oldplayer532

8 hours ago, wildcats40 said:

Are they using the facial recognition when you disembark in Miami?  It was nice not having to have your passports out in Fort Lauderdale and it was very quick.  

 

yes to facial recognition! Super fast!

First thing when you board go to the place and book what you need. Works every time for us!

1 hour ago, oldplayer532 said:

I hope there is still The Baked Alaska in MDR!

Google knows everything!  Not the real thing on NCL, butI am glad I had it on X Solstice.

I hope there is still The Baked Alaska in MDR!

Do they provide bath robs for lowly balcony cabins or its suits and heavens?

1 hour ago, melodyesch said:

There wasn’t one, but I’ve read that you can ask for one.

 

I didn’t go to Choir of Man this time so I’m not quite sure.  When we saw it before I want to say maybe a little over hour?  Not too long and didn’t feel too short either.  Aunt and Uncle went this trip and loved it.

Thank you for your response . Also , you didn't mention how you and your family spend time in Juneau and Skagway. We are a party of 8 and about to board Encore in less then 3 weeks. It wasn't my pick on NCL, we did Celebrity on Alaska before  and many Royal Carribean.

17 hours ago, melodyesch said:

Oh, one more thing.  I am by no means a coffee snob, but I found the coffee on the ship completely undrinkable.  We were on the Bliss in December and don’t remember the coffee being bad, but this was terrible.  It’s also how I discovered that in the Local, they will bring you a pot of hot chocolate with about 3 cups in there.  So that was my breakfast drink of choice.

Did you have a coffee maker in your room? Also how long is The Choir of Men show? And thank you for your informative review!

On 5/29/2023 at 2:25 PM, BirdTravels said:

The casino hours are posted in your Freestyle Daily. I have not been on that specific cruise, but if the casino is going to be closed, there are usually signs at the host desk and cashier. And usually reminders in the Freestyle Daily to redeem your chips and vouchers. 

 

Used to be that way on all Alaska cruises calling in Victoria (you used to enter Canadian and Washington State waters early and they just didn't open the casino on the last day)

Thank you very much! I always read your super informative reviews. BTW how long is The Choir of men show?  I want to know how to plan that day. 

14 hours ago, SuzieQ521 said:

We were just there on Tuesday…I think there were 3 or 4 ships. Royal Princess was on the ill fated RRF so we used boat tenders but it was pretty efficient. Celebrity was the other big ship there also and a HAL one. 
 

We walked around town after our train ride…it was a bit busy but not horrible. You can walk back to the docks or use the free shuttles.

 

 

 

 

Encore is also on the " ill fated" RRA dock and someone mentioned they used  bus shuttles. 

11 hours ago, ronrythm said:

I’m on Radiance today. The town is definitely crowded, but manageable. They do appear to be tendering the passengers on Princess. Definitely a lot of rock moved.

enjoy,

Ron

the smaller ships get docks without tender. Thank you for your picture.

how common is sharing a taxi at midnight from airport to downtown hotel?

40 minutes ago, LB_NJ said:

Are you docked or tendered?

 

If docked do you have to take the shuttle?

 

If you are tendered or have to take the shuttle I would use the ship’s excursion.

RRA dock as of now.

According to previous sailing on Bliss, looks like we will be taking a shuttle.

Our 8:30am combo( bus first)  excursion is with Chilkoot .

1 hour ago, new2cruise said:

Oldplayer, Who are  you booked with?  We're going with Chilkoot to Bennett.  Is that the combo you're going on?

we booked with Chilkoot as well, but w/o  lake Bennet. Our tour is bus to Fraser and train back, around 4 hours. With Bennett it is around 6-7 hours.

3 hours ago, wolfie11 said:

Depends on the number of passengers on each ship.  I've been in Skagway, a town 20 blocks long and 6 blocks wide, on a day when there were 14,000 people in town.  Better to go hiking or stay on the ship than try to fight the crowds.

We've booked an independent white pass combo bus/train excursion for 8:30 am. Will see soon enough!

This is a first week with 4 ships in port according to port schedule. Any comments or live experiences? just wondering how it works with timing of train and excursions (ships or independent)? We are about to board Encore next month  and would like to know what to expect. 

And entertainment was excellent on Solstise Alaska, including almost daily naturalist, violinist, and illusionist Jason Bishop(who is famous now and traveling with his shows).

