MarieF4861

I believe it started at 9, I had a window seat at the buffet when he started talking. I moved to deck 7 which had great views and it was easy to cut through the atrium if something was on the other side. I spent some time on my aunt's balcony on the starboard and that was nice. I then went back to my aft balcony and also got great photos. I honestly don't know which side is first and IMO it doesn't matter since the boat turns.

Thanks! Loved your review and pics and it was so timely! I sail on Sunday!

You may have mentioned this already, but I can't find it. I see the ranger boards at 7 on the Glacier Bay Day. What time should I be prepared to be stationed someplace to view things? Can't decide if I am staying on my balcony or going elsewhere. I have a port side balcony. I noted that TMC said that port side is first, which is the opposite of what my TA told me!

Thanks for the info. Good to know where the Pearl is likely to be docking and that Tracy's is so close to where the buses leave you. Although I don't have a National Park Senior pass, this may be the time/place to purchase one. I will factor that into my decision as to whether to take a cab there.

My daughter and I want to visit Mendenhall Glacier on our own for our upcoming cruise on the NCL Pearl this month (July). Our ship docks at 2pm. We would like to spend as much time as we like there and plan on going to Tracy’s Crab Shack for a bite afterwards.

Based on my research, our options for getting to Mendenhall are the Blue Bus, the White Bus, or a taxi. I am not interested in a public bus or renting a car. The cost of the buses is $30RT plus tax (which appears to be 5%) and the last bus back is at 6pm. A cab appears to be about $35. The bus cost includes the $5 admission fee. The cab does not.

Even though it appears to be slightly more expensive, I am leaning toward the cab because of the fact that I want to stop at Tracy’s Crab Shack on the way back and it seems to be a walk from the pier, which I assume is the area where the buses drop you off.

My questions are:

What is the difference between the white bus and the blue bus and do both leave and return you to the same area? I am not sure how to find out where the Pearl docks in Juneau and if one or the other would be closer.

Do you think I might be able to get the bus driver to drop me off near Tracy’s rather than taking us all the way back to the pier?

Or, maybe Tracy’s is not as far as I think it is – I am directionally challenged!

Thanks!

The 50% pressing special was the day we boarded. I believe the $19.99 all you can fit in the bag was in Tuesday's Daily, the deadline was noon on Wednesday, and your clothes were returned on Friday.

I have never had laundry done while on a cruise. Always concerned about getting all my items back and shrinkage. Guess I should put my concerns aside and give it a try - especially since I will be spending two nights in Seattle after the cruise! Thanks for mentioning it..

How large was the boat that you went whale watching on? I keep debating about whether to do it in Juneau. Nice to know that it is also an option in Victoria. I had planned on just walking around there. Concerned about motion sickness in both places - not sure if one is preferable to the other.

We ate lunch at Solarium Bistro on boarding day. It was a buffet with lots of healthy options and not crowded like the Windjammer. One of the complimentary restaurants was open, but I don't recall which one it was. Our plan was to eat light since we were having an early dinner.

gottacruisemore and TMC - thanks for the info on taxi tours and dropping off luggage at the port. Hoping we don't have to tender in Ketchikan, but it is what it is! Thanks for all the great info! Getting excited!

Thanks for all the great information! I will be sailing on the Pearl on July 10. Just a couple of questions:

1. You said you did a taxi tour in Ketchikan. Was this something you booked in advance or can you just book one at the pier?
   
2. I believe you said you checked your luggage at the pier. In another review, someone said they had to walk it through security themselves and lift it on the conveyor belts. I would want to have to do the latter! Is there a particular place one needs to be to check it through?
   

Thanks!

Thanks for the info. I would love an aft facing balcony! They were sold out when I booked. Guess that's not an upsell, though? I am going to try to do a fake booking to see what availability is for my sailing. Thanks again.

This may be a silly question but what is the difference between an "upsell" and an "upgrade"? And, what do I say when I call? My sailing is three weeks out. I booked through a TA and currently have a balcony cabin. Thanks.

Jen,

Many thanks for your excellent trip report. Your style of writing is engaging and informative. I am going on a RT Seattle cruise on the Pearl in July - so much of the information you provided is pertinent. I am also a big Walt Disney World enthusiast. Have visited there most years for the last twenty or so, but have never been on a Disney cruise. You have me thinking I really need to do that!

I am interested in Totem Bight but we are only in port from 7-1:30 and have some concerns about using public transportation. Does anyone know if cabs are generally available in the vicinity of where the ships dock and how difficult if would be to get one from Totem Bight back to the ship? Thanks.

Hello,

I am 5 days from my cruise and wanted to know if anyone has been successful in requesting RCCL Visa Rewards for OBC at that late date. I requested $50 OBC last week, but now think I would like another $50. The woman on the phone last week indicated I would have to call another number if the cruise was less than 7 days - so it seems it may be possible to do this. My concern is that since it is so close and I already have $50 requested, it will get "royally" screwed up. Thanks.

