Fisherwoman

Another good way to search is go to Google. Type in "Solstice (room#)9100" and see what pops up. I did that with Holland America and found a wonderful site with pictures of the cabin we were looking at. You never know what Google will find.

I live in Vancouver and I've lost track of the Alaska cruises I've been on. Almost every line and I've done the back to back. One thing I learned is to go on two different cruise lines. If I was to book for next year I would take Princess or Celebrity out of Vancouver seven day northbound and take the southbound on Holland America's Statendam. The reason I say this is because you will visit all different ports! Holland America on the Statendam southbound visits: Homer, Kodiak, Sitka and Victoria. Princess and Celebrity will take you to Ketchikan, Juneau and either Icy Strait or Skagway. I think there is more to see in Skagway but it depends on what you want. You will have different entertainment and see more of Alaska than taking the same cruise twice! Transport between Seattle and Vancouver is easy. You can take Quick Coach.com from Seattle's Pier 91 or the airport direct to the Vancouver airport or pier.

I just completed their survey after returning from our cruise.

 

I was very clear that I felt the 30 minute show is rediculous and I, for one, do not like it.

 

I feel it's really insulting to go to a theater that holds a thousand plus people to see a 30 minute show. We have sailed on many cruises on several lines and I have never seen this before.

 

If this is the norm, it's a step in the wrong direction. That's just my opinion and that of many people we met over the last 2 weeks.

Steve

I agree! If they return to 45 minute shows I will return to Princess. Until then I will give my cruising dollars to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Sorry Princess I really like your longer shows and guest entertainers but I don't like the shorter version. I wasn't the only one complaining on my very last cruise with you.

We are considering this one day cruise as a weekend getaway. Are you saying that Adventure Ocean for kids is open on that day? That would be great as I will be travelling with my son. Thanks.

Last year they opened the Adventure Ocean up at 7PM. If you have a child and want a cheap getaway with free babysitting this is the way to go! My 9 year old granddaughter has done 5 of them and loves it! I'm driving them to Seattle on Sunday! We all did it last year. It's too short for me but it was a lot of fun.

The shorter shows are a huge disappointment for me. Also, getting to the theatre 30 minutes before the show to ensure you get a seat is also a huge disappointment. That's why I cancelled my Princess Cruise and moved over to Celebrity. Not disappointed at all. Great entertainment and the free drinks package. It will take a lot for Princess to win me back. Sorry Princess, I really loved your product. Your short shows and small balconies on your newer class ships are a downer for me.

We did this cruise last year. While it was fun I found it exhausting as we didn't sleep much. Look at it this way, you get three meals, ship entertainment (we had a good show), a bed and transport to Vancouver. Rolling your luggage off the ship is easy, you take the elevator to the debark ramp and go down the ramp into Canada Place to clear customs. There are escalators and elevators in Canada Place. You only need to roll your luggage up to the Pan Pacific. No stairs, no worry. If you have too much luggage, pay a porter as they would be happy to help you. You miss the taxi lineup at Canada Place and are right in the hotel!

My daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter do this cruise twice a year. They are almost Elite as it gives them one cruise credit. They love it as it includes babysitting for them! They couldn't go to a resort hotel in Canada and get the same amenities for the price they pay. Enjoy your one day cruise and I'll see you on the Solstice on the 23rd!

I go to google and search "Celebrity Cruises Cabin 6240" This is what I found:

https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=celebrity+cruises+6240+pictures

Try it for any cabin you are looking at. Past cruisers are great at posting great pictures.

We had 6240 on the hump. The balcony was huge and obstruction was very minor. For the $$$'s we saved I would book a 2C in a heart beat! Try to get one of the cabins with a slanted balcony!

We've eaten in the Samba Grill on the Radiance and Allure. I loved it both times. I am not a big meat eater but the men I traveled with were and were not disappointed. On the Radiance a vegetarian joined us. They were most accommodating in giving her a nice piece of fish. The salad bar and bread are amazing! I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

We were on the Eclipse last year out of Southampton for 28 days. At every port they were selling water as you disembarked. You showed your card and got a large bottle of cold water. I love the Classic Package. I don't drink hard alcohol but love wine, fresh squeezed orange juice, fancy coffee and unlimited bottled water! We are going to Hawaii in September. I moved my reservation from Princess to Celebrity when they brought back the 123 GO Promotion!

I can't believe that I'm posting to a smoking thread!

