jpcello

The train is awesome - we did it last year (on Celebrity). We didn't see our luggage until we arrived an ANC airport. The cruise line had a separate room where all the luggage was. No luggage valet so we had to check in - it was odd because the airline check in didn't even open until around 12:30 (we had a 3PM flight). We simply stood in line until the airline opened the check in.

The train ride itself was great - very scenic. They serve food on the train, etc. Took about 3-1/2 hours from Seward to ANC. The train literally pulled right into the airport.

Good morning cruisers -- I'm looking at a cruise on the Veendam with my sister, who uses her own mobility scooter and has some other mobility issues (walks full time with a cane). I've got a hold on Vista Suite B202, which is an ambulatory accessible cabin. I'm assuming because they use the word "accessible" there is enough floor space for the scooter (she has a collapsible scooter - similar size to a Luggie). We're also OK with the small step into the bathroom and shower, but the question is grab bars in the shower. I've sent a message to Holland's accessibility department but wondering if anyone knows if there are grab bars in the shower?

Thanks!

Been to Bermuda several times and the ferry was always accessible.

In Skagway I wanted to take Chilkoot bus/train tour of White Pass but I was told that they did not have a lift and could not store my wheelchair for me only a foldable walker. So that leaves me with the train both ways which if I decide to take I will book it through Princess. I am just not sure if I want to book another long train ride because I also am planning on doing a pre cruise trip to Seward via the Alaskan RR. Hope that helps.

We did the Skagway White Pass train. The views were spectacular and we really enjoyed this excursion. It leaves directly from the dock. They do have cars with lifts so you shouldn't have any problems. We did the post-cruise train from Seward to Anchorage on the Alaska RR. It was a lovely four-hour train ride. The train also leaves directly from the dock and actually pulls right into Anchorage Airport. I assume they have lifts, but the car we were on was set up like a dining car (we sat in booths). Again, they carried my sister's scooter on and she walked up the few steps.

Thanks for the info I have cerebral palsy. I have similar limitations as ur sister so ur feedback is much appreciated have u done Alaska On Hal or princess if so how do they compare

 

Thanks

We've only done Alaska on Celebrity. We have only been on one Princess cruise and one HAL, which was years ago.

I AM a royal Caribbean fan but thanks for convincing me to go princess. How do the handicap rooms compare to royal Caribbean in regards to size and functional

 

Thinking about booking cruise for 2019 Has anyone gone in May or early june.Is there a better time to see the wildlife. Also doing land tour.i Perfer to use my scooter. Can the buses and trains and the tours accomdate a scooter.

 

has anyone used third party tour operators for a land tour. Are there any excursions you felt were not worth the money

 

Thx for the feedback

I felt that the Princess HA rooms were a bit smaller than the Royal rooms - but I was also comparing Oasis & Allure to Regal. I suppose it depends on the class of ship.

My sister and I just came back from Alaska on Celebrity Millenium northbound from Vancouver to Seward. My sister has MS and walks full time with a cane. She also uses a Luggie scooter (which is small and only weighs 50 pounds), and we didn't have any problems with any of our excursions. We only used ship-sponsored excursions so I can't answer your question about third-party tours. One of the few "accessible" excursions we did was the train in Skagway. They actually carried the scooter on and my sister walked up the few steps but they have cars with lifts to accommodate people who can't climb stairs. Our excursion in Juneau was the Mendenhall Glacier and Salmon Hatchery. It wasn't "accessible" but she took her scooter, they loaded into the luggage area of the motor coach and they reserved the first row of the bus for us. They were very accommodating. At Icy Strait Point my sister chose not to take the scooter because most of the area is gravel. The cruise line didn't tell us that there were golf carts to get us from the dock to the island area so we walked. It was a long walk and we took the cart back. We did a crab boat there. Again, not accessible but my sister managed.

Any idea how much this will cost? Hotel's website says 30-40 minute drive, but also says its only 9 miles from the airport.

I'm leaving this Friday on Millie and the bathing suit in packed!!

This is probably a bit of a silly question. It's my first Alaskan cruise. I don't own a rain jacket and have read in several places that they cheap and readily available to buy in port, so I was just planning on buying one there. Our first stop is Juneau, we are getting in at 11 and are booked through Princess for the whale watching excursion at 11:30. Am I cutting it to close to track down a rain jacket when I get in during the half hour before the excursion, or should I just go ahead and buy one before I leave?

 

 

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When you receive the excursion tickets (they will be in your cabin sometime on the first/second day) there will be instructions on where to meet your excursion. Sometimes with cruise-sponsored excursion, they disembark different ways. It could be you go off the ship on your own and then find the location of the excursion, or, most likely, you would be directed to a destination on the ship (dining room or most likely the theatre). When you get there, they would check you in, take your ticket, and direct you to a specific place to sit. Then you will be taken, as a group, straight from the ship to the excursion. No time to shop if that's how they do it.

Either bring one with you (I just bought a new one from LL Bean - we're leaving next week) or buy one on the ship. They will have plenty in the stores.

We did this exact cruise last year. My sister uses a Luggie scooter and walks with a cane. We had some bad weather in October so we didn't get off in Newport, which was fine since it was the first stop and gave us a chance to just unwind, relax, and enjoy/explore the ship. Good thing because the weather was so bad it took them hours to get the tenders back onto the ship, which made us late getting into Boston the next day. We did get off in Bar Harbor via tenders and took a tour up to Cadillac Mountain. Once we got back to town, there are shops and restaurants all over. I will say that she do have to walk down steps to get onto the tender (if my memory is accurate). My sister was able to manage the stairs at her own speed and the crew carried the scooter onto the tender. Once we got to the dock, it was an easy walk and once we got the scooter she was able to scoot up the ramp of the dock.

Halifax is fabulous, as someone else said. We were actually meeting a friend who was in the city so we simply walked the boardwalk and then had lunch. I will say that the restaurant was very accommodating and even let my sister plug the scooter in to recharge. The boardwalk is wonderful and a couple of miles long. There's also a market at the port with tons of shopping.

Have a great cruise.

If you get there too early you're dealing with people disembarking and leaving the parking lot. I think when we were on Grandeur we got there late morning (probably around 11) and had absolutely no problems parking.

Two different experiences. San Diego (and La Jolla) are wonderful places with lots to see. I've also done the drive down the PCH from San Francisco to San Diego (you drive right through LA). The drive is amazing - we stayed overnight in San Luis Obispo. Toured a couple of wineries and also spent an afternoon at Hearst Castle. But as someone posted the major roadblock in Big Sur will cause a reroute.

At three blocks.... you can drag the luggage there, drop off and double back to do it again in less than 10 minutes.

Excellent point!!

Thanks for the responses. We are actually VIP at Pacific Rim (through our TA) so hopefully they will help us out. We can easily take a cab but hoped it was close enough to walk it. My sister can pull a carry on bags from her scooter (she's done it before) so I think we'll be able to do it.

Thanks for the review. We're leaving on the reverse of this cruise next Friday.

Is it doable to walk from the hotel (Pacific Rim) to the Celebrity cruise terminal? It will be me and my sister. She uses a mobility scooter so I'll be pulling two full-size suitcases. Is this something that is possible or should I make accommodations with the hotel? We're leaving next Friday (flying in Thursday)!

Every city will sell ulus. They are the traditional Alaska native knives - I bought one on our cruise and use it all the time. You can have them shipped directly home (you can't put them in carry on bags).

John's Pizza on 44th just off 8th Avenue. Great traditional NY style pizza!

Can't wait to hear/sea the rest of your review. We sail on Mille (but in reverse order) on August 18th. Finally starting to get excited by seeing your pictures!

We'll be on it August 18th!! Can't wait.

I think online check ends 2 or 3 days before departure date. I'm leaving on August 18th and my reservation says online checkin ends August 15th.

Can you take the Ulu knife on the ship?

 

 

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As someone else said, they'll take it when you get back to the ship and return it the last night. Just remember you can't put it into carry on. When we bought some a few years ago, the shop shipped them directly home. I still use my almost every day.

Thanks everyone. I'll definitely look into the HOHO - the scooter collapses and my sister can definitely climb bus stairs. Once we're at the hotel, I'll also check with the concierge - I'm sure we'll find something to buy a couple of bottles of wine within a reasonable walking distance.

Additional question.......where are you supposed to pack wine? In your carry-on or checked bags?

Do not put the wine in your checked bag. If you're flying, once you land, pull it from your checked bag and put it in your carry on. I've flown a number of times with wine. Packed in a "wine diaper" then wrapped in clothes for more cushioning. Never had a problem.

We're staying one night at the Fairmont Pacific Rim before our Celebrity cruise to Alaska. I'd like to be able to buy wine in Vancouver instead of flying cross country with it in my luggage. Anything walkable from the hotel? Also we've never been to Vancouver. Suggestions for two middle-aged women (one using a mobility scooter).