Questions for early Alaskan cruisers!

[denise]

Regarding the helicopter glacier trip in Juneau...I think I had a post on it earlier.

It was absolutely fantastic. My DW and 5 y.o. DS went with me. A van took us to the helipad, approx 10 min away. They got us boots and life preservers, and we were on our way.

You fly over Juneau, and then head over to the glaciers. The views are breathtaking.

Spent about 20 minutes on the glacier to wander around a little bit, take pictures, etc.

Overall, I considered it the highlight of my trip. Definitely a must do if you can afford it.

Thanks so much. I must have missed it.
My DH is not that keen on helicopters but he has only flown in military ones so he said he would do it. My DD (21) and I are very excited and can't wait! I figure it's a once in a lifetime kind of thing....

 

[Schachteles]

Has anyone done the Helicopter and Dog Sledding on a Glacier?

 

[mousemom11]

I read on another thread that the Wave Phones on the Wonder now have belt clips. Is this correct? Did anyone have them on the Wave Phones in their stateroom?

 

[siburdue]

Has anyone used this service yet? We are wondering what time we need to be at the (SeaTac) airport to catch the bus to Vancouver, and if people felt it was worth it OR would it be better to just drive up to Vancouver ourselves and then park up there (where would we park for the week?).

Thank you

 

[poohj80]

Has anyone used this service yet? We are wondering what time we need to be at the (SeaTac) airport to catch the bus to Vancouver, and if people felt it was worth it OR would it be better to just drive up to Vancouver ourselves and then park up there (where would we park for the week?).

Thank you

I wasn't aware DCL had added transfers to SEATAC. Can you tell me more like how much and what time the flights for the return trip must be?

Thanks!

 

[shwarren70]

Didn't realize there were several times. Do you know if the Princesses are the same each time? Is there a fee?

There is not a fee, but make sure you go early the first day to sign up. I went about 3:00 on Tuesday (May 31st) and I was wait listed. They actually added a party on the last at sea day, and it seems a little thrown together. They had one on the Tracy Arm day, one on the morning of Ketchikan, and then the 3rd on the last day. The first two had pics taken by the ships photographer. Ours did not. They had it set so that you could do the pics, but not the ships photographer. Cinderella did the first one, Belle did the 2nd, and Ariel was at ours.

 

[poohj80]

There is not a fee, but make sure you go early the first day to sign up. I went about 3:00 on Tuesday (May 31st) and I was wait listed. They actually added a party on the last at sea day, and it seems a little thrown together. They had one on the Tracy Arm day, one on the morning of Ketchikan, and then the 3rd on the last day. The first two had pics taken by the ships photographer. Ours did not. They had it set so that you could do the pics, but not the ships photographer. Cinderella did the first one, Belle did the 2nd, and Ariel was at ours.

Thanks so much! Do you know if we can sign up for more than one? I might like to take her to one while Grandma might like to go to another.

 

[shwarren70]

Did they move the semi-formal night? Was it still on Ketchikan night?

Thanks

For us it was the Ketchikan night, which was Sunday night. There were a lot of people not back on board yet, because excursions ran up to 7:30, when the all aboard time was. We had early sitting, and about 1/2 the people weren't there.

 

[smb6]

I read on another thread that the Wave Phones on the Wonder now have belt clips. Is this correct? Did anyone have them on the Wave Phones in their stateroom?

No belt clips as of yesterday. I kept the phone in my pocket as did everyone else in my group and that worked just fine for us...

 

[smb6]

For us it was the Ketchikan night, which was Sunday night. There were a lot of people not back on board yet, because excursions ran up to 7:30, when the all aboard time was. We had early sitting, and about 1/2 the people weren't there.

The most recent sailing still had it on Ketchikan night as well. Our excursion brought us back late; missing our main dinner time. We were seated for late dinner that night instead (after asking in advance of course).

 

[shwarren70]

Yes. At least Mickey and Minne were there. They were right beside the gangway, and you could get your picture(s) taken with them.

They rotated. Mickey left just was we were next in line, so we had Minnie.

Trying to get a gauge on if the weather has been warming up on each cruise....we leave in 3 weeks and trying to do some packing..

This one is hard to tell... Just really check the weather forecast before you go. Three days before we were there, they said they had beautiful sunny weather, and then it was over cast and cool while we were there.

I enjoyed the food, and have been on other cruises. Never waited to be seated. Had a nice dining experience.

We didn't have any problems after the 1st night. Our assistant waiter was really slow, and our waiter, Sam, was getting really frustrated with her. Harry, the head waiter, made a change, and by night 2, same had his normal assistant back, and everyone was happy!

This is the most anxious part and I'm glad it went well. He have an 11 am flight. Concierge let us go first with our luggage. Were out by 7:30 at the airport by 8. Plenty of time to burn. Your mileage may vary.

I made the mistake of not checking with guest services to make sure we were early to get off, and were the next to last group. But, even still, we were off by 9:20, had our luggage and thru customs by 10:00 and were at the airport around 10:30. We lined up our own transportation, which was worth it, because there were buses of people just sitting there.

