grammyprf

I also am looking to purchase a new camera with better zoom. Nikon has a L830 and a p530...which has good reviews. Looking for point and shoot as I an an amateur and it's only a hobby. Anyone have any other ideas for my new camera?

I got amazing pictures with my Nikon 520 with 42X zoom.

Automatic - no thinking. Just point and shoot. Also had manual mode.

We are doing Chilkoot in August! Our first time in Alaska....so excited!:):D:)

Reviews were greatly appreciated!

August 2015 on the Solstice...our first Alaska cruise! So excited! Looking forward to your review!:)

May 2015 on Solstice.:) I am going at the beginning of the season.

You are going at the end of it.

Holy smokes...how do you fit that much in a carryon?.....you must use space bags,,,,,,,

I do 2-week land only to Alaska and take a carry-on and a small daypack. I'll do laundry one evening.

 

My packing list would look something like this:

Daypack - jacket, wallet, binoculars, camera, guide book, tickets/paperwork, poncho, hat, gloves, snacks, water bottle.

 

Carryon - 1 pr shorts, 1 khaki, 2 jean, 1 lined nylon jogging pants, 7 tshirts (long sleeve and short), 2 sweatshirts, hoody, fleece vest, 1 sneaker, flipflops, pjs, socks, underwear, cosmetic bag.

Thanks for the info...we are in Tracy Arm cruising

6:00am-10:00am and then Juneau 1:30pm to 10:00pm.Hope it gives us enough time as we would like to walk to Nugget Falls.:)

Probably, I'm assuming you have a half day port time, and not objecting to using taxi service? Mendenhall does not "close", but as mentioned, the shuttle buses are on a limited schedule. So you can take a shuttle to the glacier, stay as long as you want, then call a cab to pick you up. You will have to call the cab, which should be done about a half hour before you want it.

Hello my Info friend...

We have an excurison thru our cruise ship to the Sawyer Glacier by catarmaran...could we still have time to take a bus/taxi to Mendenhall Glacier and a walk to Nugget Falls? Thanks

Another option, that would give you the most time at Mendenhall, is to rent a car. With no mobility limitations, it's easy to rent from Avis at the Goldbelt.

 

I recommended my sister do this this year, when she was on the Pearl with the same port time. They also had time for a few other stops of interest. They had no problem with walking to Nugget Falls, and enjoying the exhibits and movie at the Visitor Center.

Thanks for all your information! I look forward to your blog replies......

Is there room in your suitcase for me!:D

The scenery is different in each direction, so it really doesn't matter, which ever one you choose you are missing the other. :)

 

Be advised on the short tour, you are looking at, you do NOT get into the Yukon. Those involve the longer tours.

 

I rode the train twice (Lake Bennett and Fraser White Pass), and the Klondike Highway 6 times this year. EVERY trip was different. So choose the schedule that fits your preferences best.

Sorry to bother you with my questions..now I know!:cool:

:cool:te=bookbabe;44701075]While you could have found all these answers by reading the previous posts in this thread and/or the dozens of other threads on Royal Palms and the other spots along Seven Mile Beach...

Royal Palms is the closest Seven Mile Beach beach club to the port.

Yes, taxi is an option. About $4 pp each way

How crowded it is depends on how many ships are in port that day.

How far from cruise port is Royal Palms? Does it fill up fast? Is a taxi an option?

No, it means they ONLY have that $2 pay-as-you-go option available. They no longer offer an all-inclusive package.

Thanks for the info...which means we have a few hours at the Butchart Gardens.....then maybe tour around the city...looking at Victoria London Taxi?.....home port Seattle so extra night is out for us.

You're visiting Victoria a month earlier than eatsleepcruise, so you will have a full hour more of daylight than they experienced in mid Sept. The sunrise/sunset calendar shows:

Sunset: 8:32pm

Twi: 9:06pm

 

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/calendar.asp

 

I'd skip the Butterfly exhibit and just concentrate on Butchart.

 

Another thought .... if you want to spend more time at the Gardens, disembark the ship in Victoria. You can stay for the fireworks display, overnight at a hotel then take Pacific Coach to Vancouver the next day.

Don't know if it fits the rest of your itinerary but it's an option.

Thanks for the pictures and review of your cruise! We are going August 7 2015 on the Solstice....We arrive in Victoria at 6:00PM. Is that ok for the Gardens and butterflies?:)

We did our first Alaskan cruise on Celebrity Solstice this past September. We have a full review of the ship and this amazing adventure on our blog.

 

 

 

We also have a complete photo gallery and detailed shore excursion reviews. We did an excursion at every port

 

We highly recommend doing a helicopter trip to the Mendenhall Glacier. We originally had one planned that included a dog sled, but due to the time of year, that portion of our trip was cancelled. You get some amazing photos while flying over the glacier.

