SKSMIKE5

Ok I figured out how to upload the pictures. Here are a few from the Gondola in Icy Strait

I thought I would provide a quick summary of our trip. We had 21 people from our family on the cruise from age 17-93! I rented a scooter for my dad from Disabilities at Sea and it was waiting for him in his room when we got on the ship. We went out a day early and stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites on 28th (thank you to all the cruise critic recommendations!). They provide a nice hot buffet for breakfast and is within walking distance to some restaurants. We used their shuttle service in the morning to get to the Pier and it was $15/pp. They were right on time and had plenty of room for everyone and their bags. We even arranged a pickup at the pier for our return. They were the National Towncar Service and you can reach them at 1-206-261-4806 as I believe they service more than just the Hampton.

We had a 12:00-12:30 report time for the pier and we arrived around 1145 after leaving the hotel at 11:15. I was able to quickly get a pier employee with a wheelchair for my dad and we were on our way. 3 of us went with my dad through the handicap lanes and the other 10 went through the normal line, which looked long but only took about 15 minutes longer! We had to show our passports, vax cards and our negative covid tests. They asked if we had our arrive Canada forms but didn't have to show them. We did have to provide the information from the arrive Canada form a couple days later on a form they put in our room. We were on board by 1230.

We had AWESOME weather all week. It was sunny and no rain. People were in the pools having a great time. I will say all the iFly reservations were gone really fast! By the time I tried to get one, even the one you pay for, they were all gone. And that was around 2 on the day we boarded. You can't reserve until you're connected to the ship wiFi so I couldn't due it when I was still in the terminal, so if you want to do that suggest you register it as soon as you can.

At Icy Straight we just paid to go up the "mountain" on the Gondola. The day was beautiful! Sunny and clear with no clouds! We docked at the Cannery dock so we had to take the free gondola over to the Wilderness Dock where we picked up the Gondola that wen to the top. We just bought our tickets for the Gondola at the visitors area at the Cannery Dock. They were $49/pp and you could use them multiple times over the day. We took dads scooter ashore and that worked well and it went right on the Gondola's. Stay on the areas with little rock or you may get stuck. The views were awesome! I planned to upload some pictures but they kept failing so you'll just have to take my word for it!

3 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Only UNvaccinated guests (i.e., kids) need a disembarkation test. Vaxxed passengers returning to the US do not need testing. 

Thank You!! Enjoy your last night! Hope getting off tomorrow is uneventful!

BirdTravels, thank you for the picture of the dock in Juneau, that helps with the distance.

I have another question, it appears there is no requirement to take a COVID test prior to disembarking in Seattle, correct? When I booked last year they said everyone would be given a test onboard prior to arrival back in Seattle (did this on our transatlantic last November when we came in to FL). But looking at the departure letter you posted and the RCCL Checklist email I got today for our cruise in a week, it doesn't appear as though that is still required. The Checklist says each guest should check their home country's testing requirements and plan to travel with a test kit to meet re-entry testing requirements if necessary for their home country. Based on all of that, I'm going with we don't have to test prior to returning home to Ohio. Thanks again for all your help! 

Thanks. I figured we had to do them separately. 

I assume they would not test all of you at one time? Thought maybe with a computer you could see multiple test cards and they'd allow it. I have to do four next Saturday and was curious about that.

Can I put the bottles of wine in my suitcase or do I have to carry them on?

Are current Quantum OTS sailings requiring COVID tests before deboarding in Seattle? I thought I read on the RCCL website that they are, but I haven't seen any mention of it on current posts. If someone tests positive I assume they just quarantine on their own and RCCL isn't responsible for tracking them?

Friends just got off Explorer OTS in Miami last week, went to the two private Islands and Jamaica and did not test before getting off the ship. Thanks.

Can you let me know if there are any golf cart shuttles, or other transportation options in Juneau to transport older guests from the ship to the end of the Pier? We have a Whale Watching tour scheduled here and the pick-up point is in front of the Mt. Roberts Tramway. I've been told the walk isn't far, maybe 10 minutes for a non senior (dad's 93). 

Thanks!

Great post! We board on the 13th of June. Is the Casino all smoke free? 

On 5/29/2022 at 12:12 PM, JT1962 said:

Since the OP is on Quantum of the Seas, I assume they are asking about Icy Strait Point, since I don’t see Juneau listed on any June itinerary. 
 

I was in Icy Strait Point / Hoonah a few weeks ago and can provide some information on the gondola / aerial tramway. 
 

There are actually 2 aerial trams: 

 

-  One that transports visitors between the original pier, now called Adventure Landing, and the new NCL Pier at Wilderness Point. This was free in early May.

