travelbuds

The past two summers we had to be onboard by 3:30pm for a 4pm departure. We did whale watching with Harv and Marv and got back to Auke Bay by 11:45am. We had made arrangements with Evergreen Taxi to pick us up at noon at the Auke Bay harbor (Statter Harbor) for the 10 minute drive over to Mendenhall. The other 4 on the boat were taken back to the ship. That saved us 40-50 minutes by not going back to the ship. We had time to go to Photo Point and hike to Nugget Falls. Didn't go inside visitor center as we had done that on other trips. Got the Blue Bus to go back to the ship. Blue Bus tickets from VC had to be purchased (half price of RT fare) directly from company (Tammy) via phone. Not sure how that schedule works now because of permit shortage. Could also make arrangement with taxi. Left the VC at 2pm and still had time to shop for fudge near dock. Guess it just depends on what you feel comfortable with.

We have used this company twice in the past (once last month) for transportation from Auke Bay to Mendenhall. Shane picked us up right on time. No permit restriction then. Not sure how it works now with limited or no permits.

Thank you for your comments. Will google Sitka Tours.

Does this shuttle just make a continuous loop from Harrigan Hall to the raptor site, then the bear site and finally back to Harrigan? Works like a hop, on-hop off ride so you can spend how much time you want at each site? Does it go to the National Park as well? Name of company? Thanks.

Sounds like you had sufficient time at each of the Sitka sites. We're doing a ship tour early in morning and touring with a local tour operator in early afternoon. Afternoon tour is suppose to end at 2 pm at the visitor center, and ship all-aboard time is 3 pm. Not sure how fast the lines at the visitor center will move since there will be 4 ships in port---staggered every 1 to 1.5 hours. Ours is first ship in port.

Thank you for your comments. Did you notice if the shuttle lines were long at the cruise terminal or at the visitor center going back to the ship?

This is the tour company that my wife and I plan to go with next summer. Did you find that the 25 minutes allotted at each of the three sites were sufficient? Did the tour end on time? Thanks.

No "gratuity" anywhere on the site. No AI fare. Will talk with Celebrity tomorrow. Thanks.

Hi, When I opened up the Reservation Details section, there is no mention of gratuities, or pre-paying them, anywhere. Where does that option show up? Topics include guest names, packages, dining, add-ons, discounts and balance. Will call my Celebrity vacation planner tomorrow. Did not use a TA. Thanks.

Since we will be there the day before the cruise, we'll try for the earliest time available. Maybe only a 15 minutes walk from hotel to terminal, but pulling two bags apiece it may take longer. Any idea how much time ahead of scheduled time passengers start to show up for luggage drop-off?

That was the time frame given on confirmation papers. I just talked with my Celebrity planner. She said what is on the confirmation paper is just a general range and the check-in online or on app won't be available until 45 days prior to sail. App now says check-in "not available".

No Retreat. After reading some of the responses I got on this thread, I called my Celebrity cruise vacation planner to see if there is a narrower time frame. Waiting for a call back.

Celebrity gave us a check-in time of 11:30 AM-3:30 PM for a 5 PM sailing. Curious what time passengers would probably start to line up. Can tagged luggage be dropped off prior to 11:30 AM? Thanks.

Thanks for your post. We were given an 11:30AM-3:30PM check-in time for a 5PM sailing. Do you know if luggage (with Celebrity bag tags) can be dropped off prior to that time? We'd like to wander around the harbor prior to boarding without being bogged down with luggage. How far ahead of check-in time did people start to line up?

I would make the reservation as soon as you have your schedule set. Easy to make the reservation on its website https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/route-map . It can get crowded at the station so I feel more comfortable only having to walk up to the counter (and wait in line) to pick up our tickets. Would be a shame to have everything planned, but not be able to buy a ticket.

We have taken AKRR train. We have also done it by coach (part of a Seward boat package). For next southbound cruise, I guess it will depend on what we decide to do in Seward prior to boarding ship and what time we need to be there. We enjoyed the train ride better.

Is that an everyday happening, or just on a certain day(s)?

I agree that the scenery is very good on the train. Have done that trip and also the coach trip in the past. We have done a couple boat tours in Seward, visited the SeaLife Center and hiked Exit Glacier. The ACT coach has a drop off right at the Anchorage hotel we are considering at the top of the hill. Train drop off is the train station near the old Comfort Inn at bottom of hill. Still have some time to make a final decision. Thank you.

I may have missed it in this thread, but where is the Elite breakfast served on the Summit? Thanks.

Thank you for all of your replies. I think we may end up doing the coach transfer (ACT) with the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center stop, and then get dropped off at our hotel in Anchorage. Will probably spend a day or two in Anchorage before flying home.

Waiting to hear back from our Celebrity vacation planner, but what kind of options does Celebrity offer in the way of post-cruise transfers from Seward to Anchorage? Thanks.

Thank you. Have already printed out dinner confirmation times for the week. First time on Celebrity for us.

When we booked our cruise, we downloaded the app and then made dinner reservations. Pretty easy to do. We'll check in at the MDR to confirm as soon as we board.

Do you find on Celebrity (we've never been on) that one show time is better attended than the other?

I just read the alcohol policy on Celebrity website. 👍 Guests are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onboard; with the exception of embarkation day when each guest (of legal drinking age) is permitted to bring onboard one (1) 750 ml bottle of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest.......