ihate2cruise

We booked Major Marine 🙂 We scored a 20% discount because we also booked a room at The Harbor 360. Thank you all for your insight and input, it's most appreciated.

Thank you all for your feedback. This is our first trip to Alaska and I'm finding it a little over whelming, because, I usually book cruises well in advance, that way I have plenty of time to research. This is the first cruise we have booked inside of final payment. I made a reservation for a nights stay at the Harbor 360 Hotel. I will call them to add a boat tour.

Looking for feedback on these two tour operators. Each offers Room/Tour Combo's. What are the advantages/disadvantages for each? We will be coming in from Anchorage by train 11:15am tour leaves at 11:30. Thank you in advance for your time.

Do you mind me asking which hotel?

Would you be able to assist me with the specific site for "The Gold Dome" train. I this correct?

What a wonderful adventure! What is the name of this excursion and was this NCl or privately arranged? I'm sorry if this was asked/answered already.... I'm so excited for our 1st Alaska Cruise on the Jewel this May for my "BIG" Birthday Celebration 😉

Thank you for doing that "legwork" I will take a look and see what I can come up with 5/20 -27 out of Seward. The reason we are looking at that one is d/t my birthday being on the 23rd.

We upgraded at the airport to BC to Barcelona on British Airways 🙂

Unfortunately flights from/to Upstate NY to/from Alaska/BC have 2 stops with plenty (sometimes too much layover time. I did find a few shorter ones nut they were to short 30-45 min layovers(no thanks) I'm going to look at the hack someone mentioned above. We used took advantage of the FAS Air in Nov 23 for our cruise out of Barcelona and it worked out very well and saved us $$. BTW we would fly out of Albany.

Yeah, that Victoria, BC is purely the obligatory "foreign port stop" for a closed loop cruise from the US.

We have done the same.

Thank you for your thoughts and sharing your experiences. I think we are leaning towards the Jewel Seward-Vancouver route. The flights are going to be brutal from Upstate NY, there is just no way to get around that, there are no non-stop flights, sadly. Any tips for where to stay and what not to miss in Anchorage or Seward as we will be flying in 2 days early to help get acclimated before the cruise, it would be much appreciated.

My husband and I are planning a cruise in Mid May of this year. We have narrowed down to: Encore - R/T Seattle - Glacier Bay Bliss - R/T Seattle - Dawes Glacier Jewel - Seward/Vancouver - Hubbard Glacier w/Inside Passage This will be our first time and possible our last time visiting Alaska(so much of the world to see, a so little time 😉 Looking for feedback from those that have cruised to these destinations pros/cons and not to be missed excursions. Appreciate your time.

Ask for a coffee maker as soon as cabins open up. It was so nice to have that first cup of Joe in the comfort of our cabin, nice relaxing way to start the day ♥️

We are as well 🙂

jss5200 I was also happy to hear of Bigsky's experience, as we re staying there in two weeks. May I ask,how do I go about buying the Aerobus tickets online?

So happy to hear you had a good experience. We leave 2 weeks from today and of course I'm second guessing my hotel choice. I emailed the hotel today and they also recommended the bus from the airport 🙂

I did not know that.

"Glacier Bay v Tracy Arm - we actually like Tracy Arm better." May I ask why? Doing Alaska for the first time May 2024.

Wow, you packed a lot in. Now you got me thinking we should add another day post cruise. We have 2 day deviation in Barcelona pre-cruise and 1 day in Rome post.

I have the same idea. We are also in an inside room, and I like to have my first cup in the room.

Yes, I agree. Our trip is end of October 2023.

When are your trips? How soon in advance do you suggest booking?

Thank you, I will take your advise and follow up with my NCL TA. This is our first time cruising from Europe and using the air perk, so I very much appreciate the feedback.

We have transfers included even though we booked our our hotels per/post cruise. It's shown on our invoice. Am I missing something?