tendering at Icy Start Point, and priority for SY category?

[bthodge]

My wife and I have never cruised. We are on the Noordam May 12, from Vancouver, off to Alaska, 8 days.

1. I am 2 months out from hip replacement, and wonder how l will do in the lines on May 12, with 3 ships and maybe 6000 people waiting to board. Standing may be easier by then, but I would appreciate an guesstimate of what to expect.

2. Tendering ashore at Icy Strait Point. Anyone know what the lines are likely to be, both going ashore and coming back? I know the tenders take about 120 people, and hope the wait, especially ashore, would be short.

3. SY suite category i don't think accounts for any preferential treatment for embark, or disembark.

 

In anticipation of some guidance, Thanks!

[kazu]

My wife and I have never cruised. We are on the Noordam May 12, from Vancouver, off to Alaska, 8 days.

1. I am 2 months out from hip replacement, and wonder how l will do in the lines on May 12, with 3 ships and maybe 6000 people waiting to board. Standing may be easier by then, but I would appreciate an guesstimate of what to expect.

2. Tendering ashore at Icy Strait Point. Anyone know what the lines are likely to be, both going ashore and coming back? I know the tenders take about 120 people, and hope the wait, especially ashore, would be short.

3. SY suite category i don't think accounts for any preferential treatment for embark, or disembark.

 

In anticipation of some guidance, Thanks!

 

As to your question #3, there is no priority for SY category. Actually for returning on tenders, there is no priority for anyone. Only for getting on the tenders.

 

Embark and disembark is not hard. You can sit in between while you wait and, if need be, you can have your companion line up for embarkation and only join them once they are close. There are seating areas.

 

Also, for embarkation if you come at less peak times (around 1:00 pm) there is not much of a line up in my experience.

 

For disembarkation, while there will be a lineup to get off the ship, you have the option to wait in your cabin or in another comfortable space until your number is called.

 

If you are not in a rush to disembark, you can request the last or second last time and the worst is usually over.

[Copper10-8]

FYI There is no tendering at Icy Strait Point unless there happens to be two ships simultaneously. They've built a nice big floating dock there

[JimnKaren]

Icy Strait Point is not a huge port for cruise ships. I find it somewhat difficult to believe that there will be two ships on one date.

 

As to the hip thing. Mine was done in August 2005. I did my therapy and continued at home doing the exercises for several months. If you do the right things, you should not have a problem. Tell your PT people what you intend to do and ask if there are solutions to potential problems. If there is a line to get on the ship when you embark, sit and wait a while or allow yourself to be pampered and ask for assistance with a wheel chair (tip appropriately).

[kazu]

Icy Strait Point is not a huge port for cruise ships. I find it somewhat difficult to believe that there will be two ships on one date.

 

As to the hip thing. Mine was done in August 2005. I did my therapy and continued at home doing the exercises for several months. If you do the right things, you should not have a problem. Tell your PT people what you intend to do and ask if there are solutions to potential problems. If there is a line to get on the ship when you embark, sit and wait a while or allow yourself to be pampered and ask for assistance with a wheel chair (tip appropriately).

 

You raise a really good point.

 

I was just out of my brace two weeks after elbow surgery (but approved for travel since the heat would help) and my PT (physiotherapist) spent time going over exercises as I improved. So basically, I go from 1 to 2 to 3 on board.

 

Both she and my orthopaedic surgeon recommended the hydrotherapy pool. I did one set of exercises there (careful as it seems easy and you don't want to over do) and the other set in my cabin.

 

I moved up along the PT schedule. When I boarded I wore a sling to protect my arm and it was pretty useless. When I disembarked 33 days later, I was managing my own carry on with the injured elbow ;).

 

I recommend the hydrotherapy pool (assuming your PT agrees)

 

Talking to your PT is an EXCELLENT recommendation. don't wait until the last minute. It takes planning and they can be a big help. It's worth an extra session to make sure you understand any new exercises you have to do and do them correctly.

