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Mendenhall Glacier tour from Ship

mycruise2000

By mycruise2000,
in Alaska

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mycruise2000

mycruise2000

Posted
Posted

I have some onboard credit for the upcoming alaska cruise I booked the "Mendenhall Glacier, Whale Watching & Wildlife Quest" from Celebrity. Has anyone does this tour. The tour first goes to Mendenhall Glacier and later to Whale watching. I would rather like to spend more time at the glacier. This is 5.5 hr tour and still left with plenty time in Juneau as the ship does not leave until 8:30pm.

 

Looking for ideas and suggestions to what else can I do in Juneau, do I go back to glacier and do the trek?

 

Thanks

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Budget Queen

Budget Queen

Posted
Posted
I have some onboard credit for the upcoming alaska cruise I booked the "Mendenhall Glacier, Whale Watching & Wildlife Quest" from Celebrity. Has anyone does this tour. The tour first goes to Mendenhall Glacier and later to Whale watching. I would rather like to spend more time at the glacier. This is 5.5 hr tour and still left with plenty time in Juneau as the ship does not leave until 8:30pm.

 

Looking for ideas and suggestions to what else can I do in Juneau, do I go back to glacier and do the trek?

 

Thanks

 

You are looking to just use up on board credit? On some cruise lines- there is no credit, until you get ON the ship, the credit is already showing up with your shore excursion?

 

Anyway, this is a poor choice, if you want time at Mendenhall. No I wouldn't suggest, going back to Mendenhall, if you have other touring interests. But you do have a lot of time, up to you how you use it??

 

IF you don't care how the obc is spent, you would be far better off, booking these two separately. But the only savings, for Mendenhall, is going to be $10+ since for added time, you would have to dump the ship tour return and just take a shuttle bus back at $10+pp

 

There aren't any other tours of interest? There certainly is plenty you can do in Alaska.

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mycruise2000

mycruise2000

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BudgetQueen - I know I will not able to use the credit until I am on ship. But I have the credit and I need to use it hoping I will be on the ship. I know its not a good choice to use the ship tours. Can you suggest me a better option. I have $750 on board credit so looking for alternatives to use my credit. BTW, I have paid for gratuities and all inclusive drinks.

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xlxo

xlxo

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Hmm.... with gratuities and drinks prepaid.

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mycruise2000

mycruise2000

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Hmm.... with gratuities and drinks prepaid.

 

Xlxo, I dont use internet/phone while on vacation to avoid getting tempted to reply to work emails. I am a vegetarian and therefore I dont do much specialty restaurants. Not sure of the captain tour, I will check on that.

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HAVANA

HAVANA

Posted
Posted
BudgetQueen - I know I will not able to use the credit until I am on ship. But I have the credit and I need to use it hoping I will be on the ship. I know its not a good choice to use the ship tours. Can you suggest me a better option. I have $750 on board credit so looking for alternatives to use my credit. BTW, I have paid for gratuities and all inclusive drinks.

 

 

You can book the excursion now and get cash for your On Board Credit when you are on board. You go to the casino cashier and ask for cash. They will charge you for the transaction (not sure 2 or 3 %) but you now have the cash to do with what you want.

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Budget Queen

Budget Queen

Posted
Posted
BudgetQueen - I know I will not able to use the credit until I am on ship. But I have the credit and I need to use it hoping I will be on the ship. I know its not a good choice to use the ship tours. Can you suggest me a better option. I have $750 on board credit so looking for alternatives to use my credit. BTW, I have paid for gratuities and all inclusive drinks.

 

I'm of the mindset. I do not want on board credits. :) I want the lower price to begin with.

So if you can draw cash out of the casino, that certainly would be what I would do, rather than just randomly spending it. :) Perhaps, go to your cruise line board on this site and inquire, I know Carnival- is easy to do this, NCL charges 3% but, there have been reports of not being able to this with some credits? I rarely have much and avoid them like the plague.

 

Are there other tours of interest? It would be easy to spend that sum on Alaska tours. :)

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Pushka

Pushka

Posted
Posted
Pushak, can you tell me more about Gastineau photography. Is this offered on Celebrity? I am a vivid photographer and love to do some thing like that.