 

 

 

In Seattle we did a few different things including the Space Needle, Chihuly Gardens, and EMP museum. While we did not buy the city pass, we should have, as for the same price you would have also gotten access to the Aquarium and a 45 minute harbor tour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great trip! We can't wait to go back to Alaska in a few years.

 

 

 

Does this mean they no longer let you on that beach for the $2.00 fee? :eek::confused:

Celebrity has a catamaran to view Sawyer Glaciers....we decided that vs the helicopter for the same reason out of Juneau. And if time we will take a bus/taxi to the Mendenhall Glacier.

I would like to do a glacier walk/trek! Is the only way possible by helicopter? Are there any boat rides to Glacier then walk. I am absolutely terrified of helicopters. Thanks

thanks....good to know!:):)

quote=Floridanamaw;44423301]Our experience with the ship (NCL Jewel) excursion was that we were too rushed. The price we paid included the trip to Mendenhall Glacier, visit to the visitor center and the glacier and Mount Roberts Tram. I don't remember how much it was. There is no fee to go to the glacier but there is a fee to go into the visitor center and of course the tram. We only had 1 and a half hours at the glacier. We walked down to Nugget Falls which is a must if you can walk for about a mile. It's beautiful. BUT, after walking down there and back we did not have enough time left to visit the center and walk some of the other shorter trails at the center. If we ever go back we will just take one of the glacier buses there and spend as much time as we want to. We felt like we could have spent another hour at the glacier and visitor center and then go back into town to ride the tram. Also, the glacier park was packed!! There were 22 buses there when we were there.

The ship entered Tracy Arm early morning (6:30) and it was well worth getting up early for. The ship was able to get fairly close but I'm sure a smaller ship used for an excursions can get closer. All of my photos were taken from our balcony. We did not go up to the top decks.

Alaska is beautiful and there is no way to see everything on a cruise. We hope to go back one day and do a DIY land tour with a small RV.

Enjoy your cruise!

We would like to book this excursion...would there be enough time to see Mendehall Glacier after this excursion? It is out of Juneau correct?

When the ship goes thru the Tracy Arm can you see alot upclose or is the excursion much better?

Sorry for all the questions.....great pictures! Thanks :eek::):D

Great review...we are cruising next Aug 7 on the Solstice! Thanks for the tips! Good to know take the bus first then the train! Wondering about helicopter to glaciers in Juneau or small boat to glaciers. Also wondering about the Glass musuem near the Space Needle in Seattle. So much fun to plan! :)

We are going in August....keeping check on JetBlue and ALASKA air direct flight boston to seattle....still early but researching.

Google each port to see what they offer....tripadvisor also rates these.

Things to do...... Happy researching!:)

thanks to all the replys i have cruised a few times and booked excursions both ways. i am having trouble finding Alaskan port excursions except through the cruise line i am going to keep looking thanks

Thanks so much for the websites and information greatly appreciated!

Here is a link to it on the vendor's website:

Allen Marine Tours - Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer

 

Cruise ship passengers need to book it through their cruise line.

Here is the link to it on Celebrity's website, where they list it with their Alaska excursions as JU94:

 

JU94 Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer - Celebrity Solstice

 

 

I couldnt find the Tracy Arm small boat excursion on Celebrity Website. I checked Tracy Arm and nothing was listed there or in Juneau.

Help please.:D

Thanks so much for your informative review...we are cruising on the Solstice Aug 2015. You gave us some wonderful insight. Thanks again..look forward to your pictures? :)

Excited to hear about your cruise to Alaska. We are going next August. Enjoy!:)

:)

My husband and I have been going in circles trying to decide what is the best option for our hand carry luggage while on the land tour. A friend gave us a small rolling bag to bring. It measures 17x13x8 but isn't really soft-sided. From what I am reading within the tour paperwork, it states that the bag shouldn't be more than 17x14x4 and needs to be soft-sided.

 

This bag works perfectly for carrying my camera equipment on the plane and then would become the clothing bag for the land tour. Camera equipment would then be shifted to a backpack. We would then only have two bags for the bus/train rides. If we don't bring it, we will then have a smaller bag with clothes as well as my backpack.

 

Is this a doable size bag or does it really need to be soft-sided bag with the exact measurements they state?

 

Thanks in advance!

Wondering how far in advance you should book this tour? We are not going until August 2015 but want to definitely do this tour!:D:)

Couple of weeks ago we used chilkoot charters to take the bus up and catch the bus back. We liked it because we had a small bus to go up and was not crowded. On the train we were in a 1/2 full car. They rope off the train so you stay in the car with the rest of your tour group for the ride.

This doesn't commit :eek::eek: you to anything just the best place to connect with people on this cruise. Its fun to chat and get ideas on excursions from everyone. :):)Pam

Hope to see you on our rollcal soon...

Great place to get information about cruising......always helps me out!

Does anyone know if there is a Lawn Club on the summit? I thought Celebrity was known for this.