just back vision tracy arm. WOW

[gr8tfulscott]

jun

Just back from the Vision of the seas.

Ships condition was spotless and all commons areas were clean and fresh.

(poor ventilation in casino and schooner bar for smoke)

Captain Stein was the most personable captain we have sailed with. He was highly visible and out with the guest on deck many times. His staff definitely assisted us in achieving the real feel for Alaska and this first time Alaskan cruiser.

Cruise Director was a duo husband & wife John & Katrina. I was slow to warm up to them and that went away as they and their staff.

Dw & I went to all the shows as we don’t go out to shows. 2 production shows, 2 comedians (known acts can’t remember now) Latin show (really great) and finale with a known Ventriloquist.

Room steward was named Mario quality service.(4315 & 4313)

Dinner staff was great we had table 066 with Anthony as our head waiter and Roberto as assistant.

Aqurius dinning room food was good ( not great) usual rccl menu’s.

Now for the cruise.

Wow it’s incredible.

In Juneau we took the jet boat ride to taku glacier this is done through dolphin tours. Our boat had 15 on it it held 25 every seat had binoculars. The ship had a front and rear deck to go out onto to view the glacier and other beautiful sights. The trip is about 100 miles round trip. Our captain was ken and guide was brian.

It was a sunny day and clear. A soft drink and salmon cream cheese bagel for the ride back.

In skagway we went with chilkroot travel (sp?) we took the white pass train up to fraiser which was great going from clear to foggy to clear and the different types of forestry we went through. The tour continues via 20 passenger bus in to the Yukon and up to emerald lake the colors were great. We stopped at the worlds smallest desert and had lunch at the caribou crossing. Nice gift shop and a great lunch as we missed all the big busses by ½ hour. Then we drove back through the white pass for a different view. By the way it was 70’s in the Yukon and high 50’s in skagway. The trip was great our guide was Nancy I would recommend you ask to be on her tour.

Tracy arm big wow’s we went all the way in to within ½ mile of this towering glacier. Did a 360 and hung in there with all sunshine. It brought a tear to my eyes the beauty. Snowcapped mountains, floating ice with seals and walruses sun bathing. The captain sent out a small ship to get some of the glacier ice and bring it in for all to see hold and take pictures with. I think 13 miles in and 13 miles out holly cow.

I saw some whale spouts and then a tail flip. Bammo out came the whale in full breach and again this whale did it 5 time this is would say was at 500’.

The Captian would announce whales port side and many people would run port,then starboard and the would go that way when the did another whale 150’ came out and did the ½ spin flip over. There were many spouts as well.

Prince Rupert. Lots of bald eagles. Waste of a stop as compared to doing another Alaskan stop.

Seattle was a great day at the beginning with a tour of the city. That had a number of stops to look around.

Take a couple of large digital cards for you camera. I have taken hundreds of picture I’ve yet to look at still doing laundry.

Last our meet and mingle was nice.

It was nice to meet Kathy and her family.

Our dinner partners were also celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary as were we. That made 3 couples all the same and our kids 17 & 12.

200 kids upto 17 all well behaved.

Thanks cruise critics for your preparation for this trip.

Scott

Gr8tfulscott & nancy

e 15 - june 22 2007

[themerle]

Thanks for the review Scott. I hope I get to see whale on our cruise in July.

[akh40]

Sounds great, thanks for the positive review. We are doing the same cruise in early August. I hope we get the same great views of Tracy Arm! :)

 

Amanda

[cruisemamma99]

jun

Just back from the Vision of the seas.

 

Ships condition was spotless and all commons areas were clean and fresh.

(poor ventilation in casino and schooner bar for smoke)

 

Captain Stein was the most personable captain we have sailed with. He was highly visible and out with the guest on deck many times. His staff definitely assisted us in achieving the real feel for Alaska and this first time Alaskan cruiser.

 

Cruise Director was a duo husband & wife John & Katrina. I was slow to warm up to them and that went away as they and their staff.

 

Dw & I went to all the shows as we don’t go out to shows. 2 production shows, 2 comedians (known acts can’t remember now) Latin show (really great) and finale with a known Ventriloquist.

 

Room steward was named Mario quality service.(4315 & 4313)

 

Dinner staff was great we had table 066 with Anthony as our head waiter and Roberto as assistant.

 

Aqurius dinning room food was good ( not great) usual rccl menu’s.

 

Now for the cruise.

 

Wow it’s incredible.

In Juneau we took the jet boat ride to taku glacier this is done through dolphin tours. Our boat had 15 on it it held 25 every seat had binoculars. The ship had a front and rear deck to go out onto to view the glacier and other beautiful sights. The trip is about 100 miles round trip. Our captain was ken and guide was brian.

It was a sunny day and clear. A soft drink and salmon cream cheese bagel for the ride back.

 

In skagway we went with chilkroot travel (sp?) we took the white pass train up to fraiser which was great going from clear to foggy to clear and the different types of forestry we went through. The tour continues via 20 passenger bus in to the Yukon and up to emerald lake the colors were great. We stopped at the worlds smallest desert and had lunch at the caribou crossing. Nice gift shop and a great lunch as we missed all the big busses by ½ hour. Then we drove back through the white pass for a different view. By the way it was 70’s in the Yukon and high 50’s in skagway. The trip was great our guide was Nancy I would recommend you ask to be on her tour.