Just my short observation on Alaska from cruising both- Celebrity food and ports duration much better. What NCL did with Victoria and Ketchikan ports for Bliss and Encore is barely acceptable!

On 3/24/2023 at 5:30 PM, GTJ said:

The scheduled times of day have remained fairly stable over the years . . . what typically changes from year-to-year are the days of operation. As for 2023, the railroad has posted its schedule. Trains to Fraser depart Skagway at 7:40 a.m. and 12:40 p.m., and arrive Fraser at 10:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.; trains depart Fraser at 11:45 a.m. and 4:35 p.m., and arrive Skagway at 12:20 p.m. and 5:10 p.m. (All times noted are local times, Alaska time in Skagway and Pacific time in Fraser.)

 

What I find interesting is that it seems that almost all passengers purchasing round-trip tickets between Skagway and Fraser elect to go one-way via railroad and the other way via bus. Not many people seem to travel round-trip going by railroad in both directions.

Great information about timing! We should have about one hour to spend in Fraser. Any suggestion?

On 3/19/2023 at 1:42 AM, Ashland said:

We did the bus up and train down...it just seemed a perfect choice.

We are planning to do the same this summer, booked with Chilkoot charters combo (3,75 hours total). How much time do we have in Frazer before our train ride back to Skagway? what's not to miss?(food, gift shop).

8 minutes ago, Linsuesue said:

  Well, the storm of a lifetime has closed Ft Lauderdale Airport. 10 people from our group were scheduled to fly into Ft. Lauderdale compliments of NCL Air. Once you are within 72 hours of departure, NCL Air says you have to make arrangements yourself with the airlines. Southwest says they have no flights from PHX -Miami of Friday or Saturday so a couple from our group are being flown to Orlando. Does anyone here have suggestions for getting from Orlando Airport to Miami? Is there a train, shuttle buses all the time, and NCL desk in the airport that can help? All suggestions welcomed!

FLL will open tomorrow at 5am. From Orlando airport you can rent a car and drive to Miami (about 4 hours).

13 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The Bird had a conversation with her last night. The Bird thinks she said that she was on until October (which is end of Alaska / start of Mexican Riviera). 

How about the rest of the Encore officers and crew for Alaska sailing? 

And thank you for your very informative review!

9 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

Mostly still accurate.  Some Port Valet participating airlines may have flights that need to depart noon or after to qualify, rather than 11 AM.  Also, some airlines have added evening departure cutoff times for Port Valet, so be sure to read the parameters when you pre-register.

Carnival has not participated in the last couple of years, so the odds are good that they may not participate this year.  Some international flights have been added, so it's not just domestic flight anymore.

As for your carry-on, be aware that the Port Valet luggage is collected the night before disembarkation, so you will need to have set aside your traveling clothes and whatever meds and toiletries you need in the morning.  Also, remember that you will need to carry those items off the ship, and get thru airport security with them.

Thank you! In 2014 for Alaska cruise with Celebrity I paid $25 for this service, wasn't free back then). My carry on with AA this time is free, but I just will pay baggage fee on board of the ship $30(AA fee).

"Guests enjoying this service are still responsible for airline baggage fees. The fee is collected byBags Inc. on board the ship during the check in process, and then remitted to the airlines byBags Inc. At this time, the proposed service will only serve domestic flights, which compriseabout 90% of Seattle’s cruise passengers. To participate in this service, guests must fly out thesame day they complete their cruise and have flight times later than 11:00 a.m.The luggage service would be promoted to passengers by the cruise lines and the Port. Seattlewould be the first homeport to offer a luggage valet service as a courtesy to benefit localtourism and small business. This action request would provide the service at no cost to theguest"

  Is this still accurate? I have a carry on , but after cruise want to use Port Valet service. 

We are thinking about combo excursion from Skagway. Any suggestions on train/bus or bus/train first? 

On 3/17/2023 at 8:55 AM, DaveOKC said:

Stay at a hotel near the airport (one that has a shuttle from the airport to hotel) and then take Seattle Express to (and from if you wish) to Pier 91.  SE stops at most airport hotels (and I think now at the airport as well) but you need a reservation.  Great service and runs on time plus reasonable price.

 

I am a solo traveler woman arriving almost at midnight before taking a cruise from pier 66. Just wondering how safe is a walk to Hilton Conference center at the airport.  I know its pricy, but looking for a shuttle to a cheaper hotel at midnight? Rest of my party arriving a few days earlier and I don't know what safer take a taxi/uber to them or stay at the airport .