Eaglecw

I really screwed up!! I got smoke’n hot deal from Princess for an Alaskan cruise on the Golden Princess on August 30th. I waited about 30 seconds too long before I called Princess to book. When I called they said “Sorry those rooms are gone”. I did get on the wait-list; I’m #2 on the wait-list. Has anyone had any experiences with being on the wait-list for an upcoming cruise? Are my chances of being hit with lightning better than going on this cruise?

Twinsrock224, I think you have made a very good decision. wondering around the streets of Seattle at 11:45pm is not the safest thing to do, your pretty much asking for trouble. The streets of Seattle aren't the safest place to be after the sun goes down.

Just booked with Smith Cove Travel. $140 for a week compared to $177 with Republic Parking. Includes shuttle. And web site is easy to use and didn't mind business from Canada :D

I think it'll work out good for you. We've parked there for the last 3 or 4 years. The only problem I have is driving in Seattle, I hate it. If i was coming down from the North and not staying in town I'd get off I-5 around North 45th and go West until I came to 15th AVE NW then go South until I came to West Armory Way, turn right onto Armory way and go down about 2 blocks and then turn left, the road ends there. Mercer is such a mess, I don't think they"ll ever get it fixed.

We always park at the Armory parking lot http://smithcovetravel.com/ pickup and drop off at the back of the car and away we go.

Wow, great photo!

And, you are so helpful to post info to answer questions.

 

Can I ask one more question about that tour?

When you boarded, do you know if the boat already had passengers that had booked from Juneau and departed from Juneau that a.m.? Just curious.

 

Looks amazing!

No, the only passengers on the tour boat were off the Grand Princess. There wasn't anyone else on the boat but the boat crew when we boarded near Sawyer island in Tracy Arm.

Yes it was an amazing tour. I'll do it again.

Who was the cruise director on the Grand in Alaska?

Gavin Chandler was the cruise director.

Can you remember what movies were being played for MUTS during your cruise? I will be on the Grand in 12 days =) Thank you!!!

MUTS were:

sailaway Day - "Saving Mr. Banks" (7 pm & 9:30 pm)

1st Sea Day - "Dirty Dancing"; "Billy Joel Concert"; "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"; "Gravity" (7 pm & 9:30 pm)

3rd Day-Ketchikan- (No MUTS on port days in Alaska)

4th Day-Tracy Arm and Juneau - (No MUTS)

5th Day-Skagway - "The Lego Movie" (7 pm & 9:30 pm)

6th Day-At Sea- "The Princess Bride"; "James Taylor Concert"; "Mamma Mia"; "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" (7 pm & 9:30 pm)

7th Day - Victoria - "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (7 pm & 9:30 pm)

This was the week of June 1st so not sure if they are different now.

The picture is how close we got to the Sawyer Glacier. Right after I took this picture a good section of the glacier calved off. You want to be sure that the Tracy Arm small boat excursion is offered on your cruise, it's not offered on every cruise up Tracy Arm.

Great Cruise Review!

 

I am hoping for even more detailed info on the Glacier Explorer at Tracy Arm. I couldn't decide whether to bump this up, or maybe start another thread.

 

I now see that this was with Alan Marine. (Maybe Adventure Bound does not do the tours from the ships in Tracy Arm)

 

At what point did you disembark onto the Alan Marine boat?

I was wondering if this was upon entering Tracy Arm, or up near Sawyer Glacier.

 

At what time was the excursion scheduled to return you to the ship in Juneau? I don't mind it being late... (more time in the Fjord would probably be a plus!) But, I just wonder about the general time-frame.

 

This year, Tracy arm is listed as 6:00am to 10:00 a.m.

Next year, if this excursion is offered, the Princess itinerary lists Tracy Arm as one hour ealier. That means 5:00am to 9:00am. That is early! I wonder if the sun high enough for nice viewing that early in the day? On a cloudy, rainy, foggy day, it seems that this could be an issue with fog and darkness down in the fjord?

 

Any info is much appreciated!

The Alan Marine boat picked us up near Sawyer Island, most cruise ships don't go any further than Sawyer Island at around 8:30 or so, right before the Grand Princess headed back out of Tracy Arm. The Grand Princess couldn't get to much closer to the glacier because of the ice. The Alan Marine boat goes up to within 1/4 of a mile to the glacier. On the return to boat drops you off at the ship in Juneau, in our case it was supposed to be 1pm but it was closer to 1:35 or so, a little late.

I hope this helps you

Randy

Thank you Thank you Thank you :) you are all so helpful!!! We will be in general boarding so I think we will try arriving at 10:45 :)

No problem, 10:45 should work for you. Be sure to come back tell us how it all turns out. I got call from Princess this afternoon wanting to know if I'd be interested in going on the Grand this Sunday. Thinking about it.

