LesaL

You can check the cruise ship calendar for the Juneau port and see where the Solstice is docking on the dates you are interested in.

In that case, you wouldn't take I-45. You'd probably take US-59/I-69 to TX-8; see Google Maps for route details from that point on to Bayport.

TX-8 is a toll road, I believe.

I tip $10 also. Worth every penny.

I love Celebrity, but my 3 Alaska cruises have all been on a Princess ship. They, along with Holland America, have been going there the longest and have access to environmentally sensitive Glacier Bay.

That point made, I traveled once with a friend who used a wheelchair. The Princess whale watch excursion in Juneau is accessible. The train in Skagway has a wheelchair lift. Both are great excursions.

Last year I cruised with my two sister and my mother on the Emerald Princess. Mom is in a wheelchair. We had an accessible mini-suite. It had ample room for all 4 of us and the balcony, especially, was a fantastic size. It would easily handle your family for all the scenic viewing in Alaska.

If one of the Princess ships doing Alaska has these accessible staterooms, I would recommend it. I would also note that Alaska rarely has the type of seas that can trigger seasickness.

Lesa

There are no commercial parking lots that serve Bayport, other than the port parking you mentioned.

Norris,

As I posted early on in your wonderful narrative, I will be sailing on the Silhouette at the end of this month. I can't tell you enough how enjoyable I have found your prose and pictures. I want to add, that based on your review, my sister and I have decided to book the Marriott Beach Harbor for our pre-cruise stay.

Lesa

I use a walker and have sailed from this port twice. As a solo. Easy peasy.

You might want to check on the Marriott Galveston Island Gulf Front. I stayed there a couple of years ago and was pleased. Newish, underground parking and shuttle service to the ship.

What is the name of the parking garage?

 

Can I prepay online

It is a lot, not a garage, however you can pay extra for a cover for your vehicle. It is part of the Bayport terminal, not a separate business and you can prepay online and get a small discount.

The rule is quite simple: NO flip-flops allowed in the main dining room. Nothing more to interpret. A flip-flop is a flip-flop is a flip-flop. Just like jeans are jeans.

 

 

 

No fashion mag in the world, no amount of bling or designer labels on them will alter the fact that is what they are. Paying big bucks for such items doesn't make them "fashionable" nor does it make something different.

 

 

 

And I have still yet to see any pictures that prove it otherwise. Period.

Could not agree more.

I have stayed at the Best Western and they take wonderful care of their cruise guests. I have mobility limitations and am not able to use their transfer van, but most who stay there do.

I absolutely would not cruise without my rollater. I don't use it much in daily life, but is a necessity aboard a ship. It is actually liberating rather than being cumbersome or limiting. Hint: I travel with a little rubber doorstop.

I was on the Caribbean Princess this month and there were at least three days that a movie was shown in the theater.

Wow, thank you all for your replies! To clarify, yes, I was asking about what to wear for the casual/non-formal nights in the MDR (I plan to wear heels for formal/elegant chic night) To the poster who asked about which cruise line I was on for those photos- My cruise history is listed in my signature ;) That was from a Carnival cruise in 2015 and I was dressed on par with many other passengers on those casual nights.

 

I wanted to avoid getting into my medical specifics, but since a few of you mentioned similar conditions... I have a chronic condition in one of my feet that causes it to swell up to my ankle. I find it is especially bad after walking around on my feet all day like when we are in port. The problem isn't necessarily the heel height as much as it is the straps which dig into my swollen foot and are extremely uncomfortable (or that I can't get the shoe on my foot because my foot diameter is too big for what the straps allow!). Many of the other shoe alternatives suggested will feel like they are slicing the top of my foot every time I take a step because they don't have any give like my fabric flip flops. In addition, I have a high arch, so most cute strappy sandals don't work because my arch drops down and I end up with a limp. And since my other foot does not swell, it is nearly impossible to find sandals that fit both feet. Shoe shopping is quite a chore for me ;)

 

In general, I try to dress stylishly, but I always value function over fashion. The point of my question was not to see if these flip flops are trendy, but simply to know if they are permitted in the MDR on casual nights :) I suppose if I try to wear these flip flops and get turned away, I could suffer through wearing my formal night heels every night and going back to the cabin to change after dinner, but I would much prefer to be comfortable and enjoy my evening without the added detour.