 

- One that goes to the top of the mountain from the Wilderness Point area. This was $ 59.99 (I think, I did not use it).  It was for unlimited rides from what I saw and I heard included a nature land tram ride at the top. I believe the Zip Line riders also now use this to get to the top rather than the large truck / UTVs used previously. 
 

Some recommendations from my observations: 

 

- Don’t buy a ticket for the mountain gondola until you arrive and see what the weather is like. The main attraction is the view and if it is foggy / raining, it may not be worth it. 
 

- If you dock at the original pier (Adventure Landing), you can buy tickets for the gondola, zip line, etc. as you exit the pier. If you just want the mountain gondola / tram, and there is a line, take the free tram to the other pier at Wilderness Point and buy your tickets there with no waiting. That only works if there is not also a ship docked at the Wilderness Point pier. 
 

- There are nice trails near the piers and one that connects the two piers. It seems to be more of a downhill walk from the original pier (Adventure Landing) to the new pier (Wilderness Point). I would suggest walking the trail at least once, then riding the free aerial tram back. 

Thank you for the information and sorry for the confusion, I was indeed asking about Icy Strait. This is great information, we'll wait until we get there to see what the weather is like. I also read that the area is accessible by scooter, at least right by the pier so worst case my dad can get to the Cannery. Thanks again!

I will be on Quantum of the Seas in June and I do not see Gondola Tickets as an "excursion" on the ships website, and I haven't been able to verify whether we can buy them from the tourist center on shore. A number of other posts seem to indicate people already "booked" the Gondola. Thank You. 

We've sailed twice since the restart and both times had to select an arrival time. We showed up at our time and there were short lines and it moved smooth (wasn't Seattle, but one was Barcelona). Did hear from the staff if people come when they are assigned it goes much smoother and lines are shorter. Problems start when people come early. We are sailing out of Seattle in two weeks, my dad is 93 and can't stand in line for hours on end, so I hope people stick to their arrival times (but I doubt that will happen!) 

Thank You for the reply Ozark_Kid!

On 5/20/2022 at 1:31 PM, Ozark_Kid said:

As we were disembarking I saw a long line in front of us.  As we got there we found the long line was for those who need an elevator.   If an escalator is fine, stay left  

 

What time was this? We are on the Quantum in 2 weeks and plan to walk off as early as we can to catch our flights home on 20 June. Do you know what time the ship cleared and people were allowed to walk off? 

I cashed in $100 on May 8th for a 13 June Alaska Cruise and they haven't posted yet.

Thank you both for the quick replies! I thought I understood that the lab report via email was acceptable but the eMed guy confused me!

We are going to Alaska on Quantum of the Seas in June and I've ordered the eMed Covid Proctored tests for my husband and I and my parents. The eMed site said everyone has to have their own eMed account, so I set those up (each with it's own email address). Then I was asking the eMed adviser a question about results and he said we had to download the Navica app because that is where eMed sends the test results along with a QR code. When I said I thought they emailed us he results he said they do email an eMed Lab Report via PDF. My question is, will RCCL accept the eMed Lab report or do I need to download the Navica app in order to show RCCL the QR code? Thanks much! 

Going on Quantum in June with 21 family and friends. Look forward to your LIVE review in May! 

4 minutes ago, njkruzer said:

Each adult person has to have a separate account.  Parents can include children on their account i believe and help but not sure if an adult can get help. Is there a faq on their website?

Thanks! Their FAQ's said you can administer for a child. No worries, we'll just have to set up multiple accounts.

I assume we take the test "in front" of the eMed medical professional on-line who verifies everything is accurate and sends the results? Can multiple people use the same login account or does every traveler have to have their own? My husband and I planned to help my parents do the test before our Alaska Cruise in June. Thanks.

Thank you all for the great information! We are on RCCL Quantum of the Seas. Dad is 93 and in good health, his knees bother him and he can't walk for great distances... unless it's around a casino, then he seems fine. 😂 They do have an accessible stateroom. I will request a wheelchair to assist getting him through the pier to the room. Thanks again!

I'm renting a scooter for my dad for our June Alaska cruise. Scootaround states they will deliver to the cabin or terminal. Does anyone know if Special needs at Sea also offers delivery to cabin? I can't find a reference on their website. Scootaround did say COVID restrictions may not allow delivery to room, they'd let me know when closer to cruise. 

Also, can I wait until I get closer to the cruise to rent or do they "run out"? 

Thanks in advance! Kathy

We did Harmony last November and everything was GREAT! Shows were good, crew was top notch, food was good and even though the windjammer was closed for dinner we were never hungry! 

We are there in June on RCCL from 4-10PM.... seems like a weird time. Not sure what our options are at that time. Open to suggestions.