We sailed the Grand on June1st, excellent cruise. I like to arrive at the Pier at around 10:45. By the time we dropped off our luggage at the scanner and went upstairs it was about 11 or so. Have your passports and boarding pass handy, you’ll need to show them before you go through security/scanner. We were one of the first ones in line, got on the ship by 12:10 and down to the Di Vinci dining room for a nice peaceful lunch. We had a wonderful Avocado salad, Bacon cheese Burger, ice cream and an Apple tart. Our table mates had Roast beef and his wife had the Salmon, which was very good. They also had the ice cream and an Apple tart for desert.

We do level best to stay out the HC buffet, to crowded. We take most of our meals in the MDR.

No you’re not going to see any whales up in Tracy Arm Fjord. We did the small boat excursion up into Tracy Arm, it was the highlight of the cruise. On the way back to Juneau we did see a number of Humpback whales. My lovely wife and I spent a lot of time out on our balcony watching, we saw a lot of whales just out of Ketchikan. One night we were out on our balcony watching the sunset when we spotted a pod whales no more than 50 feet from the ship. I didn’t see anyone else out on their balconies, they missed great show.

I don't drink wine, hate the stuff.

We take as many meal we can in the MDR. When disembarked the Grand we went down to the MDR, hardly anyone there. Talking with some one later I found out it was a zoo up at HC buffet. Go fiqure, fight the crowd at the HC buffet or have a nice peaceful breakfast in MDR.

This has been kicked around a lot. The secret is getting onto the ship before 1:15, they close the door then. Get to the pier at around 10:45. If you get on the ship at around 12:30 go down to the Di Vinci dining room on Deck 6 Fiesta Port side mid-ship, that’s the MDR that will be open. The HC is good for quick snack or for a quick breakfast. There are a lot of places to eat besides the HC buffet. If you don’t like what you’ve served or want more, all you have to do is ask.

We've been to Skagway many times, done the Train, motor coach, been gold panning. the tour we've had is with Dyea Dave, goggle "Dyea Dave", great tour. I liked it better than the train.

Try to arrive at Pier 91 at 10:45am. Have your luggage tags properly attracted to your bags, per the instructions. They'll be someone at the front of the building to direct you where you take your luggage, it's a long corridor in the center of the building. Hand your luggage to the longshoremen running the X-Ray machine, they liked to be "Thanked". Go back out the corridor turn right and take the escalator upstairs. You'll enter the maze, just before you get to the X-ray machine for you carry on you'll have to show your passport and boarding pass, it nice to have them handy, there's nothing more frustrating than to be behind someone while there digging for there travel documents. Once you get though the carry on X-ray scanner go over to the health questionnaire desk and fill out a health questionnaire, then get in line to turn in your boarding pass, scan your credit card and get your room key etc.

If you get on the ship before 12:45 go to the Da Vinci dinning room for lunch, unless you want to go up to Horizon Court Buffet and fight the masses.

Yes there are closer but the experience is so much better crossing the Columbia River bar is so much memorable. The Columbia River Bar is the roughest bar crossing in the world, it can be wild, real wild.

I absolutely HATE going to Seattle because of the traffic, it just plain SUCKS!!!

This about as close to any real fishing in Washington state

http://cohocharters.com/

Everything you want to do is doable. I'd pass on the Space Needle and go to the 73rd floor of the Columbia Tower http://skyviewobservatory.com/

Whale watching - Juneau

We've been to Alaska many times and still plan ahead, sometimes you can't save much by picking up a excursion on the Pier. Plan ahead you'll have a better vacation. Not knowing your interests/budget it's pretty hard to tell you what excursions you'd be interested in.

Isn't that a sweet deal. If we didn't live in the Seattle area we'd take advantage of this.

We just got off the Grand Princess and our table mates checked their bags from the ship to their final destination which was Richmond Virginia, never touched there bags again until got off the plane. Not all airlines or airports take part in this program. But I think it would be worth looking into, I believe it was $20 a bag. Put your bag out in front of your room on your last night and not have to mess with it again until you reach your final destination for $20.

Just for everyone's information. There are no porters at the Port of Seattle Pier 91. They are Longshoremen, they do not work for Princess.

We've never had any problems with our bags, there's always been a guy at the scanner to take our bags and load on the belt.

Big Eagle

Someone mentioned in another thread that it is Mark Harris. I googled him and he sounds good.

 

Menus should be the standard ones, and I can mostly guess the order, but I would still like to confirm which night it Italian night. It's my favorite, and I'm really hoping it's not the night we are in Juneau and not getting back to the ship until 8 PM. I might be too exhausted to enjoy it that day!

Sherry, Italian night is on Tuesday night the day you leave Ketchikan.

The MDR menus are pretty much the same as last year.

Big Eagle