Dumb question but are there porters to help once you collect your luggage, right?

Yes, and free carts too!

We spent the whole day outside on Tracy Arm day. It was beautiful!

Deck 10 starboard side on the way in will also allow you to see on the way out what you did not see on the way in.

Magnificent is a better word for the views.

Breathtaking!!!! All of it was wonderful, but this was just breathtaking!

I read on another thread that the Wave Phones on the Wonder now have belt clips. Is this correct? Did anyone have them on the Wave Phones in their stateroom?

No clips on our phones, or many of the ones I saw others use. Just got off yesterday.

 

[shwarren70]

The most recent sailing still had it on Ketchikan night as well. Our excursion brought us back late; missing our main dinner time. We were seated for late dinner that night instead (after asking in advance of course).

Our verandah overlooked the gangway that day, and we saw everyone hurrying back from the excursion.

 

[shwarren70]

Thanks so much! Do you know if we can sign up for more than one? I might like to take her to one while Grandma might like to go to another.

I'm not sure... I would just ask.

 

[siburdue]

I wasn't aware DCL had added transfers to SEATAC. Can you tell me more like how much and what time the flights for the return trip must be?

Thanks!

Sorry if I was unclear in my previous post. We live in the Seattle area, and when we signed up for the cruise over a year ago, they offered us the option of taking a bus from SeaTac airport to the Cruise Ship in Vancouver. We signed up for it, but now are wondering if that is our best bet. I think the cost was $50 per person (not sure on this cost). Hoping someone on this board has used this service and has some feedback to share. We are wondering what time the bus leaves SeaTac etc.

 

[TravelinCyn]

Has anyone done the Helicopter and Dog Sledding on a Glacier?

We, like many others, were signed up to do this. We opted for Skagway. And, like many, many others, the dog sledding part was canceled: low cloud cover in Skagway meant it was unsafe to fly to where the dogsled camp was. I understand the same thing happened for at least some of the Juneau time slots as well. We were offered the choice of a full refund or a partial refund and a substituting of a different glacier flightseeing tour. My husband, son, and I were the only three in our time spot originally signed up who stuck with it (my mom opted not to as it was a more strenuous version than the dog sledding one, and the other folks signed up all canceled too). We had some pouts from the kiddo that there would be no doggies.

The pouting ended the moment we realized Temsco, and Disney, swapped in a private heli tour for us. Just the three of us, with our boy sitting right next to the helicopter pilot, flying off to a wholly separate part of the glacier away from the main glacier hike camp, getting a 1.5 hour private tour. Mother Nature is very much in charge in Alaska, and if you're willing to be flexible, what may seem like a disappointing change can turn into something amazing- just ask my 8 year old who got to straddle a 300 foot crevasse.

 

[poohj80]

Sorry if I was unclear in my previous post. We live in the Seattle area, and when we signed up for the cruise over a year ago, they offered us the option of taking a bus from SeaTac airport to the Cruise Ship in Vancouver. We signed up for it, but now are wondering if that is our best bet. I think the cost was $50 per person (not sure on this cost). Hoping someone on this board has used this service and has some feedback to share. We are wondering what time the bus leaves SeaTac etc.

I would still be interested in hearing more about it as I didn't know it was offered. Since DCL is charging $25 for transportation to Vancouver, I would think $25 more to go all the way to SEATAC is a good deal. We are paying about the same for Amtrak. You may be able to find a one way car rental cheaper depending on how many people you have.

 

[joycsk]

I'm not sure... I would just ask.

Two years ago, my DS(5), DD(8), MIL and I did the Tea with Alice. I honestly think the teas are best geared for the Under 5 crowd. Admittedly, ours has to be somewhat different from the Princess teas. Honestly, I was pretty bored. There is no reason that three of you can't attend all together. If there have been waitlists in the past, I suspect that they will not permit you to have 2 sets of tickets. It _was_ cute, but I really felt like I could have had a V8. YMMV.

 

[amyg1]

Sorry if I was unclear in my previous post. We live in the Seattle area, and when we signed up for the cruise over a year ago, they offered us the option of taking a bus from SeaTac airport to the Cruise Ship in Vancouver. We signed up for it, but now are wondering if that is our best bet. I think the cost was $50 per person (not sure on this cost). Hoping someone on this board has used this service and has some feedback to share. We are wondering what time the bus leaves SeaTac etc.

That sounds about right for Quick Shuttle. Go to quickcoach.com to see the schedule. That is probably who you are signed up with. I've taken them before, and they are really good.

 

[mmouse37]

Sorry if this was addressed already in the thread but according to the first post there are only 2 stage shows for the week. I was wondering why there would not be 3 like usual.

It only shows Golden Mickeys and Toy Story but I thought Disney Dream was supposed to also be showing onboard??

MJ

 

[bigAWL]

Sorry if this was addressed already in the thread but according to the first post there are only 2 stage shows for the week. I was wondering why there would not be 3 like usual.

It only shows Golden Mickeys and Toy Story but I thought Disney Dream was supposed to also be showing onboard??

MJ

According to the Navigators I've seen, Dreams plays on the final night, instead of Till We Meet Again.