Ketchikan Excursion timing

[mullysisters]

I booked a tour from Ketchikan at 1130am and now I realize we cannot disembark until 1115am? I may be in a long line possibly? Do you think this will work? The tour company posted our itinerary so they know about the late disembark.
Anyone had this kind of experience? Do you just line up to get off the ship or is it scheduled? Many thanks.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

I can't speak for Ketchikan directly because we went off on our own and didn't rush off the ship. However in Ireland I booked our own tour, and our ship was late to clear customs (like really late). We were already going to be cutting it close with our schedule. We had booked a guide and a tour combo (the guide took us to the tour portion of our day). We lined up to be one of the first people off the ship, so at least as soon as it cleared we would be able to hurry off. Well there was all kinds of issues, and once they thought we were close to clearing customs, they then decided we had to exit from Deck 1 instead of deck 3 in the Atrium where all the people were nice and orderly lined up. We ran down to Deck 1 (after taking the stairs that DON'T connect to the Deck 1 gangway exit) and were in the very tiny area again waiting for them to give the all clear. People were crammed in there so tight, and the elevator doors would open and there was no room to exit. It was insane. We finally cleared customs, dashed to where our driver was patiently waiting, rushed to meet up with the tour portion of our day. And the tour started late and let people (DCL booked tour people) join the tour late (they don't normally allow that) because well it's DCL I guess.

All off that to say that if a tour company works with a cruise line (or caters to cruise line passengers booking on their own) they seem to often be flexible and accustomed to the issues. I would still plan to line up early and be one of the first ones off, but you'll probably be just fine.

Also this was the one and only time this has happened to me. More often the not the ship clears earlier then the schedule and you can easily make your way off.

That disembark time is also pretty standard for DCL and Ketchikan.

Good luck, and I hope you don't have your own "exiting the Titanic" moment we did on deck 1!!!

 

[anricat]

I booked a tour from Ketchikan at 1130am and now I realize we cannot disembark until 1115am? I may be in a long line possibly? Do you think this will work? The tour company posted our itinerary so they know about the late disembark.
Anyone had this kind of experience? Do you just line up to get off the ship or is it scheduled? Many thanks.

The tour company knows what time the ship docks and offers tours accordingly. But if you're uncertain, you might contact them, but generally, they are aware of how the timing works. They do it day in and day out (well, in the summer anyway) so they will know when to expect you. The ship is very rarely delayed and (in normal times) you can disembark pretty quickly after they call the clear. (Tendered ports are a slightly different beast, but this doesn't apply here.)

 

[mullysisters]

Thank you so much. We dont get away very often, like never together, and this is our first cruise. We are onto worrying about cell phone use and our pet sitters

 

[lklgoodman]

Thank you so much. We dont get away very often, like never together, and this is our first cruise. We are onto worrying about cell phone use and our pet sitters

We did an Alaska cruise in 2014. If I remember correctly, we changed time zones severa times during the cruise. I don't remember when it was each time, but you stateroom host will change the clock in your cabin. Before covid they would leave a card letting you know about they changed them, not sure if they still do. Just make sure you change your watches so you're on time for the excursion and most importantly you're back on the ship on time. It won't wait since you booked your own excursion.

 

[dcassetta]

We are onto worrying about cell phone use and our pet sitters

The nice thing about Alaska is that your phone will work at every port stop without needing an international plan!

 

[TinkLoverSam]

The nice thing about Alaska is that your phone will work at every port stop without needing an international plan!

If you’re American

 

[mullysisters]

If you’re American

We just learned that our cell phones will no longer work in the US. Most of the providers, all but one, have dismantled their 3 G networks. Our phones are too old I guess(2.4G). Also apparently they auto connect to the ships tower, not sure what that network would be. I think we are going to stay in touch with wi-fi, like messanger. This from our cell provider. It would only be for emergencies with our animals.
Also, the tour company just emailed me and said they couldn't accommodate me at 1130 anyway? Why was it available on their website. I might look into something else.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

Also, the tour company just emailed me and said they couldn't accommodate me at 1130 anyway? Why was it available on their website. I might look into something else.

Is it a tour company that contracts with DCL? Sometimes companies that work with DCL as the "Port Adventures" leave openings to fit prospective DCL bookings. It may show up on their website as open, but they plan to fill that or at least leave it open to filling until the last minutes by DCL.

