brainerdgal

Thank you, everyone! Each of your responses was very helpful and now I'm sure we'll be able to get to market faster than our feet can take us.☺️ 

We will be in Seattle on Celebrity Eclipse from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26. I can't find information on the ship's exact location, but walking to Pike Place Market from the ship will probably take too much valuable time. Are taxis and Ubers plentiful at the dock on port days? If not, any recommendations on the best way to get from the ship to Pike Place? 

We were in ISP last month and also went with Glacier Wind. As others have said, it was outstanding! We saw lots of whales, which was very exciting. But the personal treatment from Shawn and Teresa was what put the excursion over the top.

Our Glacier Wind whale watching was first thing in the morning. After that, we walked around the town and then spent time at the dock (watching ziplining, walking in the forest, browsing the shop) before boarding the ship. Loved our time at ISP!

With how horrible PDX area traffic is from afternoon rushhour into early evening, your family down there will thank you for taking a 1:30 flight instead of a 4:30 if they're coming to collect you - and as said above there's virtually no risk (and certainly no remotely-likely risk) to a flight that early from YVR.

 

Apologies in advance for veering into unsolicited advice, but I'd still recommend extending your stay - not just because Vancouver is even better than Portland and missing out on the chance to spend even a day sightseeing is a real loss (NB: we love Portland enough to have bought a second home there, it's an informed opinion!) but because separating your onward travel from your cruise arrival by even a day opens up more transport options, including Amtrak (only the morning train goes to Portland). Even if you still chose to fly, you could arrive much earlier in the day without any risk at all of cruise-related delays, and Saturday travel is both quieter and on average a bit cheaper than Friday for flights - although being Labour Day Weekend means you're probably paying a bit of a premium on either day.

 

While PDX is a fantastic airport by US standards - and the carpet is perhaps the most-beloved piece of fabric in the world - flying there is something we never do by choice from Vancouver, only if forced to by work scheduling. We usually drive, which is almost as fast as flying end-to-end (5hrs 15min is our standard time including the border) by the time you factor in early arrival at airport (min 2 hours recommended) and then getting downtown from PDX (30-60mins to our place). A one-way rental without hefty drop fee won't be as easily found as one to Seattle, but is worth checking into if some flexibility in route is of interest to you.

 

We treat ourselves to Amtrak trips though, because it's simply by far the most civilized and enjoyable way to do the journey - minimal border hassles (done before boarding in Vancouver with none of the 'tiny liquid bottles in 1 bag' nonsense, a brief stop for dogs to sniff the train at the border itself and CBP to feel useful by asking a few randos extra questions), onboard dining (spend your last CAD at good exchange rates until Seattle) including a decent selection of booze, great views for big stretches especially along the water, comfy seats. Price is right too - $48pp Saver tix still available on Sep 2nd. The ~8 hour trip is usually very timely - there's a chunk of padding built-in at Seattle and again between Vancouver WA and PDX, we've literally never arrived late on our southbound trips (northbound OTOH, the bit from Eugene sucks for delays).

 

Again, sorry if you just can't imagine delaying going to visit your family by a day and the above is pointless info for you!

Martincath, your information is NOT pointless! (except for the decent selection of booze on Amtrak--we're teetotalers :) ). I appreciate your perspective. We had never considered Amtrak and will keep it in mind for another time. It does sound fun and relaxing. However, I booked a 1:30 p.m. flight to PDX this morning. We live in Iowa and our 13-month-old grandson (only grandchild) lives in Portland. The lure of Vancouver doesn't compare with our desire to spend time with him! A dedicated trip to Vancouver and Victoria is on our bucket list so we'll definitely be back, God willing and the creek don't rise. Thanks again.

Here's a link to Port of Vancouver cruise schedule for 2017

 

Hope it helps.

 

http://www.portvancouver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/February-15-Cruise-Schedule-1.pdf

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

 

:):):):):)

Thank you! Great link to have!

Thank you, everyone. I'm feeling better about the 1:30 flight. We are heading to Portland, OR to visit our son and his family for a few days, so that's the reason we are anxious to be on our way! :)

xlxo, I'm very happy to hear that September 1 is a one-ship day! Where did you find that information? Would love to have that link.

My hubby and I will be arriving in Vancouver from Seward at 7 a.m. on Friday, September 1.

Is a 1:30 p.m. flight too early in case we run into any kind of glitch? We have gotten US Direct in the past and haven't had to mess with our luggage until we arrive at the airport. Celebrity no longer offers US Direct, so we're on our own this time.

