rflan22 Posted April 4, 2022 #1 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Hi all. I have a group booked on the Jewel this summer doing the southbound cruise from Seward to Vancouver. We plan on taking the 6:45 AR train from Anchorage on embarkation morning, arriving in Seward sometime around 11:30. I've looked all through CC and cant seem to find an answer on this, can we board the ship for lunch and to drop off our carry-ons, and then get back off to explore Seward? We want to do a long hike that day and don't want to do it right off the train. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare GeezerCouple Posted April 4, 2022 #2 Share Posted April 4, 2022 30 minutes ago, rflan22 said: Hi all. I have a group booked on the Jewel this summer doing the southbound cruise from Seward to Vancouver. We plan on taking the 6:45 AR train from Anchorage on embarkation morning, arriving in Seward sometime around 11:30. I've looked all through CC and cant seem to find an answer on this, can we board the ship for lunch and to drop off our carry-ons, and then get back off to explore Seward? We want to do a long hike that day and don't want to do it right off the train. Thanks! What time is sailaway? You'll need to be on board well before that time (definitely check your docs!). Aside from whether you can get back off the ship after first going on that day, I'm not seeing how you could just be arriving at the Seward station at 11:30, then heading to the ship, going through the boarding process, having lunch, leaving the ship, and then still having time for a "long hike"...!? ... and still be on board as required? GC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare YVRteacher Posted April 4, 2022 #3 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Sailaway is 9:00pm so you’ll be fine. I’ve done this trip many times and it’s a very easy and efficient port terminal (basically a warehouse). I highly recommend a marine adventure into Kenai fjords if you can make that work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare YVRteacher Posted April 4, 2022 #4 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Just adding that sometimes cabins aren’t ready until 1:00pm so you may need to store your carry on luggage at the bar NCL sets up for this purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflan22 Posted April 4, 2022 Author #5 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Sailaway is not until 9pm as YVRteacher stated. Thank you for the info!! Original idea was to hike Mt Marathon for some nice views of the ship, but i will look into Kenai fjords tours. Thanks again! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare GeezerCouple Posted April 4, 2022 #6 Share Posted April 4, 2022 4 minutes ago, rflan22 said: Sailaway is not until 9pm as YVRteacher stated. Thank you for the info!! Original idea was to hike Mt Marathon for some nice views of the ship, but i will look into Kenai fjords tours. Thanks again! Good. Glad you'll have time to spend in the Seward area. We took that Alaska cruise from Vancouver to Seward, and then spent 2 days in Seward... eating some fantastic fresh halibut - yum! We also took a long day excursion to the Kenai fjords, and it was spectacular. But that was an all day excursion, early am til late afternoon. Everything is gorgeous there. Even the train had beautiful scenery, and it stopped a couple of times for special photo ops. Enjoy! GC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare YVRteacher Posted April 4, 2022 #7 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Check out Seward Ocean Excursions. They will be able to customize for your group. Their Instagram account is great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicsoccer Posted April 5, 2022 #8 Share Posted April 5, 2022 If the Jewel doesn’t leave till 9pm will they still allow boarding around 12 or wait until later in the day? We are doing the same trip but hadn’t thought about being able to board early- that would be great. Thank you for asking your question! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare YVRteacher Posted April 5, 2022 #9 Share Posted April 5, 2022 They allow early boarding and you can then go do an excursion. There is a shuttle service from the port into town. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted April 6, 2022 #10 Share Posted April 6, 2022 On 4/4/2022 at 2:56 PM, rflan22 said: Hi all. I have a group booked on the Jewel this summer doing the southbound cruise from Seward to Vancouver. We plan on taking the 6:45 AR train from Anchorage on embarkation morning, arriving in Seward sometime around 11:30. I've looked all through CC and cant seem to find an answer on this, can we board the ship for lunch and to drop off our carry-ons, and then get back off to explore Seward? We want to do a long hike that day and don't want to do it right off the train. Thanks! You can do just as you have planned - train arrives 11:xx walk or take a shuttle to the ship about 5 long blocks away - check-in register - security - board the ship - by this time the JEWEL having arrived prior to 7:xx should be cleaned and ready for dropping your carryon bags - then go grab a bite to eat - go ashore and do a walk a bit around town all of about 8-10 blocks long and 2-3 wide. You could perhaps take an excursion to see the Exit glacier - be back by 7:xx to board and go thru the mutiny ah er muster drill (newly improved) if you did not do it when you boarded --- all this without breaking a sweat although "HINT" when the train arrives HURRAY to the ship to avoid the bulk of the train guests jamming the check-in. Your check-ed luggage checked at the Anchorage Depot will have already arrived by truck while you where on the train and be in the process of getting to your stateroom. Map LINK to show where the train depot corner of Port Ave and Hy 9 (blue camera icon) 4 block walk to Ferry Terminal