 

Tracy arm big wow’s we went all the way in to within ½ mile of this towering glacier. Did a 360 and hung in there with all sunshine. It brought a tear to my eyes the beauty. Snowcapped mountains, floating ice with seals and walruses sun bathing. The captain sent out a small ship to get some of the glacier ice and bring it in for all to see hold and take pictures with. I think 13 miles in and 13 miles out holly cow.

 

I saw some whale spouts and then a tail flip. Bammo out came the whale in full breach and again this whale did it 5 time this is would say was at 500’.

The Captian would announce whales port side and many people would run port,then starboard and the would go that way when the did another whale 150’ came out and did the ½ spin flip over. There were many spouts as well.

Prince Rupert. Lots of bald eagles. Waste of a stop as compared to doing another Alaskan stop.

 

Seattle was a great day at the beginning with a tour of the city. That had a number of stops to look around.

 

Take a couple of large digital cards for you camera. I have taken hundreds of picture I’ve yet to look at still doing laundry.

 

Last our meet and mingle was nice.

It was nice to meet Kathy and her family.

Our dinner partners were also celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary as were we. That made 3 couples all the same and our kids 17 & 12.

 

200 kids upto 17 all well behaved.

 

Thanks cruise critics for your preparation for this trip.

 

Scott

Gr8tfulscott & nancy

 

 

 

 

 

 

e 15 - june 22 2007

 

 

 

Thanks, I'm leaving for that cruise soon and am very excited!

[Budget Queen]

for clairfication- there are no Walruses in Tracy Arm and the Sawyer Glaciers are 30 miles one way. Harbor seals are plentiful. :)

[gr8tfulscott]

wasn't sure of the walrus thing.

but boy what a passage to go in and out of.

 

can't wait to go again.

 

thanks to this board and all who paticipate in cruisecritic

[LaBayouBabe]

For the trainride in Skagway, do you want to be on the left side of the train going and on the right side of the bus coming back?:confused: I think I saw that somewhere. Any info will be appreciated. Thanks!

[gr8tfulscott]

on the train if outbound.

bus further right side outbound.

 

coming back from yukon sit on the left side of bus.

 

boy wish i was back already.

scott

[Amaranthine33]

I'm going to be on Vision of the Seas for the 8/31 sailing. I'm glad to read that the ship is very clean and the staff are helpful.

 

Now...

 

1) Did you buy the ship's excursions? If not, how/who did you book it?

 

2) How long is the cruise in/up to/around Tracy Arm? The itinerary on the RCCL website says 7am-12pm...that's only 5 hours. So this means that I have to be up at the crack of dawn to get a good spot outside?

 

Any other tips/information you can give me will be much appreciated. Thanks for a great review!

[gr8tfulscott]

we booked some through Rccl via their website. it worked real well.

in skagway we booked our own via this cruise critics past stories.

 

in tracy arm i think we were starting it earlier than posted. But a seven an announcement came over saying we were moving in and ofcourse i shot up out of bed and out on deck in 10 minutes.

 

there were 75 peaple out on deck 10 at the bow. some people do not notice that at the bow there is a stairway thats leads up to let say deck 10 1/2 good place to view. now i'm sure that the viking lounge had people in it maybe many but it is inside.

 

some people i met had been on the bow from 6:30 - 12:30 when we left.

other wise you are in a valley and it is a wonder to view from all around the ship. great use for binoculars.

 

 

i am 45 dw is 48 ds 12 dd 17 we all had a great time.

i think the kids would prefer carribean if there is a next time with us.

but i would like to do alaska again.

scott

[plenox]

we booked some through Rccl via their website. it worked real well.

in skagway we booked our own via this cruise critics past stories.

 

in tracy arm i think we were starting it earlier than posted. But a seven an announcement came over saying we were moving in and ofcourse i shot up out of bed and out on deck in 10 minutes.

 

there were 75 peaple out on deck 10 at the bow. some people do not notice that at the bow there is a stairway thats leads up to let say deck 10 1/2 good place to view. now i'm sure that the viking lounge had people in it maybe many but it is inside.

 

some people i met had been on the bow from 6:30 - 12:30 when we left.

other wise you are in a valley and it is a wonder to view from all around the ship. great use for binoculars.

 

 

i am 45 dw is 48 ds 12 dd 17 we all had a great time.

i think the kids would prefer carribean if there is a next time with us.

but i would like to do alaska again.

scott

 

scott, it is a great review.. I almost crossed tracy's arm from my trip planning since a lot of people raved about glacier bay. It seems one trip just cannot cover everything. No wonder so many people went back to Alaska over and over again. thanks

[gr8tfulscott]

for our first time to alaska i really cannot describe the feeling i had in the tracy arm and then when turning the corner to see the sawyer glacier.

 

we had already seen the Taku glacier from the water in a small boat but it was not nearly the front view as the sawyer glacier in tracy arm.

 

i have not had feelings like this that i can remember at 46. the mountains,waterfalls and floating ice and sunshine just made it so over the top.

scott:D