 

 

This is the link to their website:

http://www.stepintoalaska.com/excursions/whale-watching-mendenhall-glacier-photo-safari

 

If you are on a cruise and it is in your excursion list then (for some reason) you have to book through the ship. If your ship doesnt offer it then you can book directly through the gastineau website.

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bar_20

bar_20

Posted
Posted
Xlxo, I dont use internet/phone while on vacation to avoid getting tempted to reply to work emails. I am a vegetarian and therefore I dont do much specialty restaurants. Not sure of the captain tour, I will check on that.

 

Since these are mostly 7-10 day cruises and there is a port almost every day, don't waste your money on the ships expensive internet service. Every town has an internet cafe, Starbucks, MickeyD's, etc that offer free internet.

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donaldsc

donaldsc

Posted
Posted (edited)
Hmm.... with gratuities and drinks prepaid.

  • pictures! I find myself burning $300 or $400 each trip.
    Ship pictures are a total waste of money IMHO[/color]
  • internet! Get the biggest package to keep in touch with friends and family!
    Nobody needs internet on the ship. You will only be gone for 7 days. Surely you can be out of contact for 7 days
  • book last minute excursions once on the boat.
    Good idea. Book expensive ones. Tours that involve airplanes or helicopters are usually expensive
  • specialty dining!
  • Is there a "captain's tour"? It's called the "Inside Access".
    http://experience.usatoday.com/cruise/story/cruise-buzz/2013/10/15/how-a-cruise-ship-works/2986403/

 

You could also buy stuff on board such as expensive watches.

 

Hope this helps.

 

DON

Edited by donaldsc
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mycruise2000

mycruise2000

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You can book the excursion now and get cash for your On Board Credit when you are on board. You go to the casino cashier and ask for cash. They will charge you for the transaction (not sure 2 or 3 %) but you now have the cash to do with what you want.

 

Did not know I can get cash back for on-board credit. Is this a possibility on Celebrity? As BudgetQueen mentioned I would rather have cash to myself.

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cookiersmom

cookiersmom

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I have heard that Celebrity now charges 5% for converting OBC to cash. We do use our OBC for gratuities, because the offer for OBC is more than the offer for gratuities for the 7 day trip. So, then we do buy a few photos, and we do get cash in the casino. Also can use for upgraded drinks depending on your beverage package

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mycruise2000

mycruise2000

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I have heard that Celebrity now charges 5% for converting OBC to cash. We do use our OBC for gratuities, because the offer for OBC is more than the offer for gratuities for the 7 day trip. So, then we do buy a few photos, and we do get cash in the casino. Also can use for upgraded drinks depending on your beverage package

 

Cookiersmom,

I have pre-paid gratuities and classic drink package as part 123 go deal. Plus got on board credit from my agent. I normally buy one or two at most photos and never had a drink package as I cannot justify the cost. As Budget Queen mentioned how do I get cash from Casino, do I have to get chips from casino with OBC and then return the chips for cash or is there a any other way. Where did you hear about 5% surcharge?

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HAVANA

HAVANA

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Posted
Since you have done this several times on Celebrity, adding details would be of benefit for this poster. You transferred funds to the casino, any surcharges? etc

 

It a very simple process. On Celebrity

 

Go to the casino cashier.

Tell them how much you want.

They will charge the amount you want plus a service charge (2% or 3% not sure what the rate is now) to your cabin.

Now you have your cash and the credit you had offsets the charge.

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mycruise2000

mycruise2000

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It a very simple process. On Celebrity

 

Go to the casino cashier.

Tell them how much you want.

They will charge the amount you want plus a service charge (2% or 3% not sure what the rate is now) to your cabin.

Now you have your cash and the credit you had offsets the charge.

 

Thanks. That helps.

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Bobocasey

Bobocasey

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Posted

Celebrity is now charging 5% plus they are currently testing a program on the Constellation that does not allow you to take obc non refundable credit out any longer at the casino. Also if the obc refundable you you can get it credited back to your credit card. Non refundable is from Celebrity themselves, they may or may not allow you to take it out at the casino depending on the ship. If it is refundable(usually from your TA) you can either take it out for a 5% fee or have the entire amount credited to your credit card. The way you know which kind of obc is by the coding on your account once you board.

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