Rd and 1 more block to the Cruise Terminal center right image Zoom in for more detail - - - Google Maps 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflan22 Posted April 6, 2022 Author #11 Share Posted April 6, 2022 2 hours ago, don't-use-real-name said: You can do just as you have planned - train arrives 11:xx walk or take a shuttle to the ship about 5 long blocks away - check-in register - security - board the ship - by this time the JEWEL having arrived prior to 7:xx should be cleaned and ready for dropping your carryon bags - then go grab a bite to eat - go ashore and do a walk a bit around town all of about 8-10 blocks long and 2-3 wide. You could perhaps take an excursion to see the Exit glacier - be back by 7:xx to board and go thru the mutiny ah er muster drill (newly improved) if you did not do it when you boarded --- all this without breaking a sweat although "HINT" when the train arrives HURRAY to the ship to avoid the bulk of the train guests jamming the check-in. Your check-ed luggage checked at the Anchorage Depot will have already arrived by truck while you where on the train and be in the process of getting to your stateroom. Map LINK to show where the train depot corner of Port Ave and Hy 9 (blue camera icon) 4 block walk to Ferry Terminal Rd and 1 more block to the Cruise Terminal center right image Zoom in for more detail - - - Google Maps Wow! Thank you for such detailed information!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted April 6, 2022 #12 Share Posted April 6, 2022 If the ship was at full occupancy when it arrived it is more in likely that some portions of the ship may not be available for stashing your carry-ons in some staterooms. It is quite a madhouse turning a ship around. A lot depends on the guests disembarking to do that disembarking timely getting out of their staterooms so the cleaning and resupplying can be done. Going around and behind closed doors just doesn't help much - but if know your way around on a ship and the doors are open - just drop in long enough to stash your carry-ons in a out of the way corner closet under the bed - you should have good judgement to observe the progress of the cleaning and know where to leave your stuff - best chance if the cabin attendant is still there or the vicinity to communicate and getting the introductions in. Please bear in mind that all the cabin doors are open while cleaning - - - DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES VISIBLE FROM THE PASSAGEWAY Do not close the cabin door while the cleaning is in progress - leave that to the cabin attendant Generally ships arriving early in the am may be available for occupancy at noon boarding. Large mega ships more cleaning - more work may not make this possible so observe any signage or closed doors partitions. Your checked luggage arrives later after cabin cleaning is done - nothing like climbing over and around luggage in the way ! Guests in (Full) Suites and Haven don't have to worry about this as they are escorted to their staterooms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapleleaves Posted April 6, 2022 #13 Share Posted April 6, 2022 For the past several yrs, you would check your luggage at the Anchorage train depot, and you wouldn't see it again until it was on the ship, in your cabin. There's a large white tent at the depot where you check your luggage; just tell the staff which ship, and they'll load it onto a truck headed to your ship. (luggage doesn't ride on the train) Obviously things have been different for the past 2 yrs due to covid. So call the RR and ask if this process is being continued. Please post here, so that others will know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapleleaves Posted April 7, 2022 #14 Share Posted April 7, 2022 I emailed the RR and they said they are following the same process as in past yrs ...... check your bags at the white tent, tell the handlers which ship you are on. They will load your bags onto your cruiseline's truck and the next time you see your luggage, it will be in your cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflan22 Posted April 10, 2022 Author #15 Share Posted April 10, 2022 Thanks all for the great info! Does anyone know which dock the Jewel goes to at each port? Im reading some stuff that's shows it sometimes docks far from the actual port (Ward Cove for Ketchikan as example). Our ports are Icy Straight Point, Ketchikan, Skagway and Junuea. Im more so interested in those ports that don't dock right at the main port, are there easy ways of getting to port? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisingrandy Posted April 10, 2022 #16 Share Posted April 10, 2022 Here are 2 websites that show what ships are in different ports each day Cruise Ports Schedules 2022-2023-2024 | CruiseMapper 2022 Schedules | Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska (claalaska.com) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare YVRteacher Posted April 11, 2022 #17 Share Posted April 11, 2022 Most NCL ships will be docking at Ward Cove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jskinsd Posted April 11, 2022 #18 Share Posted April 11, 2022 (edited) 47 minutes ago, YVRteacher said: Most NCL ships will be docking at Ward Cove. All NCL ships✌️ Edited April 11, 2022 by jskinsd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonvoyagie Posted April 11, 2022 #19 Share Posted April 11, 2022 It sounds like NCL is trying to invest in AK like Princess and HAL have done in the past, it is just that the existing spots are already taken so NCL must move to where they are not - ie Ward Cove in Ketchikan. I have also read where NCL is investing heavy at Icy Point Strait and building a new terminal in Whittier (no more Seward). I wonder if they will also start building lodges in Denali. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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