The Bard and the Banker is located on Government St. at about Fort St. in the historic area of Victoria. Here is a map showing its location in relation to the cruise terminal. If you want something in the way of seafood there is Barb's Fish and Chips which is an easy walk but it eating at picnic tables, Red Fish, Blue fish is similar to Barb's and there is Nautical Nellies which is a sit down restaurant.

 

 

 

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Bard+%26+Banker,+Government+Street,+Victoria,+BC/Western+Stevedoring+Co+Ltd,+185+Dallas+Rd,+Victoria,+BC+V8V+1A1/Barb's+Fish+and+Chips,+Dallas+Road,+Victoria,+BC/Red+Fish+Blue+Fish,+Wharf+Street,+Victoria,+BC/Nautical+Nellies+Steak+%26+Seafood+House,+Victoria,+BC/@48.4233923,-123.374976,15.86z/data=!4m32!4m31!1m5!1m1!1s0x548f749a94abccf7:0x1d0762e6d2f3a0e2!2m2!1d-123.3680102!2d48.4248729!1m5!1m1!1s0x548f74bb6c5442a3:0xfd49182eea6f9515!2m2!1d-123.387683!2d48.41665!1m5!1m1!1s0x548f74a28f49c6c9:0x3f5af530643f2b70!2m2!1d-123.3828774!2d48.4226429!1m5!1m1!1s0x548f749a5ce47ac1:0x1d6fbdbfe21b6b3d!2m2!1d-123.3701589!2d48.4243051!1m5!1m1!1s0x548f749a5fbef473:0xf1648180f43fccb2!2m2!1d-123.369322!2d48.424428!3e2

Thanks for the info!

Jumping in here with a question. I keep hearing about the white bus and the blue bus. What's the difference? And, are the both available from the same location? Thanks.

Are you considering a meal? We've always enjoyed the Bard and Banker pub.

My cruise has a similar stop in Victoria but we dock at 6. Would love a meal on shore. Where is Bard and Banker located?

Having taken part in the End to End, I can tell you that Dockyard post-event is nuts - it's like the whole Island is there or trying to get there and the traffic is horrendous.

 

Most of the participants do the Middle to End, which doesn't start until 10.00am, even the fastest shouldn't be there before 1.00pm. The cyclists could create a problem as they use the roads, rather than the railway trail, which could impact the traffic.

 

Still, I think you should be fine if you're going back around noon. I'd ask the cab driver on the way down to Horseshoe for advice as to when to start back, and maybe even book him to come and pick you up, just to be on the safe side.

Thanks for the info. The timing is good to know!

Us as well. We're going in June and will just bring a couple of rolls of quarters as they do take US coins.

Do they take paper currency as well or only coins? And, do you by any chance know the current cost of the bus from the dockyard to Horseshoe Bay and/or is there a website where I can find this information? Thanks.

If you go early, you will be fine on the bus. There are a lot of people, but there are also a lot of buses at that time. And, coming back there were no crowds at all. I only went there once. So, please someone correct me if I am wrong - but doesn't the bus pick up at Warwick before Horseshoe?

Hi,

I have just learned that the 29th Annual XL Catlin End-to-End Walk will occur in Bermuda on the day my ship will be in port - May 7, 2016. The walk is scheduled from 7am to 3pm and will start in St. George's and end in the Dockyard. My plan for that day was to take a cab to Horseshoe Bay at around 8:30am and hopefully leave Horseshoe by by noon to return to the ship, which I expect will have an all aboard time of approximately 3:30pm. Is anyone familiar with this event and how it will impact transportation? Do you think my plan is feasible or should I plan on either staying put in the Dockyard or doing a ship excursion for the day? More details can be found at: https://www.bermudaendtoend.bm/content/announcing-29th-E2E

Thanks.

I would like to go to Jobson's Bay on the day the ship departs at 3pm. Couple of questions. How long does it take to get to Jobson's Bay via the bus? Which bus do we take and where do we get off? How often does the bus come by (going back), and when should we leave the beach to catch the bus back to the ship? We've done Horseshoe Bay and Coco Reef day pass before. Is Jobson's Bay definitely worth doing instead of revisiting one of those beaches?

 

Thanks in advance for your responses,

Rich

I can't help you with the bus issue, but I will advise it is really small and was crowded the day we went. Your can walk from there to Warwick Long Bay which did not have a soul on the beach! I am pretty sure we took the same bus your would take to Horseshoe and just asked to be let off there, but I could be wrong. Nice to see for a change, but I prefer Horseshoe Bay. Also, there was only an outhouse type facility and a truck came to sell refreshments at some point. No chair rentals or anything like that.

The shuttle include the park admission, the taxi's don't.

 

 

You have to arrange your own taxi, either with a prearranged pickup or you calling about 1/2 hour prior to wanting your pick up.

Thanks!

Following this conversation... Was going to do the shuttle, but it appears almost as expensive as the taxi! How easy is it to get a taxi back from Mendenhall?

After my first cruise when my daughter bought Pringles on board for about $5 because she was craving chips, I always bring a few snacks - always packaged things that we can take on excursions. There are times when I don't want to eat lunch in port and it tides us over until we get back to the ship.