We are 67 and have no mobility issues, but we will each have a checked bag and a carry-on. A 4:30 p.m. flight is our other option that day

Advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

Crew News, thank you for the heads-up on the walkway to the ferry. We don't have mobility issues, at least at this moment, so the angle will not be an issue for us. But it's good to know, and may be pertinent for someone reading this thread.

Varoo, your tips and advice are VERY much appreciated! Now I am more confident that we'll be able to enjoy an entire day in Haines instead of just a few hours. Like you, we usually go on our own or book independent instead of taking the larger ship tours. Your advice to check the ship's excursions for any that return on the last ferry is brilliant! If one is available, that would squash my concern over not getting back to the ship in time. Thank you also for the link to Murray's Guide and the bear video. We have used Murray's Guide in Skagway and it was invaluable. Bear video was great; we should be so lucky! Thanks again!

I should have mentioned in my original post that we have no set plans for Haines at this point. Maybe take one of the tours that has good reviews on TripAdvisor and/or explore the town on our own. It seems that the 4-hour window between arriving in Haines and catching the return ferry to Skagway at 1 p.m. is too short to do both. But catching the last ferry to Skagway also seems risky, and donaIdsc confirmed what I was thinking. I always appreciate his perspective and advice.

gma rae and wolfie11, we'll look more closely at tours. Woflie11, your photo is fantastic and the tour you took sounds amazing!

Thank you all for posting. I'm still open to suggestions and ideas if anyone else cares to comment.

We will be in Skagway on August 28 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Fast Ferry to Haines leaves Skagway at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. and returns to Skagway at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The one-way trip is 45 minutes.

We would like to visit Haines, but I don't know if it's practical. The Haines website gives so many options that a 4-hour visit doesn't seem like nearly enough time.

If we stay the entire day and arrive back in Skagway at 7:45 p.m., is that cutting it too close to catch the ship for the 8:30 departure?

We are on Celebrity's Millennium if that makes a difference.

Would appreciate any input from those who have visited Haines while docked in Skagway.

Your video is wonderful! We're planning an August cruise this year and your video makes me even more excited for our trip!

If you want to stay in that exact category further forward and starboard will put you under the photo gallery.

 

If you can move to another deck there are plenty of insides sandwiched between all-cabin decks (decks 7 and 8).

 

But if that is the only cabin, you might hear the ding-dings of slot machines, otherwise casinos don't make a lot of noise. What time does the casino close?

Three years ago, we stayed in 3136, which is one of the reconfigured cabins with a large window. We just loved that deck because of its easy access in and out--no waiting for elevators or taking the time to go up and down the stairs. So we don't want to go higher. As for the casino closing times, the website only says that they open an hour after sailing and to consult Celebrity Today for hours. I have looked through the few older Celebrity Today that I have, and they didn't list hours. I suspect it would be open until at least midnight, maybe longer. Long after we want to be asleep!:)

Thanks, davekathy! I didn't find the answer in that thread, but hopefully someone who has direct knowledge of this area of Millennium will see the question and answer. We have never booked near a public area and ordinarily wouldn't consider it. However, the price difference between inside and OV is significant, so that's why we're thinking about it now.

We have a reservation on hold for an inside cabin # 3071 on Millenium that is under the casino. Has anyone ever stayed in this area, and if so, was noise a problem?

We have a reservation on hold for an inside cabin # 3071 on Millenium that is under the casino. Has anyone ever stayed in this area, and if so, was noise a problem?

We are considering a cruise in July 2017 on Holland America's Amsterdam. Port time in Juneau is 1-10 p.m. with a Tracy Arm service call at 10 a.m. If we board the small ship in Tracy Arm, we will arrive Juneau about 4 p.m.

How late are the State Museum and Mendenhall Visitor's Center open? What about Glacier Gardens and the tram?

Would it be feasible to rent a car from 4:30-8:30 p.m. and tour on our own? Do the car rentals have an earlier deadline for return?

Sorry for all the questions. We have been in Juneau before, but never as late as 10 p.m. We want to get the most out of every minute in port. Thanks in advance for your help!

Totally agree with Keith1010 and Putterdude! Our first 2 sailings to Alaska we had balconies, and our 3rd time we had an aft balcony. While they were very nice, we just didn't use them as much as we thought we would. The open decks are the best place for viewing, and Alaska is so port-intensive that you won't be actually on the ship all that much. Not sure why it took us 3 cruises to catch on to that!