 

Good luck :)

[towhee]

Icy Strait Point became a docking port two years ago, but HAL hasn't changed their itinerary posting.

The Tlingits only allow one cruise ship per day, so there should be no problem with docking. The new dock is wonderful. It floats with the tide so the ship doesn't have to keep moving the gangway. Once on the dock, there are carts to take you to the new visitor's center if you are using mobility assistance. Once at the visitor's center there is a second cart to take you to the former cannery where the shops are. Bottom line - you shouldn't have any problem with the port.

[rkacruiser]

Icy Point Strait was a surprisingly pleasant port to me as a July, 2017 guest aboard the Amsterdam. Expected little; but, learned of the Tribe's culture, met many pleasant citizens of the area, and enjoyed the Museum.

[cvpends]

The new dock has gentle slopes to get on and off the ship, and the port has nice museum and cultural exhibits, all free. Of course, whale watching and other excursions are fun, but if you want to do this port on-the-cheap, it is quite possible.

[Daisyloo]

The new dock has gentle slopes to get on and off the ship, and the port has nice museum and cultural exhibits, all free. Of course, whale watching and other excursions are fun, but if you want to do this port on-the-cheap, it is quite possible.

 

Good info. Thanks for this.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The new dock has gentle slopes to get on and off the ship, and the port has nice museum and cultural exhibits, all free. Of course, whale watching and other excursions are fun, but if you want to do this port on-the-cheap, it is quite possible.

 

 

This is good news.

I can remember when we there a few times, the ramp up and down to the tenders was quite steep. I had quite a hard time on the ramp with my walker the last couple of times we were there.

Certainly did enjoy the port.

[Copper10-8]

Icy Strait Point, AK. In May 2016, a dozen years after Icy Strait Point debuted to cruise passengers, a newly constructed 400-foot-long by 50-foot-wide floating dock suitable for cruise ship berthing augmented tendering. The new dock includes dolphins with socketed and rock anchored pilings, floating pontoons, and a trestle and transfer span with associated supports. In addition, a 7,000-square foot Welcome/Adventure center and the Duck Point Smokehouse restaurant were added

 

 

 

 

Still a pretty good incline!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Copper10-8]

Icy Strait Point, AK

 

 

Looking at A-Deck forward on Amsterdam (crew country)

 

The A-Deck corridor is known by the crew as "I-95" because it runs pretty much all the way from the bow to the stern

 

Helicopter evac/medevac training for Amsterdam's Deck and Technical Dept. inside the famous "O.B." or Officers Bar

 

And lastly, a look on Amsterdam's bridge getting ready for the pilot's transfer off Port Angeles, WA

[cvpends]

There are also friendly dogs in the cruise terminal at Hoonah, like this one who wanted to come home with me :)

 

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[rkacruiser]

Thanks for the photos, Copper 10-8! Particularly those "behind the scenes" views! Re: the Bridge, just as I would expect to see: the Bridge Team on duty at that time of Pilot Transfer: Captain or Staff Captain (not sure who in your photo), 2 Deck Officers and 2 Quartermasters.

 

'"It's Good To Be On A Well-Run Ship". (I think this is a HAL advertising slogan from many years ago.)

[Copper10-8]

Thanks for the photos, Copper 10-8! Particularly those "behind the scenes" views! Re: the Bridge, just as I would expect to see: the Bridge Team on duty at that time of Pilot Transfer: Captain or Staff Captain (not sure who in your photo), 2 Deck Officers and 2 Quartermasters.

 

'"It's Good To Be On A Well-Run Ship". (I think this is a HAL advertising slogan from many years ago.)

 

In that particular pic, it's the captain all the way in front against the window, then from left to right, the senior watch/navigation officer, quartermaster (at the wheel), junior watch/navigation officer, and the Puget Sound pilot, with watch cap, who sails with the ship from Seattle to Port Angeles. The 2nd QM is out of the pic, as is the officer cadet

[rkacruiser]

Thanks, Copper 10-8!