Secrets, Tips and Tricks for Alaska Cruises

[Debbie]

Excursions I did: not to be missed:
*White Pass & Yukon Rail in Skagway (I'm a railroad nerd so I was thrilled)
*Classic Misty Fjords Flightseeing in Ketchikan (I was hesitant...but OMG! Seeing Orca from the plane was amazing! And it was so smooth! The second I got off I wanted to go back on!)

--excursion that can be missed:
*Glacier Sea Kayaking in Juneau...it was umm ... Interesting...hard as all to get in the stupid thing, it was foggy and rainy the day I did it and they provided rain gear but I still got soaked. Only up-side to that was we had a curious seal who followed our group.

First two are the ones we'll be on in 3 weeks and we chose the Best of Juneau (HAL) for that port. Looking forward to the cruise!

 

[shanhop]

Which side of the boat has the best view for Tracy Arm looking ?

Most people will tell you it doesn't matter as the captain turns the ship, but on our cruise it was the port side that had super long views, and I'm not sure if Starboard really had a direct view.

You can see pictures in my Trip Report (see my sig).

 

[myosotisd]

Most people will tell you it doesn't matter as the captain turns the ship, but on our cruise it was the port side that had super long views, and I'm not sure if Starboard really had a direct view.

You can see pictures in my Trip Report (see my sig).

i read your trip report (it is awesome) but you write "We went upstairs and found an open spot right in front of the second funnel, starboard side" but when i looked the photos it looks like port side that is why i asked the question

 

[DisneyFanDad]

We did the Afternoon "High Tea" at the top of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (not the Fairmont on the water front, the one about 6 blocks away from the water). They offered a "bubblegum tea" option for the kids where the food and goodies were a lot more kid friendly. I really enjoyed this. My two boys (7 and 11) thought this was a really fun time.

 

[shanhop]

i read your trip report (it is awesome) but you write "We went upstairs and found an open spot right in front of the second funnel, starboard side" but when i looked the photos it looks like port side that is why i asked the question

Thank you! I thought I'd gone back and fixed that! We were definitely on the port side!!!

 

[MaxiMax]

Our excursions were Skagway musher's camp (awesome), Mendenhall Glaicer and Glacier Gardens or Zipline in Juneau (wish I had more time at glacier, gardens sucked, zipline was amazing), and in Ketchikan the lumberjack show and Saxman Native Village (lumberjack show was fun, Saxman was just ok).

Did you book the Mushers camp through DCL or on your own? We are trying to decide on that or the White Pass. Our child is crazy about Huskys & wolves so we are torn. Any advice either way would be great!! We know that we will not be doing one of the helicopter dog sled things. Way too much money!!

 

[mommacat56]

Subscribing to keep up with all this great information!

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

Thanks for the info...we are going august 2015

 

[dbarker]

Do you receive bandanas or anything for Pixar night, like they do for Pirate night on the other ships?

 

[TikiJoes]

Thanks all for the good info ... Our first Disney cruise is 7/7 AK!!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Do you receive bandanas or anything for Pixar night, like they do for Pirate night on the other ships?

No, the only thing you get are cheap paper 3D glasses to see the Toy Story Menu.

 

[KnightRail]

No, the only thing you get are cheap paper 3D glasses to see the Toy Story Menu.

I still don't understand why...only to view the front cover of the menu...and the items inside were not 3D...yeah it was fun but not really necessary

 

[wallawallakids]

I still don't understand why...only to view the front cover of the menu...and the items inside were not 3D...yeah it was fun but not really necessary

Good to know. My son gets so frustrated as he only can see out of one eye, so obviously, can not see 3D! Happy to know it is just the cover, not the menu.

 

[gjramsey]

The Skytrain is easy to use and you can buy all day tickets at the 7-11 in the airport. Funny thing was the day we used the train all the ticket gates were open so everyone was riding for free. We did not know this ahead of time.

Be careful with this. We used the Skytrains a lot over a two day period in early June, and noticed the gates open at most the stops we used. At one of the stations in Richmond there were Train cops asking to see the tickets of everyone that came up the stairs.

 

[for my family]

Be careful with this. We used the Skytrains a lot over a two day period in early June, and noticed the gates open at most the stops we used. At one of the stations in Richmond there were Train cops asking to see the tickets of everyone that came up the stairs.

The PP is correct. Skytrain is not free just because the gates are open. It's sort of on the honor system until the transit police ask to see your ticket. Then you better have one.

 

[KnightRail]

The PP is correct. Skytrain is not free just because the gates are open. It's sort of on the honor system until the transit police ask to see your ticket. Then you better have one.

When I was there for my June 16 cruise, we were told by a nice Canadian that the reason the gates were open is because they are in the process of switching over from the "honor system" to the gates as a means of controlling the free-loaders. Idk when those gates will be operational, but we saw the new ticket machines being installed when we left on the 23rd...

 

[lauriegs]

subscribing - for our July 2015 cruise!

 

[Rambler5678]

I think I heard one plane either landing or taking off, but that was it, and we checked in around 11:00 AM on Monday and checked out at 3:30 AM on Tuesday. We were not kept awake by any noise and even managed to sneak in a 3 hour nap on Monday before grabbing dinner.

What time do they start checking in for the 6 am flights?

 

[lauriegs]

how late of a flight do I want for leaving the port and returning home? wasn't sure if it could be before noon or not...

 

[xlxo]

The PP is correct. Skytrain is not free just because the gates are open. It's sort of on the honor system until the transit police ask to see your ticket. Then you better have one.

And the gates continue to be open.... Cubic provides the hardware... but the hardware is unable to handle the volumes of users using the system...
http://www.vancouversun.com/Rollout+Translink+Compass+Card+system+delayed+again/10011230/story.html
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2014/04/10/compass-card-operator-faces-three-us-lawsuits

The honor system was introduced back with the original system in 1986. Over the decades, too many freeloaders were taking advantage of it.