 

[dcassetta]

If you’re American

Sorry, not very thoughtful of me.

 

[mullysisters]

Sorry, not very thoughtful of me.

Well our phones will work when we are in Vancouver. You're not wrong! I just wish cell service was international and equitable. I have 5G potential on my phone but it doesnt work. Remember when you just picked up a phone and dialled anywhere in the world? I once called home from a hotel room in Rwanda. It cost me $115 but it was worth it to call my parents.

 

[tvguy]

We just learned that our cell phones will no longer work in the US. Most of the providers, all but one, have dismantled their 3 G networks. Our phones are too old I guess(2.4G). Also apparently they auto connect to the ships tower, not sure what that network would be. I think we are going to stay in touch with wi-fi, like messanger. This from our cell provider. It would only be for emergencies with our animals.
Also, the tour company just emailed me and said they couldn't accommodate me at 1130 anyway? Why was it available on their website. I might look into something else.

Cellular at Sea is the provider on Disney cruise ships.

As for 3G, I'm not sure any U.S. providers have actually shutdown their systems yet even though they were supposed to January 1, 2022.* My former employer uses equipment that operated on 3G and 4G cellular and they upgraded them to 4G and 5G and now have had to install software patches to allow the equipment to operate on 3G, 4G and 5G because the 5G rollout is going MUCH slower than expected. I upgraded my burglar alarm to 4G from 3G, and the alarm monitoring company is still doing those upgrades, but they put out an e-mail that most 3G systems will remain in operation TFN because the providers underestimated the impact of the pandemic and chip shortage on efforts to phase out 3G.

*I just checked. It appears A.T.T has shutdown their 3G system as of February 28. Verizon (the largest provider in the U.S.) says their 3G will remain in operation through December 31,2022. And God love T-Mobile, they are all over the place because they are still working to shutdown their 2G network! https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/plan-ahead-phase-out-3g-cellular-networks-and-service

 

[Dug720]

If you’re American

And not on Sprint.

 

[Starwind]

Well our phones will work when we are in Vancouver. You're not wrong! I just wish cell service was international and equitable. I have 5G potential on my phone but it doesnt work. Remember when you just picked up a phone and dialled anywhere in the world? I once called home from a hotel room in Rwanda. It cost me $115 but it was worth it to call my parents.

FYI, I dont know if it will work in your case while you are roaming, but the major providers in Canada have 5G working in good chunks of the country.

From Rogers: "expanded our 5G network to more than 1500 communities, reaching over 19 million Canadians and making the Rogers 5G network the largest in Canada " Coverage: https://www.rogers.com/mobility/network-coverage-map

From Bell: "5G network is now available in cities, towns and communities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec, with more markets coming soon." Coverage map: https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Our_network/5G#Bell_5G_coverage

 

[mullysisters]

FYI, I dont know if it will work in your case while you are roaming, but the major providers in Canada have 5G working in good chunks of the country.

From Rogers: "expanded our 5G network to more than 1500 communities, reaching over 19 million Canadians and making the Rogers 5G network the largest in Canada " Coverage: https://www.rogers.com/mobility/network-coverage-map

From Bell: "5G network is now available in cities, towns and communities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec, with more markets coming soon." Coverage map: https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Our_network/5G#Bell_5G_coverage

I have a 5G capable phone but Roger's, my provider told me to switch down to 2.4G. I dont know why. I'm not very techy but I lost service altogether for more than a week when Roger's went down that day in April. I bought a new phone from them but it didnt work either? What's crazy is my DSis lives here too and her 5G iphone works. I dunno....... I think we'll get a US roaming add-on and call from our ports on days 4,5 or 6.

 

[lovingeire]

I think we'll get a US roaming add-on and call from our ports on days 4,5 or 6.

While I'm American and obviously have an American provider, I was able to easily add an international day plan on my cruise to Bermuda for the two days we were in Bermuda. For me, it was something like $10/day. I know I've called my cousin's Candian cell without extra charges, but I definitely need to look into whether my phone will work in Vancouver for our time post-cruise when we are hoping to see family.

ETA: Our AT&T plan includes service in both Canada and Mexico so we're good to go!