 

HAL's smoking policy is a deterrent for us to book HAL. We would never book a veranda on HAL with the current policy. We are giving HAL another try this summer despite the smoking policy - in two OVs. I'm hoping that with the changes that limited inside smoking since our last cruise that the clouds of smoke that swore us off HAL the last time are gone. Because we aren't in veranda cabins, I think we will be fine and might book again. I'm concerned long term, however, that as other lines eliminate smoking, HAL will increasingly become the line of the nicotine addicts and oxygen tanks.

 

This thread requesting one-sided responses is meaningless. HAL will keep or change its policy based on end of cruise survey results, insurance issues, and cost of compliance with SOLAS requirements. A one-sided request for comments carries no weight at all.

 

Smoking is personal to me. My mother was addicted. She tried to quit for 30 years and sometimes did so successfully for a few years at a time. In times of stress, however, she would return to the vice. Emphysema took her at 63 - a wonderful woman taken way too soon. Lung cancer took my father in law too. It would crush me if either of my sons started to smoke. ALL OF YOU SHOULD QUIT, but I know that's difficult.

 

And to those who think that smoking is only an issue on cruise critic, IMHO you couldn't be more wrong.

As of now: 79 posts, 2,449 views. My father, mother and sister all died of smoking related illnesses. I rest my case!

We get BBC America here (which is BBC1) so I'm hoping that this will be shown over here at some point. I did download HOLA on Chrome, so will give that a try.

 

In the meantime, the new season of Doctor Who starts in the USA next month, so I'm looking forward to that!

 

Maureen

If you wait until after it's aired they seem to put every show on ITV Player for 30 days after, then it disappears. We get BBC Canada (same as BBC America) and never see ITV programs as it's a competitive network.

I was just checking my guide to see if by chance I got this channel (I get some international) but don't :(

 

I'll be sailing on the Royal at the end of Oct so it would be interesting to watch this.

 

I looked online and they do have an online player, but it's only available for UK residents as it checks your zip code and IP. With a UK VPN or Proxy it could be watched though.

 

Maybe the travel channel will pick it up at some point.

If you use Chrome and load Hola Unblocker (choose UK site) it will hide your IP address and you can watch everything on ITV and BBC. I do it from Canada and it works great! Never had a problem.

Our cruise is July 13, 2014 sailing from Vancouver. Yes, I know that the piers are located near Canada Place, where we have booked a pre stay at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. But I cannot see anything in the online check in that tells me exactly which pier, what time, etc. of course, I haven't printed the Xpress Pass yet, but if anyone could tell me specifically where to find the pier, I'd appreciate it. I want to know if I need a taxi or to arrange transfer from hotel. My husband is disabled with a service dog, so I cannot carry all the luggage!

Almost every ship sails from Canada Place. Ballentyne is used as an overflow. Here is the link from the Port of Vancouver website. It's Canada Place! We get to the terminal about 11 AM no matter what the documents say. Usually we are on by 11:30 unless there is a delay by customs. Enjoy your visit to our wonderful city.

http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/about/cruiseandtourism/cruiselineschedules.aspx

We are taking a cruise leaving from Canada Place on July 1st, Canada Day. I understand festivities start in the morning, lasting all day near the terminal. I am guessing it will be pretty busy as we check in. I did post this on the Pacific Princess Roll Call too, but there are not too many of us on there, despite this cruise being sold out in several categories for some time now.

The activities are on the pier itself. You will enter into the underground bypassing all the activities. However, before you check in you can check it out. Lots of fun stuff happens. Here is the website:

http://www.canadaday.canadaplace.ca/

If anyone is thinking about renting a car and driving across the border, keep in mind unless you carry a Nexus pass or ready card the lineups can be 2 - 3 hours! The HAL bus would be your best option!

I logged into my celebrity and found that there is no transports arrangement available after disembarkation to the airport after my Alaska tip. However, i do remember celebrity does offer coach to the airport on the last day. Could anyone please tell me how can I arrange that or I can buy a ticket after I board the ship on the first day. If I can buy a ticket after I board, can I determine when to get off ship, like 7:30 or 8:00?

thanks.

 

 

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Most cruiselines offer coach service to the airport. However, Vancouver has a train that runs from Canada Place to the airport! It's $4.00 for adults and $2.75 over 65 weekdays, $2.75/$1.75 weekends. If you can roll your luggage one block to the station I wouldn't hesitate to do this!!!! We live here and it's the best and fastest way to the airport. The airport trains end right at the terminal. If you are leaving from the airport to the cruise terminal, purchase your ticket inside the terminal to eliminate the $5.00 airport surcharge. It's only charged on departures from the airport. It takes 26 minutes and you want the Canada Line. Faster than any cab or bus and so much cheaper. Here is the link: http://www.translink.ca/

I've been on the Celebrity Century twice in the past two years. If you take off your luggage you will be first off. If you leave your luggage for Celebrity it can be up to 10 AM. The lineups at Customs can sometimes be long. I suggest you take off your luggage and roll it out to the street. There are no steps and it's what we do. We are 70 & 66! If you think the lineups at Customs are long you should see the taxi lineup!