We've never done an inside, so can't comment there. I think the darkness for sleeping would be great, but not sure I could get along without some kind of window.

You don't say what line you'll be on, but if it is a Celebrity M class, I'd highly recommend rooms 3112 to 3142 (I think I have those numbers right). The portholes are much larger than standard, so the view was great and the location was perfect for getting on and off the ship. We were in 3136 and I would book that area in a heartbeat. We'll probably never go back to a balcony again.

Enjoy your cruise; you'll have a wonderful time no matter what cabin you book!

There is no bad trip to Alaska, and you will have a wonderful time no matter which one you choose. Having said that, we have done both of the itineraries and I would do Southbound on Millennium. One reason is that there is so much to do in Seward if you can come in even one day before your cruise. Two days would be better. The drive from Anchorage to Seward is beautiful, and the Kenai tour out of Seward is fantastic! We would have turned around and gone again right away if we could have. Also we enjoyed the Sealife Center and Exit Glacier.

As for itinerary, we liked the majesty of Hubbard Glacier better than being surrounded by glaciers for hours. But that's just us. Not that the Glacier Bay isn't great, just not as much to our liking. The port times are longer on Millennium's itinerary, and every minute in an Alaska port counts! Also, she stops in ISP, which is a charming little town to walk around. We're booked for a whale-watching excursion there in a couple of weeks and can't wait.

Good luck on your decision, and have fun!

We had no motion or noise problems at all with 3118. The window is huge - almost floor to ceiling. It would have been wonderful had they just cleaned it! No kidding. It was crusted with dirt and salt all week. Maybe it was just our bad luck that week, so i would definitely book it again.

Thank you, Suzanne! Good to know there are no noise or motion issues, but I'm sorry about your window. We'll take our chances and hope for a clear view. :)

I'm thinking of changing from an inside on 7th to an ocean view on 3rd (near the elevators and conference room) on the Millenium for our Southbound Alaska cruise in August.

Can anyone tell me how the noise level and ship motion are in this area? Any pros or cons to this location? Thanks!

Thank you so much, Budget Queen! Sounds like a good strategy. I always appreciate your insight and advice on this forum in general...and today, this question in particular!

We arrive in Ketchikan at 9 a.m. on a Wednesday and want to visit Totem Bright. I'm concerned that the buses will be very crowded by then and will waste our valuable time in port. Are taxis readily available? We have visited Ketchikan three previous times, but have always been on an excursion or just walking around. I've never noticed whether or not there are cabs around the port or in town. :o Thanks!

I have no exceptions to ship's tours ... especially for those new to cruising. But, I now book almost exclusively private tours. They are usually less expensive, nearly always significantly less crowded, and often get you into areas the large tours (read: tour busses) can't get to. The cruise line will usually try to scare you with the "you might miss the ship" line. They even often tell you to bring your camera on a private tour because you might get shots you can't get on the ship's tours ... like "your ship sailing away into the sunset." That said, I NEVER book a private tour without doing considerable research right here on Cruise Critic. And, I don't rely on just one favorable review. I read a lot of reviews and then book with those tour providers that get high marks from Cruise Critic's frequent travelers. We've cruised a lot and I've never met a person who missed a ship on a reputable private tour. One missed ship and, because of social media, they'd be out of business! But, you'll have fun with whatever tour you decide!!

Well said! We have only cruised 3 previous times, all to Alaska, and we are sailing again to Alaska in August. We booked all of our excursions through the ship the first time, simply because we didn't know there was any other way. They were crowded, but still wonderful because it was Alaska! Since discovering Cruise Critic, we have booked only private tours, and only with vendors that receive consistently good reviews on CC and/or TripAdvisor. The prices aren't always cheaper than the ship's, but for us, a smaller group and more personal service make all the difference between a great experience and a fantabulous one. I'm not sure I would feel the same way if we were sailing to other countries, however. Everyone has to decide what choice is best for their particular situation.

Insurance will be the best money you ever spend if the unexpected happens, be it medical or interruption or cancellation issues. http://www.tripinsurancestore.com is another great site that we have used several times.

Have a wonderful trip!

Being so close to the deck was appealing to us as well, and one reason I put a hold on that cabin. We'll also be up early if for no other reason than the 3-hour time difference...and you're probably right that it must not be a major issue or it would have been posted somewhere. All that being said, I chickened out because I didn't want to take a chance on annoying noise in case we're in the cabin. :rolleyes:

Have a wonderful cruise, and please report back!