I have swelling also. Most sandals have adjustable straps, while flip flops do not, so they are a much better choice.

While the flip flops in your photo are nice ones, they are an item specifically prohibited in the dress code. Do you really want to risk being turned away?

To the poster who said no one is looking at your feet, I think you would be surprised.

I think you will find a cute strappy sandal to be just as comfortable and in line with the dress code.

There is an elevator from the check in level to the level where you access the gangway. The gangway itself is on an incline and has switchbacks before the gangplank. The slope of the gangway is not bad. There is a bit of steepness at each end of the gangplank, but it is narrow with railing on each side and crew members to assist.

So excited to read your review! I will be doing this itinerary starting February 27.

Lesa

I just got off the Caribbean Princess where I bought the coffee card the first day. It was $29 plus 15% gratuity, so it may be cheaper to buy onboard.

Port closed due to high winds. She docked around noon and still in process of disembarking passengers. I am waiting at a nearby hotel as parking not yet allowed.

I sat in the terminal at Bayport for about 8 hours before being transported to a hotel (11/29/15) and returned to the terminal the next day to board the ship. The explanation we were given was that the Caribbean Princess could not enter the channel due to fog. When it appeared to be significantly clearer at the terminal' date=' the word was that it was still too dense at the channel entrance. I suppose there could be another explanation, but I don't think Princess would have chosen to inconvenience 6000 passengers (those on the ship and those waiting to board) if there was another option.[/quote']

 

 

It is my understanding that if the fog is bad the ship channel and port are closed to traffic by the port authorities, and not because the ship is unable to navigate the distance. So it is weather related, but the decision is not made by the captain.

Oops, I just reviewed what I wrote. It is the left-most door facing the terminal, not right. Glad I could help.

Would you mind explaining the process for suite check in at the Bayport terminal? Have never been here before and will be on a NCL cruise next month, sailing in a 2 bedroom suite which gets priority boarding. This will be the first time I've sailed in a full suite so curious how the process works.

My suite experience was the first Princess sailing this season. I will describe that boarding process in the expectation that NCL is similar.

Suite and other Priority enter the terminal at the door farthest to the right facing the terminal. There is signage indicating the entrance. Once through security check, you proceed into the main terminal space and proceed to the line designated for Priority passengers. Once you have completed check in, there is a private lounge area to wait until boarding begins. This is assuming you arrive before boarding starts.

The lounge is opposite the check in counters and very comfortable. Coffee, tea and pastries are available there. Once boarding is allowed, a representative alerts the waiting lounge passengers and escorts them to the entrance of the gangway.

A very pleasant start to the cruise.

Lesa

I think that you are directed to the priority line (Elite, Platinum and suites) when you first enter the terminal. I am not positive because we were in a suite when we cruised from there a couple of weeks ago. This is for the security check. The first check in line is dedicated for accessible processing and has some seating for passengers. Those needing wheelchair assistance or otherwise using mobility devices board immediately after the above listed priority passengers.

If you have any other questions, I will try to answer. I use a rollater walker.

Unfortunately, I have not heard of one that offers both. Options I have heard of are staying at a Hobby area hotel with an airport shuttle, returning to the airport and then taking the cruise line shuttle on the day of the cruise. The alternative is cab, Super Shuttle, or car service to a Bayport area hotel that shuttles to the port. I know the Best Western Plus in Seabrook is the closest to the port and shuttles there.

Where would you suggest for lunch on embarkation day that is NOT a buffet?

 

 

 

Thanks for the review. Our first on Caribbean Princess is in a short time.

I was on this sailing also. The Coral dining room is open for lunch on embarkation day. It is a nice start to the cruise, but I think the service is only from 12 to 1:30.