ceilidh1

I second Yakutania Point - it's a nice walk, great views, and not too many people know about it! There is also the Pet Cemetery, which is a one-off-weird-Alaskan thing to see! In Juneau, head across to Sandy Beach and the Treadwell Mine if you are looking for something different to do/see. Dad sounds like he is having a blast (I'm almost disappointed he isn't complaining too much...lol)

I believe today is turnaround day! Hope it's all smooth and your wifi kicks back in soon! I feel your pain - I didn't upgrade my FAS package on Bliss as I figured 75 minutes for 5 days was more than enough. Wrong. Like you, I used ALL my minutes on cruise critic. I tried repeatedly to use the "free" cruise critic but no joy...

I'm not the OP, but I do live in Vancouver! The Atrium isn't what I would consider in skid row - it's on the Eastside of Vancouver, but that shouldn't be confused with the Downtown Eastside (which I would advise against 100%). The Atrium is near the PNE, not an unsafe area but also not a lot going on. You aren't within walking distance of anything in the city, so just bear that in mind. It's am easy bus ride, but through the not very pleasant part of town - I take this bus regularly so desensitized to it now, but likely not the most pleasant experience for a visitor. If you are simply coming in for a one night, pre-cruise stay and don't plan on doing anything other than eating and sleeping, your hotel will be fine.

If the weather in Juneau is good (and your dad has any interest) one my my fave things to do there is take the public bus (or a cab might be better) over to the other side of the channel to Sandy Beach/Savikko Park. There are remains of an old mine that you can tour, amazing views across the channel of the ship, a really nice, long, walkable beach and no tourists! P&R – Savikko Park – City and Borough of Juneau

You summed up the Port of Vancouver perfectly - it was mildly better most of the years I worked there (back in the days when we were cruiseline employees as opposed to contracted - I did two seasons with the company that the lines contract out to and that was enough) but it has always been inefficient, too small, and with too many moving parts. The biggest issue with Vancouver is the requirement to pre-clear with the US CBP - this gets so backed up at times (at least they now have kiosks, as opposed to one or two officers only) but the whole downstairs/upstairs/downstairs nonsense is just baffling. I'm grateful to have a port that I can walk to, but it does try my patience. Glad you are on board - I was hoping you hadn't posted because you were knee-deep in Mai Tais...

It's also the start of the season with lots of new, untrained port staff. It's always a gong show for the first sailings...

Vancouver port is a "you-know-what" show...and that's coming from someone that used to work there! Suggested you get your own wheelchair? Uhhh, what???? Slap them. All of them.

You must be on the ship now! I hope. I can't wait for dad's comments!

ONE. MORE. SLEEP.

Just wait. I think I got 5 for each of us - so 20 in total.

Always. But they do have a "fast track" lane for wheelchairs/crew/staff etc. I would always recommend that anyone that has any difficulty walking/standing to request wheelchair assistance. Vancouver is an odd port. Bags are dropped downstairs on terminal (or sometimes ven parking lot) level. Then you go upstairs to the convention centre level to check in. Then back downstairs to terminal level for security/immigration/ship. It's a lot of walking. Often only one small elevator working. It's fine if there is one ship in port. Not so much when there are three.

So glad you enjoyed it! Sorry about "people" - I literally spent my evening complaining about having to "people". It can be so tough having to be nice to idiots - I often wonder if some of them have ever been out in public before. Lol

Assuming they are checking you in upstairs first, as soon as you get to the main hall for check in find a representative (they are all in uniform so easy to spot) and tell them you need wheelchair assistance. They will either use one of the port staff to wheel you all the way through or someone off the ship will do it. They skip all the lines so they can get through and have the wheelchairs back for the next person...If you end up downstairs first, same procedure - just find one of the shoreside reps!

If dad is open to the idea, request wheelchair assistance. You get fast tracked through all the lines (I worked at that port for many, many years...).

We open our show Saturday - April 29th! Hit me up if you want...

At the end of Six they invite you to take pictures/videos, so be prepared to start snapping! It's an amazing show - I never get tired of it.

You want to go see an opera? I can get you tickets if you're interested. I work all weekend as the show opens Saturday, but after May 7th I'm free as a bird....

Your dad is definitely my soul mate. Maybe it's a British (Welsh) thing. I, too, become overwhelmed with pillows and cushions. At home, we have a huge cuddler chair that has 6 throw cushions and the first thing my kids do when they sit is throw them to the floor. That stresses me out. But so does them sitting on them and putting their gross kid feet on them. I just like them for decoration, but no touching.

I bet dad could persuade them...

Ha Ha! I left him a tip too! That was the best stop on the crawl...

I was on this exact sailing a year ago with less than 1000 onboard. Definitely spolied. Lol. That being said, I have sailed Bliss full previously, too, but this was very different! Curious - were you one of the folks at the Cavern Club outside when we descended with the bar crawl?

Curious - have you sailed NCL previously? I wonder if many (myself included) are comparing what it WAS to what it IS now?

Hmmm. Maybe I've been blacklisted....🤣

I never got the survey - does NCL even send one? I DID fill out the "Letters to the GM" form that sits at guest services (I may have been a tad intoxicated when doing so) and basically let loose with all that was wrong as well as giving credit for that which was great! Not that I think it will make a difference, but it made me feel better.

We just got off Bliss and were pleasantly surprised to find that we could text each other on our iphones while in airplane mode/without data or cell sharges.No idea how that voodoo magic worked, but we kept in touch perfectly all week.