We were on the Explorer of the Seas and a couple left their iPad in the buffet. They remembered as soon as they exited the buffet and went right back. It was gone. The people around the table said the only person there was the bus boy who cleaned the table. They insisted the cameras be checked and sure enough he picked it up. They went to his cabin and couldn't find it. When he left the ship at the next port they found it in his carry on. He was fired from the cruise line and sent home.

You always hope the employees they hire are honest but unfortunately not all of them are. I really hope it gets returned to you.

Do you have to arrange for your own visas if you book a non-ship tour?

 

 

Shirley, Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

We did the two day tour with SPB tours. They arranged the visas for us. We did tours with them in Tallin, Berlin and Helsinki. They were fantastic! St. Petersburg was our last stop. Viktoria personally met us and thanked us for using her tour company. I cannot say enough about how professional and well managed this company is.

My friends got to Ballentine pier early and didn't have to wait too long. Because they are Platnium they waited in the lounge with cookies and juice. They didn't start boarding until 12:30. Getting off took over an hour of standing in line. Customs was the problem in Seattle. They were fingerprinting most passengers. Everyone wants to get off at once because everyone has carry on! These are the first cruises of the year and it takes some getting used to.

Looking at doing this in September of this year. Anyone that has done this would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you.

 

 

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I did it once. It's far too short for me, but lots of people love it. I know a couple who does it twice a year just to get the points to reach elite. They have a nine year old child and if you calculate the meals, overnight bed, babysitting etc. it is cheaper than staying in Downtown Vancouver for the night. You have to consider the bus fare (Quick Shuttle is $59.00) or get someone to drive you to Seattle. They just off the Grand Princess yesterday and I picked them up. I left South Surrey at 6:30, picked them up and we shopped all the way home. It made for a great day! Try it once and see for yourself! They have already booked the for September!

Cruise Junky and YVR Cruiser, I see that you are Vancouver-ites. We are flying into Vancouver a week from Friday for the 7 day Alaska cruise on Crown. It's my first time in Van. We are staying at the Pan Pacific Fri. night and want to pick-up our wine in town before embarkation. Is there a good place for decent prices anywhere near there? Also, Cruise Junky, I read a post of yours from last week about busy embarkation at Canada Place. Will it still be bad the weekend of 5/24? I will need to warn my family! Thanks and cheers!

We live in Vancouver and buy our wine in the US. The prices are MUCH cheaper in the US. Bring it up with you if at all possible! The first cruises of the year are always busy. You are staying right upstairs so get there before 11 AM and you will be first in line. Even if they aren't boarding you will clear customs and have a nice chair to sit in waiting for the ship to start boarding. Have a wonderful cruise!

I don't think that Celebrity plays with the taxes and port fees to make a profit. On our last cruise after we were home we seen a refund on our credit card from Celebrity for a refund of $24.86 for ports fees or taxes.

 

 

On other cruises we were also given refunds for the same. Celebrity could have very easily kept that money and we would have never known that there was a refund.

 

🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

This is a $71.00 price increase in two months. It seems a little fishy to me. If there were port fees or taxes of this magnitude don't you think we would know about it! If it was a few dollars I wouldn't have cared but this is excessive. And exactly what are fees????

Did you book in US or Canadian dollars? If you do not book in US$, taxes and fees may fluctuate with currency fluctuations. In the UK, we can hit this problem when making changes to a booking - e.g. adding flights or hotels. The system then picks up the latest taxes and fees. It takes manual intervention to get the taxes, fees AND gratuities back into line. However, I am not sure what the position is for a price decease. You may have to accept the current taxes, fees and gratuities. I am not sure.

It was booked in CAD $ and the Canadian dollar has decreased less than 10%. I went in and made a new reservation and it clearly shows the increase in taxes and the decrease in cruise price.

We won't ask for a price adjustment as the tax increase wipes out any savings.

A friend booked the 7 day Alaska Millennium Aug 15 cruise on Feb 1/14. Today we noticed the pricing in the cabins was reduced slightly. When we checked the taxes and fees have gone from $148.00 to $219.00! Is this an increase or is Celebrity playing games with pricing????:mad: