red4u2

Since Alaska is up and running in going to bump this thread.

Thank you!😀

I would also be very conscious of any excessive noise that could disturb your neighbors. The gyms are great on Princess!

You may want to post your request on the Roll Call thread for the Ruby on coming cruises.

Thank you Paul!

I did on one and will do on others!

Hi everyone!

If at all possible can upcoming Ruby Princess round trip Seattle Cruisers post the patters and the nightly MDR menus?

Thank you so much!!

Red:)

Yes, you can bring your cabin mate.

 

We always enjoy the cheap wine they pour at the past passenger parties, so we're not getting watered down drinks. Our tablemates on recent cruises have ordered and received special drinks.

Thank you!!!! This is good news!

I always order a flavored martini and tip a few bucks.

Never been a problem!

On another note I have a question I will be traveling with someone that is on P:)rincess for the first time. Will I be able to bring my cabin mate to the Captain's Party? Thank you!

Hi im looking for the same thing!! It seems that trip Advisor uses Viator for all its bookings and you don't find out thr actual vendor until you book.

Haven't had good luck with Viator in the past.

Any suggestions for actual tour companies?

Thank you!

From what I've read on Cruise Critic and our own experience with an early July cruise, early June is too early for bears in Ketchikan. They tend to show up when the salmon is running. We did see a grizzly bear on the shore as we cruised Glacier Bay on that trip but it was at quite a distance. When we were there in early August the salmon were running but we saw no bears in Ketchikan. We did see one at Mendenhall Glacier catching his/her lunch.:D

Thank you for the Info!

Has anyone toured with this company?

Aurora Tours Birds and Bears are their offical name.

The owners name is Rich, they don't have an offical website, just a Facebook page.

Trip advisor has only a few reviews, One bad the other few good.

His Facebook page has lots of nice videos and testimonials.

He will be meeting us in Kethcikan we we get off the ship early June. We are there from 7-1 pm.

It will be a 3 hour tour and he says he will take us around to local spots to see bears, Bald eagles and Totems.

He is a local and a Tlongit Indian.

I love localism tours when I vacation, and he seems like he knows what he is doing.

Thank you for any help!!

Hi All,

I found this small local tour company owned and operated by a lifelong Ketchikan local and was wondering if anyone has toured with them?

They are a van/small bus tour.

Thank you,

Red

We'll be using Chilkoot Tours for the second time (train up, van back) this summer. There is an interesting thread on the Alaska Board right now (https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2597683#post55264590) about Dyea Dave passengers booking directly with the railroad this summer.

Thank you for the mention, it was very stressful for some reason this time....now I'm worried because Dyea Dave is supposed to pick us up at 720 am for the 740 am departure and I'm fearful we won't be off the ship in time.

On the Grand you can purchase unlimited internet now. We had it last month and it works as long as you can send the text via internet like imessage.

 

If you are talking about texting someone onboard at the same time you are onboard, then the app will work without connecting to the internet.

Thank you for that info! I'm looking to be able to text other family members who will be on my upcoming cruise..can the app be downloaded ahead of time? And do you still need each other's account info? Thank you much!

A little off topic but still breakfast related... A few years ago they used to make fresh Belgium waffles outside the buffet by the pool area, at least on the Ruby they did, does anyone know if they are still doing that?

And one more.. Do they still have Lox in the Horizon court for breakfast?

Thank you in advance!!

Hi does anyone know if they have these larger tvs on the Ruby yet?

Thank you!:)

https://www.portseattle.org/Cruise

Okay hopefully that link comes out with all the information that you will need!

This is a free service that is offered by the Port of Seattle, but keep in mind if you have luggage fees through your individual Airline the luggage fees will still apply.

I'm definitely looking forward to using this and having some time to explore the city before our 5 p.m. flight.

Enjoy all!

Yes, I suppose so. :D

 

There is lots to do in the downtown area. Victoria is magnificent (I lived there for 35 years). I think the 2 1/2 hour pedi-cab is just too long, if you want my advice. It just is. This board has literally hundreds of threads on Victoria and what to do; you could use the Search Forum function in the upper right hand corner of the main page for more ideas.

Thank you very much! I sure will.

Have someone in my party that has to use a cane to walk and is limited in mobility.

The information I found says that a cruise ship special rate for the pedicab is from $90.00 per person. To me, that is insane. Do you know what you could do for $400.00 in Victoria? Holy smokes! :oYou could rent a car, go to the Butchart Gardens, and have dinner for less than that.

 

Just sharing my sticker shock, is all..... ;)

 

http://www.victoriatours.net/en

hahah yes that would be way too much I agree!! however that is in Canadian dollars, the US conversation rate comes out to about $71 PP.

Family is not interested in a car rental or the Gardens, and the gardens can only be purchased through the ship at that time of year.

thank you and im grateful for all the input!:D

delete.

Delete??

I think the pedicab can go to places that the horse drawn carriages can't.

 

As soon as you get off the ship, there are pedicabs just a few hundred feet from the gangplank - I wonder if you are able to "haggle" with them on the price as to what you want to do/see vs booking in advance. We went in September and the Ruby Princess was also docked but there plenty of them there - not sure if the time of year had anything to do with it. We also just took a cab to Chinatown ($12 CDN) had dinner and then walked back so we can't really comment......

I was wondering about the negotiation of the price on the spot as well, however there will be four of us and one has some mobility restrictions and we are wanting to do the 2 1/2 hour tour.

Im also in charge of all the planning based on my families input.. This is their first time cruising and first time to Alaska, Seattle, British Columbia etc.... no pressure!!! hahah.:o

Of course any "Advice" is assuming that a medical provider would be consulted.

There are of course prescription patches, acupressure devices, Ginger capsules, green apples, etc.

Good luck!!

Red

I'm planning a cruise to Alaska (never been). We aren’t able to do a land tour this time, just the cruise out of Seattle. My husband is in the military so we are interested in any military perks. I would love to hear some pros and cons between these two ships. Also any other tips anyone wants to throw my way 😊——First time posting—-Thanks

Hi and welcome! are you planning on cruising this season? Alaska cruise season begins now in April and runs through end of September. each month has its own perks and you will learn a lot reading the boards on Alaska!! my personal opinion is I would not cruise during April, too soon in the season. You will see the most wild life in summer months and that is the highest prices generally as well.

agree to check out reviews for each ship, also read up on the boards for Princess and NCL, and check out the cruise lines own websites for deck plans, cabin pics and more!

Alaska tour operators book up very quickly also!

good luck!!

Red:)

What about just using your cell phone text messaging service if your cruising the inside passage to Alaska?

I have unlimited data on Verizon, would that work?

And of course I would keep it on vibrate!

Thanks,

Hi everyone,

Will be in Victoria for about 5 hours in the evening early June.

Trying to decide between the 2 1/2 hour Pedicab tour or a 90 minute carriage ride.

Of course I would make reservations for either one in advance.

Carriage ride looks elegant but it doesn't seem like they let you stop and get out for photos like the pedicab does, and the Pedicab goes to Chinatown.

Any thoughts?

Thank you!!

I am extremely prone to motion sickness - have to take Meclizine just to go on amusement park rides

 

We were on the Juneau Whale Watch tour last September while it was rainy. Didn't have any issues but I did take a dose of Meclizine the night before......

Im a big Meclizine fan as well, take it before all kinds of travel and rides.

Instead of buying Bonine (Brand name) I purchase Meclizine over the counter from Wal-Mart pharmacy for about $4 bucks for a 100 chewable tablets. :D:D

I have booked this company for my upcoming cruise in June.

hopefully the experience the other poster had was a rare occurrence, they are rated well on Trip Advisor.

Having been to Alaska twice before I knew I wanted to bring my travel family to see Mendenhall and a whale watch and the only way that we could do that with the glacier float-plane tour was to use this company.

Ideally if you can it would be better to book a longer whale watch tour as the travel time will eat up and hour of the water time, however if you are like me and fitting in a number of sights, then I think this is a good way to go!