A host of knights camp in tents in front of the Rödertor, while the Meistertrunk troops from the Thirty Years’ War range through the city. In Herrngasse you’ll come across Medieval townsfolk and Schillingsfürst peasants. Dive into the past as a visitor. Entry is free).  WE found it very interesting and entertaining even though we did not know what it was until i researched it later on.

It is worth attending in my opinion.  Because of the festival you would need to book ar oom a good bit in advance.

Stan

Have not sailed NCL in a long time and came across Celestyal in an article written in a magazine by accident.  Th article got us interested in Celestyal and we were to be on a 14 day cruise in Nov. 2021.  Prior to Celestyal cancelling the remaining cruise 2021 season after August we moved our cruise to Nov, 2022.

All of this is to say if the cost is important to you then Celestyal might be of interest to you.

The Experience will not sail under the Celestyal flag until March 2022.  However, there are a number of video reviews of Celestyal cruises on You Tube.

Stan

If you look at the post right blow yours you will see that @Debscoco2 posted that she got an email that all cruise for 2021 after August 2021 have been cancelled.

Stan

Sorry to hear.  Are you going to re-book for next year?

Stan